Firestarter (3 page)

Tony looked at the picture of Alice cuddling the animal, her arms lost in its deep fur, and its huge tongue attempting to lick her hair. 'So I see!'

'And there's his mum.'

'You're very close. Are you sure it was safe?'

'Deffo. They're gentle and anyway, they're tied up.'

'OK.'

Alice knew that if he'd gone to the cattle lines at all, he'd have picked his way through the straw on the ground, keeping as far away from the animals as possible.

Tony smiled tolerantly at the images of Alice on a helter-skelter and eating candyfloss. 'You seem to have acted like big kids,' was his opinion.

'That's part of the fun,' Alice said. Maybe it was as well he hadn't come with them, it wasn't really his sort of thing.

'You know what fun is, Tony?' Kate said. 'It's that thing other people have when you're not about.'

'Yes, I know what it is and I'm glad Alice has her charming sister to help her indulge whilst I'm busy.'

Kate showed him a picture of Alice in the fire engine. 'The firemen were happy to help too.' She didn't even try not to smirk.

'Anyone want a drink?' Alice asked brightly. If she acted like they were all getting along, maybe it'd come true.

It didn't work. Kate soon left and Tony continued to sulk. She knew he loved her, but wished he'd show it in a way which didn't involve jealousy or buying her things.

'Have you thought any more about moving in with me?' he asked, proving she should be careful what she wished for.

She had, mostly trying to figure out why she was so reluctant. Tony's flat was plenty big enough for them both and he'd promised to have it redecorated to suit her.

Tony had lots of good points. He was generous. He cared about her safety, insisting on paying for taxis whenever she went anywhere without him. He'd wanted her to take one to work when he realised how far off the road, and therefore the bus route, the premises were. Her parents liked him. They'd suggested she not rush into anything though.

'My contract for this place has another six months to run. Maybe after that?' Alice suggested.

'You'll have to decide before then and let them know if you're not going to renew the lease.'

She was aware of that but determined not to be pushed into a decision she wasn't ready for.

'I'll give you an answer by the new year, OK? Please don't ask again until then.'

'New year! But that's months away.' He must have seen her expression because he raised his hands in surrender. 'All right. If you make up your mind before then just say and I'll book the decorators, but I promise not to ask again before that.'

Alice considered fetching the pink ribbon from her flowers and saying as they both liked the colour so much they should have the walls all done to match, but decided it might be sending the wrong signals. If they started looking at paint colour charts she'd find herself swept along with his plans. That happened all too often as it was.

'By the way,' he said, 'I'm not working late Friday night after all, so I've booked us a table at Luigi's.'

Alice took a deep breath. Luigi's served the absolute best Florentine pizza, lushest creamiest tiramisu and the bubbliest prosecco in the prettiest crystal glasses... 'Sorry, I can't.'

'I thought it was your favourite restaurant.'

'It is and I'd love to go another time, but I've promised to go to Mum and Dad's. Dad is putting up a new shed and Kate and I are supervising.'

'In the dark?'

'Dad'll put the security light on. It's really bright.'

'Oh. OK. You'll still have to eat. We can go afterwards.'

'Afterwards we'll be getting fish and chips from the van which comes round. You know we always do that after one of Dad's projects.'

'Oh.' He should do, they'd had fish and chips waiting for him when he got out the shower the time he'd helped repair the fence. How he'd ended up in the pond on that occasion and therefore needed a shower was a mystery. Even Kate, who'd been very nearby, said she didn't have a clue. He'd not been available during any of her dad's projects since, but she'd told him about them.

'You can come with me if you like. I'm sure it'd help to have someone tall on top of the ladder.' That wasn't fair and she knew it. DIY was most definitely not his kind of thing, especially when it happened out of doors.

'Right, OK.'

'Tony, you don't have to. Kate's rounded up a few of the chaps she works with, so I'm sure they'll be enough people to get it done.'

'No really, I'd like to help and I haven't seen your parents lately.'

Tony borrowed a pair of old jeans from Alice's dad, so as not to get his chinos dirty. He wore gloves to avoid splinters, protective goggles to stop roofing tacks injuring his eyes, and kept a good distance from Kate for no specified reason. Although he looked a bit daft, he did a good job of reading the instructions so tasks weren't attempted until all the right parts and equipment were to hand and were done in the correct order so no time was wasted.

He didn't actually manhandle any pieces of the shed, but he did pick up a claw hammer at one point. That's because one of Kate's friends asked him to pass it up.

'Sure. Er, a claw hammer...?'

'In the bucket by your feet. The thing with the orange handle.'

Tony also double-checked the measurements before Alice's dad cut the roofing felt. Both figures matched, but he didn't take offence.

'It's good to be sure about things,' he said. 'Better than rushing in without thinking things through.'

'That seems to be a family trait,' Tony said. Then after an awkward pause added, 'And an admirable one too.'

Alice guessed he was referring to her indecision about moving in with him, but he kept his promise of not asking again and didn't mention it, at least not outright. He must have been tempted though when her dad thanked him for his help and offered to return the favour, 'If you ever have anything wanting doing at your place.'

Instead he waited until her mum asked if everyone wanted fish for supper, or if Tony would rather have a sausage in batter.

'To be honest, I've got a real fancy for pizza. How about I get us all a take-away from Luigi's, my treat?' he said.

Alice decided it wouldn't hurt to let him have his own way this once and the others, including Kate, were clearly in favour too.

'Thanks, lad,' Alice's dad said. 'While you're doing that I'll open up some of the beetroot wine I made last summer. Should be maturing nicely now.'

'That sounds nice, but unfortunately I'm driving,' Tony said, just before Alice could utter the same sentence.

'Oh what a shame,' Kate said. 'Let me know when you're coming next and I'll pick you up so can have lots.'

'So kind, but I'd really hate you to miss out on a single drop.'

Alice hastily asked everyone what they wanted to eat before her dad realised they were all more keen to ensure other people got to sample his wine than they were to drink it themselves. He was so proud of making it and so not wasting any of the fruit and vegetables he grew and really it didn't taste too bad if you added enough lemonade.

Tony frequently encouraged Alice to stay with him and suggested cooking meals for her parents would be easier in his large kitchen than with her two gas rings and tiny grill. That was very true and as he even made an effort to make Kate welcome, Alice spent quite a lot of time playing house at his place.

One afternoon Tony took her to get supplies for Sunday roast for the five of them.

'I need to phone Rachel, I'll meet you back here in an hour,' he said.

Alice rushed round the supermarket so as not to keep him waiting. She was outside and out of breath, with a pile of bags at her feet, forty minutes later.

'Alice?'

She turned to see Hamish. She felt her heart bump in a way she knew it wouldn't have if it had been Tony saying her name.

Chapter 3

'Can I offer you a lift?' Hamish asked.

'Thanks but I'm being picked up... by my boyfriend.'

'Ah well, can't win them all.'

'No.' She thought of the supermarket carrier bags at her feet and the message they might be sending. Unaccountably it seemed important that Hamish didn't think her relationship with Tony was more serious than was actually the case. 'I'm cooking Sunday lunch at his place for a few people.'

'Lucky them, I seem to remember you're a good cook.'

'You do?' One term her home economics teacher had the bright idea of allowing pupils to cook for staff, family members or friends who would come and share the food in the lunch break. Alice had teamed up with another girl who was going out with a member of the rugby team and they'd arranged that her boyfriend come and bring Hamish. Alice didn't say a word, partly because her friend Melanie was a chatterbox and partly because being so close to Hamish their knees occasionally touched under the table had made it hard for her to breathe normally.

'Yep. Well sort of. To be honest your friend's cooking made more of an impression. It went badly wrong, didn't it?'

'Oh, that's right! Melanie accidentally put mint flavouring in her lemon drizzle and it tasted really strange.'

'It looked a bit odd too.'

'Yeah.'

'And was weirdly crunchy.'

'She wasn't good at cracking eggs.' Nor weighing ingredients, or reading labels or instructions actually, but Hamish had probably worked that out at the time. 'Maybe just as well she didn't do cooking as a GCSE subject.'

'Did you?'

'Um hmm. Got an A.' Her one and only.

They continued to talk about school until Alice remembered Tony would be back soon. She glanced at her watch; he wasn't due for ten minutes.

'I'd better get on,' Hamish said. 'See you around.'

Tony pulled up just as he was walking away. 'Who was that?'

'Just someone asking where the nearest cash point is.' She knew she was in the wrong for lying to him and that there was a problem with their relationship if she felt she must do that to prevent a row. She also felt bad that Hamish might have thought she was bored talking to him and looked at her watch as a hint for him to go. He was a nice, friendly man and she didn't want him thinking she was rude.

'Get everything you needed?' Tony asked.

'I did. And I took your advice about not making too much work for myself. We're having strawberries and cream for dessert. You can't get easier than that.' Although what her dad would have to say about buying the fruits out of season was another matter.

'Sounds good. We could have a glass of Premier Cotes de Bordeaux with them.'

'That's the really sweet one Mum likes isn't it?'

'It is. To go with the beef, I thought the Shiraz your sister is fond of.'

'Good idea.' She didn't mention that, unless their dad had made it, Kate couldn't tell one red wine from another and had only been so enthusiastic about the Shiraz because she'd drunk three large glasses of the stuff.

Tony carried in the shopping and asked what he could do to help.

'Lay the table, you get it so much neater than I do.'

He did that, decanted the red wine and made an attempt at peeling the potatoes. Every time she saw him in the kitchen she realised how sensible it was for him to eat out most of the time.

'Actually, could you hull the strawberries?' He could do that without a knife. Alice made a mental note never to let Kate witness Tony at work in a kitchen. She'd be bound to make a crack about the need to keep him away from sharp objects.

The others arrived so precisely on time Alice guessed they'd arrived early and waited round the corner.

'Didn't know what we were having, so I've brought red and white,' her dad said, handing Tony two bottles.

He studied the labels carefully. 'Carrot and dandelion, and elderberry and radish. They sound flavourful combinations.'

'Oh they are. Actually maybe a bit too much with the white one. Think I'll just use dandelion flowers next time, not the leaves as well.'

'Er, yes. Is it quite dry?'

'I suppose you could say that. Got a bit of a kick to it.'

'Right. Not a dessert wine then and we're having beef, so I think we'd better save the white for another time.'

Seeing half the battle was won, Alice reminded Tony that he'd bought Kate's favourite Shiraz specially. 'You know, Kate, the one you had on my birthday and really liked.'

'Oh yes! Lovely wine that was. I mean yours is too, Dad obviously, but if Tony got that specially then perhaps...?'

'That's settled then,' Tony said. 'I'm keeping hold of these though. I'll save them for exactly the right occasion.' He raised the bottles as though they were trophies, leaving Alice to wonder if he was expecting imminent trouble with the drains.

Kate and her mum both gave him grateful smiles. If he'd returned them to Alice's dad they knew who'd have to drink them. Her dad only ever had a few sips of alcohol, just in case he had to drive anywhere. It was a habit he'd acquired when he'd been on call out and had never broken.

'You know, Tony's not all bad,' Kate said, after she'd played an active part in getting through the first course and two bottles of red and was helping to carry the used crockery back to the kitchen.

'He has lots of good points.'

'Yes, so you keep saying. You must have nearly convinced yourself it's true by now.'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Nothing, Sis. Oh come on, let's not argue. If he's the one for you I'm sure I'll learn to like him eventually. Shall I put these in the dishwasher?'

'No, Tony will do it. He has a system.'

'Yet another of his good points.'

'Yes actually; it means I never have to do it as somehow I always get something in the wrong place.'

'Clever of you.'

Kate called Alice at work on a particularly foul day in early November. 'If you don't have anything else planned I'll pick you up from work tonight, save you getting the bus.'

'That'd be great. Tony's taking me out for a meal tonight, but not until about eight, so we've time for tea and a chat first.'

'Where are you going?'

'Luigi's.'

'Lucky thing.'

'Even though I'll be with Tony?'

'Of course! I know we sometimes rub each other up the wrong way, but he's not so bad really and I have to admit he's generous.'

Alice saw her friend Kath pull a strange face and set about her keyboard with a lot more energy than was generally the case.

'I'm glad to have been able to help. Thank you for using Tatisuz.' Alice hung up on her sister and gave her boss, Miles Molde, her most charming smile. 'Did you want me for something?'

'Yes, there are some letters I want you to send.'

The rest of the afternoon was a combination of taking dictation and writing letters to disgruntled customers, trying to convince them that they'd not really been fobbed off with inferior goods, but had in fact been supplied with items far superior to those which they'd ordered.

'What's wrong with these people?' Miles had asked at one point. Guessing that was possibly a rhetorical question, but if it wasn't he wouldn't welcome her pointing out that not a single customer had contacted them with thanks for a better product and therefore it was his shoddy merchandise which was the problem, she'd kept quiet. Five thirty seemed a long time coming, but she finally made her escape into the warmth of Kate's car and company.

'Have you heard that thing about the differences in your ring sizes predicting your health?' Kate asked on the drive to Alice's flat.

'No, how do you mean?'

'If the, er middle finger and thumb are bigger than the others, then you'll have good health into old age, but if not then you've probably got, um high blood pressure or some other things. You know, stuff that needs looking at, or something.'

Alice glanced at her own hands, then at Kate's on the steering wheel. 'Surely everyone's middle finger and thumb are bigger than their other fingers?'

'Apparently not. We'll try it when we get in, shall we?'

'OK, if you like.' Something was up with Kate. First her being relatively nice about Tony and now this mumbo jumbo. Was she worried about her health or had a row with her boyfriend? Alice hoped not, obviously she didn't want her sister to be sick and she liked Pete who seemed a good match for Kate. Maybe someone had said she had fat fingers? If that was the problem Alice knew what to suggest; that Kate wear tight jeans then all the attention would be on her big bum! She'd have to make sure her escape route was clear before offering that piece of advice though.

Once they had mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits, Kate produced a ring gauge which she insisted Alice try on each finger of both hands. She wrote down each of the sizes.

'So, how's my blood pressure?' Alice asked once she'd finished.

'All right I should think, why?'

'The ring sizes?'

'Oh, er, yes. Like I said you're fine if your thumb is biggest.'

'This whole thing is complete rubbish, isn't it?'

Kate slowly ate a biscuit. 'Yeah, OK it is.'

'So what's up?'

'Nothing.'

'Don't give me that.'

'Nothing, honestly.'

'Are you worried about your health?'

Kate shook her head.

'Or Mum and Dad?'

'No. Well, obviously they're a constant worry, but it's nothing new. Did I tell you Dad has decided to have a go at making Brussels sprout champagne to go with our Christmas dinner?'

'No! We'll have... Don't change the subject. Is everything OK with Pete?'

'Fine. He can't afford to take me to Luigi's every week, but then not many people could.'

'That's because not many people work late most days and part of every weekend practically.'

'Guess not. Tony really is working though, isn't he? The man seems to be obsessed with his job, so I'm sure it's just that.'

Alice nodded. Hmm, Kate sticking up for Tony. What was going on? 'What is going on, Kate?'

'Nothing.'

'You just randomly wanted to know my ring sizes for no particular reason?'

'Look, just don't ask me, OK? You know I'm no good at this stuff and I can't keep a secret.'

'All right, as long as there really isn't anything wrong?' Alice asked.

'Not at all. Quite the opposite in fact.' She said that convincingly.

'And you were kidding about the sprout champagne, weren't you?'

'Sorry, no.'

'We have to stop him.'

'Obviously. But how?'

'Don't rush me, I'm thinking.'

'I'll make more tea, don't want to dehydrate while I wait.'

Alice gave her a look.

'Because this is a difficult problem and genius takes time is what I meant!'

While Kate was in the kitchen, Alice tried to push away memories of the last time her dad had tried making sparkling wine. Three bottles had exploded which had been a tragedy, but only because he'd made nine.

'How many sprouts is he growing, do you know?' she called.

'Not that many, I don't think.' Kate returned carrying mugs. 'This time he's not trying to use up a surplus, he actually thinks it will be a good idea.'

'Maybe we can convince him it will be more special if there's just the one bottle? Between us we should be able to get through that. We could say we're saving the best to last and have it when we're past caring.'

'Could work. The uncles will bring a bottle or three and you said Tony was going to bring wine. Can you persuade him to go for quantity rather than quality just the once? It's not that I mind having my palette educated, but once it has been, Dad's stuff will seem even worse.'

'I've got it! We tell him that Tony's selected a special wine for the toast.'

'Which he probably has,' Kate said. She didn't even sound sneering about it.

'Probably, so it'll be believable. And then we say he and the uncles will be terribly hurt if we don't drink what they've provided.'

'True again. Anyone would be hurt drinking Dad's sprout surprise I should think. Do you want me to have a quiet word and say it'd be better to enjoy the sprouts as a vegetable?'

'No, I'll do it. You're no good at these sorts of things, are you?' Alice said.

'True enough. I'll leave it with you then and I'll leave you to get ready for your evening out. Have fun at Luigi's.'

As Alice showered and then blow-dried her hair the point of that ring size business began to make sense. Clearly someone must want to know what size ring would fit her. And they'd only want to know that if they were planning on giving her a ring. And Kate had said several nice things about Tony and even seemed quite pleased he was joining them for Christmas dinner... or at any rate, was doing her best to seem positive about him. He must be going to propose and had asked Kate to find out what size engagement ring to buy!