Page 104 of Lie For Me

Lucy’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

‘I don’t do that…I—’ Lucy hesitated. ‘Some people think life brings us what we need,’ she mumbled, remembering some affirmative quote she’d recently seen on Instagram.

‘Darling, there’s allowing things to unfold, and there’s being scared to take part.’

Valerie’s eyes pierced into her. Lucy’s mouth worked up and down like a guppy, but no words came out.

‘I remember when you were young, and there was a drawing competition to see who would help design the new school logo.’ Lucy had forgotten all about this. ‘You wanted to enter so badly,’ Valerie said, her eyes shining. ‘You did so many different designs. And in the end, you threw them all in the bin.’

‘But,’ Lucy was confused, ‘I won that competition.’

‘Yes,’ Valerie sniffed, blinking rapidly, ‘you did. Because I fished your drawings out of the bin and got Heather to hand them in for you. You wouldn’t push yourself forward for fear of not getting what you wanted.’

‘I don’t remember that,’ Lucy mumbled.

‘And you still wait to be pushed as an adult.’

Lucy’s mouth fell open. ‘I…I don’t! What?’

‘Like your little job,’ Valerie continued. ‘Your friend, Katie––

‘Cassie,’ Lucy interjected.

‘Yes, all right, Cassie told you about that job when it was just a short-term contract. And she put in a word for you with the manager and then, one quick chat later,’ Valerie clapped her hands, ‘it’s yours.’

Lucy started to protest, but her mother raised her hand.

‘And then they made it a permanent post. So you carried on with it, and I am sure you are jolly good at it and are handling all those old volunteers wonderfully.’ Lucy let it pass. ‘But it came to you. It fell into your lap.’

‘Sometimes nice things happen to nice people,’ Lucy sniffed.

‘Yes, and sometimes,’ Valerie patted Lucy’s hand smartly, ‘sometimes you need to decide exactly what you want and make it happen for yourself. Because if you don’t really play, you can’t win. That’s the difference between you, Heather and Ollie. They wade in and go after exactly what they want, and you shy away.’

Lucy was speechless.

Valerie took her hand and faced her daughter. Her eyes were moist, and she blinked rapidly.

‘Darling, I can’t pretend to understand you.’

Lucy’s heart fell to her belly, and her chin wobbled. Valerie smoothed a tendril of hair away from Lucy’s eyes.

‘You’ve always been a bit of a mystery to me. But I don’t need to understand you to love you. I—’ Her voice faltered, and she swallowed. ‘You’re my darling girl.’

Lucy couldn’t speak. There was too much to say. She gripped her mother’s hand and Valerie pressed their clasped hands to her breast and covered Lucy’s hand with her own. They sat like that for a while. Lucy could feel tears running down her cheeks.

‘I love you, mum.’

Valerie tipped her head to the side until their heads touched gently. Lucy could feel her mother quivering beside her. In a soft voice, Valerie said, ‘Yes, well…I love you too.’ She squeezed Lucy’s hand once more, then stood, brushed off her skirt and dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. ‘Now, please, tidy yourself up, and let’s have no more scenes.’

Lucy giggled snottily and wiped her nose.

‘If you’ll excuse me, I need to say goodbye to our happy couple.’ Valerie tripped off in her high heels, mistress of ceremonies once more. Kathleen was talking with James, and Lucy heard her mother exclaim, ‘What an interesting dress, Kathleen!’ as she barreled into the conversation.

Lucy sat still on the bench, the hubbub of voices in the background.

Ollie bounded over, Sophie hurrying behind him.

‘Sis, we’re going now.’ He pulled her up and wrapped her in a bear hug. ‘Thank you so much for sharing this weekend with us.’ He gave her a noisy kiss on the cheek. ‘We’ll see you soon.’

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