“Nope, I decided to go the more civil route. We didn’t talk much.” I sigh heavily, not really wanting to go into details and relive the “thank you” moment yet again. “Aside from his presence, it was a really fun weekend.”
Dad reaches over to give me an encouraging pat on the hand. “Can’t have been easy.”
“I can’t believe he had the audacity to go to that wedding,” Adrian comments. “You’d think he’d have the respect to keep his head down for the summer at least and leave you alone.”
“It’s not that simple.” I shrug. “Just because we broke up, he can’t miss his friends’ weddings. As much as I wish that were the case, I’m not sure it’s very fair in the big scheme of things.”
“Have you, like, talked it all out yet?” Adrian asks, resting his chin on his hand as he leans into the camera. “Has he come over to chat or are you happy to never see him again?”
“Obviously I don’t want to never see him again,” I say, looking down at my hands. “He’s said we need space and that’s how it’s been left.”
“So, he hasn’t given you any closure,” Adrian concludes.
“No, not really.” I groan. “It feels like I don’t know him at all anymore. He seems so… fine. Would it kill him to havesomekind of reaction to leaving me after all those years together?”
“Just because someone acts as though they’re fine, it doesn’t mean they are,” Dad muses, looking out across the garden. “Trust me, he won’t be unaffected.”
“He still owes me for ruining the peacock hire,” Adrian huffs.
“The weirdest wedding gift of all time,” I comment.
Adrian grins. “Weirdest or best?”
“Weirdest,” I confirm, rolling my eyes. “Honestly, Dad, where did Adrian come from?”
“Don’t look at me. I think we can all agree that he gets his… well, let’s call it creative side from his mother.” Dad hesitates. “You two spoken to her recently?”
“She rang me when I was suffering the hangover from hell,” I inform them. “You can imagine how much better she made me feel.”
“Her voice is quite shrill,” Adrian notes. “She told me once that she likes to talk to the birds that sing in their garden. I think she’s gradually trying to match their tone.”
“She mentioned that she’s hoping to visit you in London, Freya,” Dad says, watching me carefully. “I thought that would be a very nice idea. Especially with Rachel’s wedding coming up. Might be nice to have a little get-together before then.”
“I agree,” Adrian opines. “You can give her some ground rules before the big day, like how it’s inappropriate to get up on stage with the band and perform a spontaneous song to the new bride without their permission. I hear she did that at a wedding recently with Evan’s mates; she sang a Mamas and the Papas classic, apparently. He thought she was spectacular, but I’d love to hear the bride and groom’s side of the story.”
“She didnotdo that, did she?” I groan, burying my face in my hands. “How did you even hear about that?”
“From her very lips,” Adrian informs me. “She’s been calling and I’ve been picking up.”
“Hey, I picked up that day of the hangover,” I tell him grouchily. “And it’s only recently you’ve been bothering to speak to her, so hop down from that high horse. Easy for you to encourage me to meet up with her when you’re safe across the sea.”
“It might not be a bad idea, that’s all,” he says with a shrug. “Break the ice before the wedding, so it’s not so awkward on the day.”
“Mum doesn’t do awkward. It’s always as though nothing ever happened and everything is happy-go-lucky. She’ll wear a gigantic hat and swan about the place, gushing about love and soul mates, and how wonderful everything is.”
“I wasn’t talking about her,” Adrian corrects me. “I was thinking it might be a good idea so it’s not so awkward for you. I want you to enjoy Rachel’s wedding, not feel weird around Mum. If you’ve already done the first meet in a while, it will be easier for you to relax.”
“What about you?”
“Doesn’t matter about me,” he says firmly. “I’m not the one who’s been through a big upheaval recently. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
I smile, feeling an overwhelming rush of love for my little brother. “Thanks, Adrian, but you don’t need to worry. I’m fine. Anyway, I’m not sure when I’d find the time to see Mum. I have so many weddings and hen dos this summer.”
“Who’s next up?”
“Niamh and Freddie in Dublin. Should be fun.”
“Will that Jamie guy be there?” Dad asks casually.
