Page 105 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘Yeah, she did.’ Dylan gives me an encouraging smile. ‘I’ve not seen her in a couple of months, and I have to say, there’s a huge difference in her. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.’

‘The wordspleasantandmy mumdefinitely don’t go together,’ I grumble.

‘They haven’t in the past, for sure.’ Dylan nods slowly. ‘So, what do you want me to tell her? Shall I say to her to go?’

I mull this over for a few moments. ‘No. I’ll see her. Where is she?’

‘Good for you.’ Dylan squeezes my shoulder. ‘She’s at a table over by the door. Want me to come with you?’

‘I’ll be fine.’ I give him a weak smile. ‘Go and rescue your girl before those guys take their flirting to the next level.’

We glance across at Reyes, who is surrounded by a group of blokes, all completely transfixed by her. And she’s lapping it up.

‘Right, yeah, gonna have to fight my way through that lot.’ Dylan regards Reyes adoringly. ‘Good luck, Squirt. I’m here if you need me.’

As Dylan makes a beeline for Reyes, I turn my attention to the other side of the bar, and start to weave my way through the tables, giving a little wave here and there to people I recognise. It’s not until I’m nearing the end of the room that I spot her, and it’s no surprise why. She’s aged a lot in the ten or so years since I last saw her. But it’s not just that. She’s slimmer, and although she still looks prematurely old and haggard from the years of alcohol abuse, there’s something brighter and slightly more alive about her. She’s obviously dyed her hair, and she’s even wearing a little make-up. Along with her general transformation, this makes her formerly soulless eyes look more warm and human. She’s wearing jeans and a green nice-but-plain top instead of the ragged, stinking tracksuits she used to rot in from dawn till dusk. She also looks nervous.

‘Hi, Mum.’

She looks up as I greet her.

‘Liv… you’re really here… it’s so… it’s lovely to see you. You look great.’

I tentatively pull out a seat and sit down, noticing that my mum doesn’t just look nervous, she seems almost terrified. She’s also just greeted me warmly and complimented me: two previously unheard-of gestures.

‘You look well too, Mum.’ I mean this as a statement, but unfortunately it comes out as more of a question.

‘I’ve… I’ve been trying to turn myself around.’ She fiddles with her top uncomfortably. ‘You know, stop being such a waste of space.’

I know I should jump in at this stage and scold my mother for being so down on herself, but this is no normal conversation. There’s no point in denying the truth.

‘What’s brought this on?’ I ask.

‘Oh… I… umm… I just, you know, thought it was time…’

‘What do you mean you thought it was time?’

‘You know… just… stuff.’ She fiddles with her top again.

‘No, I don’t know, Mum. What stuff?’

‘It’s nothing…really… just knew I needed to change.’

‘Don’t bullshit me, Mum.’ I feel a twinge of annoyance. Despite me having made the effort to turn up here, looking like a different person, she’s reverting to her old avoidance tactics. ‘Is it a new bloke?’

‘What? No. No, not a man. Not a man.’ She shakes her head vigorously, like a toddler refusing to co-operate.

‘So, what is it then?’ I continue to probe, deciding she’s not getting off the hook that easily.

‘It’s… umm… it’s just… it’s not important… you know…’

‘Look.’ I sigh. ‘I don’t have time for this, Mum. You obviously came here because you wanted to see me. So, if you don’t want me to get up and walk away right now – and who would blame me – I suggest you spit out whatever it is you’re dancing around. Right now.’

I sit back in my seat and fold my arms to show I mean business. I might appear hard-hearted, but in view of all I know and what I had to put up with, I would be forgiven for a lot worse.

‘Yes. You’re right.’ His eyes dart around guiltily, unable to meet mine. ‘OK, I heard something.Something bad.And I realised I needed to sort myself out.’

‘Right.’ I pause momentarily. ‘And what did you hear?’

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