Page 11 of In the Long Run
‘Where are Mere and Bernie?’I ask.
‘Upstairs.’
I raise my eyebrows.
‘We need to celebrate the new caravan!’
By hiring a function room for five people?I think not.
‘Just surrender.It’ll be less painful,’ Dad whispers before kissing my cheek.
That’s true.Mum’s always been overly invested in Meredith’s and my lives, but since she’s retired, she wants to know everything about everything.And ever since Mere and Bernie shared that they’re having fertility issues – because she wouldn’t stop asking if we’d be hearing the pitter patter of little feet any time soon – my love life has been squarely in her sights.Hence why I agreed to go out with Brand in the first place.
‘This is a comfy-looking outfit,’ Mum says.Read: unsuitable.
‘Was there a reason why I needed to dress up?’I ask.
Her eyes narrow.
That’s right, old lady.I love you but the jig’s up.
Mum purses her lips as she rearranges my hair over myshoulders.She should know by now that it’s never going to look anything other than dishevelled.‘When did she tell you?’
‘This afternoon.’
Dad snorts and seems very interested in the ceiling when Mum turns to glare at him.
‘And you couldn’t wear a pretty dress?Run a brush through your hair?’
I smile beatifically.‘And you couldn’t respect my wishes about not having a party?’
Her glossy, peach-coloured lips twitch.‘You only turn thirty once …’
‘Let’s get this over with, shall we?’Dad points to the stairs that lead up to the function space with a massive deck.
Mum scampers up them, her coral linen suit with a sequined collar and cuffs not daring to wrinkle.I follow reluctantly.
‘Surprise!’everyone yells, and I’m honestly blown away by the number of people in the room.There are friends from school, which is nice but a bit odd considering we mostly keep in touch via social media these days – Caleb’s among this crew, shaking his head and mouthing something at me that I can’t understand – and my aunts and uncles and cousins.Thank God there’s no one from my last job here.Instrumental versions of popular songs are playing over the sound system and the tables are filled with big platters of my favourite foods: mini-sliders, charcuterie and antipasto.Then I see the cake.
It’s gorgeous.
Sparkly gold ‘three’ and ‘zero’ candles sit atop one of Alizée’s famous opera cakes.Hello, it’s my party and I can drool if I want to.
Mum might’ve missed the mark by insisting on this soirée, but she’s truly done her best to fill it with things and people I like.
Shit.I freeze and panic climbs my spine like it’s a ladder.She wouldn’t.Would she?My head jerks from side to side as I scanthe room.But Brand’s nowhere to be seen and I release a shaky breath, one hand fluttering to my chest.
Slowly, I make my way around the room, saying hello to everyone and – don’t tell Mum – regretting not making more of an effort with my appearance.I could’ve at least worn my favourite ankle boots and a skirt.
‘I’m not even mad about the cake,’ Caleb says, swooping me into his arms and dipping me dramatically.I swear, this man has never met a spotlight he didn’t enjoy.
‘That’s kind, considering I didn’t organise any of this,’ I reply.
‘Hey.I’m being the bigger person here.Imagine if I needed a bookkeeper and I didn’t ask you first.’
I open my mouth but he holds up a finger.‘And I didn’t even tell Eva about that guy—’
‘What guy?’Mum’s back by my side in an instant.
