Gallery Whispers

92

Sarah grinned. 'Of course we're pleased to see you Alex. It doesn't matter that there's European football on television tonight, does it Bob?'

'What? Oh sorry girls, I was miles away there. No, no, sod the football.'

His daughter laughed. 'You know what they say about the secret of life. Pops. It's sincerity: once you learn to fake that, you've cracked it.

You still need to do some work in that area.'

'Seriously, I mean it. Anyway, it's only an English team. So what did bring you out here?'

Alex shook her head, rearranging her long dark curls on her shoulders, and fixed her big blue eyes on her father. 'A bonding trip, Pops. With my brothers and with you two.'

'I don't suppose for a minute that you wanted to ask me how Andy was getting along,' he said, idly. 'No, that would have nothing to do with it. Bonding, sure, that's it.'

'You, you…' she spluttered, then smiled, '… always could read me, couldn't you.'

'He's doing fine, kid. He had a couple of days of moping and chewing people out, but he seems to have pulled himself out of it. In fact, I didn't realise how much he'd changed in the time you two were engaged. The truth of the matter is, I reckon, that you were suffocating each other.'

'Do you think there's a chance,' Sarah began, tentatively, 'that once the two of you have had a chance to readjust, and to get your own personalities back, that you might get together again?'

'Not as much as a flicker, step-mother. Andy's very easy-going in some ways, but completely unbending in others.'

'So are you, kid,' Bob murmured.

'Maybe so, but my principles are consistent. Andy has a selective conscience, you know. He squares it with contraception, no problem, but as soon as one of his tadpoles goes astray, that's it, he might as well be wearing a pointy white hat and carrying a shepherd's crook.

You should have seen him when I told him about my termination…'

'You still can't say abortion, can you.'

'Okay,' she shot back at him, her voice raised, 'have it your way; my abortion. He went berserk all because I'd exercised my rights over my body. Yet that same guy would put a bullet in someone's head tomorrow, if the need arose, then go out for a pint with the lads.'

'No,' said Sarah, intervening to calm her, 'I guess it doesn't look like there's a chance, does it. What about this boy Ray? Do you think you might see him again?'

Alex's smile returned in a flash. 'God no! He's got a brain the size of a pea; I was only ever after his body. No, I'm fo'otloose again. Just like my ex. Seriously though, I'm glad to hear he's getting over it.

He's not sniffing around that Neville woman, is he?'

Bob shook his head. 'No, he'll keep her at arms' length.'

'He'd have to with that chest others.'

'Yeah, it's as well I got her out of uniform; the tailors were having trouble. But really, Karen's not a factor. She's spoken for. And that's why I was preoccupied earlier, to tell you the truth. I still feel I should be able to place the guy.'