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“You had post-natal depression.That’s an illness, Mum, not a choice.”
“But… I didn’t bond with her… I left you to—”
Judith put her finger to her lips.“So it wasn’t perfect.What family is?You need to trust that Pippa can look after herself, and most importantly, celebrate that she’s found happiness.”
They both gazed at the picture of Pip.
“Look at that hair.”Mum’s voice held a hint of a smile.“She’s always had so much fire in her belly.She’d never back down from anything.”
“Yeah, I know.”A moment’s silence.“You can both get past this, you know,” Judith said.“But you have to start talking to each other.Please call her, Mum.”
Mum shook her head.“If I say one wrong word she’ll jump down my throat.You know I can’t handle her shouting at me.”
“She only shouts because she wants to be heard.And Mum, honestly, it’s not just Pippa.It’s you going into your cave.Doing the silent treatment.I can’t be the one who sorts you both out.I can’t bake brownies and invite you round and carry the conversation while you avoid eye contact and Pippa grunts like a sulky bear.You need to work it through with each other.”
Mum snagged her lower lip between her teeth.
“Phone her, Mum.She needs to know you love her, that you accept her and her relationship with Shaz.”
“I will— soon.”
“Why not today?”
Mum’s chin retracted, her eyes wide.“Oh darling, I’m not sure I can deal with Pippa this soon.”
Judith firmed her heart.“No time like the present, Mum; it’s the only place we can ever change things.”
Mum looked ready to prevaricate but Judith gently took the photo out of her hands and put it back on the dressing table.“Why don’t you show me those new wools I saw next to your loom?They’re the most amazing shades.Where did you get them from?”
As she left half an hour later, having talked through warps and wefts, and how the new loom worked, Mum looked happier, and more relaxed.At the door, about to leave, Judith turned, and held her hand to her ear in a phone gesture.
Mum nodded.Judith was about to close the door when Mum said, “You look different.”
“I’m wearing jeans.”
“No, it’s more than that.”Mum swept her forehead with a hand, as if thinking.“You’ve got a glow about you.”
Judith smiled.The Judith of before would have passed it off on the late afternoon light, or the new blush she’d put on.But now she took the compliment and let it nestle into her heart.“Thanks Mum.”
And then she drove to the netball courts.
When she arrived, The Badass Girls were nearing the end of their Sunday practice session.It didn’t take long to locate her sister’s bright red head zooming up and down the court, and if she hadn’t, Pippa’s voice would have told her where to look.She spied Shaz a moment later, her long legs pounding up the court andpoomph, she plopped that ball through the net with the grace and ease of a gazelle.
Judith waited on the sidelines while the team chatted with their coach and then Pippa came jogging over, wiping her face with the bottom of her shirt hem.
“Hey babe,” she said.“What are you doing here?”
“I just need to have a word,” Judith replied.
Pippa’s expression turned wary.“If it’s about Mum, I’m not—”
Judith was through with beating about the bush.“Mum’s going to call you later today.”
“I’m not speaking to her.”
Judith stood her ground.“What will it take for you to forgive her for last night?”
Pip scowled.“That was it, the final test.And she blew it big time.”
