Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,33

heard his name called, jauntily, from the door. He looked across and there was Kathleen, her beautiful curtain of hair shining in the sunlight. She let the door close behind her and came over to the bar. David leant over and kissed her.

“What brings you here?

“Great news!” Kathleen was grinning.

“We won the Sweep? Did we have a ticket?”

“Twins!”

“Where?” David was puzzled. Kathleen pointed at her stomach.

“Here! Isn’t it great? Two babies!” Kathleen leaned over the counter again, expecting another kiss. Davis felt weak. He looked across at this grinning girl and wondered what she had to do with him. Why he was married to her. Why he had even taken her out the second time. Lack of imagination I suppose, he thought. Or too busy studying for the honours degree to look for girls. Found one, or rather one found me and it was easier to keep her than think about it too much. A total eejit. He realised Kathleen was talking and tried to listen.

“Well? Aren’t you going to say anything? Aren’t you pleased?”

“Why would I be pleased?”

“Babies are lovely and now we’ll have two instead of one. Doubley lovely. A whole family. And they might be born a bit sooner, the doctor says.” She smiled at him again, her eyes crinkling. “Go on, say it!”

“Say what? That I’m happy to have been trapped and extra happy that I’m going to have double the expenses? How do I even know you’re not lying again?”

“You’re meant to say ‘congratulations!’ and give me a kiss,” said Kathleen and her lower lip trembled. “You’re spoiling it.”

“Well, you’re the expert at spoiling things, you should know. Now, you’d better go and let me get on. I need to keep this job.”

“You’re no fun. I’m going to go and phone Sandra and see if she’s happier for me.”

Of course she’ll be happy for you, David mused as he cleaned out the coffee percolator. Sandra doesn’t have to pay for the babies. Or look after them. Oh God, what am I going to do?

“The advice from here is to hang on in. It’s only for a few months. And you will love the babies – sorry about it being twins, not something we can always control, but you’ll love them both. Like I said, your Mum will help. Once you’re on your own, you can concentrate better on your studying and things should go fine. So, like you said, just get on with the job. One day at a time. Try to love Kathleen for the time you have her, it will be easier on you afterwards if you have been friends. She has beautiful hair.”

I wonder if the babies will get Kay’s lovely hair, or will they get mine? Nothing wrong with mine of course, but hers has a real gloss, just like a fresh conker. David’s thoughts went blank for a moment and then he smiled to himself as he realised he had thought of the babies, not just as trouble, but as two people.

“Well, just about. They will be. The souls for them are chosen, I think you’ll like them. You’ve worked with both of them before. Well done, keep concentrating on the positives. And on your job, looks like you have a customer.”

David let himself into the flat as quietly as he could and hung up his jacket. He sat down by the window and looked out at the dark sky. Two babies, he thought. My sons, or daughters, or one of each maybe. Mine. Maybe they’ll play football with me. Or tennis. They might like camping and when we have some money, maybe we can buy a dinghy and I’ll teach them to sail. If I haven’t forgotten how by then. No, Dave, no negatives. Try to think positively, like that mad drunk said this evening. Funny how someone half jarred can seem to make sense.

“Good, that, wasn’t it? Though I say so myself. He was drunk enough to have let down some defences and his guide and I managed to get through to him. He told you what I wanted you to hear. Drunks will say anything, if we’re lucky. Often they garble the whole thing, but he was a good one. You owe him a pint.” Jotin laughed.

“‘Just love her today’ he said, ‘and tomorrow love her tomorrow and if you don’t feel like it, pretend and maybe you’ll convince yourself’. So maybe I’ll try it. How did he know it would make sense to me?” David was