Diamond Girls Read Online Free PDF Page B

dare come marching in here, yelling and screaming and showing us all up, madam,’ said Mum, folding her arms above her stomach.
    â€˜I’m yelling because you’re getting rid of all my clothes!’ said Martine. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair was sticking up all over the place, like she’d tossed and turned all night. ‘I know you’re mad at me, Mum, but I never thought you’d throw all my clothes out!’ She was breathing heavily as if she might start crying any minute.
    Mum was working herself up too, her face blotchy with rage. ‘What do you think I’m doing, sending them all off to Oxfam?’ she shouted.
    â€˜Well, that’s what it looks like, doesn’t it?’ said Martine. ‘Look, even my leather jacket!’ She plucked it from Bruce’s arms, starting an avalanche of clothes all over the hall. Bruce shrank back against the wall, bracing himself for another onslaught.
    â€˜What do you want me to do?’ he asked helplessly.
    â€˜You pick up all those clothes and take them down to the van,’ Mum snapped, as if he’d dropped them deliberately.
    Bruce gathered up the clothes and sloped off, side-stepping Martine as she made a half-hearted grab at them.
    â€˜Stop it, Martine!’ said Mum.
    â€˜You stop it, Mum. There’s no point putting all my stuff in the van. I’m not coming. Can’t you get that into your head? I’m staying with Tony, no matter what. I love him.’
    Mum raised her hand. I was sure she was going to slap her. Martine thought so too and tried to dodge. But Mum’s hand curved gently round Martine’s flushed cheek, cupping her chin.
    â€˜Martine, pet, can’t you learn by my mistakes? I know you love Tony – but it won’t last.’
    â€˜It will, it will! We’re going to love each other for ever.’ Martine brushed Mum’s hand away. Mum’s arm swung sadly, her fingers still outstretched. She took a deep breath.
    â€˜If you’re going to love each other for ever then can’t you give me a month or two? I need you to help settle us into the new place. I can’t manage just now, not with the baby making me so bulky. I can’t lift or carry or stretch. See what I’m like,’ said Mum, acting it out.
    â€˜We’ll help you, Mum,’ I said.
    â€˜Oh, Dixie! You’re too little, like I said.’ Mum lowered her voice. ‘And Jude’s not girly enough and Rochelle’s too scatty.’ She looked deep into Martine’s eyes. ‘I need you, darling. You’re my girl, my eldest. You and me together, Martine, making it work. You don’t have to stay once your baby brother’s born and I can run around all over the shop. Help me. Please. I can’t make it work, not without you.’ Tears started dripping down Mum’s cheeks. She didn’t blink or try to wipe them away. She stared steadily at Martine.
    Martine suddenly started crying too. ‘Oh Mum,’ she said. She threw her arms round Mum’s neck. ‘All right, I’ll come.’
    â€˜I knew you would,’ said Mum, hugging her tight.
    â€˜Just till the baby’s born.’
    â€˜Well, give me a week or two after to recover. I’m not getting any younger, you know. I can’t snap straight back into action the way I did when I had you, darling. Still, they say boys are easier. I hope the little whatsit sleeps soundly. I don’t fancy all that two-o’ clock-in-the-morning feeding caper.’
    â€˜Well
I’m
not doing it!’ said Martine, but she clung onto Mum, nuzzling her head against her neck as if she was still a baby herself.
    â€˜My big girlie,’ Mum said softly, running her fingers through Martine’s tufty hair.
    â€˜Typical!’ said Rochelle, pushing past to wave her grubby mop over the balcony. ‘I do all the hard work, scrubbing away like stupid Cinderella, ruining my only