“So, what will it be?”
Hera clasps her hands together, relief washing over her. “I want to properly be in your life. More than anything, Laurence.”
She swipes a tear from her eye. “Thank you so much for giving me this chance. I swear I won’t make you regret it.”
I exhale, patting Laurence’s hand. “Ok,” he says. “Where do we go from here, then?” His mother glances at her lap. “Actually, I was wondering if you would like to…” she bites her lip before continuing.
“If you’d like to meet my fiancé.” Laurence and I both stare at her. “You’re getting remarried?” He asks. Hera nods, locking eyes with Laurence. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to spring this on you, but—“
“It’s a good thing” Laurence interjects. She stares at him in disbelief. “You…really think so?” Laurence nods slowly. “Yeah. I’m glad you found someone who loves you back.” He frowns at her.
“He better love you back, ok? I’m not putting up with this otherwise.” Hera nods hastily. “He does, he really does, I promise. Oliver is a great man, and he really helped me.”
“That’s good,” Laurence replies, unsure of what else to say. His mother keeps glancing at him and then back at her lap. “There’s something else you’re not telling him” I state.
Hera looks up suddenly. “Um…you’re right. Actually,” she takes a deep breath. “Oliver has a son. He’s only two years younger than you. We were hoping you two would get along.”
I feel awful for Laurence, he thought he was just saying hi to his mum but now he’s finding out she’s engaged and so he has a soon-to-be step-brother??
“Oh,” Laurence breathes, running his hand through his hair. “Oh, that’s nice. Ok. Is he nice?”
“He’s very sweet yes. I think you’ll get along quite well.”
That’s bullshit, she hasn’t had a proper conversation with Laurence in ten years, she has no idea what he’s like now.
Apparently, Laurence was thinking the same as me. “Mother, you know practically nothing about me. Not sure you can assume we’ll ‘get along well’ when you have no idea what kind of person I am.”
Hera looks to her lap again. “Yes, you’re right.” She glances back at Laurence. “Please, let me get to know you, then.” Laurence looks at me, then back at his mother. “Sure.” He smiles slightly at her, a peace offering.
—————
“Thank you for coming too, Asher. I’m glad Laurence has a good friend like you.” Hera smiles, patting my shoulder as we stand outside the café.
I smile thinly, trying to hide my distaste for the woman. Laurence is trying, I should too.
“Um, it was nice meeting you.”
“You too,” she leans in, she and Laurence sharing the most awkward hug I’ve ever seen.
“Oh, by the way, mother, Asher isn’t my friend,” he declares, as we turn to head home. Hera looks confused, opening her mouth but before she can say anything, Laurence adds “he’s my boyfriend. Anyway, bye.”
He grabs my hand and hurries me off down the street, not looking back at Hera. “Did you just come out to her?!” I breathe once we stop at a park, sitting down on a bench.
“Thought I might as well tell her now - she already said she would properly be in my life, and you’re the biggest part of my life, so she should know.”
I gape at Laurence. “My God you’re so mushy sometimes!” I playfully slap his arm, pecking him on the cheek. “The feeling’s mutual though,” I add as an afterthought.
Laurence grins, wrapping his arm around me. “I feel like I need a lie-down after all that.” I giggle, poking his ribs. “Alright, old man.”
Laurence’s laughter reverberates through him, making my heart’s canter pick up to a gallop. “Will you tell Jackie and Jamie?”
“Uh-huh, I tell them practically everything and have since I was like twelve. They’ve never met my mum though, as I never had friends over to my house when she and I lived together.”
I nod, resting my head on Laurence’s chest. “I don’t think I ever had friends round mine, as a child, either. Although our reasons are totally different.” He chuckles, “that’s true.”
“Hey, Asher” he begins.
“Hmm?” He hesitates, then continues. “How much of your life do you remember?” I peer up at him.
“I have substantial memories up until I was about 8 or 9, and after that it decreases until it’s short snippets, like glimpses through a keyhole, kind of, until I was around 10. After that, there’s nothing.”
Laurence tenses beside me, then begins fiddling with my braid. “That’s kind of…unexpected. I don’t know how amnesia works, but I just assumed you’d remember things which happened more recently.”
I laugh, taking his hand in mine. “I don’t know about all types of amnesia, but mine, retrograde amnesia, makes you forget the most recent memories first.”
“Do you ever…remember anything new?” I shake my head. “I did at first, the months I had at home. I’d get a splitting headache and like a dream, I’d see all these things. It stopped shortly after I started uni though.”
Laurence nods. “I see. Do you ever wish you remembered?” I sit up, staring at him. “Sorry that was a really dumb and insensitive question, just ignore it.” I laugh, stroking his hand.
“Nah, it’s ok. I don’t actually. I remember things about my family, and that’s enough for me.” I smile at him, placing my lips on his palm. Laurence grins back at me.
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