Read Online The Reef by Di Morrissey - Free Book Online Page B

spoiled this year,’ said Christina with a thin smile. ‘Whatever you want to do, Jennifer.’
    â€˜A picnic sounds lovely. Thursday night.’ Jennifer was relieved.
    â€˜Oh. Thursday.’ Christina looked around. ‘Is there a calendar somewhere?’
    What now? Vi and Jennifer exchanged an amused glance, both ready to explode in laughter.
    Christina turned her back to them as she flicked pages of the calendar on the kitchen wall. ‘Oh dear.’ She turned a stricken face to them. ‘Well, I’ll just have to cancel.’
    â€˜You have something on?’ asked Vi with a raised eyebrow.
    â€˜Nothing important.’ Pause . ‘I’ve been taking tennis lessons for the past six months. We have our first little comp on Thursday night.’
    They all stared at Christina who looked genuinely distressed. As she looked at the three stunned faces she became aware of the effect of her words.
    â€˜What’s so shocking? I’m not senile, you know.’
    Jennifer looked at her mother, really looked at her dispassionately, for the first time in years. She saw a slim, wiry thin, but fit and tanned woman in her early fifties. She’d coloured her hair. Jennifer had never noticed. Christina used to have a few grey hairs, now they’d gone and her nails were painted red. ‘Mum! That’s fantastic! Why didn’t you tell us?’
    â€˜What! And have the lot of you down on me for starting something like this at my age? Telling me I’d injure myself?’ Nonetheless she waslooking a little pleased at their reaction. ‘Actually, I’m not bad. Should have done this years ago.’
    A nerve twitched in Jennifer. An instinct that told her Christina no doubt blamed her late father for the lost opportunity.
    Don slapped his sister on the back. ‘That’s bloody beaut. Good for you. No wonder you’re looking so trim. Play with ladies do you? Or are there a few blokes at the club?’ he winked at Vi and Jennifer.
    â€˜Where, when have you been doing this?’ asked Vi.
    â€˜With some people from work. We go at lunch times. Thursday is our first social outing.’
    â€˜Well, you can’t miss that,’ said Don.
    â€˜What say we all go?’ said Vi.
    â€˜Yes, Mum, we’ll come and be your cheer squad.’
    â€˜Oh, I’d be so embarrassed. I mean, I’m still learning . . .’
    â€˜Don’t go all coy, Tina. We’ll be there. What do you say, Jen? We’ll take your birthday cake and some champers to share.’
    â€˜And celebrate your big win,’ smiled Jennifer. She knew her birthday would be downplayed and they’d all pay lots of attention to Christina. That was fine by her. The break away with Blair would more than make up for it. And besides, she was keen to see her mother in this new light. I bet Vi thinks she has a bloke. Well, I hope she does.

    To everyone’s surprise it turned out to be a fun evening. Christina was a different person around other people. Vivacious, laughing, teasing her partner on the court, and she played well enough to help win the match. There were several men in the group but Christina didn’t pay attention to anyone in particular. ‘She plays to the gallery,’ thought Jennifer. When Don broke out the champagne, one of the women laughed.
    â€˜Hey Tina, you came prepared to win. You had the game won before we started.’
    â€˜Here’s to a rematch!’ Christina raised her glass.
    â€˜And happy birthday, Jenny,’ added Vi and Don.
    â€˜Oh, we didn’t know. Happy Birthday, Jennifer,’ chorused the group. Vi was furious. Why wouldn’t Christina have mentioned it was her daughter’s birthday? Darling Jen, so good natured. She hoped Blair would make it up to her.
    And he did. Whether by good fortune, smooth management, or sheer luck, every moment of the three days was blissful for Jenny. The weather was perfect: cool