“It’s nothing to do with you two,” Bill said, as if needing to clarify. “We’d already arranged to nip up to Cumbria. Before all this… Well, you know. And having let one son down.” He gave his wife a pointed look. “It wouldn’t be right to let the other one down too.” He smiled at Leo, who, in return, seemed to appreciate the explanation.
“And I needed to apologise before we left,” Grace said. “My behaviour last night was terrible.”
“Yes, Mum. It was,” Leo said.
“I don’t know what came over me.” She paused. “Actually I do.” Grace let out a long, despondent sigh. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs, Chapter 14, Verse 30.”
Leo shook his head as if the last thing he wanted to hear was scripture. “Meaning?”
“Meaning,” Grace said. Her shoulders slumped. “I was jealous. I felt like you were favouring Tess’s mum over me.”
I almost laughed. Grace couldn’t have been further from the truth if she’d tried.
“I was so looking forward to your little church wedding,” Grace continued. “In fact, I hadn’t realised how much, until you said it wasn’t happening. And all because Patricia…”
I shifted in my seat. It was one thing me and my sister being critical of Mum, but something else to hear another person talk bad of her.
“You’re talking like the woman went above your head,” Leo said, before his mum could finish. “As if Patricia booked Gregbrook Manor simply to spite you. Tess’s mum didn’t even know about the Saint Oswald’s gig. Something she made pretty clear.”
Grace put a hand up. “I know. And I see that now. Whereas last night, it wouldn’t have mattered what she said, I just saw red. You have to understand, to me marriage is a holy sacrament.”
“Which is fine,” Leo said. “But as much as I try to respect you and your faith, Mum, you need to respect the way I choose to live my life. Along with the people in it, and that includes Patricia.”
Grace nodded. “I understand.”
Watching their interaction, I wished my family could be more like that. Grace didn’t only give her the son the opportunity to speak his mind, she appeared to properly listen. Whenever I tried to talk to my mum, she’d either cut me off and start talking herself, or she’d nod in all the right places, before going off and doing her own thing anyway.
“And, Tess, I do apologise. Wholeheartedly. To you and your mum.”
Able to see she meant that, I gave Grace an appreciative smile.
A car horn beeped. “Looks like it’s time to go,” Bill said.
Grace rose to her feet. “Is a hug goodbye allowed?”
Leo’s expression relaxed. “Of course it is,” he said, embracing his mum.
I stood, as Grace turned her attention to me. “Again, please tell your mum I’m sorry.”
“I will,” I said, hugging Grace in return. “And thank you for coming today. It means a lot.” I indicated Leo, who’d thrown his arms around his dad. “To your son and me.”
As his parents made their exit, Leo and I accompanied them to the front door.
“We’ll see you both at the wedding,” Bill said.
“Although I’m sure we’ll speak before then,” Grace said.
“We’ll video call,” Leo said.
After watching them climb into the taxi, Leo and I stood there waving as the vehicle pulled away.
“One down, one to go,” Leo said, as it finally disappeared.
I let out a laugh.
“What?”
“You don’t really think we’ll get an apology frommymum, do you?”
