Elizabeth Young The Girl's Best Friend

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."Who's beenteaching you stuff like that?""Mike," he said, still with his mouth full."And Mum said, 'Michael!'" We all laughed, which probably only encouraged him, but it was just tough.Once the cackles had dieddown, though, I thought I should make a move.I was about to say so when Rob said, "Have some ofthese chips, Izzy.I don't want to turn into a fat git all over again."So I took a couple, while formulating a Devious Plan.At the other end of the table, on the seat of achair, was my pink cardigan.If I conveniently "forgot" it, I could come back later, on my way home.Fora horribly guilty moment I wished I hadn't promised to see Mrs.Denny tonight.They went to bed veryearly in that home."Can I ride my bike again after lunch?" asked Alex."Certainly not," said Nick."I only wanted you to learn to ride it by yourself so I could say you couldn'tride it ever again."Alex found this hysterical."Oh, Dad & "Nick speared a couple of chips."I'm going to make you ride it all afternoon.""Not all afternoon! Rob and me are going to watch Toy Story, aren't we, Rob?""Yep," said Rob."Great stuff."Alex turned to me."You can stay and watch it too, if you like," he said graciously."It's very good, youknow.""I know, and it's really very kind of you, but I should be off now." I glanced at my watch."Heavens,look at the time.Felicity'll be thinking a flock of man-eating sheep have got us."This set Alex off again, but already I was making a move."No, don't get up," I said quickly, as Nickwas doing just that."I can see myself out.Bye, Rob." Bending to kiss him, I pinched another of his chips."Bye, Alex."But Nick saw me to the door anyway."What time are you off home?" he asked."Four-ish.I've promised to take Henry to see his old owner.""That's a shame." He paused."You could have come and shared Alex's nonjunk tea.He'll just about eata stir-fry if it hasn't got any ginger in it.""What time are you taking him home, then?""Seven-ish.""Dad!" Alex came running from the kitchen, in fits."Rob's trying to steal my dinosaurs!""Okay, I'll come and beat him up, just hang on a tick& ""Now, Dad!"As his overexcited son tried to drag him away, I said quickly, "Don't let your lunch go cold.I could popin for a cup of tea on my way home, if you're going to be in."With Alex dragging at his arm, his smile was eighty percent comic resignation."We'll be in.""See you later, then." After an instant's hesitation, I brushed his cheek with my lips."Bye bye."As I went down the path I heard Alex say, "Yuck! She kissed you!""I'll give you 'yuck,' " said Nick, and the door closed behind them.I drove off feeling as if I'd had a shot of speed.A man doesn't offer theoretical stir-fries without itmeaning more than food.I could see that in his eyes as he'd said it.Still, I could probably stretch that cupof tea to forty minutes.The stir-fry wouldn't have been much of a Part Two anyway, not if he had toshoot off to take Alex home.At any rate, my cardigan plan was redundant after all.Brilliant ruse, though.Carpe diem stuff if ever there was.With the window down, the air smelled of warm, damp earth and spring.On the right was a gently risingfield of sheep; the hedge already showing green buds, and in the bank underneath primroses were comingout.On the left was the kind of wood that would be full of sun-dappled shade in summer, springy withleaf-mold and a carpet of bluebells by May.I couldn't have gone more than a mile when d�j� vu caught up with me.Just like before, someone wasbehind me, flashing.My heart beating faster, I waved to show I'd seen him, and as soon as we hit astraight stretch I pulled in.He overtook and pulled in about ten yards down.Just like before, I got out and stood in front of myown blue car hood.He came up to me with my pink cardigan in his hand."You forgot this.""Did I?" I gave a daft little laugh."What an idiot.""And I forgot to say something to you.""Did you?" I swallowed hard."What was that?"His eyes were as warm as the sun on my face."I wouldn't have regretted it in the morning."chapter 18All I could hear was the birds, and time standing still.It was one of those moments when all the cornylines you've ever heard don't seem quite so corny anymore."Can this be happening to me?" (The Sound of Music.) "Oh, Nick, I've been such a fool& " (Just about any corny old black-and-white film you care to name.)"I think this was meant to be." (Mrs.Denny.)Of course I said none of them.My brain was having difficulty connecting with my vocal cords; I think myheart had somehow got in the way."I left my cardigan on purpose.I wanted an excuse to come back."The next few minutes were some of the best I've ever had on a Sunday morning.I think we gazed ateach other a moment, and he brushed a wisp of hair from my cheek.After that it was seriousmouth-to-mouth, as we made up for lost time.Eventually we came up for air."I wish you didn't have to go," he said."So do I, but there's work tomorrow, and Mrs.Denny would be so disappointed& ""I know." He kissed my hair, and I kissed his shoulder.As a car went past, our eyes went together to the woods behind us, but in the distance was a strollingcouple, and on a day like this there would probably be more.Neither of us said what I knew he was thinking, too.We could have driven somewhere else, foundsomewhere more secluded, but it wasn't happening.Alex would wonder where he was.Even if it werejust Rob, we wouldn't go back to the house.It wouldn't have felt right, charging upstairs like a couple ofadolescents.We'd want privacy anyway, just to talk."Why do you have to live so bloody far away?" he asked."Why do you?""I asked first," he said, like a kid in a playground, and I laughed.He caught me to him again."What are you doing next weekend?""Oh, masses of exciting things." His shoulder smelled warm and male; his arms around me felt like tendersteel.Together they were almost making me come over all girly."But I might cancel if something evenbetter came up.""Not much use my driving up, then?""Oh, I don't know.If you actually managed to find somewhere to park I don't think I'd turn you away."He drew back."I haven't even got your phone number."That was easily fixed.Then we kissed again but less desperately, as if we'd tacitly agreed that there wasno point stirring up hungers that would only have to wait.When at last we drew apart he said, "I hopeyou're coming back for that cup of tea anyway.Alex might even let you have one of his chocolatebiscuits."That was an offer I couldn't possibly refuse. I said nothing to Felicity; it seemed too private a thing to share just yet.In any case, she and Ian put myglow entirely down to Henry.That cup of tea lasted three-quarters of an hour.I think Rob had sussed out what was going on by then,because while I was with Nick in the kitchen there was a lot of horseplay noise coming from the sittingroom.When I went to say goodbye I found Rob and Alex chucking cushions at each other.Rob saidsorry, he couldn't possibly come to see me off, he was in the middle of a very serious war.Dear old Rob.I kissed his cheek and left him.We kissed goodbye at the front door."Unless we're suddenly inundated, I could probably leave bysix-thirty on Friday," Nick said."But if you are?""Then I'll leave later.Or come in the morning.""Leave later," I said."But drive carefully.""You too.I'll call you tonight."I drove back feeling as if my heart had sprouted wings.I went straight to Mrs.Denny, where Henry wasgreeted with much joy by everybody.They all wanted to know how he'd been found and there was a lotof aahing at our happy ending.I was finally alone with Mrs.Denny [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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