Day 36 - Nice While it Lasted

Even though the rain was lashing the window, I woke a damn sight happier today, knowing that John and I had sorted out our differences. I treated everyone to a cooked breakfast once our morning workout was done, feeling decidedly pleased with myself that I'd managed it two days running. Even Cleo joined us to eat, though the hour was, as she put it, 'grim' (10 am).
     "I'm so glad we're friends again," I told John as we stacked the dishwasher.
     "Me too! I was thinking …. perhaps we could spend some quality time together later. You know, just you, me and a bottle of wine. What is it they say - Netflix and chill?"
     "I think that means something rude, doesn't it? But yeah, let's ….. you know ……. try to get the kids to bed at a decent time," I said poking him playfully with the end of an eggy spatula.
      He leaned across the kitchen waste caddy and said dreamily, "I'd love to get my teeth into a really good box set this week."
     "Mmm. Something moreish.  Hey ….." I said, with a little nudge of the elbow." Let's make a night of it. I've got a couple of lamb chops stashed in the freezer."
     "Blinding!"
     "Ooh …. and I don't get your hopes up just yet, but …..  I'm pretty sure there's a Vienetta in there somewhere."
     "Mint choc chip?"
     "Yep."
     "Phwoar. What a wifey you are!"
     "It's a date," I said, with a wink.
     "Can't wait."
      Clutching my bleach solution, I went off upstairs to wipe down the shower tray, a little smile still on my lips.

Fifteen minutes later:

"Daisy! Daisy! A word!"

Uh oh! What had I done this time?

John was sitting at the kitchen table, phone in hand. "Can you explain this please?"

Shit! Noooo! Had the video gone viral? But a glance over his shoulder revealed that there was no video on the screen, just numbers. Omfg!

     "What do you mean? What's wrong?" I asked, playing for time.

     "Something you said the other day about lending money to someone has been bothering me, so I thought to myself,  I'll just check the account."

     "I didn't know that you knew how to  …."

     "You didn't bother to tell me that you were lending money to your sister."
      "I didn't think you'd ….."
     "Mind that I wasn't consulted?"
      "Notice," I said.
     "Over the past six weeks, you've lent her two hundred quid.  What the hell for? They've got two new cars over there and they went skiing during the Christmas holidays!  Why are we lending them money, for Christ's sake?"
     "Well, since Lockdown, Dwayne's business has been really struggling and Rosie only works a couple of shifts at the deli here and there. I didn't want to see the kids going without."
     "Well they could sell one of their games consoles or plasma TVs then, couldn't they?  Their house is like a branch of Curry's! Once again, you've gone behind my back, Daisy.  I can't bloody believe it, to be honest!"
     "Sorry, but ….."
     "And another thing, the amount that you spend on groceries is ridiculous!"
     "We go through so much food, being home all day, John."
     "You're wasting money on luxury food.  Vienettas and all sorts!"
     "How could you throw my Vienetta back at me, John? I can't believe you'd do that! You seemed happy enough at the prospect of getting your sweaty mitts on my Vienetta ten minutes ago!"
     "And who are the bloody Scissor Sisters?"

     I opened my mouth with a smart answer at the ready but John knew me too well. He raised a hand to halt me, "Please don't try to make a joke of it by telling me that they're a band."

     "My hairdresser!"

     "You spend nearly a hundred quid every time you go to the hairdresser!"

     "But it's important John. Look what happens when I don't see her." I lifted up a lock of my own hair and let it drop again in disgust.

     "It's got to stop. We can't keep spending like this. We probably won't even be on full pay for much longer . We can't spend any more this week until our pay goes in, Daisy."

     "John …... we're running low on food. I'm gonna have to ….."

     "I'll go.  But only for the absolute basics."
     "But John ….."
     "And forget the chops. Save them. I'll make do with beans on toast tonight!"