Page 66

‘Hmm,’ Alyssa replied.

‘I heard you don’t always get on with them. Small-town gossip. But if you want some friendly advice …’

Alyssa guessed she was going to get it anyway. Though in fairness, she was yet to hear the youngster say anything that wasn’t surprisingly sensible.

Emmalina pinned her with a serious look. ‘My biological dad doesn’t want to know me. I mean, his loss. Loser. I’ve got this goon, and he’s the absolute best.’ She gave Devan a quick beam. ‘But if your dad does want to get to know you again, why not give him a shot? He always seems nice when I speak to him, and he’s sweet to your mum. I like them. I wouldn’t say it if I thought they were creeps.’

Alyssa felt her eyes well up. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

Devan pulled his daughter into a bear hug.

If Alyssa had known Emmalina was going to be quite so deep, she’d have worn waterproof mascara.

Thankfully, Alyssa was granted a break from the meaningful life advice as they said goodbye to Devan and joined Sylvie for dress shopping.

‘I broke with tradition and wore a skirt,’ said Sylvie, giving them a shy twirl as she met them in the town square, which had always been their place for people-spotting over a Zinger Burger when they were teenagers. ‘I didn’t want to be typecast as the one with boring mum jeans, and Alyssa always looks so put together.’

Alyssa looked down at her fitted black trousers, pink army-style boots and rainbow knitted jumper. ‘Pre-loved,’ she whispered. ‘With social media photos, I’m embarrassed if I keep wearing the same old thing. So I grab designer cast-offs online. It’s amazing what you can find.’ She tapped her nose, conspiratorially.

‘Thanks for the idea,’ said Sylvie, pulling them into a three-way hug.

‘You look hot, Mum,’ said Emmalina, as the three of them rocked and giggled in a way Alyssa would usually have found awkward, but just seemed to work.

‘Your mum has always been a hottie,’ Alyssa confirmed as they pulled away from each other, Alyssa straightening out Sylvie’s wayward fringe and Sylvie inspecting Alyssa’s knitwear.

‘If you two would stop preening each other like a pair of monkeys, maybe we can shop?’ said Emmalina.

Sylvie laughed. ‘Did you meet my daughter? Beauty, brains and a whole lot of cheek.’

Emmalina gave a small bow.

‘I think she’s incredible.’ Alyssa meant every word. ‘She knows her mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. I respect that. She’ll go a long way.’

‘We should share tips about coaching,’ said Emmalina, nestling between her elders and linking arms with them both as she guided them towards the first dress shop. ‘Did you hear I’m going to be a football coach one day? And I know that’s not the same as a love coach, but goals are goals.’

Alyssa and Sylvie smiled at each other over Emmalina’s head as she began sharing her best advice on keeping a winning mindset.

The afternoon played out nicely, Emmalina in her element as she swished around changing rooms in various styles of dresses, Sylvie vetoing anything too low-cut or leggy, Alyssa suggesting hairstyles and accessories. Emmalina then picked out several options for the two women, who squashed themselves into one changing room like they’d always done so they could mix and swap, and warn each other if they had their skirt tucked into their knickers.

‘We definitely take up more room than we used to.’ Sylvie giggled as she ducked away from Alyssa’s elbow while she was trying to wriggle into a particularly tight dress. ‘Though your joints are bonier.’

‘They surely made the changing rooms smaller,’ Alyssa reasoned. ‘And they’ve changed the clothes sizes. I mean, who added size zero? Give a girl a break.’

‘Breathe iiiiiiin,’ Sylvie said with a snort of laughter, mimicking something Pearl Bagnor used to say on their shopping trips, adding a dress zipping action.

Alyssa swooshed open the dressing room curtain. ‘Never wear a garment that only fits if you’re breathing in,’ she said to Emmalina, with a serious finger waggle. ‘Not unless you’re willing to hold your breath until you look like a beetroot and decline all offers of food. Also, you then can’t sit down all night in case your zip pops. Devastating.’

‘Why would anyone wear clothes that are too small?’ Emmalina looked at them both like it was the most stupid thing she’d ever heard.

‘That’s my girl,’ said Sylvie, staggering out of the changing room in a dress that kept riding up like it was defying gravity. ‘I wish we’d been that wise. Anyone for tango-night trousers? Or maybe a jumpsuit.’

‘You have to get naked every time you need a wee, when you wear a jumpsuit.’ Emmalina rolled her eyes. ‘Totally bad design.’

‘Agreed,’ said Alyssa. ‘Shall we go for food, and see what clothes we can scrounge online? If I have to look at my bare bum cheeks in a changing room mirror for much longer, I might lose the will to shop.’

And with that, they abandoned the glaring lights of the changing rooms and made their way to Pepperoni Franco’s pizza place, hoping for a subtly lit booth. Alyssa gave a quick glance over her shoulder before she entered, so accustomed to checking who might see what she was up to it had become a habit – even though she didn’t feel the need to do it as much lately. Though perhaps she should, with the potential bush photo lurker on the prowl. She still hadn’t got to the bottom of that.

They settled themselves into the comfy bench seats, breathing in the gorgeous cheesy aromas and spreading out menus.