Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? (6 page)

Dinner eventually arrived, and Kerry seemed to have calmed down
as they all sat to eat.

“This Indian is lovely Kerry. I don’t know why we didn’t
suggest it anyway,” said Charlotte, who had noticed that Kerry had gone quiet
over the last few minutes.  She hadn’t eaten much, but had drunk at least
three glasses of wine.

“What’s that supposed to mean, that you don’t like my
cooking or something?  I wouldn’t say that you were exactly Nigella
Lawson, would you?”

Kelvin coughed uncomfortably, while Bets and Stuart cut
short their private conversation.  Charlotte put her hand on Kerry’s arm,
desperate to put things right.

“Kerry, I didn’t mean anything of the kind; I didn’t mean
anything except that ordering a takeaway is much easier, and that’s all.”

“Kerry, what is wrong with you, why are you snapping at
Charlotte like that?” Kelvin asked, to the back of his wife’s head.

She now turned around, her face flushed. “I’m sorry
Charlotte; I’m just feeling a little tetchy.  Please, tuck in and enjoy
your meal, ignore me, the miserable old witch.”  Kerry smiled around the
table and finally picked up her fork to eat something.

Kelvin shrugged his shoulders and smiled, somewhat grimly,
at Charlotte before continuing to eat his own food.  Conversation was a
little stilted for a time, but eventually as the wine flowed it became much more
animated, and even Kerry was laughing and joking. 

Then it was present and cake time, which appalled Bets
because Kerry had actually put 30 candles on her Bart Simpson cake. 
Charlotte and Kerry bought Bets a lovely gold bangle, with matching hoop earrings
from Kelvin and Esme.  Once she had thanked and kissed all concerned they
cut the cake and drank coffee, chatting happily until it was time to go home.

As they hung about in the hallway, waiting for Charlotte to
finish in the bathroom, Stuart fiddled nervously with a piece of fluff on his
jacket.  Bets was trying to look nonchalant, knowing that he was plucking
up the courage to ask her something.

“Err, Bets, do you think that we could go out sometime?” he
whispered into her ear.  Bets had had enough of the games, and smiled
widely at Stuart. “Yes, that would be lovely,” she replied.

“Great, I’ll call you then shall I?” Stuart’s grin spread,
from ear to ear.

“Okay, I look forward to it.”  Bets realised that she
really was looking forward to it.

Charlotte, who had now finished, joined them in the small
hallway.  She looked from Bets' grinning face to Stuart’s, realising that
at last they had done something positive about their mutual attraction.

“Well are we ready to go then Elizabeth?”  Charlotte
asked, winking conspiratorially at Kerry and Kelvin.

“Thanks for a great evening both of you,” said Bets, kissing
her host and hostess on their cheeks.  “I really enjoyed myself.”

“Hmm, I bet you did,” muttered Charlotte, as she opened the
door to leave.

Outside in the cold night air they all said their good-byes,
with Stuart and Bets still grinning at each other.  Kerry and Kelvin waved
them off from the end of the driveway, and another birthday was over for Bets,
although she did think that it had been one of the better ones.

The next morning Bets woke wearing the same smile that she’d
gone to bed with.  She had to admit that she had been very pleasantly surprised
by Stuart, he was interesting, attentive and extremely attractive; yes if she
played her cards right this could be her opportunity to start the growing up
process.  She showered and dressed fairly quickly, singing along to the
radio as she did so, then with plenty of time left before her first client, she
decided to call Charlotte and Kerry before leaving for work.

Kerry’s phone rang for an age, surely she hadn’t gone out
already; it was only 10 a.m.  She was always saying that it took hours to
get Esme ready, even for a short walk.  She tried her mobile and after
letting it ring cursed Kerry for as usual failing to charge it, Bets dialled
Charlotte’s work number.

“Hello Charlotte, it’s me.”  Her voice was bright and
breezy, rather different to Charlotte’s.

“Oh hi, are you okay?”

“Yes, but you obviously aren’t, what’s got your goat
then?”  Bets sat back, ready to hear Charlotte’s rant.

“For starters Devine is here, and secondly, I’m really
worried about Kerry.”

“Why, because of the fiasco of last night's meal, you
mean?  I’ve just tried to ring her actually, but can’t get hold of
her.  What was wrong with her, I forgot to ask you on the way home?”

Charlotte’s face momentarily spread into a smile, “Well you
were too busy talking about Stuart.”  Bets sighed impatiently on the other
end of the line urging Charlotte to continue. “Well, Kelvin didn’t say much
more to me except that he wants her to go and see someone about how she is
feeling.”

“Like a doctor you mean?”

“I think so, he said that he can’t get through to her, she
just bites his head off all the time.”

“Well look how she spoke to you. It's not like Kerry, at
least not the old Kerry, but she has been snappy a lot recently.”

“I know he’s going to ring me later anyway, to see if we can
come up with some plan to persuade her to get some help.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy. She's nothing if not
headstrong our Kerry, and if she doesn’t want to do something she won’t. 
Anyway, let me know what you come up with, and obviously count me in on any plan.”

“Okay sweetie, I’ll try her again in a little while. 
If I manage to get her did you want her for anything in particular?”

“No it was just to thank her for last night, but ask her to
ring me anyway, and I’ll try to start working on her.”

“Okay, bye now.”

Bets replaced the receiver; her previous glow was now slowly
disappearing as she worried about Kerry.  She hoped that between them they
could get her to see someone; however, very much doubted it.  Bets glanced
toward the clock and realised that she needed to get to work, or she would miss
her first client.

As Charlotte replaced the receiver, she could feel a pair of
eyes staring into the back of her head.  She didn’t know why he would be
watching her, but she had a gut feeling that it was Niall Devine. 
Charlotte swung around in her chair, her face ending up inches from his
groin.  She coloured up slightly and coughed as she pushed her chair back
and stood up.

“Mr Devine, how nice to see you again,” she gushed, pushing
out her hand.

Niall took it and shook it gently, yet gripping it
tightly.  “Miss Price, I hope I’m not interrupting anything pressing?” he
asked nodding towards the telephone, his eyes also lingering on the bottle of
nail polish on Charlotte’s desk.

“No, not at all,” Charlotte spluttered, colouring up once
again.  She hadn’t been using the nail polish, not today anyway, but she
realised that it still didn’t look very professional.  She ignored it,
hoping that by not looking at it would make it disappear.

“Oh good; it’s just that Paul said that he would show me
around, but he’s had to take a business call.  He said that you would be
happy to do so, but like I said, if yer busy?”

“No I'm not busy, that would be fine. We could start with
the consultant’s office.”

“Grand.” Niall Devine started to make his way out of the
office.

“Shit head,” muttered Charlotte, trailing behind him,
quickly swapping her diamond ring to her left hand.

Bets was just checking the time of her next client when the door
burst open, she glanced up, expecting Jane’s eyebrow shape, but then had to do
a double take; it was Stuart.  She looked around the salon, glad that both
Cheryl and Jane were busy in their treatment rooms. She didn’t want Stuart to
become public knowledge just yet.

“Hello, what are you doing here?” she asked moving towards
him.

“I realised that last night, when I got home, I haven’t got
your number.  So I looked up the salon in the directory, and well here I
am.”  Stuart smiled and then quickly pecked her on the cheek. 
Blushing slightly he now stepped back, worried that he had over stepped the
line, but Bets gleamed back.

“Fancy me forgetting to give you my number,” Bets reached
across the reception desk and picked up a business card and a pencil.  “That’s
the salon number, and then here…” she paused as she scribbled down a series of
numbers on the card, “is my mobile number.  I’d love to offer you a
coffee, but I’ve got another client in about ten minutes.” 

Bets was anxious not to push Stuart out, but was also
anxious to avoid any questions from Holmes and Watson when they had finished
with their current clients.

“I’ve got to be at my accountant’s office soon anyway, so
don’t worry.  I’ll call you tonight, is that okay?”  Stuart inclined
his head closer to Bets, who fought the urge to kiss him there and then.

“Can’t wait, I’ll speak to you later then, bye.” Just as the
door closed behind him Bets heard one of the treatment rooms open behind her.

“Phew, close shave.”

As she walked among the throng of shoppers, Kerry wondered
what she was doing here.  Why was she shopping for the third day on the
run?  She glanced down at the bags in her hand, realising that she had
probably bought another load of clothes that she would never wear.  Guilt
had taken over her though, and she had actually got a shirt for Kelvin, and a
little jacket for Esme.  

A dress in a shop window caught her eye, and she decided to
go inside; one last stop before going home.  The store was full of young
girls shopping for outfits that barely covered them.  Obviously, the
skimpier the better, Kerry thought, as she held up a tiny piece of cloth
between her fingers. She continued to rummage among the sequins and lace until
she found something her size, then pushing through the gaggle of girls around
the racks, she made her way to the changing room. Once inside Kerry propped her
bags against the wall, before slipping off her clothes. She glanced at herself
in the full-length mirror, grateful for the creaming routine that she had
followed when she was expecting Esme; there was not a stretch mark in
sight.  In fact, she was slightly slimmer now than just before she'd been
pregnant; she never seemed to have time to eat these days. The dress was cheap
to buy, and Kerry could see why once it was on.  The seams weren’t exactly
straight. The cerise coloured, sheer fabric overlay, was slightly off centre to
the black Lycra underneath. One or two of the silver sequins were hanging from
the shoelace straps, but Kerry didn’t think that it would be difficult to sew
them back on again; if she actually wore it.  As she pulled it down to add
some extra length, Kerry realised that it wasn’t exactly what a wife and mother
should be wearing, it was cheap and nasty, more suitable for a stick-thin,
sixteen-year-old, who would look good in a potato sack.

“That’ll be £8.99 please,” said the gum-chewing assistant.

“Thanks,” replied Kerry, as she handed over a ten pound
note. “It’s alright I don’t want the hanger.”

The shop assistant tutted as she struggled to take the
offending article from the bag.  She then shoved Kerry’s change and
receipt into her outstretched hand, before pushing the bag across the
counter. 

As soon as she stood outside the shop Kerry knew that the
dress was a mistake, she glanced up at the town clock and realised that she
should get back.  Kerry tried to move her legs, but they wouldn’t move;
all she could feel were the big, wet tears rolling down her icy cheeks. 
She didn’t know why she was crying. She hadn’t been expecting it; the tears
were a surprise to her, but they wouldn’t stop.  Busy shoppers pushed past
her as she stood upon the pavement clutching her bags, one man nearly pushed
her over as he ran along the street.  He paused slightly and shouted an
apology over his shoulder, but Kerry didn’t hear him; she didn’t move but let
the tears keep flowing.  Then as quickly as they had started, they stopped
and Kerry could move her legs.  They were a little wobbly at first, but as
she carried on walking they began to move faster as she made her way to the car
park, with wet, sticky tracks down her cheeks.

“So that’s everything,” said Charlotte, stopping outside the
canteen door.  “The only place that you haven’t seen is the ladies'
loos.”  She tried to lighten the atmosphere.  Conversation had been
stilted, and eye contact had been zero.

“Err, no, I don’t think that will be necessary. I wouldn’t
mind a cup of tea though,” Niall sighed, gazing through the open door, bringing
stares from the canteen ladies.  A good-looking, younger man, in a smart suit
sent had piqued their interest, and sent their blood pressure rising. 

“Well help yourself, Patsy and Mary will pamper to your
every need.” Charlotte pointed to the direction of the canteen, before starting
back across the courtyard.  Suddenly, a voice behind her stopped her in
her tracks.

“I wouldn’t mind some company.” She turned to see Niall
leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “Unless of course, you have to finish
something in the office, maybe you need to do your nails.”  His laugh
tinkled across the courtyard, but Charlotte didn’t respond likewise.

“Okay, but it will have to be quick.  I’ve got some
sales figures that I need to check for staff bonuses.”  Charlotte followed
him to the counter, where Patsy and Mary were vying to serve him.

“Two teas please ladies, and may I say how lovely yer both
looking today.  If I didn’t know better I would say that you two were both
proper Irish colleens.”  He dazzled a wide bright smile at them, leaving
them both speechless, but giggly.

“I think I’ll sit down,” Charlotte announced.  She
suddenly felt quite angry with the two middle-aged women for playing up to
him.  How could they, he had barely said two words to her, but now he had
an audience, he was pouring on the charm?

A few minutes later Niall joined her at one of the blue
Formica tables.  He pushed a cup across to Charlotte, before taking a sip
from his own.  As she drank Charlotte was aware that he was staring at
her, over the rim of his cup.

“So then, how long have you been engaged?  That's a
lovely ring by the way?”  Niall nodded, towards Charlotte’s finger.

“I’m not sure…err about two years I think.”  She
blushed profusely at her near faux pas.

Niall frowned, and then smiled briefly.  “Funny, I
thought that you girls knew those sorts of things, up to the exact minute.”

“Well not this girl.”  Desperate to get away, Charlotte
pushed her chair backward and stood up.  “I’d better get back to the
office.  Paul should be finished by now, you know your way, don’t you?”
she asked, as she put her chair under the table.

“Sure, wasn’t your tour one of the best I’ve ever
had?”  Niall commented, somewhat sarcastically, before drinking his tea,
without a further glance at Charlotte.

Charlotte almost ran across the courtyard, desperate to put some
distance between them.  He had really infuriated her today, barely
speaking a word and then when he did he was either being nosey or
sarcastic.  How long had she been engaged?  What did he care? 
When they were in the consultant’s office, he’d even had the cheek to ask her
whether she had ample life cover…idiot, of course she did.  As Charlotte
opened the door leading to the corridor, she bumped into Paul.

“Oh, I was just coming to find you, where’s Niall?” He
grinned, his usual toothy smile, which, for some reason, at this very minute
annoyed Charlotte, immensely. “Mr Devine is in the canteen chatting up the
staff, and don’t ask me to spend any more time with him again; he's horrible.”

“Really, why do you say that?  I found him to be
utterly charming.”

Charlotte almost gagged at Paul's sentiment. “You fancy him,
don’t you?”

“I certainly do not; you should know he’s not my type. 
I couldn’t leave him hanging around waiting for me, could I?  Anyway,
what’s he done to get your knickers in a twist?”

“Oh nothing really, he just irritates me, with his stupid
accent and silly little smile.”

“Oh right I see,” said Paul, not really understanding
Charlotte at all.  He then pushed past her through the door.

Charlotte stared petulantly after him, knowing that Paul wasn’t
on her side on this one.     

As she entered the office, Gwen came running towards
Charlotte, her face engulfed in a huge salmon-pink grin, obviously freshly
applied.

“Ooh, Charlotte, have you seen him?”  She was so
excited she could hardly catch her breath.

"Have I seen who?” Charlotte asked, but knowing Gwen’s
penchant for young men, she had to be talking about Niall Devine.

“The handsome Irish chap who is visiting. I bumped into him
when I was going for my tea, and he has a lovely, toned body.” Gwen, pulling a
chair behind her, joined Charlotte at her desk.

“How do you know that he has a toned body?” Charlotte asked
Gwen, allowing a giggle to slip out. “Have you been feeling him up or
something?”