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.He, too, had had a long, emotional day.She watched Lucy tentatively go back into the house, saw her husband nod, watched them put their heads together over a recipe and smiled to herself.Watching Robert, tuning into something she vaguely perceived but couldn’t quite pin down, Marie knew something else was cooking, along with the bread.Even, strong, white: Chloe’s teeth were like Tod’s.‘If all my patients were like you,’ said Marie, lowering the chair, ‘I’d be broke in no time.’‘I don’t need any fillings? None at all?’ Chloe looked puzzled.‘That other dentist – the funny little fat one across the road – told me I’d need loads of stuff done.’‘He was fibbing,’ said Marie, leading her out to reception.‘Lynda here will send you a reminder to come back in six months’ time, but until then, keep flossing.’‘Here.’ Lynda handed Chloe a paper bag.‘Free today to every patient.’‘Rolls,’ said Chloe, peeping into the bag.Then, puzzled, ‘Rolls?’‘Yes, rolls,’ said Aileen.‘Her mentalist husband can’t stop making them.We’ve got them coming out of our arses.’‘Beautifully put,’ said Marie.Walking Chloe to the door, she asked, ‘How’s the Loosen-Up Lum campaign going?’‘Not bad, not bad.She went a bit finicky after that interview, but she’s fine now, most of the time.During the day.’ Chloe screwed up her dainty nose.‘But late at night she kind of deflates.As if somebody’s pulled out her plug.That’s when we sit down and watch a Seinfeld or an old MasterChef.If she’s very miz, I make her a hot chocolate.Lum loves my hot chocolate.I do it all posh, with chocolate on top and everything.’‘That’s so sweet.’ Marie hurriedly rearranged the face she was making.It was the face she made at YouTube kittens or the twins’ baby photos, and Chloe would not welcome it.‘I know Lucy’s doing her best to help you through this horrible period, but actually it’s mutual.You’re looking after each other, aren’t you?’‘S’pose.’ Chloe’s rocky family life hadn’t embittered her: instead it had strengthened her compassion.Freed from Tod’s mind games and his crazily high standards, she was less anxious, more herself.‘Lum spent so much of her time running around after my dad, like some freaky robot housewife, that now he’s vamoosed there’s a big gap in her life.That’s partly why I said yes to her big idea.’ Chloe clocked Marie hurriedly, as if to ensure she was in the loop, before going on.‘I mean I want to do it, of course I do, but it’s bloody – sorry, I mean very – frightening.’ Chloe put her hand on the latch.‘I think it’s a good idea.A brave one.Just take it one day at a time,’ advised Marie, passing on her own mother’s words.‘Or one luxury hot chocolate at a time.’‘I’ll do an extra-spesh one tonight,’ said Chloe.‘Unless she’s at yours again, like last night.’‘Was she at.’ Marie frowned, the gentlest of dips in her brow.‘I was at a seminar.Advanced Endodontics.’ She looked sideways at Chloe.‘I can tell you’re jealous.’ As Chloe tittered, Marie wondered why Robert hadn’t mentioned Lucy’s visit.The state of the kitchen – as if terrorists had been training, using baking ingredients – told her he’d been cooking: had Lucy come over to help again? The two of them bent over a recipe, conspiring over brown-sugar levels and icing consistency.Like the evening before.And the one before that.And, come to think of it, the one before that.Chloe sprang back as the door began to open.Angus and the twins were abruptly there, spilling through the door like a human 3-for-2 offer.‘Chloe Chloe Chloe!’ Rose was overcome to see her favourite big girl out of the blue.‘Ladies.’ Chloe bowed gravely.The twins giggled like hamsters on Ecstasy.They couldn’t love Chloe any more if she came with a free Beano annual.‘Maximilian!’ shouted Lynda.‘What a lovely name!’ Iris and Rose surged towards the receptionist.‘Can we touch your bump?’ Reverently they caressed the taut arc of Lynda’s sundress.‘Does it have teeth yet?’ asked Rose [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]