Page 67 of Six Steps to Happiness
“I’ll start by saying thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done without you being there for me all these years, let alone the last few months. You’ve supported me through thick and thin, and that six-step plan you and Willow came up with has made me feel like a new woman. It took me out of my comfort zone, gave me a good shaking up, it was what I needed.”
“It worked then?”
“It certainly did. You were both right, and now we’ve come to the end of it, Timbuktu or number eight, Holme Leave Avenue, I don’t care where Nick and Gaye live.”
Bea seemed pleased to hear it.
Ronnie paused. “Which brings me to my next point of discussion…”
Bea narrowed her eyes, clearly wondering what was left to say. “And that is?”
“I want to talk about yesterday.”
Bea relaxed again. “I’ve told you.” She waved her hand, dismissive. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I really am fine now.”
“Maybe, maybe not. But it’s not just that, is it?”
“If you’re referring to…” Bea’s expression turned sad. “I’m so sorry that Nick did that to you, Ronnie. Willow told me how he behaved and it’s unforgivable.”
“Willow shouldn’t have.”
“Yes, she should,” Bea said, coming over rather adamant. “You’ll always be family to me, no matter what that son of mine says. He had no right to treat you that way.”
“No, he didn’t.”
Bea twisted in her position to face Ronnie. “As for bringing in that woman. You do know she tried to fluff up my pillows when I was leaning against them, don’t you? How does she know how I like my pillows? I’ve barely spoken to the woman since the two of them got together and there she was, acting like she knew everything about me. Like she cared.”
“She cares about Nick.”
“Does she? Then why break up his perfectly good marriage?”
Ronnie smiled. “If it had been perfect, Bea, Nick and I would still be together.”
Her mother-in-law remained indignant.
“Remember when I first met Nick. You didn’t think all that much about me either.”
“That was different.”
“How so?”
“Because it was.”
“You changed your mind though, once you got to know me.”
“Because you didn’t sleep with married men, for one.”
Ronnie laughed. “All I’m saying is, it might be time to give Gaye a chance.”
Bea stared at Ronnie, as if Ronnie had lost control of her faculties.
“We both know neither of them are ever going to make my Christmas card list,” Ronnie continued. “But when I think about what could have happened yesterday, Bea, if we’d lost you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“But if we had? And you and Nick hadn’t worked through things. He’s your son, Bea, you need to sort things out, for both your sakes. And mine. Whenever the time comes, I don’t want to be the one responsible for coming between you. That’s a big weight to have to carry around.”
Bea sighed. “But Gaye isn’t you.”
