Free Mya

13 (or 12 A if you prefer), in which Alison continues trying to sort stuff out

One Saturday, I took Topaz and went to see Daniel's parents, Nina and Max. I knocked on their door. They both answered the door and stared at me.

"Good morning. My name is Alison Brendon. I was at your grandchildren's christening. I e-mailed you."

Nina spoke first.

"Ah, Ms Brendon. Yes. We have wondered whether you were going to turn up, uninvited."

"I'm sorry about that, but I waited for weeks and you didn't invite me. Or Mya, or Topaz. So I have brought Topaz to you."

"Come in. We can spare you a couple of hours, but we really must insist you leave by midday. We have guests arriving at one."

They ushered us in. Max offered to make a pot of tea.

"Will Earl Grey do?" he asked.

Bliss! Civilised people!

"Is the little girl thirsty? We have some tooth-friendly drinks that we give to Hyacinth's children."

"Er, she's asleep at the moment," I pointed out. "And I have a bottle with me, milk that Mya has expressed."

"Do you take lemon or milk? I think we even have some of the soya milk that Cin left behind after her last visit."

"That went off, dear," said Nina. "We had to throw it out. Next time, we will decant it into an insulated bottle and make her take it with her. If she is still claiming to be dairy intolerant next time she deigns to grace us with her presence."

"I think Earl Grey tastes best with a slice of lemon, if you have any."

Max headed off to the kitchen.

Nina and I sat in silence.

"So, this is your granddaughter."

"Ah."

"You don't seem to have seen her for a few months. I wondered if you were having problems trying to communicate with Mya. So I thought it would be useful if I just came to see you. With Topaz. Your grandchild."

"We haven't tried to contact Mya," said Nina.

"Oh."

"Our daughter has kept us informed. We are satisfied that Mya and her child are being taken care of. She assures us that there are no financial issues."

I wasn't sure what to make of that statement.

"Yes, you are correct. Mya and Topaz are not short of money."

Max returned with a tea tray. The teapot was bone china; the matching teacups were dainty and had matching saucers. There were biscuits and the promised tooth-friendly drink for Topaz. Max poured the tea. Topaz was still asleep, so her drink stayed on the tray. I picked up a biscuit.

"We're not being irresponsible," said Nina.

"We would intervene if there was a problem," said Max. "Daniel would not want the girl or her child to go hungry, however angry he was about her lesbian relationship with your friend."

He said it as if he were blaming me!

"It shows a real lack of gratitude," said Nina. "He did everything he could for that woman and she couldn't even keep her knickers on. In his own home, for crying out loud. In their bed. The bed that he bought. She's contributed absolutely nothing to their finances."

"Yes, yes, so you're angry."

"I wouldn't say I was angry," argued Nina.

"It's not Mya's fault she had no money to pay for the bed."