Knowing Me Knowing You (49 page)

‘
Joel has terrible post-traumatic stress, he blames himself for everything,
’
Kate informed her.

‘
Darren had nightmares to begin with but he seems to be dealing with it now, he sees a counsellor, well that’s what he tells me, could be at the pub for all I know.
’

‘
Perhaps if they start talking to each other it might help them both,
’
Kate remarked, watching as Darren and Joel joked with each other and between them picked up the luggage.

‘
Oh here she comes, wearing some sort of bizarre jump suit. Oh and she has two suitcases!
For one night!
’
Lynn
remarked as Miranda entered the hotel, Andrew Kent following her like a lapdog.

‘
Gold sandals and Gucci sunglasses,
’
Kate said as the two women watched Miranda make her entrance.

‘
And a thong.
’

‘
Enough information,
’
Kate told her.

‘
So have you got a great room?
’

‘
We have a view of the London Eye apparently.
’

‘
Cool! Good God, who is that? Skin tight jeans or what?
And a smaller top than any of the Lady Dragon’s.
Oh! Oh! I recognise her, that’s....,
’
Lynn
remarked as a tall blonde haired woman entered the foyer.

‘
Marina
,
’
Kate remarked as she watched the woman walk up to the reception desk and enthusiastically greet Joel.

‘
She’s going to kiss him, bet she goes for the mouth,
’
Lynn
commented as Kate watched the scene, unable to keep her eyes away.

Both the women watched as
Marina
threw her arms around Joel and kissed his lips.

Kate felt her chest tighten and she tried to swallow the feeling away. She had no right to feel jealous, she had spent the past couple of months sending out mixed messages and wishing she was back with her cheating ex-husband. She couldn’t stop looking though and didn’t like the way Joel’s arm had circled
Marina
’s tiny waist.

‘
Hussy!
She can’t stop touching him, maybe we should go and join them, make her realise who they belong to. She touches Darren and I’ll swing for her,
’
Lynn
remarked, eyeing
Marina
with suspicion.

Kate continued to survey the scene as Marina and Joel spoke to one another. There was no denying they made an extremely good-looking couple.
Marina
touched Joel’s arm and he smiled and let out a laugh. Darren then began showing off his new hand and began trying to tickle
Marina
with the plastic fingers and she giggled loudly, flicking back her blonde hair. Now who did that remind her of?

‘
Right, that’s it, she’s going down,
’
Lynn
announced and she began to stride over to the reception desk.

‘
No! Don’t
Lynn
, please, just ignore her, she’s not interested in Darren, she’s interested in Joel, just leave
her,
’
Kate insisted, grabbing
Lynn
by the arm and dragging her back towards her.

‘
Are you going to just let her stand there and crawl all over your man?
’
Lynn
asked, staring at Kate with wide eyes.

‘
I’m no competition for her, look at her, she’s perfect, I’m a wreck,
I
have split ends, stretch marks and
Bethan
. Anyway, Joel deserves so much better than me,
’
Kate stated, still looking over at him.

‘
Kate….,
’
Lynn
began in serious tones.

‘
Hello ladies, it’s a perfect day for the final isn’t it?
’
Miranda’s voice announced as she arrived at Kate’s side, still wearing her sunglasses.

‘
I think the sun beds are that way,
’
Lynn
remarked before she could stop herself.

‘
It’s a relief to be off that wretched coach I can tell you. One cup of coffee and one toilet stop, still, back to luxury here, Andrew and I are in an executive suite with a view of the London Eye apparently,
’
Miranda continued.

‘
So are Kate and Joel,
’
Lynn
commented.

‘
That’s nice. I see Joel has a new friend over there,
’
Miranda remarked, indicating
Marina
.

‘
That’s his sister,
’
Lynn
said quickly.

‘
Oh really, come to support you both, that’s perfect,
’
Miranda responded.

‘
We better find the bar hadn’t we
Lynn
, haven’t had a drink since Fleet,
’
Kate spoke, taking
Lynn
’s arm.

‘
Well I’m sure I will see you both around the pool later, supposed to really hot up this afternoon,
’
Miranda said smiling and flicking her hair back.

‘
Maybe, after short mat bowls,
’
Kate responded with a sigh.

‘
Come on, let’s get you that drink,
’
Lynn
said, leading the way across the foyer.

‘
Two large rum and cokes please,
’
Lynn
ordered as she and Kate sat down on a bar stool.

‘
Why is she here now? I mean I know he said she was coming to the show tonight but it’s not even lunchtime, what is she doing here? Is she going to be here all day?
’
Kate questioned.

‘
So you are bothered about
Marina
.
’

‘
Of course I’m bothered by her, she’s all over Joel, all over him, kissing him and touching him, and who can blame her. I’ve been such an idiot, I’ve pushed him away and now it’s too late.
’

‘
Dur
!
How can it be too late? She’s been around two minutes, you’ve been doing this show with him for two months, you’re in the final with him tonight,
you’re
sharing an executive suite.
’

‘
He doesn’t care about me any more, not like he used to. And that’s my fault because I’ve spent too much time hankering after Matthew.
’

‘
The
minger
,
’
Lynn
added.

‘
Yeah, the
minger
,
’
Kate agreed.

‘
I see, bad news Joel mate, they’re on the rum already,
’
Darren spoke as he and Joel arrived at the bar.

‘
We haven’t paid yet, what do you want?
’
Lynn
offered.

‘
Two lagers will be the
order
of the day I think don’t you Joel?
’
Darren said with a grin.

‘
Sounds good,
’
Joel replied.

Kate picked up her drink and drank a huge gulp.

‘
Where’s
Marina
?
’
she questioned, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

‘
Oh you saw her, why didn’t you come over? I would have introduced you.
’

‘
We were talking to the Lady Dragon. So where is she? Getting ready for short mat bowls?
’
Kate
enquired
, jealousy leaking out.

‘
She’s gone shopping. She just came in to check what time it started tonight.
’

‘
She’s a
looker
that
Marina
isn’t she?
’
Darren commented.

‘
Oh she is
is
she?
’
Lynn
remarked, glaring at her husband.

‘
Well, obviously nothing in comparison to you love, but you know, not bad,
’
Darren said quickly.

‘
She takes an hour to put her make-up on in the morning and even longer to take it off at night,
’
Joel informed him.

‘
Oh aye
aye
!
Knows her early morning routines eh?
’

‘
I’ll have another one of these please,
’
Kate spoke, passing her glass over the bar to the barman.

‘
Yeah, and me,
’
Lynn
added, passing her glass too.

‘
Have I done something to upset you?
’
Joel asked, sensing Kate’s mood.

‘
You?
No, of course not, I’m just dreading the contestant lunch that’s all; can’t we skip it and go for a swim?
’

‘
As much as I would love to, I think we ought to check out the other contestants, see what we’re up against. We can always sneak out before the bowls starts.
’

‘
Is that a promise?
’

‘
Sure.
’

‘
So, you and Darren have talked?
’
Kate asked as she saw Darren disappear towards the gents.

‘
Not properly, not about that day, but he’s the same old Darren and we’re good.
’

‘
I’m glad.
’

‘
Yeah, me too.
It’s a step in the right direction.
’

‘
HELLO! If I could have your attention! Could all the ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ contestants meet in the dining room at 1.00pm, that’s in twenty five minutes
time.
There will be a three course meal followed by a photo shoot and a game of short mat bowls. Is Kate Baxter here?
’
Becky the TV company assistant shouted loudly.

Kate froze as her name was called out and everyone started scanning the room waiting to see what was about to happen.

‘
She’s here!
’
Lynn
shouted, pointing at Kate.

‘
Oh Kate, good, this arrived for you, very beautiful,
’
Becky spoke and she handed Kate a yellow and white bouquet of gerberas.

‘
Oh, thank you,
’
Kate spoke, her face flushing with embarrassment as all eyes were trained on her.

‘
Wow! That’s gorgeous,
’
Lynn
said, admiring the flowers.

‘
It was Hermione’s idea, not mine; she said everyone would have one,
’
Kate responded, still flushed.

‘
It’s your wedding day; you should have whatever you want,
’
Lynn
told her.

Kate smiled and looked up at Joel. If only.

Kate slipped on her gold strappy sandals and then turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror. The reflection took her back; memories filled her head and tears sprung to her eyes. She felt like she had spent the last year crying.

The dress Hermione had made was gorgeous. Any bride would have been proud to wear it on their special day. It was full length, tight at the bust, in at the waist and then it flowed down in a straight, pleated style, finishing at the floor.

‘
It’s almost 5.00pm,
’
Joel called from the living area of their suite.

‘
OK, I’m just coming,
’
Kate hurriedly called back, swallowing the ball of emotion in her throat and preparing to leave the bedroom.