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I chuckle. “Twenty years! Don’t say that; it makes me feel old!”
“Never! Come on, let’s go and see Isaac before he has to get ready.”
We walk through the crowds,greeting the friends we’ve made together over the years. In the Bale & Son’s private function area we find Dani and Grant. Belle, their ten-year-old, is sulking in the corner, her fingers flying over the keypad of her super-sized smart phone. I offer her a wave and she sneers back at me. Yep, I don’t miss that age at all. Obviously, Elsa will be completely different.
“Good morning?” I laugh and kiss my sister-in-law on the cheek.
“Don’t even ask.”
“I warned you it was coming but you didn’t believe me.” I snigger and grab a glass of bubbly off the table.
“Yep, you wait for that one to hit double numbers.” She motions her head to Elsa, still clinging her arms around her daddy’s neck. It won’t last long, and soon, she will be running through the crowd making friends with everyone. I watch as Freddy smooths her hair with one hand as he talks with his brother.
My god, I love that man.
I feel a presence behind me, and turning, I find Isaac hovering in his blue racing suit. A full beam lights my face as I throw my arms around him. He is much taller than me now, towering over me like his father does. “You made it, Mum.”
“You know I wouldn’t miss it.” I brush the hair out of his eyes, but he flicks my hands away in embarrassment.
“What?”
“Mum, there is someone I’d like you to meet,” he trails off uncertainly and I stare in confusion as a brunette girl steps out from behind him.
“Hi, I’m Emma,” she introduces herself and smiles broadly.
“Uh.” I have nothing to say. I watch in astonished silence as he slides his arm around her back and pulls her into his side.
I finally manage to form some words in order to be polite. “Hi, I’m Amber.”
Freddy walks up, his eyes flickering as he takes in my shocked expression. I can’t get it to look normal. Isaac has a girlfriend he hasn’t told us about? A serious one if he has brought her to a race.
“Hi, I’m Isaac’s dad.” He leans in and gives her a hug.
“Mum, put your face back.” Isaac grins his father’s smile at me.
“I’m sorry.” I manage to shake my shock off. “I wasn’t expecting to see any of Isaac’s friends here today,” I say.
“She’s not a friend, Mum, she’s my girlfriend. She means the world to me.” He kisses her full on the mouth in front of me.
Excuse me, I’m right here.
“Anyway, I’ve got to go and get ready. Will you keep Emma company?” He kisses me goodbye and then her again. And then again.
Ugh.
Dani, who’s been watching all this play out, her amusement evident in her eyes, steps up and invites Emma to go grab a drink.
“You okay?” Freddy asks, leaning in close and talking low into my ear, normally a fail-safe way to get my pulse racing. Not right now.
“What was that?” I ask.
“I think that was first love.” He pulls me in closer, despite the crowd, and kisses me on the mouth. As always, my lips open under his.
"Well, if he thinks he’s going to ruin all his plans because of her he’s got another think coming.”
Freddy puts his hands firmly on my shoulders and lowers to look in my eyes, our noses touching, his Eskimo kiss.
“Really, Amber?”
“What?”
“Really?”
His hands hold me still while I think over what I’ve just said. In my mind, I run through the last twenty years: the bad choices, the wrong words of advice, the missed opportunities, and the regret. Then I focus on the love I feel now. The love I never had when I was young. I start to giggle.
“It’s a mother’s prerogative . . .” I start to say, but his mouth quickly closes on mine, and I let my life and future just play out however it’s supposed to as I lean into him, this love of mine.
~The End~
