(aka Bike) Part 1594 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad
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Not long after I’d put the phone down from Kate when my mobile rang. “Hi, Cathy,” it was Jim. “I’ve checked with everyone I can think of including a tame Russian I know who used to be KGB, no one has heard of your Latvian lass–leastways not in a negative sense, so I’m going to have to conclude she’s clean.”
“Oh well that might have solved my housekeeper vacancy.”
“Why, what happened to Jenny?”
“What didn’t happen to Jenny? She ran off with the family silver with some bloke she knew who dropped her once he got his paws on the money. She then tried to kill herself by jumping off a motorway bridge and failed and is now in a wheelchair.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that she seemed a nice kid.”
“She’s changed. I had someone who was doing the year’s life test working as her cover and she tried to convince them to give it up and revert to male. Pretty well succeeded then she dropped them.”
“Oh a Mrs Do-as you’re-done by.”
“Yeah, that about sums it up.”
“Strange things, women.”
“Hey, watch it.”
He laughed down the phone. “I’ll send you the bill then.”
“I expect a ten per cent discount for insubordination.”
“Yeah, I’ll take it off the price increase.” He rang off before I could say anything in reply.
The phone in my office rang–why couldn’t anyone realise I was trying to work? I picked it up. “What?” I said abruptly.
“Who pinched your sweeties,” asked Pippa.
“I’m trying to work and my bloody phones keep ringing.”
“Oh well, you should try working here–happens all the time, plus Mr Grumpy keeps sending me to make tea or coffee.”
I laughed, “He makes his own at home.”
“Yeah, well he doesn’t have slaves there does he?”
“No. What did you want, surely not just to complain about our much loved boss?”
“No, you have a visitor, should be with you any moment now.” I jumped when there was a rap on my door.
“Thanks,” I don’t think. “Come in,” I called. Normally my door is open unless I have tutorial or other form of meeting. Today it was closed to try and deter casual callers. The door opened quietly and behind it stood Gareth Sage.
“Will you see me?” he asked quietly I almost said sheepishly, but seeing as he’s Welsh I have to be careful or I’ll end up with someone declaring a Taffw ¬ ¬a on me, it’s like a fatwa only done with sheep.
“Oh–suppose you’d better come in.” I sat him down and before he could say anything I asked if he wanted tea, he nodded and I went off to make us some. A few minutes later I still didn’t know what to say, so I threw the ball back to him.
“I suppose you thought you’d never see me again?”
“It had crossed my mind.”
“I’d like to try again with Stella, if she’ll have me back.”
“Shouldn’t you be talking with her rather than me?”
“I wondered if you might ask her to see me.”
“It would be better coming from you.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
“How do I do that?”
“Send her a letter, ask how your daughter is.”
“I was coming to that.”
“Glad to hear it.” If I sounded a little sharp it was because I wasn’t sure what I thought about him anymore. I know I warned him about Stella but I wasn’t expecting him to disappear like that. If he runs off again, I’ll never speak to him again as long as I live.
“You must think badly of me.”
“I assumed you had a reason for disappearing without a word.”
“I couldn’t cope–that’s the reason. Suddenly everything seemed ten times more complicated and difficult. I ran. I’m sorry, but I got scared.”
“You could have sent stuff to your daughter.”
“I opened a trust fund in her name.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“In case they tried to interfere with it.”
“I think as her dad you can do such things. She’s a bonny kid–want to see?” I dipped into my bag and pulled out some photos, I knew one of them was of Catherine and Fiona together.
“Could I borrow this to copy it?”
“No, I’ll get you one of your daughter if you tell me where to send it.” He handed me a card. “If you have a decent printer, I’ll email you some.” I noticed the email address on his card.
“That would be great.” He sipped his tea. “So how do I speak to Stella?”
I picked up my mobile and speed dialled home, “Hi sweetheart, can I speak with Stella? She’s out, so who’s looking after Catherine and her two? You’re looking after Catherine–you be careful picking her up.”
“She’s not there then?”
“Sorry, you could always try a bit later.”
“If I rang you, would you ask her to speak with me?”
“I can’t guarantee she will.”
“I know, but I was very fond of her–still am.”
“Okay, I’ll try but I guarantee nothing.”
“Thanks. It’s good to see you again too, Cathy, I think you should have gone for the UN job–you’d have been so good at it.”
“You didn’t hear then?”
“Hear what?”
“Billie died.”
“What? Your Billie?”
“Yes.” Who else you twit.
“Oh I am sorry? What happened?”
“We were out cycling and she crashed apparently she had a brain aneurysm and was dead before she hit the ground.”
“She had the aneurysm before or after the crash?”
“She had it without any of us knowing about it, it could have popped at any time and she’d be dead in seconds.”
“Oh God, I am sorry–I had no idea. Lovely kid.”
“Yeah,” I wiped my eyes and nodded.
“Look I’d better go. I’ll try and ring later, I have some meetings to do, but please tell her I really want to see her again–and you–bye.” He stood up and waved then left while I sat there still sniffing. I had no idea how Stella would react–let’s face it, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. He’d lost weight, looked even better and he was beautiful before. I glanced at his card, he was still with Natural England–oh, regional officer now.
Mind you, I’d have done my PhD by now if I hadn’t got waylaid by Simon and half a dozen kids–not that I’d change anything except Billie’s health. I started to tear up again and shut the door. Half an hour later I was composed enough to go and get the girls
Comments
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1594
WHY is he back?
May Your Light Forever Shine
Still holding a torch for Gareth?
God I hope not. I wouldn't take him back if I were Stel. A coward if I have ever seen one, not having the courage to tell her why he had did a runner until now.
Kim
Gareth
I don't know what prompted him to turn up now (although I have a feeling someone read my comment from yesterday...), but if you think back to when he disappeared, Stella had had another breakdown and was continually trying to push him away. He was probably very confused and scared at the possibility of her having another breakdown, but, as ever, he still has feelings for her.
Bear in mind he did try to contact her while she was recovering from the breakdown, but as with now was too wimpish to approach Stella directly - in the end, Cathy called him while visiting Stella and thrust the phone into her hand.
If the two do get back together, Cathy would probably be advised to remember that while they're technically adults, in reality it's best to treat them like big children!
Meanwhile, it would be worth checking up on Jenny sometime to get her end of the story regarding Caroline. While the whole situation could have been a deliberate ploy, it may be that Jenny (like a few others in the household) spotted something 'off' about Caroline and was unaware of the full implications of asking her to reconsider transitioning (i.e. possibly not realising that Caroline regarded her almost as a goddess - She Who Must Be Obeyed). The argument that lead to the breakup may have been around Caroline wanting to give up housekeeper duties to look after her. After all, people falling in love (or thinking they are) don't always act completely rationally and may do things they later regret (Jenny's already done this once, with the boyfriend that encouraged her to steal the figurine).
Oh, and of course when she's discharged from hospital, she won't have anywhere to stay unless Cathy honours her initial promise of taking her back in. Recuperating in the presence of the family, with limited opportunities to go out, may help her realise there's more to life than falling in love with someone, moving in with them, and having children.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Spineless
I'm sorry but he'd have to court me all over again. 'When the going gets tough, the tough gets going' - in this case, very fast in the opposite direction.
Susie
Summat's brewin'
If that 'rat-bag' has shown up again then summat's brewin'.
Bloke shouldn't duck out of his responsibilities, especially kids!
Wonder where Angie's taking this one. She's got her Magical Mystery Tour hat on tonight.
Aah well, we'll jus' have to wait an' see.
Still lovin' it Ange,
Love and hugs,
Beverly.
OXOXOX
What it would be
to be a fly on the wall if Stella agrees to meet Gareth, Hopefully Angharad will give us a peek..... And Cathy will have an ambulance on standby.... Blood could be spilt and i for one would hate to be in Gareth shoes
Kirri
Garath
I'd wondered what happened to him. Stella was the one that pushed him away, but maybe they can make a go of it.
Might as well start building a new extension to the house now. It is turning into a regular mansion.