Amber by Heather Burnside (great novels of all time .TXT) 📗

was pleased when, at first, her mother had taken her and Nathan to visit her grandparents regularly. Although Amy had no desire to live there again, she didn’t mind the visits because her grandparents made a fuss of her. But, as time went on, and Loretta became more slovenly once more, the visits became less frequent.

And she guessed it wasn’t her grandparents’ fault because her grandma had asked her on the phone to come and visit. Loretta had always promised her they would, but she never got round to it. Amy couldn’t understand why her grandparents never came round to their house either, but she presumed it was because her mother didn’t want them there. Although they had taken her and Nathan in for a few days, she could tell by the heated telephone discussions that their mother still didn’t get on with them.

Amy knew her mother was expecting company this evening as she had enlisted her help earlier to do some cleaning and tidying, something she only did when one of her men friends was due to call round. They had all been in the living room watching TV for a while and Amy noticed the way her mother kept looking at the clock as she gulped wine from an opened bottle of red. She also noticed the way her mother was becoming more talkative as the level of alcohol in the bottle sank.

Loretta was almost at the end of the bottle when she took a giant swig and plonked the glass back on the coaster. Her drunken moves were clumsy, and the glass landed unevenly. Realising it was lopsided, Loretta grabbed at it, aiming to steady the glass. She managed to straighten it but not before some of the liquid had spilt, leaving a crimson pool on the coffee table.

She continued to watch TV then, noticing Amy’s curious look, she said, ‘I’ll wipe it up later. I don’t want to miss this.’

Amy knew that would never happen so, heaving a sigh, she got up from the sofa and went into the kitchen to fetch a cloth while her mother and Nathan carried on staring at the screen in front of them.

‘Good girl,’ said Loretta when Amy came back and wiped up the spilt wine. ‘Don’t forget to rinse the cloth out when you go back to the kitchen. It’s all red.’

Amy did as she was told and was just coming back into the hall when she heard the doorbell. That would be her mother’s visitor.

‘I’ll get it!’ called Loretta and by the time Amy walked into the living room her mother was up out of her chair and tottering unsteadily towards the front door.

Amy tried to refocus on the programme she had been watching, aware at the same time of the sound of her mother’s effusive greeting coming from the hallway.

‘Hiya, Cliff. How are you?’

When Amy heard her mother and the man walk into the living room, she turned around and looked. The man caught her eye straightaway and she could see his face light up with a cheery smile.

‘Who’s this then?’ he asked.

It was obvious he was referring to her. Nathan hadn’t even bothered turning round to acknowledge him. Amy took in his appearance. He was about forty or maybe more and wasn’t particularly tall, just above average height she thought. His features were weather-beaten but in a rugged sort of way and probably what someone of her mother’s age would have considered good-looking. He was also slightly bald and had dark, brown eyes but they were happy eyes and, although he didn’t look like Dale, his apparently affable nature made her think of him.

‘That’s our Amy,’ said Loretta.

‘And how old are you, Amy?’ he asked.

She hesitated to reply. Although she was flattered by his interest, his overenthusiastic nature unsettled her a little.

‘She’s eleven,’ said Loretta.

‘Almost twelve,’ said Amy, preening at the attention when she noticed that Nathan had turned around to see what all the fuss was about, and he was glaring at her.

‘Really? Well, well, you certainly take after your mother for looks.’

This time it was Loretta’s turn to preen. ‘Oh, Cliff, you’re such a charmer,’ she said, and he rewarded her with a cheeky grin as he tickled her in the ribs.

‘That’s just one of the things you love about me,’ he said, winking at both Loretta and Amy.

Amy felt uncomfortable. Although the man was jolly, his intense gaze embarrassed her, and she could feel herself blush. She felt sure he had picked up on her embarrassment, which seemed to amuse him more and he let out a hearty chuckle.

‘Sit down, Cliff. I’ll get you a drink,’ Loretta said. ‘What would you like?’

Her mother left the room, searching for the lager Cliff had asked for and he plonked himself on the sofa next to Amy. She felt his leg brushing next to hers and moved up slightly, but the man moved close to her once more and then there was that gaze again.

‘So, what have you been up to at school today, Amy?’ he asked. She shrugged, still feeling awkward and very self-conscious.

‘Come on, Amy, no need to be shy with me. I don’t bite.’

‘Just stuff, English and that.’

He laughed. ‘And what’s that?’

Even at her age she had spotted the innuendo and her blush intensified. ‘Dunno. I’ve forgot.’ Then she switched her eyes back to the TV all the time sensing him still watching her.

Amy was relieved when her mother walked back into the room and uttered a variation of the line Amy was so used to hearing. ‘Right, kids, me and Cliff need to talk so go on up to your rooms.’

‘Aw,’ said Nathan, stomping moodily from the room but Amy was glad of an excuse to escape from the man’s scrutiny.

*

July 1999

Loretta walked over to the sink and poured herself a large glass of water. She had a raging thirst and her head was pounding. Maybe she’d overdone it with Cliff last night. She tried to recall just how much she