The Dating Game (28 page)

There was a knock at the door.  Startled, Gill looked at
Charlie.  He shook his head.  The knock came again, more insistent.  Irritated,
Charlie simply said to Gill, ‘They’ll realise they have the wrong room and go
away in a second.  Now, where were we?’

Then whoever was outside the door began hammering on the
door.  This dampened their ardour considerably.

‘All right, I’m coming,’ said Charlie, muttering under his
breath, as he threw on his trousers, ‘I wish.’

He reached the door and opened it, his expression
thunderous.  ‘Yes?’ he barked, ready to annihilate whoever was interrupting
him.

‘Hello darling, interrupting something, am I? asked his
wife, as she pushed past him into the room.

Saturday 8th October

‘Gill, what on earth are you doing here?  Is everything all
right?’ her brother’s face was full of concern, as he led his sobbing sister
into the house.

‘I’m sorry; I’m just such an idiot.’

‘Come in,’ Christopher steered her into the living room,
where Sarah stared open-mouthed at Gill’s unkempt state.

Gill was trembling with shock.

‘Sarah, can you make her some sweet tea, please?’
Christopher asked his wife.

‘What’s happened?  What are you doing up here?  How did you
get here?  I didn’t see your car,’ her brother asked her, as he put his arm
around her shoulder then cradled her to his chest when she continued to sob.

‘I g-g-got a taxi, f-f-from Cameron House.’

‘Cameron House?  What were you doing there?’

And then the whole sorry tale unfolded.  Gill told him how
she had been out with Charlie a few times, how they had gone to Cameron House
for dinner and had a lovely time, and that the meal was amazing.  She had to
stop herself from extolling the virtues of the wonderful food, even in the
state she was in and with everything that had happened.

When Sarah returned with the tea, Gill launched into how
Charlie had booked a suite, just in case they felt like staying up by the loch
side.  Christopher’s face turned puce with rage, as he expected he knew where
this was going – but he was wrong.

‘I don’t really feel very comfortable telling you the next
bit, but basically we were just about to…’

‘Get jiggy?’ Sarah asked helpfully.

‘Yes, but then there was a knock at the door.’

‘Who was it?’ asked Sarah, curious.

‘His w-w-wife.’

‘I’ll kill him,’ said Christopher, already reaching for his
jacket.

‘Chris, no.  I think his wife might do that.  I can’t
believe I didn’t know he was married.  He told me he was divorced.’

‘So what happened when his wife turned up?’ asked Sarah.

‘She burst into the room, pushed past Charlie and when she
saw me, turned to him and said, ‘‘I knew it.  I knew you’d been up to your old
tricks – shagging about again.’’

‘What did you do?’ asked Christopher.

‘Well, to start with I couldn’t do anything.  I just froze. 
It was like time had stopped.  I physically couldn’t move.  I couldn’t believe
what was happening.  And then I turned to Charlie and said, “You’re not
divorced?”  He couldn’t even look me in the eye and then his wife shouted at
him again, “Oh is that what you told her?”  Then she turned back to me and
said, “Cover yourself up, for God’s sake.”  So I did, whilst she yelled at him
that she had suspected him cheating again for some time, so today when he left,
she followed him.  She wanted to catch him in the act.  Then I left them to
it.  She was screaming blue murder.  I went down to reception and the
receptionist was really nice, and asked me if I needed a taxi.’ Gill paused and
then said, ‘Charlie didn’t even say anything to me before I left.’

‘What a complete bastard!’ said Sarah.

‘If I get my hands on him,’ Christopher was shaking with
anger.

‘Are you all right, though?’ Sarah asked, ‘You know…’

‘We didn’t, if that’s what you’re asking, but we very nearly
did.’

The tea and talking about it helped, and Gill soon calmed
down.  She had sobered up very quickly.  Not long after, she went to bed in the
spare room and slept a fitful sleep, dreaming of men who were forever letting
her down.

Sunday 6th October

Next morning, things seemed a bit brighter.  After a hot
shower and a loan of some clothes from Sarah, Gill tried to put things in
perspective.  But she’d made one key decision.  First thing, she e-mailed
Caroline Morgan and told her she didn’t want her to send her any more dates and
could she cancel her subscription please?  She gave her no further details,
although she hesitated over whether to tell her that Charlie was married. 
Eventually she decided his wife had probably put him off the idea of cheating,
at least for the moment.

With the dawn of a new day, Gill felt better.  Her little
nephews squealed with delight when their parents told them Aunt Gill had come
for a sleepover.  They bounded into her room, jumped on her bed, and relayed to
her the exploits of their favourite wrestlers – their main topic of
conversation.  It warmed her heart to see how excited they were to see her.  At
least their devotion was real.  Pity she couldn’t invoke that in a man.  She
ruminated on the fact that the only men she could depend on in her life were
her father, her brother and two under-sevens.

Gill spent a lovely day with her nephews and it did her
good.  When lunch was served around three, they all piled into the kitchen
laughing and exhausted.  After a quick wash, they sat down and tucked into the
Sunday roast which Sarah had prepared.  She had even made dessert from scratch,
to cheer Gill up.

‘You’re welcome to stay here tonight again if you want,’
Christopher said.

‘Thanks, but I need to get back.  I have things to organise
for work tomorrow.’  She also didn’t want to invade their home any more than
she needed to.  Plus her nephews had been just the tonic she needed.  She felt
miles better already.

Gill had texted Debbie and asked her if she would mind
convening an emergency girls’ meeting on Monday night.  She needed to talk with
her friends, figure out what she was doing wrong where men were concerned.  The
agency had been her last hope – more like loss of hope.

Back home, Gill checked her phone, just in case Chancer
Charlie had deigned to get in touch, but nothing.  What was it with men
treating her badly and then never getting in contact? Maybe she would have been
better off with someone like Gary, someone who didn’t set her pulse racing, but
who was dependable, even if a little misguided sometimes.

Monday 10th October

Mercifully Gill’s day had flown by – a busy one, but busy in
a good way, two more new clients won, and Amanda was really beginning to settle
in.

By six thirty, Gill was already in
Chez Molinières
waiting for the girls.  Brett, the Aussie barman smiled at her, as he served
her the mojito she’d asked for.

See? Not all men are bastards
, thought Gill.

Angela arrived first, hugged Gill, and gave her a
sympathetic smile.  Some of what had occurred between Gill and Charlie had
obviously already made it through the grapevine.

Shortly afterwards, the other two arrived.  They ordered
dinner and then the girls sat back to listen to Gill’s tale of woe.

When Gill finished, the girls, as one, stared at her
dumbstruck.  For the first time in Gill’s memory, she witnessed Lisa
speechless.

‘What a complete bastard!’ said Angela, saying what everyone
else was thinking.

Lisa finally broke her silence by saying, ‘It sounds like
something that would happen in a film.’

Gill shrugged, ‘No, that’s just my life.’

‘Poor you.  Have you heard from him since?’ Debbie asked.

‘Nope, but then I didn’t really expect to.  What was he
going to say? 
“I’m sorry my wife caught me about to shag you.”

The girls murmured their agreement.  Then Lisa, typical
glass half-full girl, lifted everyone’s spirits, ‘Fuck him.  He doesn’t deserve
you.  So, how are you getting on with Barcelona Man?  What was his name again?’

‘Liam.  Fine.  I’m seeing him on Wednesday.’

‘So where are you off to this time?’ Angela asked.

‘He’s going to cook for me.’

‘Impressive,’ Debbie said, and Lisa nodded her approval.

‘Well, I haven’t tasted it yet, mind,’ Gill laughed, ‘but
it’s a nice gesture.’

‘Do you know what he’s making?’ Lisa asked.

‘No, it’s a surprise.’

‘Oh, you like surprises,’ Debbie said.

‘Actually, I’m kind of going off them, given how my last few
have turned out.’

The other three fell silent at this then Debbie chirped up,
‘I’m sure that’s not going to happen this time.  I have a good feeling about
this guy.’

‘I had a good feeling about the others, too,’ groaned Gill.

By the time the girls went their separate ways a few hours
later, and a little before the staff turfed them out, Gill felt considerably better.

As she sat in the taxi, Gill hummed an Abba song which she
had heard as they left the restaurant.  Surely that was a good omen.

Tuesday 8th October

Since dinner was at Liam’s house, Gill didn’t want to be too
overdressed.  In the end, she wore a long rose coloured skirt, a white open
necked blouse, and minimal jewellery; just a watch and a necklet with a glass
rose.  She’d picked up a bottle of wine and a cheese selection, on the way
home.  She was more nervous than she had expected.  Perhaps because everything
had gone so wrong on her dates recently, but her stomach was in knots.

So they could both relax and have a drink together, Gill
opted to take a taxi.

At seven thirty exactly, Gill arrived at Liam’s flat in
Maryhill.  She pressed the buzzer and tried to shield herself from the driving
rain as she waited.  Liam answered the intercom with a cheery, ‘Come on up.’ 
Gill ascended the two flights of stairs, noting with surprise that the inside
of the close was carpeted with a rich, red weave.  Plants adorned either side
of the staircase and the walls were tiled in a cobalt blue and white, Spanish
mosaic style.  Liam and his neighbours clearly liked to take care of their
hallway.

When she reached the top of the second flight of stairs,
Liam was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for her.

‘Hey,’ he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

‘Hi.  Something smells good,’ Gill said, as they walked
together into the flat.

‘It’s nearly ready.  Hope you’re hungry.’

Gill had to stop herself from telling him that she was
always hungry.

‘These are for you,’ she handed him the two bottles of
wine.  ‘I wasn’t sure which you’d prefer, so I got one of each.’

‘You shouldn’t have bothered, but thanks.  Montepulciano
d’Abruzzo and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.  Hmm, difficult to decide.  Depends
what mood I’m in.  But either will go well with tonight’s meal.’

‘So what are we having?’ Gill asked, as she climbed onto the
bar stool Liam offered her, so they could talk whilst he finished preparing
dinner.

‘We’re having king prawn cocktail – I made the sauce myself
– it’s very light, just in case you find cocktail sauce sickening.  Then we’re
having chicken
cacciatore
, or hunter’s chicken, which is the smell you
picked up on when you came in.’

‘It smells lovely.  I wish I could cook like that,’ said
Gill.  She could have kicked herself straight after she said it.  She didn’t
need Liam to know she was useless in the kitchen.

‘Don’t you cook, then?’

Coming clean, Gill said, ‘Well, let’s just say no one’s
beating down my door to have me host my own cookery programme.’

Liam smiled, ‘I’m sure you’re not as bad as you think.’

‘Oh no, I am.’

‘Well, what can you make?’

Gill thought for a bit and then said, ‘Chicken breast
wrapped in Parma ham, filled with
Roulé
cheese.’

‘There, that sounds good.  What’s wrong with that?’

‘Glad you like it, because if you’re ever at mine, that’s
what you’ll be eating, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner!  I mean,
obviously it wouldn’t be for breakfast.  Not that you would be at mine for breakfast,’
Gill was digging herself into a deeper hole.

Liam decided to rescue her again, ‘Don’t worry, I know what
you meant.  Anyway, what would you like to drink?  I have Chablis, White
Zinfandel or Shiraz, or you can have some of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo you
brought, if you’d prefer that.’

‘Erm, I think the Chablis, since we’re having prawns to
start.’

‘And may I just say, Madam, I think that’s an excellent
choice,’ Liam poured them each a glass.

‘Cheers,’ he said.

They spent a wonderful evening together.  The prawns were
perfectly cooked and the sauce, as promised, was very light, not the usual
mass-produced muck often served in restaurants. The chicken
cacciatore
tasted delicious, and the roast potatoes and parsnips which Liam had teamed it
up with, were cooked to perfection.  The honey glaze made the parsnips very
moreish.

‘I’m stuffed,’ said Gill, groaning slightly.  ‘Your chicken
cacciatore
was so good I couldn’t leave any of it.’

‘Now that’s a good sign.  Do you think you can roll yourself
through to the living room and we can have a little break before our cheese
course?’

‘Yes, I think I can just about manage that.’

They sat facing each other on Liam’s sofa, reclined at
opposite ends, with their bare feet tucked up under them, as they got to know
each other a bit better.  With Liam, Gill didn’t feel under any pressure.  She
liked him and he liked her, but she didn’t feel as if he was waiting for an
opportunity to pounce on her.  They were just taking things nice and slow,
exactly what she needed.

After an hour or so of enjoyable conversation and playing
around with Liam’s iPod, choosing different tracks they both enjoyed, and
discussing genres of music and when were the best eras, Liam said, ‘Coffee? 
Biscuits and cheese?’

‘I’m still full, but I could manage a coffee.’

‘Well, if I brought the biscuits and cheese through for me,
and you chose to nibble one or two, would that be OK?’

Gill laughed, ‘Yes, I suppose.  C’mon.  I’ll help you,’ and
they both returned to the kitchen where Liam prepared the coffee and looked out
a cheeseboard and cheese knives.

‘That’s a really nice selection: lovely ripe, smelly brie,
Wensleydale – I always have to say that in a Wallace voice, I can’t help it –
creamy Stilton and Jarlsberg.  I love them all,’ Liam said.

‘Me too.  Here, let me,’ and Gill took the tray containing
the cheese board, knives, butter and grapes – he was going all out – and
carried it through to the living room, leaving Liam to bring the coffee.

‘I can’t believe you have a real coffee pot.  I don’t know anyone
who has one, not even my parents, but I love it.’

‘Yes, it’s sterling silver.  It was my parents’.  It’s very
decadent, I know, but I love it.  On a Sunday, I get the papers, make myself
some real coffee, and have it through here.  That’s my chill out thing. Or
sometimes I’ll sit at the dining table in the kitchen and spread the papers out
there.’

‘Sounds relaxing.’

‘It is.  So what do you get up to at the weekends?’

Gill paused for a second, ‘Well, apart from a regular lunch
date with my brother and his family on Sunday afternoons, whatever, really. 
Out with friends, chilling out at home or unfortunately doing housework, as the
weekend’s the only time I get to do it.’

‘I know what you mean, but I’m lucky.  I have a woman who
comes in for three hours a week and does the majority for me.  She even irons
my shirts, which is great.’

‘Yes, I keep meaning to try to arrange something, but then I
tell myself, it’s only me.  Surely I should be able to keep it tidy?  Sorry,’
Gill broke off, realising that she might have just made out Liam was lazy and
incompetent, ‘I just meant…’

‘It’s OK.  No offence taken.’

Gill did eventually succumb to eating one or two crackers
and cheese, for which she blamed Liam entirely.  They were sitting on the
floor, sifting through his DVD collection.  Liam poured more coffee into Gill’s
cup.  As he did so, his hand grazed hers.  With a jolt, Gill looked at him. 
That was the moment.  She knew he was going to kiss her and she wanted him to. 
They’d had a lovely evening.  When he cradled her face in his hands, and his
lips met hers, Gill responded and opened herself up to the kiss, which lasted
an incredibly long time.

‘I can’t believe I’ve managed to hold back all night without
doing that,’ laughed Liam.

‘I know.  It’s ridiculous. I was beginning to wonder if
something was wrong with me,’ Gill joked and put her hands on her hips in a
mock-indignant stance – rather difficult since she was sitting down.

‘No, there’s absolutely,’ Liam kissed her neck, ‘nothing,’
then her collar bone, ‘wrong with you,’  his lips returned to hers, and they
kissed and they kissed some more.

He really is a very good kisser
, thought Gill.  It
hadn’t set her on fire, as it had with Charlie and Anton.  It was different,
but very good.  Interestingly, she didn’t want to sleep with him – not yet. 
She knew she shouldn’t sleep with him.  Something intrinsic made her want to
spend as much time as possible simply kissing this man, without going any
further. 
Kissing is very under-rated
.

An hour later, Gill left in a taxi, with a permanent smile
fixed on her face.

As Liam watched her get safely into the taxi, he
congratulated himself on an excellent evening.  The meal had gone down well and
the wine had flowed, although he noticed Gill stopped him topping up her glass
a few times.  The
pièce de resistance
had to be kissing Gill. Her lips
were the softest he’d ever kissed, full and with only a hint of lipstick. 
There was an air of vulnerability about her.  An occasional comment or change
of subject had made him notice she was holding back about certain things. It
seemed obvious to Liam that someone had hurt her, perhaps fairly recently.  He
didn’t want to be her rebound guy, but what he did know was that he wanted Gill
McFadden in his life.  He was a patient man and good people were hard to find,
he’d discovered.  Gill was a good person.  He had an instinct about these
things and he wasn’t going to let her go.