Jeff was kept busy for the next couple of hours cleaning out his father’s office. First they had to make room in shed then they began to move out the office stuff. Jeff did the lifting whilst Irene packed what was loose into boxes. At least it was a chance to talk to his mother/aunt.
It seemed Irene had experienced an interesting life in this reality. Apparently she had been staying with JJ and his family for the past 12 months since JJ’s wife (Emily was evidently her name) and Jeff’s mother in this reality, had passed away from aggressive breast cancer.
Until then the 40 year old (yes, that change had worked) had travelled around the world. For the 5 years leading up to Jeff’s mother’s death she had been utilising her skills as a physiotherapist for Doctors without borders, working with a team of other medical professionals. Most recently she had worked in Thailand. She was still in contact with the charity and considering returning to them.
Jeff asked ‘Don’t you miss having your own family?’
‘Of course I’ll miss you and JJ. You are the only family I have and I love you both dearly. But I’ve accepted that married life and children of my own is not going to happen for me. I tried for years to hook myself a man, but strange is it may sound, none of them measured up to my brother. I suppose I was around a pretty high standard and other men just don’t measure up’
‘You really like Dad?’
‘Well not in a sexual way of course, but we have a pretty special link. Your father is wonderful. You would do well to try and emulate him in every way you can. It’s easy to see why Jennifer pounced on him as soon as he became available. I certainly can’t blame her, and she is a pretty good catch herself’
‘So are you saying that if say you had the opportunity in a different reality to have married at 25 and had two children you wouldn’t take it’
‘Oh I’d think about it for sure. I am worried I’m going to be lonely in my old age, however a life of travel and adventure has been very good. I’d have to find the right man to settle down with. Could you make JJ not my brother in this other reality?’ she giggled
‘I think you would make a wonderful mother’ Jeff was getting a bit sentimental.
‘I’ve found being a housewife, which is essentially what I have been for the last 12 months, pretty lame. Don’t get me wrong – it’s been great to spend time with you and your father, but I really do have the itch to travel again. The team I was with are in Mozambique now and have asked whether I would be interested in joining them. Now that JJ has found Jennifer, I think it’s time I left’
Jeff was alarmed ‘You wouldn’t go yet?’
‘Oh I would wait for the wedding, but I think I’ll let them know I’m coming. Or maybe I could go sooner and take leave to come back for the wedding’