Escape | Updated Weekly

21

The first week of summer leave had already gone but it still wasn't going quick enough for me.

I had been home a couple of days and already argued with my Mum on multiple occasions. Now that I had space away from her at university it was harder for us to be under the same roof.

I had wished my relationship with her would be better. I couldn't help but feel jealous of those who would post their mums and say they couldn't get through life without them. Me on the other hand, I had to learn to get through it on my own, and I was probably better off that way.

When the second week came I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. We were better off when we were apart and that's just how it had to be.

Thankfully Tom was used to this routine of ours. I didn't even have to explain what happened when he offered for me to stay with him and his family. It happened so often that his parents considered the spare room as mine anyways.

I pulled up outside his house and was greeted by Sarah and Paul, they gave me a hug and ushered me inside quickly. They say you can't choose your family but I considered them my second parents.

"Eve tell me about Chloe '' said Sarah as I sat down at the dining room table. I raised my eyebrows. Tom didn't usually tell his family if there was a girl that he was seeing unless he considered it to be a "serious" relationship.

Sarah was one of those women where it was impossible to hate her and she just loved everyone she ever met anyway. However as a typical mother she wanted to know all the details about her son's life that he wouldn't tell her himself.

I told her all about Chloe and how they were together and she couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was talking. That was a woman who just wanted her son to be happy, and was over the moon to know that he was.

Tom came home from his band practice not long afterwards, he also gave me a hug as he came into the dinning room. "I'm so glad you're here" he said finally releasing me. "You act like we don't live together" I joked. He gave his mum a kiss on the cheek and then sat down next to me. Sarah poured us both a glass of handmade lemonade. Yes. She makes her own lemonade!

"How was practice?" I asked. I was genuinely interested but if anything, I was mostly asking because I knew Mac would have been there. "We're really improving. Already got gigs booked for summer" Sarah glanced at me. I knew she was desperate to tell him to not work so hard but we both knew the response she'd get if she had actually said it.

Tom noticed his Mum's look and spun round on his chair to face her. "It's just a few summer fairs Mum, there's nothing too hard working or anywhere that has dangerous people and no, if someone offers me a strange looking sweetie I won't accept it" I whacked him on the arm as he laughed at his own joke. Sarah chuckled along with him.
"I was hoping that you would come," Tom said, pretending to be sad. I rolled my eyes "of course we will". He took a sip of his lemonade, grinning at me.

"Mum, I was wondering if you wanted to meet Chloe?" Sarah's head shot round like an owl. Tom just blurted it out of nowhere, she certainly wasn't prepared for him to say that. "Yes. When?" Sarah replied definitely seeming too eager but it was in the most loving way. Tom checked his watch. "About an hour" Sarah looked around, frantic. "That's not enough time to clean the house" she cried, grabbing some rubber gloves and every cleaning chemical she could find. Tom had a regretful look on his face. "What have I done?"