Page 28 of The Christmas Star

You think? I silently asked, reminded of my situation.

Rather than just people watch, I dug out a pen from my bag and reached for an unused napkin. I sat poised to jot down ideas for my presentation, but my brain refused to focus. I was obviously too preoccupied with Mum to think about collaboration, communication and group dynamics, so I pushed the napkin away and gave up altogether.

I swapped my pen for my earbuds and, with the sound of everyone else now blocked out, brought up Mum’s TikTok, hoping for an update. She hadn’t posted one and my heart sank. As well as garnering a few clues as to Mum’s and Jackson’s current whereabouts, it would have been good to know they were still alive and well.

Her account statistics caught my attention. Mum’s followers had grown massively, and many of them seemed to have left comments. Curious as what everyone had to say and why, I opened Mum’s video and hitting pause so I didn’t hear her ramblings over and again, I began to scroll.

‘Good for you!’ said BryonyT.

I huffed. You wouldn’t say that if it was your Mum who’d buggered off without so much as an au revoir.

‘Are you Ramp Lady?’ asked Teddybearhugs.

He or she had clearly mistaken Mum for someone else.

‘You go, girl!’ said Marissa123.

At seventy-nine years old, Mum’s long past being that.

‘Time to live your best life!’ said LindaMaeRobson.

That’s quite an assumption there, Linda. Up until Dad dying @maeveescapesthedungeon had a great life.

‘Ramp Lady!!!!’ said CatherineCooks, along with a slew of others.

Not for the first time, I wondered if Mum had a TikTok doppelgänger and exiting Mum’s comment section, I typed Ramp Lady into the search bar. My jaw dropped as video after video of Dad’s old Volvo flooded my phone screen, live action, stitched and duetted. Was there anyone’s attention Mum hadn’t attracted?

I clicked on the first image which showed Violet’s rear end, complete with registration number. My insides twisted in embarrassment at the sight of Dad’s car kangarooing up a ferry ramp; one wrong move and it would have been over the side and in the water. The chap filming didn’t just keep his distance, he laughed uncontrollably as he zoomed in on the back of Mum’s head; her bright red beret further confirming her identity. I held my breath in anticipation of Mum reaching the car deck, only to be left desperate as the video went into replay before she got there.

I returned to the search results and tapped on a second image. Filmed by someone who’d already embarked, in this shot Mum and Jackson faced the camera. They chuckled as they jolted back and forth with every vehicular judder, while I sat mortified, wondering what was so funny. I willed Mum up onto the boat for a second time, however, my viewing was again cut short.

I let my phone drop and filling my cheeks with air, slowly exhaled. The sensible part of me knew Mum hadn’t gone overboard; if she had, that would’ve been all over TikTok as well. But from what I’d seen it was clear getting Mum off the road was more imperative than ever and returning to Mum’s personal comments section, I hoped at least one of her followers agreed.

‘Loving your vibe!’ said Dorothy.

‘Cheering you on!’ said Jellybelly.

Still picturing Mum’s marsupial impression, I frowned. Why are you all encouraging her? And what’s with all the exclamation marks?

My eyes narrowed as I spotted my name.

‘Tell Erin to mind her own business. You do you. She can do her,’ said Livelaughlove. With a name like that, irony clearly wasn’t his or her forte.

‘Your daughter needs a good slapping,’ said DevonshireDave.

My eyes widened and I let out a laugh. I’d like to see you try.

There were a few more criticisms levelled my way. But I knew those calling me selfish and a bully wouldn’t dare say anything to my face. Stood in front of me, they’d be all sweetness and light. People like that much preferred to spread their vitriol from the comfort of their sofa or bedroom turned office. Or in Devonshire Dave’s case, his basement.

Jackson appeared to have attracted quite a few admirers, which I found hardly surprising. The lad had inherited his father’s looks and young girls did like a bad boy. Most commentators, however, were there to cheer Mum on and looked forward to following her journey. Pressing play I could see why; Mum was engaging.

The camera clearly liked her, and she had a cheeky grin that could brighten up anyone’s day. I tried to remember when I’d last seen her properly smile like that. I sighed, forced to acknowledge it was before Dad had died. I’d heard her giggling with Jackson, but I’d never been privy to their jokes. However, I supposed that was my own fault. Rather than encourage Jackson to hang around in my presence, I’d looked at him with suspicion and been happy to let him scurry off back home.

My thoughts were interrupted by Theo as he landed with a tray of goodies. ‘Any news?’ he asked.

I pulled out my earbuds and swiped Mum’s face from the screen. ‘Aside of Mum needing to learn clutch control, nothing. Oh, and you were right. They got on an earlier ferry.’

CHAPTER 21