Page 58 of Worth Every Penny
Mum nods, satisfied, and slips her forkful into her mouth.
Enormous platters of barbecued meats rest on a warming plate on the sideboard, with potato salads and grilled vegetables in separate bowls. I grab a plate and help myself, then take a seat between Mum and Curtis at the table. I’d rather not sit next to Curtis, but there’s no other place set. He busies himself with his food, sawing aggressively at a piece of meat rather thanacknowledging me. Nico sits opposite us, but I don’t look at him as I settle in my seat.
“This is delicious,” he says, taking a bite of what looks like a chicken skewer.
“Isn’t it?” agrees Mum. “I got it from the local butcher, then Jessie marinated it all.” She nods back towards the kitchen as if Jessie, the catering woman, is still there. “She’s back tomorrow with a team for the party. Jack cooked it beautifully, don’t you think?”
There are murmurs of agreement from around the table.
“Meat on fire I can do,” Jack says, deflecting the compliment with a chuckle.
“I won’t have you doing yourself down. This is perfect,” Mum says, eyeing the meat on her plate thoughtfully before turning a sharp gaze on me. “How’s that flat of yours, Kate? Still renting like a student?”
A jerk goes through my body as I prepare to ward off an attack. “No student could afford that rent, Mum.”
“It’s a great house,” Jack adds. It’s one of his many residential holdings, which he rents to me and my friends. I love living there so much I don’t care that it desperately needs renovating. “Good bones. When Kate moves out, I’ll knock the flats together. It’ll be a prime family home in South London.”
“Hmm.” Mum dabs the corner of her mouth with a linen napkin without taking her eyes off me. “I really don’t understand why you insist on staying there, and with that barmaid.”
“Elly’s a musician. She’s not a barmaid, but even if she was, what difference would it make?”
Mum gives an elaborate shrug. “Oh, there’s no judgment here, darling. It’s just… isn’t Jack paying you well enough? Lansen has been making so much, and you’re barely away from your desk since you started there. And now you’re under the Hawkston umbrella—”
“I have enough.”
“Kate earns a lot of money, Mum,” Jack defends me, his wary glance darting between the two of us.
Mum raises her wine glass. “That’s what I thought. But that’s half the problem, isn’t it? It’s intimidating for a woman to earn as much as Kate does. No man wants that. It’s emasculating. That’s why you’re always single.”
I bristle. “You think I’m too successful to attract a man?”
“Absolutely. You only need to look at you. Beautiful, intelligent, and haven’t had a decent boyfriend since you got your first period.”
She’s referencing my menstrual cycle at the dinner table? My cheeks flare. But if I call her out on how inappropriate it is, she’ll gaslight me. She’s the queen of insults that can be passed off as compliments. I can hear her defense now, “I said you’re beautiful and intelligent, didn’t I? You’re being oversensitive.”
“Maybe I’m not looking for a man, Mum.”
“Oh, you don’t need to pretend, darling. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?” She gestures around the table and titters. Curtis clears his throat and hacks at another piece of meat without lifting his eyes from his plate. And thank goodness, because if that creep thinks he’s entitled to voice an opinion about me, I’ll lose my shit.
Jack tucks his jaw so deep into his neck he gives himself a double chin. I'm pretty sure he mutters 'fuck' under his breath. Nico watches me intently.
“Mark my words, Kate.” Mum sips her wine, making a little tutting noise when she finishes. “You’ll end up alone with all your cash in the bank and nothing to show for it. And then you’ll have to watch those flatmates of yours getting married and having babies, and you’ll be their single middle-aged friend. Trust me, I’ve seen it among my girlfriends. That’s always how it works out for ambitious women like you.”
The warning prickle of tears hits me unexpectedly. I hate that Mum can so easily destroy my self-esteem. It’s her superpower. And even though I know what she’s doing, my thoughts spiral.What if she’s right?
I swallow, and there’s an audible gulping noise. They must all know I have a lump in my throat the size of a peach stone.
“Mum," Jack cuts in, his tone stern. "Give her a break. She's fine."
Mum ignores him entirely, her expression all false sympathy as she keeps her gaze locked on mine. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ve told all my friends how difficult it’s been for you to find a boyfriend. I put feelers out and asked them if they know anyone. I’ve got a few leads too. Sue from book club—”
“Stop! I don’t want to go on a blind date with some guy Sue from book club has unearthed from God knows where.”
Mum huffs and places her hands on the tabletop. “I’m only trying to help.”
“Why don’t you fixate on Jack instead?” I say. “He’s single.”
Jack opens his mouth to object when Mum flicks her hand at him and laughs. “Oh, but Jack’s a catch. He doesn’t need any help. The ladies are lining up for him. But you… who’s going to go out with you?”