Chapter 54
Chapter fifty-four
“So…” Imogen shovelled a handful of fries into her mouth and chewed. “Do you think I’ve got a chance?”
Rosa pulled the bowl away. “Can you eat those like a normal person, please?”
“Sure, Mum,” Imogen said, grabbing the bowl and pulling it back towards herself. She made a point of only picking one up and eating it.
“Imogen,” Billy said, a warning tone in her voice. “Your mum doesn’t deserve being disrespected.”
Imogen’s eyes flicked to Billy, then back to Rosa. “Sorry, Mum. I’m just excited.”
“As you should be.” Rosa smiled.
“Training with Bath Street Harriers, and I can take a day off school.”
“Half a day,” Rosa said.
“But Mum—”
“Imogen,” Billy said again.
Eyebrows pulled together and eyes narrowed. “Why are you all ganging up on me?” Imogen asked, as another chip made its way to her mouth.
“We’re not ganging up. This is parenting,” Billy answered. “We’re your parents.”
“Yeah, but you’ve always been—” Imogen stopped talking.
“The walkover parent?”
“No, that’s not…” Imogen said before breaking into a smile. “I mean, okay…not a walkover, but the easy one.”
Rosa stole a chip. “Billy and I have come to an understanding where you’re concerned. We agree—you’re right—we should do more things as a family unit, and that includes rules.”
Imogen’s frown deepened.
“Not quite what you were expecting with ‘family time’?” Billy grinned and pinched a chip too.
Imogen rolled her eyes. “I’m not liking this.” She pointed a ketchup-covered finger at each of them in turn. “Ganging up on me.” She chuckled. “But I’ll get used to it, I suppose.”
“So,” Billy said, looking to Rosa, “I was thinking, on Tuesday I could slip out of work on my lunch break and—”
“That’s an option, but I think it would be easier for me to take Imogen to the training ground. I can make up my hours with Roger later in the day, which would make it easier for you to collect her after work and drop her home,” Rosa countered.
“I can get the bus,” Imogen offered.
“No,” they both said in unison.
Imogen stared at them. “Alright. It was just a thought.”
“If Billy agrees, I’ll pick you up at 12:15. You’ll have to eat a sandwich in the car,” Rosa said, falling into organised mother mode in the blink of an eye. “Then you can text when you’re done and Billy will be there to pick you up.”
“Sure,” Imogen said, pushing her chair back. “Need the loo.”
“You know, I think I hate that the most,” Billy said, sighing as she sat back in her chair.
Rosa frowned. “What?”
“Calling me Billy. I get it. I wasn’t exactly around much and calling me ‘Mum’ feels weird because you’re her mum, but I just… I wish I was more than Billy.”
“I don’t think she means anything less by it. It’s my fault, I suppose. I introduced you as Billy because I was scared you wouldn’t hang around, and I didn’t want her to feel abandoned by a parent.”
“Like I said, I get it.”
“Maybe you should talk to her about it?” Rosa suggested, dipping another chip into some ketchup.
Billy nodded. “Maybe.”
“What would you like her to call you?”
“I’ve no idea.” Billy chuckled and leant on her elbow, getting as close to Rosa as she dared. “I love you.”
Rosa started to smile, ready to reciprocate, when she spotted Imogen weaving between the tables on her way back to them.
“Ditto,” Rosa said quickly.
Billy grinned. “She’s coming, isn’t she?”
“Uh huh,” Rosa said, waving at Imogen.
Imogen flopped down into her seat. “You don’t have to wave at me—I’m not five anymore.”
Rosa raised a brow. “Funny, because right now, you’re acting like it.”