Mum came for lunch. I gave Toby and Beatrice some orange play dough to keep them quiet, then chopped up a butternut squash, thinking about how pale Beth looked the last time I saw her, and I cut my finger. I shoved the baking tray into the oven and remembered that Sarah tripped on our front step twice before she actually made it through the door. I burned myself on the oven door, stood up too quickly and staggered slightly. This reminded me that Ruby complained of dizziness last time I saw her. All signs of early pregnancy. Any one of them could be, and one of them is. Except that Ruby and Sarah are both single at the moment, which would make two things they're not telling me. I frowned as I sliced an avocado, trying to work out which one of them has been running to the loo the most often. Toby announced that he'd made dinner and I pretended I hadn't heard.
Mum was watching the whole performance.
'Clementine,' she said quietly when I sat at the table and served up, 'have you got anything to tell me?'
I rolled my eyes impatiently and snapped, 'No.' Then I swallowed a piece of orange play dough, which made me retch.
Mum's eyes went all soft and misty. 'Clementine, darling,' she said gently, 'a mother knows these things. When are you due?'
Mothers. We don't know a thing.
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