Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 875 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

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I sent Julie in to check on Livvie and Meems, while Trish laid the table for me. “So you just had to go and see Julie, even though I asked you to leave her alone?”

“Um–yes, Mummy,” she blushed a lovely shade of strawberry pink, “I wanted to see that she was alright.”

“Was that for her sake or to sate your curiosity?”

“What does that mean, Mummy?”

“You were itching to see she was okay, so you followed your nose.”

“Um–unless I walk backwards, Mummy, I always follow my nose.” She looked perplexed and I never learn that it’s impossible to have deep meaningful discussions with a five year old.

I’d lost the initiative, so changed the subject slightly. “You did some healing on her?”

“Sort of, I offered to rub some cream you use to heal things, on the bruise on her neck–it faded quite a bit.”

“Two things, Missy. When I tell you not to do something–don’t go ahead and do it; next time I shall be cross.” I watched her colour rise even her ears were bright pink. “And secondly, don’t use things like creams without checking with me first–unless you know what they do.”

“Yes, Mummy,” I could see she was itching to escape my chastisement.

“Finish the table and then go and read for a while, ask Julie to listen to you.”

“Yes, Mummy,” she sighed and after a moment at the table was gone.

Am I turning into a crabby old git? Two of my kids might think so, however, I don’t give them many instructions, so when I do I expect them to be understood and followed. At least she didn’t cry this time, or talk back.

I checked the stew, it was time to put on the vegetables to boil, those that weren’t already in it. I looked at the clock, Tom should be here by now. I called his mobile.

“We’re stuck ahent a muckle great van, who’s gone sideways blocking yon street.”

“Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, does your lift want to eat with us?”

“Och, I'll ask him,” there was a pause and some muffled voices. “Whit is it?”

“Steak and kidney stew.”

More muffled voices followed, “Aye, that’ll be twa fer dinner, then.”

“See you when you get here.” I clicked off the phone.

Desserts? I know one day I’ll get my just pudding–doesn’t sound the same does it? The locusts in the other room will clean up a pudding faster than a swarm of army ants. I quickly made up a sponge mixture and slung it in the oven over some chopped and sweetened apple. By the time we eat dinner, it’ll be well cooked. Now, do we have enough milk for custard, or Sauce Anglaise?

The Land Cruiser turned into the drive as I was killing the gas under the spuds–good ol’ Tom, right on time. Who was the driver? Someone well wrapped up against the cold. Hmm, taller than Tom. Who can it be?

The doorbell went and there was a flurry of children in the hall to open the door. I stayed in the kitchen out of the way, there were enough mobile hazards in the hall by the sound of it.

“Whaur’s yer Ma?” I heard Tom ask one of the kids.

“In the kitchen I think, Gramps.”

I of course was combing my hair and checking myself–I was a total mess.

“Cathy, whaur are ye?”

I went out to the hallway and standing there alongside Daddy was a most beautiful man. Talk about tall, dark and handsome–he was tall, dark and absolutely beautiful with two brown eyes like velvet chocolate, which were calling to me to try.

“Cathy, I wis tellin’ ye this is Gareth. Cathy–if ye please.”

“Oh–um, sorry, Daddy.” I held out my hand which I hoped wasn’t trembling too much.

“Nice to meet you at last. I got held up getting to the meeting this morning.”

Back on planet earth, I tried to focus, “You got to the meeting?”

“Yes, I was staying at a hotel in town, so didn’t have to come that far.”

“It’s very good of you to give Daddy a lift home,” I smiled at him but wanted to taste that forbidden delight.

“Well, actually, I wanted to meet you.”

“Me?” I gasped, he wanted to meet me–wow, have I died and gone to heaven?

“Yes, I’m concerned by the way Southampton are trying to muscle in on your project–Tom tells me, you’re the main architect of the survey.”

“Mummy,” Trish was yanking at my top.

“Just a minute, sweetheart, I’m talking.”

“Mummeee”–she yanked extra hard.

“What?” I snapped at her.

“The kitchen’s on fire.”

“Oh my God,” I dashed into the kitchen where smoke was coming from the oven. I immediately switched it off and opened the door–the smoke alarm started its shrill peeping which added to my stress.

The sponge, thankfully was okay, so a little brown on top, but the custard would cover that and it shouldn’t break too many teeth. I’d covered it with some greaseproof paper and that had fallen off and ignited in the oven.

Once everything and everyone had calmed down, I dished up dinners for everyone including Stella who was now openly flirting with wotsisname. Huh, bloody trollop–I’m a happily married woman–but those dreamy brown eyes were doing something to my tummy–like cartwheels.

Stella made the mistake of sitting next to him, I was opposite–God, he is absolutely bloody gorgeous. It transpired that he was the Natural England field officer for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Surrey: which explained his interest in meeting me, and why he was coming to the meeting.

Stella was really pissed when we three scientists decamped to the study, and Julie was flirting with her eyes over the table but Gareth was ignoring her–serve the little tart right.

The meeting was very useful and Gareth was really supporting us, and would be at the next meeting. At nine he said, “Well, I’d best try and get back to my hotel...”

“You can sleep with me”–My God, what did I just say?–“I mean you can stay here tonight, it’ll give the snow ploughs and gritters a chance to shift some of the white stuff.”

His eyes widened to saucers at my initial remark, he smiled when I got embarrassed and flustered, then finally got it together.

“I’d love to sleep with you, Cathy, but I suspect your hubby would be far from thrilled.”

I blushed like a tomato, in fact you could probably cook one on my face, I felt so hot–matched only–by how stupid I felt: yet something inside me felt this frisson of excitement make my whole body buzz.

“I’d better go,” he winked at me. I helped him on with his coat and tucked in his scarf for him, he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. “Thanks for a delicious meal.”

Tom saw him off, giving me a scowl as he did so. I retreated to the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher, the stuff was still quite warm.

Tom came into the kitchen and shut the door. “Whit wis all that aboot? Ye can sleep with me?”

“Nothing, Daddy, I was thinking about something else,” talk about Freudian slip, that was more like a full set of lingerie than a simple petticoat.

“Ye’re a newly-wed, hae ye nae shame?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I felt myself blushing again.

The doorbell rang and interrupted Tom dressing me down. “Mummy,” said Livvie, “Dr Gareth is back–his car won’t start.”