“Chill, chica. It’s a James Bond theme. They think it makes it more exciting to be 007 rather than calling it black tie. But that’s really what it is.”
“Okay, fine. Look, I have to go. Mom only has a few hours and I’ve already devoted ten minutes of this precious time to you.”
“Yeah, well that’s ten minutes you’ll never get back.” I hear her snigger. “Call me,” she orders, then hangs up.
God, I love that girl.
I toss the phone in my purse and look at the food that arrived while I was talking to Lottie. “Wow, this looks great.” I dig in, suddenly realizing how hungry I am. I stop chewing and look up at my mom who hasn’t even picked up her knife and fork yet. She has tears pooling in her eyes, making them look glossy.
“Mom?” I question.
She smiles. It reaches right up through her cheekbones and creases her eyes, and the movement allows a tear to escape and fall down her cheek.
“I never thought I’d be able to do this.” She gestures around the table. “Just having lunch with my very grown-up daughter, talking about normal stuff and being able to look forward.” She wipes the tear away with the back of her hand. “Oh, look at me getting all silly. Take no notice.”
I cover her hand with mine. “I know, Mom. I never thought we would be able to do this together either. It’s perfect.”
“Arianna, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to think that for once in your adult life you seem to have doors opening all around you.”
I smile and nod, scared that if I open my mouth to speak, I’m going to let go of the sob that’s pushing its way to the surface. There have been too many tears shed already.
She straightens in her chair and smoothes the napkin in her lap. “So tell me what Lottie was getting all excited about.”
We chat for a few hours, normal conversations about normal things. It’s everything I have dreamed about for a long time. I find out that Mom and Brent have a new house, one that I promise to visit in the next couple of weeks to see the renovations they have going on. For now, they are staying in an apartment just outside of the main town so it’s still central for Brent to get to work. His job is obviously going great and I’m so happy that things aren’t just falling in place for me, they are falling in place for her too.
I tell her all about my new job and don’t miss the excitement in her eyes. I must get some of my passion for clothes from her. Even when we had little money, she liked to look good and would rummage in the local goodwill store to find little hidden treasures. She had an old sewing machine that she would customize things with. It used to drive me mad to hear theconstant drone in the background when I wanted to watch one of my favorite programs, but the look on her face when she has finished one of her masterpieces was worth every minute.
We argue about who gets to pay the bill. Not because neither of us wants to, it’s because both of us try to do it. I leave her at the front of the hotel, where she gets in a cab with a promise to call her within the next couple of days.
I head to my apartment, rose in hand and a smile on my face.
***
I drop my purse on the couch and stand the rose in the vase that holds the other rose Denham gave me on our first date. My aversion to roses diminishes the more I look at this one. This is prettier than others I’ve seen; more pinkish-red, and fuller petals. I know it’s the person behind the gift that I see every time I look at it, and that alone stands as a lesson. Not all roses have to signify something bad or regretful, just like not all men will treat me like shit.
I sort some of my clothes, hanging things I hadn’t gotten around to yesterday and killing time, until … well, I’m not really sure. I haven’t had a chance to develop a routine. My down time has been filled with different people, mostly Denham admittedly. I will have a definite routine next week when I start work, which I’m looking forward to, but I’m missing things that I used to do for myself. I crave independence that I used to have, but at least over the last few days I feel like I’m gaining more control and direction.
I’m eating far more than I usually would with everyone taking me out to lunch and dinner and drinking far more than I usually would under Lottie’s influence, so I grab my phone and text Denham.
Me: Can I please use the gym? Where’s the best place to buy some gym clothes?
I have a quick flick through my wardrobe, knowing I don’t really have anything suitable other than a couple of tanks, but looking anyway just in case something magically appears.
My phone dings a couple of minutes later.
Denham: The gymnasium has a sports outlet, you will find everything you need in there. Take what you need and tell them who you are. xx
I appreciate the gesture, but I’ll just pay for it myself and not tell them who I am.
Me: Thank you! See you this evening? x
Denham: You can bank on it xx
I throw my cell on the bed while I hunt around for a hair band. It dings again and I snatch it up.
Denham: You’re going to be getting all hot and sweaty without me. How am I supposed to concentrate? I’m sulking.
His text makes me laugh. I can just picture those full lips forming a pout. God, he even looks sexy in my mind when he’s pouting.
