Don't Want To Miss A Thing (28 page)

‘Great.’ Amber hadn’t meant to sound sarcastic but it came out that way. She shook her head. ‘Sorry, I mean it
is
great. And I bet you worked hard for it.’

‘I did.’ Shaun nodded.

‘So how does it feel to have a full-time father? A bit weird?’

He smiled briefly. ‘A bit.’

Max, who’d stayed quiet up to now, said, ‘Here comes your boyfriend.’

‘Oh thank God, I’m
starving
.’ Twisting round, Amber saw Doss loping across the grass towards them. ‘Anyway, you’d better go.’ She instinctively knew it would be awkward; Shaun and Max were a different species, a million miles from Doss.

‘This is Shaun and his friend Max. They’re just leaving.’ As she said it, Amber saw that the bag he was carrying was too heavy to be burgers. She pointed to it. ‘What have you got in there?’

‘OK, right, the queue was too long at the burger van, yeah? So I went off to find another one and there were these guys who’d brought along too much cider so they were offering it to people for a really good price.’ Proudly Doss pulled out a couple of plastic litre bottles filled with cloudy amber liquid that looked as if it had been dredged from a stagnant pond.

‘What was the really good price?’

‘Tenner.’

Amber wanted to yell at him but she couldn’t, not in front of Shaun and Max. She wanted to cry. Aloud she said, ‘I don’t like cloudy cider.’ It was going to be disgusting, she just knew it.

‘Hey, be cool. You’ll grow to like it,’ said Doss. ‘You just have to give it a chance.’

Shaun said, ‘But you told us you were starving.’ He was frowning at Amber now, looking concerned.

‘I’m fine. I’m not really that hungry.’ Embarrassed, she shook her head.

Doss said defensively, ‘This is way better than a couple of stupid burgers.’

Ignoring him, Shaun said, ‘Do you want me to get you one?’

‘No, no, definitely not.’ That would be the ultimate humiliation; she could already see he was wondering what she was doing with Doss, who couldn’t have chosen a worse time to act like a prat.

‘Sure? Because I can, it’s honestly not a problem.’ He had his
wallet open now; there were a couple of ten-pound notes visible.

‘Let him buy you a burger if you want one.’ Doss rolled his eyes slightly as he said it, as if she was making a big fuss about nothing.

‘No. I’m not bothered. We’ll just drink this.’ Taking one of the plastic bottles from him, Amber unscrewed the top and took a defiant swig. Urgh, it was dry and sour and repulsive. She wiped her mouth, which was doing its best to shrivel up in disgust, then turned to Doss. ‘Actually, it’s not bad. Come on, let’s move away from here, find somewhere else to sit.’ As they made to leave, she waved her free hand at Shaun and Max and said, ‘Bye!’

Chapter 34

When he saw her on the doorstep Dex whistled and said, ‘Wow, look at you.’

Pleased, Molly did a little curtsy. Well, was it really so wrong to want to show off your scrubbed-up appearance and angle for the odd compliment? She was looking nice this evening and a bit of an ego boost was always good for the soul. ‘I know, it’s a shock. I came to ask if I could borrow a bit of milk.’

‘Come in, no problem. Have you run out?’

‘No, I just opened a new carton but it doesn’t smell very fresh.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘And the shop’s shut.’

Dex grinned. ‘You dress up really smart in your house to eat a bowl of cereal.’

‘Ha ha. I’m going out,’ Molly announced with pride. ‘On a date. But when he brings me back home later I don’t want to invite him in for a coffee and then only have stinky milk to put in it.’

‘A date.’ Dex raised an eyebrow. ‘Who with?’

‘Someone I met the other night. Someone nice.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ He opened the fridge and took out the milk. ‘And is this one single?’

Oh well, that was to be expected. And he was currently doing her a favour. Molly said with dignity, ‘Yes he is. And yes, I double-checked.’

‘You’re looking great.’ She saw Dex take in the purply-blue cotton shift dress, the dark blue glittery flip-flops, the hair fastened back at the sides with silver combs and the extra-careful make-up. As he poured a pint of milk into a jug he added, ‘You smell nice too. What is it?’

This time it wasn’t a mish-mash from Harrods’ perfume hall. ‘Just a cheap one from Next.’

‘I like it.’ He moved nearer to her neck and inhaled the light, clean scent. ‘Very much. And it doesn’t smell cheap.’

‘Good.’ Having Dex this close was making her stomach go funny. For a moment their eyes met and the look in his made her heart race.

‘Lucky him,’ said Dex.

‘I know.’ Could he hear her heart frantically thud-thud-thud-ding away?

Dex smiled and said, ‘There you go, then. Is that enough?’

‘Tons.’ Molly took the jug from him and jumped as his phone, on the worktop next to her, emitted the shrill
ddrringgg
that signalled the arrival of a text. Glancing down at it, she saw Amanda’s name flash up on the screen, and the words: ‘Be with you by eight xxx’.

‘All going well with you two, then?’ Since Dex had seen her looking, there was no point in pretending she hadn’t seen the message.

‘Pretty well. She’s good company. Is this your date?’

A car had pulled up outside. Molly checked through the window. ‘Yes, that’s him. He’s early.’

‘Keen. See you later.’ Dex held the door open for her. ‘Have fun.’

Her stomach did the washing-machine swirl again and she said brightly, ‘You too.’

Was Dex watching her now? Having deposited the borrowed milk in the fridge, collected her bag and keys and greeted Vince with a kiss on the cheek, Molly smiled as he held the car’s passenger door open for her like a proper gentleman. And Vince was looking incredible too; he was definitely the kind of date you’d be proud to be seen out with.

Acting as if she
wasn’t
being watched, which was actually more difficult than you’d think, she managed to climb in without tripping over or flashing her pants. Did they look like a glamorous couple in a TV advert? Oh please let the answer be yes.

‘Sorry I was early,’ said Vince.

‘I’m always early for everything.’

‘It’s fine. I was ready. And you weren’t that early anyway. Only ten minutes.’

Vince grimaced. ‘More than that, if we’re being honest. I’ve been sitting in the car in the pub car park for the last twenty minutes.’

‘Really?’ Was he joking?

‘No.’ He looked rueful. ‘More like half an hour.’

It had been a nice evening. Better than nice, Molly chided herself because that didn’t sound over-enthusiastic. Vince had taken her to a charming French restaurant in Malmesbury; having done his internet research he’d narrowed the choices down until he’d found the perfect one. The food had been amazing. So had the wine, although Vince was driving so it had been left to her to drink most of it. But they’d had a good time, the conversation had flowed easily enough and when Vince had excused himself to pay a visit to the men’s room, one of the two middle-aged women at an adjacent table had leaned across and said to Molly, ‘I hope
you don’t mind me saying this, dear, but ooh, your boyfriend is so
handsome
. We’ve hardly been able to tear our eyes away!’

‘He’s like someone in a Hollywood film,’ her friend rhapsodised, plump hands clasped in ecstasy.

Which had been lovely to hear, but at the same time slightly appeared to imply, Molly felt, that they couldn’t work out what on earth he was doing with her.

‘Is he a famous actor?’ The first woman looked hopeful.

‘No.’ Molly shook her head. ‘He’s an architect.’

‘Ooh, well, that’s good too. You make sure you hang on to this one, dear. Men like that don’t come along very often, do they? You don’t want to let him slip the hook.’

‘It’s only our first date,’ said Molly.

‘All the more reason to hold on tight,’ stage-whispered the second woman as Vince made his way back across the restaurant towards them. ‘Think of the beautiful kiddies you could have.’

Anyway, they were home now, back in Briarwood. And she had fresh milk. Molly turned to him.

‘D’you want to come in for a coffee before heading back?’

‘Great,’ said Vince.

‘Hey, over here,’ Dex called as they climbed out of the car. ‘How was dinner?’

He was sitting at a table in his front garden, with the front door open behind him. On the table was a can of beer. Beside him was some kind of metallic tripod affair glinting in the dim light.

‘Dinner was fantastic. What are you doing?’

‘Stargazing. Look.’ Dex patted the tripod with pride. ‘I bought myself a telescope.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought it was your kind of thing,’ said Molly.

‘Me neither, but it’s brilliant. I didn’t realise there was so
much out there.’ He spread his hands wide and looked up. ‘It’s all so . . .
big
.’

‘Yes, galaxies and universes do tend to be a bit on the large side.’

‘Hi, I’m Dex.’ Rising to his feet, Dex greeted Vince. They shook hands and he gestured to the other chairs. ‘Join me. There’s cold beer or wine in the fridge . . . or coffee. Here, take a seat, it’s too nice to stay indoors. Look how clear the sky is.’

Was he doing this on purpose? Purely for his own amusement? Oh well, too late, Vince was already pulling up one of the chairs, examining the undoubtedly expensive telescope Dex had bought on a whim and would probably be bored with by the end of the week.

‘OK,’ said Molly. ‘Vince has to drive so we’ll have coffee, thanks.’

‘The only thing is, could you make it in your kitchen and bring it over?’ Dex’s eyes glistened in the darkness. ‘Only I lent someone some milk earlier and now I’ve run out.’

Vince finally left an hour later. Staying where he was while Molly walked her date back to his car, Dex listened to the low murmur of their voices. He couldn’t make out what they were saying and wasn’t able to see them either; Molly had ensured the branches of the juniper bushes hid them from view.

Then the car disappeared down the lane and she rejoined him.

‘I’ll have this.’ She sat back down and poured the last of the beer into her own empty glass. ‘What was that about, then?’

‘Sorry?’

‘Forcing us to sit out here with you. Asking Vince all those questions, every last detail about himself. It was like being interrogated by the secret police.’

Oh, so she’d noticed then.

‘I was just interested to meet him, find out what he was like. Are you going to see him again?’

‘Yes I am.’

Really? How will you manage to stay awake?
Dex didn’t say this out loud but it hadn’t taken him long to decide that Vince didn’t possess the sparkliest personality in the box.

‘What are you thinking?’ Molly was on the defensive, prepared to rail at any hint of criticism.

Sensing it was the wisest thing to do, for once in his life Dex managed to keep his opinion to himself. ‘I like him. You’ve done well there, got yourself a good one.’

It was the right thing to say. She visibly relaxed and exclaimed proudly, ‘I know! And he’s so handsome!’

‘Not bad, I suppose. Not as good as me.’

‘He’s handsomer than you.’

‘What?’ Dex clutched his chest in shock as if she’d just fired an arrow at his heart.

‘These women in the restaurant told me how gorgeous he was, like something out of a Hollywood movie. And they were right, that’s exactly what he looks like.’

‘What am I, then? Stig of the Dump?’

‘You’re very good-looking too,’ said Molly. ‘But in more of a real-life way.’

Ouch. Dex reminded himself that at least he had the ability to make people laugh. ‘So you’ve hit the jackpot with Vince,’ he said playfully. ‘Can’t imagine what he sees in you.’

She lobbed the ring-pull from the beer can at his head then kicked him under the table for good measure. He caught her ankle between his bare feet and held it there for a couple of seconds before letting go.

‘So when’s the next date?’ He asked the question as if they were just good friends, because that was what they were.

‘On Saturday.’

‘
What?
But that’s—’

‘It’s OK,’ Molly broke in, sensing his alarm, ‘I know, I’m not going to miss that. We’ll be going out afterwards,’ she explained.

Dex felt himself partially relax. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do. It was Delphi’s birthday on Saturday. She would be one year old.

On a day when emotions would inevitably be heightened, he’d hoped – OK, taken it for granted – that Molly would be there at his side to help him through.

Chapter 35

It was the kind of thing Frankie might have been tempted to do, but she wouldn’t have felt comfortable instigating it off her own bat. Sometimes, though, fate intervened and the opportunity that presented itself was just too perfect to pass up.

Fat Pat was the local carpenter in Briarwood. He wasn’t remotely fat, he just liked to go to fancy dress parties done up as Fat Pat from
EastEnders
. Last night Frankie had emailed him a description of what she required and he’d dropped by this morning to explain why he was unable to do it.

‘Sorry, love, not going to be able to help you.’ He held up his heavily bandaged right hand. ‘Near as dammit chopped a couple of fingers off yesterday, you never saw so much blood in all your life, and the doc reckons I’m not going to be able to work properly for weeks. Which leaves me stuck barking orders at those two useless sons of mine while they try and do the jobs we’ve already got booked.’

‘Oh no, poor you.’ Frankie offered him a slice of walnut cake which he scooped up in his massive left hand. ‘Don’t worry. Thanks for letting me know. Does it hurt?’

‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’ He shook his head and grimaced.
‘Anyway, with what you’re after, I reckon Stefan might be worth a try. He could do it for you. Don’t look so shocked,’ he chuckled, ‘I wouldn’t be saying it if I could manage it myself. But I can’t, so I’m thinking he’s the best man for the job instead.’

Which wasn’t why Frankie had been looking shocked, but never mind.

And as a suggestion, it actually made a lot of sense. When Fat Pat had left, she drank a cup of tea and mulled it over.
Was
this fate? If Hope Johnson was to be the topic of conversation, might Stefan suddenly blurt out the whole heartbreaking story and conclude in desperation, ‘If only there was
some
way I could find her again?’