“Tea would be lovely, thanks Ma.”
She ventures inside to find three clean mugs.
“I’ll deal with you later,” I whisper, as we make our way up the stairs.
Amos buttons his shirt, giving me a cheeky slap on the ass.
???
With a strange ache in my chest, I eye the clock.
I’ve never ever seen her as happy as she's been these last few hours.
But we should probably get going soon.
Beth is expecting us in Longreach in a few hours.
A knot tightens in my stomach.
I can’t walk out of here without her.
I can’t bear the idea of leaving her alone again.
With him.
We sip our tea, then help her with the dishes and laundry.
She protests at first, but I know she’s just embarrassed.
“Mum,” I begin softly. “We're meeting a friend in Longreach for dinner.”
She does her best to keep her voice cheerful.
“Oh lovely. That will be lovely.”
I don’t want to hurt her by telling her about Beth.
The way she's been an honourary mother to me.
The way she’s loved me in all the ways I was neglected.
Or the way I’ve taken her last name because she feels like family.
Safe family.
“We’ll be heading off soon.”
Mum simply nods, her eyes softening.
“There's something I want you to have,” she says.
She rummages through my old bedroom closet to retrieve a shoebox.
Inside are photos of me and her at every age I’d ever been until I left.
“Ma…”
“Keep them,” she insists. “They’re safer with you.”
