“Apparently it’s all their fault.”
It always was. He would flit from job to job depending on what he wanted to do next. I couldn’t fault him for wanting to find if there was something out there he was passionate about but Mum couldn’t support them both on her low salary alone.
She took a sip of her vinegar smelling white wine. Drinking on her own. My mum was the classiest chick. To be fair though, she wasn’t a big drinker at all. The odd bottle of wine was saved for the many, many times she and Dad broke up.
Clenching my teeth, I took the glass off her. “Mum, put that down and talk to me.”
“I don’t know what to say, Nell. I can’t get through to him, it’s like talking to a brick wall sometimes.” The familiarity kicked me in the stomach. I put the glass down before I dropped it. “Work wouldn’t let him take extra holiday, on top of what he’s entitled to, so he quit,” she said, throwing her arms up in the air. “Just like that. Like we don’t have bills to pay.”
“Is that why you’re so upset? Did you… Did you…argue?”
“When he came home early, he tried telling me he had a half day. As if I can’t read the signs by now. I knew, so I confronted him. He gave me the usual drivel about how I never support him and if I was going to constantly be on his back he’d leave.”
“And you told him to leave.”
Their arguments never changed. They may occasionally be about different things other than Dad’s jobs and money but the cycle was the same.
“Bloody right I did. I’m not asking for mansions and diamonds, Nell, but if we’re a partnership, I expect him to pull his weight and do what’s best for us both.”
And here we go, time to start slagging each other off.
“You’re right, Mum, but you know how he is. I don’t see how you can continue complaining about something you know is going to repeat itself.” Growing up with my parents had taught me that you have no place moaning about something you’re not willing to change. Or at least try to change.
“I thought we were trying,” she said, getting defensive.
I felt like bashing my head against a wall until I drew blood. Actually every single conversation I’ve had with her about his was like doing exactly that. My weekend in Scotland made me feel like I was floating but thanks to my parents I’d fallen right back down to the ground with an almighty crash.
“When did he leave?”
“Friday.”
“Why didn’t you mention it when I spoke to you?”
“You were going away, I didn’t want to spoil your weekend.”
I would’ve fainted if I wasn’t sitting down. Not once in my life had she ever not bitched Dad out because she thought it would taint anything in my life. They both usually let rip without a care in the world, not giving a shit what it did to me to hear them say such horrible things about the other.
“Oh,” I replied. This was new territory and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. Did I thank her? Tell her not to be silly? “Have you spoken to him since?”
“I tried calling this morning but he cut me off. I just don’t know what he’s thinking but I know I’ve had enough.”
Right, it wasn’t like I’d heard that a thousand times before.
“Enough of your dad’s drama though, tell me about Scotland. Did Chloe and Logan like the castle? Bit fancy, hey?”
I was ready to change the subject too, it was giving me a headache. “They loved it. The room they’ll get married in isn’t that fancy really. It’s gorgeous and they’re happy.”
“Well, that’s all that matters in the end. All I got was a rush wedding in a register office.”
Smiling tightly, I nodded. Surely the where didn’t matter? And she fucking said yes! “Yeah, I’m looking forward to their big day.”
“What about that boy you went with. Damon?”
“What about him?”
“Are we going to get to meet him soon?”
Absolutely no way. I clamped my mouth closed so I wouldn’t laugh in her face. My family was definition of dysfunctional and I didn’t want anyone to see that. Pigs would fly and hell would freeze over before I brought him back to meet my parents.
“Probably not, Mum, we’re not together.”
“I don’t see why not.”
If she looked in the mirror she would understand.
Shrugging, I shifted my legs and reach over for the bag I’d brought with me. “I’m young still. I have plenty of time to settle down. Here, this is for you.”
She took the bag with a smile on her face. “You didn’t have to get me anything. All I want is you home safe and sound.”
“One of them is for Dad but you can choose which one you want.”
She tipped the magnets onto her hand and laughed. How she was genuinely pleased with a shitty fridge magnet I had no idea. “Thank you, hunny, I’ll take the man in the kilt.” I thought she might, it was blowing up with the wind. You couldn’t see anything decent though.