Disappointed, Annabel couldn’t tell if it was her decision to get pregnant that Katy disagreed with, or just the way she planned on going about it. But, whatever the case, she knew it would take a lot more than her friend’s opinion to make her changehermind.
Annabel finished off her drink and rose to her feet. ‘Ready?’ sheasked.
She watched Katy reluctantly reach for herhandbag.
‘No, not really,’ she said. ‘But, seeing as you’re going to do this, with or without my blessing, it’s not like I really have a choice,isit?’
3
Dan hadno sooner opened the front door when some god awful smell attacked his nostrils. ‘Bloody hell!’ he said, unable to help but grimace. ‘Whatisthat?’
On second thought, he wasn’t going to ask. His mum had undoubtedly been trawling the Internet for more weird, if not wonderful, dinners to cook up. Re-creating the culinary delights of her travels was her latest madcap endeavour and experience had taught him that whatever made up tonight’s menu, he’d be better off not knowing. ‘Just as long as she isn’t having another go at the sea cucumber’ he said. Dan recalled her last speciality dish with a shudder. He knew that an endangered species hadn’t really been dumped on his plate. But, thanks to his mother’s cooking skills, or rather the lack of them, the resemblance to one had been uncanny. There was no way that he could ever face thatagain.
‘It’s only me,’ hecalledout.
Dan dropped his rucksack on the stairs; he heard his mother’s voice, before realising she was too busy on the phone to respond.Chatting to her partner in crime, as usual,he thought. He wondered if he’d ever get the chance to meet his mother’saccomplice.
‘Don’t you worry,’ he heard his mum saying. ‘With a bit of imagination I’m sure between us we can come up with something. It’s probably just another flash in the pan,you’llsee.’
He rolled his eyes; those two were always plotting something. Being old school friends, he could only imagine the trouble they’d brought to the Head Teacher’s door. He thought it was a shame that, after college, Missy had moved away and they’d somehow lost touch. Still, having met up with each other again, they seemed to be more than making up for lost time. The pair of them had been in cahoots ever since. Talk about a secondchildhood.
‘Anyway, I must dash,’ his mum finally finished. ‘Bye,Sweetie,bye.’
Dan slipped off his jacket and hung it on the bottom of the bannister before making his way into the kitchen. Expecting to find his mum as her usual flamboyant self, the way she’d sounded only moments before, he instead walked in to find her sitting at the table, now staring into space. It was as if she was lost in her own thoughts. He’d noticed her drifting off a lot lately, and wondered if he should be concerned. ‘Everything okay?’ heasked.
‘Sorry?’shesaid.
He indicated to the phone and she immediatelyperkedup.
‘Oh, that was Missy. It would seem our young Maeve has only gone and got herself aBoyfriend.’
Dan smiled as he headed for the kettle. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. Although you don’t have to look so pleasedaboutit.’
‘I do if it means you’ll finally shut up about her,’ said Dan. He filled the kettle with water and clicked the power on. ‘Although to be fair, she’s probably saying the exact same thing to her motheraboutme.’
He turned his attention to the cups and tea caddy; yet again he wished they could just use teabags like normal people.Normal, he thought,in this house?He supposed a guy could onlydream.
His mum let out a wistful sigh which caused Dan to pause, his ears pricked ready for theinevitable.
‘But the two of you would make such a lovely couple,’ she said, rightoncue.
Again, Dan smiled. ‘So you’ve mentioned,’ he said. ‘Numeroustimes.’
He watched her get up from the table, pick up a wooden spoon, and begin stirring whatever concoction boiled on the stove. His stomach turned at thesight.
‘I thought you were out tonight, anyway?’ he said. ‘At your danceclass?’
‘I’m not in the mood,’ his mum replied. ‘I’d much prefer to spend time with you. You’re always so busy these days. We never seem to chatanymore.’
Dan couldn’t deny it. When it came to needing extra space, more and more people seemed to be extending, rather than moving to larger properties these days. Which was great news for those like himself, who worked in construction; he’d been inundated with work lately and when he wasn’t on site, he was out givingquotes.
‘We’re chatting now aren’t we?’hesaid.
‘Yes, but not like weusedto.’
Maybe it was his imagination, but she seemed to disappear into her own head again for a moment, before shakingherselffree.
