Knowing Me Knowing You (47 page)

‘
At first it was strange, but now it just feels normal, which is really weird,
’
Kate said, admiring the bracelets.

‘
Nice weird?
’

‘
Well it’s nice to have someone to hold when he isn’t writhing around and having nightmares, but....he hasn’t....you know....tried to, you know....at all.
’

‘
And that’s what you expected did you? With him being injured and everything and having been kept at arm’s-length while you still hold a torch for your ex-husband.
’

‘
No of course not, but it’s like he doesn’t feel that way anymore, like it’s just platonic again and the night we had together never happened.
’

‘
Maybe he’s just keeping his distance until you decide what you want. You can’t possibly blame him for that,
’
Hermione said, beckoning a sales assistant.

‘
No, I know, maybe,
’
Kate answered with a nod.

‘
So how was his lunch with
Marina
? She sounded a bit full-on from what Philip told me.
’

‘
He didn’t say much about it but she’s coming to the show tomorrow. Probably going to be dressed up to the nines and covered in make-up and fake tan,
’
Kate moaned.

‘
Philip said Joel used to date her.
’

‘
He told me. I like those earrings,
’
Kate said, pointing at some small silver and
diamanté
ones and changing the subject.

‘
Too small, they would never show up on camera. Can we have a look at these and these?
’
Hermione told the shop assistant pointing at the ones she was interested in.

‘
I hope none of this is going to cost too much, I am on a budget,
’
Kate reminded.

‘
She’s single,
’
Hermione said, looking at her watch.

‘
Who?
’

‘
Marina
. Philip says she’s single and apparently she’s thinking of turning down the overseas jobs and staying in
England
, might even be buying a flat in
Highbridge
, her mother isn’t very well and she wants to be close,
’
Hermione informed.

‘
It sounds like Philip spent more time talking to her than Joel.
’

‘
I think Philip was eavesdropping actually. They were supposed to be playing darts but
Marina
just wouldn’t stop talking.
’

‘
Here we are Madam,
’
the sales assistant spoke as she got the earrings out for Hermione.

‘
So, which do you think Sweetie?
The gold or the silver?
’

‘
What colour’s my bouquet?
’

‘
Yellow and white.
’

‘
Gold then I
think
.
’

‘
We’ll take these and that bangle,
’
Hermione said, pointing at something else on display.

‘
That will be £49.99 please.
’

‘
Fifty quid!
’
Kate exclaimed.

‘
It is for your wedding.
’

‘
Oh! Is it really? When is it?
’
the sales assistant asked, getting gooey eyed.

‘
Tomorrow,
’
Kate answered.

‘
God, tomorrow!
You must have so much to organise.
’

‘
Not really, it’s all been taken out of her hands. We’ve got the dress, the flowers and a 7ft dove as a bridesmaid,
’
Hermione informed her.

‘
Don’t ask,
’
Kate spoke, seeing the lack of understanding written all over the cashier’s face.

Hermione smiled and picked up the bag from the counter.

‘
Come on, let’s go and eat, I’m starving,
’
Hermione said, linking arms with Kate and hastening her out of the shop.

‘
Eat? You didn’t say anything about eating? Its lasagne tonight, Joel’s cooking, with garlic bread and everything.
’

‘
Oh come on, just a small Chinese, I can’t remember the last time I had a meal out and we’ve done so well with the jewellery, we’ll manage a hairpiece in no time, come on,
’
Hermione begged, pulling at Kate’s arm.

‘
A Chinese?
Oh I don’t know, I…..
’

‘
Call it a pre-wedding treat from me. I can’t believe you don’t fancy some prawn crackers and a bit of
foo
yung
at least.
’

‘
It doesn’t sound like I have much choice,
’
Kate answered.

‘
Good, come on then, we’ll go to that new place, that’s nearest,
’
Hermione said, hurrying along the mall.

‘
I’ve heard it’s really expensive.
’

‘
Ah who cares, like I said my treat,
’
Hermione said.

Within a few minutes they had reached the new ‘
Oriental
Palace
’ restaurant.

‘
Right then, here we are,
’
Hermione spoke, looking at Kate.

‘
Yes, here we are, looks busy, maybe they don’t have a free table,
’
Kate said as she looked inside.

‘
Well, let’s go in and ask,
’
Hermione said and she pushed open the large glass door, leading the way.

They entered the restaurant and stood by the bar, surveying the other tables and waiting for someone to come to their assistance. It wasn’t long before Kate noticed a familiar diner.

‘
Oh, God, it’s Matthew....with her, Amanda,
’
Kate stated, swallowing the shock and disappointment.

‘
What?
Where?
’
Hermione questioned.

‘
There, just over there,
’
Kate said, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

‘
I thought he was so in love with you he had left her.
’

‘
That’s what he told me at the hospital, in between unconsciousness, he said he had never loved anyone like he loved me.
’

‘
Well he was drunk and apparently suicidal,
’
Hermione replied.

‘
But he’s with her, look at him, laughing and holding her hand. He sent me flowers, he came to my
work and he said he wanted to start again,
’
Kate said, tears spilling out of her eyes.

‘
Lying bastard, I’m going to tell him just what I think of him,
’
Hermione said, preparing to approach the table.

‘
No, no don’t,
’
Kate said, wiping at her eyes with her fingers.

‘
Why? After everything he’s done?
’

‘
I’m going to tell him what I think of him,
’
Kate said, sniffing her tears away.

‘
Maybe we should just leave,
’
Hermione suggested.

‘
No, I won’t be a minute,
’
Kate spoke and she took a deep breath and strode towards the table where Matthew and Amanda were sitting.

Amanda looked up first and then Matthew paled as he saw Kate stood in front of him.

‘
Oh great, what do you want? Shouldn’t you be elbow deep in nappy changing or something?
’
Amanda questioned with a frustrated sigh.

‘
I can’t believe you’re still together actually because Matthew told me you had split up,
’
Kate spoke calmly, her eyes not leaving her ex-husband.

‘
Kate….,
’
Matthew began.

‘
What’s she talking about Matt?
’

‘
He told me you were over when he was begging me to give him another chance. What was it you said? ‘Amanda means nothing to me’,
’
Kate continued.

‘
I didn’t say that, Amanda, I did not say that.
’

‘
He said he still loved me and he wanted to be a proper family. And he sent me flowers, dozens of bouquets of flowers and he tried to see me at work, called himself Bruce Carmichael so I wouldn’t know it was him,
’
Kate carried on.

‘
That’s my dad’s name,
’
Amanda stated, going pale.

‘
Amanda, this isn’t true. I was just trying to make amends a little bit for being a bit harsh over
Bethan
, I mean she is mine, I shouldn’t have denied it,
she
even looks like me. You got the wrong end of the stick Kate, I’m sorry if there was any misinterpretation,
’
Matthew spoke.

‘
You said you wanted nothing to do with the brat,
’
Amanda said, her tone wild.

‘
Amanda, this is all nonsense, she’s making it up, nothing’s changed, you’re the one I want to be with,
’
Matthew insisted.

‘
If I was you I would get out while you can, he’s a compulsive liar and an accomplished one. The only person he cares about is himself,
’
Kate said sternly.

‘
How could you? You sent her flowers and used my dad’s name as an alias!
’
Amanda said, close to tears as she stood up.

‘
Amanda, don’t go, come on, don’t listen to her, you know what she’s like, Amanda!
’
Matthew called as Amanda threw down her napkin and rushed for the door of the restaurant.

Matthew reached into his pocket for his wallet.

‘
Well thank you, thank you very much.
’
he said, throwing his napkin down in frustration.

‘
That’s Joel’s,
’
Kate stated wide eyed, staring at the wallet in her ex-husband’s hand.

‘
What?
’
Matthew said, not understanding.

‘
That’s Joel’s wallet! That’s his wallet, the one that was taken when he was mugged. It was you!
’
Kate exclaimed in horror, snatching it from Matthew’s hands.

‘
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Give me the wallet, I need to pay for all this extortionate food,
’
Matthew blasted, indicating the meals on the tables.

‘
You arranged for a group of thugs to beat him up! You could have killed him!
’
Kate screamed as Hermione hurried to her side.

‘
You’re mistaken, give me the wallet back.
’
Matthew demanded.

‘
No,
’
Kate said and she opened it up and tipped the contents right into the middle of the shredded beef and
hoisin
sauce.

‘
Stay away from me Matthew and stay away from
Bethan
,
’
Kate spoke, shaking.

‘
I’ll be speaking to my solicitor, about proper access.
’

‘
You do whatever you think you have to do.
’

‘
She’s my daughter.
’

‘
Yes, she is. But I’m not your wife, not anymore,
’
Kate answered, swallowing a lump in her throat.

She took one last look at him and then turned and bolted for the door.