Part 3 (2/2)

I stared at her. 'But it's raining!'

'Yes, oddly enough I noticed that on the way home when I got soaked,' she said with unnecessary sarcasm.

'You're serious, aren't you?'

'Never more so.'

Furious, I reached for my coat. 'There's a mini-market up the road,' I snapped. 'Will that do for you?'

She shrugged. 'Like I said as long as it's edible and you're paying, it's fine.'

On the way to the corner shop my temper cooled a little. It was good of Di to let me stay and if she decided to throw me out it would make life difficult; that, I had to admit. Maybe I should have made more of an effort; after all, if I had to find other accommodation now before the provincial tour began, it would be expensive and with my contribution to the show I was going to have to watch the pennies. Reluctantly, I acknowledged that I was going to have to pocket my pride.

At the corner shop I bought a packet of pasta and a jar of sauce; a tin of peaches and a carton of cream. Then, on second thoughts, I bought a box of chocolates. Keeping on the right side of Di seemed the diplomatic way to go under the circ.u.mstances.

Back at the flat she seemed to have calmed down too. My purchases seemed to satisfy her and when I gave her the chocolates and apologized for forgetting to shop earlier, she shook her head.

'Thanks. It's all right, Lou. I'm sorry too if I was a bit sharp but I've had a pig of a day at the office.' She put a pan of water on for the pasta and opened the jar of sauce. 'I know you're dying to tell me all your news but there are a couple of things I'd like to clear up first.'

'OK, like what?' I said, my back to her as I began to lay the table. I had the distinct feeling I wasn't going to like what she was about to say.

'Well, if you're planning to stay on for a while that's fine. You know you're always welcome, but I'm going to have to ask you to contribute to the bills food and so on.'

'Oh OK then.' Fair enough, I thought. Maybe I had been taking advantage a bit.

'And maybe a little towards the rent.'

'Right.' The rent! What else was she going to ask for?

'And I hate having to mention this, Lou, but do you think you could try and be a bit tidier around the place?'

I bit back a sharp retort. I'd always thought of Di as my best friend. Now all at once she was behaving more like some sort of nanny. But I didn't really have a choice but to agree to her terms if I wanted to stay. I forced a smile. 'OK, Di,' I said through clenched teeth. 'Sorry if I've been making your home look like a tip.'

She didn't argue, seeming to miss the irony. Smiling, she said, 'Well, that's got that out of the way. Now are you going to tell me about your day while we wait for the pasta to cook?'

Somehow she failed to see that she'd just taken most of the s.h.i.+ne off it.

Chapter Five.

'Come into the kitchen and sit down, Mum. I've got something to tell you.'

Susan had just brought Peter home from a trip into town to see Father Christmas. It hadn't been a success. To her horror he'd been terrified and ran screaming from the scarlet-clad figure into his grandmother's arms, without even waiting for his gift. All the way home on the bus he'd been inconsolable and now he stood clutching Susan's hand, his lip trembling. She was shocked that Karen hadn't even noticed his distress.

'Can we just get Peter his tea first?' she asked. 'He's a bit upset.'

For the first time Karen looked down at her son. 'What's the matter with him?'

Susan frowned and shook her head in an attempt to play the situation down but Karen persisted. Crouching down to the little boy's level she asked, 'What's the matter, baby? Don't you feel very well?'

Peter shook his head. 'Don't like man,' he said, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Karen looked up accusingly at Susan. 'What man? What happened?'

Susan sighed. 'I took him to Harvey's to see Santa but Peter was afraid of him.'

Karen picked Peter up and dried his tears. 'Really, Mum,' she said over his head. 'What were you thinking? He's far too young for that kind of thing.'

'I remember taking you at that age and you loved it. I'm sorry. I did tell him beforehand where we were going and he seemed to be looking forward to it.'

Peter soon cheered up at the promise of a boiled egg and soldiers and it was while Karen was tying on his bib that Susan asked, 'So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?'

'Oh, yes.' Karen looked up, a finger of wholemeal bread halfway to Peter's open mouth. 'I just wanted to say that we won't need you to babysit Peter after next week.'

'Oh!' Susan was stunned. 'So have you decided to go along with what Simon wants?'

'What do you mean?'

'I take it you're giving up work till Peter is older?'

'Good heavens, no, I'm not!' Karen said firmly. We're getting an au pair.'

Susan's eyebrows rose. 'An au pair from abroad, you mean? To live in?'

'That's what au pair means, yes. She's Dutch. I always think they're very homely people, the Dutch, don't you?'

'I don't think I know any,' Susan said faintly. 'Where did you find her?'

'Online, but of course we've spoken on the telephone.'

'Since when have you been able to speak Dutch?'

'I don't, of course, as you very well know, Mum. Adrey that's her name speaks perfect English. I'd hardly be employing someone Peter couldn't understand, would I?'

'So I'm to be surplus to requirements after next week, then, am I?'

Karen sighed. 'Oh dear, I did hope you wouldn't take it like that, Mum.'

'How else did you think I'd take it? I thought you were happy with our arrangement. Have I done something wrong?'

'No, of course you haven't and I we are really grateful for all you've done. It's just that Simon has been really stuffy about me going back to work so soon. As you know, he's always been adamant about Peter going to a nursery while he was still so young and he's got all these archaic ideas about a woman's place.'

'So you're making a stand?'

'I suppose you could call it that, yes.'

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