Whats going on now? Where are you off to? Whos going to make dinner?
Where are you rushing off to? Someones got to cook! her husband snapped, watching what Antonia was doing after another row with his mum.
Antonia glanced out the window. Gloomy clouds, even though it was early spring. In their little town up in the north of England, sunny days were rare. Maybe thats why everyone who lived there always seemed so gloomy and cold.
Lately, Antonia had noticed shed stopped smiling altogether, and the permanent frown on her forehead made her look a good ten years older.
Mum! Im going out, announced her daughter, Emily.
Right, Antonia muttered.
What dyou mean, right? Give me some money.
Since when do walks cost anything? she sighed.
Mum! Why the third degree?! Emily snapped. Come on, hurry up! Thats barely anything!
Enough for ice cream.
Cheapskate, Emily shot back, but her mum didnt hearshed already slammed the door behind her.
Unbelievable Antonia shook her head, remembering what a sweet little girl Emily had been before the teenage years hit.
Toni, my stomachs growling! How much longer?! her husband, Thomas, grumbled from the sofa.
Do it yourself, she said flatly, slapping a plate onto the table.
Or bring it here?
Antonia nearly dropped the pan. Who did he think he was?
We eat in the kitchen, Tom. Take it or leave it, she said, sitting down alone.
Fifteen minutes later, Thomas wandered in.
Cold gross
I left it in longer.
I asked you nicely! Not a shred of love or care! You know Im watching the match! He shoveled down the chicken in a hurry. Tastes rubbish.
Antonia just rolled her eyes. Football turned him into a different personbets, merch, pricey tickets even though hed never cared about sports when they were young.
Without sitting, Thomas grabbed a can of lager, some crisps, and stomped back to the telly. Meanwhile, Toni stayed behind to deal with the mess.
Wasted effort. No one appreciated it.
She was exhausted after her shiftshe worked as a senior nurse at the hospital. Patients came to her stressed, sick, angry. It was always the samestress at work, then another shift at home. Fetch, carry, clean, sort.
Any more left? Her husband yanked open the fridge. Whys there none?!
You drank it all! Am I supposed to buy that too?! Have some decency, Tom! Antonia finally snapped.
Someones got airs he sneered before storming out to restock the supplies for the next match.
Antonia decided to sleepshe had another long day tomorrow. But she couldnt. Worry gnawed at her. Where was Emily? Who was she with? It was dark now, and still no sign of her. Calling was pointlessher daughter would just scream.
Youre embarrassing me in front of my friends! Stop calling! Emily would shriek. After enough of those, Toni stopped trying, telling herself Emily had just turned 18. No job, no unijust a gap year to find herself.
Drifting off, Antonia heard Thomas whoopingsomeone mustve scored. Then came the loud match chatter as their neighbour popped round, then his girlfriend. Soon, all three were cheering. Late that night, Emily clattered in, slammed plates, tapped on her phone, and vanished to bed. Just as things quieted, the cat yowled for food.
Can anyone else in this house feed the cat, or is it just me?! Fuming, half-asleep with a migraine, Antonia stormed out. She wanted to be heard, but Emily had her headphones in, scrolling. Thomas was snoring in front of the telly, can still in hand.
“Ive had enough bloody had enough,” Toni thought.
The next morning, her mother-in-laws call woke her.
Antonia, love, dont forget its planting season. And we need to sort the cottage.
I remember, Toni sighed.
Well go tomorrow.
Her one day off was spent labouring at the cottage under her mother-in-laws orders.
Thats not how you sweep! Hold the brush properly! Vera barked from her perch.
Im nearly fifty, Vera. I can manage, Toni dared to reply.
And Thomas
Where is Thomas? Why didnt he drive you? Why did we take a three-hour bus? All you do is fuss over him
Hes tired.
And Im not?
Then it started. Toni regretted speaking up. Vera loved a good lecturejust not when it involved her. Her whole life, shed spoiled Thomas, while Toni was just the tolerated help.
They rode back in silence, opposite ends of the bus. The next day, Vera tattled to her son, and he erupted.
How dare you talk back to my mother?! Thomas growled. If it werent for her
What? Toni folded her arms. Shed had enough of being walked over.
Youd still be at that clinic! He played his trump cardVera had pulled strings to get Toni a better-paid hospital job. The pay was higher, but so were the stress and grey hairs. More than once, Toni wished shed stayed at the quiet local practice. Where dyou think youre going?
Thomas froze, watching what Toni did next.
What she did he never saw coming.
