Page 52 of The Notecard
‘Sarah, let me,’ says Michael.
He reaches a hand across and holds her. It’s a sincere act of solidarity and tenderness.
‘Your mum and I are miles better than I could have ever hoped for,’ says Michael. He looks across at Mum and smiles. ‘I know you had your reservations about us, Nick, and rightly so, she’s your mum, she deserves the best. But I love her, Nick. I love her and she loves me.’
‘Are you getting married?’ I say incredulously.
The thought flashes across my mind.
‘No, no, not married,’ says Mum, blushing slightly.
‘We’re going away for two weeks. I have a place in Ibiza,’ says Michael. ‘I don’t go there often, but now I have Sarah, I think it will be nice. Just the two of us.’
‘It’s right on the beach,’ says Mum, gushing.
‘That’s amazing,’ I say. ‘Good for you.’
‘We just wanted to let you know,’ says Michael.
Michael has a place in Ibiza. Right on the beach. There’s obviously a lot more to Michael than meets the eye. When I first saw him, I thought he was just a sad, lonely man, but as it turns out he’s an ex-pop sensation who owns a place in Ibiza. I need to find out more about him. I want to know more about his pop star days in the Eighties.
‘Maybe one of these days, you can come out too,’ says Michael.
‘A holiday? What is that?’ I say, and Mum laughs.
I can’t remember my last actual holiday. When was the last time I spent a week lying on a beach doing nothing? I’m rattling my brains, but it’s not coming back to me.
‘Maybe once you get this new job,’ says Mum, but before I can answer, Rob sits up on the sofa. He looks around, confused.
‘What happened? What time is it?’ says Rob, who rubs his eyes and looks across at us.
At the same time my phone rings, and when I look down, it’s Fee.
Meg
‘Ijust need to know he’s willing to change, Megs,’ says Mum, wiping the last tear from her cheek. Dad is right next to me. Poised and ready to go. Before I can unleash him, I have to tell Mum he’s here. I have to confess my part in all of this.
‘Why don’t you just tell him?’
‘Because I want him to figure it out for himself, Megs. If he really loves me. If he really wants me back, then he’ll do it. Do you know that when I first started dating your father, we lived six miles apart? Six miles and he had this crappy old bicycle. It was always getting punctures. But your dad rode that bike every day to see me. Rain, wind, snow. The last year, and I felt like he couldn’t be bothered to walk into the kitchen and make me a cup of tea.’
I’m about to tell Mum what’s going on, but Dad can’t wait. He jumps into action like a slightly overweight, balding, middle-aged superhero. Imagine if Tom Cruise really let himself go.
‘I love you!’ says Dad suddenly next to me. ‘And I’ll change, love. I will. I’ll do whatever it takes. Romance. Holidays abroad. Business class. Tea whenever you want it. All of it. I love you, baby. I’ve always loved you.’
‘What the hell’s going on?’ says Mum. ‘Did he hear everything I just said?’
‘Sorry, Mum, it was my idea. I just thought that if you and Dad could talk without knowing you were actually talking, then maybe you’d actually start talking.’
‘That was very manipulative,’ says Mum, a slight smile beginning to emerge.
‘I heard everything you said,’ says Dad. ‘I heard you, love, and I want to change. Meg told me that I need to be different. That I need to change, get the excitement back, and now you have said the same. I want you back, Sam. I want us back. To be honest, it’s miserable in that little flat and sleeping alone without you is horrible. I want the rest of our lives to be just like you said. I know I’ve made mistakes, but it’s going to be different this time. I promise.’
‘But it can’t be like before, Tony,’ says Mum.
I move out of the way and let Dad sit in the hot seat. He looks like he’s got this.
‘No, no, of course not,’ says Dad. ‘I let things slide. I know that. I’ve been thinking about it while I’ve been driving. I was telling Meg, I’ve been listening to a bit of George Michael.’
