Parcel for you...Part 22

 

The air in the car was filled with the familiar scent of Annie, a stuffy mix of patchouli and clothing which had been put away slightly damp. Despite her long flight, she was bright and energetic with a quick, what’s next attitude about her which always made Vanessa feel on edge.

 

She knew she had to inform her daughter about Spencer but somehow the words remained trapped inside an ever growing bubble in her gut. It started to hurt and this ever swelling suppression prevented her from responding normally to Annie’s slightly domineering attempts at conversation.

 

‘You must visit South America, Mum. Honestly it will change your life.’

 

‘Yes…well I’d like to go at some point.’

 

‘No, do it now! Now before you get really old, then you can benefit from it and really grow as a person.’ Annie pulled down the sunflap and looked at her reflection in the mirror, she used her index finger to remove something from the corner of her mouth. ‘If you leave it too long there won’t be enough room for you to extend your understanding of planet earth and the hidden forces which are controlling you.’

 

‘Mmm, perhaps. I want to go to visit the Channel Islands first though.’

 

Annie burst out laughing. ‘What for? You don’t still fancy John Nettles do you? It’s full of tax dodgers in pink Jack Wills shirts.’

 

‘Well, I’d like to see the gardens and experience the warmest part of the UK and just be somewhere that’s, you know, clean without any of the riff-raff.’

 

‘Wow! Really Mum,’ Annie turned to face her mum, ‘really?’

 

Vanessa frowned as she slowed the car and pulled up behind a short traffic jam. ‘Really what?’

 

‘Riff-raff, you mean, people who haven’t had all the advantages that you’ve had in life, people who swear and express themselves freely?’

 

‘Maybe.’ Vanessa wanted to say a lot more but she stopped herself and changed both the subject and the balance of power. ‘Do you think you’ll even get married, Annie?’ she said, turning to take in at the horror which cast itself upon her daughter’s face.

 

‘Why on earth would I do that, it’s transactional and that’s not me. I think you and I are very different, always have been. I’m more organic in my life choices. There’s a flow, you know, a universal energy flow, not everyone picks up on it but if and when you do,’ she turned and raised her eyebrows at her mum, ‘it’ll be a breakthrough for you.’

 

Vanessa let out a big defeated sigh and then blamed it on the traffic. ‘Even at this time of day, the traffic is terrible. One day I think this whole country will grind to a halt.’

 

‘Oh this is tame, the traffic in Bogota is much worse than this.’ Annie craned her neck to look back at some people on the pavement. ‘People here are so unfit. Look at them, they have such low vibrational energy.’

 

‘There are different pressures wherever you live I suppose.’ 

 

Annie laughed but it was to herself. Vanessa noticed her daughter enthusiastically messaging somebody on her phone and smiling. ‘Did you meet anyone special on your travels?’ There were a few seconds of silence. ‘Annie?’

 

‘What?’

 

‘On your travels, did you meet anyone this time?’

 

Annie screwed up her face and said, ‘Do you mean an exclusive relationship?’

 

‘Maybe,’ Vanessa said, not really wanting to commit to anything specific.

 

‘No. I need all of myself intact to heal this world. My commitment is precious. I won’t give it away to one person, not like that.’ She went straight back into her phone and began typing frantically.

 

‘I,’ Vanessa began, ‘I am in a new relationship actually.’

 

‘Oh can we stop off at the health food shop. I need lion’s mane..’

 

‘Lion’s mane?’

 

‘Yes, it’s a supplement. It’s essential for my physiology type, a doctor told me, up in the Andes. She was on our hike, an amazing woman. She treats the bushmen, she’s the only person they’ll let in, only when they can’t heal themselves which they usually can of course, using the vast medicine cabinet of the rain forest.’

 

‘She does sound amazing but I was trying to tell you about my..relationship, Annie.’

 

‘Don’t worry.’

 

‘Don’t worry?’

 

‘Yes, don’t worry. I already know about Spencer, everyone knows. He just messaged me actually. He says my room is ready and he’s looking forward to meeting me.’

 

Vanessa felt her heart flip-flop. She glanced sideways at her daughter’s phone but it was off now. ‘Spencer..messaged you?’

 

‘Yes,’ Annie closed her eyes and made a loud, effected grunt of frustration, ‘Oh, I knew you’d be like this.’

 

‘Like what? What’s going on?’

 

‘Nothing’s going on. I’ve known about Spencer for a few weeks and then last night I got a message from him.’

 

Vanessa pulled into a car parking space and exhaled sharply. ‘I’ve been so nervous about telling you.’

 

‘Look, Aunty Carol knows, Grandma knows, sort of but it’s confusing for her, obviously. And then last night, he messaged me, your husband. He sounds kind of cool actually, although I don’t agree with the concept.’

 

Vanessa mouthed the words, ‘Aunty Carol,’ It was like a slap in the face. Immediately her thoughts turned to Pat, she was always on social media, Facebook and the rest. ‘But who actually told you?’

 

‘Aunty Carol messaged me when I was in The Pampas, she said you’d purchased a robotic companion but it was all a bit hush hush and I should wait for you to tell me yourself.’

 

‘That bloody sister of mine, she’s literally evil sometimes.’

 

‘Apparently Pat has a proper new man. I saw a photo of him, he looks really cool, he’s in a band.’

 

‘He’s not all that proper, I’ve met him. Spencer and I both thought there was something off about him.’

 

‘Oooh Spencer and I. I’ve got to admit, Mum, I’m a bit weirded out by this but I also feel deeply protective over him, I mean imagine being brought like that, imagine buying someone like that. I know you’re on your own but what were you thinking? You’d be the first to criticise a man for getting a Thai bride or whatever.’

 

‘That’s different.’

 

‘I’m not sure it is but I’ll reserve full judgement until I see you two together and evaluate the dynamics of your relationship and if I think you’re taking advantage of him, I’ll intervene.’

 

Vanessa took a deep breath, the word, intervene, lingered in her head for a bit. ‘Okay then. Let’s go and get this stuff you wanted. I need some honey too, I forgot to get you some.’

 

Annie shook her head firmly, ‘Not for me. It’s factory farming at its worst.’

 

Vanessa was once again completely thrown by her daughter’s words. ‘Really?’

 

‘The queens are trapped in the hive and replaced after a year or so with a younger model. It spreads diseases to wild bees, the keeper steals their food, the whole thing is barbaric.’

 

‘Alright, we’ll just get the tiger’s tail stuff then.’