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I almost feel like a spare part and make to follow them but my phone rings, causing me to stop and stare at the caller ID and it’s as if all my prayers have been answered when I see my mother’s name on the screen.
Thank goodness for that. It’s a Christmas miracle.
“I’m sorry, I need to take this.” I say quickly before heading out into the hallway and back to the warm open fire.
“Is everything ok?”Mum sounds anxious and I snap.
“Not really.”
“Oh no, is it the children?”
“You could say that.” I exhale a breath of frustration. “Listen, I need you to come and look after them.”
“Why, where’s Sally?”
My mother sounds fearful and I choose my words carefully. “She’s, um, away for a bit with Anton.”
“Away! Where?”
Mum sounds shocked and I say tightly, “Just an, um, last minute getaway. Anyway, I work and really don’t have time for this, so I need you to take charge of your grandchildren.”
There’s a short silence and I swear I can hear a seagull in the background.
Then my mum says, sounding guilty,“I had hoped to avoid this.”
“What, looking after your own grandchildren?” I’m shocked and she says quickly,“Of course not, I would love to if I were there.”
“What do you mean?” I’m confused, and she says with a hint of shade,“I mean, in the country but unfortunately we are, well, um…”
“What?” I’m getting impatient and she sighs heavily.“Ok, but don’t judge us, alright.”
“Judge you. For what?”
“Well, I have some good news as it happens.”
“I could use some of that.” I say with relief, and she replies awkwardly,“Um, when your father and I won the lottery…”
“I’m sorry, Mum, did I just hear you correctly? You won the lottery.”
I’m shocked and then a slightly nervous laugh makes its way down the phone toward my disbelieving ears.
“Yes, well, not a lot, but enough to afford this luxury cruise for two.”
“How much exactly?”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and she says quickly,“Twenty thousand pounds.”
“Since when?” I’m in shock, and she laughs nervously.“A few weeks ago. It was a scratch card and as you can imagine, we couldn’t believe our luck.”
“And you kept it to yourself.” I shouldn’t be surprised really because my parents always keep their affairs very close to their chests and mum says with enthusiasm.“Yes, it was amazing. We didn’t know what to do at first. I wanted to give some to you and Sally, but your father told me we should blow the lot on one wild extravagance and, well, I went along with it.”
“You spent twenty thousand pounds on a cruise.”
I’m in shock and mum says irritably,“What’s wrong with that? To be honest, I hoped nobody would find out and yet here you are making me feel guilty about enjoying myself. It doesn’t matter that we spent every penny we own on bringing the two of you up. This is our reward, and we’ve been making the most of it.”
She lowers her voice.“To be honest, I wish I was single. There are so many eligible men on board all looking for a woman to spoil. I’m even considering booking one myself next year and leaving your father behind. Imagine the fun I would have.”
It gets worse because now she’s even planning on cutting dad out of the picture and I’m not sure what to make of that.
