Bruno charges in and immediately knocks several books off the coffee table. Ruth shuts the kitchen door. Flint will be safe in there and can come and go through his cat flap. When she turns, she sees Nelson watching her from the middle of the room, his dog at his side.
‘I’m not sure you should be here,’ she says.
‘I’m sure I shouldn’t,’ says Nelson.
Ruth knows that she should tell him to go. It’s a pandemic and they are breaking all the rules, to say nothing of the other rules sanctioned by the state and the Holy Catholic Church. But, instead, she’s the one who steps forward and puts her arms round Nelson’s neck, raising her face to his.
Chapter 20
Ruth wakes up knowing that something is different. For once the new normal worries– Covid, school, work– don’t come rushing into her mind. But there’s something else. And the bed feels different. Warmer. Uneven. Ruth reaches out a hand and sits bolt upright. Nelson is lying next to her. She can see the ‘Seasiders’ tattoo on his shoulder. He is deeply asleep, his dark hair somehow shocking on her white pillow. The last time Nelson stayed the night here, there was no grey in his hair. That was the night Kate was conceived. Kate! She mustn’t come in and find a strange man in Ruth’s bed. Well, not exactly strange– Nelson is her father, after all– but definitely unexpected. Ruth looks at the green numbers on her alarm: 8.04. It’s years since she slept this late. Recently she’s been waking up before dawn. Kate will be awake any minute. She’s starting to sleep later in preparation for being a teenager but it’s rare that she sleeps past eight.
‘Mum?’ The door opens. Just in time, Ruth realises that she’s naked and clutches her sheet to her. The movement wakes Nelson who also sits up.
‘Hallo, Dad,’ says Kate. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Hallo, love.’ Nelson rubs his eyes. ‘We were just. . .’
‘Are we doing yoga with Cathbad this morning?’ says Kate. ‘It’s five past eight.’
‘Yes,’ says Ruth. ‘Get dressed and I’ll be with you in a minute.’
‘OK,’ says Kate but, instead of going into her room, Ruth hears her feet on the stairs. Then there’s a cry of surprise. Ruth pulls on her best dressing gown and follows.
The door to the kitchen is open and the sitting room is full of shredded cushions. Bruno and Flint are lying on the sofa, side by side. Bruno looks up as Kate and Ruth descend the stairs. Flint pretends to be asleep.
‘I knew they’d be friends,’ says Kate, putting her arms round the dog.
‘They’ve destroyed my Votes for Women cushions,’ says Ruth, looking at the shreds of green and purple fabric covering the floor.
‘That’s because they’re male chauvinists,’ says Kate. ‘What shall we have for breakfast? Dad likes fried stuff.’
Ruth is impressed that Kate knows this expression, though less impressed at the thought that she might have encountered the accompanying attitudes. And she’s rather taken aback by the ease with which Kate has accepted Nelson’s presence in the house.
‘Let’s just make toast,’ says Ruth. ‘And coffee.’ She needs caffeine. About a gallon of it.
Nelson appears while she’s still waiting for the toast to pop up. He’s fully dressed, his hair wet from a hasty shower.
‘We’re having breakfast,’ says Kate from her seat at the table. ‘I told Mum you prefer eggs and bacon. Then we’re doing yoga with Cathbad.’
‘Rather you than me,’ says Nelson. ‘I need to get to work, I’m afraid, love.’
‘Have some toast first.’ Ruth puts a piece in front of him. ‘The coffee’s on.’
‘Thanks,’ says Nelson. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’ Their eyes meet and Ruth quickly turns away to check the percolator.
‘I can do warrior one and two,’ Kate is telling Nelson. ‘And I can almost do crow. Can you do yoga?’
‘No, I can’t,’ says Nelson, spreading butter thickly. ‘I’m glad that Cathbad’s found something useful to do, though.’
Ruth puts Marmite in front of Nelson. She has no idea if he likes it or not and finds herself holding her breath, only to release it when Nelson covers his toast and butter with the black spread. Flint stalks into the room, followed by Bruno.
‘I’ve got nothing to give Bruno except cat food,’ says Ruth. ‘Is that OK?’
‘He’ll probably eat it,’ says Nelson. ‘Don’t worry though. I’ll drop him off with the dog walker on the way to work. She’s got food for him.’
In the end, Ruth puts gourmet cat food down for both animals. Bruno eats his in seconds and then tries to put his muzzle into Flint’s bowl. Flint hisses at him and Bruno backs away, looking hurt.
‘He’s scared of Flint,’ says Kate.
