Law of Attraction (5 page)

“Go ahead, I’m getting a drink,” Michael said walking off without a backward glance.

“I’ve been watching you. Your new dance partner isn’t quite up to scratch, is he? Won any competitions?” George smirked.

“I haven’t danced for a long time. You put me off.”

“Let’s see if you remember how to dance when you’ve got a proper partner.” George took her hand in his and held her close. “Ah, it’s a slow one.”

“Get off me, George.” Kay pulled her hand out of his grasp and shoved him away. She pushed through the crowded dance floor and made her way out to the street to breathe in the cool air. Leaning against the wall she gave a deep sigh of relief. She had never seen George like that before and from the smell of his breath guessed he’d been drinking.

“Is everything all right, Kay?” Michael was at her side looking concerned. “I saw you run out. What happened?”

“I couldn’t face a dance with the man who asked me, that’s all,” said Kay fighting to stay calm and appear normal.

“Did he make a nuisance of himself?” Michael narrowed his eyes and looked into the bright lights of the ballroom.

“No, not in that way.” Kay sighed. “That was George. I think he’d probably had a beer too many. He’s gone now.”

“Would you like to leave? Shall I fetch your things?”

Being with Michael emboldened Kay. “No, I’d like a glass of lemon squash and then I’d like to jive, please.”

Michael escorted Kay inside, found her a seat and brought her a drink which she sipped. Kay’s immediate thought was that she’d had a lucky escape from George. Her life had changed for the better in every way. She was completely over him now and that realisation gave her freedom.

The beat of the jive music and the fast movements kept them both literally on their toes as they cavorted on the dance floor. When the music ended a spontaneous round of applause broke out and laughter filled the room.

“I never knew dancing could be such fun,” said Michael, his lips close to her ear so that she could hear what he was saying. “The music seems to take over, doesn’t it?”

“That’s exactly how I feel,” replied Kay.

It was the end of the evening and when the last waltz struck up, Kay and Michael fitted easily into each other’s arms. He led her around the room one arm high on her back with the other one gently holding her hand. When the last strains receded and the dance was over, Michael bent his head and pressed his cheek against Kay’s; she didn’t pull away.

Chapter Five

Kay decided not to tell her parents all of the events at the Orchid Ballroom, but she did say, “I had a nice time and it was good to be dancing again. I enjoyed it. Michael’s quite a good dancer even if he told me otherwise.”

“Will you return to your competition dancing, do you think?” asked Kay’s mother.

Kay considered the question. “No, I think I’ll just dance for pleasure now. I’ll have more than enough to occupy me with all the other things going on in Blayton.”

“We’ll try not to interfere with your life, Kay, but do remember we’re always here for you when you need us.”

Kay felt a rush of warm affection for her parents; they’d always been supportive of her and she loved them. She’d miss them both.

“More roast potatoes, Kay?” Mr Watson asked.

“Please. I don’t know what Olive’s cooking is like so I’m going to make the most of this roast dinner. I’ll miss your cooking, Mum.”

“I hope that’s not all you’ll miss. You know I’d like to see where you’re going to be and meet your landlady, love. What about us helping you move? I know you want to be independent, but we’d like to lend a hand. Everything has happened so fast it’s hard to take it all in.” Mrs Watson looked worried.

“It’s all right, Mum, Olive is lovely, I’m sure you’ll take to her. My room’s really nice too. As soon as I’m settled you must come over and see for yourself. I’m sure you’ll be very happy with the situation. Please don’t worry about me, I’m a big girl now.” Kay reached over and squeezed her mum’s hand.

“She’ll worry all right, you know your mother, but we’re both pleased you’re making a new start. It’ll be good for you to get away from constant reminders of George who let you down so badly
,” Kay’s dad said wisely.

Kay thought back to that time, remembering how she’d felt when he’d gone off. “I feel better about George now. I suppose because I have so much else on my mind.”

“You and Michael seem to be spending a lot of time together. Do be careful.”

“I suppose we are together a lot, but we’ve had so much to do and we’re friends as well as colleagues.” She admitted to herself that Michael was a much nicer, kinder man than George. Now she wasn’t sure what she’d seen in George except for the fact that he was good at dancing. She supposed she’d been swept away with all the excitement and glamour of the competitions.

“I expect you’ll meet all sorts of new people. They’ll be getting a new accounts clerk to replace Charlie, you might get on with him.”

“Honestly, Mum, one minute you’re telling me to be careful in case I get my heart broken again and then you’re suggesting who I might get on with.”

“Well, I like Michael, but he’s not suitable, is he?”

Kay decided to change the subject. It didn’t matter whether or not Michael was
suitable, they were friends, that was all. “Dad, I’m going to need that old trunk from the attic to take my things. Would we be able to get it down after lunch? Michael’s coming to help me move my stuff at three.”

She noticed her mother raising her eyebrows at her father, but decided not to say anything. Now she would enjoy the treacle sponge and custard they were having for pudding.

* * *

Kay had just managed to close the lid of the trunk by sitting on it when she heard voices in the hall. “My trunk’s ready, Dad,” she called.

Michael came bounding up the stairs closely followed by Mr Watson. “We’ll carry it together, Kay.” The two men carried the heavy trunk down the stairs with care, trying to avoid damaging the paintwork.

Kay picked up a holdall and her handbag and had a last quick look round her room. Her lopsided teddy bear sat on the bed looking rather forlorn. “Oh, okay, I was going to leave you behind, but I suppose you’d better come.” She tucked the bear under her arm and feeling rather sad that she was leaving the room she’d had all her life she headed for the stairs and a fresh start.

* * *

“Your parents seem quite happy about you moving,” Michael said.

“I’m not sure Mum is. She really wants to see where I’m living to make sure it’s all right for me. It will be quite strange for them being on their own again. I’m an only child.”

“I don’t have any brothers or sisters either.” This confirmed what Kay had heard about Michael. She didn’t say anything as he was busy negotiating a series of bends in the road.

“It’s my favourite bit of the journey just ahead,” he said. “The woods are beautiful at all times of the year, but now in spring they’re superb. Shall we stop and have a quick walk or would you rather get to your new home and settle in?”

Kay was very happy to agree to a walk in the sunshine with Michael.

“Dappled, that’s what it is,” Kay said as she followed Michael carefully along a narrow pathway. “It’s very pretty when the sun shines through the leaves like that.”

“That’s not the only pretty thing in the woods.”

Kay held her breath. She was sure Michael was going to refer to her.

“Look at these stunning yellow flowers,” he said.

Kay tried not to show her disappointment. “They’re lovely. I wish I knew a bit more about wild flowers and their names. Shall we pick some for Miss Carter? I think she’d like them.” They both set to work picking the flowers, then Michael cut a bit of foliage with his penknife before they decided they had enough and set off back for the car.

In Elm Close, at Michael’s insistence, Kay went ahead to ring the front door bell. She glanced back to the parked car and Michael, who was struggling to unload the heavy trunk single-handedly. Wondering if she should have been more insistent about helping and if she should go back and offer again, the decision was taken out of her hands as Olive Carter opened the front door.

“Kay, how lovely to see you. Come along in.”

Kay handed over the bunch of flowers. “We picked these on the way. I hope you like them.”

“They are beautiful, thank you.” She peered out at Michael.

Hastily explaining, Kay said, “That’s Michael Harris, my boss. He kindly gave me a lift over here, but the trunk’s a bit heavy.” Together they watched Michael heave it from his father’s car and manoeuvre it up the front path.

He smiled at Olive as Kay introduced them.

“Leave the luggage in the hallway and Kay can unpack from there. Save chipping my staircase.” She looked at Kay and winked ever so slightly. Kay could relax now that Michael wouldn’t have to contemplate getting her things upstairs.

“I’ve just made myself a cup of tea. I’ll fetch cups and saucers for you two and pop these flowers in some water. Kay take Michael into the sitting room. Make yourself at home. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

“She seems nice,” said Michael flopping down in a fireside chair and looking around the room. “This place has a comfortable feel to it.”

“That’s what I thought,” replied Kay. “I’m so pleased to have found it.”

“So,” said Olive returning with the crockery, “you’re the solicitor who’s moving into the new premises in the High Street. Was it you I spoke to on the telephone about Kay?”

“That’s right, Miss Carter. I…”

Olive interrupted him. “You both must call me Olive. Miss Carter makes me feel old.”

Kay watched Olive as she chatted easily to Michael. In her opinion, she was older than her mother, probably around sixty with a fuzz of greyish white hair in a halo around her plump face. Her movements were slow and deliberate and it seemed as if nothing would upset her easily. She was looking forward to finding out a bit more about her landlady. Kay was sure she would have an interesting history. Suddenly she remembered her handbag which she’d forgotten to bring in from the car. It was still stuffed behind the front passenger seat. Excusing herself, she went to retrieve it.

“Kay’s a very valuable member of our work force,” Michael was telling Olive when she returned to the house. “I’m glad she’s found such a pleasant place to live and that you’ll be taking care of her. You’re very welcome to visit our office any time you like.”

“Thank you, Michael, I’ll bear that in mind when I need the assistance of a solicitor. It’s good to know what’s happening in town, though. I think you’re one of the first companies to move into the block. There’s a lot of change going on.”

After half an hour, Michael made his excuses and left Elm Close.

“Thank you very much for all you’ve done, Michael,” said Kay seeing him off at the front door.

“Glad to help,” he replied. “I’ll be in the office bright and early tomorrow morning, although I’m not sure what we’ll be doing as everything will still be new.”

He looked a bit forlorn, Kay thought. “There’ll be plenty going on,” she assured him.

Michael just nodded and walked to his car.

Olive’s suggestion of unpacking downstairs and transferring her belongings up to her room had been a good one. Kay looked around the unfamiliar room and felt a bit homesick. How could she feel that way so soon? Blinking away momentary feelings of sadness, she sat on the bed and fished around for something very important. “Well, Teddy,” she addressed her bear, “it’s just you and me now. We’ll be all right, won’t we?”

“I’ve made a salad, Kay,” called Olive.

“Coming.” She propped Teddy up on her pillow and went downstairs.

Over the meal, Olive said, “I’ll prepare breakfast for you each morning, about eight o’clock if that’s all right. You haven’t far to go to work. At the weekends, I’ll leave you to get your own because I know you young people sometimes like a lie-in. What do you like to eat?”

“Almost everything. I’m not keen on offal.”

“No stuffed hearts then!”

“No, thank you.”

“I like making puddings and baking. It was a bit of a job during the war years and after, until rationing finished. I used to swap things I wasn’t bothered about for flour, eggs and sugar.”

“I love puddings.”

“My downfall is boiled sweets.” Olive reached into the pocket of her cardigan and pulled out a paper bag. “Humbugs. We’ll have one with our cup of tea. Now what time do you finish work?”

“Six o’clock,” said Kay.

“That’s what I thought. I’ll have a meal for you at about seven. If you’re going out to eat perhaps you’d give me as much notice as possible.”

“Where would I go?”

“I think your boss, Michael, might ask you out for a meal,” smiled Olive.

Kay felt her cheeks growing warm. “I have been out with him to eat and to the Orchid Ballroom dancing.”

“In that case, I’m sure there will be many more occasions.”

“He’s a good friend,” said Kay, spearing a piece of cucumber and popping it in her mouth.

Kay helped Olive to clear the table and washed up the few bits of crockery. “It’ll help me find out where things live,” she said when Olive insisted she didn’t have to help. When everything was neat and tidy once again, Kay said, “Can I look at the garden, please?”

“Help yourself. I’ll come with you.”

Together they toured the
overgrown garden at the back of the house. “As I said when I first showed you round, I don’t do much out here.”

Kay wondered what her dad would have said. He prided himself on keeping their garden at home neat and tidy. There were always fresh vegetables growing and a pretty array of flowers which her mum would pick for the vases in the house. “I don’t mind cutting the grass,” she offered, hoping Olive wouldn’t take offence.

“Good, I was hoping you’d say that.” Olive let out a giggle which took Kay by surprise. This woman had unexpected qualities. “Do what you like with it.” She shivered. “I’m going in now, it’s a bit chilly.” She pulled her cardigan around her and headed towards the back door.

Kay remained in the garden a little longer
, familiarising herself with it. It would be good to have a project which didn’t involve work. Or Michael. Perhaps she was being too reliant on being with him. She didn’t want to be in a situation where she substituted Michael for her parents; she’d soon be twenty-one and she needed to gain independence. Looking up at her bedroom window, Kay felt a lot happier now that she was forming plans.

She had another quick walk round the garden and tried to see it through her father’s eyes. He would want to use it to produce as many vegetables and as much salad as possible. She’d draw a diagram and decide how best to use the space. Olive had seemed very pleased with the flowers so she would definitely grow flowers to cut, maybe dahlias and chrysanthemums. She was quite sure Olive would be pleased if there was fresh produce to eat as well. What a pity she couldn’t grow humbugs.

The evening was getting dark and it was time to go back inside the house. There was a television in the corner of the sitting room, but Olive had the radio tuned to a music station. She was sitting with a basket of wool on her lap. “I’m supposed to be knitting something for the church bazaar, but can’t decide what,” she said.

“Mum knits Dad’s socks, but he says they’re a bit knobbly,” laughed Kay.

“What about you, do you knit?”

“No, I’m useless at both knitting and sewing. Mum used to make all my clothes when I was younger, she does sometimes still make things for me. But she did buy me a beautiful dress for when I go dancing.”