Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Yes, I’ve been seeing him,” I answered my sister at last.
“But the apartment—”
“Will be fine. I’ve signed a year’s lease, so even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll still have a place to live.”
“Okay, well, that does sound a little better. You really like him, then?”
I nodded, my cheeks flushing.
“I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell me from the beginning?” Mam grumped, and her persistent irritation inflamed my anger. I wasn’t sure what it was. Perhaps all the past times she’d acted inappropriately with my boyfriends over the years had finally come to a boiling point.
“Oh, you don’t, do you? Well, shall I jog your memory, then? You came onto him at the pub after Dad’s funeral, and considering how you typically behave when you meet my new boyfriends, it shouldn’t come as a particular surprise that I’d want to avoid that.”
Frances’ mouth fell open, her blue eyes flaring in shock that I actually just said that to our mother. I was in a little bit of shock myself. I certainly hadn’t planned to say all that, but I just couldn’t keep it in anymore. It actually felt relieving to get it out. Even if I’d made Mam mad by telling the truth. She needed to hear it.
“Well, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I did not come onto him after the funeral. I was merely trying to pay my condolences since his mother had just passed away. Honestly, Ada, this is crazy talk.”
“It’s not entirely crazy, Mam,” Frances interjected quietly.
Her eyes flashed to my sister. “Pardon me?”
“Oh, come on. You know you’re a flirt. Sure, you were almost sitting in Glen’s lap the first time you met him.”
At that very moment, Glen returned to the kitchen carrying the triplets’ empty dinner plates. Hearing what Frances said, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets, his cheeks flaming as he turned around and walked straight back out of the kitchen. If I weren’t so incensed at Mam playing dumb about her behaviour, I might’ve laughed.
“I was not sitting in his lap,” she argued.
“You flirt with all our boyfriends, Mam. It’s just something you’ve always done.”
Mam’s face turned bright red, and she looked lost for words. I almost felt bad for her, but it was her own fault for continuing to push me for information when it was obvious I didn’t want to talk about Jonathan.
“If that’s how it’s come across to you both, then I’m sorry. It’s just my personality. I like talking to men, but I would never dream of trying to get that kind of attention from my daughters’ own partners.”
I was highly sceptical of that, but the crazy thing was, it could be true. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of her flirting was all subconscious, and she didn’t even realise she was doing it. Either way, I really didn’t want to fight with her about it. Especially not on Christmas Day.
“Look,” I relented. “I’m sorry for lying about last night. I guess I’m just a little protective over this new relationship. I really like Jonathan.”
“Oh, Ada,” Frances said, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “That’s wonderful.”
“I want things to work out.”
“And they will,” Mam put in, seeming to have calmed down a little. “The man was smitten with you even back at the funeral. I could tell by how he looked at you. I even mentioned it when I spoke to him at the bar. I promise I would never try to jeopardise your relationship.” She fell quiet and sniffed, staring down at her hands and seeming a little embarrassed. “And now that I’ve been informed how my behaviour comes across, I’ll try to adjust it going forward.” She glanced between the two of us. “I’m really sorry.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault you’re more gorgeous than your own daughters,” Frances said in a clear effort to soothe her tender feelings. It worked because a small smile shaped Mam’s lips. “It’s no wonder we’ve felt threatened by you over the years, eh?”
“Well, I guess beauty really can be a curse sometimes,” she said with a small grin, and I had to resist the intense urge to roll my eyes again. Frances was over egging the omelette a little because I personally never felt threatened by Mam, just irritated and embarrassed, but if it helped cheer her up to imagine it, then what harm could it do?
A small quiet ensued, and then Glen reappeared with the plates. “Is it safe to come in now? Have you all made up?”
I chuckled, and Frances smiled at her husband. “Yes, darling. It’s safe to come in.”
***
That night, I packed a small suitcase in preparation for Jonathan’s and my trip to Cork in the morning. My stomach was full of butterflies and excitement to be spending time away with him, just the two of us. I was also excited to attend the wedding, even though I hadn’t met the couple yet. I’d only been to a handful of weddings over the years, but I’d always been a sucker for the misty-eyed look on the groom’s face when he saw his bride walking up the aisle for the first time.