Feeling weary beyond words, Elle rang Pippa. “Look, Mum hasn’t even packed yet. What if we reach Spain and a holiday makes her more depressed? I don’t think we should go. She’d have packed if she wanted a holiday.” As she spoke, a weight landed on Elle’s shoulders.

Pippa spoke firmly. “Stop worrying. Remember what we agreed? Mum needs you to show you haven’t forgotten her -- the woman you fell in love with. The holiday is booked. It’s too late to back out now. Relax. Talk to her. There’s nothing wrong with Mum that tender care won’t sort out. Stop being a grump.”

Listening to her daughter, who was sensible and wise beyond her eighteen years, Elle felt better. “Yeah, you’re right. Mum loves holidays and this hotel is perfect. The ‘80s retro night I told you about is on the Friday; our final night at the hotel. I’ve done everything we discussed. Booked the hairdresser, bought the clothes, and liaised with the hotel. They’ve agreed to hold an ‘80s karaoke event. It will be a lovely surprise for Mum, since it’s the anniversary of when we met.” Elle held her breath before she revealed another surprise. “I’ve bought a swimming cozzie, too. It makes me look like an ironing board.” Elle groaned, wishing her body had some curves rather than straight lines.

Pippa cackled with laughter. “You haven’t?”

It was a family joke that Elle never took a swimsuit on holidays. Once she removed her glasses she couldn’t see, so she’d decided when Pip was little that it was safest for Elle to watch from the pool side as Pippa and Suzanne enjoyed the water activities.

At the thought of swimming pools, Suzanne experienced a bolt of fear. “What if Mum gets into trouble in the pool and I can’t see her? I wouldn’t be able to help. I won’t take the cozzie. It would be asking for trouble. It’s my job to look after her.”

Pippa cut her off swiftly. “Stop it. There’ll be a lifeguard. Mum’s a great swimmer. You don’t have to be on guard. Remember what we said? You deserve to enjoy yourself, too.” She adopted her most serious voice. “I don’t know how you’re a manager at work when you’re a nervous wreck. Relax.”

Elle breathed into her panic. “I’m a nervous wreck because I’m a manager. It’s my job to worry all day and now I can’t stop.” The darkness inside her heart -- the one she couldn’t name to her daughter flared. What if Suzanne no longer loved her? Without Suzanne by her side, Elle would be nothing. Elle had been grumpy for so long that she no longer remembered how to be anything else. A holiday would only exacerbate matters; make Suzanne realise how irritating Elle had become.

Pippa had read her mind, like she always did. “Mum loves you, so stop doubting yourself. We covered this in my psychology class. Couples enter a weird phase after their child leaves home for the first time. The couple needs time together to rediscover their love. It’s what this holiday is about. Remember who you were forty years ago? Those girls are still inside you and Mum. Be playful and fun. I know you can do it because you’re my mums. Remember when you used to surprise Suzanne every week with a Friday prezzie from the pound shop? She loved it so much. She’d wait ‘til you got home with a huge cheesy grin on her face. We were broke, but happy.”

Imagining Suzanne waiting for Elle to come home made Elle ache for her wife. Her arms were so empty without her. “Aww. Did she?”

Pippa went on. “You’ve got this covered, and she’ll adore the retro night. You know how much she enjoys karaoke.” Pippa sniggered rather evilly. Suzanne was renowned for her terrible singing. Her rendition of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” was infamous among their friends and family members.

Elle nodded eagerly. She could totally do this. On the way home she could pop into the supermarket and buy some surprise gifts for the holiday. “What you say must be true if you studied it in class.” She was a great believer in psychology, and in anything Pippa said. “Okay then, love.”

Pip asked one final question. “Remember the film you were watching at the cinema when you met?”

Elle smiled with the precious memories. “Desperately Seeking Susan. Your mum looked so gorgeous.” Elle had sat next to Suzanne in an ‘80s cinema, aged sixteen, trying to think of what to say to break the ice. What followed had become family history.

Elle could still remember precisely what Suzanne had worn, which seemed centuries ago: rah-rah skirt, bright pink heels, cerise top, and massive hoop earrings poking through her perm.

Unbeknownst to Suzanne, Elle had bought a similar outfit last week, and wrapped it to take on the holiday for the karaoke night, as well as a gothic outfit for herself. She’d found a rah-rah skirt like Suzanne’s online. When it had arrived Elle and Pippa discovered with amazement that the skirt was actually Suzanne’s old one -- her name was hand written on the label.

With Pippa’s help, Elle had booked a double hair appointment at a hairdresser near the hotel so they could get an ‘80s makeover.

Pippa giggled, sounding uncannily like Suzanne. “Well, think of this holiday as Desperately Seeking Suzanne instead of Susan. Find her -- the wife who’s loved you since you were a teenager. Make her laugh and remind her how special she is. And don’t forget to take piccies and recordings of the retro night for me to laugh at.”