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“Yeah. And I don’t know what choices I’m supposed to make.”
“So you came to your old mum for advice?”
“You’re not old,” I laughed. “But yes, I need advice. I just don’t know what kind of advice.”
Mum watched me for the longest time. Until I thought that maybe she just wasn’t going to speak ever again, but then she put her hand up to my cheek, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Isabelle, over the last two weeks, you’ve gone from being my baby girl to a young woman. And I know you want to tell me I’m being soppy,” she interrupted as I opened my mouth to speak, “but it’s my right as a mother to say cheesy things like this. The thing is, you’ve always been bright, sensible and made good choices. Recent events aside, of course. And I don’t think you need my advice about Jesse. I think you know everything you need to already.”
“But Mum, I don’t think I’m ready to make any life-changing decisions. Not yet.”
“Then don’t,” she said, softly. “I’ve watched the way Jesse is with you, and the way he is with everyone he’s met here. He’s a very special young man. He’ll wait for you to make whatever decisions you aren’t ready to make.”
“Maybe,” I sighed. “But when he goes home, maybe … maybe the distance will be too far.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I can’t tell you that isn’t a risk. But you knew that already. I think you can overcome it.”
“Can I go to Uni in L.A?” I asked, half-jokingly, and Mum laughed.
“Your dad and I thought you might ask, but as much as we love you, we can’t afford to send you to Los Angeles based on two weeks with a boy. Plus, the deadline for applications has passed.”
“Really?” I giggled. “You really checked?”
“Yeah. We checked. But just because you can’t study there, it doesn’t mean that, if you want to keep your relationship going, we won’t send you over there next year. We might even all go together for a holiday.”
“After everything that’s happened, I didn’t think Georgia and I were going to have anything nice ever again.”
“I know I was hard on you,” Mum said. “But I needed you to understand the seriousness of what happened.”
“I always understood. So did Georgia. You must know that she would never have hurt anyone.”
“I do know. But she was so close to getting herself a criminal record, and with everything she confessed to … it was a shock.”
“It was a shock for me, too. She is more than paying for it now, though.”
“I know.” Mum took my hand, and said, “Now, it’s time you went to bed. Go and spend some time with Jesse first, thou
gh. Maybe he’ll be able to give you the answers you’re looking for.”
“Thanks,” I said, giving her a hug, “Night, Mum.”
“Goodnight, Izzy.”
With my mind full of questions and possibilities, I went through to the living room, where Jesse was still chatting to my dad. When Jesse saw me, he smiled. “Hey.”
“Would we be able to go upstairs and talk now?” I asked.
“Sure we can.”
Jesse pulled himself up with his crutches, and we both said goodnight to Dad before going up to my room.
I didn’t want to push my luck, but I felt like my mum had given me permission to close my bedroom door so Jesse and I could have complete privacy on our last night together. If not, I was in no doubt she’d be very quick to let us know.
I kicked off my pink heels, and Jesse and I curled up together on my bed on my favourite position. His arm around me, my head on his chest. It was a long time before either of us spoke. During the silence, I allowed myself to soak up the amazingness of being with him. The way his arm felt around me, how his body kept me warm, the sound of his breathing, the smell of his aftershave. The smell of him. How was I going to cope with him being so far away?
“Izzy?”
“Yeah?”
