Page 37 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘I know. I’m pleased she’s being invited places, but she’s fifteen and I worry about her, probably a little too much actually.’
‘You’ll always do that – that’s a mother’s job. And a father’s too,’ he adds.
‘Do you have children?’
‘Just the one – Ben. He lives with his mother now though. We split up a number of years ago.’
‘Ah,’ I nod with understanding. ‘But you see him regularly?’
‘School holidays, the odd weekend, that sort of thing. It’s easier now he’s a bit older as he can travel to see me – he recently turned eighteen.’
‘Then we have something else in common – the joys of bringing up teenagers!’
Jack rolls his eyes. ‘Yup! And ain’t that fun and games!’
Barney is getting restless now; he’s smelt all the interesting scents in the vicinity, played with the friendlier dogs on the beach and is heading back to see us.
‘Right, we’d better head off. I’ll pop round later then?’
‘I’ll look forward to it,’ Jack says. ‘Same sort of time as before?’
‘Sure.’
I smile at him and give him an awkward sort of half wave as Barney and I depart across the sand together.
‘Barney, I won’t often tell you that you did the right thing by running off,’ I whisper to him as I pat his damp fur, ‘but today you were a star!’
‘What time does the party finish again?’ I ask Molly, as she looks at herself in my long mirror for what seems like the twentieth time in the last ten minutes.
‘I told you – we have to be out of the community centre by eleven, so not late.’
‘You’ll be careful, won’t you?’ I say for at least the third time.
‘Yes, Mum,’ Molly says, turning towards me now. ‘I won’t drink alcohol.’ She counts on her fingers. ‘I won’t take drugs. And I won’t have unprotected sex.’
My eyes open wide.
‘I’m joking!’ she says, grinning at me. ‘Lighten up, Mum!’
I breathe a sigh of relief.
‘You have to promise me to do the same while you’re over at Jack’s,’ she says, her eyes shining mischievously.
‘Scout’s honour!’ I answer, playing along. ‘Now, give your mum a hug.’
We embrace briefly and then the doorbell sounds downstairs.
‘That will be Emily!’ Molly says excitedly. ‘Gotta go!’
She checks herself in the mirror one more time.
‘You look lovely,’ I tell her. ‘Stop worrying.’
‘Night, Mum. Have a good time with Jack. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!’
I shake my head as she departs down the stairs. When had someone replaced my little girl with this grown-up version? She might be eager to cut her ties and head off into the adult world, but it would be a long time before I was ready to let her go.
‘Have a great time!’ I call, just before I hear the door slam. ‘And be good.’ I whisper as the door closes behind her.
