Please don’t tell him

Tensions mount after a second marriage... can Grace and harmony ever be restored?

I’m thinking of getting a tattoo,” Grace smirked at me across the kitchen table. “You can’t stop me.” I swallowed the urge to react because I knew it would only end in an argument.

“Can I have one too, Mum?” 13-yearold Mark glanced up from a magazine. “No,” I snapped. “Don’t even think about it.”

“It’s just not fair,” he countered. I didn’t know what I was going to do with Grace. Since I’d married Tony things had been getting out of hand. They’d always been close and now he was working away from home she was missing him, so I’d turned a blind eye to the tensions between us.

“As you say, I can’t stop you,”

I said quietly, “but it’s not a very good example to set, is it?” I glanced pointedly at Mark.

Two weeks passed and no tattoo appeared so I began to relax. But then she started coming in later than she’d promised. Just the odd few minutes at first, then half an hour and one awful night she came in two hours late. I’d been trying to watch TV, when I heard the front door click, then whispering and giggling. I realised Grace wasn’t alone and stormed out to face her. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?” But she was in no state to reason with. She stared back at me, eyes unfocused and reeking of alcohol. “We’re just going to play cards in my room,” she slurred. “This is my friend. What’s your name?” she asked, turning suddenly to her ‘friend’. I never did find out; they both collapsed in fits of giggles and then Grace passed out. “Don’t you ever do that to me again,” I warned the next day as she clutched her head and moaned. I should have phoned Tony but Grace begged me not to. For the next couple of weeks things went back to normal. Or so I thought... I’d just got back from work and there was a policeman at my door.

“Mrs Harrison?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to tell you Grace has been caught shoplifting.” He gestured to the patrol car where Grace sat.

“In view of her age, the store manager chose not to press charges, but it can’t happen again.”

I was furious. When he’d gone, I marched Grace through to the kitchen. “What have you got to say for yourself ?”

“It wasn’t my fault, the bracelet just, um, fell into my bag,” she whispered. “Well, he’s got to know this time, Grace. I can’t keep quiet about this.” “Please don’t tell him.” She stared down at the table, “I really am sorry.” That night when Tony rang, Grace hovered in the background trying to hear what I said to see if her secret was safe. “Mark’s fine,” I said. “Yes, she’s fine too… the odd drink and doing a bit of shopping.

“Oh, don’t worry, she got a lift back from shopping.” I was starting to enjoy myself. “Yes, she’s right here. Would you like a word?”

I handed her the phone and she nodded gratefully. From the kitchen, I heard her say, “Yes, she’s lovely. I can see why you married her.”

After a few minutes Grace had put the phone down and was sitting on the settee.

“Thanks for not telling him,” she murmured, reaching for my hand. “I promise I won’t put you in that situation again.” Something in her voice told me she really meant it this time. I had a feeling we were going to get on a lot better from now on – my new mother-in-law and me…