The Girl In The Suit

Gemma

3 Months Later

I walk out of the school doors with a smile and a sigh of relief as I walk over to the girls.

"That's the Junior Cert done and done, bitches, and now it's time for me to get dunked into some water!", I say with my arms outstretched.

"Uh, shouldn't you not be swearing on the day of your baptism, Virgin Mary?", Tasha says with a smirk.

"Shut up, mother.", I say giving her a light punch on the shoulder.

Anne comes over to me and I put my arm around her.

"Who are your godparents, by the way?", Hayley asks me.

"Uh, Alison and a close friend from England, Stefanie. She's 23 and she's flying out to be there today. I can't wait to see her.", I say.

"Ah, that's lovely.", Caoimhe says with a smile. 

I smile before I hear a horn beeping. We look over beside me to see Freddie sticking his head out the window of his car with the music blaring. He's been out of rehab 2 months and he's never been better or happier. I roll my eyes at him as he gives us a goofy smile and his curly hair blows all over the place. I roll my eyes at my brother and I slap Hayley as she stares.

"Gemma Welch, Anne O Brien, Tasha Hanrahan, Gabrielle Casey, Hayley O Riordan, Amelia Hennessy and Caoimhe Whelan! It took me ages to memorize that!"

I facepalm as I almost die of embarrassment. The girls are practically swooning, however. Even Gabrielle, and she's the gayest girl I know. I roll my eyes as I turn back to look at my idiot of a brother.

"Well, are ye getting in or what?"

I give one last eye roll before saying goodbye to the girls and Anne and I walk over to the car and sit in the backseat together.

"How was the last day of school, girls?", he asks.

"Ok. It was an exam day so pretty average. But Miss fell out of her seat so that was pretty funny.", I say.

"Well, now that you're out of boring land, we have to collect a few people. I have a surprise for you."

"If it's another person that you think looks like Rami Malek, I will break you."

Freddie rolls his eyes and chuckles. "No, it's not that. Wait and see."

After a few minutes of driving and chatting, we pull up outside McDonalds. I see a man and a woman standing there at the doors, I don't recognize them at all. They wave over to us and they come over to us. Freddie rolls down the window. 

"Hey, Freddie. Hi, Gemma.", the man says.

I look over at Freddie in confusion before turning back to the couple. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Their faces fall before the woman says, "Gem, its mam and dad."

I look over to Freddie again and he purses his lips and nods his head. I look back to them.

"B-but, how? My parents are alcoholics, not healthy, attractive looking people."

"We went to rehab, Gem. Billy gave us a loan that we'll pay back once we get jobs again and put ourselves in. It was tough. We were separated. We had no contact with anyone so thats why you didn't know that we were there. It was the best thing we've ever done though. That day in town really made me realise what we were doing to you. I talked with your mother and she agreed. I just can't believe I put my own children through that much pain. I'm so sorry. We're now both ready to be better parents, to both of you. Please come home. Fred agreed to it but we need your okay. Again, we're so sorry."

I bite my lip as thoughts of confusion, hurt and relief run around my head at a thousand miles per hour. I finally look up at them and say, "I'll have to think about it."

"Oh, ok. Thank-", my mother starts before I roll up the window.

"Gemma-", Freddie starts.

"Just drive."

Freddie looks behind at Anne, who I forgot was in the car, and he drives out of the car park. None of us say a word as we drive back into town. We drop Anne back at her house and we go up to the church to get ready.

"Hey.", Freddie says with a nudge. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Fred, let's just get this over with."

He stops the car outside the church and we go inside.

🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

After the ceremony, the girls all come up to me chatting and congratulating me. While I do feel a bit better, my mind is somewhere else. That place being the fact that my parents are trying to come back into my life. After Gabrielle mentions something about her brother lighting her Communion dress on fire, I go outside the church to be away from it all. Shortly after, Tasha is the one who comes out.

"What's up, G?", she says.

I sigh. "Just parent stuff. They're trying to get back into my life."

"Oh." Theres a silence, and then she speaks. "Gemma, did you know that I'm adopted?"

I shoot my head up at her. "Really?"

"Yep. I know my biological mother but we dont talk. At all. She was 15 when she had me and she wanted an abortion. Back then though, it wasn't legal, and my gran wouldn't let her travel for one. So she put me up for adoption even before I was born. She didnt even give me a chance, like. As for my father, I don't have a clue. I only found out 3 years ago and it messed me up. I'm ok now though, after the counselling." I notice her wiping a tear.

"Jesus, Tash, I'm so sorry."

"Its good, nothing you can do. I just wanted you to know you aren't alone with parent stuff. You know what happened with Anne's parents as well. Everyone is a little f'ed up." We're outside a church. "Just don't tell anyone. Only Gabby knows as well. I just want everyone to think I'm normal."

"You are normal, Tash. And anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional."

She smiles at me. "You know, you're my best friend."

I smile back at her. "And you're mine."

We give each other a quick hug before walking back into the church.