I throw up my hands. ‘I’m not even going to ask. I don’t think I’d like the answer.’
Half an hour later, we’re threading our way through the traffic at the edge of town.
‘It gets worse every year,’ says Mum, narrowly avoiding a delivery truck. ‘Honestly, doesn’t that man know he’s supposed to park in the pickup bay? Why do people have to leave their Christmas shopping so late? It makes it most unpleasant for everyone.’
‘We’ve left it just as late,’ I say. ‘Watch that man!’
She slams on the brakes. ‘What was he thinking? He stepped out without looking. It would have served him right if I’d hit him.’
‘That’s the Christmas spirit!’ I say encouragingly.
Thankfully, there are a few spaces left in the Church Lane carpark. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have put it past her to have shunted one of the parked cars out of the way.
She switches off the engine and looks at me. ‘Do you have a comb?’
‘Unsurprisingly, no. Why?’
She rummages in her bag and pulls out a comb. ‘Why do I have to think of everything? Your hair is all over the place. Tidy it up, for goodness’ sake!’
She produces a gold lipstick tube and a small powder compact. ‘While you’re at it, why don’t you pop a bit of this on?’
‘My hair’s fine, thank you,’ I say. ‘I brushed it before I left the house. And why are you trying to make me wear’ – I unscrew the lipstick and grimace – ‘peach coloured lipstick?’
‘It’s actually sea coral,’ she says, putting it back into her bag. ‘And it cost the earth.’
‘They saw you coming,’ I mutter under my breath.
She leads the way towards the main shopping street, talking all the way. ‘I wonder if we have time to start at the chemist. I promised your father I’d get him some corn plasters.’ She looks at her watch. ‘Probably not.’
‘I still don’t know what we’re here for,’ I complain, following her as she bustles through the crowds, flexing her elbows menacingly to clear a path.
‘I’ve already told you,’ she says. ‘We need to buy you some smart clothes.’
I sigh. ‘I suppose I’ll have to get something for this stupid wedding, seeing that you’ve accepted the invitation without consulting me. But I don’t need anything else.’
She isn’t listening. We’ve reached the department store. ‘Just in time,’ she says.
She darts inside, and I follow her. There’s no point in arguing with her when she’s in this mood. Hopefully, we’ll find something quickly and be able to leave.
I catch sight of her halfway up the first escalator. I’m tempted to claim that she disappeared entirely, and I wasn’t able to find her. I could go to the bookshop down the high street, switch off my phone, get myself a cappuccino, and sit there reading until she arrives.
I reluctantly decide it isn’t worth it. Not only would Mum be incandescent with rage, but she would still drag me back to the department store to choose an outfit.
Besides, I don’t want to upset her. It’s been too long since I came home, and I know how much she’s been looking forward to it. So, I follow her up the escalator to the first floor.
‘There she is!’ says Mum when we reach the top.
My heart sinks. A woman is sitting in the coffee shop, waving at us madly. ‘You made it! And here’s little Annie. My goodness, don’t you look grown up?’
‘It’s Elaine Fielding!’ Mum hisses in my ear.
I give the woman an awkward smile. ‘Hello, Mrs Fielding. It’s nice to meet you.’
‘Not Mrs Fielding,’ she says. ‘Call me Elaine! Come and sit down. What will you both have?’
‘I don’t think we have time to stop,’ I say. ‘We’re here to buy something for me to wear to your vow renewal. Congratulations, by the way.’
‘But we agreed to meet here first,’ says Elaine. ‘Liz said we’d need a coffee before we got started.’