Page 35 of Thursdays at Orange Blossom House
‘Your mother may have her own regrets, Cecilia,’ Grace Maud says carefully. ‘And some women deal with that by trying to make the other women in their lives follow the same path. A sort of philosophy that if one has suffered, all should. Or she may genuinely believe what she says. But you don’t have to go along with it.’
‘I’m not saying I don’t want to ever get married,’ Cecilia says defensively.
‘And I’m not saying that you shouldn’t. Just that you can make up your own mind.’
‘But my mother …’ Cecilia looks to the window again, almost as if she’s trying to work out if she can escape that way. ‘She says I can’t stay at home if I keep doing my degree.’
‘Did she act like this when you started university?’
‘She complained about it. That’s why I didn’t go straight out of school. I worked at that fish shop at the marina for a couple of years. Mum thought the owner’s son might be interested in me.’ She snorts. ‘He was. But I wasn’t interested in him. I wasn’t going to marry him and have babies! I’m only twenty years old!’
‘So what prompted the fight this morning?’
Cecilia sighs and pulls at her dress again. ‘We went to mass. Mum has friends at church. They have a son. The mother … told Mum that their son thinks I’m pretty but he could never marry a girl who has a degree. She said he only likes traditional girls. This wasin front of me. And in front of him! It was so embarrassing. But Mum saidIembarrassedher. We had a fight on the way home. Once we got there I left.’
Grace Maud knows that Cecilia’s mother will have no idea where her daughter has gone and is probably worried about her, even if Cecilia wouldn’t believe that. She also knows that her loyalty is with Cecilia, and she wants to help her.
‘How long ago did your father die?’ she asks.
‘Two years. Why?’
Grace Maud nods slowly. ‘Do you think your mother is worrying about how she can afford to keep paying for you and your brother to live at home? Perhaps she thinks that if she marries you off it will be one less concern.’ She holds up a hand. ‘I’m not saying it’s right. I’m just trying to understand her.’
‘I pay her rent,’ Cecilia says tersely.
‘It may not be enough. She may wish to sell the house, for example, and buy something smaller.’
Cecilia shrugs. ‘Maybe.’
Grace Maud thinks for a few seconds. ‘I’m sure your mother loves you. But clearly something is going on. Would you like to move in here for a little while? I have the space. And I’ll keep paying you for the two days you do for me.’
Cecilia’s mouth opens and closes, then opens again. ‘Would that be okay?’
‘I wouldn’t offer if it weren’t.’ Grace Maud smiles. ‘This is the first time I’ve lived alone in my entire life. I’m not the most sociable person in the world but I’m not sure I like being alone. You’d be doing me a favour.’
This isn’t quite true – Grace Maud has adapted well to living alone and being able to do what she pleases when she pleases – but she knows it wouldn’t require much more adaptation on her part to introduce Cecilia to the household. Besides, the girl pretty much runs the place as it is.
‘Only if you’re sure,’ Grace Maud adds. ‘And if it doesn’t cause even more problems with your mother.’
‘I think she’ll be relieved,’ Cecilia says, with a touch of sadness.
‘You possibly both need a bit of time apart to think. And I’ll enjoy having your company.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I am. And don’t ask me again or I’ll change my mind.’ Grace Maud arches an eyebrow. ‘I only do these things if I want to. As you shall discover when you spend more time with me.’
‘Thank you,’ Cecilia says, and there’s that sadness again. It’s to be expected. Only a person with no conscience would be immune to a family member who is upset.
Cecilia will learn, as the years go on, that a family is an ever-evolving collection of upsets occasionally punctuated by joys. This is, no doubt, why so much is made of weddings and babies: everyone can agree, usually, that they are worthy of celebration. And the times in between are negotiations of niggles and disagreements and opinions and trade-offs.
‘You’re welcome.’ Grace Maud pushes off her chair. ‘Now – shall we organise to retrieve some of your belongings?’
‘I’ll do it,’ Cecilia says, standing up. ‘I’ll go now.’
Grace Maud sees her out the door, then retreats to her kitchen and puts on the kettle. One last lonely cup of tea before her life changes, again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
