Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,50
like all the rest once he realises you’re only good for one thing.’
It never failed to amaze Jane that her own mother believed the rumours circulating about her. Not once had her mother asked about any of her relationships. Instead, she chose to believe the worst. Jane had been tempted to come clean to Gladys once, to tell her why she deliberately played into people’s wrong opinions of her, that it was a stupid warped way to punish her mother. But what would be the point? Gladys only heard what she wanted to hear and if she’d had a little faith in her daughter they never would’ve reached this stage of their relationship, where insults were the norm and they rarely saw each other.
Tired of all the bullshit, all the years of passive-aggressive putdowns, all the disappointments at the hands of this callous woman, Jane said, ‘At least my life’s real, Mum. Pity you can’t say the same.’
As a comeback, it didn’t have the vitriol Gladys deserved, but it made Jane feel good. As did her childish angling of her trolley so it ran over her mother’s pinkie toe as she sailed past.
However, the encounter had soured her mood and as she selected veggies for the roast lamb, she contemplated sending Mason a text and calling off dinner. She hated the way Gladys looked down her snooty nose, like Jane was a mound of cow dung she’d stepped in.
She’d had many years to deal with what she’d learned that fateful day twelve months after she’d finished school, years to try to rationalise the lengths to which her mother had gone. But going by the churning in her gut as she paid for her groceries, it still bothered her more than was good for her. The townsfolk assumed their falling out had been because of Jane’s behaviour, when nothing could be further from the truth.
Gladys had virtually killed Jane’s dad and Jane would never forgive her for it.
After paying for her groceries, Jane pushed her trolley through the sliding glass doors and almost ran over Louise.
‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, flashing a tentative smile.
Louise didn’t return it but she glanced at the recycled bags filled to the brim in Jane’s trolley. ‘Roast lamb for one? If I didn’t have to feed my hungry horde I’d be over in a jiffy.’
‘Actually, Mason Woodley’s coming over,’ she said, regretting it when Louise’s eyebrows shot up.
‘To discuss business,’ Jane said, but she could tell Louise didn’t buy her clarification. ‘He’s expanding the bakery with his mum and they want my input for the interior.’
‘Sounds like a fun job. Better than cleaning motel rooms for a living.’
Jane didn’t know what to say to that. If she said the wrong thing, Louise would think she was being patronising or condescending. She had to change the subject, fast.
‘Did you end up ringing that lawyer?’
‘Yeah. He was really helpful. But I need to get my ducks in a row before I kick Ed out.’
‘It’s a start,’ Jane said. ‘Don’t forget to text me when you want to have a coffee, okay?’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’
They lapsed into an awkward silence Jane felt compelled to fill. ‘Better get home to start dinner,’ she said, pointing at the groceries in her trolley.
‘Yeah, and I better buy half the store to feed my ravenous lot.’
Jane smiled and moved forwards an inch before Louise laid a hand on her trolley to stop her.
‘I appreciate you being honest with me about what happened with Ed. It helped me take the next step in getting rid of him. So … thanks.’
‘My pleasure,’ Jane said, grateful that they were taking small steps to renewing their friendship after so long.
‘It got me thinking about how I misjudged you. How a lot of others have too. So I want you to know I feel really bad about believing what your mum said, because I know you two were estranged at the time and she’s got some weird vendetta against you.’
Jane froze, her fingers gripping the trolley so tight her knuckles stretched the skin taut. ‘What did she say?’
Louise flushed, her gaze darting sideways before she spoke. ‘I bumped into her after we had that argument over Ed in the main street. She heard it all and wanted to “apologise” for your behaviour.’ Louise made inverted comma signs with her fingers. ‘She said you were jealous of my marriage and had always got whatever you wanted so if you’d set your sights on Ed, I’d better watch out.’