The Shrinker

CHAPTER TEN (PART-3)

Meredith's three-bedroom flat, once a council property, was cramped but tidy, dimly-lit with a warm air, cheap but homely. It was certainly a step-up from Jamie's flat, but still not much to boast about. Rather than having the studio layout she was used to, this flat had its rooms separated by doors and walls, though they were rather squeezed in.

As Meredith let her inside with a welcoming smile, the hall Jamie entered was a tiny one as she hung up her coat and left her shoes on the doormat. Stepping onto a minuscule white carpet, Jamie glanced round the place; the main room she'd walked into consisted of a black lounge sofa and a TV set on a stool with a round wooden table between them.

Meredith pointed out that the two doors on the left led to the bathroom and to her mother's room, while the two on the right led to the kitchen and to the dining room. The two doors on the far wall ahead were her own room and her brother's. Judging from the lack of space between each pair of doors, all the rooms had to be a bare-minimum size.

The tv was showing a classic detective murder mystery series. Watching it on the sofa was Meredith's mother. As they approached her, Jamie was startled to see she looked even worse than in the Facebook photos. She had even less hair, her skin was even more worn and saggy, the bags under her eyes were bigger and she seemed to've lost an alarming amount of weight. Jamie felt a chill at the sight of her.

Meredith remained bubbly and cheery, but it was obvious she was putting on a brave face, "Hello Mum, this is my new friend Jamie, the one from school I told you about. She comes across as kinda mopey and sullen, but deep down she's a big old softie and a total sweetheart."

Jamie flushed and felt a swell of happiness; still a very strange feeling for her. Meredith's mother paused the tv and glanced at them; she couldn't have been older than forty. She gave Jamie a big welcoming smile, "Hello my dear, oh-so wonderful to finally meet you. My lovely Merry's told me so much about you. I'm Angelica Archer...no, Angelica Nolan, sorry I always forget stuff like that. Thanks so much for helping my darling baby girl feel welcome at her new school."

"No probs, Mrs Arc- -Miss Nolan," Jamie quickly corrected herself. She liked the woman right away, like with her daughter, though worried by how slurred she sounded, "She almost pancaked me to death when we met, likes skinny dipping in puddles and she's kinda a clumsy airhead who should really wear warning signs, but she's ok. Weird though."

"Gee thanks, Jamie," said Meredith, rolling her eyes with a grin. Her mother chuckled weakly, then began to cough heavily. Meredith rushed to her side in alarm as she put an arm round her shoulders and messaged her chest. The coughing gradually ceased and Miss Nolan wiped her mouth. Jamie glimpsed a trace of blood as she lowered her hand.

"Mum, you alright?" Meredith asked urgently, clearly afraid, "If you need to speak to the doctors again, we can call- -"

"No no no, don't be silly Merry, I'm perfectly fine," Miss Nolan insisted croakily, looking anything but fine, "If I called them for every little thing, they'd never get a wink of sleep and they've got other patients relying on them. I don't want them put out on my behalf. Go on dear, just have fun with your friend. Feel free to make yourself at home, Jamie."

"But Mum, I really think you should- -"

"Just enjoy yourself, Merry. I won't have anymore unnecessary paranoia, you hear me?" Miss Nolan's slurred voice held a stern but kindly tone, "Besides, I must find out if my hunch about the butler murdering his mistress with the jockstrap is on the money. Don't you worry about me."

Meredith kissed her mother's forehead and stood from the sofa with extreme reluctance. Under normal circumstances, Jamie would've greatly envied this closeness between mother and daughter. Never knowing this bond had always been the most painful heartache of her life. But all she felt was pity, sympathy and a deep desire to help.