Authors: Linda Kavanagh
He smiled. ‘Speaking of eating, I’m planning on going to the café across the road as soon as I’ve finished my shopping. Why don’t you join me if you’re free?’
Laura felt a bubble of happiness welling up inside her.
‘Thank you, I’d like that.’
The man gave a pleased grin. ‘Okay, I’ll see you there in, say, fifteen minutes?’
‘Okay – great.’
In a pleasant daze, Laura continued with her shopping, hardly able to concentrate on what she was supposed to be buying. She smiled to herself. Wouldn’t Kerry be surprised to hear that she’d already got a date! Well, a date of sorts. Lunch was a neutral, getting-to-know-you sort of date. Laura laughed to herself – she was only going to have lunch with a nice guy, and there was nothing more to it than that. Nevertheless, it seemed to augur well for the future – Jeff was firmly in the past, and some day soon she’d have a very different and hopefully better life.
After putting the groceries in her car, Laura quickly checked her appearance in the driver’s rear view mirror, locked the car then crossed the road to the café.
The man was already there, and he waved to her as she made her way to his table.
‘By the way, my name is Steve Rudden,’ he said, as she sat down.
Shaking hands, Laura introduced herself and took a seat opposite him. They both spent a little time consulting the menu, before giving the waitress their order. When she’d left, they caught each other’s eye, and both laughed.
‘Okay, I’ll go first,’ Steve said. ‘I run a small accountancy business, I’m single, I live in Hammersmith and I like football, tennis and vintage cars. I own a 1929 Rolls-Royce, which is my pride and joy. I nearly got married once, a long time ago, but she met someone else and dumped me. I grew up in Yorkshire, and my parents and sister still live there.’ He looked expectantly at her. ‘Now it’s your turn,’ he said.
Briefly, Laura summed up her own life, explaining about her career, the death of her parents and brother in a car crash, her plan to move into a new apartment after her brief but unsatisfactory marriage. She didn’t mention Jeff’s violence.
It didn’t seem appropriate to tell someone she barely knew.
At which point their food arrived, and they both tucked into it with gusto.
Laura was enjoying Steve’s company, and secretly marvelling at how easy it had been to meet another man. She’d had no intention of dating again for a very long time, but fate seemed to have deposited Steve at her door. Of course, Steve might not want to see her again, but she was already starting to hope that he would.
Her phone rang, and Laura grimaced. She glanced at the number – Jeff was hassling her again. She rejected the call and continued with her meal, but she noticed Steve watching her closely.
The café was beginning to fill up with lunchtime diners, and so far they hadn’t been expected to share their banquette. But knowing they could be joined by other people before long, Laura decided to tell Steve about Jeff before they acquired an audience.
‘My ex is proving tiresome,’ she confessed. ‘That was him on the phone just now. He can’t forgive me for leaving the marriage – he keeps ringing me all the time. I don’t answer any more, because when I do he just starts being abusive.’
As if to prove the point, Laura’s phone rang again. They both looked at the screen.
‘I guess it’s time to change your number,’ Steve said seriously.
Laura nodded, wondering if she would ever be free of Jeff.
Steve picked up the bill just as Laura reached for it. ‘I asked you, so it’s my treat,’ he said, smiling. ‘But if you really feel I’ve compromised your dignity as an independent woman, you can always invite me to lunch another day –? Or maybe a
meal? I know a great Italian restaurant. It’s old-fashioned and basic, but with marvellous food.’
Laura nodded, smiling back at him. She liked the idea of seeing Steve again. ‘I’d really like that.’
O
ne little dark-haired girl and one blonde-haired girl eyed each other as they queued for the tuck shop on their first day at prep school.
‘I know you. You live in Greygates, don’t you?’ the dark-haired girl ventured.
The blonde girl nodded, looking surprised. ‘How do you know that?’
‘I live not far from there. Do you know where Treetops is?’
The other girl nodded. ‘Isn’t that the house hidden behind all those big trees?’ Then she grinned sheepishly. ‘I suppose that’s why it’s called Treetops!’
Nodding, the dark-haired girl smiled back. ‘I’ve built a platform up in one of the tallest trees – you can see for miles from up there. I can even see your house!’
The other girl raised an eyebrow in disbelief. ‘Wow! That sounds amazing. Did you really build a platform on your own?’
The dark-haired girl nodded. ‘I’m pretty handy at things like that,’ she said, without a trace of modesty. ‘I can build a platform in your garden too, if you’d like me to.’
‘Would you really?’ The blonde girl was in awe of her new friend.
The dark-haired girl nodded. ‘You can come and play in my garden any time you want,’ she said. ‘By the way, my name is Kerry.’
‘And mine is Laura.’
The girls looked at each other shyly.
Kerry smiled. ‘Your dad owns the canning factory, doesn’t he?’
Laura nodded ‘What does your father do?’ she asked.
‘I don’t have one – my mum’s a widow. My father died before I was born.’
‘Oh.’ Laura was puce with embarrassment, but Kerry didn’t seem bothered. In a way, not having a father seemed to lend her an air of mystery, and it occurred to Laura that having one less parent would mean a great deal more freedom, since there would be one less pair of eyes scrutinising everything you did.
By the time the queue reached the tuck-shop counter, the girls had discovered that they’d be sharing most subjects.
‘If you like, you can come to my house and play with my dolls,’ Laura said generously. ‘I’ve got about a hundred.’
‘
Eeuch!
’
Kerry wrinkled her nose. ‘I hate dolls. I’d rather play cops and robbers up in the trees, or pirates, or go on my skateboard.’ She looked at Laura’s disappointed expression. ‘I’ll show you how to skateboard, if you like. It’s much more fun than dolls! You can go really fast, and you can even learn to flip the board over, and do all kinds of exciting things – it just takes practice.’
‘Okay,’ Laura said tentatively, warming to the idea the more she thought about it. Skateboarding sounded like fun. The large courtyard behind her house would be perfect for practising in. Wouldn’t Pete be surprised – and jealous – if she could demonstrate some clever moves? As the younger sibling, she was always trying to outsmart her brother, and this might be the very opportunity she was waiting for.
‘Will you
really
teach me to skateboard?’
‘Of course. It’s easy – just a matter of balance. You won’t be long getting the hang of it.’
Laura smiled, her eyes alight. ‘Thanks, that’s great. I’ll ask Mum and Dad for a skateboard for my birthday.’
‘When is your birthday?’
‘Next month. I’m having a party – will you come?’
Kerry nodded. ‘Yes, please! How old will you be?’
‘I’ll be eight,’ Laura announced.
Kerry smiled triumphantly. ‘That means I’m three months older than you! But don’t you have to be eight already before starting prep school?’
Laura lowered her voice confidentially. ‘I know, but my parents asked the principal to make an exception for me, since I didn’t want to wait another whole year.’
Kerry nodded matter-of-factly. ‘People always make exceptions for those with lots of money.’ She squeezed Laura’s hand. ‘But I’m glad they made an exception for you – because I think you’re going to be my very best friend!’
As the family finished dinner, Laura decided to bring up the subject of her new friend.
‘Mum, there’s a girl in my class that I’d like to invite to my party.’
Sylvia nodded approvingly. ‘Of course, darling. I’m glad you’re making new friends. What’s her name?’
‘Kerry.’
Alan’s head shot up. ‘Did you say Kerry?’
Laura nodded. ‘And the great thing is – she lives near here, too.’
‘Really?’
Laura nodded again. ‘Yes, she lives at Treetops. She’s such fun!’
Sylvia looked hesitantly at her husband, realising that Kerry had to be Ellie Beckworth’s daughter.
Sylvia still wondered if Tony Coleman was the father of Ellie Beckworth’s child, although she’d never dared broach the subject with Alan, since he’d say she was simply being a busybody. She also remembered how, all those years ago, Alan hadn’t been keen for her to befriend Ellie. Nor had Ellie responded to her overtures either. Now, ironically, their daughters seemed to have taken matters into their own hands.
Sylvia still felt a deep affection and gratitude towards Ellie. It seemed strange to think now that while she and Ellie had both been pregnant with their daughters, she’d been convinced Alan was going to leave her for someone else. Sylvia gave a little involuntary shiver. But for Ellie, she might have confronted Alan, perhaps with dire consequences, since he’d have abhorred her lack of trust, and it would have permanently damaged their relationship.
Sometimes she wondered if she’d misread that receipt for the diamond and gold ring. Could Alan have simply had second thoughts about giving her the ring, and exchanged it for another expensive item of the same value? Perhaps the jeweller hadn’t felt it necessary to issue a new receipt. Nevertheless, she’d always wonder …
‘I’m sure it’s very nice for you to have a friend who lives so near,’ Sylvia said to her daughter, glancing at Alan to ensure his approval. It was one thing to discourage an adult friendship with Ellie, based on their differing social positions, but it would be unfair to discourage Laura, who needed to learn about the give and take of friendship. She looked at her husband. ‘It’ll be nice for Laura, won’t it, dear? Having someone nearby to play with?’
Alan nodded, trying to look absent-minded, but his feelings were far from vague. He supposed that since the girls were attending the same prep school – both paid for by him – it was inevitable that they’d discover they lived within half a mile of each other. He should have insisted that Kerry be sent to a different school, but Ellie was adamant that her daughter would receive exactly the same standard of education that Laura did. Hopefully, the girls would discover that they were like chalk and cheese, and they’d outgrow their friendship with the passing of time.
‘So can Kerry come to my birthday party, Mum?’
Sylvia darted another glance at her husband, but didn’t wait for his approval this time. ‘Of course, darling – what a lovely idea!’
T
hat evening in Kerry’s apartment, Laura couldn’t stop smiling.
‘He’s really nice, and he’s even got his own accountancy business. I like a dynamic, independent man, don’t you? When I met him in the supermarket, Steve asked me to have lunch with him – and he’s invited me out next Friday evening!’ Laura was in a bubbly and animated mood, and Kerry was amazed that she’d come through her tragic marriage with her happy and impulsive nature still intact.
Taking their pizza out of the oven, Kerry grimaced at her friend. ‘I’m pleased for you, love, but promise me you won’t be rushing down the aisle again for a while yet? I don’t think I could handle two weddings in less than a year!’
Laura laughed as she placed cutlery and plates on the table. ‘Don’t worry, I’m just going to have fun. Anyway, I need to apply for a divorce from Jeff first. But, more importantly –’ she grinned mischievously ‘–I’m sure Steve has some nice friends, and maybe we can find one who takes
your
fancy.’ Kerry gave her a sarcastic look. ‘Let’s find out what this Steve fellow is like before you start fixing me up with one of his friends!’ she said.
‘Oh, he’s really great!’
‘I seem to remember you saying the same thing about Jeff,’ Kerry added dryly.
Laura looked guilty. ‘You’re right. But, honestly, I’m only going out for a meal with this guy. I’m not going to rush anything.’ She looked sincerely at Kerry. ‘I mean, I wasn’t even looking for anyone, but fate seems to have intervened.’
Kerry looked doubtful as she nibbled a wedge of pizza. ‘Fate produced Jeff as well. Please be a bit more careful this time, won’t you?’
L
aura surveyed the clothes she’d hung in the wardrobe in Kerry’s spare room. She was trying to decide what she’d wear for her second dinner date with Steve. As she flicked through the hangers, Laura grimaced as she remembered the brown dress that Jeff had insisted she wore to the Sea Diagnostics reception. She’d left both the brown dress and the maxi dress in the wardrobe of his apartment. Shuddering, she wondered how she’d ever let him dictate what she should wear. She never intended wearing anything like those frumpy things ever again!
Suddenly her mobile rang. Without checking the number she answered it, assuming that it might be Steve. A second later, she bitterly regretted her decision.
‘You fucking whore!’ Jeff screamed down the phone. ‘You couldn’t wait to get your knickers off for another man, could you? You seem to have forgotten you’re still my wife – I’ll kill you for this!’