Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
F or once her mum had stopped what she was doing and listened to what Evie had to say. Was she interested, or shocked? Evie wondered. ‘I’ll be eighteen at the start of next year. You or Dad can’t stop me. Bob is going to run a bait shop, and I’m going to work with him. We’ll live in the space behind the shop. It’s like a flat.’
‘You can’t. I forbid it, and so will your father. He’ll be horrified. You’re to finish year twelve and then go to university.’
‘I’m dropping out. You can’t stop me. I’ve packed my bag and some of my stuff. We’re going in my Datsun. Bob’s car doesn’t work. When I get to Yeppoon, I’ll ring you and let you know our phone number. It’s my life now, and I want to be with Bob.’
Her mother had lectured her, pleaded earnestly, and finally dissolved into a tearful mess of apologies and self-blame ‘This is all my fault. If I hadn’t fallen in love with David, none of this would have happened. ’
‘What? You and Father would have just kept living a lie? I’m sorry Mum, but Bob is my boyfriend and he wants me to go with him.’
‘I’ve never even met him. How long has this been going on? You never told me about him until recently.’ She started to sound hysterical and for one moment Evie felt bad. But she was nearly an adult and this was her life. ‘How old is he and what does he do? My job is so busy. I haven’t even met your boyfriend. I wanted to support us, so I’ve spent all my time working. Now you’re going to run off with some boy from school.’
‘I want to be happy,’ Evie said. ‘And being with Bob makes me happy.’ Her mother had let out a wail when she added. ‘He’s twenty-eight and in a band. Does it matter who he is?’ She threw in the last comment to get one last dig in. ‘Are you happy?’
‘Happy? I’ve forgotten what that word even means. How can I be happy? You wouldn’t understand because …. do you love this, Bob? Look at me and tell me if you love him.’
‘I want to be with him. He makes me forget about everything else.’
‘That’s no fucking reason to go with him.’
The ‘F’ word was not a word her mother used, and she was shocked to hear her say it repeatedly as she cursed Evie for her stupidity and for not finishing school. ‘What the hell am I going to tell your father? You’re so close to getting your senior pass and going to university. He’ll come looking for you. He won’t just let you go.’
Evie stood up. ‘Tell him I’m doing just what you and he did. Looking for happiness.’