Surprisingly, though, her mother hadn’t agreed with her husband.
‘Don’t listen to your father,’ she’d hissed in Erin’s ear as they’d slipped out of the front door. Adam had been standing a few steps away by the front gate, just out of earshot, and Erin had turned back, surprised.
‘He’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t like Adam,’ Erin had said, anger tinting her words.
‘Yes, yes, I know that. But don’t let him put you off, promise me?’ Her voice had sounded urgent, and she’d tugged on her daughter’s sleeve. ‘Your dad’s just – set in his ways. You know what he’s like.’ Penny’s eyes had been wide and staring, and Erin had wondered whether she’d had too much to drink. But then her mum had looked right at her. ‘If you really love Adam, don’t let him go. You might never find love like it again.’
The moment had lingered between them, but before Erin had been able to analyse it, or wonder what her mother had meant, Penny had let go of Erin’s sleeve and stepped away, back into the house.
‘Bye Adam,’ her mum had called as they went, waving at the pair of them as they made their way down the street.
‘Bye,’ Adam had replied, bemused.
Erin had never repeated to Adam what her mum had said that night, but it had stayed with her – and when she’d eventually left Adam, the words had niggled at the back of her mind, worrying, making her doubt her decision.
But it was all too late to worry about that now. And at least it seemed to be going better this time around, with Greg. Of course it would; Greg was a university student, wanted to be a physio or a sports coach. He was a nice boy, and clearly loved Erin. What parent wouldn’t love him?
It was as they were leaving, just before they said their goodbyes, that Penny pulled Erin to one side again as Greg was saying goodnight to her father.
‘Mum, what’s wrong?’ Erin said when she saw her mother’s face.
Penny shook her head and leaned in close to her daughter. ‘Are you happy?’ Her voice was a hiss, like a pantomime baddie trying to whisper, and this time Erin could tell for sure that her mother had drunk too much wine.
‘Of course I am,’ she said, confused.
Her mother nodded then, looking at the floor. Then she shook her head and looked at Erin again, and Erin searched her mother’s eyes, wondering what she was about to say.
‘Are you absolutely sure about Greg?’
‘Yes!’ Erin said, surprised.
‘Good, good.’ Her mum clutched her arm. ‘But does he make you as happy as Adam?’
Erin’s face clouded then, as realisation dawned.
‘Oh that’s what this is about? You think I should have stayed with Adam?’
‘No, no, not necessarily Erin. I just…’ She stopped, her eyes casting about while she searched for the right words. ‘I know how much you loved Adam. I just – I want to make certain that you’re doing the right thing.’
Erin pulled her arm away. ‘I’m absolutely positive Mum,’ she said. ‘Greg’s lovely.’ She glanced over to where her father and Greg were standing, laughing at something together in the dim light of the hallway. ‘Dad likes him. I thought you would too.’
‘I do like him Erin, he is lovely. But it’s not me or your father who needs to love him. It’s you.’
‘And I do.’
‘Good. Because I never want you to regret anything. I always want to you to be certain you’re with the love of your life.’
12
NOW
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: ‘Maps’
‘Happy Christmas!’ It was clear from the pink glow of her cheeks when she opened the door that Rose was already tipsy, and she dragged me inside, Greg following closely behind.
‘Come through here you beautiful pair,’ she cried.
Greg and I traipsed dutifully into her tiny kitchen, where assorted bottles were lined up on the worktop alongside a collection of mismatched glasses. She lifted a bottle of Prosecco and waved it in the air. ‘Fizz?’
