I raised an eyebrow. “We can try.”
My mind shot back to that day at Alexandria, outside Candela’s house. Even though we hadn’t spoken since then, I thought about her constantly. I had long since given up trying to make amends, but I couldn’t ignore her birthday.
“Well, what have we got to lose?” said Lucy, tapping her number.
“Fingers crossed she’ll pick up,” I said.
“Hey, Lucy.” To our surprise, Candela answered almost right away.
“Hi, stranger,” said Lucy. “I’m here with Audrey.”
“Hey, Candela,” I said cautiously.
“Hey,” she replied brightly. There wasn’t a trace of hostility in her voice, and it made me feel hopeful.
“Happy birthday!” Lucy and I chimed in unison.
She laughed. “Aw, thanks guys.”
“We miss you,” said Lucy.
“I miss you both too,” she said. There was a hint of sadness in her voice. It was her first birthday without us. “So what are you guys up to?”
Lucy told Candela about her uncle’s house and how we would be house-sitting in the near future. “You know, you can crash here whenever you want.”
“Thank you,” said Candela. She sounded touched. “Maybe I can come and visit you both when you’re settled in.”
“You’re welcome anytime,” said Lucy.
“I have to get back to work now,” said Candela. “Thanks for the call.”
“You’re working on your birthday?” I asked.
“Yeah, double shift,” she said, with a sigh. “I’m just on my lunch break.”
“Okay, we’ll let you go, then,” said Lucy. “It’s good to hear your voice, Candela.”
Later that evening, I brought my parents up to speed about the exciting events of my day. As a tactical move, I told them about the internship and possible job offer first.
“That’s wonderful, honey,” said Dad, beaming at me.
“Congratulations, Audrey,” said Mum. She looked genuinely happy for me. “Maybe a good time to go for your driver’s license?” This was something I had been putting off, despite Mum’s constant nagging. The idea of being in control of a dangerous hunk of metal while in the throes of a panic attack was a scenario that I did not want to find myself in.
“Actually, Lucy’s uncle just accepted a job offer in Paris, and she’ll be house-sitting for him while he’s away. It’s a big house, and it’s really close to the See! Sydney office, about a ten-minute walk,” I said in a rush, watching my mother’s face transition from its calm, placid state to something that did not bode well for me. “Lucy says I can move in with her and—”
“No,” Mum said. She put her fork down. “You’re too young to be living out of home, Audrey.”
“I’m eighteen!” I stood up, my chair loudly scraping the floor. “Most of my friends are leaving home.”
“And look how it’s turned out for Candela.”
“Don’t bring her into this. I’m not Candela, Mum.”
“How do you think you’ll support yourself? On an internship? How about rent and bills?”
“Lucy says we don’t have to pay rent. And I can apply for a grant while I’m on my internship or get a part-time job.”
“Audrey, you can barely take care of yourself. Maybe in a few years.”
“A few years?” I cried, stunned. “Mum, I am not an invalid! Besides, I don’t even need your permission, anyway.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Dad?” I looked over at him, my eyes pleading. “It’s only house-sitting; I’m not going to be there forever.”
He sighed and looked at Mum. “Audrey’s right, Edwina. The girls are just house-sitting.” I felt a tiny flicker of hope flare up in my chest. “Maybe it might be good for Audrey to get out there and learn a thing or two about responsibility.”
She glared at him.
“And it’s not too far away.” He kept his tone light and jovial. “I’m sure she’ll be back with her laundry every other day.”
My mother looked from my dad to me. Then she stood up abruptly and pushed her chair back. “You’re too soft on her; you always have been,” she said to my dad. She picked up her plate—with half her meal still on it—and took it into the kitchen. I could hear the sharp clatter of the plate hitting the kitchen sink, then the sound of cupboard doors and drawers opening and slamming shut. My dad and I exchanged a look.
“No wild parties,” he said, as a huge grin broke across my face. “You’re living in someone else’s house, so you have to treat it with respect.”
“Dad!” I said, rushing to his side of the table and throwing my arms around his neck.
“Also,” he continued, “I want you to visit your mother at least once a week—I’m serious, Audrey,” he said when I let out a groan. “And you have to find a way to support yourself financially. No handouts from us.”
“Okay,” I said happily. I couldn’t wait to call Lucy and tell her the good news.
Mum came out of the kitchen and looked at the two of us crossly. She had a handful of assorted kitchen utensils in her hands. “I suppose you’ll be needing these,” she said, laying them out on the table. “I don’t want you girls living off pizza and burgers.”
I leapt up and threw my arms around her. “Thanks, Mum,” I said, kissing her on the cheek. My dad smiled at her and shrugged.
“Looks like our little girl is growing up.”
Twelve
“I noticed you’re not wearing your rubber band today,” said Ida. It had been almost three months since I last saw her. I had been doing so well lately we were able to scale back our sessions.
I glanced down at my left wrist. “I must have forgotten it today,” I said with a shrug. I sat down in the chair and dropped my brown leather satchel by my feet. It was a gift from my parents when I began my internship at See! Sydney.
“That’s a great sign, Audrey.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded and smiled. “How have you been? The last time we spoke, you had just started an internship at a magazine.”
“I’ve been great,” I said. “I was offered a full-time position last week.” I reached into my bag, pulled out a business card, and passed it across the table. “Sam, my editor, got these cards printed up for me.”
“Audrey Field, Journalist,” said Ida with a smile. “Good for you, sweetheart. What an amazing achievement for someone your age.”
“Thanks. I got lucky.”
“And you’re living out of home now, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “I’m house-sitting with my friend Lucy.”
“How has that been?”
“Wonderful. I don’t have to put up with my mother on a daily basis anymore.”
“How does that make you feel?”
“Like a huge weight has been lifted,” I said, with a happy sigh. “I feel like I can relax and be myself. The other day I sat in my room and ate a whole pack of mint cookies just because I could.”
Ida laughed. “Sounds like quite a revelation you had there.”
“One of many.”