Page 25 of Infinity

CHAPTER 9

DARCY

I let Mum cry in my arms for a bit longer until she calmed down a little.

Passing her some tissues to dry her face, I make us some tea but I make Mum’s a little sweeter than normal, my grandmother always did that, said the sugar helped - I don’t know how though.

I look at the time and see it’s only ten thirty p.m. Grabbing a packet of biscuits, I pop them under my arm and take those and the teas into the living room. I pass Mum her mug and sit down.

There are no words to say. We’re both upset and don’t know how to deal with Dad’s revelations.

Surely it was just said in the heat of the moment? But he has been getting worse now for a while - even I can tell that. I’ve had such a good evening with Adam and was on a high, then I came back to this.

I hate feeling like this, I don’t mean to be selfish but I just wanted a night for myself, to think of myself for a change.

“How was your date on Saturday, Darcy?” Mum asks me while wiping her nose.

“It was good,” I say smiling, but I can’t let myself be as happy as I was, it doesn’t seem fair.

“Is that who you were with tonight?” she says with a small smile.

“Yeah, it was.”

“And this is the lad you met a couple of weeks ago?”

I smile and nod.

“What’s his name again?” she asks fishing for information. If it makes her happier - I’ll tell her…

“I don’t think I told you. His name’s Adam and he’s twenty-two... and I actually really like him.” I confess shyly.

“Well then I need to meet him.”

I raise my eyebrows at her and smirk.

“Someone finally has my baby girl’s attention, I have to meet him.” Mum pulls me into her and hugs me. I smile sadly. Dad should be here while I tell them I’ve met someone but he’s not, well not in mind anyway.

We drink the rest of our tea and tell Mum I’m heading to bed as I’m exhausted. I kiss her cheek, take my cup to the kitchen, leave it in the sink then head up.

I lie there for a while. I can’t get the thought from my head that Dad really wants to die. I turn onto my side and try to get comfy but it’s not working. Picking up my phone, I flick through Facebook, boring. Without thinking, I open my text messages and send Adam a message.

ME: Hey, you busy?

I send Adam a message, he probably won’t answer though... I don’t know what it is about him but he makes me forget about my problems for a while. I wait for a few seconds when I don’t get one back, I go to place my phone on the table at the side of me when it rings in my hand… I look at the caller ID and hold my breath, as I see Adams name.

Shit, I didn’t think he’d ring! Do I answer it, or don’t I? Oh, for God’s sake Darcy man up before it rings off! Not thinking anymore, I slide across the screen and lift it to my ear.

“Hi.”

“Hey gorgeous, are you okay?”

“Um, yeah,” I say quietly, “I just thought I’d text you.”

“You miss me already?”

“A little ahead of yourself aren’t ya?!” I answer joking with him.

“Always babe, you know that.” I smile knowing that he is but that’s his way, and I’m quickly getting used to that.

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