Damaged Goods by Diane McNab - HTML preview

“So Happy Mother's Day” said Zac.

Madge added “I know some people think Mother's Day is a bit silly but I think that for kids it is a nice nudge in the right direction to remember who loves them and that they wouldn't be here without their Mother in the first place.”

“Well on that note I have decided we are all going to have champagne” said Zac.

Alex stood up and returned with glasses and popped a bottle carefully.

“We have an announcement” Zac declared “Alex and I are getting married.”

Madge burst in to tears and Summer jumped up and hugged her Son until he nearly gasped for breadth.

“Well” said Alex “I reckon we just got a whole lot of approval and that has made me a happy man.”

“Not as happy as I am that's for sure” said Zac grinning like a cheshire cat.

So what are your plans everyone asked?

“Well Mum it goes without saying I want you to walk you to walk me down the aisle. As for Alex he as a request also and so I hand you over to him.”

Alex hated being put on the spot as he always felt like he stood out like a sore thumb due to the sheer size of him. However, he went ahead and asked Jane to be by his side at the alter on the Wedding Day.

“I would be honoured, truly honoured.” Jane answered. “But what about your own family, do you want to incorporate them in any way?”

“My whole family are standing right here, right in front of me, right now” said Alex.

It was a solemn moment.

Madge broke the ice stating “Well don't you pair expect me to me to be doing the cooking cause if you are getting married Zac Dawson I will have my feet up getting happily pissed.”

Everyone burst out in to fits of laughter.

Alex had been put up for adoption at birth. His Mother had been all of sixteen years old at the time and wanted no part of him.

Alex's adoptive parents had been strict and controlling. When he was old enough, which was at a very early age, he had to cook all the meals and clean up after them and the rest of the housework in general.

Unlike most children who hated going to school Alex found it a haven for him.

As he got older he wondered why they had even adopted him. They had made Alex aware at a very early age they he was adopted. Letting him know he was extremely lucky considering his own Mother hadn't even wanted him.

It wasn't until later when he was older that it dawned on him that money was the factor. Employment was not a word that was used in either of his Parents vocabulary. In fact 'Dad' and 'Mum' didn't for all intent and purposes even live together on paper. Therefore 'Mum” declared she had been left with an adopted child by said Husband, making quite a hefty sum from the Government.

The two of them spent most of their days playing cards, smoking and drinking beer.

Alex worked hard at school realising it was the only way to pull himself out of a bad situation.

On leaving school he got a job as an Office Clerk. The day he managed to scrape a deposit for rent on a unit he said goodbye to his imperfect 'parents' and never looked back.

Jane took her groom's man, bridesmaid, whatever job, very seriously. She took Alex to get a suit fitted. Unbeknown to her it was the same tailor her Father had wanted to take Zac to for his prom. If she had known that she would simply have thought how ironic.

The end result was a resounding success. “You look so handsome Alex, Zac is definitely going to say yes” said Jane.

“Geeze I hope so” was Alex's reply.

A couple of weeks before the wedding Jane dropped in to Summers place.

“So what are you wearing Summer?” asked Jane.

“When?” asked Summer.

“For your Son's wedding. It's in two weeks time. Don't tell me you have forgotten?” laughed Jane.

”Haven't really thought about what I am going to wear.” Summer answered honestly. “Lets look at what I have got.”

Summer and Jane went through her wardrobe with Summer declaring “This will do” or “that's fine.”

Jane grabbed her and said “You are coming with me.”

When they arrived at the boutique Summer appeared to be a little frightened to even walk in.

“Looks like a little too fancy pants for me, might stick with what I have!”

Jane gave Summer a gentle shove in to the shop and promised it wouldn't be too painful.

After going through many changes Summer walked out of the dressing room in a dress that flowed down to her ankles with three quarters sleeves, the colour being a beautiful misty blue.

Summer faced the mirror and said “I love it, truly I do, which is strange considering I don't usually care what I wear.”

“Then it's yours Summer.”

“No way” said Summer “I checked the price tag in the dressing room, it could probably feed a family of five.”

“Shut up” said Jane as forcibly as she could “that's a present for all your birthdays I missed and never got to give you.”

They got back to Summer's place with Madge happy to see them both. “So you found something then?” asked Madge.

“Yes I did, which Jane insisted on paying for. Jesus Christ Madge the wrapping paper probably costs a small fortune just on its own, but, well, I do love it. I just hope I don't outshine my Son on his special day.”

Noticing the blush on Summer's face Madge looked at Jane and gave her a solid wink.

Sometimes Jane did wonder how her Mother would have felt about Jane's relationship with her new family. She worried her Mum might have seen it as a betrayal of some sort.

“I am not doing this to hurt you Mum. Oh I don't know, it is just lovely to feel I belong somewhere. Wherever you are I hope you understand.”

The next morning Jane went out on to her deck with her coffee in hand and noticed that a cacti she had bought at least two years back had flowered. It had stubbornly refused to do so in all that time, no matter how much Jane fussed over it, and yet here it was perfect.

“Thanks Mum, thanks for sending me your message” thought Jane tearing up.