Losing It Read Online Free PDF Page B

David’s plate and dips it into the chutney. ‘He just didn’t do it for me,’ she says.
    Marion sighs. ‘Plenty more fish in the sea,’ she says.
    Jo giggles. ‘Yes, but I don’t want a fish, do I?’
     
    She looks at David.
    He frowns. ‘Have you come to fetch Luke?’ he says.
    ‘No hurry is there?’ Jo says.
    ‘We’re eating,’ David says.
    ‘Got any to spare?’ Jo says.
    Marion is about to get her a plate, but David says, ‘This is just the two of us, Jo.’
    Jo flushes. ‘OK,’ she says, ‘I get the message. Be like that.’ And she goes off, slamming the back door.
    ‘What about Luke?’ David calls after her, but she’s gone.
    ‘He can stay the night,’ Marion says. ‘At least that way he won’t wake us up to be let in.’
    ‘Sorry about Jo,’ David says. ‘I don’t encourage her.’
    ‘I know,’ says Marion.
    After the curry, Marion puts Luke to bed. She reads him a story from the King Arthur book. She comes down to join David on the sofa. He’s watching football and drinking beer.
    ‘Foul!’ He shouts so loud that Marion jumps. His mobile rings and, eyes fixed on the TV, he answers it.
    ‘What?’ he says. ‘OK. OK. See you later.’
    ‘Who was it?’ Marion asks, but there’s a penalty shoot-out going on and he doesn’t answer.
    But at half-time he turns the sound down. ‘It was Ken,’ he says.
    ‘Is he upset?’
    ‘No.’ David frowns. ‘He rang to warn us about her.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘He says she’s a head case.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘He said, “Watch your back mate, with that one”,’ David says.
    ‘What does he mean?’
    ‘Search me.’
    ‘She’ll make another play for you now,’ Marion says miserably.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ he says. ‘She might be playing, but I’m not.’
     

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    On Sunday afternoon Marion and Luke are in the kitchen, making cookies with funny faces, when Jo comes round.
    ‘Hi Mum,’ Luke says.
    ‘I’m going out. Can you mind Luke till later?’ Jo says.
    ‘Till when?’
    ‘I’ll be back by his bedtime,’ Jo promises.
    ‘Look Mum,’ Luke points to one of the cookies, ‘this one’s you.’
    Jo looks. She pulls a face. ‘I don’t look that bad do I?’ she says.
    Marion puts the cookies in the oven. ‘What’s up?’ she says. ‘Is it Ken?’
    ‘Who?’ Jo says.
    ‘What then?’
    ‘He still hasn’t told you, has he?’
    ‘What?’
    ‘David. He hasn’t told you has he?’
    Although it’s a hot day Marion shivers. ‘Luke, want to go and watch TV?’ she says.
    ‘How long will the cookies be?’ he says.
    ‘I’ll call you when they’re ready,’ she says. Luke goes through to the other room.
    ‘Told me what?’ Marion says when the door is shut.
    ‘He promised he’d tell you,’ Jo says.
    Marion wants to scream but she speaks quietly. ‘Why don’t you tell me?’ she says. Her heart is thumping so hard she’s sure that Jo can hear it.
    ‘OK,’ Jo says. ‘But remember, you asked.’
    ‘Go on.’
    Marion’s hands are shaking. She holds onto the edge of the table to steady herself.
    ‘David is Luke’s dad,’ Jo says.
    ‘What!’
    It’s so stupid that Marion almost laughs. It’s ridiculous!
    ‘See, I had a fling with him. I fell pregnant.’
    ‘When?’
    ‘His stag party,’ Jo says.
    Marion takes a deep breath. ‘If that was true he would have told me,’ she says.
    ‘Would he?’ Jo says. ‘When I told him I was pregnant he told me to get lost. Actually, he paid me to get lost.’
    ‘David’s not like that,’ Marion says.
    ‘I’m sick of being a single mum,’ Jo says.
    ‘I don’t believe you,’ Marion says.
    Jo just stands there.
    ‘Even if it was true,’ Marion says, ‘why would you come back now?’
    ‘I thought I could cope,’ Jo says, ‘but now I’m broke. And Luke needs his dad. I can’t cope on my own any more.’
    ‘I don’t believe you,’ Marion says.
    ‘Ask him,’ Jo says.
    ‘Don’t worry. I will,’ Marion says. ‘Now get out of my