With her confusion growing, Flick accepted her second gift of the day.
“It’s just a little soirée I’m putting together to welcome you to our village, nothing fancy.”
Flick looked down at the envelope. Rather than wining and dining her guests, she considered, surely the money would be better spent on upgrading their amenities? Not that Flick was allowed to point this out, not if her mother’s continued expression was anything to go by.
“I know it’s short notice,” the woman continued, “but everyone is so excited to meet you.”
“Thank you, I think.” Flick struggled to get her head around why anyone would be interested in her and her mother. “It’s not like we have anything else on, is it, Mum?” she said, not sure what else she could say.
Brenda nodded, her smile still strained.
“Fabulous. Now I shall leave you both to enjoy the rest of your day.” Heading for the exit, the woman paused, returning her attention to Flick. “I’m Julia, by the way.”
“Julia,” Flick replied. “Pleased to meet you.”
Watching their unexpected visitor leave once and for all, Flick waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. “That was a bit weird,” she said finally, her eyes still on the door. She recalled the previous day’s chap with the Jack Russell, remembering he was a bit odd too. “I wonder if there’s something in the water.”
She turned to her mother. “And what’s got into you? You looked like you couldn’t get rid of the poor woman quick enough.”
“Rubbish,” Brenda said, getting back to her coffee.
“Oh, come on. It was obvious you didn’t want her here. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Irrespective of any denial, Flick wasn’t buying it. She knew when her mum was being less than truthful. “Mother?” When it came to Sunday names what was good for the goose and all that.
Brenda’s shoulders suddenly dropped as she let out a relenting sigh. Picking up both their cups, she indicated they should sit down.
Doing as she was told, Flick took a seat at the table and waited for her mother to speak.
“I wish your father were here,” she said finally.
Seeing the desperation in her mother’s eyes, Flick felt her heart break all over again. “Me too.”
Brenda took another deep breath, as she glanced around the room. “It wasn’t meant to be like this.”
Flick had to agree. Life could be so cruel sometimes. “I’m sorry, Mum.”
“Why do you keep saying that? What have you got to be sorry for?”
“For not being there for you like I should have been. For being so wrapped up in my own problems that I didn’t properly see you were still hurting.”
“Don’t be daft. These last twelve months have been tough for the both of us.” Brenda reached out with a comforting hand. “The last thing I want is you feeling guilty when you’ve nothing to feel guilty for.”
Flick sat there silent, her mum’s kind words doing nothing to ease her regret.
“Remember how he used to say you were his little princess?”
Flick smiled. Of course she did. From when he read her fairy tales when tucking her into bed at night, to the Disney movies she’d always loved so much, her dad had called her that for as far back as she could remember. Even when she grew into a stroppy teenager and then a young woman, she’d been his little princess. “He always did know how to make me feel special,” she said. She wished he was still around to make her feel special again. “Thanks to Matthew, I’ve forgotten what that feels like.”
“Yes, well, as much as we said we wouldn’t talk about him, it’s because of your relationship with Matthew that we’re here.”
“I know,” Flick replied, not that she was ready to thank him for it.
“No. You don’t.”
Flick’s expression turned quizzical. “What do you mean?”
