Chapter 40 - A Breakdown and it's treatment.
"How was the chocolate cake darlink?" Yana asked as she kissed me.
"Sweet and creamy." I replied before turning for home.
"Oh, that's good, Hi kiddo." Mum said as she sort of slid into the back of shmel.
I was unsure what to make of her comment. Did she know what Janice's invitation really meant?
Did she not know? Or did she know but what was pretending not to know? I pondered this.
"Janice does make damned fine cakes you know. Apparently, her mother worked in a cake shop in London when she wasn't doing her psych nursing. Did you know Janice's mother was a nurse?" Mum said.
"Ah, Janice and I got talking and she mentioned something about being born in Jamaica and her parents moved to England when she was a small child." I mentioned.
"Is that right? I knew her father was a screw. But I always assumed she was born in the UK." Mum answered.
"Nyet, I didn't know. It's funny how sometimes children follow in their parents footsteps and sometimes they don't, isn't it? And how can somebody be a screw? What is screw?" Yana commented.
"Yes, I didn't follow in mine. My father was a house painter and my mother worked in a grocery shop. And John's was an engineer, and his mother was a hairdresser. What about yours Yana? And a screw is a slang term for a prison guard." Mum said.
"Why they called screw, what are police called a nail? I thought I told you about my parents, mama." Yana replied.
"Maybe you did but I must have forgotten. Tell me again, Yana. And police are called many things mainly bad things." Mum said.
"Ah, English and it's complexities, sometimes drive me up the wall but, My mother teaches science, and my father is a doctor. So, another way we are connected aren't we, my love?" Yana said as she leaned across from the passenger seat and kissed me.
"Oh Christ, let me out of here." Came mum's voice from the back seat.
"Darling, you smell unusual, why is that?" Yana asked after she came back from kissing me.
"Ah, Thomas and I got into a bit of rough and tumble while we planning something, and we got a bit dirty and sweaty. And I didn't want to pick you smelling like a pig. So, I had a quick shower at his place." I quickly said in answer. It was only half a lie.
Yana's brow furrowed, but she seemed to accept the reason.
"Just be careful in future, Da?" Yana said.
"I thought you were at Janice's tasting cake?" mum interjected.
"Yes, I was, and then Tom and myself got on wedding ideas and we had a bit of rough and tumble. I forgot about Janice. Excuse me. I don't think straight when I am next to such a stunning example of womanhood." I said.
Mum and Yana accepted my excuse, but it was close.
"On the subject of the wedding, you haven't had a chance to tell Yana about Helga yet, have you?" Mum asked.
"AAAAHHH, no I only found out about an hour ago." I sarcastically replied.
"Oh yes, you did. I'll tell Yana. Don't you worry." Mum said. Mum leaned forward from the back seat, so she was sort of between both front seats.
"Ok Yana, his father has got Helga back from the shop, and he was wondering if you would like to use Helga as a wedding car?" Mum asked Yana.
"What or who is Helga?" Yana absent mindedly asked.
"Helga is John's Volkswagen van. It's a 1964 Split window van. John has always been a huge Vee Dub fan and he has been rebuilding it for years, and now it's ready and he wants to know if you want to use for the wedding?" Mum explained.
"A van for a wedding car?" Yana asked.
"Yes, it can seat eight, so it could pick up you and the three bridesmaids and take you and them to the church. Then you two and all the groomsmen and bridesmaids for photos and then back to the reception. And it has a roll-back sunroof so you could have an incredibly fun photo taken with that. John and I have seen one being used for a wedding car and be used in the photos. And then run you two to your hotel with your bags and if his father has his way, he will pick you up the next morning and run you off to your honeymoon." Mum explained.
"Hmm, What color is it?" Yana asked.
"Lolly pink and white and it's seats are white. It would mean a lot to him if you said yes." Mum said.
"Hmm, I say yes. But I have to google what a pink and white Vee Dub van looks like first. But so far, da." Yana said.
I suddenly started to feel quite insignificant. I know that my mum and Yana were quite good friends before the whole arrangement, pregnancy, engagement thing even started. And I was glad that her and my mother had grown closer. But I was starting to feel somewhat ignored, pushed to the kerb even. Like, it was my wedding as well and those two were planning it, even something which I believed has traditionally been planned by the groom and his best man. Wedding transport.
I just concentrated on the driving and drove them home as safely and as quickly as I could. I just wanted to get home. I suddenly felt like I was having some sort of breakdown.
We got home and told mum and Yana I needed a lie down, so I quickly scurried off to our room and stopping on the way to collect my old bear I quickly lay down and had a sleep on top of the bed not in it.
I was woken up by someone squeezing my ear. I was laying on my left side, in a fetal position, my right hand clutching my dear old teddy bear, and unbelievably sucking my thumb.
I didn't wake till the second squeeze on my ear. I opened my eyes to see Yana sitting on the bed beside me, My face level with her lap.
"Are you alright darlink? You have had us all very worried." She purred as she looked down at me with those swimmingly deep blue eyes. I just looked back at her.
"Are you alright? Please tell me I am worried. You suddenly went quiet and came straight here and went to spat'. It is very unusual." Yana asked very softly.
"Yes." I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed. That's all." I quietly said.
"Oh okay, I was worried sick, but I have to admit seeing you laying there with your bear made me think you are cute." Yana said brightening up a bit.
I half sat up and noticed that Yana had changed slightly. I couldn't make it out at first but on my second pass of her body I narrowed it down. Her tummy. Gone was her almost six pack of Physical education teaching woman. In its place was a small baby bump. I ran my hand over her belly. I didn't know whether to freak out or be happy.