Page 90 of The Wedding Forecast

‘Yes,’ I say. ‘Permanent part-time.’ I wonder if it’s too late to bring the topic back to Mac.

‘Is working in retail a smart career move?’ Mum asks.

‘Well, hang on,’ Bobbi says, looking offended. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It’s different for you, Bobs, you own it. It’s your dream. Anna is a single woman who is living on her own. Who has spent the past ten years building a career in marketing.’

‘I’m not on my own. I’m living with Hayley and Luke.’

‘I mean metaphorically. You are on your own in life. You have no one to pick up the slack if you can’t pay your bills, no one to share a mortgage with, or save a deposit with—’

‘Got it Mum, I have no one and nothing. You’ve made your point.’

‘Honey, I’m not trying to be horrible, I’m just worried—’

‘You’re always worried.’

‘I’m your mother. It’s my job.’

‘Do you know how I spent most of this year? Every weekday, getting up at 5.30 am. Writing for an hour. Then getting ready, going to work, coming home from work at six, having dinner, and writing for another hour or two. Then on Saturdays, writing for five or six hours. I’m burnt out from working so much.’

‘Well—’

‘And don’t tell me to stop writing.’

‘I would never say that,’ Mum says. ‘You know how proud I am of you.’

‘I want to try something different,’ I say.

‘What was it you said to me once?’ Bobbi says to Mum. ‘That it was okay if the second half of my life looked completely different from the first. That there was still time to change everything. And when you said that to me, I was married to a man and working an office job I hated, and a few years later I was in love with Jean and opening the bookshop, and I might not have done any of that without your encouragement.’

‘I know, Bobs.’

‘So why can’t you say it to Anna?’

‘Because it’s a different situation and a different time,’ Mum says. And then she looks at me, and softens. ‘You know I support whatever you want to do. I just want to make sure you’re sure.’

‘I’m sure,’ I say. I’m not sure, but I’m projecting sureness, which is almost as good.

Dad clears his throat, and I turn to him, braced for his disappointment.

‘Congratulations on the new job, sweetheart,’ he says, and I smile, relieved.

‘Thank you, Dad,’ I say, and I can see Mum is irritated, because she thinks she always has the role of bad cop.

‘So you and Mum are working together every day now?’ Hayley says and she doesn’t look entirely happy about it.

‘Well, not every day, she’s going to be covering some of Sasha’s old shifts during the week and we’ll do crossover on Friday and Saturdays,’ Bobbi said.

‘Why was this some big secret you were keeping from everyone?’ Hayley says.

‘It just happened a few days ago,’ I say.

‘You could have discussed it with me first.’ Hayley’s voice is rising.

Luke sits forward, sensing he might be needed.

‘Me or Anna?’ Bobbi says, frowning.