Fifteen Going on Grown Up (44 page)

With her hair still wet from the shower, Hally quietly made her way downstairs. No one else was up yet and she felt as though she were completely alone. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, she didn’t feel lonely. In fact she felt great. School was over, the summer was shaping up to be a scorcher; she had weeks of not having to worry about homework, or getting up for school and well yes, the exam results were a bit of a worry, but they were ages away, and she had Wes.

In the kitchen she unlocked the back door and opened it wide letting in the early morning sun and fresh sweet air. She poured juice into a glass, found a pack of croissants and took one out, and wandered into the garden settling on a lounger on the deck nibbling at the pastry. Dad would be up in about an hour to get ready for work so she had some time to just sit and do nothing. Birds were flitting about the lawn and feeders, the starlings as usual squabbling over scraps of food. Hally watched enjoying the activity. She loved that her garden offered such a haven to all sorts of birds. Her mum had always tried to encourage as many species as possible by hanging out a variety of foods and planting various flowers and shrubs. Consequently, many types visited the garden all through the year. Hally had often asked her mum about them and now had a fair idea of which bird was which.

“Morning Tink”

A voice said behind her making her jump and the birds to fly off. She turned and saw her dad standing near the door a mug in his hand.

“Oh you made me jump.”

She said to him and he smiled.

“You’re up very early.”

He stated. Hally nodded and relayed the tale of the tapping chaffinch.

“Yes lots of birds do that. They see their reflection in the window and think it’s another bird, a rival. They think they are attacking it.”

Dad imparted to her.

“I was wondering what it was doing. Now I know, thanks dad.”

He came over and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.

“Your welcome. Now I suppose I’d better get some breakfast and get sorted for work. Your mum will be down in a minute.”

He turned leaving her to continue watching the birds. Before long they began to appear back on the lawn and feeders.

About mid morning Wes texted her saying he had been asked to work because someone had called in sick. She was a little disappointed but knew he tried to get extra hours when he could so he could treat her and especially his daughter. So she texted him back saying it was fine. Corrinne and Clia were coming round later anyway, and then they were going into town, so she would probably see him as they were most likely to go to the Hotspot. Mum had gone round to Granddad’s after dropping Nathan at school so Hally had the house to herself. She thought she would help her mum out, so she ran the vacuum cleaner around the house and dusted too. Her mum never asked her to help with the household chores, but over the years had let her do little things when she wanted to, so now Hally often offered help.

Corrinne and Clia turned up at about eleven. None wanted to linger so Hally locked up and they all headed straight for town. It was something else that was new and exciting, to be going to the shops on a school day. It was different to going at the weekend or during the holidays and they all felt very grown up and independent. They saw adults they recognised without children in tow and expressed to each other how different and relaxed they looked shopping alone. The coffee shops were different too, the clientele made up of business people taking a break, small intimate groups of grown ups chatting and relaxing and single shoppers resting, with bags leaning nearby. The girls thought it was like a different world, and one which they could share for a short time, at least until the school holidays started.

The three headed for Chandlers deciding that they all needed new makeup especially for the prom. Inside the shop they went down an aisle to the stand that held their favourite brand. For some time they examined testers, checking out eyeshadow, nail polish, eyeliner and foundation. There was a box of tissues on the stand to wipe away the makeup they tried and discarded. Finally Hally held out a trio of cream eyeshadow to Corrinne and Clia. It was a selection of glittering shades of blue.

“What do you think?”

She asked her friends. They both examined her choice, and then Corrinne said.

“That’s perfect Hals. Those colours will go great with your blue eyes. I think I’m going for this one.”

She held up a similar trio but in shades of green. Clia sighed.

“Can’t decide between these two.”

She held up a purple set and a silver one.

“The purple.”

Corrinne and Hally said together and they all laughed. They examined lipstick shades and settled on one each, then Hally said.

“I don’t think I’m going to bother with foundation. This weather has given me such a great tan already I think that will be enough.”

“Yeah, probably a waste of money, all it will do is make your face look a different colour than the rest of you.”

Clia said. They all giggled.

“What like Pamela Sedgeley? Her makeup makes her look orange.”

Corrinne said. They giggled some more and Hally added.

“Yeah but what makes it worse is the line around her jaw line. She only puts it on her face and never blends in it.”

“Like an explosion in a juice factory.”

Clia said making them all laugh even more.

“Poor thing.”

Said Hally whilst still laughing.

“I bet no one has ever shown her how to put it on properly.”

Their laughter began to subside as they headed for the counter to pay for their purchases.

After visiting a few more shops and finding accessories they couldn’t do without for the prom, they headed for the Hotspot. It wasn’t as busy as usual and the girls guessed this was because it was a school day and was mostly populated by students. They found a table easily and Hally went to the counter to get some drinks. Wes was not behind the counter and Hally was disappointed.

“Where’s Wes?”

She casually asked the assistant who served her.

“Oh he’s just gone to the bank to get some change. He’ll be back in a bit.”

Hally was relieved, not sure what she had felt not seeing him there. She took the drinks back to the table and the girls asked the same question. Sitting down she told them where Wes had gone, then with her eyes downcast went on to tell them how her tummy had tumbled when she saw he wasn’t there.

“It wasn’t like just a disappointed feeling. It was…oh this is going to sound awful…it was suspicion. He told me he was working and when he wasn’t here I wondered if he told me the truth.”

She felt very sad at that moment. Clia covered her hand briefly.

“Hals, you know he dotes on you. But there are bound to be times when you feel a bit mistrusting. I mean, he didn’t exactly lie about Ellie but he didn’t come clean either, not ‘til he had to. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Wes, he’s lovely and I don’t think he would do anything underhand, but well it’s only natural to get suspicious sometimes.”

Hally sipped her cola and looked at her friends.

“Do either of you two ever feel like that?”

Corrinne mulled over her answer, but Clia gave hers very quickly.

“Anytime Rhys doesn’t text when he says he will, or come round on time I think that’s it, he’s finished with me. Then of course, he turns up with an explanation and I know I’ve been daft. I don’t say anything to him about how scared I get ‘cos I don’t want him to think I’m possessive and frighten him off.”

She finished with her lips pressed together and a little shrug.

“Blimey Clia, I had no idea you were so insecure. Did you know this Corry?”

Corrinne shook her head.

“No, I didn’t have a clue. You shouldn’t have kept that to yourself Clia.”

Clia gave a little smile and said.

“I know, but it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”

Hally gave her arm a little shake.

“You are always telling me not to bottle stuff up you dipstick. Anyway Corry, you didn’t answer.”

Clia turned towards Corrinne her head slightly to one side waiting for the question to be answered.

“Well Gregg never makes me feel insecure, if anything it’s the other way round. You know, he often says he can’t believe his luck going out with me.”

Hally and Clia smiled brightly at their friend. They were both very happy that Corrinne had someone who loved her for herself. A previous boyfriend and a very short relationship; had made it clear that he only wanted her to go out with him so that she would do his homework for him and get him good grades. Another thought she was very wealthy because she always had the latest fashions and gadgets. He didn’t even get to take her out, so for Gregg to feel like he did was very good news for Corrinne.

The door to the café opened and Hally looked around a smile breaking out as she saw Wes coming through. He saw her and waved with one hand, the other holding a cloth bag that looked quite heavy. He moved behind the counter and went out the back and on returning came over to their table. He leaned down and gave Hally a peck on the cheek saying hello to Corrinne and Clia. Hally pressed her face against his cheek for a moment feeling very guilty about her suspicious mind.

“You ok?”

Wes asked. He always seemed to have the knack of knowing when she had something on her mind.

“I’m fine. Just missed seeing you when we came in.”

She said it a little over brightly and Wes gave her a tiny frown before replying with.

“Ok. I have to get back to work but I’ll see you tonight.”

She smiled a normal smile and kissed him, and then he made his way back to the counter.

After the Hotspot the girls strolled around a few more shops mostly window shopping. Hally spotted a cute apron with ‘You don’t cook You create’ printed on it and couldn’t resist buying it for her mum. She didn’t often buy presents for her family except the usual celebrations but thought this would please mum. The afternoon was very hot so the three casually made their way home arriving before the school day finished. Although it hadn’t been spoken it was important that they did this, giving them more of a sense of no longer being school girls, but young adults.

Mum was in the garden having a cold drink and a few moments to herself before heading off to pick Nathan up. Her face lit up with delight when Hally gave her the apron and went to stand up to get the girls drinks. Hally stopped her insisting she stay on her sun lounger and ‘Catch some rays’ whilst she could. Instead Hally fetched cold drinks from the fridge and found Corrinne and Clia already stretched out in loungers one opened and ready for her. Mum asked how their shopping had gone and lazily the girls showed her what they had bought. A short time later, mum reluctantly pulled herself up and donning flip flops headed off to collect Nathan from school.

Wes came round just after six and found Hally still relaxing in the garden. Mum had laid out a buffet dinner of cold meats and salads and as usual there was plenty so Hally handed him a plate and he loaded it with food.

“Haven’t you been home?”

She asked watching him tuck in. Wes swallowed a mouthful of chicken and lowered his fork.

“Only for about an hour. I went to say hi and then came straight over.”

He told her.

“What about Ellie?”

She said it as casually as she could, still finding it difficult.

“Happily playing in her paddling pool. Luckily I was still in my work gear ‘cos she had great fun soaking me to the skin. Most of the hour I spent playing with her, then I got changed and came over. She’ll be going to bed soon.”

Hally watched his face and as always noticed the change in expression whenever he spoke about his daughter.

“So what was up with you in the café?”

He took her completely by surprise and she felt herself begin to blush as she tried to come up with an answer.

“What?…oh…umm…nothing.”

She stammered. Wes put his plate down and leaned towards her raising his eyebrows.

“Now come on Hally. I can tell you know.”

She sighed deeply and looked away. When she glanced back he was still looking at her expectantly. So she took a deep breath.

“I don’t know, honestly. When you weren’t there I…”

She couldn’t finish. She felt embarrassed and guilty. Wes seemed to click on to what she was trying to say.

“You weren’t sure if I had told you the truth.”

He said it as a statement not a question and his tone was filled with disappointment and not anger. Hally felt terrible, she would have preferred him to yell at her. She couldn’t look at him, he took her chin and lifted it.

“Believe me Hally, I know I didn’t tell you about Ellie but I have never lied to you about anything. We have been together for almost a year now and in all that time I have never wanted to tell you a lie.”

This made Hally feel even worse and she felt tears threaten. Wes saw her distress and pulled her to him. Mumbling into his shoulder she said.

“I didn’t think you were lying, not really, it was just a little feeling that I can’t really explain.”