Page 93 of Loving Netta Wilde

‘If he’s going to do it, he should just get on with it and stop running away.’

‘Net. Are we good, you and me?’ Claire had seen right through her.

‘Of course we are.’

‘Because I wouldn’t want you to think there was something going on with me and Doogie.’

‘Never crossed my mind.’

‘We’re just mates. You know that, yeah? That’s what we are, you, me and Doogie. Mates.’

‘Always. It was just a bit awkward, walking in on you.’

‘Awkward? Don’t be a nob.’ Claire squeezed her into a hug. ‘If Doogie walks in on us right now, are you gonna think it’s awkward?’

Netta pushed herself back. ‘Well, obviously. Because knowing Doogie, he’d probably be having rude fantasies about the three of us in bed together.’

Claire roared with laughter. ‘Fair point. I wouldn’t put it past him.’

They’d finished off Frank’s curry. Liza had taken Merrie into town. Somehow, they’d started talking about their old university days. Frank was next to Netta on the sofa, laughing at the things they got up to. He was indulging them, and she loved him for it.

‘Where’s that box of stuff you had from those days,’ he said. ‘There are some top photos of you three in there.’

‘Oh it’s in the loft. Colin brought my old photos and records over from his house ages ago. You won’t want to see them,’ said Netta.

Doogie and Claire stated chanting: ‘Get them, get them.’

Frank pulled her up. ‘Come on, I’ll help you.’

They climbed the ladder up through the hatch. The sun hadn’t gone down yet and a shaft of bright light was coming from the small window in the roof. It was more of an attic really. In times gone by, when the house and the area was a bit more grand, it had been the housekeeper’s room. Since then, the staircase that led up to it had been replaced with a ladder and it had become a loft. When Netta had first moved into the house, the room had been full to the brim with decades of memorabilia. It was quite empty now, except for half a dozen boxes.

Frank sat down on a box and looked around. ‘I still say this room would make a great studio if you put a couple more windows in.’

‘Nice idea but I don’t have the money to do that.’ She scanned the room for the box she was searching for, her thoughts still a bit muddled about what she’d seen and heard earlier.

‘You okay?’ he said. ‘You were a bit quiet over dinner.’

She sat back on her knees. ‘Yes. Well, sort of. It’s ridiculous really. I walked in on Claire and Doogie hugging, and it felt a bit weird. I don’t know, it was like it was their thing and I wasn’t a part of it. I mean, I know they obviously had a thing because they have a daughter. It’s just…’

‘You’ve just realised there are things about them that are theirs alone.’

‘I suppose so.’ That was half of it. The other half, the bit about her having a secret strop because Claire didn’t think she was the perfect partner for Doogie, was not so easy to explain. Or admit. Which is why she was keeping it to herself.

‘You’ll get used to it. Just don’t go off and behave like an arse in the meantime. That can get you into all sorts of trouble.’

He understood. Of course he did. He’d been going through the same thing himself. She’d just been too preoccupied to pick up on it. ‘Oh Frank, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.’

He kissed her. ‘I still think you should convert this room into a studio.’

She slipped her hand around the back of his neck and kissed him. ‘Maybe when I have some money. By the way, you’re sitting on my box.’

‘Oh my God, will you just look at us. What did we look like?’ screamed Claire. ‘Net, you’re doing your signature pout in this one.’

‘I think you look pretty good. You should see my old university photos,’ said Frank.

‘All right, bud.’ Doogie was addressing the doorway.

Netta had her back to it. She turned to see Colin with the tray she’d taken his dinner up on earlier. ‘Sorry, I just brought my empties down.’

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