Page 16 of Cherished By the BRATVA Grump

“What about you?” I finally ask. “Why didn’t you go and find a handsome man to sweep you off your feet after your husband left?”

She purses her lips and looks up for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

“I was in a time of my life where all I wanted was to look after you and your brother and sister. I wanted to provide you with the best of everything because I wanted you to grow up knowing that no matter how your life started, you were deserving of everything good. I did so much research into the best ways to raise you guys. Every night, I’d stay up late learning what I could do for you because I loved you three so much. I didn’t need a man in my life, and I wasn’t willing to risk anything going wrong with looking after you guys.”

“You sacrificed so much for us,” I say, the tears starting again.

“No, I didn’t.” Mom shakes her head from side to side and wipes the tears from my cheeks with her thumbs. “I, somewhat selfishly, chose the thing that made me the happiest woman in the world. I chose to be your mom. And I will forever thank my lucky stars.”

“Thanks, mom,” I whisper.

“Thanks, Tamsin,” she says back with a smile before pulling me into a tight hug. “Now, enough of this. Get Demyan’s number from one of your friends and call him. Or text him. Whatever it is you do these days. Because even if you only get one night with that man I swear to you it will be worth it.” She wiggles her eyebrows and begins to laugh that cackle she has when she knows she is being devious.

“Mom!” I bluster, but I’m laughing, too.

Demyan

I expected to collapse in a heap on my bed when I got home and fall straight to sleep. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Instead, I’m standing at the foot of my bed, staring at it.

The cleaner has been. She has changed the sheets to dark gray with black behind it and done that thing that makes the bed look too neat and tidy to get into. I frown at it a little longer until my phone vibrates and I pluck it out of my pocket expecting one of my cousins has something that they need fixing.

Only it’s a number I don’t recognize and isn’t stored in my phone.

I read the message: Hey, it’s Tamsin, I hope you don’t mind, I got your number from Dee.

I quickly type back: Is everything okay?

The little bubbles jump up and down on the screen.

Then: Yes, everything is fine.

I consider responding, but what am I supposed to say? I want her to want to talk to me, but I don’t want to scare her off, or worse… Instead I save her number and slip my pone back into my pocket, deciding to ignore the bed for another hour or so and head into the living room. I’ll put something on the Television until I’m too tired to keep my eyes open. That should work.

My phone vibrates again and I snatch it from my pocket quicker than I’ll ever confess to.

The stupid thing doesn’t open when I swipe my thumb over it, and I jab quickly at the numbers to enter my passcode.

Tamsin: Can we meet up?

I’ve grabbed my keys and jacket and I’m out the door before the screen even goes dark.

Twenty minutes later I’ve crossed the bridge and pulled up in the parking lot beside the community park. She is already there, standing beneath the light near the entrance, and she makes her way over to my car, climbing in when I disengage the locks.

“Hey,” I say as she slides into the passenger seat and holds her hands up to the warm air coming from the dash.

“Hi,” she says, suddenly shy.

“What’s happening here?” I ask. Trying to sound gentle, but I’ve never had cause to before so I’m not sure if it comes out that way.

She finally looks at me. “I spoke with my mom. She helped me sort through some stuff.”

“Okay.” I try not to be confused, but I’ve no idea how this has got anything to do with me.

“And with everything that’s going on in my life with work and stuff…I just…she made me realise that it’s okay to want something…different. That I wouldn’t usually go anywhere near.”

There’s no way I can hide my confusion now. “I’m not following.”

“God, Demyan, do you have to make this so hard for me?” she asks. “I like you. I’m very attracted to you. I’m not sure how that aligns with my understanding of what you do for a living…but I’d like to maybe try it out. If you still want to.”