Page 55 of My Year of Saying No
‘Humphrey behaving?’
‘As always.’ Mum turned the phone around so that I could see Humphrey spread out like a lap rug across my Dad. I relaxed a little more, knowing that my dog clearly wasn’t pining for me.
‘You sure it’s OK for you to have him a bit longer?’
‘Of course. Are you all settled back at the house now?’
‘Yes. The car’s outside on the road and Seb’s friend is due round first thing to come and take a look at it. Hopefully he’ll have better luck than the garages.’
‘He will,’ a deep voice to my right said, an unmistakeable air of confidence in the words.
‘Is that Seb?’ Mum asked. The curiosity in her tone was also unmistakeable.
I glanced across at him. He was grinning and he gave a quick eyebrow raise in amusement. There wasn’t much that got past Seb Marshall. Damn. He scooted himself up the sofa a little and I angled the phone.
‘Hi, Mrs Wentworth,’ he gave a little wave and that slightly crooked smile that always gave me tummy flutters.
‘Oh, call me Tara,’ my mum waved his formalities away with a smile that I knew meant Seb had already won her over with that killer smile of his. ‘Thank you for helping Lottie out this evening.’
‘My pleasure, Tara.’
I tilted the phone back towards me before Mum could begin questioning Seb about anything else. ‘OK, Mum. I just wanted to check in. I’ll keep you posted tomorrow and let you know what time I’ll be home.’
‘OK, love. No rush.’
I hung up and looked at Seb. ‘Do you charm every woman you meet?’
‘I try.’
I rolled my eyes and he gave my shoulders a quick squeeze before settling back. ‘Do you want anything else?’
‘No, thanks. That chocolate was delicious though. Where did you learn to do that?’
‘It was another treat Mum used to do when Dad was away.’ He shifted a bit on the sofa, getting comfier. ‘I think sometimes she felt she had to make up for him not being there.’
I nodded. ‘Or maybe it was a way of distracting herself too.’
He thought about that. ‘Actually, I think you’re probably closer to the mark. I suppose when you’re a kid you don’t think about it like that. It’s all about you, isn’t it?’
‘I don’t think we see our parents as real people with feelings and needs until we’re much older.’
He nodded. ‘She’d been an Army wife for a long time and she knew the deal, but I’m not sure she ever really got used to it.’
‘Does anyone?’
‘Good question. I know she wasn’t thrilled when I wanted to follow the same path.’
‘But she didn’t stop you?’
‘No, they always knew it was my choice. Thankfully my brother stayed in civvy street so that was one thing less for them to worry about.’
‘If they’re anything like my parents, they’d have worried whatever you did. I think it must be in the job description.’
‘Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she came to the hospital though. She had this brave, positive look on her face, but when I reached out to her, I saw the shattered look in her eyes. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to entirely forgive myself for putting that there.’ He rubbed his leg absent-mindedly. ‘I can’t help but think the stress of me getting injured contributed to her heart attack.’
‘Oh, Seb,’ I said, reaching out and taking his free hand. ‘You can’t think like that. She knew you were doing what you loved and supported you in that. And she got to see you make a great recovery and start up the charity, didn’t she?’
‘She did. But she also got to see the mess I was in before I got my head in the right space.’
