For the Love of Tennis | ✅

Chapter 17

“You were right,” is the first thing Mum says as soon as I cross the threshold of our front door.

“Huh?” I say, not really concentrating as my mind is still reeling about what I just witnessed. I spent the whole walk home wondering what it was about.

“I’m quitting,” Mum says. “I’m leaving my job.”

That grabs my attention. I stop from untying my shoelace and stare at her. “What made you come to the right decision?”

She looks down at the floor and shudders. “That place. I can’t quite look at it in the same way again.”

“Was Andre there?”

“No, thank God,” she replies darkly. “But that policewoman was right. It really does mess with your brain, going back to that place. It’ll haunt me for a long time.”

“And you’ve handed in your letter of resignation?”

“Will do. But Maria was practically shoving me out of the door anyway.”

“I’m sorry, Mum,” I mumble.

She perks up. “No worries, chuck. I’ll start afresh, look around some other salons. There are bound to be at least some hiring, right?”

And yet she doesn’t sound so sure.

I tell her about the events of my day, but I miss out the part with Amias. Even though my Mum knows about him, I don’t want to tell her about the parcel just yet. Or about Gabe. I need to talk to Kylie first.

That reminds me. “There’s a party tonight at Kylie’s. Can I go?”

Her eyes harden. “And how did you find out?”

I realise what she means; she still has my phone. Then, sighing, I tell her about the scene with Megan yesterday and she’d promised to get Andre to pay. Mum flinches at that but doesn’t seem too annoyed.

“I’ll think about it,” she says.

“I think we both know that means a yes.”

She half-smiles. “Go on, have fun. But just this once, okay?”

“Thank you!” I jump up to hug her, being careful of her elbow. “I love you, Mum.”

“Same here, Chands.”

***

That evening, I’m still trying to work out what happened with Amias and Gabe at the courts. How do they know each other? Why is Kylie’s boyfriend caught up in stuff like that? And what was in the parcel?

You know what was in the parcel, I tell myself. It’s no surprise that Gabe was had a history with drugs. But that’s not the most confusing thing.

Why was Amias there?

I don’t want to believe it. Does Amias lead that sort of life? What happened to the smiling boy who pressed me against the fence and locked lips with mine?

Does that boy even exist anymore?

I think about that as I apply bronzer to my cheeks. Mum comes into the room and observes my face.

“You look like a tanned clown.”
“Too much bronzer?” I say, putting the brush down on my dresser.

“Too much of everything.”

She leans towards the wipes. I snatch them away.

“Not all my hard work!”

“I’ll make it look better.”

She indeed does. That’s the thing with Mum; she doesn’t overdo it. Whenever someone comes into the salon asking for an elaborate do she’ll comply with their wishes but within reason. There have been times when customers have come back in to thank her for it.

She ends up braiding my hair into two Dutch braids that run down my back.

“Perfect,” she says as she secures the hairband. “Now you look stunning.”

I glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes no longer look they belong to a Panda’s, my cheeks still hold their natural colour, and there is this adorable highlight on the tip of my nose.

She leaves me to get changed. I bought a dress for prom last year and I love the feel of the satin as it slides past my body, feeling a part of me. I trace over the delicate sequins on the blue straps, gaze at the way the dark fabric falls weightlessly to the ground.

Quietly, Mum comes back in. In her hands is my phone.

“You get it back tonight,” she says. “I can’t have you going there with no means of contacting you.”

I thank her. She only smiles, taking in the sight of me.

“You look wonderful,” she says, clapping her hands together.
I can only smile in thanks as I lead the way down the stairs, slipping my phone into my purse bag in the process. I give Mum a small wave and then I’m out of the door.