Page 95 of The Importance of Being Emma
‘Throw everything else on the fire, then, except the box. I don’t think that’ll burn easily, I’ll put it in the dustbin later.’ I paused. ‘You know, I have a funny feeling you’ll be getting another little box soon, but I’m not going to say any more.’
‘You’re so clever, ’cos I’ve just been thinking about starting one for—’
I held up my hand. ‘Don’t even breathe his name. If you don’t tell me, then I can’t interfere!’ I added, with a laugh, ‘But of course I know who you mean and I think it’s lovely.’
‘Do you? I thought you’d say he’d never want to go out with someone like me in a million years.’
‘Oh Harriet, I wouldn’t dream of saying anything like that. For a start, I don’t know him that well—’
‘Don’t you?’
‘Not well enough to discuss things like that, at any rate. Anyway, I’m not saying another word about it.’
She gazed dreamily into the fire. ‘Bet he’s a great shag. I couldn’t take my eyes off him when he was dancing at the Christmas party, best butt there.’
‘I’ve seen better,’ I said tautly, suppressing a vivid recollection of Mark’s back view.
‘Have you? And there’s me thinking you need to get out more! By the way, why don’t you come to the pub on New Year’s Eve? There’s bound to be someone you fancy, specially when you’ve had a few Lambrinis.’
I forced a smile. ‘Thanks, but I don’t really feel like it. Dad and I’ve been invited to the Westons’ and I don’t really feel like that either, although for once Dad really wants to go.’ I had a sneaking suspicion that he wanted to interrogate Kate about her pregnancy.
Harriet’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who else’ll be there?’
‘Mary Bates and Jane. David and Sandy Perry. Izzy and John, if Izzy can get Sarah Perry to babysit. Mark. And Flynn’s driving down from—’
She cut in with, ‘How about you come out with me for a few hours, then I go with you to the Westons’? That way, you’ll keep both me and your Dad happy. We’ll make sure we get to Randalls just before midnight.’ She dug me in the ribs. ‘I’m gagging for a New Year’s kiss from you-know-who!’
I was silent. Under normal circumstances, given a choice between eating sand and drinking Lambrini with Harriet and her friends, I’d have opted for the sand, every time. But if it meant that she and Flynn got together, going to the pub with her was the least I could do.
At last, I said slowly, ‘I’ll check with Kate. If it’s OK for us to come along later, then I’ll go out with you first.’ I just hoped that my sacrifice would be worth it.
* * *
~~MARK~~
When I phoned John to tell him about Father and Saffron coming home early, he responded with a grunt and promptly changed the subject.
‘Emma says you were mentoring her, but it didn’t work out. Why’s that?’
‘Didn’t she tell you?’ I said, guardedly.
‘She didn’t know, or at least she claimed she didn’t. Mind you, if your mentoring sessions were anything like what I saw on Christmas Day, no wonder they failed.’
‘And what exactly did you see on Christmas Day?’
He paused, then said, ‘Two people making each other unhappy.’
Ouch, how perceptive; I tried to fob him off. ‘Really? Your imagination must be working overtime.’
‘Well, give me a reason not to make my imagination work overtime. Tell me what’s going on.’
‘Nothing.’
‘Cut the crap.’
‘I mean it. No mentoring, no real communication, nothing. We’re in limbo. Between the old relationship and the new, I suppose.’
‘So what’s caused this limbo?’
