‘Impressive.’
It wasn’t far from the truth. The days of her going full glam were behind her.
‘So, is Ashleigh picking your mum and dad up on the way? She’ll practically be driving past.’
‘No.’ She faced him, waiting for his commentary. ‘The plan is I’m taking Soph and picking them up in the car, which means you and the little ones are in the van.’
‘That makes no sense! None at all.’ He dumped the china into the sink, if not aggressively then certainly with a clatter. ‘Three cars, instead of ...’
‘I know! Midge. I know! I tried!’ She sighed, without the energy or inclination to have this conversation again and feeling that warm, fuzzy glow of joy dim a little.
‘Bert, Harper, get your trainers on, loves. We’re heading off in a minute,’ he called to the kids, who sat side by side at the dining table, eyes glued to the wall-mounted TV.
‘Can we watch the end of our programme? It’s nearly finished,’ Bert asked, his tone urgent, as if his life depended on it.
‘Yep.’
Midge sighed and reached for the van keys. ‘There’s always these ridiculous shenanigans. Can’t believe we’re not just all jumping into one car, like a normal family on a day out. I don’t know why you let them tie us up in knots like this.’
‘Midge,’ she implored, wanting him not to dwell on it, ‘we are not a normal family.’
‘That much I do know.’ He smiled. There it was, the slight thawing, the love, the understanding.
‘It’s just how it is! They drive me mad too!’ She wanted him to know she got it, was on his side.
‘I just wish you’d put your foot down, just once.’ He spoke calmly.
‘I know it doesn’t make sense, love. Mum insisted, and you know what she and Dad are like when they get a plan into their heads.’
‘You could always say no.’
She laughed out loud before his expression told her he wasn’t joking. And had it not sounded like pure sarcasm, she would have told him that, truthfully, she’d not thought of that. Aware that she never challenged the ridiculous, overcomplicated plans, never; aware that at a subconscious level she was always trying to please her parents, to make amends for letting them down. Every day, since she was ten years of age, trying to make them forgive her for not taking the exam and changing her life when she’d had the chance. Even though she had of course taken the bloody exam but had changed Ashleigh’s life instead.
Not that she could tell him this. Not now, with so much time having passed. It was a horrible, spiky betrayal that sat between them that she didn’t know how to fix.
She called up the stairs to their daughter. ‘Ready when you are, Soph! Don’t forget Grandad’s present, your protest placard, that kind of thing!’
‘Very funny.’ Sophie slunk down the stairs, fully dressed and looking gorgeous in mustard knitted tights, a green faux-suede miniskirt and a striped hand-knitted jumper that fell off her shoulder. Her wide, blunt fringe framed her face, and her only make-up was a dark lipstick.
‘I can joke, but honestly, little dove, Dad and I were just saying how incredible you were. We’re so proud. And you look great, by the way!’
‘Thank you. All thrifted.’ She lifted the fluted edge of her skirt and curtseyed.
‘You’re so clever, Soph. You really are.’ She loved these moments when pure pride coursed through her veins at this wondrous woman she had grown. A young woman who ran her own race.
‘Take after my mumma.’
‘Or your Auntie Ashleigh, if you listen to your nan.’ She kissed her eldest child on the cheek.
‘Haven’t seen Evie for ages,’ Sophie pointed out.
‘Me either. I’m excited!’ She hunched her shoulders, knowing that her relationship with her niece was a casualty of Ashleigh living so far away and their less than regular communication. She thought about the phone call yesterday; it had been nice, her sister reaching out to her in that way. ‘Right, gang, Sophie and I are leaving the building. We’ll see you there.’
Midge walked over and kissed her on the face. ‘See you in a bit.’ It felt a lot like forgiveness.
‘Yep, see you in a bit, my love.’
Remy pulled the car up in front of her parents’ house and Sophie ran in to knock on the door. They were of course loitering in the hallway, ready to go.
