Part 8 (2/2)

'No, not you, he said, and I gasped. He looked over her shoulder. 'Hey, Sharon.

A very pretty, very plump girl came out from round the back of a screen. I guessed she was the most junior member of staff and, as such, would be doing most of the work.

'h.e.l.lo, Mr Checkland, she said, shyly.

'h.e.l.lo there, how are you? Jenny, this is Sharon. Shes Mrs Crisps niece.

We smiled at each other. Her face was beautiful with huge brown eyes and blonde ringlets. Her teeth and skin were perfect. But she was a large girl and her hips b.u.mped some of the tables as she pa.s.sed. One of the girls laughed. I watched her blush painfully and decided I would never come here again.

'The staff here are hopeless, said Russell, and the waitresss smile abruptly disappeared. 'Can you find us a table please, Sharon?

'Of course, she said and led the way to the one in the window. She produced menus as we got settled. Russell ordered tea. 'Teacakes. Plenty of them. And when weve finished those, well want to have a look at the cake trolley, please.

She scribbled, smiled beautifully, and walked away, knocking against a chair as she went.

'What a lovely girl, said Thomas. 'The face of an Irish princess.

I looked at him in surprise.

'I met one once.

'So, said Russell. 'How do you think it went?

'Peter Westall is a hairdresser, isnt he? Or a chain of chemists. Or something you spray on athletes foot. You made him up.

He just laughed again. I obviously wasnt going to get an answer. Maybe it was best I didnt know. Plausible deniability.

Sharon brought our order and Russell set to as if he hadnt seen food for days instead of a couple of hours.

I drank my tea, got a refill, nibbled a tea cake, had another, and allowed myself to be tempted to a strawberry tart.

'Afternoon tea, he said. 'Best meal of the day. Everyone has happy memories of afternoon tea. Nothing to beat it after an emotional day. Do you want that cream slice?

I shook my head and then he had a custard tart as well. I looked at his long, lean body and pondered yet another of the worlds injustices.

He looked up and the bill materialised seconds afterwards. He pulled out his wallet and said to Sharon, 'Do you pool your tips here?

She shook her head regretfully. She was at the bottom of the food chain, tip-wise.

He settled the bill and then stood up, ostentatiously holding a 20 note between his long fingers. 'Thank you, he said. 'Excellent service. She went red with pleasure and gratification and tucked it safely away.

He helped me on with my coat and made his usual dash for the door. Another waitress, maybe hoping for a generous tip herself, opened it for him.

He lowered his voice but I heard him quite clearly. He said, 'Dont ever ignore this lady again, and the harmonics in his voice lifted the hairs on my neck. And then he was out of the door and striding down the pavement.

I stood in the rain and watched him go. People scurried past, heads down against the rain. Everyone was eager to get home. Shop lights were reflected in the glistening pavements. I suddenly felt more alone than I ever had in my entire life.

'Tell me, said Thomas, quietly.

'Its all right for him. h.e.l.l go back home to Frogmorton at the end of the day but I have to go back to Aunt Julia and Uncle Richard and Ill be alone.

' No, you wont. Youre never alone. Ill be with you. Ill help you think what to say and protect you while you say it. Well manage, Jenny. Just like we always do.

'Nothings actually changed, though, has it? Im just going to be overlooked by a whole new set of people. Ive burned my bridges for nothing.

' I doubt your aunt and uncle will say anything to you tonight. And possibly not tomorrow either. And here he comes. Wonder how far he got before he realised hed lost you.

Russell and I looked at each other in the rain.

'Are we having our first row?

I shook my head.

'Are you having second thoughts?

'Tell him, advised Thomas. ' This is normal. The two of you need to establish ground rules. h.e.l.l stand up for you and protect you and kill dragons for you, but he wont always know that sometimes, hes the dragon.

He pulled me gently out of the rain. 'What is it?

I marshalled words. 'Im leaving the ... safety and security of my home for a whole new world. I have just put ... my entire future in your hands and Im frightened.

He said nothing. Oh G.o.d, had he changed his mind? Cars swished past in the rain. Hardly anyone was about now. Thomas moved to my side, standing really close for rea.s.surance.

'Do you want me to take you home?

Did I? At that moment, my attic room felt pretty good. Thomas and I could watch a little TV, argue over the news. I could make some hot chocolate and go to bed and listen to the rain on the roof.

'And tomorrow? said Thomas. ' What will you do tomorrow night? Watch a little TV, drink hot chocolate, and go to bed? Of course, it might not be raining, so that will be different, wont it?

'Thomas, I dont know what to do.

' Then go to the cinema. Even if you do change your mind, at least well have seen a film and we havent done that for ages. Lets at least have a night out and well decide what to do in the morning.

'Id like to go to the cinema.

'Then you shall, He pulled my arm through his and we set off, albeit at a slower pace. 'Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?

I nodded.

'I should have realised. But listen, Jenny, you must speak up. Im selfish and Im not bright. You need to tell me things. Please dont be one of those awful women who expect me to guess whats wrong and then sulk when I dont.

Francesca? I wondered.

'Just what I was thinking.

I nodded. 'All right. I promise to complain ... bitterly at every opportunity.

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