Millie

Chapter Twenty Two- Mother

I left the guest house, kissed Wren goodbye, and promised I would see her Thursday. I took an overnight bag with me, dumping it on the passenger seat, and took a second to text Veda.

M- I will be back tomorrow. Please behave at Josie's. Be good. Will collect you on the way back. X

V- Say Hi to Aunty 'didn't know you existed' Moira for me. See you tomorrow :)

I smiled and put the cell back in my bag. I went to close the door and Mr Darcy was there, blocking my exit. "Hello fluff ball" I greeted, roughing his hair and giving him a Mohawk "I won't be gone long. Go on, go and cause havoc elsewhere"

Allie appeared then, coming to collect him "Afternoon" she greeted "are you off now"

I stepped out of the car "Yes, I'm afraid my Mother can't wait longer. She's antsy to set eyes on me for some reason"

Allie smiled "Mothers are always antsy to set eyes on their baby's. It's a maternal instinct" she said reaching for me and hugging me.

"Moira isn't maternal" I reply as we parted.

"Perhaps not obviously so, but I bet she loves you deeply, and is desperate to see you. You're her little chick Millie. Nothing will change that"

I didn't explain further, it would be like opening Pandora's box. I smiled and nodded "yes" is all I managed. "I guess so"

"Is Willa okay" I asked. I had been thinking about her all morning, how she must be so desperately sad.

Allie looked a little fragile "she will be"

"Well I will be back tomorrow. I think Veda seems to be staying at Teddy and Harpers now so don't worry about fetching her back. I will pick her up tomorrow on my way back. I have to get into the school on Friday to start setting up my office. I can't believe the summer is over"

"I know" Allie returned. "It sped by. We didn't get to experience much of it. Mary was our focus. I'm guessing Wren is still in there" Allie gestures to the guest house.

I nod "she is"

"Good, I will go collect my granddaughter. I need a little quality time with my ray of sunshine. Drive safe Millie. And thank you. For staying"

"Of course" I reply "it was an honour to be here at the end. To say goodbye"

Allie moved Mr Darcy aside by his collar and I sat back down in the drivers seat.

"She really did think a lot of you" she let me know, closing the door. "We all do"

I smiled, she tapped the car door and waved "now go, quick, so you get back in a jiffy"

***
I had a couple messages on my way back to Eugene.

Kate was eager for my presence, she wanted to know why Norman had taken to sitting right in front of her TV, and had I let him in the van.

It made me laugh, because it wasn't that I let him watch my TV, she had failed to realise he was imitating the way he sat on the passenger seat, looking out of the windscreen all day every day. The TV was his replacement.  It was kinda cute, and it made me feel something I thought impossible. I missed the little shit.

Wren sent me a message or two, too.

W- I miss you 😢 😘
W- let me know you get there safely 💕

And of course Moira.

Soul Eater 👹- Meet me at the ice cream shop. The one with the cherry on the sign. X

That message, it made me sit with it and reread it multiple times. Why did my Mother suddenly want to meet elsewhere. The ice cream shop should have been a warning, I went there for my sixth birthday.

***
I pull into the ice cream stores parking lot, and I don't see my mothers convertible.

I step out, grab my purse, and I walk the sidewalk to the entrance. When I step inside, the door chimes, and I look around, the booths are all pink and white and filled with family's. The hand sticking up in the far booth has me making my way through the crowd. As I reach the table, I take off my shades. My mother is sat with a menu in hand, she looks up and smiles "there you are" she greets. She stands and hugs me, an odd greeting, but then it had been a while.

"Sit" she asks, gesturing to the seat opposite.

I sit down cautiously, and I'm met with a menu she's handing me "what do you fancy" she asks. "The mega shake" she says with a little laugh, a laugh that was light and melodic.

I stand up straight, almost taking out the waiter who had come to ask for a drinks order, and the table slides left, cutlery flying across it.

"Sorry" I excuse. "I need to use the bathroom"

"Are you okay" she asks me.

"I'll be right back" I promise.

When I make it out of sight, I fold in half, trying to breathe between my knees and dropping down the door until I'm perched on my heels. I reach for my cell and search the contacts. I didn't want to freak Wren out, she had enough going on. My panic dial went to Kate.

"Dawson... where you at" she said cheerily.

"Kate" I say, sounding like I've seen a ghost.

"What's wrong" she asks, her tone now one of worry.

"I've come to meet my mother for lunch" I explain. "At the ninth street Ice cream parlour"

"Ah, I can see why that wouldn't be a pleasant experience"

"No, no you don't understand" I stutter.

"Millie" Kate asks, sounding a lot more concerned. "Are you okay"

"Kate, the lady at the table... that's not my mother"