Page 21 of Barging In
“Anyway,” her mum went on, much to Clem’s relief, “most women my age are busy with their grandchildren.”
Well. There went her short-lived relief.
“I can only apologise for not having had children to keep you busy in your old age. How remiss of me,” Clem said sharply.
Her mum pulled a face. “You know what I mean. Your life is what it is. I accept that. If children aren’t on the cards, then they aren’t on the cards.”
“I’ve never said they weren’t.”
Her mum pulled a face. “It would be a bit of a challenge, wouldn’t it?”
“Because I’m a lesbian?” Clem shot back, wringing a tea towel in her hands.
“No — well, yes — but mainly because you’re single.”
“Plenty of single women have children.”
Her mum heaved a sigh. “Children are challenging enough with two parents; I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone. I assume there’s no love interest on the horizon?”
“No,” Clem groaned, bracing for the inevitable deep dive into her love life — or lack thereof.
“You’re unlikely to attract anyone living on a boat,” her mum continued, aggressively squirting the worktop with antibacterial spray.
“You managed it with Dad.”
“He was a single man with a boat, too. The chances of meeting another single lesbian living the narrowboat life are slim, I’d assume.”
“There’s more to it than coming across another lesbian with a boat, Mum,” Clem grumbled. “There is such a thing as chemistry. We don’t simply shack up with the nearest one, you know.”
Her dad appeared in the doorway suddenly, much to Clem’s relief. “Have you met that woman from next door yet?”
“Victoria Hargreaves? Yes,” Clem groaned. “I had a bit of a run-in with her, which resulted in the pair of us ending up in the canal.”
Her mum recoiled in horror. “What?”
“The jumper is hers. She lost it in the canal, and I fished it out.”
“I just hand-washedthatwoman’s jumper?” her mum screeched.
“Yes.”
Her mouth opened and closed several times before finally managing, “Why?”
Clem wasn’t entirely sure she had an answer. It felt like the right thing to do. Neighbourly. “I feel responsible for her ending up there. The least I can do is return her jumper.”
If they were going to be seeing each other regularly, in one location or another, Clem figured they might as well try to get along. One thing she couldn’t stand was animosity; it was far too uncomfortable for her liking. And, if she was honest, a part of her wanted to see Victoria again — if only to apologise, of course.
“You should’ve left it there,” her mum said, folding her arms. “Along with her.”
“That’s a bit harsh,” Clem replied.
“Gram often complained to us about her. It took a year to renovate that house next door — noise morning, noon, and night. Now it’s our turn. I told Billy not to worry about the disruption. I said there was no one living next door.”
“Mum! I can’t believe?—”
“How exactly did you end up in the canal?” her dad butted in.
“She runs the wharf opposite. She wasn’t happy with me competing against their café. We ended up having a bit of a disagreement over a sign, and in we went.”
