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“Technically, you do.”
“Yes, but not one you’re attached to.”
“True, but I don’t want to be a single mum. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just want the kind of family I never had.”
“There’s more than one way of having a family. Good friends, for starters.”
Kate thought of Joy and her relationship with Moira.
“I blame books and films,” said Gloria, on a roll and her second glass of wine. “They make us think we need the perfect man, two point four kids, blah blah blah. What we really need is to make our own happiness, not rely on some chap to provide it. You said something about hanging on to the right man. Is there someone in the picture?”
“Urgh, I’m not sure. I met someone at uni, and we’d been together ever since. Then about a year ago we finally moved in together and it didn’t work at all. I don’t know what I did wrong, but six months into it, he needed space and I had to move out. I’m not sure where we stand now. He’s sent weekly texts since I moved down here but justHi, hope you’re wellsort of messages, nothing that lets me know where I stand. Plus, he’s involved with someone else now, though he says it’s nothing serious.”
“Hold on a second, you’re telling me he a) kicked you out b) sends a text once a week and c) has another woman. And you think he’s the right man for you?”
Kate suddenly felt foolish, and more than a bit narked at Gloria’s plain speaking. “It’s more complicated than that. He was there for me when Mum died. I’ve needed a lot of support since then and he’s been the one to give it. I owe him big time.”
“You seem pretty self sufficient to me.”
“Looks can be deceptive. I’m a crumbling mess behind closed doors.”
“Really?” It was a statement, not a question, and Gloria scrutinised Kate with narrowed eyes and pursed lips.
“Yeah, you know, it’s not like I’ve done much with my life. I can barely hold down a minimum wage job.”
“But you went to uni?”
“Yeah, but I dropped out when Mum died, just before finals. No qualifications to my name, so minimum wage it is.”
“Well, if you got into uni you must have A levels. And setting up a business on your own takes guts. You clearly have a creative streak, the house looks beautiful, and I can tell it’s recently redecorated, which I’m assuming was your handy work. If you ask me, you’re selling yourself short.”
“Thanks,” said Kate, telling herself Gloria was a stranger and didn’t know the first thing about her life. “I’d better be getting back.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“HI, ARE YOUready? I’m parked outside, but there’s a parking attendant hanging round, so I don’t want to risk a ticket.”
“Sure, no problem, I’ll be out in a tick.” Kate put the phone down and gathered up her bag.
Saturday had rolled round unsurprisingly slowly, given how little Kate had to do. Cleaning the room after Gloria left had only taken a couple of hours, and she’d spent a day and a half wandering aimlessly around the house, hoping Joy might call again, which she didn’t. By Friday evening Kate was feeling so sorry for herself she called Alex. He hadn’t appreciated her disturbing his Friday evening lads-night and fobbed her off with the promise to call back over the weekend. A call to Maddie had been even more unsuccessful, her phone having been switched off all evening. Kate didn’t bother trying Flo, knowing she was on a late shift at The Sunbeam.
Bob had promised to continue his local tour that morning. All Kate knew was that she needed to dress sporty and in layers. Kate left the house to find two bikes attached to the back of Bob’s car. She got in and looked at him quizzically.
“No,” he said, clocking her expression. “You’ll find out where we’re going soon enough.”
“Hmm, well, I thought this was supposed to be a local tour. How come we’re taking the car?”
“I’m easing you in,” Bob laughed. “We can go by bike if you want, I just wasn’t sure if your legs were used to hills.”
“Um, how many hills are we talking?”
“Look, let me drive, then next time we can cycle if you’re up for it.”
“Deal,” said Kate. Bob turned to smile at her and Kate gasped. “What on earth’s happened to your face?”
Bob’s right eye was puffy, the surrounding skin varying shades of purple.
“Got hit in the eye with a squash ball.”
