BR - In the Open Part 3

After breakfast, Beth proactively starts cleaning up. As you watch her, you can’t help but feel a sense of triumph. You told her the truth. That information has made her feel better. Things are much better now.

If she doesn’t want to make an issue of it with her mother, that’s for the best. That’s the most mature decision that she can make. You’re proud of her. You’ve never loved her more than you do as she hand-washes dishes wearing basketball shorts and a Harry Kane jersey. You finish your tea and go help her dry them.

“You take Riley today, Mum,” Beth says.

“Hmm?” Shauna looks up from her phone.

“I’ve got to go round the shops and to see Penny. You entertain Riley.”

“Entertain her how, dear?” Shauna asks, as though you aren’t there.

“Dunno. Have her listen to all your Smiths cassettes.”

Shauna lights up. “Oh, do you like music, Riley?”

BR

Spending the day with Shauna would’ve been difficult even if you hadn’t seen what you saw last night. She’s funny. She’s a lot, but she’s still fun to be around. You can see why she exhausts Beth, of course. Beth has no interest in showing you weird English things, but Shauna seems to enjoy it.

It’s a bit interesting; your gaydar gives you absolutely nothing from her. Reading between the lines, it seems less like she and Edna are a couple and more like friends with benefits. But who can say? Shauna probably can.

But you have to wonder if she’s keeping it low-key to hide it from Beth. You wouldn’t be surprised if she’s as afraid of judgment from her daughter as Beth is from her mother. Maybe if it was all out in the open, Edna and Shauna could hold hands in public. If they wanted to. You’re pretty sure that England is better than Florida about this.

But you don’t know for sure. You should ask Beth.

Shauna shows you around the town, which is a truly pleasant experience. Exciting wouldn’t be the word for it, but strolling around like this in such a quiet place is the perfect solution to the chaos and madness of FUTA. You can almost forget what you saw as you note all the little ways that this place is different from your country. There are a lot of them.

Cars driving on the wrong side of the road is probably the part that would drive you crazy if you had to live here.

“And Christian Horner used to live over those hills. Not sure who’s got that house now,” Shauna says, pointing at some picturesque meadows. “Maybe Elizabeth could have it if she gets famous enough.”

You’ve seen two FUTA ads just on this walk. FUTA seems to be doing OK, despite whatever behind-the-scenes nonsense caused you to have to take this break.