Whats this now? Where are you off to? Whos making dinner?
Where are you rushing off to? Someones got to cook! the man fretted, watching what Antonia did after the row with his mother.
Antonia glanced out the window. Gloomy clouds, even though spring had begun. In their little town up in Northumberland, sunny days were rare as hens teeth. Maybe thats why the folk here seemed so sour-faced and cold.
Lately, Antonia noticed shed stopped smiling altogether. The crease on her forehead might as well have added ten years.
Mum! Im going out, announced her daughter, Poppy.
Right, Antonia muttered.
Whats right supposed to mean? Give us some money.
Since when do walks cost anything? she sighed.
Mum! Why the third degree? Poppy snapped. Come on, hurry up! Thats all?
Enough for ice cream.
Miser, Poppy tossed back, but her mother didnt hearthe door had already slammed.
*I dont believe it* Antonia shook her head, remembering how sweet Poppy had been before the teenage years set in.
Toni, my stomachs growling! How much longer? grumbled her husband, Thomas.
Do it yourself, she said flatly, setting a plate on the table.
Or bring it here?
Antonia nearly dropped the pan. The cheek of him.
We eat in the kitchen, Tom. Take it or leave it, she said, sitting down alone.
Fifteen minutes later, Thomas wandered in.
Cold gross.
Left it out too long.
I asked you! Not an ounce of love or care! You know Ive got the match on! He shoveled the chicken down. Tastes rubbish.
Antonia rolled her eyes. Football turned him into a different man. Bets, merch, overpriced ticketsnever mind hed had no interest in sports when they were young.
Without sitting, he snatched a can of lager, grabbed a bag of crisps from the source, and marched back to the telly. Antonia stayed to scrub the dishes.
*Waste of effort. No one cares.*
She was dead on her feet after her shift as a senior nurse at the hospital. Patients came to her with their aches and tempers, and shed return home only to start a second shiftfetch, carry, wash, tidy.
Any more? Thomas yanked open the fridge. Whys there none left?
You drank them all! Am I supposed to buy that too? Have some shame, Tom! she finally exploded.
Oh, arent we posh now, he sneered, then stormed out to restock the bunker for the next match.
Antonia decided to turn inanother long day tomorrow. But sleep wouldnt come. She worried about Poppy. Where was she? Who was she with? Dark out, and still no sign. She didnt dare callPoppy would just scream at her.
You embarrass me in front of my mates! Stop calling! shed shriek. So Antonia stopped, telling herself Poppy had just turned eighteen. No job, no uni, just a gap year to find herself.
Dozing off, Antonia heard Thomas whoopingsomeone mustve scored. Then the neighbour dropped by, and soon the three of them were cheering like mad. Later, Poppy clattered in, rattled the plates, and flounced off to bed. Just as silence fell, the cat yowled for food.
Can no one else in this house feed the bloody cat but me? Antonia snapped, migraine pounding from lack of sleep. She wanted them to hear, but Poppy had her headphones in, scrolling mindlessly. Thomas was already snoring in front of the telly, can in hand.
*Ive had enough bloody had enough.*
Morning came with a call from her mother-in-law.
Antonia, love, remember its time to plant the veg? And we ought to pop down to the cottage tidy up.
I remember, Antonia sighed.
Tomorrow, then.
Her one day off was spent slogging at the cottage under her mother-in-laws orders.
Thats not how you sweep! Hold the broom proper! the old woman barked from her perch on the bench.
Im nearly fifty, Vera. I can manage, Antonia dared to reply.
And Thomas
Where is Thomas? Why didnt he drive his own mother down? Whyd we have to rattle three hours on the bus? And youalways going on about Thomas, Thomas
Hes tired.
And Im not?
Thats when it started. Antonia regretted speaking up. Vera was a talker, always rightjust never about Antonias side of things. Thomas had been coddled his whole life, while Antonia was just the drudge Vera tolerated.
They rode back in silence, opposite ends of the bus. Next day, Vera complained to her son, and he blew his top.
How dare you speak to my mum like that! Thomas growled. If it werent for her
What? Antonia folded her arms. Shed reached her limit.
Youd still be at the clinic! He played his trump cardVera had pulled strings to get Antonia the hospital job. Better pay, but it cost her nerves and grey hairs. More than once, shed wished shed stayed at the quiet local practice. Where dyou think youre going?
Thomas was stunned by what Antonia did next.
What she didhe never saw it coming.
