Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
My mother’s fleeting expression suggests we’ll be circling back to this point in just a minute. “My dear friend Deb has taken it upon herself to give a little talk at Speakers Corner this morning.”
“She doesn’t happen to have a little stepladder with her, does she?” Mimi asks, no doubt thinking of the woman who passed us earlier.
“I don’t know, dear. I’m supposed to be meeting her for a coffee beforehand so I shouldn’t think so.”
“What is it she has to say?” Mimi seems genuinely curious.
“Goodness knows.” Polly gives a roll of her eyes. “She’s been militant about so many things since menopause. But she’s a good friend, and she was there for me when Whit’s father passed.”
“Oh.” That one little sound holds a world of understanding. I only just manage to stop myself from hugging her to me. It’s bad enough to lose a parent, but a sibling? I can’t imagine it. My lot drive me round the twist sometimes it would be like losing part of myself, I’m sure. Then it seems she also lost her liberty. All because she’s too caring a person to fight for what she deserves.
“I like to show my support where I can.” Polly’s eyes slide my way. “No office today, darling?”
“You know how it goes, Mum. No rest for the wicked.” I slide my free hand into my pocket as I add. “This is causing me a bit of déjà vu. It feels a lot like the time you caught me skiving from school.” She was just as amused, at any rate.
“Skiving?” Mimi repeats.
“Playing hooky. I was in my uniform and coming out of Mcdonald's when she caught me.”
“Yes, I remember. You should’ve been in geography, I think.”
“You’ve got some memory.”
“I’ve got eyes in my head, too,” Polly sort of mutters as she tidies the back of her hair. “Primrose tells me you haven’t been home the past couple of weekends.”
Mimi’s attention slides my way reproachfully.
“I just said I didn’t want her and her friends hanging around the pool every weekend. It’s not as though she lives there.”
“And you, Mimi? How are your accommodations these days? You were able to move back into your aunt’s house?”
“Yes, the house was given the all clear,” she says, sidestepping the actual answer, though not before turning the color of her underwear. Pink this morning. I love watching her get dressed, that sensual reverse striptease. There’s something so voyeuristic about it, like seeing something you’re not meant to see.
“Oh.” I’m not sure old Polly is fooled. I like that Mimi’s not a skillful liar.
“Well, we better get back to work,” I say, arching my back a little to stretch it.
“We came out to the boating lake for a brainstorming session.” This weirdness is expelled from Mimi’s mouth at the approximate speed of a hail of bullets.
“Did you, now?” Polly looks delighted. The thing about Mum is the less information you give her, the better. I’ve known since I was fifteen that if you’re in the shit, you close your mouth and you take what she has to give. You don’t keep trying to dig yourself out of the mire because you’ll just find yourself sunk even deeper. Before you even realize it, Polly has wheedled all of your secrets out and then you’re pretty much screwed. Of course, Mimi doesn’t know that. Bless her.
“Yeah. Brainstorming,” she adds with a bright-looking smile.
My mouth ticks up in one corner; it’s a capitulation. A white flag of sorts. Polly and I both know the jig is up. I’ve been rumbled. Outed. Hung by my own petard. Or maybe hung by Mimi’s petard. Anyway, it really is that simple, even if poor Mimi hasn’t cottoned on.
“Whit just happened to mention a new marketing scheme and that he wasn’t happy with the direction the department have taken it, were you?” Mimi’s head whips my way. Her expression, like her words, a little frantic.
I’m not the type to micromanage, and I have no fucking idea what constitutes a marketing campaign, not that I say any of that.
“Not happy at all,” I answer, pressing a reassuring hand to her shoulder. I give it a sympathetic squeeze because she won’t know what’s hit her. Mimi turns back to my mother when the old girl’s eyes meet mine over her head. They remind me of the heart-eye emoji on my phone. The weird thing is, I’m not even bothered.
“Well, that seems like an excellent idea. A break from the office to get the old juices flowing.” And if that’s not bad enough, she makes a weird sort of sailor gesture with her arm. I shake my head quickly; you’re trying too hard, Poll. “Anyway, I must be off before Deb thinks I’ve deserted her. Lovely to see you again, Mimi.” She steps into her, pulling her in for a hug, whether she likes it or not.