The Interfering Mother

'Three days of our honeymoon left.' Jago said into the silence. 'What do you want to do?'

'I can't think. I know what I don't want to do.' Carenza told him.

'What's that?'

'Visit our families. I know mine will be embarassingly inquisitive.'

Right at that moment, they heard the front door open and a womans voice called out

'Hellooooo!'

Carenza paled a little.

'Oh Lord.' she groaned.

'Is that your mother by any chance?'

'Definitely.'

The front door slammed shut and a little round woman, with short light hair and glasses appeared at their kitchen door.

'There you are! Hello Carenza.'

Ever polite, Carenza got to her feet and kissed her mothers proferred cheek.

'Hello Mum.' she said stiffly. 

'It's nice to see you again, Mrs Berryman.' Jago had also stood and kissed the same cheek.

'Oh please, we're family. Call me Tegen.' Carenza's mother smiled and looked around towards the lounge. Her expression changed. 'You've rearranged all the furniture! Why on earth did you do that? It took me ages to get it perfect.'

Carenza clenched her fists and tried to stay calm.

'We argued about this before. I like the furniture this way. That's why I arranged it like this in the first place when I was here with Kensa.'

'It just looks so close together.'

'The way you had it, one of the arm chairs was facing away from the window and the television.'

'But if you have people around they won't be looking at you.'

'They'll have a better view this way. If it doesn't work we can move it again, but for now, me and Jago have arranged the furniture in our home as we like it.'

Tegen obviously picked up on the irritation and, glancing at Jago, she let the subject drop. Then immediately picked up on a new one.

'Why on earth have you got orange flowers in the house? Carenza, you know how I hate orange flowers indoors!'

'I do.' Carenza tried to keep the annoyance out of her tone. 'Though I've no idea why. They were a gift. From Jago's mother.'

'Oh.' Tegen suddenly seemed embarassed. 'I see.'

Jago smiled in his most charming manner.

'May I offer you a cup of tea Tegen?' he said. Carenza bit her lip and tried not to laugh at his over the top formality.

'Yes. That would be very nice. Thank you Jago.'

'Please, do sit down.' Jago pulled out a chair.

'Thank you.' Tegen sat down, looking a bit confused. Jago had always been perfectly charming before but now he seemed to be overdoing it a bit.

'Would you like anything to eat? I could make you some toast if you like.'

'No, thank you.'

Jago fetched another mug and he and Carenza both resumed their places at the table. 

'What bring you here today Mother?' Carenza noted how Jago's formality of the moment had rubbed off on her.

'I'm seeing how you are.'

'You don't need to check up on me.'

'I'm your mother and you are only nineteen.'

Carenza's temper flared again, but she tried hard not to shout.

'I am a married woman, Mother. A marriage which you arranged.'

'I'm only trying to do my best for you Carenza.'

She's doing it again Carenza said to herself. The old guilt trip trick.

'Tegen.' Jago had reverted back to his normal tone of voice. 'We appreciate all your help. But we are still on our honeymoon, in the early days of marriage. We're still getting to know each other. I'm afraid we need our own space to do that.'

'Perhaps, you should have stayed away longer.' Tegen said a little cuttingly.

'My intention, was for us to have a few days to settle into our new home together before I have to start my new job.' Jago explained.

'Thanks for the concern Mum, but I'm afraid your role in all this ended the moment we were pronounded married.' Carenza told her. 

'A mothers role is never over.'

'I never said your role as my mother was over. I said your role in my marriage was.' Carenza gave a sigh of exasperation. 'Mum, I love you, you know I do. But me and Jago have to sort out our life together on our own. And we'd really rather you didn't just let yourself in from now on.'

'You gave me a key. Why shouldn't I use it?'

'I gave you a key so you could keep an eye on the place while we were away and in case there is ever an emergency.'

'Oh. Well. If that's how you want it.' She suddenly stood up.

'Mum, please don't be like that.'

'I know when I'm not wanted.'

Before either of them could do anything, Carenza's mother had disappeared out of the door, without drinking her tea.

'That, was intense.' Jago remarked. 'Is she always like that?'

'A control freak? Guilt tripping her children?' said Carenza. 'Always. You should have seen her before Kenwyn and Kathik got married. She drove them mad. No wonder they're planning to move further up county at the first oppourtunity. She's already planning to get Perran married off as well and he's only seventeen.'