Mummy's Good Girl

Epilogue

Christmas/Chanukkah has come and gone. The Alasdair-Shoshanah relationship blossomed as I expected. Shortly after they get back to Montreal, we hear he's moved in with her.

My art classes have started: foundation studio, art history, intro art theory (taught by Masha), plus writing and world history. I associate the campus with visiting Mummy for lunch, so it feels like friendly terrain to me now. Some of the other art students seem insecure and competitive, but mostly they're cool. They're mostly fresh out of high school. I develop a friendship with another art student in his early twenties named Mitch. The classes keep me busy, especially studio.

Tonight is the three month anniversary of my walk in the park with Mummy. She makes me my favourite dinner, meatloaf with kasha varnishkes. I present her with my first oil painting, a still life of some odds and ends I found on our kitchen counter. She kvells over it and then kisses me for a long time. Then she gets her purse.

'Sweet girl, that cancer scare I had a few months ago got me thinking. About long-term things. What would happen to you if something bad happened to me? Bank accounts and pensions and title to this house, stuff like that. I know you don't want to have to think about that sort of thing, but I'd want you to be taken care of, sweetie. It would all be a lot easier to set up if ...'

She retrieves a little white box from her purse.

'If you would marry me, sweet girl. Be my wife.'

My heart is pounding.

'I ... I don't want anything between us to change. You'll still be my Mummy?'

'Of course. And you'll still be my good girl. That's forever, no matter what – and I've got the bedsheet to prove it. This is just about the externals. Plus we get to throw a big party at your parents' expense. We'll hire your sister's klezmer band from Montreal. Darling, we lesbians fought long and hard for the right to marry, so let's exercise that right. Please say yes, sweet girl.'

'Of course yes! You don't even have to ask!' I sniff back my tears.

'Well, yes I do. Technically. It's sort of a key part of the marriage proposal.'

'Smartarse Mummy. You know I'll say yes.'

'I think you already did.'

Mummy puts the ring on my trembling finger.

'Yep, I sure did. Let's call Rabbi Ruth.'