Epilogue
“Mum?” I answered the call, my voice drowsy.
“Oh, Florence—” My mother sounded chirpy. “—how lovely that you are already awake.” Ugh, seriously?
“Um…” I paused. “What’s going on?”
“I was calling to confirm whether you are going to attend your father’s anniversary birthday party dinner?”
“ At seven in the morning? ” And, for Christ’s sake, dad’s birthday wasn’t even for another couple of months.
“What’s wrong with seven in the morning?”
“I don’t know, Mum. I could have still been asleep.”
“But you clearly aren’t.”
“Well,” I sighed, “not anymore.”
“So?” she pressed on, “you are both attending, I assume?”
I glanced at Miles, who was still sleeping peacefully beside me, a gentle smile playing on his lips, then, stifling a yawn, I said, “Yes, Mother.”
“Well, lovely. I will see you then.”
“Great,” I muttered in a whisper, my finger hovering menacingly over the ‘end call’ button, just a click away from hanging up on her.
“Oh, and Florence, darling?” she quickly added.
I took a deep inhale then patiently replied, “Yes?”
“ Please , don’t be late. Dinner at six.”