Read Lola's House (Lola Series) for Free Online Page A

children, you know that.’  She nods her head to confirm this.
    Inside I recoil in horror while trying to keep an expression of serenity on my face , which takes some doing.  I can’t think of anything worse than having my Margaret-Thatcher-a-like mother, prowling round my shop, moving things and bossing everyone around.  ‘Thanks, mom, but we are pretty well covered at the moment.’
    ‘Yes, well the offer is there.’  I sense her bristling from the rejection and I try to ignore it and quickly change the subject.
    ‘The house is coming on well, mom.  Although I have to get all the electrics redone, Ned said they were worn out.’  Okay, I know they weren’t his exact words but I d on’t want to give her a heart attack, do I?
    ‘That’s nice, although it sounds like a lot of work and a lot of money.  I don’t know why you don’t just sell it, Lola, it’s far too big a house for one person.  It’s a family house,’ she says, forking a chunk of lamb carefully from her plate.
    I pause , chewing my food slowly. I can’t believe we are back to this again.  ‘I don’t want to sell the house.’ 
    ‘I was just saying to Alexander, last time I saw him that it was too big a job for you and he agreed with me.  He said he would come over and stay with you to discuss some options.’ She looks at me pointedly.  ‘It wouldn’t hurt you to give him some of the proceeds when you sell it, for all the trouble he goes to for you.  You know he needs the money for his business.  He’s working so hard trying to build it up.’ 
    My mother th inks Alexander should have inherited the house and the money when Gran died as he is the only male grandchild in the family.  And there was me thinking that it was just the house that was Victorian, and not that we are living in the Victorian era. 
    ‘I’m not selling the house, mom.’ I c an feel myself start to get really irritated.  We’ve had this conversation many times before and it never ends well.  ‘I seem to remember Gran left Alex a substantial sum of money, what happened to that?’
    ‘Don’t be flippant, Lola, your brother is struggling at the moment what with the economy and quantitative easing and everything.  But he’s willing to take some time out of his business to come and help you.’
    I frown at her and think yeah right.  ‘My business is struggling too, mom, the economy has affected everyone, not just Alex.  The only thing he wants to help me out of is my money.’
    ‘That’s enough, Lola.  Honestly, this is what your poor brother gets for offering to help you?’  She replace s her knife and fork again, her facial features rigid.  ‘He said he would call you soon so try not to be so ungrateful.’
    I sigh yet again.  I know it’s a losing battle so there’s really no point arguing with her.  ‘Look mom, can we just eat our meal and not talk about it please?’
    She purses her lips together like a cat’s arse, and the rest of the meal is eaten in silence until Malcolm gets home and lightens the mood.  He gives me a massive hug and sits down to eat his meal.  Mom disappears into the kitchen to tidy up and leaves us alone.
    ‘I’m guessing by the atmosphere when I came in she has been giving you a hard time again.  What was it about this time?’  He gr inds black pepper onto his casserole followed by an extraordinarily large amount of salt.
    ‘The house, she wants me to sell it and give some of the money to Alex.’
    He blows out a big breath, shakes his head and reaches over to hold my hand.  ‘Don’t take it to heart, Lola, I don’t think she means any harm.’
    ‘But why does she always have to have a go at me, every time I see her for goodness sake.’  I lean my elbows on the dinner table in defeat , but then remove them quickly in case mom spots me through the doorway.
    ‘She does care - she just has a funny way of showing it.’
    ‘Very funny if you ask me,’ I say, tucking into dessert which has now