How did you know? is a prompt from a Dean Writers Circle workshop, stolen as usual for my FaceBook prompts.
Abby was aghast. Wasn’t it meant to be the best kept secret in the world? Just her and Josh. He’d sworn he wouldn’t tell a soul, not until Abby was ready to face the inevitable music. He’d said he was okay with it, really, and ….
‘And what?’ she asked somewhat snappily.
The decision didn’t actually sit 100% comfortably with Abby, even though she’d made it without any pressure.
Josh had leaned an elbow on the cafe table, rubbed his chin.
‘Are you sure you want to go through with it?’
‘Of course.’ The snap came harder this time. Convincing herself.
No, she was already convinced. It was the right thing to do.
And now here was her mother, her hands in the washing up, gazing through the kitchen window at the busy bird feeder, not asking, but stating. The secret Abby thought was a secret, that she’d kept close. Not close enough.
‘Josh told you?’ She would kill him. It was her news to share, not his.
Her mother raised her eyebrows. ‘No,’
‘The how do you know? I haven’t told anyone else.’
‘A mother’s good guess, I suppose.’ She turned, took the towel from the cooker rail and wiped her fingers dry of Fairy suds. ‘The signs were there, and I’m right, aren’t I?’
Abby leaned against the marble-topped counter, crossed her arms. ‘You’re not angry?’
A shrug. ‘Disappointed, but it’s your life, darling.’
‘You’ll tell Dad?’
‘Oh no!’ Mum folded the towel over the rail, straightened the edges. ‘That’s your job.’ She looked Abby in the eye. ‘You’re a grown woman, with your own views, obviously … political views.’
Abby blushed. ‘Yes.’
‘It’ll break your father’s heart, as you know.’ Her mother snorted. ‘Standing for pre-selection for THAT party! Good luck, daughter!’
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Fancy standing for THAT party!!😂