Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,81
Jen gave a surreptitious thumbs-up and Lucy laughed, feeling very happy.
The bus came into view almost as soon as they reached her stop, rattling round the corner and up Nassau Street at a great rate. Martin only had time to take Lucy’s hand and again kiss the back of it. Her heart sang and she promised him she would be at home tomorrow if he phoned.
At home, the house was quiet. Lucy tiptoed to her room, wishing she could sing and dance her way there and express some of the excitement that was fizzing out of her. ‘I could have danced all night!’ she hummed softly to herself as she let herself into her room and closed the door. It immediately opened and Alison looked round it.
“Well, how’d it go? D’ya find me one?”
“I found five. You can have four of them. One of them’s mine.” Lucy sat down on the bed and patted the place beside her.
“Yes, tell her all. Then Kumbal can get working.”
“You know, I can’t explain it, but I feel as though I’ve known him for years.”
“You have. It doesn’t mean he’s good for you. Cut loose now, before it’s too late.”
“He’s lovely. Kissed my hand. Made me feel really special.”
“He sounds a real creep. Kissing hands. Yuck!” Alison made vomiting sounds as she poked her finger into her open mouth. “Did he kiss you properly?”
“No, of course not. He’s a gentleman.”
“Oh my god, you’ve gone mad. Since when did you want a ‘gentleman’?” Alison made it sound as though a gentleman was the next thing to a rapist. Kumbal nodded her approval of this approach.
“And he’s phoning me tomorrow. So get out and let me get ready for bed. He might ask me out.”
“Ask him round. Let me check him out for you, you’re not in a fit mental state to make judgements.”
“Yes, Lucy, she’s right. Ask him round. Go out for a walk or something, so your head isn’t turned by a romantic date.” Trynor was walking to and fro, twisting his hands together. “Kumbal, what am I to do? This is the worst thing that could have happened and she’s gone all gooey on me. Jotin will kill me!” The idiocy of this comment made them both laugh, so they missed what Lucy said next.
“A romantic date. Yes, I think he’ll do romantic really well. I’m not showing him to you, you ruin everything.”
Several times over the next months, particularly once her finals were over, Lucy sat with Martin and listened spellbound to his stories about himself and his family. She was mesmerised by all they had in common and told Alison about it when she got home. Alison was unimpressed.
“So what if he’s interested in rugby? You aren’t. You like badminton.”
“It’s sports, isn’t it? Healthy. Gets you moving, stretching,” Lucy paused and then continued in a dreamy voice. “Actually, rugby’s probably better, gets you out in the open air too. Maybe I should take it up. Martin’s been explaining it to me.”
“Girls don’t play rugby. It’s rough, Dad thinks. He stopped; it was dangerous, he said.”
“He goes to the Internationals.”
“So? Lucy, don’t be an idiot. You’re good at badminton. Look at your cups,” she waved a hand towards the shelf of awards. “All you’d get from rugby is bruises. Or a broken neck. You should know. You’re the physio.”
“He loves dogs. I’d love a dog.”
“Me too. Most people like dogs. What does that prove?”
“And he has a younger sister. So he understands what I have to put up with. Now get out!”
“OK, I’m going. Bring him home, so I can see him.”
Lucy was reluctant to bring Martin home. She wasn’t sure of him yet. She wanted to be sure. She had met his parents and his siblings, and their dog. She preferred the dog.
“Of course you do, Lucy, the dog is the most sympathetic soul. None of them are meant to be in your life, but it doesn’t matter for dogs. They can love anyone.”
“So when am I to meet your family and get to know the people who are important to my girl?”
“Not yet Martin my pal. Steer clear of them if you want this girl, her sister will recognise you and give you your marching orders. She had enough of you, being your wife in the Médoc.” Roki was watching, amused.
“Roki, why do you persist in trying to ruin everything? This is not the right woman for Martin and certainly not the right man for my Lucy. Now, work with