"Honey?" Lisa probed Katie gently. "Are we OK about this?"
Katie could see the worried expressions on both their faces and she gave herself a shake, park it up she thought, and deal with it later.
"Oh sorry," she muttered. "It’s a hellish shock of course, but I’m fine."
Sarah’s eyes were watery and it looked like tears were imminent and Katie knew she wouldn’t be able to cope with Sarah’s tears so she put an arm along her shoulder. "Thanks, Sarah. You’re a true friend."
"Really?" she pleaded.
Sensing the situation Lisa tried to help out. "Of course you did the right thing! If a guy was cheating on me I’d want to know about it and its far better to hear it from a friend than some smug bitch that’d break her neck to tell you."
Sarah looked perplexed and Katie butted in to reassure her even further, "But he’s not cheating on me," she said, "It’s all over between us now and he’s a free agent. I suppose he can go out with whoever he likes."
The waiter arrived with the bill and Sarah split it three ways while they automatically looked for their purses to give her the money. Katie wanted to run. Suddenly what had previously seemed a warm relaxing atmosphere was now unbearably hot and intense - her heart began to race, her mouth dried, and she felt as if the walls were closing in around her. She had to get outside into the fresh air.
"Coffee at mine?" Sarah asked as she pushed her chair back.
But Katie couldn’t wait to get home and be on her own. "You two go ahead but I’m off home. I’ve a beef bourguignon to cook ready for a booking tomorrow," she said and started to head towards the door.
"You all right?” Lisa asked pulling up the zip on her leather jacket and falling into step behind her as they snaked their way between the tables towards the door.
While Sarah paid the waiter inside, Katie stood at the doorway taking deep breaths. "I’m fine," she lied.
Lisa stared into her face. "Sure? Because I can come back with you if you want me to?"
"No, Lisa, but thanks," she said. "I just want to be on my own to do some cooking."
"He’s an effing wanker," she said hugging her tightly. "You certainly made the right decision kicking him into touch."
She felt Lisa’s thin arms gripping her protectively and had to fight to keep the tears at bay. "Don’t say another word or I’ll crack and I don’t want to do that in front of Sarah. She feels bad enough already."
"Fair do’s," she said, and watched Katie shove both her hands down into her jacket pockets, and stride off down the road to her car. "I’ll ring you tonight," she called after her.
Chapter Eighteen
Perching on a high red stool at her new kitchen island, Katie yawned, and gulped down the dregs of her coffee while flipping her new business card between her fingers. The card was black and silver and she admired the printer’s high-class lettering work on the name, Outside Catering - Culinary Services for the Discernible Male.
She was pleased it looked so elegant and high-brow because her mum’s comments still niggled in the pit of her stomach.
“You sound like a hooker offering services to men!” Her mum had cried in horror when Katie told her the name of the business and she’d had to take a deep breath and count to ten before reassuring her.
Michael had been there too and had roared with laughter then teased her, “And what type of extra services will you be providing them with? Hey, maybe you could have a picture of a lap pole on the card?”
She’d snapped back at him. “Yeah yeah, you’ll soon be eating your words when I’m rolling in it and making a mint!”
Michael always wound her up and she could never figure out why. He was sixteen months older than her, was loud, boisterous, and had an ego the size of an elephant. And for as long as she could remember they’d grated off each other, arguing at every possible opportunity - if she said white he would say black and vice-versa. Maybe it was because he was the total opposite to her father whom she’d idolised whereas her oldest brother by four years, Jack, was quiet and steady, and just like her dad - she never seemed to have a cross word with him.