Relative Happiness Read Online Free Page B

in a circle and discussed the third act, Donalda spoke up.
    â€œI think we should change the ending.”
    Lexie hit her knee with a rolled up script. “What are you talking about? How can we change the ending if the ending has to end the way it ends? It’s called Murder by Mother . It ends with a murder. By a mother.”
    â€œHow come I always play the one who gets killed?”
    Lexie shrugged.
    â€œCome to think of it, every time I get killed in the play, you happen to be the murderer. You’ve choked me, dropped me down a well, electrocuted me in a bathtub and beaten me with a rolling pin.”
    â€œCoincidence, I’m sure.” Lexie glanced at Susan, who refused to look back.
    â€œWell, next time we do a play, I better have the lead role.”
    â€œFine. But just to warn you, we’re doing Frankenstein .”
    Lexie thought that would be the end of it, but it wasn’t. Both Todds couldn’t make rehearsal so Donalda asked Adrian if he’d read through the scene with her. It was the love scene, Lexie realized too late.
    Adrian said he didn’t mind. They walked on stage and went through their lines. Donalda was so melodramatic Adrian looked a little worried. He read his part with growing apprehension. Donalda continued her advance across the stage and suddenly threw herself on him. She grabbed his neck, pulled him down and kissed him with as much passion as she could muster.
    She hung off him. His arms were out to the sides in an attempt to balance them both so they wouldn’t crash to the floor. She stayed attached to his lips. When she finally came up for air, Adrian managed to get some leverage and shake her off.
    â€œWas it good for you?”
    â€œI’ve never experienced anything like it.”
    Donalda threw Lexie a look. Adrian threw her one too. His said “get me out of here.”

    The sun was barely up and Lexie was still in her pyjamas when she hung up the phone and fell into her old, beat-up chair by the fire. It was her personal life preserver, a comfortable nest on days like this.
    Adrian thumped down the stairs and smiled at her as he walked past the open doors of the living-room. She heard the fridge open.
    â€œAdrian?”
    â€œMmm?”
    â€œRemind me to kill myself on Thursday.”
    She heard the fridge door close. A moment later he returned with a glass of milk.
    â€œHave some consideration, Lexie. I just got here. You wouldn’t leave me already, would you?”
    â€œIt’s all about you, isn’t it?” Lexie gave him a smirk. “You’ve haven’t been here long enough to know what a soap opera my life is. That was my mother. When you meet her, it will become abundantly clear why I must jump off the nearest cliff ASAP.”
    â€œI haven’t met anyone. Am I a secret?”
    â€œI’m doing you a favour. You’ll meet them all in good time. And when you do, don’t come crying to me about it.”
    He sat on the floor pillow by the fireplace, next to Sophie, patting her thick coat. “What did your mom want?”
    She sank deeper into her chair. “It’s half price to join Weight Watchers this week. She calls me at 7:00 a.m. to tell me this.” She glanced at him. “Is your mother a lunatic?”
    He shook his head. “No. Sorry.”
    She twisted her hair around her finger. “Wonderful. You could lie to me. I wouldn’t know the difference.”
    Adrian put his glass on the nearest book. “I’d like to meet your mother.”
    â€œThey do know you’re here. I did tell them about you.”
    â€œWhat did they say?”
    The phone rang and saved her from answering.
    â€œGet that and say I’m not here. Please.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t be afraid of your mother. She’s your mother.” Adrian reached for the phone. “She can’t drag you to this weight loss thing if you don’t want to go.”
    â€œThat’s