Pedigree Mum

by Fiona Gibson

  ‘But what’ll you do?’

  Rob shrugs. ‘I told you. Go freelance.’

  ‘Yeah, but times are tough. There no work out there, you know. You think you’ll have this great career, jobs pouring in, but your only commission will be writing the instructions on the back of a bottle of Toilet Duck.’

  Sounds appealing, Rob reflects, compared to being here. ‘Maybe I will,’ he says steadily, ‘but I’ve been talking to Simon about heading up the digital edition of Tram Enthusiast, which I could do from home.’

  Eddy roars with laughter. ‘What d’you know about trams, Robster? Jesus …’

  ‘D’you mind not calling me Robster, Eddy?’ Rob glowers at him. ‘Actually, you’re right – I know nothing about trams. Not a damn thing. But if I can manage to write a column as a woman, then I’m sure I’m capable of getting my head around them.’ He blinks at Eddy’s stunned face. ‘They’re interesting actually – and eco-friendly. In fact, I think trams are the future.’

  He is standing up now, holding Rafferty close to his chest, rubbing his back to wind him under Eddy’s baffled stare. ‘You will still write Miss Jones, though, won’t you? You’ve got a big following now, and at least it’d be regular freelance work, keep the wolf from the door …’

  ‘Thanks for the offer, but no.’

  ‘But we’ll be stuck—’

  ‘Maybe you could do it then?’ With a quick, terse smile, he leaves Eddy’s office and gently places Rafferty in his buggy. Without saying goodbye, Rob marches towards the door.

  ‘I’ll need this formally in writing,’ Eddy snaps after him.

  ‘You’ll get it.’ He steps out of the office and calls the lift. When it arrives, one of the finance girls is already in it, and she beams admiringly at Rafferty.

  ‘How are you getting on, Rob?’ she asks. ‘Haven’t seen you around for a while.’

  ‘Oh, fine. Really great actually.’ He smiles, sensing the little knots of tension in his back and shoulders beginning to untwist themselves already.

  ‘You look it. You look really well. I thought new dads were meant to be completely wrung-out and exhausted.’ She chuckles kindly.

  He laughs bashfully, embarrassed that he can’t remember her name. ‘Huh. Thanks.’

  When the lift arrives at the ground floor, she waits to let Rob and Rafferty out first.

  ‘Well, good to see you,’ says the pretty, sunny-faced girl. ‘Your little boy’s a darling. He’s the absolute image of you.’

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  Kerry is taken aback by the amount of practice Harvey has done these past few months.

  ‘I’m impressed,’ she says. ‘Most people let it slip when they stop coming for lessons. You’ve come on a lot. What did you do – drag that old Casio keyboard around with you from hotel to hotel?’

  ‘No, but I did buy a roll-out one,’ he explains. ‘I hadn’t even known they existed until I started searching around. So I shoved it in my case and whenever I had a spare hour, out it’d come, and I’d go through my scales and pieces and stuff.’

  ‘So what did Luella think of that?’ she asks, keeping her tone light.

  Harvey frowns at her. ‘Luella? She didn’t think anything … why should she?’

  Kerry flushes, getting up from her stool beside the piano to find another piece for Harvey to play. She bobs down again, feeling suddenly hotly self-conscious. ‘I just thought you two were an item,’ she says with a shrug.

  Harvey snorts. ‘Yeah, for about five minutes at the start of the run.’ He shakes his head and pushes back his dark wavy hair. ‘How did you know about that? I didn’t think you read the grubby tabloids …’

  ‘Well, I just happened to have a quick glance, and then Ethan said …’

  Harvey looks bemused now. ‘What did Ethan say?’

  ‘That when you’re not working you’re off to Luella’s place in the south of France, and how much he’s enjoying having your flat all to himself.’ She laughs, relaxing a little. ‘He said sharing with you is like living with his mother, actually.’

  ‘Cheeky sod. And a liar too. He knows I got out of the Luella thing as soon as I realised what I was dealing with. God, Kerry – he’s pathetic. He was just trying to screw things up for me …’

  ‘Really?’ she frowns.

  ‘Yes, really. I know what he’s like.’ Harvey’s eyes meet hers, and she feels a fluttering in her stomach. Screw things up for Harvey in what way? With her, does he mean? They are sitting on stools, his at the piano, hers angled at the side. Her music room feels very still and quiet but she knows that, in twenty minutes’ time, the children will burst in, having been looked after by Lara while she was teaching.

  ‘So what happened with Luella?’ she asks tentatively.

  He smiles. ‘Couldn’t cope with the high-maintenance princess behaviour. I didn’t care how often she had her hair done, as long as I wasn’t expected to up my standards, as she put it. And you know me, I’m about as low-maintenance as you’ll get.’

  ‘Er …’ She laughs softly. ‘I don’t really know you, Harvey. Not really.’

  There’s a pause. She studies his handsome face, the clear blue eyes and the lovely, kissable mouth. She could do it – there is no one else here. It would be terribly unprofessional of her but nobody would know …

  ‘Kerry?’ His smile makes her stomach flip.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I hope it wouldn’t be horribly compromising for you – as my teacher, I mean – if I …’

  She looks at him, and his eyes meet hers. Then, with her heart in her mouth, she leans towards him, her lips meeting his in a kiss. ‘I’ve really missed you, Harvey,’ she says softly.

  ‘I’ve missed you too.’ Pulling back to study her face, he wraps his arms around her. ‘You’re so lovely. I’ve always thought so, you know. I don’t think anyone ever looked forward to piano lessons as much as I did.’

  ‘Really?’ She laughs.

  ‘Yes, really.’

  She kisses him again, her head swimming and her entire body tingling. It feels like mere moments before there’s a rap on the front door, and Lara’s sing-song voice calls out, ‘Kerry? It’s just us. We’re back. Carry on if you’re still teaching, we can hang out and watch TV …’

  ‘No, it’s okay, I’m finished …’ She and Harvey appear in the kitchen where Mia, Freddie and Audrey-Jane are all whispering and sniggering.

  ‘Good lesson?’ Lara asks, beaming at Harvey.

  ‘Um … it was interesting, yes,’ he says with an entirely straight face. ‘I learnt a lot today.’

  ‘Bet you did,’ Lara says briskly. ‘She’s the best piano teacher in Shorling – everyone says so. In fact, Kerry, I meant to mention it – Audrey-Jane is keen to start lessons as soon as you have a space for her …’

  ‘I’m sure I can fit her in,’ Kerry replies, suppressing a grin as the three children huddle together again and dissolve into high-pitched giggles. ‘What’s so funny?’ she asks, bemused.

  Lara rolls her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, Kerry. You’re going to hate me for this …’

  Kerry gives her a quizzical look as Mia turns to her and says, ‘Audrey-Jane’s got a new kitten. She’s so cute, Mummy. Please can we have a cat?’

  Chapter Seventy

  Three months later

  Villa Serra, Costa de la Luz, September 2

  Dear Kerry, Mia and Freddie,

  Just wanted to put pen to paper and say what a wonderful surprise it was when you arrived last week. I can’t quite believe Barbara had managed to keep it secret that you were planning to come – I shouldn’t say this about my oldest friend, but you know what a terrible gossip she is! Knows everyone’s business, even out here. Anyway, Kerry, it makes me so happy that you’ve settled so well into the house and Shorling too. You made me laugh when you told me how the children have become Shorling-ified – mad on seafood now! Didn’t they love that sushi place we went to? It’s a favourite of ours and great to see the children enjoying it so much. A
s you said, Freddie doesn’t even refer to wasabi sauce as snot anymore. He’s quite the sophisticated young man, and Mia is both beautiful and a delight.

  But more than that, what pleased me the most was seeing you so happy, Kerry, with such a wonderful man. I must admit, both Barbara and I are now a little in love with Harvey too. He’s delightful – fun and interesting with a real zest for life. He is wonderful with Mia and Freddie and I can see how much he loves you. I’m glad things are working out for Rob and his baby, too, and it’s obvious that Mia and Freddie like their daddy living close by. I’m sure you’ve had dark moments, but you’ve handled it all amazingly well.

  I know Harvey is teaching at the moment, but I do hope the film comes off – it sounds as if it’s ‘in the bag’ as they say, but of course he wouldn’t admit that. Anyway, whatever happens, when you do have some time, please come out to stay with us again very soon. Seeing you always fills me with pleasure because, as you know, you’re the daughter I never had.

  With all my love,

  Aunt Maisie

  Children and Dogs …

  … Are they really that different?

  Once upon a time, before I had a dog of my own, it would drive me crazy when people likened pet ownership to the care and nurturing of a young human being. When a (child-free) colleague came to visit soon after our twin sons were born, she exclaimed, ‘Oh, you two look shattered! Been up all night, have you? It was the same for us when we first got Caspar.’ I’m sorry, and I know there’s the pooping and chewing of soft furnishings and all that – but acquiring a Labrador puppy is mildly less daunting than raising a child.

  However, since our collie-cross Jack joined our family, I’ve discovered that, actually, dogs and small children have more in common than I’d realised …

  The ability to embarrass you in public. My dog has leapt in through open supermarket doors and careered around the aisles – not unlike my children when they were younger. Fortunately, though, a dog will not throw a tantrum and scream for chocolate.

  A tendency to leap at visitors as they arrive, slobbering all over their faces and muddying their clothes. Some friends find small children scary and overwhelming; others are wary of dogs. The people who come back to your house more than once will tend to be the ones who enjoy the company of both.

  No decorum whatsoever. Pawing guests, jumping onto laps and leaving powerful smells in their wake – it’s all in a day’s work for a child and his canine companion.

  Boundless energy. Young children, like dogs, need to be exercised regularly. During my first ten years of parenthood, we probably had around three days when we didn’t leave the house – and on each of those, I’d vow to myself, ‘Never again.’ Keeping small children cooped up indoors generally results in mess, chaos and bad moods all around. A good run-about does wonders for most small creatures – however, a dog is more likely to come back when called.

  A knack of being able to fall asleep anywhere. On – or in – your bed being a particular favourite, especially when you’ve just changed the sheets. No matter how cosy his own bed/basket may be, your sleeping quarters will always be more alluring.

  An urge to snatch whatever is on your plate. It’s always so much more enticing than theirs.

  A love of cuddling up on your lap. My three children – all teenagers now – don’t tend to do that anymore, and I miss that physical contact sometimes. Perhaps that’s what drove me to acquire a hug-loving hound (who will lie sprawled across my lap for hours).

  An ability to bring in incredible amounts of dirt, mess and even live creatures into your house. However, only a child will expect you to show great interest in his find.

  A dishevelled appearance (unless you’re the kind of parent/dog owner who invests more energy into maintaining standards than I could ever muster). I have yet to meet a small child who enjoys having his hair washed – or a dog who relishes being sluiced down in the bath. Detangling and grooming can also prove challenging for both species.

  They’re both, well … fun. Both dogs and children give us permission to be kids ourselves again. Without one or the other, would you ever find yourself playing games in a park, running just for the hell of it or leaping around your garden with an assortment of balls and squeaky toys? Would you venture out in the rain, hail or blizzard? Or shove on your wellies and splosh across a flooded field? However tired or stressed we are, dogs and children still manage to make us laugh. Perhaps that ex-colleague with Caspar the puppy had a point after all.

  My Inspirations for Pedigree Mum

  Whenever I do readings or author events, someone usually asks, ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ A book is often sparked off by a phrase overheard, an idea for a particular character, setting or theme, or events that have happened in the writer’s life. Here’s what inspired Pedigree Mum …

  Acquiring a dog

  We’ve had Jack, our rescue dog, for two years – we adopted him from Dog’s Trust in Glasgow and my whole family is madly in love with him. As soon as he’d settled in with us, I knew my next book had to have a canine theme. In Pedigree Mum, I liked the idea of Kerry acquiring a dog almost as a way of getting back at her ex-husband Rob – as a sort of act of rebellion. The fact that her children had begged for a dog was based on my daughter, who’d nagged for one for years. And now I love the ‘doggie’ community – I’ve discovered that the world’s loveliest dog sitters live virtually next door, and have befriended a bearded collie who can salute.

  Moving to a new town

  My husband and I left London fourteen years ago when our twin boys were toddlers. We moved to a small rural town in Lanarkshire, Scotland, which isn’t like Shorling in the book – it’s not snooty or remotely Boden-esque. But I still remember the feeling of being ‘new’, with young children, wondering how on earth I’d make friends – whilst desperately missing my old ones, of course.

  I found myself eyeing up prospective new friends in the park, whilst not wanting to come across as a creepy stalker. When someone asked me round for coffee I nearly cried with relief. We did settle in and find our feet – but moving can be tough when you have a young family and feel pretty vulnerable.

  Magazine life

  In Pedigree Mum, Rob works for an upmarket men’s magazine. I worked on various magazines from the age of seventeen until my early thirties (although never a men’s one). I’ve always found it funny how there’s an obvious pecking order amongst the magazines – and how, at industry awards parties, people from the posh glossies would rarely lower themselves to mingling with staff from the ‘grubby’ celebrity weeklies or – horrors – the hobby and specialist magazines.

  Motherhood

  I used to write about my kids’ antics for various magazine and newspaper columns. However, as they grew older – and could read what I’d written about them – this became somewhat trickier. These days, I have to be aware of their privacy and rarely write about them at all. However, in fiction, anything goes …

  20 Quick Questions for author Fiona Gibson

  1. When did you start writing?

  I wrote stories as a child, but just for fun – my ambition was to work on a magazine, as I was obsessed with them. At seventeen, just after I’d left school, I landed a job on now-defunct teen mag Jackie, which was the best fun. It didn’t even feel like work. My first ‘task’ was to write the horoscopes!

  2. How did you decide what sort of books you wanted to write?

  I write commercial women’s fiction – fast, fun reads which hopefully make my readers laugh and recognise themselves. They’re the kind of books I love to read, and also, I can draw on lots from my own life. Writing about families, relationships and kids throws up endless potential for humour, especially when all seems to be going horrible wrong.

  3. Do you belong to a writers’ group?

  Yes – I found one when we moved from London to Scotland fourteen years ago. My reason for joining was to get to know some like-minded souls, and also to develop ideas for short stories an
d, hopefully, full-length novels. But mainly it was a social thing. We’re now a close-knit group of friends – we chat, gossip, drink wine, share our work in progress – and even write occasionally.

  4. Paperback or e-book … what do you prefer?

  I think e-books are great and I have no problem reading in this way, although I still love sinking into a bubble bath with a paperback. But we’ve reached the point of clutter overload – I have three children, all big readers – so it’s great to download instead of stuffing our house with yet more paper.

  5. Does someone read over your books before you submit them?

  I used to send chapters to friends but realised all I wanted was for someone to say, ‘This is great!’ If they didn’t, I’d be thrown into despair. So now I trust my instincts. My editor is usually the first person to read my books.

  6. What’s your favourite part of the writing process?

  I love the ideas stage – scribbling in notebooks, usually sitting in cafes and letting the thoughts come.

  7. And what’s the hardest?

  I find the ‘middle stage’ of a book very difficult, and often want to give up! You have to force yourself to plough on, though.

  8. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

  Getting started is the hardest part – once you’ve done that, the words start to flow. But it’s important to write what feels authentic and true for you – and not what you think might sell, or grab an agent’s attention. Play around with different styles and genres until you find the voice that feels right, and then your book will take flight.

  9. Do you have a daily writing routine?

  Yes, I usually start at six am. It’s scarily early but for me it’s better than slogging away late at night, feeling exhausted and desolate. Then I make breakfast and I see my kids off to school, walk my dog – or go for a run with him – and come back to get started in earnest. I’ll work right through until four pm when my kids come home from school – and when deadlines loom I’ll often carry on at night and at weekends too. It’s all consuming sometimes.