Marry Me Tomorrow: The perfect, feel-good read to curl up with in 2017!

‘Do you want me to get your case, Mum?’

‘No, no it’s fine.’ She waved me away, instead telling Sam about the horrible food she’d had on the flight over. Bizarre. She looked so little compared to Sam. He seemed to tower over her as he smiled down at her, listening to her every word. In fact, she seemed smaller and frailer than the last time I’d seen her. I couldn’t wait to find out why she’d left Len.

We went outside into the darkness and crossed the road to get to the car park.

‘I guess it’s colder than this in New York,’ Sam said, as we all cowered against the wind and the rain in our jackets.

‘Yes. It was snowing when I left.’ I noticed she still had hold of his arm, her tan coat entwined with his black jacket. ‘It’s so nice to finally meet you. You’re never in when I phone. I was starting to think you didn’t exist.’ She glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled.

‘Sorry about that. I worked a lot of evenings and weekends.’ He shot me a look over the top of Mum’s head and raised an eyebrow.

‘Well, I’m glad you do exist. I hate to think of my daughter living all alone all of the time. She must get so lonely.’ She reached across and stroked my arm.

I rolled my eyes and Sam grinned.

For some reason, it seemed even colder inside the car park than outside. Inhaling the smell of cold concrete, exhaust fumes and tyre rubber, I unlocked my car, the lights flashing red in the dim light.

‘New car?’ Mum asked. ‘It’s very nice.’

‘Hm. I’ve had it nearly a year now.’

Sam took Mum’s case and opened the boot while Mum climbed into the front seat.

‘Do you want me to drive?’ Sam’s eyes flashed wickedly as he grinned down at me. Instead of answering, I reached up and slammed the boot. ‘Hey, that could have been my fingers then.’

‘It’ll be your ’nads if you’re not careful.’

Sam laughed so hard he almost bent double.

‘I’m glad you find it so funny.’ I went around to the driver’s door and climbed in. Mum was fixing her eye make-up in the sun visor. The familiar scent of her perfume filled the car, making me ache with nostalgia.

‘You must be exhausted,’ I said taking in the black smudges beneath her eyes, the droop of her mouth. Everything about her seemed sad. ‘Did you get any sleep on the plane?’

‘A little.’ She shut the mirror with a snap and buckled up her seat belt. Sam climbed into the back. I saw that his eyes were still shining with amusement as I reversed out of the space, the parking ticket between my teeth.

‘So, I suppose you want to know about me and Len then,’ Mum said. ‘He was having an affair.’

‘An affair?’ I squeaked, the ticket between my teeth vibrating like a kazoo. I snatched it out of my mouth, skinning my lip as I did so. ‘Ouch! What do you mean, he was having an affair? He was ancient! I mean, no offence, but, really?’

Mum held up her hand to stop me blundering on further.

‘Some woman he worked with.’

‘He still worked? I thought he had retired?’

‘He wasn’t that old, Emily. I do wish you’d stop making out he was in his eighties or something. He was still working as a consultant.’

‘Oh. So he met her through work? How did you find out?’

‘You know, little things. A receipt in his pocket for a fancy restaurant while he was supposed to be working, different perfume on his clothes, lipstick on his collar. All the old clichés.’

I winced. ‘Are you sure? Did he admit to it?’

‘Yes, he admitted to it straight away.’

‘Oh God.’ I wound down my window and slipped the ticket into the machine. The barrier rose and I drove down the ramp and out onto the road. ‘Why didn’t you tell me on the phone?’

‘I didn’t want to worry you. But then I realised on the plane that I should have checked that it’s okay to stay with you.’ She looked up with huge anxious eyes. ‘It is, isn’t it? You have got a spare room, haven’t you?’

‘Yes, of course, that’s fine,’ I said, my voice two octaves higher than usual.

‘Oh thank goodness for that. I really couldn’t face spending Christmas on my own.’

‘You’re always welcome, Mum.’ I reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’

In the rear-view mirror, Sam’s eyes locked onto mine, luminous in the darkness. I held them for a second and then looked away, my heart beating so erratically that it felt like it was trying to escape from my chest.

Mum sat quietly, staring out into the darkness, jaw rigid and fingers knotted together. I tried to make small talk, but it wasn’t easy when Sam and Mum were being monosyllabic. After a while, I gave up and concentrated on the road. The dark night pressed in on my little car and I felt like we were in a bubble, hemmed in together, each of us with our own thoughts and problems, no one speaking. The car seemed full of ghosts, especially for me. Seeing Mum again had stirred up a whole load of unexpected emotions and childhood memories.

The motorway was busy: red tail lights snaking away in front, bright headlights behind. The windscreen wipers slapped from side to side, scraping the glass every now and then, setting my teeth on edge. I watched Sam in the rear-view mirror, his face illuminated by passing traffic. He was looking out of the window, his head resting against the glass, chewing the fleshy bit of his thumb.

‘I thought that he loved me,’ Mum said eventually, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. ‘I’m sorry; I’m such a fool. You’d think I’d know better at my age.’

‘Don’t say that, Mum. He’s the fool, not you.’ I reached over and squeezed her hand while keeping my eyes on the motorway ahead. She turned in her seat to peer into the back.

‘I’m sorry, Sam. What must you think of me? The first time we’ve met and here I am crying and moping. I didn’t even give you much notice. I hope you don’t mind my coming to stay for Christmas, like this?’

‘Of course I don’t mind,’ he said, and I could hear the warmth of a smile in his voice. ‘We’re happy to have you. Aren’t we, Emily?’

‘Of course we are!’ I said. ‘You’ve made our Christmas, coming to visit like this!’

‘Thank you.’ Mum smiled at me and then sniffled into her tissue. ‘I feel like such a silly old bag.’

‘You’re not silly,’ I said.

‘You’re not an old bag, either,’ Sam added.

‘Oh yes, that too.’ I laughed and flicked my indicator to come off at the junction. ‘Sorry.’ Glancing in the mirror, I met his gaze again. I swallowed and forced my attention back to the road ahead.

I wondered what Sam was thinking and whether he was as horrified as I was at the prospect of us sharing a room. My whole body was humming as though an electric current was circling beneath my skin. I focused on the road ahead, grateful for the distraction, squinting at the glare from the oncoming traffic. ‘Nearly home now,’ I said. ‘You’ll be glad of a cup of tea, I expect.’

‘Ooh yes, I will.’

‘So what will you do now, Pamela?’ Sam said. ‘Is it over between you and Len?’