Filling The Gap...

Katie

I watch the back of Cameron's car drive off into the darkness after kindly dropping me off home once we had finished our meal which he refused me paying for. Knowing it was much later than I originally planned to be back home as my heart flutters within my chest, opening the front door this time remembering my keys. I see mum sitting at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in her pajamas that I had bought for her last birthday. Silver stars dot along the rosy pink trouser bottoms that cover her legs, the same coloured jumper that was a size to big for her hangs down off her body. Wearing completely no makeup, she takes a sip of the white wine from her glass. Closing and locking the door behind me, I lean against it knowing I probably looked like a right idiot right now not being able to stop myself from smiling.

"Looks like someone has had a good time and on a school night. My dearest daughter, I hope this won't become a regular recurrence of yours."

She teases me knowing that I hardly stayed out late or even went out at all apart from when me and Mike sometimes went to the movies but then she and Robbie would usually end up coming with us.

"So, give me the dets. Is he a good kisser?"

Sounding more like a best friend than a mother right now, both of us not being able to hold back the laughter as she stands and pulls me into a hug.

"I'm glad you are going out and meeting new friends. Both of you."

Wait what?

"Robbie went out? When? Where? with who?"

Firing off questions as she steers me in the direction of the kitchen. The lights coming to live as she gently pushes me down onto one of the kitchen bar stools. Grabbing the bottle of wine from the fridge she tops her glass up, leaning slightly over the island table opposite me.

"After the security cameras were put up and the police had briefed me in on everything about Elizabeth's case. As sad as it is the little girl had died from heart failure, a defect she was born with. There was nothing that anybody could have done."

Her voice a lot sadder than before.

"I was a bit shocked when Robbie had turned up home. He had walked all the way home from school with his friend. Our little Robbie. I'm just as shocked as you, though the doctor did say he would do things at his own pace. Now he has a friend! I was just heading out the door to pick him up when I saw him walking up the driveway. Looks like our bad start here is now turning around."

Mum smiles brightly. Robbie had a friend? Not liking the odds of him just meeting a friend out of the blue when we had had an argument last night of him making people up. I knew my brother well, not wanting him walking home alone where he could get hurt. Even if I had to tell mum the truth and ruin the happiness that masks all over her face.

"So. Was he a good kisser?"

She prods me in the shoulder with her finger, trying to fight the smile that plasters across my face.