Part 15 (2/2)

Chapter 28.

'So, what are you going to wear?' said Catherine.

'Dunno, what you do think?'

'That green crossover top, definitely. That was Matthew's favourite so that's bound to strike a chord if he sees you.'

'If? How do I make that a definite, so all this will be worthwhile? What if they don't see us? What if they don't happen to be looking out of the window watching us go off together? I mean, it's highly unlikely they will be, isn't it really? It's mad, totally mad.'

'It's a mad world though, Steve. And if they don't see you, then you have to keep going at it until they do.'

'I was afraid you'd say that.'

'Well, it's all part of the plan!' Catherine laughed, although she was getting less keen on the idea of a Stevie and Matthew reconciliation every day. Even though she wanted her friend to be happy, she also wished she would stuff it home to Matthew that there was life without him, and if it took Adam MacLean to help her do that, then so be it. She hoped Stevie wouldn't give in too easily when Matthew came crawling back to her because he would, nothing surer. Catherine wanted Matthew to realize what he was missing in Stevie, although she was becoming increasingly confused as to what Stevie was missing in Matthew.

'I've to be ready for seven thirty.'

'Well, Kate will be over for seven.'

'GreatI'll direct her to the cheesecake and the other food stocks. She's a good girl.'

'She's an extortionist. Twenty quid! I'd do it for nothing if there was a cheesecake involved.'

'I'll get her a taxi back. I won't let MacLean drive her.'

'Thanks,' said Catherine. 'Ooh, those legs though. If I babysat for you, I'd let him drive me home.'

'You're one sick woman, Catherine Flanagan.'

Catherine laughed. 'Nervous?'

'What have I to be nervous about? I'm only going out with a wife-beating psychopath.'

'I don't think he's anything of the sort,' said Catherine. 'I think the bloke has got some bad press. We believed everything Jo saidand look what a calculating cow she turned out to be. We only have her side of things. I tell you, Steve, I took a long hard look at him at Pam's wedding, and he looked like a pretty decent guy to me.'

'Pretty?'

'You know what I mean.'

'Oh Cath, come on. There can't have been that much smoke without fire. You only have to look at him to know he's not Mr Fluffy!' Stevie gave a disbelieving laugh. 'Have you seen that scar on his face? What the h.e.l.l could have caused that? He didn't get that making daisy chains.'

'Well, he was certainly Mr Fluffy with Pam and Will's old relatives.'

'All show!' said Stevie, who remained unconvinced. 'He was playing to an audience. He would have kissed babies too if there had been any. Politicians' tricksand we all know how wholesome they are, don't we?'

'You really don't like him at all, do you?'

'No,' said Stevie, 'but we need each other, it seems. And at least being at the pictures means I don't have to talk to him.'

...Which had been Adam MacLean's precise thought when he proposed the venue. The cinema was central, popular and he would not have to converse with her much. Plus there was a good chance someone would spot them together and report their presence back to Jo. Even though she might not want him herself now, she wouldn't want anyone else to have him either. He knew what a jealous creature she could be, a fact that would work very much in his favour here.

Matthew was actually filling the kettle when he noticed Eddie's van at the other side of the lane dropping off his daughter. Kate had babysat for them a couple of times, which was the only reason she ever came round. Stevie must be going out, he concluded. Probably to Catherine's. But then she would have taken Danny with her, surely? Stevie never went out by herself, unless it was to Catherine's. So where was she going? On a Sat.u.r.day night too.

He mentally slapped himself; it wasn't any of his businessthey were separated. He was with Jo now, so why should he even be interested?

But still...

'You look nice,' said Kate, trying not to fall over as Danny wrapped himself around her very long giraffe-y legs.

'Do I?' said Stevie.

'Green looks great on you,' said Kate. 'I wish I were blonde.'

'You are!' laughed Stevie. Kate was naturally the platinum blonde that people aspired to, but she persisted on dyeing her long, long hair Goth-black with various shades of wild colour shot through it. At the moment, the couleur du jour was electric blue. She carried it off with the confidence of youth and looked stunning.

'Going to help me demolish this then, Dans?' asked Kate, her big sapphire eyes rounding at the sandwich fest and cheesecake which Stevie had left out for her. 'Have you had your tea?'

'Yes,' said Danny. 'I had beans off toast.'

'Beans off toast?' Kate looked to Stevie for further explanation.

'He means beans minus toast,' Stevie sighed. 'My little boy has suddenly decided he doesn't like bread.' In the same way that halfway through a McDonald's a couple of months ago, he had decided that he didn't like chips any more and hadn't touched a potato since. At least he was an Atkins-friendly child.

'Bread's really good for you, Dans. Especially this brown stuff. I eat loads, it's cool,' said Kate, giving Stevie a wink and stuffing a sandwich in her mouth.

'Is it? Do you?' said Danny in amazement. 'Mummy, could I have one like Kate's got, please?'

Stevie was quite sure that Kate could get Danny to eat horse manure if she tried.

As the second hand began its slow descent towards half past, Stevie was feeling more and more nauseous. The evening stretched excruciatingly long and hard in front of her and she had thrown the free newspaper supplement away so she didn't even know what was on at the 'picture hoos'. No doubt she'd have to sit through some all-action movie with a big macho hero who shot lots of people with huge guns whilst a little girly, accidentally caught up in the action, teetered behind him with stilt high heels and ma.s.sive knockers.

'I think he's here,' said Kate, peeping out of the window.

's.h.i.+t!' said Stevie.

'Mummy!'

'Sorry, Danny,' said Stevie, slapping her hand over her mouth.

'Where are you going?'

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