Page 4 of Time To Learn

“I thought you’d have left by now, Laura,” she says, her eyes raised in question as she wipes her feet on the worn mat. Sally, her old border collie, trots towards me, and I bend down to scratch herears.

“So did I, Mum. But Ailith needed her lucky jeans and she couldn’t find them.” I roll my eyes and snort.

Mum chuckles as she hangs up her oilskin jacket on thepeg.

“Ah, Isee.”

I wrinkle my nose as I walk to the table in the middle of the room and pick up the coffee pot, shaking it a bit. I manage to suppress the sigh that wants to erupt from my mouth this time even though I almost want to weep when I find the pot empty. Empty.

“I thought the pre-teen years wouldn’t start for at least another four or five years.” A sense of foreboding about the future settles in my heart.

“Well, Ailith isn’t like other children her age. You knowthat.”

My eyes spring to her face at the tone of her voice, wondering if she’s yet again conveniently forgetting that we don’t ever mention the past. Her profile is turned away, though, as she walks to the kitchen sink to wash the grime from the stables off her hands, and I let itgo.

“Will you be home for lunch?” she asksme.

Relieved to hear the lightness is back in her voice, I force the unhappy thoughts from my mind and shake myhead.

“No, we’re going to take a stroll around town while we’re there. Do you need me to pick up anything foryou?”

I lean a hip against the kitchen counter and drum my fingers on the old rocker next to me, impatient to get a moveon.

“You mean, do I need a new book, hmm?”

Smiling as she half turns to smirk at me, I shrug, a bit sheepish she caught me out—again.

“Maybe.”

She shakes her head lightly.

“No, thank you, lass.” She wipes her hands and then points a finger at her purse on the table. “But there’s a tenner in my wallet—please take that and treat you and Ailith to a trinket ortwo.”

“Mum,” I protest. “You can’t keep spoiling us likethis.”

“Oh, shush,” she tuts. “Of course Ican.”

I smile warmly at her, touched by her gift. It’s no use trying to fight her on this. I know my protestations will fall on deafears.

Wenn Sophie Turley doesn’t take no for an answer.

I pick up her purse and open it to grab the note, putting it in my jacket pocket.

“Mum, I’m ready now,” Ailith calls as she bounces down the stairs, and I give Mum a quick wave as I turn to leave.

“Right, we’ll be off. See you later.”

“Have fun, you two! Do try to find a man to invite home for dinner this time, Laura.”

Shaking my head at Mum’s usual goodbye, I take Ailith’s hand in mine and smile down ather.

“Come on, let’s get going.”

As she smiles up at me, I breathe a small sigh of relief that she’s forgotten her bad mood already. I open the door, crossing my fingers that my ancient Beetle will start this time without coughing and spluttering like an old goat. Ailith turns just before we’re out the door and waves atMum.

“Bye, Gan-Gan!”

“Bye, sweetheart,” Mum laughs at Ailith’s made-up name for her and waves back ather.