She's Older But I Want Her

Forced Attendance

Flashback

“Mum! You have to come to this game with us!” Emily’s voice shot through the living room like she’d been rehearsing it all morning.

“It’s literally the biggest thing happening in the country right now must you always just… sit here?”

On the sofa, Rae didn’t flinch at her daughter’s dramatics, she was sunk deep into the cushions, one socked foot tucked under the other, eyes fixed on the remote she refused to surrender.

Her faded sweatpants and stretched T-shirt weren’t exactly battle armor, but they were enough to signal she wasn’t moving.

“Emily,” she said slowly, crunching down on a cracker with deliberate finality, “you know I’m too old for that circus.”

Before Emily could argue, Tom appeared from the hallway, hair sticking up in a way that made it obvious he’d been sneaking a nap.

He sniffed the air like a bloodhound, spotted the open pack of crackers in her lap, and lunged.

“Tom!” Rae twisted away, yanking the packet out of reach. “You know better than to raid my snacks.”

“Mom,” Emily groaned, dragging her hands down her face “Seriously? Don't you know about priorities because here I am trying to save your social life here, and you’re out here fighting over crackers.”

Rae ignored her, brushing crumbs from her lap, orange dust drifting to the carpet.

Emily pointed at the floor in horror. “Oh my God, the rug! Mom Incase you forgot we don't own a vacuum, and you know it.”

But Rae’s gaze had drifted toward the framed photograph on the side table as she picked it up, fingertips tracing the smile frozen in time and immediately the laughter in the room dulled instantly.

As Emily and Tom exchanged a glance because they didn’t have to say it as five years hadn’t changed the weight of their father’s absence on their mom.

Because It still sat on her shoulders, heavy as ever.

“Mom,” Emily said gently, stepping closer, “please this is the first time we’ve actually scored tickets, three of them, do you really want them to go to waste?”

Rae sighed, still holding the photo “You know it is not like I don't want to go out with you guys to the game or allow the ticket go to waste but it's just that I’m not cut out for all that noise anymore.

Besides, who’s going to look after the house?”

“The house isn’t going to fall apart if you step outside for one day,” Emily pressed, tugging lightly at her mom’s arm.

“Do you really want to sit here all alone mopping while everyone else is out having fun?”

And those words earned Emily a sharp look.

“Alone? You think I mope?” Rae asked with raised brows,

“Yes,” Tom cut in before Emily could. “You kind of do and I want you to come too, Mom, I’m serious.

You know I want to play basketball one day… this could be huge for me and also a chance to meet some celebrity players so please mom I really do need you there.”

Rae’s defenses wavered. “Why are you both so desperate to drag me out to this thing? I don’t even like basketball.”

Emily’s eyes lit up well because the star player Ken Draven is going to be there, just Imagine actually seeing him in real life!

And don’t pretend you don’t know who he is mom because I’ve seen you side-eye the TV whenever Tom is watching his game.”

Rae snorted, shaking her head, I never did that and besides that’s not enough reason why you both are trying to force me to go to this game.”

“Fine,” Emily said, grabbing Rae’s hand and tugging. “Guess we’re doing this the hard way.”

“Emily!” Rae stumbled forward, laughing despite herself as her daughter tried to drag her up.

Tom grinned, circling behind to give her a playful shove. “Team effort!”

“You two are ridiculous!” Rae twisted, trying not to step on the crumbs she’d just dropped. “Stop it before I, hey! Watch the snacks!”

Tom snatched the crackers mid-scuffle, lifting them high with a grin. “Don’t worry, Mom I’ll guard these while you get dressed.”

“You can keep them,” Rae muttered, breathless from laughing while grabbing her car keys from the coffee table and headed toward the door. “Alright, alright, let’s get this over with.”

Emily froze, eyes widening as she finally took in her mother’s appearance. “Oh no. Nope. Mom, you are not walking out of this house like that.”

Rae paused mid-step, frowning. “Like what?”

Emily planted her hands on her hips. “Like you’ve just rolled out of bed and lost a fight with the carpet. At least let me pick something for you to wear.”

Rae jingled the keys impatiently “Emily, it’s just a game.”

Emily darted forward, blocking her path. “Exactly. A game where the entire country will be watching.

Do you really want to risk being caught on the big screen looking like this?”

Rae looked down at herself, mock-offended. “What’s wrong with this? You said it’s just a game and Games are casual.”

“This,” Emily pointed accusingly at the orange stains on Rae’s shirt, “is not casual this is both… tragic and disastrous.”

Rae chuckled. “So what do you want me to wear?”

“I know exactly what you’re wearing,” Emily declared, already marching toward Rae’s bedroom like she owned it.

Rae called after her, “If you bring out those heels, and weird gowns I’m staying right here!”

From the couch, Tom popped a cracker in his mouth. “Relax, Mom just let her dress you up while I’ll help you keep the snacks safe

And just as Rae opened her mouth to tell Tom to finish the snacks and stop hovering and speaking rubbish, Emily’s footsteps pounded on the wooden floor as she, bursted back into the living room.

She held something draped carefully in her arms, and the moment Rae’s eyes landed on it, the air seemed to drain from the room.

A gown navy blue, with a faint shimmer when the light caught it and Rae knew it instantly what dress she had brought as her heart twisted.

Because It was the dress she’d worn on hers and their dad last anniversary together, the night she’d danced in the kitchen with her husband, barefoot and laughing, before everything had shattered.

Her lips parted, but no words came as her chest tightened, the old sorrow rising like a tide she could never quite escape.

Emily’s smile faltered when she noticed the look on her mother’s face and slowly, she stepped closer, holding the gown out with both hands.

Her voice softening, almost pleading “Mom… I want you to wear this tonight for the game please It’s perfect.”

Rae swallowed hard, blinking against the sudden sting in her eyes.

She wanted to tell Emily no that she couldn’t, that the memories stitched into that fabric were too much but her voice wouldn’t obey.

Before she could speak, Tom stood and crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a solid, warm hug.

“Yeah, Mom,” he said, grinning at her with the easy confidence only a teenage boy could pull off. “You’ll look damn sexy in it.”

And the words snapped the heaviness in the room just enough as Rae let out a laugh, shaky and wet with unshed tears, and reached back to smack him lightly on the head.

“Watch your mouth! I swear, where do you get your manners from?”

And Tom only grinned wider, already crunching down on another Cheeto with his mouth full, he mumbled, “From you, of course, Mom.”