I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Forty-One

During the ride into Oxford the first day of Hilary I asked Alex how she was feeling and she said, 'Much better, thank you for looking after me so well.'

'Not at all. Um, I was thinking we could start alternating the nights for the final loo break for the dogs. Whoever has the first bath takes the girls out or something.'

She smiled, 'That's a thoughtful offer, what's brought that on?'

I shrugged, 'I don't know. I feel like I should be doing more in the way of house stuff.' I fiddled with the edge of my coat and she asked,

'You do plenty, what's on your mind?'

I hesitated then ventured, 'When I graduate...I don't want to leave England...I mean, I should want to remain...'

She cut in, 'Of course, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. I thought you were already aware of that.'

'I wasn't certain. I'll have to get a job, though.'

'We'll begin looking around after you return from America.' That hadn't even occurred to me, she caught my expression and said, 'I'd figured you were returning for the summer.'

'I hadn't...I didn't particularly want to, but I suppose I could.' I unintentionally pouted. She chuckled, 'I'm not chucking you out, I only figured you'd want to see your family.'

Not really. 'Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.'

'Speaking of, will they be popping over for the ceremony?'

Oh my good God! 'No!'

The vehemence of my response took her by surprise and she cast a wide-eyed look in my direction before saying, 'All right. I was only curious.'

I regained my composure and said in a softer tone, 'I apologise for shouting at you...'

'It's all right, I simply thought they'd want to see you graduate.'

'Yeah,' that made sense, but it couldn't happen. That was wrong. My mother should never be allowed into the country. But her question had put it in my head and I asked Noni about it in my following letter. She said she'd hoped to see me graduate, and a part of me wanted her to—she had, after all, funded my education. However, there was another bit of me that didn't want her to come over, either. I thought of England (and Alex) as mine and I wasn't keen to share either of those things with anyone, even Noni. And don't even ask how I felt about the prospect of my mother coming over and wreaking havoc. What if they deported me after they met my family? I wouldn't blame them, that's for certain. I did see Noni's side of things, though and wrote back that I would let Alex know they'd be coming over. At least they'd be staying in Oxford proper, several miles away.

Of course when I told Alex that she was right, my family was planning on attending the ceremony, she was pleased. I don't know why. I believe she sensed my surprise and she explained, 'I would like to meet your grandmother.'

I supposed that made sense, but she'd be bringing my mother along, as well, and...perhaps I could keep them from meeting. Mother would certainly want to wander round Oxford and complain loudly in public places about...everything...and I could say I had to revise like mad and just didn't have a moment to spare. Yeah, that was a good plan. Of course, just as I began to see how that could work Alex asked cheerfully,

'We should clean up the guest room, your mother and father could stay in there and your grandmother could have your room. You'd room in with me, of course.'

That. Was. The. Worst. Idea. Ever. Full. Stop. 'Yeah, that's a good idea.'

Alex cast a sidelong glance in my direction, 'You don't sound too chuffed over it.'