Getting a Life (7 page)

'I've never been able to understand why everyone gets so worked up about Christmas. I mean to say, a morning spend shopping and a bit of time cooking, it's a doddle.'

'Shows how little you know about cooking. Or getting everything ready for a family event. My Mum's been working on all of this for weeks. Shopping and ordering stuff.'

'They seemed to like their presents though. It was inspiration to give your father that book.'

'Yes but he was clearly disappointed not to get new slippers this year.'

'Just how long have you been buying him slippers?'

'I don't know. Ten years? Maybe more?'

'Then he'd be delighted not to have to wear them in.' They chatted all the way back to her home. He stopped outside and went in with her. 'It's been totally wonderful. I loved your family and I don't regret accompanying you. I hope you enjoyed it too.'

'You know I did. It was lovely to have you there with me.'

'And I'll see you again soon. What are you doing this evening?'

'I don't know. Probably watch television. There's usually something decent on.'

'Don't be too lonely. And Jo, please don't make too much of all of this. I never wanted to hurt you but ...'

'I won't. And I hope you hate this evening. I hope it's a terrible party and you are really bored.'

'Oh Jo, don't say that. It's just a job, you know. I do it for extra money.'

'Take no notice of me. I'm just grumpy after a lovely couple of days with you. Go and enjoy yourself but don't forget about me.'

'Of course I won't. Come and kiss me goodbye. I promise, I'll see you again soon.'

'You'd better remember that. Where's the party at New Year?'

'We thought we'd use our workshop, after all. The village hall, well it seemed it was too expensive. Maybe you'd like to come over to help us to get it ready? We're going to decorate the place up a bit and make it look like a party venue.'

'I'd love to come. Thanks. Let me know where and when and I'll be there.'

'I hate to leave you like this but needs must. Thank you again for a lovely Christmas.' He kissed her very thoroughly ... she wanted so much more from him but for now, he had to go. She watched him drive away and went back inside. It seemed very quiet in her house and she unpacked her bag and the various presents she'd been given. She made a pot of tea and switched on the television. She thought about the previous day and especially about the scene in her room. She had so nearly given way to him. It would have been most embarrassing to be at her parents home like that.

'Oh Mike,' she said softly. 'I'm falling in love with you. I really hope you feel the same about me.'

The next day or two, she decided it was time to do some college work ready for the following term. She was living in a mess with papers strewn around the place and everything organised over the floor. There were heaps of pages she had printed: heaps of pages she had discarded and piles of books in other places. She was happily engrossed when someone knocked at the door. She glanced at her watch. It was already six-thirty. Who could this be calling on her? She went to open the door. A large bouquet of daisies was thrust at her by Mike.

'Hi there you. Can I come in?'

'Yes, of course. Please, do come in. Why the flowers?'

'I felt like it. I saw them at a stand at the station and thought you might like them. I'm completely free this evening. Do you fancy doing something?' He stood there, his leather jacket fitting him like a glove. He looked every inch a biker, with his jeans carefully ripped at the knee. She swallowed hard, wondering why she found him so attractive.

'I'm in a mess. Let me clear up a bit.'

'You're not kidding are you? Do you always work like this?'

'Not always. Quite often though. What do you want to do?'

'Pictures? Drink? Meal out somewhere?'

'Yes please. It all sounds lovely. Hang on a mo. If I just collect those pages and put them up on the desk. The books can be shuffled together. Oh that's just rubbish. I'll put that out for re-cycling.' Five minutes sorting and she was clearer once more. 'That's better. Sorry, do sit down.'

'I was wondering when you were going to suggest that,' he laughed. 'Come and sit with me.' He leaned over and kissed her. 'I've missed you. The party on Boxing Day was incredibly boring. I had a rotten time and wished I was still with you. I've been working hard ever since. This is the first moment I've really had to myself . So, coming to see you ... seemed like a plan.'

'I'm glad to see you. If you'd let me know, I'd have been ready for you. But not to worry. What do you want to do?'

'How about a drink and then some dinner? I know a nice pub not too far away. Only trouble is, I'm on my bike. Solution: you ride pillion: you drive: we get a taxi. What do you think?'

'I'll drive. I really don't mind. It all sounds good to me.'

'Decision made. You can drive me to wherever I want to go.' She frowned.

'Not just anywhere, thanks very much. I want feeding and pampering if I'm driving.'

'Very well. Are you going like that or are you planning to change?'

'I s'pose I'd better change. Mind you, grunge is good. Look, I've got a pizza in the freezer. Would you like some of that? Then we can go out and see a film?'

'Sounds excellent. I'll admit, I could easily eat a horse or two. We can go and eat somewhere if you'd prefer to?'

'No problems. I can easily cook this, if you can trust my cooking of course.' She went into the kitchen retrieved the pizza and put it in the oven. She checked carefully that she had put the correct switches on this time.

Mike was reading some of her notes when she went back into the lounge. She sat on the arm of his chair and looked over his shoulder.

'Do you understand what I'm getting at?' she asked.

'I think so. It's all a continuation to what you were teaching before Christmas, isn't it?'

'Yes indeed it is. But, please, put it down now. Or you won't want to listen to my lectures next term.'

'You're just too clever aren't you?'

'I'm bright but nothing too clever at all. It's my subject and I know it well, that's all.'

'Why would you really want to spend time with me?'

'Why wouldn't I? You're bright. You're so handsome. You're talented in many ways.'

'I'm not really bright. Not compared to you. You're lovely and clever and you know what you're talking about. For goodness sakes, I go and keep women company for money. All so I can remain independent.'

'I really don't understand this fanaticism you have for independence. I mean to say, you moved out of your parents house for whatever reason and you have a good life. I know you earn pretty well from your escort duties.'

'I don't get all of what it costs, you realise.'

'I know you don't but you get a fair bit. What are you saving for?'

'Maybe I'll tell you one day. Now, how is that pizza doing do you think? I don't fancy another burnt offering, much as I love brown food.'

Joanne went into the kitchen and took salad stuff from the fridge and managed to make two bowls of reasonable salad. They needed something extra with just one pizza between them. She knew about his appetite and wanted to make sure he had enough. The pizza smelt good and was perfectly cooked. She put it on the two plates and called him into the kitchen.

'I hope you don't mind eating in here. There isn't a huge amount of room but it's quicker than moving everything in there.'

'This looks wonderful,' he told her as he sat down. 'Salad too? You're spoiling me.'

'Someone needs to. You don't look after yourself properly. You were going to take me out without eating anything, weren't you?'

'I dare say we'd have found a snack or two from somewhere.'

They ate in silence for a few minutes and then he said,

'I like your style of cooking. This is my idea of heaven on a plate.'

'Glad you're liking it. So, tell me what you've been doing with your week.'

Chapter Six

Mike arrived at her house at ten o'clock on New Year's Eve. She was dressed in jeans and a baggy shirt, ready to spend the day working.

'You look good enough to eat,' Mike announced.

'I don't know what you mean,' she said. He came inside and kissed her, lifting her off her feet and swinging her round. 'Steady on,' she said laughing as they both collapsed on to the sofa. He kissed her a lot more and once more, she felt as if this was going to be the start of something much bigger.

They went to his father's workshop and she met his parents for the first time.

'It's good of to come over to get things ready for the party,' his mother said.

'We need to give you a proper welcome. Fetch a bottle of bubbly dear.' Obediently, Mr Thomas went off to find a bottle. 'Now tell us all about yourself. Mike says you work at the college. He said you went to your parents for Christmas. I say, why don't you ring them and invite them over for the evening? Another couple of folks won't be a problem.'

'I'm afraid they had plans for today,' Joanne muttered, looking desperately at Mike for his support.

'Yes, they're going to a party tonight,' he said feebly.

'So are we going to drink this now or leave it till later?' Mr Thomas asked.

'I say let's have it now,' Mike chipped in.

'Sounds good to me.' His father opened the bottle and poured four glasses. 'Cheers.'

Mike stood beside Joanne, his arm laid across her back. She raised her glass to the others and drank.

'What's going here?' said a voice from the doorway. 'Am I missing something?'

'Sally. Come on and have a drink with us,' Mr Thomas said cheerfully. 'We're just wishing success to ourselves for this evening. Joanne smiled at him.

'I'm Joanne, Mike's ... girl friend,' she said holding out her hand.

'Pleased to meet you. Sally. I work here but I doubt Mike has mentioned me at all.'

'Of course he's mentioned you. Said how much you keep things moving around here,' she lied.

'That's something. He usually never mentions anyone in this family. Independent or what?'

Joanne laughed.

'Typical man.'

They soon finished the drinks and set to work. There was a large area to be cleared of bits and pieces of equipment and stores to be settled on one side. It was quite a room. They all worked hard to move stuff and then to decorate the place with a series of flags and balloons. Joanne and Mike worked together and ended up laughing like crazy over blowing up balloons.

'Come on you two. There are some sandwiches to eat through here. I hope you like smoked salmon, Joanne? It's Mike's favourite.'

'Yes, I remembered that. He ate like it was going out of fashion one evening at my place.'

'Where do you live?' asked Sally.

'Over the park in a side street.'

'Not one of those newish places?'

'Yes. I moved there about three years ago.'

'How lovely. You must be earning pretty well to afford one of those.'

'I'm a lecturer, so not too bad. And you work here?'

'For my sins, yes I do. So how long have you two been going out?'

'Not very long, actually.'

'Really? You seem very tuned in together. I've been married for ages but we don't seem to get on as well as you two. He'll be here later so let me know what you think. He's home with the kids for now.'

'I'm not sure I can say after such a brief meeting.' She took what Mike's sister said very seriously.

'Don't worry. I won't hold you to anything.' She was laughing as she spoke. 'I was only joking. Now, what else do you want me to do?' she asked her mother, while Joanne stood blushing at her stupid remark.

'I'm going home in a minute or two. I've got several crates of food ready to bring over. It's going to be tricky to get them into my car so can you come to help me?'

'No rest for the wicked. I'll see you later. Happy balloon blowing.' Sally breezed off after her mother.

'She's nice,' Joanne told Mike. 'I really like her.'

'Now, balloon blowing, Miss Swithenbank. Only fifty more to go.'

By four o'clock, the room was transformed. It looked very different from the place they'd all seen first thing. It had a proper party atmosphere and didn't look like a workshop at all.

'This is exactly what I'd hoped for,' Mrs Thomas said happily. 'Perfect. You were quite right Mike. You said we could do it and you've made it all happen. What do you think, dear?'

'Looks okay I s'pose.' Mike's father was clearly not a man of many words. He perked up at his wife's expression. 'Very nice indeed. I only hope you'll all be here tomorrow to un-decorate it all. We have to work again once this weekend is over and done.'

'I can come over tomorrow,' offered Joanne.

'Thank you my dear. Very good of you.'

'I'm just not sure where we will put all the balloons,' she smiled. 'I suppose we might pop them first.'

'I doubt there'll be very few left. You haven't met our balloon popping side of the family yet,' Mike said with a laugh. 'This year is a very much larger party than usual. There are a whole load of Aussies over.'

'They're family members?'

'They belong to my father's side. Six of them. My father's brother and wife and four younger folk. We met them last night and they're pretty riotous.'

'Should be fun tonight then. Now, if you can take me home, I'd like to get myself ready.'

'Okay. I suspect there's nothing much more to be done here. You brought the music over this morning, didn't you Dad?'

'What music?'

'All the stuff I recorded over the last week and a half.'

'So where is it?'

'On my iPod. Oh don't worry. I'll sort it later. Honestly, do it yourself or miss it out,' he grumbled as they were leaving. 'Thanks very much for all your help anyway. You worked hard all day. Hope you're not too weary now?'

'I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I'll have a bath and that will soon sort me out. Are you coming back to fetch me or should I drive myself?'

'Of course I'll fetch you. Good I got the car to myself for the day. Mel's gone away for the holiday so it's all mine. I'll pick you up at what, seven?'