LITMIR.BIZ

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I agreed, hoping that he hadn’t picked up on what Linda clearly thought was going on.

      ‘You’ve been here a few times, then?’

      ‘We come as a group sometimes, all the rescue centre workers and volunteers. Linda has had a couple of rescues from us and she’s great at finding people who might be looking for a new pet too, so she’s a great resource.’

      ‘Looks like she’s got us a table,’ Michael said as Linda waved at us across the room.

      ‘Great. I’m starving.’

      ‘That’s what happens when you don’t have bacon sarnies in bed,’ Michael whispered close to my ear as he bent to avoid another beam.

      I looked round and his eyes were dancing with laughter. He wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn’t help laughing.

      ‘Harlot,’

      ‘I try.’

      I shook my head and scooched into the corner seat by the window that Linda had found us. Michael took the one opposite.

      ‘Do you know what you want or do you want some time to look at the menu?’ Linda asked.

      ‘I’m going to have one of your Sunday roasts, but Michael might want a few minutes to look.’

      ‘No, I’m fine. If she says the roasts are good, that’s enough recommendation for me. I’ll have the same.’ He smiled and Linda nodded, a big grin on her face. Taking the menus off the table, she turned to me.

      ‘I’ll put a rush on them,’ she said, then walked off, fanning herself with the menu.

      I couldn’t help but laugh.

      ‘Sorry,’ I said, not quite able to look at him.

      ‘What for?’

      ‘Linda’s…misconceptions.’

      ‘Why should you be sorry?’

      I shrugged my shoulders. ‘I don’t know. Just seems a little awkward.’

      The drinks arrived and I gratefully took advantage of the distraction.

      ‘Don’t worry about it. The fact that she thinks we’re ordering quickly so that I can get you back to bed doesn’t do my ego any harm.’

      I felt my mouth drop open. Michael’s lips teased a smile at my expression.

      ‘I don’t think your ego is ever in any danger.’

      Michael did a maybe yes maybe no head wobble and took a sip of his drink.

      ‘I’m sorry if it’s made you feel uncomfortable though. I can put her right if it’ll make you feel better.’

      I lifted my eyes. His face was serious.

      ‘Katie – ’

      ‘Two roast beef with all the trimmings,’ the waitress announced before lowering the plates and catching sight of my lunch companion. At which point, his plate went down on the table and the contents of mine went on my lap. Stuck in the corner, I couldn’t jump up quick enough and, shit, that gravy was hot!

      ‘Oh my God!’ the waitress shrieked as she realised what she’d done. ‘I’m so sorry! Are you OK? Can I get you a cloth?’

      ‘Take both of those back to the kitchen Emily,’ Linda said, bustling up. Like any good landlady, she had eyes everywhere and had obviously seen the mishap. I, meanwhile, had wiggled out of the window seat and was now frantically wiping at my jeans to remove food detritus. In my hurried attempts to get out of my seat, I’d also managed to knock over my drink, which although making the mess worse had at least stopped the burning sensation from the gravy, so silver linings and all that. Linda handed me more napkins and, after a few minutes, I had at least got the worst off. My jeans felt cold next to my skin, I felt a complete idiot and I was still starving. But apart from that, everything was just peachy.

      ‘I’ll go and get you both new meals. I’m so sorry Kate. Of course, all of this is on the house.’

      ‘No Linda please. It was an accident. I want to pay.’

      ‘Too bad. I’m not taking your money. Now, I’ve found a table nearer the fire, it’ll help dry you out.’

      ‘No, really. We’re fine here. Honestly.’

      ‘This table is booked. Sorry, my mistake. That one by the fire is the only one free.’

      I gave Linda a look as we changed tables and she smiled.

      ‘I’m never coming here again, you know that?’ I said.

      ‘Sure, sure. Now, here you go. Isn’t that better?’

      It was, I had to admit.

      ‘Now, I’ll be right back with your food and another drink for you. Do you want anything else sweetheart?’ Linda directed her question to Michael.

      ‘No, I’m good thanks.’

      She smiled. ‘I bet,’ she winked at me and headed off to the kitchen.

      ‘Are you OK?’ Michael asked once she’d gone.

      ‘Yes, yes,’ I said, waving the enquiry away, trying to pretend I wasn’t horribly embarrassed at the whole scenario.

      ‘You really don’t like people making a fuss of you, do you?’

      ‘It’s not that. I was just fine where we were.’

      ‘Katie jeans are bloody horrible when they get wet and your teeth were beginning to chatter.’

       I conceded that he might have a point.

      ‘Are you warming up?’

      ‘Yes. Thank you.’

      He shook his head.

      ‘What?’

      ‘When you realised I’d come off my bike the other day, you were fussing around me within moments – in a good way!’ He held up his hand before I could say anything. ‘And I know for a fact you are always checking on Janey and the kids, especially now with the baby coming. But the moment someone tries to do the same to you, you look like you just want to disappear.’

      I pulled a napkin off the table and dabbed at my lap with it, more as something to do with my hands than for any effective purpose.

      Because Michael was absolutely right. It wasn’t that I didn’t like people fussing over me. It was more that I just had no idea how to react to it. It had always been me taking care of others, a role I had grown up with and got used to. It was the way it had always been and one I knew I was good at.

      I shook my head and tried to laugh it off. ‘I just don’t like a fuss.’

      Michael looked like he was about to say something else but Linda’s arrival with the dinners interrupted.

      ‘Right. Let’s try again, shall we?’ She placed the plates and my drink down safely. ‘Are you warming up again now? Are you sure you don’t need to check that gravy didn’t burn you?’

      ‘No, really Linda, I’m OK. Honestly.’

      ‘It’s just – ’

      ‘I’ll make sure she’s all right,’ Michael interrupted, a charming and disarming smile on his face.

      Linda looked at him, then at me, smiled and nodded. ‘OK. Well, so long as I know you’re in good hands.’ She winked at me again. ‘Bon appetit.’ And she was off.

      ‘Now she definitely thinks we’re an item.’

      Michael shrugged as he dug in.

      ‘It did the trick, didn’t it?’ He took a forkful. ‘Mmm, this is really good!’

      He was right. It had done the trick. Of course it had.

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