Somebody to Love: Sigh With Contentment, Scream With Frustration. At Time You Will Weep. (30 page)

‘I will. In a minute,’ Donna said, feeling quite attached to her coat for some reason.

‘And you’re Eddie Izzard in drag.’ Simon beamed at Alicia.

Alicia didn’t look impressed. ‘Cher, actually. And what are you supposed to be?’

‘A boxer, obviously.’ Simon flapped open his dressing gown to flash his silk boxers.

‘Oh, right. Make-up looks good.’ Alicia nodded, indicating Simon’s black eye. ‘It looks just like the real thing.’

Simon glanced worriedly at Donna. ‘Um, well, actually…’

Donna paled. ‘Oh, no, Simon… You mean… But, he didn’t…’

‘No, he didn’t. Stop with the guilt, hmm? I caught it on the bedside table when I fell. You can hardly see it with concealer on, in any case, so…’

‘God, Simon…’ Donna’s heart sank all over again.

‘It happened. It’s over.’ Simon waved a dismissive hand. ‘Forget it.’

Oh, that Donna could forget it, with her mum practically moved in with Mark’s dad, little Karl who she couldn’t avoid seeing. Her chest heaving under her polystyrene cups every time she thought about Mark. And now this. She looked at Simon’s poor eye. He must have worn his concealer this morning. Bless him. He really was the kindest soul.

‘I am
so
sorry, Simon,’ Donna said, feeling absolutely terrible. And guilty, no matter how many times Simon told her not to.

‘Sorry for what, exactly?’ Simon gave her a despairing glance. ‘It was just an unfortunate accident born of normal human reaction. The man was crushed, Donna. I could see it in his gorgeous blue eyes. And, trust me, I can read men’s eyes. So stop beating yourself up with it.’

‘I’ll try.’ Donna made a magnificent effort to arrange her face into a smile.

‘You two need to start talking.’ Simon gave her shoulders a squeeze. ‘I’d say put your pride in your pocket and ring him, but I’m betting he rings you first.’

She would, Donna decided. She would ring him, if only to clear the air for when they did cross each other’s paths, which well they might. The whole
I’m not talking to him/her
thing was terribly childish, after all. And in the middle of it was a child, who needed his father to be there for him, not emotionally distracted by nonsense.

‘So, come on. What do you think?’ Simon tactfully changed the subject and gave them a twirl.

‘Rocky,’ Donna read daubed across his dressing gown. ‘Very good, Simon.’

‘And this,’ Simon wrapped an arm around Nathan’s shoulders, as he appeared with drinks, ‘is Rocky Two. My very own personal rock.’

Simon relieved Nathan of the drinks, swapping adoring glances with him as he did. ‘However, being not the selfish sort, I’m loaning him to you, Donna. Dance with the girl, Nathan, but be gentle with her.’ Simon drew a hand around his chest area and mouthed, ‘Broken heart.’

Nathan laughed and crooked his arm. ‘Dance, ma’am?’

‘Well… Oh, all right then. Why not?’ Donna dragged herself from the gloom, and accepted his offer.

‘Oh, Dons,’ Simon called, as they headed for the Moroccan rug come dance-floor.

Donna glanced back.

Simon waved a hand over his whole body area this time, indicating Donna’s camouflage.

Which Donna was feeling a bit hot under, actually. Time for the great unveiling. She had a surreptitious glance around, then shrugged self-consciously out of her coat — and no one batted an eyelid. Humph.

Donna was nicely into the bump to Stevie Wonder’s,
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
when Daniel tapped Nathan on the shoulder.

‘May I?’ he asked, nodding towards Donna, obviously a gentleman, despite the gymslip.

‘May he?’ Nathan enquired.

‘He may.’ Donna laughed, and gracefully accepted.

Ten seconds later she was doing a sort of soft-shoe-shuffle with Daniel, when he asked, ‘Was I boring you?’

‘No, not at all.’ Donna smiled warmly and felt a bit bad for giving him the slip. The poor soul probably had a history of boring people to death.

‘Good.’ Daniel smiled back, and Donna decided he was actually quite sweet.

And she, she realised, as she went over on one spindly-heel, then the other, might just be getting ever-so-slightly tipsy.

Daniel provided her a steadying hand as she swayed, but not in time to the music. ‘You okay?’ he shouted.

‘Never better,’ Donna assured him, then in true Madonna persona, did a virginal strut across the carpet, to which Daniel reciprocated with a pouting Mick Jagger strut of his own.

Excellent therapy. Donna was having a ball. Inhibitions? Her? Never.

She was Sandy, bouncy curls, pert bum and all. Daniel was Travolta. Simon, Nathan and Alicia were Pink Ladies, and they were all hot to trot. Move over Dame Edna Everage. Or not.

Dame Edna refused to be sidelined, so Donna had a quick strut with him, too. Or her? Donna squinted cross-eyed, then decided on male when Edna trod on her foot. Undaunted, Donna had a quick
Saturday Night Fever
pointy-finger pose with Alicia, followed by a dizzying fling with Braveheart, who promptly declared undying love and threw himself at her feet.

Wonderful. Donna stopped for a quick drink break. She could quite get into this good-time-girl stuff. She was having a whale of a time. Or she was, until Braveheart decided to have a little breather, perched his posterior on the window ledge, and fell through the window.

Which might not have been so bad, Donna suspected, had the window been open at the time.

‘Bloody
hell
!’ Simon stopped halfway through a
Hey Margarita
and flew to the front door in pursuit of the flying Scotsman — followed smartly by a houseful of revellers.

‘Didn’t feel a thing,’ Braveheart said from his spread-eagled position on the front lawn. ‘Anaeshthetished,’ he slurred, then, to the immense relief of everyone, caught hold of two helping hands and heaved himself up.

Alicia gave his rather large kilted rump a pat, as he steadied himself on his feet. ‘That’ll be the padding, honey.’

‘Sorry about the window, Simon,’ Braveheart apologised, as soberly as he could.

‘Me too.’ Simon eyed the missing lounge window forlornly. ‘Ah, well, never mind. Hopefully, the insurance will cover it. I suppose we’d better get some of the glass off the lawn though.’

‘I’ll help,’ Donna offered.

‘Thanks, guys,’ Simon said as Donna and Alicia carefully picked up some of the bigger shards.

‘Single glazing.’ Daniel shook his head, and pitched in.

‘I’ll get something to tape over the window,’ Nathan said, turning back towards the house.

‘There’s some cardboard in the garage, I think,’ Simon called after him. ‘And turn the music down, while you’re at it, Nathe, or we’ll have the neighbours complaining.’

‘I think they already have.’ Daniel nodded at the approaching patrol car.

‘Oh, no.’ Donna shrank in her blood-red stilettos, literally, they being spiked in the mud.

Alicia came to stand side-by-side with her sister. ‘You all right, hon?’

‘Perfect.’ Donna straightened her shoulders, pulled in a breath — and puffed up her polystyrene cups.

****

‘At least it isn’t him.’ Alicia said as the WPC addressed Simon.

‘Thank God for small mercies.’ Donna breathed a sigh of relief. Whether or not she was obviously wearing fancy dress this time, she didn’t think her velour bodice and pointy breasts would go a long way to clearing the air between Mark and her. ‘Everything, all right, Simon?’ she called.

‘Yes, thanks, Dons,’ Simon assured her. ‘The officer’s just taking a few details. You go on in and pop the kettle on, why don’t you? And then we can all have some nice chocy biccies. Would you like one?’ He fluttered his eyelashes at the woman police officer.

‘At least it isn’t who?’ Daniel asked

‘Donna’s ex,’ Alicia informed him. ‘The one Simon had a little run in with. He’s a policeman.’ She circled her own eye, with a sad sigh.

‘Your
ex
gave him the black eye?’ Daniel asked, looking at Donna shocked.

‘It was an accident,’ Alicia supplied. ‘He was a bit jealous, that’s all. As one would be when one finds one’s girlfriend
in flagrante
with another man.’

‘Ah, right.’ Daniel looked at Donna again, bemusedly this time.

Donna looked nervously towards the officers, wondering whether poor Simon was going to get arrested for causing a public affray or something, which really would put the kibosh on his birthday celebrations.

Oh, obviously not. She looked on relieved as the WPC munched on a chocolate biscuit supplied by Nathan, quite obviously won over by Simon’s charms.

‘Well, there doesn’t seem to have been any aggressive behaviour,’ she mumbled, stuffing the last of her biscuit in her mouth and accepting another.

‘We do have to issue a warning re noise nuisance though,’ her partner pointed out. ‘Just keep it down, okay?’

Simon cocked his head to one side. ‘Well, of course we will,’ he said. ‘We wouldn’t dream of deliberately causing a nuisance, but… Is that it?’

‘Yes. Pretty much. Enjoy the rest of your night.’ The WPC offered Simon and Nathan a smile in exchange for a third biscuit, then the officers turned to head back to their patrol car.

‘You on tomorrow, then, Rachel?’ The male officer asked as they approached Donna and company.

‘Not sure,’ the WPC answered, through mouthfuls. ‘Said I’d cover for Mark if he needed me to. His kid’s dog’s sick, apparently.’

‘His kid’s dog?’ The PC looked incredulous. ‘I’ve heard them all now.’

The WPC gave him a scathing glance. ‘The boy’s autistic, Gary. Give the man a break.’

Chapter Twenty

‘He must be really ill if Mark’s taking time off,’ Donna was talking to herself, rather than Daniel, who’d kindly offered her a lift home.

‘Who?’ Daniel asked, squinting through the wipers sloshing against a deluge of rain.

‘Starbuck.’ Donna chewed on her lip, worrying about the dog, about Karl, about Mark — and feeling irritated with Daniel, even though he’d considerately swapped his gymslip for his trousers and offered both Alicia and her a lift home. The thing was, all Donna wanted to do was get home. Go inside, on her own. Get sober and think straight.

‘Starbuck’s Mark’s dog,’ she supplied, though Daniel hadn’t asked. ‘My ex. His son’s dog, actually. He’s… Well, he’s quite an important part of Karl’s life.’ Donna stopped, chewing on a thumbnail now in favour of her lip.

‘I see.’ Daniel nodded. ‘Sounds like you and your ex were together for some time.’

‘No, not really.’ Donna sighed, long and hard.

Daniel went quiet.

‘Which house is yours?’ he asked, after a moment.

‘Sorry?’

‘Which house?’ Daniel smiled. ‘I’d prefer to make sure you get in safely, now I’ve driven you this far.’

‘Oh.’ Donna blinked, realising they’d reached her cul-de-sac. ‘Sorry. It’s that one. Just there.’ She nodded at her house.

‘Well, goodnight Donna,’ Daniel said, pulling up. ‘It was really nice meeting you.’

‘Yes.’ Donna paused, her hand on the door-handle. ‘Likewise.’

‘I would ask to see you again, but I suspect you’d rather be seeing someone else,’ Daniel observed shrewdly.

Donna hesitated. ‘I, um… I’m sorry, Daniel. It’s just that things are a bit complicated.’

‘Aren’t they always?’ Daniel shrugged, good-naturedly. ‘Go on.’ He nodded her on. ‘Get yourself in. I’ll wait until you’re inside.’

‘Thank you, Daniel,’ Donna smiled gratefully. ‘You’re a gentleman.’

‘My biggest downfall,’ Daniel rolled his eyes.

‘No, it’s not, Daniel, trust me. You’re quite lovely. Someone not as ditzy as me will snap you up. They’d be mad not to. See you at the next party.’ Donna jumped out, beamed him a smile, then dashed towards her house, key poised.

What an extremely nice man. It occurred to Donna that she hadn’t once worried about any dishonourable intentions he might have had. Yes, Simon knew him quite well, but still… A very, very nice…

Donna ground to a halt on her doorstep, her brow knitted in consternation as she realised the door was ajar.

Silly, she scalded herself, attempting to shake off the heebie-jeebies. It was obvious that Matt had come home and not closed it properly. But… she stopped before going in, feeling the tiniest bit wary… there were no lights on; and Matt wasn’t careless enough to go to bed and leave the front door open in reality.

It might not have caught properly, of course. They did have to give a good slam to close it, sometimes.

Okay, yes, that sounded reasonable, Donna told herself, stepping forth, then stepping back. So, where was Sadie?

Oh, God. ‘Sade?’ Donna inched the door open further, to see nothing but dark.

Sadie wasn’t there. The hall was bare. The whole place felt… empty. Her heartbeat escalating, Donna turned around to see Daniel driving off.

‘No! Don’t go!’ Donna flew back down the path. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it. ‘Daniel, wait! The door…
Damn
!’ she cursed, as he turned the corner.

Damn. Damn. Damn! Her legs quite shaky beneath her, Donna headed back, creaked the door wide, and peered tentatively inside. All was still. She tugged in a breath, took a cautious step in, and slapped on the light.

‘Matt!’ she shouted, taking the stairs two at a time, twisting an ankle. Kicking off her shoes. Damn, damn,
silly
shoes!

‘Matt.’ She hesitated for a split second, then banged his door open. No Matt. No bed slept it. Donna swallowed back sudden sweeping nausea. Where was? Oh, God, yes! Relief flooded through her. He was at Ed’s. Of course he was. He’d said. Ed’s was walking distance from the nightclub. He was safe.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Still, something was wrong.

Donna turned, her heart hammering now. Down again, thundering down, missing her footing, slithering down the last two steps, she flew to the kitchen.

Deep breaths, she commanded herself. Deep breaths, Donna. You have to keep calm.

She reached for the light, seeing immediately the missing glass in the back door, glass that crunched under her feet. The key was still in the lock.

Oh, dear Lord. She’d told Matt, how many times? Never,
ever
leave the key in the lock. Donna whirled around, taking in the chaos. The cupboards and drawers haphazardly open, blood-smudged contents smashed indiscriminately to the ground.