“In a couple of days.”
Having hoped to delay the inevitable for as long as I could, it was good to know I had at least a little breathing space before dealing with Mum.
“Which is why…” Leo said.
“Yoo hoo!”
I cocked my head. “What’s she doing here?”
Leo suddenly came over all guilty looking.
I glared at him. “You invited her?”
He nodded.
“How could you? Talk about going behind my back.”
“It’s only me,” Mum called out.
Leo put the last of the dishes on the draining board. “Someone had to make the first move.” He tipped the water from the bowl into the sink. “And it didn’t look like either of you two were going to do it.”
“But still.”
Leo looked at me, his eyes pleading. “Come on, Tess. I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing. Wedding or no wedding, it’s not like I’m going anywhere, and Mum and Dad would still want to meet your lot. If you can’t do this for yourself, or even for my parents, then, please, do it for me.”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked. In all the time I’d known Leo, he had never asked much of me, and I told myself that, as such, the least I could do was listen to what my mother had to say. “Okay,” I said, my voice low. “But she better be here to apologise.”
“Thank you.”
Mum appeared in the doorway. “Can I come in?”
I turned to face Mum, surprised to see her on her own. “No Dad?”
“No, erm, he’s busy tonight.”
“Playing golf, is he?” As the tic appeared under Mum’s eye, I knew my question was mean, but after what Mum had done, I couldn’t resist.
Leo whispered in my ear. “Play nice.”
The tic sped up, before Mum waved my question away. “I’m not here to talk about your father.” She sat down at the table and gathered herself. “I’m here to say sorry.” Her regard went from me to Leo. “To both of you.”
Leo set about making a pot of tea, while I took a seat opposite Mum. “Go on.”
“You were right to be upset.” She looked down at her hands while she spoke. “You made it clear that you wanted a small wedding, and I didn’t listen.”
“No, you didn’t,” I said.
“I should never have invited all those extra guests.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“Or booked Gregbrook Manor without discussing it with you first.”
I scoffed. “You got that right.”
Mum, at last, lifted her head. She stared at me direct. “You’re not making this easy.”
“No, Mum. I’m not.”
