Knowing Me Knowing You (28 page)

Joel made omelettes with the contents of Kate’s fridge plus some tinned mushrooms and new potatoes he found at the back of the cupboard.

‘
They taste better with fresher ingredients,
’
he admitted as they ate.

‘
It’s nice,
’
Kate replied, eating hungrily.

‘
And you saw how easy it was.
’

‘
Yes, yes, I’m a lazy working mother, whose idea of cooking is ripping the lid off a Pot Noodle, I know, I know.
’

‘
So, have you found a talent yet?
’

‘
Yes I have,
’
Kate answered with a smile.

‘
Really?
I’m impressed, that’s quick work. So what is it?
’

‘
I’m not telling you.
’

‘
Oh come on, I told you mine.
’

‘
No, my lips are sealed. Besides if I say the words out loud I will probably realise how crazy the idea is and change my mind about the whole thing.
’

‘
Am I allowed to guess?
’

‘
Absolutely not.
’

‘
Contortion?
’

‘
Joel!
’

‘
Escapology?
’

‘
No.
’

‘
Plate spinning?
’

‘
I’m not saying.
’

Joel laughed and finished his omelette.

‘
I can’t wait to hear you play the guitar. What style do you play in? Are you more
Jimi
Hendrix or The G
i
psy Kings?
’

‘
Somewhere in between, I hope.
’

‘
The Lady Dragon doesn’t think I have what it takes to be a solicitor. She cornered me today, tried to put the thumbscrews on. Told me how much hard work it would be and how I couldn’t possibly cope, especially as I
have a child,
’
Kate spoke suddenly, changing the conversation.

‘
You mean she’s frightened you might have
just
what it takes,
’
Joel replied.

‘
Maybe.
’

‘
Do you want to be a solicitor?
’

‘
I don’t know what I want to be.
’

‘
What did you want to be before Matthew left?
’

‘
Just a wife and a mother with a decent job that paid reasonably well, that’s what I was, that was all I wanted to be, I didn’t need to think any more about it.
’

‘
Then apart from the marital status nothing’s changed. You’re a mother with a decent job; you don’t need to be a wife to feel complete. Haven’t we had this conversation once before?
’

‘
I don’t need a man to make me feel complete, but I miss the feeling of security. I wasn’t on my own, I had someone to share the responsibilities with, share the decision making with, it’s very lonely at
three a.m.
when you’re tired and your daughter’s vomited every half an hour for the whole night and you’re the only person she can rely on.
’

‘
There are plenty of single mothers out there doing a fantastic job and you have Hermione.
’

‘
I don’t want to be a single mother, in fact that was the last thing I ever wanted to be
.
I wanted to be married before I had children, I wanted to do things right, the old-fashioned way. I thought I was doing things right and now what I have isn’t what I wanted.
’

‘
Plans go awry; some things are just out of your control.
’

‘
You think I’m stupid,
’
Kate said with a sigh.

‘
No, of course I don’t.
I just think you put too much pressure on yourself. From what I can see, apart from not looking after yourself very well, you do a terrific job looking after
Bethan
and working and trying to do
everything you can to keep things on an even keel,
’
Joel told her.

‘
Like entering a relationship contest in a bid to win some money off my mortgage?
’

‘
That is dedication of the highest order,
’
Joel agreed with a smile.

‘
You think I should get the DNA test done.
’

‘
I think you should get it done and not give Matthew any reason to hold back paying for his daughter.
’

‘
You’re right, he’s done this because he knows it will upset me and I shouldn’t still let him do that.
’

‘
That’s the spirit. Now
,
tell me about this talent.
’

‘
No, but I will give you a
clue.
I
t involves a lot of ruffles and some feathers.
’

‘
You’re going to do an impersonation of the Love Dove?
’
Joel guessed.

‘
No!
’
Kate answered with a laugh.

‘
Ooo
, it has a fountain at the entrance!
’
Kate exclaimed excitedly as Joel pulled the car up to the reception of
Waterfield
Country
Park
.

The day of the next show had arrived and they had travelled for an hour and a half to the outskirts of
Bournemouth
. Kate was both nervous and excited. She had drunk a litre of water and eaten a family
-
sized bag of crisps, two Kit Kats and an orange that Joel had insisted she ate when they stopped at the services for
smoothies
.

‘
A fountain is surely a good sign; I read somewhere that fountains are a symbol of success,
’
Joel said, turning off the engine.

‘
Stop teasing me, you sound like
Mione
! Let’s get the keys! Let’s go and see our lodge,
’
Kate spoke excitedly, leaping out of the car and hurrying to the reception office.

‘
I see someone’s got excited, having spent the first half an hour of the journey worrying whether
she’d
left enough clothes for
Bethan
for one night and wondering if she’s going to need more than the two bags of toys you packed,
’
Joel said as he followed her.

‘
I can’t remember the last time I stayed away. OK, having to stand on stage with a giant bird and Larry Rawlins is a major downside
,
but let’s hope the luxurious lodge compensates for it. Come on!
’
Kate ordered, leading the way.

Before she even got through the door Kate caught sight of a shock of pink hair.

Becky pulled open the door and
unleashed
a party popper straight in Kate’s face.

‘
Hello guys, come in, come in!
’
Becky spoke
,
ushering the two of them into reception.

‘
I think I’ve got a bit of coloured string in my eye,
’
Kate remarked, trying to pull the papery coils from her face.

‘
Right, let me take you through the itinerary. You’ve got about an hour to settle in, everything should be set up for you in the romance lodge, if not just give reception a call and they will sort everything out. At
three
we have a photo call on the piazza followed by
drinks and canapés and at five
we have poolside games where you get to relax and let your hair down with the other contestants. We then need you dressed
and ready for the show at seven
in the green
room before we go live at eight,
’
Becky announced and she handed Joel and Kate a piece of A4 paper.

‘
Then we better have our keys because it doesn’t seem like we have long to unpack,
’
Kate remarked, looking at the itinerary.

‘
Here we are, RL
forty two
, here’s your park map and your club and fitness suite passes
.
I
t’s just past reception, second turning on the left,
’
Becky spoke, handing the information to Joel.

‘
Thanks. Come on,
’
Kate spoke, tugging at Joel’s arm and moving towards the door.

‘
Enjoy! See you later!
’
Becky called as the couple left reception.

‘
Poolside games?
Photo call and canapés! This accommodation better be good,
’
Kate announced as she got into the car.

‘
Ooo
, a hot tub!
Do we have to go to a photo call? Can’t we just stay here?
’
Kate asked excitedly.

‘
Do you want to upset the girl with pink hair?
’

‘
Ooo
, there’s a flat screen TV with surround sound, a remote control fire, lovely dining table crying out for a ready meal,
ooo
a big bath and a double shower and a television set right into the wall of the bathroom, and a sauna, goodness! Oh
-
oh dear,
’
Kate suddenly remarked as she looked into the bedroom.

‘
What’s the matter? It was all sounding so good,
’
Joel spoke, moving into the lodge to join her.

‘
There’s,
er
, only one bed. Only one bedroom,
’
Kate remarked
her cheeks going red.

‘
Oh,
w
ell that’s OK; I can sleep on the sofa,
’
Joel responded immediately.

‘
No, that’s not fair, we’ll toss a coin for it, the loser sleeps on the sofa,
’
Kate suggested.

‘
I don’t mind honestly and you said you can’t remember the last time you stayed away, you should have the bed,
’
Joel insisted.

‘
I know
it
’
s
romance and everything but I did stupidly think there would be more than one bedroom.
’

‘
It’s fine. I’ll go and get the bags,
’
Joel said.

As soon as Joel left the lodge Kate got out her phone and dialled Hermione’s number.

‘
Hello.
’

‘
I’ll have to be quick, there’s a problem, there’s only one bedroom!
’

‘
So there should be, it
is
a romance lodge
.
W
hat are you going to do? Bunk up and see what happens?
’

‘
No! Of course not! Joel’s offered to sleep on the sofa but that’s very small and he’s really tall and I feel bad about it.
’

‘
Then bunk up! Look at him Sweetie, what’s not to like?
’

‘
Mione
, stop it! Yes, yes, we’re fine, got here in good time,
is
Bethan
OK?
’
Kate spoke hurriedly as Joel re-entered the lodge.

‘
Have a few drinks, play your quiz game and then jump on him as soon as you get back there,
’
Hermione spoke.

‘
That’s good, I’m glad she’s fine. You have got
Lynn
’s mobile number haven’t you? Just in case you need to call during the show. She’s going to keep her phone on and pass me any urgent messages by semaphore.
’