Рейчел Уэллс - Alfie And George

That night, George was fast asleep in my bed, exhausted from his busy day. Summer was tucked up in bed too, so I sat with Claire and Jonathan in the living room.

‘How’s Tash?’ Jonathan asked.

‘Actually not too bad, it’s like she’s a different person since she moved into the flat. I really think she’s beginning to feel a bit like her old self. The solicitor’s proving a godsend and has put a rocket up Dave. He’s been threatened with court unless they sort out maintenance for Elijah. She’s got the mortgage approved for the house, so that’s all being finalised, but it’s sad too. They were together for so long and it’s all fallen apart so quickly. She still misses him, I think, but she’s pretty brave. What with her job and her boy she’s being kept busy.’

‘Well, we have family day on Sunday, so she’ll spend the day with us, won’t she?’ I pricked up my whiskers. I loved family day; every month all my families would get together and I’d have all the people I loved in one place. Sometimes it happened more often, but if not, then I always had that to look forward to.

‘Yes, she’ll be with us, and so will everyone else, which we all need. I mean, it seems that Polly and Matt are barely talking and Frankie says she and the boys will only get to see Tomasz because of family day. It’ll be good for the kids, and everyone’s coming to ours because they all want to see George.’

‘That kitten is a star attraction,’ Jonathan laughed.

‘You’ll never guess what he did this afternoon …’ Claire told Jonathan about the wardrobe incident, which Jonathan seemed to find funny. Claire snuggled into him and kissed his cheek. I lay on the armchair, one eye on the two of them.

‘Right, well I guess we ought to think about going to bed,’ Jonathan said.

‘It is going to be all right, isn’t it?’ Claire asked suddenly. I didn’t know exactly what she meant, but I was sure by the look on his face that Jonathan did.

‘Of course it is, darling,’ he replied, but he sounded uncertain.

On Sunday, as everyone descended on us for family day, I think I almost understood what Claire had meant the other night. As soon as everyone arrived, George was indeed the star attraction. He purred and preened as everyone made a huge fuss of him, then of me as a bit of an afterthought, but I was mature enough to accept that. But it went downhill from there. After a bit of a strained lunch, the adults all seemed a little bit lost in their own thoughts instead of their usual chatty selves. There were three camps. The children were one, which was usual and now included George. Luckily Aleksy, being the oldest, was in charge, so I knew George was in good hands, and he’d come and get me if needed. The men had taken over the living room, and in the kitchen the women had commandeered the kitchen table. I found myself having to move between the two adult camps.

The men were more subdued than usual.

‘Is something wrong with us?’ Jonathan asked finally, after even he got fed up of the silence — he usually enjoyed some peace and quiet.

‘I’m just not in a great place,’ Matt admitted.‘I miss working. This Mr Mum stuff isn’t me. And yes, I know I sound like a sexist pig because my wife tells me often enough. And it’s not even the kids, I love being with them but I would rather be at work. I miss it. Remember, I actually loved what I did.’

‘So no luck on the job hunt?’ Tomasz asked, eyes full of sympathy.

‘Yes and no. I’ve got a couple of meetings lined up but nothing concrete, there’s not much about at the moment. All my contacts are looking out for me but they all say I have to be patient.’ Matt shook his head.

‘Are you guys OK financially?’ Jonathan asked. He sounded concerned.

‘Yes, Polly’s new job has been a lifesaver. She loves the job but I know that coming home to me, as grumpy as I am, isn’t much fun for her. As it is, she’s tired all the time, working long hours and then rushing home to see the kids. She gets back and then once we’ve put them to bed she has to work most nights. We don’t spend enough time together — I’m miserable because I miss work, she’s miserable because I am, and also I’m not good at laundry or something.’ He laughed, sadly.

‘Well, on the flip side, I’m working too much and Franceska is very not happy,’ said Tomasz. ‘In fact, she tells me today she and the boys are going back to Poland for the school holiday, because they never see me anyway. I know I work too much but the restaurants are doing so well now, and yes, I have a manager, but I can’t hand over control yet.’ Tomasz looked guilty.

‘Mate, you have to trust other people. You can’t do it all yourself, what’ll happen when you have ten restaurants all over the country?’ said Jonathan.

‘I know, it’s not easy, but if I get these two right then I feel I can step back and let others do more work, no?’

All the men shrugged.

‘Anyway, Jon, you’re OK, aren’t you?’ Matt asked.

‘Who thought this would turn into a sharing afternoon? Quick, better put the football on,’ Jonathan replied, changing the subject.

After that depressing interlude I went into the kitchen.

‘So I said to him, he can formalise the child support or we’ll have to go to the CSA and I’ll take him to court to sort out the house as well. I’ve been more than reasonable but he’s just being so awful. Anyway, we have a mediation booked in. Sounds like fun, right? Means I have to see him again, which I’m dreading, but I have to do what’s best for Elijah.’

I took a drink of water before going to sit with Franceska. If she was going away, I wanted to spend a bit of time with her.

‘I hope it does good,’ Franceska said. ‘I have to tell you, we’re going to Poland for the summer, me and the boys, not Tomasz.’

‘Oh goodness, that sounds great,’ Claire said. Really? It didn’t sound good to me, a whole summer apart from her husband, not to mention me. I would miss them terribly.

‘Yes, well, Tomasz is so busy, so I thought we could see family and have a holiday, and the boys don’t remember much about home, so it’s good for them. Tomasz is not happy but he is all work, work, work.’

‘Maybe that’s what Matt and I need, a holiday,’ Polly mused.

‘Can’t you take one?’ Claire asked.

‘No, I wouldn’t get time off work, being so new. And anyway, I’m not sure Matt would want to take a holiday, not when he hasn’t got a job sorted and he’s feeling so down. No, actually, I know he won’t. Maybe next year.’ She smiled. ‘Anyway, Claire, at least you’re OK.’ I marvelled at the difference between the way the men and women talked. They were kind of saying the same things, but just in a very different way.

‘Oh yes, we’re fine,’ Claire said with a loud sigh.

‘Changing the subject,’ Tash said. ‘You know that neighbourhood watch couple?’

‘Oh God, Vic and Heather,’ Polly groaned.

‘Yes, the ones in the matching jumpers,’ Tash laughed. ‘They cornered me the other day talking about the increase in missing cats. Apparently six have been reported missing from the area now.’

I pricked up my ears.

‘I know, we’ve seen the pictures on the lampposts. Makes me really sad. Imagine if Alfie or George went missing.’ I shuddered as Claire said this.

‘Well, they seem to think something sinister is going on,’ Tash continued. ‘Apparently they’re going to hold a meeting soon.’

‘Oh no, not a meeting.’ Polly put her head in her hands.

‘Their meetings go on for days,’ Claire explained.

‘But these cats, no one knows what’s happened?’ Franceska asked.

‘No. Jon thinks they just didn’t like their owners or fancied a change of scene.’