My DD went to a sexual health clinic in Dundee. Can DM details?
(Admin)
Request a phone call with home doctor. They may be able to prescribe something to the pharmacy of her choice? Fingers crossed she's safe whatever she chooses.
Great suggestions. Thanks all.
Chapter 23
HEATHER
‘Youdidnot!’
Claire sits on Heather’s sofa, her feet tucked under her bum as she jiggles expectantly, waiting for clarification.
‘Uuum …’ Heather says awkwardly.
‘You slept with him?’
Heather’s scalp prickles under the ferocity of Claire’s stare.
‘It’s not like we planned it. It just kind of happened.’ Why does telling Claire about last weekend feel so exposing? Maybe because she’s re-considering the wisdom of her choices, as if an active decision was behind what happened.
‘So what was it like?’
Despite her reservations, Heather can’t keep the grin from her face.
‘It was amazing. Like best ever. Just … just toe curling, actually.’
Claire’s jaw drops.
‘Oh my.’
Heather tries to shake the sensation of Scott’s hands on her from her memory.
‘Hmm. Yes. But it was a mistake. We won’t be doing that again.’ She’s proud of the assertiveness in her voice. It reflects what both she and Scott already know about themselves and each other – relationships are bad news for them. They might have fallen off the wagon last weekend, but it was a one-off, not to be repeated.
‘Yeah, right.’ Claire untucks her feet, locates her wineglass on the coffee table and takes a large sip. ‘He’s handsome, intelligent, well-groomed and single. And you’re clearly drawn to each other. So, it’s bound never to happen again.’ She quirks her eyebrow, and Heather can’t help but smile, because it’s a pretty accurate summation of what she, herself, is wondering.
‘But neither of us wants a relationship. You’re lucky. You’ve been married to Mark for nearly twenty years.’
Claire interrupts with a guffaw at the implication a twenty-year marriage is all plain sailing, which, of course, Heather knows it’s not. But there’s something else, a now-familiar distance in her friend's eyes, that causes Heather to sit more upright and ask.
‘You’re all right, yes? You and Mark? Are things okay there?’
Claire’s eyes close for a second.
‘Sure,’ she says. ‘We’re fine. You know Mark. Lovely, kind, reliable, but obsessed with work. Doesn’t always seem to see me, you know? Anyway. It’s silly. I’m just feeling jealous and wistfulhearing about your passionate affair. So let me live vicariously through you. Tell me more!’
Heather hesitates. Does Claire have more to tell her? But she recognises the closed look in her best friend’s eyes.
‘Well, you know I’ve had my fill of unreliable men who look like they’re the entire package, only to have them let me down at the most critical moment. I won’t let that happen again. And besides, we’ve got the girls to think about. We can control ourselves, you know. I’m going to visit him; he’ll help with my website; we’ll have a nice meal and a glass of wine, maybe, and that will be that.’
‘Yeah. Like that’s going to happen, you lucky, lucky thing,’ says Claire. She stands and shoves her arms into her coat sleeves. ‘Come on, grab your coat or there won’t be time to get any popcorn.’
Heather wonders if watching the new Bridget Jones film with her best friend is the best, or the worst, thing for her to be doing right now.
