The Chain (A Catherine Diary) - Stamfield. Complete

Chapter 41

41

I got home around seven fifteen, as I walked to the door I suddenly thought about the fact I hadn't spoken to mum about going out with Jack tonight. It had probably skipped my mind because she wasn't expecting me home from the barbecue early anyway. Also, when I was with my mum the previous night I had no intension of going out with Jack.

I was determined to get in and ask her before Jack came knocking on my door. I used my key to open the door and immediately I could hear I was too late. Mum was in the front room chatting with Jack.

Oh no, I hope he doesn't mention my streak across the pitch. I quickly kicked off my trainers in the general direction of the shoe stand and rushed into the lounge. Whatever they were chatting about, they cut off in mid-sentence. I looked down at mums lap where she closed a photograph album.

'Mum you didn't?', I asked, hoping she hadn't shown him the pictures of me in the bath with my brother, when he was a baby and I was a toddler.

'Oh, no dear', she said astonished that I would dare to think that of her. Although, it wouldn't have been the first time. I had finally had it out with her, after she had shown all my baby pictures to Aiden. 'Not those ones, they're the photos of us on holiday in Cornwall'. My brain struggled to figure out if there were any embracing photographs among those. I decided their weren't.

I turned to Jack, 'hi, I see mums been keeping you company'.

At that moment Andrew's head poked out from behind Jack, 'yeah, we've been keeping him company', the way he said it suggested he had been telling his usual lies about me. I gave him my anguished stare, he returned a smirk.

'Catherine, I don't suppose I could have a word with you in the kitchen?'

I tore my stare away from Andrew. 'Sure mum'

I followed her into the kitchen preparing myself for the onslaught that was to come. But instead she was calm and spoke to me gently.

'I wasn't aware you were going out on a date tonight', she said and nothing in her words sounded aggressive. This wasn't my mum, normally she barked the orders and Andrew and I followed like lambs.

'Sorry mum, I forgot to tell you', it wasn't strictly true, it would have been more honest to say, I intended to, but didn't get the chance, as I didn't even know until the last minute, but that would have sounded like an excuse and one thing I learned over the years with mum, is don't try to make excuses.

'It's fine dear', she smiled and the smile actually looked genuine. I couldn't work out what was going on with mum. Also, I realized, she hadn't lectured me about not going to church, as she normally did. 'What time do you think you'll be back'

'I was hoping...', I paused to build up confidence, 'maybe around midnight?'

Again mum stayed calm, 'I'd rather you tried to get back a little earlier, remember you have college tomorrow'.

I was shocked, had someone replaced my mum with a replica, what was going on?

'Mum are you okay?'

'Yes dear', she took a step forward and hugged me. 'I'm just making sure you don't burn the candle at both ends'.

'Thanks mum', I said cautiously.

'Well, we better get back to your young man, before Andrew scares him off', she released me and I could have sworn I saw tears welling up in her eyes. 'Oh and by the way', for a second I figured I was going to get my lecture on church and the importance of going, 'you've done well there, Jack is quite the catch, I bet he has loads of girls chasing after him'

Not you too, mum. Was I the only female in town who didn't want to go out with him.

I followed mum back into the lounge. As we entered, Andrew shuffled away from Jack hiding something.

I looked at Jack, he had a smile on his face and looked a little awkward sitting there.

'Are you sure I don't need to change?', I asked him.

He gave me a quick glance up and down, 'no, you look great', he responded.

'Yes dear, you look lovely', mum added. She turned to Jack, 'please look after my daughter'.

'I will Mrs Connor and thank you for keeping me company until Catherine got here', Jack said raising to his feet and heading towards the door.

Mum followed behind me, as I got to the door, I opened it and allowed Jack to pass me, before I followed. As I looked back at mum, she kissed me on my forehead and whispered, 'Have fun and be careful'

'I will mum'

'It was nice meeting you Mrs Connor'

'And you Jack'