Page 82 of Barging In

“Thank you, Victoria,” he said over the car’s roof.

“Yes, thank you,” her mum added.

Victoria inclined her head. “You’re both welcome.”

“Let me know how you are tomorrow, Mum,” Clem called.

“I will,” she called out as they wandered off.

Victoria got back in the car. “Right, let’s get you to the wharf.”

“Thanks for sticking around and giving us a lift,” Clem said, joining her.

“It was no problem. Your mum is…”

“You don’t have to finish that sentence,” Clem cut in, turning to Victoria.

“Good. I didn’t realise until I started that I didn’t know how to finish it.” She laughed as they drove off.

Clem sniffed lightly. “Mum is Mum. Who knows how she’ll cope with a broken finger.”

“She’ll manage; they both will. They have each other, years of experience, and, from what I’ve seen of your mum, plenty of determination.”

“Yes, she has that in shovelfuls. I’m glad they’re giving up, if I’m honest. I do worry about them. They might have experience, but accidents still happen. I know they happen to everybody, and I probably sound ageist, but today was proof that they can happen to them. I’ll rest easy when they are safely in the house.”

“Where they might leave the gas on because they’re so old? Or fall down the stairs? Wouldn’t a bungalow be better?”

Clem narrowed her eyes playfully. “I’m sure you know what I meant.”

“I do. But you can’t wrap your parents in cotton wool any more than they could you when you were growing up.”

“Mmm,” Clem mused. It didn’t stop her worrying.

“More Freddie?” Victoria suggested.

“Yes,” Clem replied.

The opening rhythm of “Under Pressure”filled the car — and Clem with a wave of dread. She closed her eyes and leaned back. She wanted to enjoy the music, but concern for her parents and uncertainty about her own future weighed her down. Should she have offered to help them? But how could she? She had her own life to deal with.

A sensation tickling her arm made her open her eyes.

“Clem,” Victoria murmured. “We’re at the wharf.”

“Shit! Did I fall asleep? Sorry.” She sat forward and rubbed her eyes.

“There’s no need to be sorry. The stress of everything, no doubt, caught up with you.”

“I’m certainly feeling it,” Clem said, blinking and reaching for the door handle. “Thank you for this afternoon. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Victoria replied with a soft smile. “I was happy to be able to help you out for a change. I was beginning to worry this friendship might look one-sided.”

“So, you don’t just want me for my genius marketing ideas and my lemon drizzle?”

Victoria chose to ignore the comment. “I enjoy helping you.”

“Likewise. I’ll guess I’ll see you for dinner tomorrow night?”

“Yes,” Victoria confirmed with a wide smile. “Can’t wait.”