Jess is finally going! That New Zealand holiday is at its dawn, and all she can think of is landscapes, walks and adventures. But what she does not expect to find, is what is waiting around the corner - someone.
Someone who will turn her holiday up...
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Jess's mother gazed at her from across the car. "Have fun."
Jess wanted to believe she meant it, she really should have believed it, but the ability to, was stuck somewhere within the shallow cracks in their relationship, healing but still there.
"You sure you're okay with this mum?" She asked.
Edna smiled. "Go before I change my mind."
But Jess did not go - not yet. She reached over and pulled her mum into a tight hug.
"Thank you."
Her mother mumbled something, returning the hug, charm bracelet (horse themed) tinkling on her wrist. Jess had gotten her that bracelet in New Zealand - she would never wear anything like it otherwise.
Then Jess picked up her bag, and stepped from the car, shutting the door a little too forcefully behind her. The excitement was building up - had been building, for the past few days. Now, the day was here and it would soon be bubbling over in laughter and animated chatter.
Jess stood by the entrance to the mall, the cold air wafting out to meet her every time someone entered the place. But she was still waiting outside, in the middle of the sweltering, humid day. It was just like her to be late... Jess thought, but not annoyedly - affectionately. She was just about to reach into her bag for her phone when she heard the voice behind her.
"Partner."
Jess would have jumped. The girl was, after all, standing right behind her - but she knew that voice too well; knew the way she said those syllables as though it was her own voice speaking them.
She turned around. "Janny!"
She gave her friend a quick, tight squeeze. "Oh my god I missed you!"
Janine grinned. "You only saw me last week!"
Jess ignored this. "I can't believe they let us."
"I can't believe yours did."
"I can't either." She grinned.
As they turned, embraced the cool wave of air that engulfed them, and walked into the mall, alone, no parents to watch over them, Jess wondered at it. She remembered how unfair she'd thought her mother had been back in New Zealand, with all her rules. But then, she recalled her joy each time she had trusted her enough to give her a little more freedom.
Her mother had tried. Jess knew that despite how unfair it seemed, that she was allowed so much less freedom than so many other people her age, her mother really did try, as best as she knew how.
Jess thought of the look on her mother's face when they had met the horses, and knew her mother, some part of her at least, understood her - was her. And she thought of the look in her mother's eyes as they landed in New Zealand; thought of her fists clenched in fear as she'd watched her step up to bungee jump; the tone of her voice as she told her to enjoy herself, just minutes ago.
