It's All About Him by Colette Caddle Read Free Book Online Page B

got out of her car, punched in the security code and opened the garden gate. Lisa had the five older children marching around the play area, swinging their arms and warbling in various different tones 'The Grand Old Duke of York'. Sam's face was bright and happy and the cool, fresh air had brought a healthy glow to his cheeks. And that was more important than anything. That was more important than bills and bank managers and a supercilious, unhelpful clerk in the credit union who'd looked at her as if she were a complete imbecile.
    'You had no insurance?' she'd said, her eyebrows ascending into her hairline, and Dee had felt like punching her. How dare the smug old bat judge her when she didn't know her circumstances? The bank manager had been almost as bad. He'd sighed heavily, looked grave and given her a lecture on managing her finances and finally, Dee had exploded.
    'I really don't have time for this, can you help me or not?'
    The man eventually agreed to loan her the money but had set up a very stringent payment plan and made her sign a page of conditions. 'And of course, I strongly suggest that you take out an insurance policy. We can help you with that if you want—'
    'No, I have it in hand, thanks,' Dee had lied, just desperate to escape his office.
    Waving to her son, she went into the kitchen and filled the kettle. If it wasn't so early in the day she'd have poured herself a glass of restorative wine, not that she could really afford wine any more. Dee realized she'd have to make some changes to her lifestyle and try and cut her costs although her budget was pretty tight as it was. Perhaps she could persuade Ronan to take more food although that would mean more work and there were only so many hours in the day. She made a strong cup of tea and carried it upstairs to the smallest bedroom that served as her office. There were two other bedrooms that she could easily rent out but she baulked at the idea. She had no real privacy during the day and valued it hugely once the clock struck six.
    Sitting down at her desk, she turned on her laptop and pulled up the three spreadsheets that detailed her private and business expenses. She scanned the private one first and as she suspected there was little she could do to improve her situation. The main drains on her finances were the basics like heating, phone, electricity, all necessities. She had a minute amount put aside for clothing and she used most of that for Sam; he went through shoes at an alarming rate. She switched to the Dee's Deli Delights accounts and studied the different categories. Ingredients were by far her biggest expense but there wasn't a lot she could do about that without letting the quality suffer.
    Flicking to the next screen, she looked at the Happy Days spreadsheet and sighed. It was Lisa's business, but Dee kept records of the rent, the cost of food, the insurance and an estimation of the various services and utilities used by the crèche. She knew she was definitely undercharging Lisa but apart from paying the rent, Lisa had to pay Martha's salary, supply the various materials and toys used on a daily basis, and support herself. Dee dreaded raising the subject with Lisa but she realized she couldn't afford not to. Lisa would understand when Dee showed her the figures; she'd have to.
    A shriek from downstairs had Dee on her feet in an instant. 'What is it, what's wrong?' she called as she hurried down to see what the problem was.
    Martha held up the Daily Journal while Sam danced around her. 'Guess who's in the paper!' she said.
    'We're famous, Mum, we're famous!'
    Dee laughed. 'I don't know about that, sweetheart.'
    'It's a lovely write-up,' Lisa said from the crèche doorway, 'he even gives Happy Days a mention.'
    Dee took the paper and read. It was complimentary to both the crèche and her food but Don still made her sound a bit anal in her attitude towards processed food.
    'God, listen to this: "she doesn't let her son eat chicken nuggets or