MIDNIGHT - HarperCollins NZ

JOSEPHINE COX
ago, and now, her mother was her life. Thankfully,
Thomas regained his health, and for that Libby was
immensely grateful. It meant she could do a couple of
hours each morning at the supermarket and get out
of the house for a while.
Eileen continued to believe that her husband Ian
would come home. But he never did, and Libby never
forgave him, as her mother’s mental health worsened.
‘Hey!’ Eileen’s angry voice shattered Libby’s thoughts.
‘Did you hear what I just told you?’
‘Sorry, Mum. What was it you said?’
‘1 said you’re not such a bad child after all,’ Eileen
replied sharply. ‘You’re just a bit mischievous at times.
So I’ve decided I won’t tell your father. At least not
this time!’
Familiar with her mother’s mood swings, Libby kissed
her on the cheek. ‘Thanks, Mum.’
‘You must never do it again, though. Or I will tell
him, I really will. And then there’ll be ructions.’
‘Oh, quick! Here he comes.’ Libby drew her mother’s
attention to the figure coming down the stairs. Libby
had never before seen the man – a scruffy, tousle-haired
individual in his late fifties. ‘Let me do the talking,
Mother.’
‘What’s going on ’ere?’ The man smiled from one
to the other. ‘You two ’aving a bit of a barney, are
yer?’ He was quick to sense the atmosphere, and
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