Page 73 of The Vow We Made
She takes in a breath. “I’m so sorry.” Her reaction is exactly the one I get from most people when I tell them. “You don’t have to be sorry. I was lucky to have two sets of amazing parents when a lot of kids don’t get to have one.”
Her hand grips mine and when I sit up and adjust my seat with her head still in my lap, I note she’s biting the side of her lip. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“I would have told you at some point.”
“All the same, if you don’t want to talk about it—” Her worried eyes meet mine.
“I’ll tell you whatever you want,” I say honestly. “It was so long ago, it doesn’t hurt as much as it used to.”
“Did you know your real parents?”
“I did. We were a normal happy family.”
Victoria hesitates briefly. “You know, I did wonder why Will has a London accent and you don’t.”
I have to laugh. “You do know he exaggerates that accent? If you heard Simon and Esther talk, you’d know what I mean.” Her lips purse and her eyes narrow, so I clarify. “Sorry, I’m not thinking. They’re my adoptive parents, Will’s mum and dad.”
“Oh I see, so they’re not from London either?”
“Simon isn’t. He grew up with my biological father in Dorset but moved to London when he trained to become a dental surgeon.”
“He’s a dentist? Are you sure Will is definitely his?” she asks.
“Bit harsh, Vick.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, but you and your adopted dad seem to have more in common.”
If only she knew the half of it but of course, I promised my brother I’d keep things under wraps. “There’s more to Will than you give him credit for.”
She goes quiet for a second then leaps up as much as she’s able. “Oh my God, I’ve just remembered the place Mum and Dad used to take me as a little girl. Swanage!” Her beautiful face beams with childhood memories.
I laugh when I remember, “If I was good, I got a trip to the Swanage arcades.”
“The penny slot machines, I loved those.” Tiny dimples appear at the top of her cheekbone and together with her high-pitched squeal, bring out the kid inside. “It was the only time I was allowed candyfloss,” she dreams. “And you lived there, you lucky thing.”
“Wewerelucky. Dad and I used to fish or hunt for fossils on the beach. We’d have fish and chips on a Friday, then go to the pub and sit outside until it was dark. My parents knew everyone because my father was the local GP.”
“And you followed in your father’s footsteps,” Victoria says.
“I always wanted to be a doctor, ever since I was a boy. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”
“And what about your mother?”
“Mum was involved in everything locally but especially the WI. She was always organising events or baking cakes to sell. Every time I smell a baking cake it reminds me of her.” I’m quiet while I dwell on my memories, then tell her, “My real mum was amazing but also a little bit crazy. She made me laugh, even when I was a moody little sod and she’d do stupid things to bring me out of it. I loved her so much and she was the life and soul of my world. We were a busy, happy family and in a way, it was an idyllic childhood.”
“What happened?” she whispers as if too scared to ask.
I swallow the burning sensation to the back of my throat. To this day, I find it difficult talk about my beautiful mum without the ache of missing her.
“Mum was dancing around the garden and singing at the top of her voice.” I smile. “Then somehow, she managed to slice her bare foot open on a rusty nail and to cut a long story short, she developed sepsis. It quickly spread through her body and within a week, she died.”
Victoria fans her fingers with mine, firming her hold while I’m transported back in time. “My dad was always so stable and level-headed. To me, he was the strongest man I knew, but when we lost her, he fell apart. He turned to alcohol soon after. It cost him his job, and in the end, his life. He died a year later when his car collided with another. It was his fault. He was drunk, but you know, I’m sure he planned it that way.”
Victoria moves herself up and lies against my chest. She pulls the hand she’s now gripping, to her mouth and kisses my knuckles before pressing my fingers to her cheek. I kiss the top of her head when she sighs, “I’m so sorry Aiden.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about and don’t feel sad for me. I consider myself lucky to have my godparents. I already thought of them as family and because I had no other relatives they legally adopted me. That’s how I ended up here in London.”
“And they were Simon and Esther.”
