The Reading List(72)

Mr P had shrugged, ‘Not right now …’

Aleisha had laughed to herself – she didn’t expect Mr P, usually so polite, to be so honest.

‘I liked the characters – they were very, very funny. All sorts of characters. But the story line, I don’t think it is very … what’s the word … relatable for me, Aleisha?’ Mr P had said. She wasn’t sure it was very relatable for her, either. According to the internet, though, people loved this book – thought of it as some kind of feminist bible.

‘What do you think of Darcy and Elizabeth? Did it take you back to your wooing days?’ she teased.

‘No, no. This is not at all how my marriage started,’ Mr P said to her, almost looking for a reason to put the book down.

‘What do you mean?’ she’d asked.

‘There was none of this prolonged courtship. We were thrown into it – like those marriage matches Mrs Bennet loves to set up. We had an arranged marriage – the first time I met Naina was a little before our wedding day – but it was the most special day of my life. My wife, she was perfect. I was so lucky.’ For a moment, his mind drifted off. ‘You see, just because we didn’t spend months chasing after each other, like Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant to be. We didn’t know each other at all, but it felt like I’d known her my whole life. I could open up to her. And I did; it was the best decision I’d made.’

Aleisha had thought of Zac then – of the first time she’d seen him; wondering whether she’d known then that they might become friends.

‘From the first moment you meet Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth, you know that they’re meant to be together. The rest of the book is just the author trying to keep them apart for our entertainment.’

Mr P was right – she wondered if her own reluctance to be honest and open with Zac, who was trying so desperately to help her open up, was actually the main thing keeping Aleisha shut off and alone … just for the sake of it, for the entertainment of her imaginary readers.

Leilah shuffled herself closer to Aleisha, snapping her out of her daze.

‘Have you told your brother about the list? He loves that library.’

‘If he loves the library so much, why doesn’t he go any more?’

‘He’s busy, he’s working a lot. He doesn’t have the time that you have.’

Leilah’s words had their unintended sting. ‘Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I know I’m not easy to talk to, I know how much you two do for me, and how hard everything has been. I really wish I could help you out more, but I want you to feel you can tell me anything. And Aidan. You both come first for me.’

Aleisha tried to keep her surprise out of her voice, and said, cautiously, ‘Mum, that’s nice.’ She then took a deep breath, worried about how her next few words might land. ‘But I want you to be here for yourself too.’

A cloud settled on Leilah’s features for a moment before being banished away by her false cheery tone: ‘I bet she’s a teacher. I’m so sure of it. Who writes reading lists other than teachers?’

‘Why are you so sure it’s a woman?’

‘I’m not, but feels like it could be?’

‘I guess all women write lists, do they?’

‘Maybe it’s Aidan. He loves the library, and I know Aidan writes you lists all the time.’

‘Yeah, but I really cannot imagine Aidan ever reading Pride and Prejudice … or Little Women.’ Aleisha pulled out another list – this one in Aidan’s WhatsApp messages to her. ‘Sugar. Lamb. Get washing-up liquid. Order food recycling bags from council. Take out bins tonight. PUT NEW BIN BAG IN EMPTY BIN.’ Aleisha read it out loud, enunciating the words in capital letters. ‘Now that bin-bag stuff … that’s the true beginning of a love story.’

The two women burst into fits of laughter and soon found they couldn’t stop. They held onto each other for dear life as they heard Aidan’s key turn in the lock.

‘Oh, hey,’ his voice drifted into the living room.

‘Hey!’ Aleisha said, jolting herself away from her mother as though she’d just been scalded.

‘What’s going on, guys?’ His eyes were tired, but he held himself up tall, a smile stuck on his face, as though he was trying to inject some kind of energy into himself.

‘We just watched that Disney film, Up.’

‘It. Was. Great!’ Leilah enunciated, illustrating each full stop with a poke of her finger into her thigh.

Aidan nodded. ‘All right, sounds okay.’ Leilah and Aleisha both smiled at each other, and glanced back at Aidan, who’d already turned away and was walking up the stairs. ‘Cool, well, I’m shattered.’

‘Why the long face, Aidan?’ Leilah asked, giggling away to herself.

Aidan shot a soft glance at his sister, avoiding his mother’s gaze. ‘Long shift.’ He yawned. ‘Going to bed. See you in the morning, guys.’ From halfway up the stairs, he boomed, ‘Aleisha, don’t forget to do the bins!’

Leilah brushed her hand over Aleisha’s hair. ‘He’s good to us, isn’t he?’

She nodded. Leilah pushed herself up from the sofa and left the room. Then, alone in the living room, Aleisha felt a chill. It was noticeable, in a house that had only ever been stifling hot recently, and she suddenly realized the windows were wide open. She couldn’t remember opening them herself.