Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 2188

The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike, est. 2007)
Part 2188
by Angharad

Copyright © 2013 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
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“How d’you cope with all these children?”asked my old schoolfriend.

“Some days better than others, especially the two older ones.”

“What, Julie and...?”

“No, Simon and Stella.”

This was met with a snort. “You are so funny, Cathy.” At least she was getting my name right at last.

“So they tell me, now, what’s happened between you and Kirsty–don’t tell me she’s found God?”

“She’s a priest.” There was a pause before she shook her head, “Oh, you’re too quick for me, some days.”

“So are you going to tell me or if you do, will you have to kill me?”

“Something like that.”

“Oh well, I knew it would happen one day.”

“What?”

“My death.”

“What are you on about?”

“You telling me then killing me.”

“You’re madder than I am.”

“I hope that’s not a diagnosis because I should demand a recount.”

“You are weird, Cathy Watts.”

“That is already known and by since we were kids.”

“That is true.”

“So what happened with Kirsty?”

“We had a big row.”

“Over what or is that classified?”

She shrugged, “I suppose I can tell you.”

“Well yes, you’re going to kill me afterwards anyway, at least give me the satisfaction of knowing why.”

“Okay. Do you remember Karen Stevens?”

“Should I?” I asked desperately trying to make some breathing space to think if I did or not.

“Her parents owned the ironmongers on the Gloucester Road.”

I saw the road in my mind and then the shop and finally the girl–I thought it was. “Didn’t she have that red dress from Dorothy Perkins that I absolutely adored?”

“That’s the one.”

“I loved her shoes as well, the black ones with the two inch heel and the strap around the ankle.”

“Did you?” she asked astonished.

“Yeah, she always had the most beautiful scarves and things.”

“Fancy you remembering those–I desperately wanted the one with the roses on.”

“I preferred the one with the yellow and blue butterflies.”

“Cathy, you really were a girl, weren’t you?”

“I tried to tell anyone who would listen, but no one except you did–unless you count Mr Whitehead.”

“Who’s he?”

“My old English teacher, who followed me down here when his wife died and he was murdered trying to protect me from a couple of thugs, one of whom stabbed him in the school car park. He left me his house.”

“Wow! You must tell me about all that some time.”

“I can do better, I can show you the book, now back to Kirsty.”

“Okay, she went off with one of the other curates the other week.”

“On business?”

“Not entirely.”

“Oh–man or woman?”

“A man.”

“Does that count as being unfaithful?” I was confused, well more than usual.

“She’s pregnant.”

“I suppose that’s a yes, then?”

“Absolutely.”

“I thought you wanted a baby.”

“I do, but not like this.”

“Well, I’m telling you now, I am not adopting anymore.”

She smiled and blushed, “Pity, I was hoping you’d adopt me.”

I gave her a wry look and she smirked.

“So what are the options?” I asked trying to move things along a bit.

“I’ve left her.”

“It was a big row, then?”

“Yes.”

“And you can’t forgive her?”

“She does that, I do medicine.”

“Tea?” I asked and she nodded. It gave me a moment to think while the kettle boiled. “Did you tell Stella any of this?”

“No, why?”

“You were out together this morning.”

“No we just chatted.”

“How far advanced is the pregnancy?”

“About six weeks.”

“You did a test, obviously?”

“Duh.”

“Okay, I’m just clarifying things. She could miscarry.”

“She could, but she still betrayed my trust.”

“People do, I’m afraid.”

“Have you betrayed Simon or he you?”

“No.”

“Well then.”

“I’m sorry, Siá¢n, I’m not a marriage guidance counsellor, I’m a friend who likes both of you.”

“I thought you were my friend, old time’s sake and all that?”

“Okay, I am but I like Kirsty, too. Normally, she’s very nice.”

“Yeah, I’ll give you that.”

Whoopee doo. “What about Karen Stevens?”

“Ah, that’s where it gets complicated.”

I can’t wait. I sipped my tea. “Do try to keep it simple, you know I’m not terribly clever.”

“No, course not, Dr Watts. They don’t usually give PhDs away, do they?”

“I got mine on a sympathy vote–Karen Stevens, what about her?”

“We were more than good friends in school.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know damn well what it means.”

“But you told me you didn’t decide you were lesbian until you were away at uni?”

“I had a good idea before.”

“And Karen is similarly disposed?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me she’s come to work in Salisbury as a nurse at your practice?”

She went pale for a moment, “How did you know that?”

“Inspired guess.”

“But it’s accurate.”

“Accurate inspired guess.”

“Tell me how you did it?”

“She’s got to have come into your life again. If she’d been a bloke, I’d have suggested she was a doctor, but given that more women are nurses than doctors, it was a better risk to opt for nurse, and for you to meet her, it would probably be at your practice rather than the local hospital.”

“She’s our new nurse practitioner.”

“Oh a prescribing nurse?”

“Yes.”

“And what happened next?”

“We recognised each other, I invited her to meet Kirsty and she came round for dinner.”

“And?”

“They got on really well.”

“But you’ve done the dirty on Kirsty?”

“Yes.”

“So aren’t you quits now?”

“No, I’m not pregnant am I?”

“I suspect that could be difficult with another woman–even one like me.”

She smiled wrily at me, “You’re as much a woman as any other one I’ve ever met.”

I smiled back and blushed, “Thank you.”

She shrugged, “You’re welcome.”

“What d’you want to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“So how will you do it?”

“Do what?” now she looked puzzled.

“Whatever it is that your heart desires.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“Siá¢n, what would you like to do, get back with Kirsty or run off with Karen?”

“Both and neither.”

“You’re making this so much easier.”

“Sorrrreee.”

“Does Kirsty know about Karen and you?”

“Yes.”

“So it’s a bit of a stalemate?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to get back with Kirsty?”

“Yes and no, not with the kid.”

“You can’t take it out on the kid, he or she had nothing to do with any of it, he or she is even more innocent that you.”

“I know that.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“But if Kirsty keeps the baby, you won’t get back together?”

“Would you?”

“No, but that’s because I’m not gay.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

“Except no to the baby?”

“Yeah, that’s all.”

“I presume you told Kirsty?”

“Oh yeah, the night before I came to you.”

Why do I attract all these strange people? Why can’t she make her own decision? Oh boy, what a problem.

“What does Karen want?”

“She’d like to get together again.”

“And Kirsty, what does she think?”

“She wants to have her cake and eat it.”

“Do I detect a touch of resentment?”

“Yeah, about a mile wide.”

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