Page 80 of Barging In

“You could say that,” Clem said, clenching her jaw to stop herself smiling at the fact.

“I saw those bad reviews.”

“You would have seen her reply then, too, Mum,” Clem replied, a little too sharply. “It wasn’t her — and she wasn’t trying to get me moved either.”

“What about that mishap that had you both in the canal?”

“A misunderstanding. She’s really nice, Mum. I’ve been helping her out a bit. I’m baking for the wharf, too.”

“Is she a lesbian?” her mum whispered, suddenly seeming mindful that they were having this conversation in a semi-public space.

“Seriously?” Clem turned to her dad. “Are you sure she didn’t hit her head as well?”

“Not recently.” He chuckled.

“Why would you even ask that, Mum?”

“I was only wondering. Are we not allowed to ask that sort of thing anymore?”

“I don’t think it’severbeen appropriate to ask someone that, Mum. It’s no one’s business,” Clem replied, finding the knot that had been forming in her stomach since her dad’s call tighten.

Her mum gave a nonchalant shrug.

“Didn’t Maud say she had a husband,” Clem’s dad put in, “though she never saw him around much?”

“Oh, yes, she did.”

“She’s offered me a job on top of the baking,” Clem said, quickly changing the subject.

“Doing what?” her mum demanded.

“Marketing. The wharf needs a little — well, a lot of help to increase footfall, or it might close.”

“Oh! Well, it sounds like an exciting opportunity and some guaranteed income, but how would you manage that with your café and baking for the wharf?”

“It’s part-time or whatever hours I want, so I can work around it.”

Her mum looked ready to respond, but a nurse appeared at the end of the bed.

“You’re all good to go, Mrs Wentworth,” she said brightly. “The bruising will take a few days to go down. Take some painkillers if you need to, and keep it strapped like this until you see us again. The fracture clinic will send you an appointment for about four weeks from now.”

“Great. Come on, Tom,” her mum said, pushing herself up with one hand, the other held aloft with a dramatic point. “We’re expecting four guests in a couple of hours.”

“I hope they enjoy the view out of the clean windows,” the nurse called after them with a chuckle.

As they made their way into the waiting area, Clem’s heart gave a little leap. Victoria was sat calmly between a single, tired-looking man and a family with rather shouty young children, a magazine perched on her lap. That feeling of joy swiftly twisted into nerves as Clem realised her parents would have to meet her. Properly.

“What’s she still doing here?” her mum asked.

“I don’t know,” Clem said, “but please try to be nice to her. For me.” Without waiting for a reply, she strode ahead. “Victoria. Thanks for waiting.”

“I wasn’t sure if you would need a lift,” Victoria said, standing up and putting the magazine on a nearby table.

“Yes, that would be great, thanks,” Clem replied with a smile. She hadn’t even thought about how she’d get home.

Her parents caught up with them then. Clem took a deep breath.

“Victoria, these are my parents, Tom and Barbara. Mum, Dad, Victoria.”