The Things I Know(56)

‘I like the way you see me, Grayson.’

‘You hair is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.’

‘Good Lord, give me strength, do you want this bloody breakfast or not?’ his mother shrieked, interrupting the moment.

‘I’m coming!’ he called towards the door. ‘Did you get any sleep?’ he now asked Thomasina.

‘Not much. Did you?’

‘Not much.’

They giggled.

‘How’s your mum this morning? I’m a bit scared to go out there.’ She pulled a face.

He looked at the floor. ‘Haven’t seen her yet. But it’ll be okay.’ He spoke with reticence and she wasn’t sure whom he was trying to reassure. ‘Do you want to shower?’

‘Yes, please.’



Thomasina showered quickly and stepped from the bathroom into the lounge with a sick feeling in her gut.

This was it. Time to pull on her big-girl pants and go and face the music.

His mum was back in her chair, nursing a mug of tea and staring out of the window. The TV was off and the sound of Grayson chewing on his boiled egg seemed especially loud.

‘Morning!’ Thomasina’s sweet, happy greeting was alien in this environment, like putting ribbons on a dark rock or seeing a rainbow rise over the city dump.

‘You’d best get a move on.’ Mrs Potts spoke between sips of her tea. ‘Don’t want to miss your bus, son.’ The woman ignored Thomasina’s greeting, and it was so awkward it left her feeling cold.

‘Grayson, you’ll miss your bloody bus at this rate!’ his mum hollered from the chair.

‘Okay. Okay.’

‘You don’t want to get into trouble with your little job, do you?’ she yelled.

‘Nope.’ Grayson rolled his eyes at Thomasina. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ He blushed, clearly embarrassed at his mother’s snub.

Thomasina scanned the table and glanced at his mum, who still sat with her back turned. There was no place set for her, no table mat and certainly no teacup.

‘No, no, that’s fine, thank you. I can grab one later.’ She smiled and sat at the table next to him.

His mum turned slowly, her expression one Thomasina could only describe as thunderous. ‘Blow-up mattress comfy enough for you, was it?’

‘Oh! I didn’t . . . erm . . . we didn’t . . .’ Thomasina faltered.

‘Thomasina slept in my bed,’ Grayson said levelly, and she admired him for it, knowing it was better not to deceive his mum, while at the same time rather hoping the specifics of the previous night would not be broached. She watched as Mrs Potts stood and pulled the crumpled tunic down over her stomach. ‘I know she did!’ she spat. ‘Think I was born yesterday?’

Grayson laid his spoon by the side of his plate and pulled the red napkin from his neck. Clearly, he was finished.

His mum, however, was not. She drew breath, seemingly reloading for her next verbal assault. ‘This is my flat, my home. And you think you can bring any old floozy here, day or night, like it’s some kind of whorehouse?’

‘Please don’t talk like that.’ Grayson looked at Thomasina and shook his head. This whole exchange was terrible! As humiliating as it was unnecessary.

‘I’ll talk how I please under my own roof!’ she shouted.

‘Actually, Mum, it’s my roof too.’ He spoke softly.

‘What did you say?’ She jerked her head forward.

‘I said it’s my roof too.’

‘Is that right?’ His mother cackled in a way that, when used to bookend something she clearly didn’t think was funny, was nothing short of sinister. ‘If you think she’s shacking up in your room another night, you’ve got another think coming.’

‘I have no intention of staying another night,’ Thomasina began. ‘I—’

‘Who rattled your cage? And what did he tell you? Did he tell you I was a drinker? Because I’m not!’

It was his mum’s unfounded aggression that took Thomasina by surprise. She had expected a sore head, hoped for contrition, but this was something else.

Grayson stood abruptly. ‘I need to leave now. I need to get to work.’

‘See what you’ve done?’ his mum shouted at Thomasina. ‘You’ve upset him, and you’ve upset me! Coming all that way and sliding into his bed – what sort of girl does that?’

‘Please don’t talk to her like that, Mum!’ Grayson’s voice rose.

‘And I told you that I’ll talk any way I damn well please in my own flat!’

‘It’s okay, Grayson. I need to go anyway.’ Thomasina’s cheeks were aflame and she wanted to be anywhere else, anywhere other than here.

‘You don’t have to go,’ he said, swallowing.

‘What you talking about?’ his mum yelled. ‘’Course she’s got to go! This is my home!’

‘Mum! For God’s sake!’ He clenched his fists. ‘Just stop! I don’t want to hear you talking the way you do, I don’t want you to be so angry about everything, and I don’t want you to be so rude to Thomasina!’

‘It’s okay, I—’

‘No, Thomasina!’ Grayson fired back. ‘I mean it. It’s not okay!’