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“What?” Lucie grunted.
“Why do you have to go out? What is so important that you want to ruin your birthday with your family? What can be so crucial that you would shout at your dad, who has paid for you to have a relaxing holiday before you go back to school?”
“I—” Lucie stuttered, remembering what had been said about Chris before. If she told them, they would laugh at her, and Emma might not talk to her again.
“Tell me, Lucie.” Her dad locked eyes with her as he spoke slowly. “What is so important that you would ruin this entire holiday for? You wanted to speak, so speak.”
Lucie gulped a breath. She raised her voice so that she was louder than he’d been. “I have a friend I need to meet right now.”
“That boy from earlier? If he is the reason for you disrespecting me, then I’m glad you’re not seeing him tonight, and you will not be giving him your phone number. Today is your special birthday, and you are ruining it. You will enjoy the rest of your birthday with your family. And don’t you dare shout at me again.” He stared her dead in the eyes.
Her breathing was rapid, and she clenched her fists to stop from lashing out. “You can’t stop me. I am eighteen.”
“Don’t try me, Lucie. I can stop you if I have to.”
Tears ran down her cheeks. She’d never thrown a tantrum before, but she wanted to now. Why couldn’t he understand how important this was to her? She had to see Chris.
She reached for her glass, desperate to calm down, but her hands shook so violently that she knocked it instead, spilling water everywhere.
“That’s it. Get to your room. You’ve spoilt this day for everyone. It should have been a happy occasion, but your behaviour has ruined it. You’re grounded for weeks. No going out unless it’s for school and then straight home after. Now get out of my sight!”
She bolted upstairs. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she fell onto her bed, sobbing. The wetness from her face quickly soaked through her pillow, her sadness a mark on the cover. Chris was a good guy; every moment they’d spent together proved that. She had to get to him. They wouldn’t meet at the café because she was grounded, and she couldn’t contact him to tell him.
Rain pelted the window, reflecting her mood. Summer rain was violent and consuming, and tonight was no different.
It was like the tears wouldn’t stop as she shook against the duvet. Stabs of pain plunged into her belly, and she wanted to wail against the world. She’d never felt agony like this before.
Footsteps out in the corridor made her raise her head. Had her dad come upstairs to shout at her again?
The soft rap of knuckles on her door told her that it wasn’t him.
“Sweetheart, can I come in?” Her mum’s gentle voice made her cry harder.
She sobbed a yes before she buried her head back in her pillow. The bed depressed when her mum sat down. Suddenly, there was a hand stroking her hair. Her mum hadn’t done that in years. When she was younger and her dad made her cry about silly things, her mum would pop her on her lap and stroke her hair, telling her that he didn’t mean what he said. She always apologised for him, but it never made it okay. He never apologised for anything.
Lucie’s tears continued to flow, nearly drowning out her mum’s voice. “I’m sorry he scolded you, honey. He shouldn’t have done that, but it’s because he cares. Maybe he shouted like that because he’s not used to you answering him back or because Steve and Jacky are here,” she said, the softness in her voice no doubt an attempt to soothe the situation.
“Don’t make excuses for him,” Lucie replied, her voice muffled by the duvet. “And don’t make out this as my fault.”
She’d never spoken to her mum like that before. Lucie always ensured she was on her side because her dad wasn’t, but she refused to make allowances for his behaviour this time.
“You’re right. The way he acted was wrong, and this is his fault. I’m sorry, honey.” Noises of the television downstairs reached Lucie’s bedroom. “Come here, Lucie. Let me hold you like I used to. I haven’t hugged you in a long time.”
Lucie climbed onto her mum’s lap. She was too big for it now, but it was nice to be held by her mum again. She rocked Lucie gently. Her mum was soft and smelt of hand soap. It was the same as when she was younger.
But I’m different now.
“Mum,” Lucie whispered, as if saying the words too loud would make her dad come upstairs and shout. “What am I going to do? I love him. Can you fall in love in two days?”
Her mum didn’t laugh or call her an idiot. Instead, she was quiet for a moment, and then she said something Lucy never expected. “You can fall in love instantly with the right person.”
“You fell in love instantly with dad?” Lucie struggled to hide her surprise.
“No, I met someone before your dad. I fell in love with him the moment he said my name. He came over with his school to spend time with Uncle Mike’s drama class with a French exchange programme. He made me laugh all the time. I’ve never told anyone this because it sounds silly now, but when we kissed, it was like fireworks.”
“Really?” Lucie stared at her mum, who was lost in her thoughts.
“I know, it doesn’t sound like me. Maybe it was a blip, because we lost touch when he returned to France. After that, I met your dad when I was working in a café before university. Then life happened, and before I knew it, I was pregnant with you.”
