Whispers of Fate

ii

The next 7 days were the most arduous days of my life. They were worse than the week after I got my braces on, worse than the week I spent trekking through the hills for gold D of E. Every day was painful, the hours dragging by. Each customer's order seemed to be more elaborate and complicated than the last, taking up precious time that could be spent day dreaming about Teo. I found myself going to bed at 8pm just so I could get to the next day quicker. It felt like I was playing a video game and I was waiting for a quest to be completed but didn't have enough gems to skip the time. I was trying to not seem too obsessed with him but it was difficult as each day I became increasingly similar to teenage Grace, all but doodling 'Mrs Teo' in lovehearts on my notebooks.

On Thursday, three days before he was due to arrive, I had brunch with my Mum. Her salt-and-pepper hair was tied back in a loose bun and her face, so similar to mine, was kissed by the sun. She was dressed in jeans and a turquoise jumper that I'd bought for her at Christmas.

We were sitting on a white bench at our local garden centre. The scent of pollen was overwhelmingly strong but Mum insisted that we sit inside because outside was 'too cold'. She was showing me a number of photos from her and Dad's holiday: Her and Dad at the beach, Coco running through the water, Her and Aunty Pat, Her on a hill with Coco (The list goes on and on, you get the theme). Whilst at the start it was cute, we were ten minutes through the slideshow and I was beginning to run out of reactions besides 'Aww' and 'You look happy there'. I decided it was time to break the news to her when she swiped onto a particularly disturbing photo of her in a bikini.

"Mum this is great, really, but I have something to tell you." I stirred my peppermint tea, the teaspoon making a noise as it hit the sides of the little china cup. Mum slowly put the phone down, a serious look donning her face as though she already knew what I was about to tell her and she was worried about it.

"Now darling, before you go on, I just want to say that Daddy and I love you very much and whatever you have to tell us, we can handle." She placed a hand comfortingly on mine and twisted her face into what I think was supposed to be a loving, supportive expression. I cocked one eyebrow and nodded slightly before continuing.

"Okay, uh, well do you remember that boy Teo I met when I was 18? The one who lived in Spain?" This statement clearly threw Mum off as her brows knotted together and her eyes cast a cautious gaze over me.

"Yes?"

"Well he's coming here, to the city. He's staying a while and I'm going to make the most I can of the time I'll have with him. I may take a day or two off from the cafe whilst he's settling in, so that I can help him adjust to the area." She opened her mouth but I raised a finger to interrupt whatever long-winded rant she was about to go on. "Before you say anything that could potentially ruin my mood for the next month, please understand how excited I am about this and that I'm not a child anymore. I'm only telling you about it because Rose knows and I don't want you to feel left out."

Mum remained silent as the waiter placed her scone in front of her, deliberating her next sentence. She took a small breath and smoothed out her jumper.

"Grace," She began, "I love you and of course, I only want you to be happy. I'm thrilled that you get to reconnect with this old friend." This when she paused and pursed her lip slightly. "I would just say that you maybe should remember how upset you were last time when you had to leave. I mean, you cried for a week straight. You lost so much weight that Daddy and I were considering contacting a specialist! I know you were only young but it really hurt you. Maybe just consider if this time you should just remain friends, instead of trying to start anything else again."

I knew what she was saying. I myself had been having these thoughts over the past week. I took a sip of my tea as I tried to find the best words to summarise the conclusion I had reached in my mind.