Half the world away

Chapter 6

The Manchester show was wonderful. The crowds were unbelievable. Now that Brendon and I had an intimate relationship, we were taking every opportunity to express our physical love. Our time was limited because the band would be flying back to Los Angeles in a couple of days. My temporary visa was still being processed. It would be hard to go without seeing Brendon for a while, but I reckon we can do it.
I was back at work in a couple of days. So that will be a welcome distraction. I will be bored my lunchtime Monday, and that's being generous.
It was still Friday night, and I was on a phone call with my mother about Christmas. My parents wanted me to go the day before Christmas Eve. I wasn't sure that I could endure 4 whole days of my family. It would be my parents, both sets of grandparents and my cousin Delia, who was the same age as me and married with her first baby on the way. I know exactly how it will go. Delia will look all smug with her husband, and the inevitable questions will arise.
'Why are you still single, Genna?'
'You need to find a good man.'
'What happened to Stanley?' and my personal favourite, 'You should forget all this career nonsense and just get married.' And that is just Christmas Eve. I normally end up drinking a full bottle of Baileys and eating a tin of Quality Street to myself. My relatives think I am an alcoholic and I don't have any self-control when it comes to eating chocolate.
When I get off the phone call, I am very stressed and already reaching for the Baileys. Brendon had showered after the concert and was getting dried off in the bedroom. I sat down and ran my fingers through my long hair. I poured myself a generous glass of Baileys. I needed to find a Tesco to buy some chocolate. I sipped my drink and found something festive on tv to watch. Brendon had a t-shirt and his boxers on. He laid on the bed and scrolled on his phone. My phone rang again, and it was my Dad this time.
"Hello, Genna. Has your mum already spoken to you?"
"About Christmas, yes." The line was silent for a few seconds.
"Oh." Is all Dad would say.
"Dad?" I questioned.
"Gen, there's a reason why your mother wants you to come home a day earlier this year."
"Ok?"
"Well, she's invited the Maltons over for dinner. And their son Andrew. Who is newly single."
"WHAT?" I said a little too loudly. Brendons head snapped up from his phone.
"Gen, I wanted to give you a heads up, so you weren't ambushed when you got here." Dad said. Dad and I had always had a close bond. We always went to Dad's shed at the bottom of the garden together, when we needed to escape mum, sometimes. I love mum, but sometimes she could be a bit much. Hence, the need for Baileys and Quality Street.
"Why Dad?" I asked him.
"Your mother seems to think she will die without grandchildren. That you will be childless forever." My parents were both in their late 40s. So nowhere near dying any time soon. I sighed and chatted to Dad a bit longer before hanging up. I took a large sip of Baileys. No, I needed some chocolate, too. I put my jacket on and picked my phone up. I left the room declaring I would be back soon.
I walked a little way and found a big 24-hour Tesco open. I went in and got some snacks for Brendon and a big bar of chocolate for myself. I might share it with Brendon. I returned to the hotel and softly knocked on our door. I forgot the key card. Brendon let me in. I shrugged my jacket off and put the Tesco carrier onto a chair. I fished the receipt out to look how many club card points I had. Brendon looked in the bag and took some crisps out. I drank more Baileys and opened the chocolate. I got on the bed, found a Christmas movie, and I was good.
By the time Gremlins had finished, I was tipsy from the Baileys and halfway through the chocolate. Brendon had helped me eat some, too.
"So what was the phone about earlier?" Brendon asked. I explained everything. "Wow. So, your mother is trying to fix you up?" I nodded, groaned, and put a pillow over my head at the cringeworthy thought. Brendon moved the pillow and looked at me.
"Genna, why don't I join you?"
"What?" I said, looking at my boyfriend.
"My visa doesn't run out until January, so I can stay for a little longer. Hopefully, your visa will be sorted out by then."
"Y-you would do that for me?" I asked.
"Of course. Isn't that what a boyfriend does?" Brendon chuckled. I caressed his face and smiled. I felt tears in my eyes.
"Ok then." I agreed. "I will call my mother tomorrow and let her know." We snuggled up together and made out.