A TANGLE OF LIGHT 

By Tessa Harvey

    Adrienne walked away from the hospital. It was a beautiful day. Blue sky etched the red colours of a small perfect maple, the cherry tree leaves sang a symphony of gold, orange and green whispering in the wind. The cold was sharpening. Adee wondered what to do. The man she had known as dad was leaving. It was hard, though he had rarely been kind.

    Somehow she had never quite measured up. Not clever enough or pretty enough, shy rather than assertive. Her shoulders sagged.

    Despite feeling the Presence of God in her nan's hospital room, smelling that beautiful perfume from heaven, she still felt sad.

    Gran wasn't yet out of danger, though there was hope now. Then arms wrapped around her, and she startled, dark hair flying, eyes widening in dismay. Oh God, not Jono.

    It was her mother. "What's wrong?" Adee snapped gracelessly. "Now you're alone, I guess suddenly you want a daughter. Well I am happy living with Ella and Bel. They are my friends."

    Annabelle refrained from pointing out she had been going to move in with that mayor's boy, Jono.

    "No," I want to say sorry."

"Bit late, mummy dear."

    Annabelle dropped her arms. "Could I at least buy you a cake and coffee? Chat just a few minutes?"

Adrienne was cold, hungry and very tired. "Don't mind going to your place," she affirmed, "but I need to pick up some things of mine."

    They sat at the kitchen table, not pristine and glossily unused, but comfortably messy.

    They ate in a companionable silence. Her mum had made toasted cheese. How had she remembered that had once been Adrienne's favourite. Putting down her coffee, Annabelle began to talk.