The Second Virginity of Suzy Green - By Sara Hantz Page 0,40
the truth. Before she starts accusing me of all sorts. Maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic. She trusts me now. At least I think she does.
“Looking through Rosie’s clothes, but—” My words are lost as suddenly a huge lump forms in my throat and all that comes out is a strange choking noise.
From behind me I hear her scrambling over the boxes. When she gets here she drops down and squeezes in next to me. “Suzy, are you okay? Is it Rosie?”
I nod slowly and she wraps me in her arms.
“Mom. Why?” I say my voice all muffled as I bury my head.
“I don’t know love,” she says quietly over the top of my head.
I can feel her shoulders gently bobbing up and down and I know she’s crying. Which sets me off. We stay like this for ages, neither speaking, both absorbed in our own thoughts. Suddenly Mom gently eases me away and she pulls out a couple of tissues from up her sleeve and wipes my eyes with one then her own eyes with the other.
“Thanks,” I say sniffing. “I better put this box back.” I lean over and bring the tape back across the box and start to push it along the floor to where the others are.
“Wait,” Mom says. “What made you want to look at Rosie’s clothes?”
“I wanted something to wear for Lori’s parents’ silver wedding party. I thought Rosie might have something I could borrow. But I think I’ll just buy something, if that’s okay with you.”
“You can do either, love. If Rosie was with us now she’d let you borrow whatever you wanted.” The wistful tone in her voice set me off again and tears spill furiously down my cheeks.
“I know,” I say between sobs. “She was so perfect wasn’t she?” Mom frowns and opens her mouth as if to speak then changes her mind. “What?” I pause for a moment waiting for her to reply but she remains silent. “Mom? What were you going to say?”
“Suzy. As much as I love your sister with all my heart and nothing or no-one could ever replace her. She did have faults. She wasn’t perfect. She was human.” She reaches out and rests her hand on my arm.
“No.” I shake my head. “She was perfect. Dad used to say so. Miss Perfect was what everyone called her, including you.” I don’t get it. Why would she say that about Rosie?
“That was a nickname Suzy, something your dad said in fun when she was a tiny girl. No-one is perfect. Everyone has some failings. Remember the time Dad caught her smoking in the shed at the bottom of the garden?” I shake my head. I’ve never heard that story. “Well he did. And the night she came home drunk and threw up over Dad’s roses?” Well, I do remember that. It was so funny. Dad got really cross. I don’t know why, he could have started a whole new craze with vomit smelling roses. You could send them to people you hate.
“Come on,” she continues. “Let’s get a cup of tea. We can look at the dresses later.” Oh yes, a cup of tea. The answer to everything. Well, it is in our household. Personally it’s times like these when a stiff drink would be of more use. Except bearing in mind my past behavior I don’t think suggesting that would go down too well. Plus Mom and Dad don’t drink, if you don’t count the odd beer and sherry at Christmas.
Mom pulls me up and keeps hold of my hand while we make our way back to the kitchen—which is a mission in itself as it makes it even harder to balance.
My mind’s a mass of thoughts. Rosie was perfect. I don’t care what Mom says. And I know that deep down she believes it as much as I do. And those silly smoking and drinking incidents are so trivial they don’t count.
Chapter Sixteen
“Don’t wait up,” I call into the sitting room after I see Guy pulling up in his car at the bottom of our drive. “I’m not sure what time I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?” Dad asks, looking up from reading his newspaper.
“I told you earlier. There’s a local band playing at McGinty’s. We’re all going from school.”
I’m really looking forward to tonight. I haven’t seen a live band in ages. And Guy’s been raving about Twice Bitten ever since I met him. His father’s best friend manages them. Which is how