Page 4 of A Different Kind Of December
“What do you know already?”
Her eyes dart away from mine, a move that I make when I’m either caught in a lie or about to tell one.
“I’m sure you’ve already read plenty online.”
“Yeah, but half of that probably ain’t even true, I’d rather hear it from you.”
“Isn’t true.” I correct her.
Fuck me, I’ve turned into my mother.
“What ain’t?”
I shake my head and let out a sigh. My kids speak far moreproperthan I ever did, but the occasional “ain’t” slips in there every now and then. And where Lula is concerned, the F-bomb, too.
“I was pointing out that the correct word you were looking for is ‘isn’t’ not ‘ain’t’.”
“Oh, don’t start.”
I fight my smile while wondering how many times I’ve had this conversation with my own mother as I watch Tallulah roll her eyes.
Not wanting to argue with my daughter or get into a conversation about my past, I go for diplomacy and a subject change.
“Where’s Kiki?”
“She’s up, and nice divert by the way.”
Despite the cold, I feel my cheeks heat. I’ve been busted by my own fifteen-year-old daughter.
“I’m not diverting, we’ll talk, but today isn’t the day.”
She studies me for a long moment. Her blue eyes, which are so much like mine, roam my face.
“I’m sorry, Mum. For what happened to you.”
My lips tremble, and my chest judders as I fight not to cry. It isn’t just the date and the topic of conversation, it’s the fact that I’m having it with my daughter, the one that Cam usually has to step in and stop me from throttling.
A tear slips from my eye, and Tallulah steps towards me.
“Sorry. I should’ve picked a better day to bring this up.”
She hits me with force as she lands in my lap.
I’m shocked at her show of emotion and wrap my arms around her skinny frame. The door to the back deck slides open, and Kiks steps out while staring down at her phone. She takes a step back when she sees us, and like her sister, her hand flies to her chest.
“Bloody hell, you made me jump. I was just texting you—” Her eyes dart between us. “What’s happened? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lu and I say in unison. Kiki’s dark eyes, which are so much like her dad’s, continue their dance between our faces.
“Just giving Mumma a cuddle,” Lu explains.
“Why, Wha’dya do?”
I smile at that. Lu is the one out of our four that’s usually in trouble, so Kiki is right to suspect.
Tallulah lets out a huff. “It’s December first, I’ve not done anything wrong. I just thought Mum could do with a cuddle.”
Kiks licks her lips and nods slowly. “You doing okay, Mum?”
