enables them to seek out girls that are needy, vulnerable, and they know exactly how to exploit it. How do men do that?’
Kate hunched her shoulders inward.
‘I guess because some girls let them…’
‘Oh God, Kate, I didn’t mean you!’
Natasha slapped her own forehead in mock reprimand.
‘It’s fine, Tash. It’s fine, really. And you are right, it’s important for girls like Tanya to know that they are not alone. It can happen to any woman, even one like me!’
‘Top up?’ Natasha once again lifted the coffee pot.
Kate raised her mug before dropping it loudly on the table. Coffee drops scattered rain-like as the china crashed and split into pieces.
‘God, that made me jump! What was that?’
A motorbike roared into view, its deafening engine powering it up the drive.
‘I can’t say exactly, but I can predict that it’s a new Mr Someone in whose arms Tanya can forget – and he has a very large motorbike!’
Kate placed her head in her hands.
‘Oh that’s great, just what we need, a rebel without a cause.’
‘Kate, you worry too much. It might be good for her, a little diversion. Mind, you have to give it to the girl, she’s a fast worker. How long has she been here?’
‘Nearly three weeks.’
‘Blimey, we’ve been here years and not so much as a sniff!’
‘Speak for yourself. I got propositioned at the fish market a couple of weeks ago, by an octogenarian with a customised scooter and a fancy for gurnard!’
‘Bloody hell, you dark horse. What did you say?’ Natasha squealed, reminding Kate of her sister in their teens.
‘I said no.’
‘You’re kidding me! Are you mad? Customised-scooter-driving, gurnard-wielding octogenarians are fairly thin on the ground in these parts.’
‘I know. I did, however, manage to resist. Although to be honest, Tash, even if it had been Mr Clooney himself with whitebait for two I’d have said no. I’ve got enough to think about.’
‘Did you get his number?’
‘NO! I’ve told you, not interested.’
‘Not for you, you dozy cow, for me!’
The two laughed as they mopped coffee into paper towels and retrieved the scattered slivers of china. Kate thought how lovely it was to break a mug without breaking sweat, knowing that she would not be ‘punished’ later for this accidental misdemeanour.
The kitchen door opened to reveal Tanya with a flush to her cheeks and her hair perfectly tousled. She looked beautiful.
‘Hello you, what was that mighty roar? Have you been on a motorbike? If yes, I hope you wore a proper hat thing.’
Kate was aware that her tone was a little too censorial, but it was difficult. She wanted Tanya to hook up with a boy who would do the right thing, treat her properly. Anyone who would roar off without seeing her safely through the door or introducing himself was already falling short of Kate’s exacting standards. It was difficult for her not to apply Mountbriers etiquette.
Kate felt a huge sense of responsibility towards all the residents who had come under her care; her biggest battle was to remain objective. She could only look at Tanya’s new beau in clichéd terms: an unsuitable boy, a member of the wrong crowd, trouble waiting to happen.
‘Thanks, but I’m a big girl, Kate. I’ve told him to get me a helmet.’ She rolled her eyes skywards.
‘Oh good. It’s just that apart from being illegal not to wear a helmet, the roads around here are winding and unpredictable. I want you to be safe.’
‘Yes. Winding and unpredictable, understood. Can I go now?’
‘Of course you can go, Tanya. I’m only trying to show you how dangerous it is and to take an interest in your new friend. It would be good if he came in to say hello next time he collected or dropped you off.’
‘Err… don’t think so, that would be too weird!’
‘I worry about you, Tanya. This is all new for you and I want you to take things slowly.’
‘No, that’s not what you mean at all, Kate. You don’t want me to be happy. You want me to sit around feeing miserable and still broken like Tracey or whatever her bloody name is, so that you can be the great fixer and feel slightly better about your shitty life. That’s why you do this, isn’t it?’
Kate’s response was measured.
‘Oh, Tanya, I wish that were true. I wish that by helping you and the others I could heal myself, but sadly, no, it doesn’t quite work like that.’
Tanya covered her face with her palms, speaking through the gaps in her slender fingers.