JOANNA'S Pillow

Dave’s plan to win over his mother-in-law was foolproof – but was it a good idea?

- Teresa Ashby

Is that it?’ Dave asked before shutting the crammed boot.

‘Just one more thing,’ Joanna trilled and scurried back indoors.

‘You’re not having second thoughts about inviting Mum along on our holiday, are you?’ Chloe asked when Dave sighed.

‘Not at all,’ he said, even though second, third and fourth thoughts were racing through his mind.

When he first met Chloe, he’d been touched by her devotion to her widowed mother. She clearly thought the world of her.

And he liked Joanna. He just wished the feeling was mutual because Joanna was a bit aloof with him and he feared she’d never accept him in her daughter’s life.

Joanna reappeared clutching a pillow and her knitting.

‘You won’t need that,’ Dave called out. ‘Bed linen is provided.’

‘I never go away without my pillow and my knitting,’ Joanna said. ‘Do I, Chloe?’

‘You don’t, Mum,’ Chloe said. ‘She’s lugged that pillow all over the place for as long as I can remember.’

The pillow was a tatty old thing that looked as if it could do with a good wash and it smelt musty.

Joanna settled herself in the back of the car with the pillow.