Chapter 11 – Mums

I was working on my class work, when I heard a tap at the kitchen door. I opened it and Morwenna was standing there with a miserable expression. "Morwenna? What's the matter?" I said.

"Can I come in?" she asked plaintively. "I need to talk."

"Martin's out. He had a call. Come in." I closed the door behind her and she stood there twisting her bracelet around her arm. She looked anxiously at me.

"On a Sunday?" Morwenna shook her head. ""I suppose they couldn't bother to go into Wadebridge."

"Yeah," I sighed. Sunday was the only full day that Martin took off; the one day we could spend time together. "Well, you know. When a patient calls?"

Morwenna nodded.

"He ought to be home soon," I told her.

"I need to talk to you," the girl said.

"Oh. Right. Well James is napping, and I was doing my homework."

She smiled. "How's that going?"

"Hard at times, but I like it." the material was hard but challenging; gave me a chance to stretch my mental muscles.

"I was never very good at school work," she muttered.

"But you were such a good student and I know how much Martin values your help in his practice. Let's go into the front room." I led her to the sofa and made her sit. I took the chair opposite. "And how are things?"

"Fine," she said, "No, I'm not."

She didn't want to speak to Martin so was this medical? "The baby?"

She put her hand on her belly and smiled. "Now it's fine, or he, or she. All fine in that department. Not even very sick in the mornings. But I find I have to wee a lot." She laughed.

I dipped my head, smiling. "Happens. Now, if you don't want to see Martin, and it's not medical, and the baby is fine? Just what then?"

She sighed. "Parents can be such a pain."

"Bert?"

"No. I mean Al's Dad can be a pain, just not right now. We told him about gettin' married and the baby. He's happy for us. Oh, and the date is set. We met with the Curate and it's the second Saturday next month."

"I'll put that on our calendar. Go on."

She shook her head. "Called my folks. Got through first try – a miracle. My Dad was pretty sympathetic, or I think so. Hard to tell over the phone. And he's always been – accepting – I guess. Always accepting any thing I tell him."

I was waiting for the next bit. "And your mum wasn't."

She shook her head. "Tara and me, well we don't always see eye to eye, not that she were around very much even when I was little."

Her grandfather did most of her raising; years and years, while Jack and Tara had bigger fish to fry. I always wondered how they could go so far away to help other people's kids and ion so doing ignore their own. But then again, my mum was more interested in her own life than mine, as well as my Dad's. "But you invited them to the wedding," I said.

"Yeah," she said slowly.

"Are they coming?"

She winced. "I hope so."

I leaned forward. "This is about your mum, then."

Morwenna licked her lips. "I recall that your mum wasn't here for your wedding."

At least she didn't bring up my dad, for everyone knew where he was; for her was a guest of Her Majesty. "No. I didn't… didn't actually… invite her."

"I see." She went back to playing with her bracelets. "History."

"Right, there is; we do. Morwenna don't you want your mum to see you get married?"

"I… I do… I suppose."

"And you've asked her."

"Yeah. But she didn't sound very happy about… me getting married or having a baby."

"But you've held out a hand to her, and you can only hope that she will take it."

She shook her head. "But, Louisa, you know who I want to be there? Granddad."

I nodded. "He was such a nice man. He worked with my Dad for a while – up at the quarry."

Morwenna swiped at her wet cheeks, so I handed her a tissue, which she used. "Louisa, why do we hate our mums?"

Hate? "My, that is a strong word." Was that what I felt about Eleanor? Not hate, surely. Unhappiness, certainly. Disappointment? Oh yes. Frustration and regret, plus lost chances too.

"Okay. Not hate. But why are we so damn prickly when we're together?"

I shook my head. Becoming a grownup is knowing that everything isn't all nice and rosy. "I was ten when my mum left the village, so, me and Dad had to muddle through."

Morwenna's eyes painfully pierced mine. "I was seven when Tara and Jack went away. See? I don't even call them Mum and Dad! Isn't that awful? Granddad and Gran were my parents, really. They raised me, and Gran died the next year; just months after they left." She moaned and twisted the wet tissue. "And it was Granddad who took me to the store when I needed my first bra. Not my mum. So…," she sighed. "Just how interested has she ever been in me?"

I shook my head. "You feel like you're ignored, that what you're feeling?"

She looked up. "God that is a word. Ignored. That might be it. Spot on."

I went to her, got down on my knees and put my arms around her. "Morwenna, you are not alone. You have Al and Bert, plus me and Martin, and the whole village, and in time - your baby."

She rested her head on my shoulder. "Thanks… thanks for sayin' that Louisa."

The back door flew open and Martin stomped in a rush swinging his medical bag in irritation. "Stupid, stupid man!" he was shouting. "He had a bleeding hangnail! Can you imagine? What is it with the people in this god-forsaken place? A bunch of fools…" He stopped when he saw me holding Morwenna. "Uhm, anything the matter? Is something wrong?" he asked.

Morwenna gave me a wide-eyed stare, so I answered him. "No Martin, just girl talk."

He dropped his head. "Right. Then, I'll just… put my bag away," he muttered uncomfortably, and then went towards his consulting room.

Morwenna chuckled. "Oh it was girl talk, Doc."

I brushed a loose hair from her forehead. "Your mum will come around. You'll see."

Morwenna sighed. "I hope so."

"It'll be fine. Now we need to find you a wedding dress."

"Oh my gosh!" Her hand flew to her mouth. "There's not much time."

"Well, we'd better get started then," I told her.

"You'll help me, what? Find a dress?"

"Certainly. Let's get on the computer and look up dress shops in Truro."

She sighed. "How much will this cost? I… don't have that much money."

I smiled. "I'll help with that a bit, if you'll let me?"

Morwenna hugged me fiercely. "Oh Louisa, you are the best!"