“I have tried. It’s getting her to listen that’s the problem.”
Marianne gave me a gentle smile. “Then try again.”
Chapter 50
Leo and I sat in our back garden, a cafetière of strong coffee to hand. We yawned as we soaked up the sun, neither of us having had a great night’s sleep. Worried about that morning’s overdue and potentially difficult conversation with Mum, I’d tossed and turned for hours, which, in turn, had kept Leo awake. And while Leo looked as tired as I felt, Otis pootled about the flora and fauna, sulking on account of him having had to take his morning constitutional in the garden instead of enjoying a long ramble in the countryside.
Leo and I let out a sigh, picked up our cups and drank.
“How are you feeling?” he asked. “About talking to Patricia?”
“Nervous. Worried she’ll take things the wrong way.” I recalled Marianne’s insistence that Mum wouldn’t only listen, she’d understand. “Concerned she won’t hear a word being said.”
“I know it doesn’t always feel like it.” Leo reached out and put a hand on my arm. “But I am on your side.”
I nodded. “I know. I just sometimes wish you’d–”
“Yoo hoo!”
Leo and I sat up straight, gathering ourselves at the sound of Mum’s voice.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Leo said. “Because if you’re not…”
Again, I nodded.
“It’s only me!”
I took a deep breath as Mum’s dulcet tones made a part of me wish I’d ignored Marianne’s advice.
Having let herself into the house through the front door, Mum stepped out into the garden from the kitchen. She smiled at the sight of us. “And how are you two this morning?”
I hadn’t been face to face with Mum since our evening with Bill and Grace at the restaurant. “Okay,” I said. “Considering your antics the last time I saw you.”
Mum’s face fell. “About that night. Please, let me start by saying I’m sorry.”
“Really?”
Mum might have looked sincere, but there was no guarantee of that being the case. I indicated an empty chair and she joined us at the table.
“Yes, really.” She hung her bag on the back of her seat and sat down.
“Drink?” Leo asked, gesturing to the cafetière.
“Oooh, please.”
While Leo headed inside, only to reappear with another cup, Mum continued with her apology. “I don’t know why I behaved the way I did. It was very disrespectful. To you two and to Grace.”
“You got that right,” I said, although I had to admit that on the night in question Grace had been equally as bad.
“Grace’s faith is obviously very important to her and because of that, of course, she’s going to want you to marry in the eyes of God.”
Mum’s comments threw me and as Leo and I exchanged a look, I could see he was as surprised as I was to hear Mum being so understanding. She had never been one to really admit fault and Leo and I both knew her words couldn’t have come easy.
“Apology accepted,” I said. I steeled myself to continue. “But there are some other things I’d like to talk about, Mum.”
“Which is why…” Mum said, putting a hand up to interrupt me.
My back stiffened, as I wondered why Mum couldn’t simply say she was sorry and leave it at that.
