Two months ago, I was happy and in love and we we had a new baby. Now, said love of my life has got better things to do than spend any time with her child and has jumped ship, and Amanda Jones is in MY kitchen doing MY washing up, singing sweetly to herself. As I watch her, I realise how at-home she looks here. Her hair doesn't hang as lank nowadays and the only colour in her face is from her blush, not from that dickhead's fist. I'd really like to meet him down a dark alley.
As I walk over, she drops her tone, still humming the nameless tune. I lean against the work surface and watch her for a few seconds. What is happening to me. I love Suzie, we've just had a kid together. Maybe I'm just feeling rejected by her and I'm mistaking Amanda's friendship for something more? I brush the thought away and take a deep breath.
"So that swellings gone down? Must have been some whack huh?"
Amanda immediately tenses.
"I already told you, some tins fell out the cupboard when I was putting the groceries away." She rolls her eyes and carries on drying. I take the dish from her to put away.
"Yeah and my aunt slipped on the driveway and broke her spine when my uncle pushed her down the stairs. I'm not stupid Mand, nobody's blusher stays on that long, even Miss Amanda Jones'." She laughs loudly and turns to me.
"I just couldn't bear to be on my own Keith. He knocked me around but I always thought I'd rather have the physical pain than have an empty bed every night. Which I ended up having most of the time anyway. I am so glad I got the courage up to leave him and in a way I have Suzie to thank."
At the mention of her name I unwillingly wince. My heart swells.
"She will come back for you you know. It doesn't seem like it at the moment. Everyone deals with things differently, this just might be her way of dealing with the fact that she's just had a baby."
"I know, but nobody else is allowed to do that. If I had done that as well, who would have looked after Toyah?" I look over at my little bundle of joy whose been in her bouncer for the duration of this conversation.
"It will be okay, we'll be just fine."