Summer with Em - Chapter 12

By Julie D Cole

It was clear that Em, Amy and George knew Fran as they greeted each other warmly with hugs and kisses. Not quite as intimate as Em and Bec’s however who held hands as they turned to face me.

Em spoke ‘Kim this is Fran, short for Francesca but she is not into girly names. Sorry Fran but it’s true isn’t it.’

‘Well I prefer Fran since it’s more gender neutral and we are in the age of the Alpha Female. As you know I’m pro woman and we can make our own choices. I just like Fran although I do answer to Frankie that I rather like.’

‘Well Fran this is my cousin Kim who is staying with me for the summer. We are like sisters and it’s great to be back together. She is still at college so she’s working for Bec’s to gain some experience and earn some money.’

Fran shook me by the hand and welcomed me to Manchester complementing me on my dress and saying she could see the family resemblance to Em and that we shared the same good looks. She hoped that I was being tutored in the modern way to stand up for women and be seen as equal to men. I realised that not only was I completely out-numbered but Fran was a strong feminist. I did know quite a few girls with similar views and usually kept a low profile at college.

‘Well Kim can I get you a drink to welcome you. Anybody else whilst I’m in the chair.’

Em cut in to suggest we shared a bottle of Prosecco by way of a welcome and Fran was quick to sort it out. It soon disappeared and a second bottle appeared in an ice bucket.

Fran was definitely confident and seemed as if she enjoyed life. She had trained with Bec’s and was apparently the manager of a number of retail outlets around manager and in the North West of England. She was wearing a light weight trouser suit with a jacket that barely covered her breasts that she obviously liked to present. George seemed very distracted and it was hard for me not to stare.’

There was a lot of chatter about the plans for the evening and the choice of venue where we were planning to eat and where it was intended we go afterwards. The bar was filling quickly by this time so we headed off down the street towards the restaurant. It was a lively walk with lots of groups out celebrating and several were in fancy dress. It looked like Canal Sreet was a popular destination for stag and hen parties and some people were very noisy and it looked like they’d been drinking all afternoon.

Fran took my hand and guided me past a group of men who were singing and making lewd comments telling me not to worry since most were harmless and just showing off to groups like ours. Once past Fran asked what type of woman I was and if I had a boyfriend at home. I was a bit taken aback but thought quickly about an appropriate response telling her that I wasn’t really into men and that I had been too busy with my studies to accept their invitations.

‘You do realise that these four are expecting us to bond and become friends. They are always match making but I know what I want and they can’t work me out. Keep them guessing.’

‘Do you have a boyfriend then or not?’

‘No I have enough men to look after at work without going home to one. I’m looking for a partner to share my life not a husband that is what my parents want. They can’t wait for some grandchildren but that’s not in my radar at the moment. I’d prefer to keep my figure and I have a career. I like the life that I have at the moment and I aim to be the Managing Director of our company within 3 or 4 years. We need a woman in charge. ‘

Bec’s overheard our conversation and said to take no notice of Frans views because underneath she was a softy and she was just scared of falling in love in case she had to change her image. Fran punched her lightly on the shoulder and let go of my hand for a while as we approached the door of Felice’s Bella Roma Italian Restaurant. We were a little early but our table was vacant. Felice greeted us and obviously knew the girls. He made a bee line for me kissing my hand and insisted on escorting me to the table.

We were on a circular table with Em on my left and Fran on my right. She told me that she insisted she pay my corner of the bill and to choose whatever I liked from the menu. Em smiled and agreed since she had in fact promised to pay but joked that there were no corners on the table anyway. She was more interested in the daily specials board whilst Amy and George focused on the wine list. I didn’t get much chance to scrutinise either the menu or the specials board.

In the end the concensus was to order some sharing plates that worked for me. I could just select what I liked from the seafood plate and then from the various meats on display to accompany some pasta. I just accepted the wine that was placed in front of me while George, Bec’s and Fran compared opinions sipping and making commenting before swallowing. As for my capacity to absorb the wine I needed food since I already knew that I had had more alcohol than I’d normally consumed in a day and often in a week. I was a lightweight compared to the others.

I managed to get a word in as soon as there was a lull in the conversations that did require a lot of concentration.

‘Cheers everybody and thank you for welcoming me to your group and to Manchester. I like this venue and the location. So lively and you are so lucky to have an area like Canal Street full of bars, restaurants and clubs. I’ve already fallen in love with Manchester. It seems much friendlier and safer than London.’

Bec’s chipped in. ‘Just don’t tell anybody or they’ll all come.’

The meal was just perfect for me with more than enough on the sharing plates for all of us. During the destruction of the seafood platter that required concentration for all of us Fran quietly insisted that I call her Frankie that she preferred friends to call her. She made clear that she would prefer if I did that unless I was in earshot of the others. Then she said that she would refer to me as Kimbers since I was very pretty and I was younger than the rest of them. She felt that Kimbers suited me since I was quiet and shy and she hoped to convince me to become an Alpha woman like her with her guidance. It wasn’t as if I had much choice and as if to emphasise her point she had placed her hand on my knee and squeezed slightly. She asked if I agreed and that this suggestion was to be between the two of us.

I wasn’t sure what was happening since I was feeling a little confused with the alcohol I’d consumed with Em and then in Canal Street but I smiled and nodded. I was already feeling that I was being dominated by Fran so I turned to Em for reassurance. She seemed to see I was feeling uncomfortable. I was concerned about being exposed as a fraud and I had no idea how to deal with Fran’s friendliness. I’m sure that Em picked this up from my expression. Even were I not dressed like I was and had met them as I lived at home I would struggle to reject advances from anybody. It was extremely unlikely that a woman like Fran would even notice me. So being dressed and appearing as female was doubly difficult. Em smiled as whispered to be patient and to stay calm and to go with the flow. Ignore the hand on the knee and take the attention I was receiving as a complement. I had been quickly accepted into the group.

Luckily Fran had been distracted whilst Em and I communicated by talking with Amy and George. Bec’s had been chipping in so that was the beauty of sharing a round table. We could chat to each other collectively or in segments. Whilst Em and I whispered together I asked if Fran knew that I wasn’t a woman or Bec’s for that matter. Em just shook her head that I assumed was the response to both questions.

I had felt sure that Bec’s knew about me from the job interview and what happened as I was shown around the leisure centre and also she had my CV as much as it was. But she had been extra nice anyway so maybe she did know and didn’t really care. More likely the situation was that she and Em had discussed it and had decided to encourage me to present as I had been presenting since Em took me under her wing. Did they plan this together with my mum?

I felt it was going to be awkward with Fran but Em just took my hand and said to be confident. She wanted to talk properly to offer some guidance and suggested a trip to the ladies room. I had no choice in the matter since she stood up immediately and took my arm so that I followed her. Luckily it was just the two of us and I’d not really thought about where I might be spending a penny as the night went on.

The ladies room was upstairs so at least it was quiet and I insisted that Em went in first to ensure that there was nobody hanging around. She agreed and headed for the door with a smile on her face and turned to say that I had nothing to worry about and I looked more feminine than her or the other four. ‘ You can hardly use the Gents facilities can you?’

Once inside we both took the opportunity to relieve ourselves that was more awkward than I expected due to the tights and especially trying to avoid wetting the hem of my dress. Luckily it was still quiet as we left the cubicles and Em helped me tidy my make up whilst we chatted. She explained that Fran was just a little curious that a cousin of hers had appeared from nowhere and she had been deliberately evasive and so had Bec’s. Em felt that she was testing me and that I should expect a few off the wall questions as the evening progressed but that she wouldn’t embarrass me. Fran was basically a little peeved that she hadn’t been asked to help by providing a summer job and that Em had asked Bec’s. Of course it was understandable considering the close bond between Em and Bec’s.
‘So what does Fran know about me, anything?’

‘I’ve told her you are my cousin on my fathers side so we have the same surname. As you know your granddad had two brothers and a sister and 5 children between them. It’s not like you will be under a spotlight but better we stick to the same story-line. She doesn’t know too much about our family.

Just then the door opened and Fran came in to see what had happened to us. We stopped talking immediately that I supposed raised her suspicions.

‘Oh you two we wondered why you’d rushed off without saying anything.’

Em was quick, ‘Yes it was Kim she was feeling a bit sick and slightly dizzy but it’s nothing more than her period starting. I thought it was the alcohol but everything is sorted thanks. She was prepared.’

‘Oh that’s a pity. I guess no chance of any late night fun in Manchester this weekend. The boys will be disappointed. That’s another thing they don’t have to worry about. They only need to carry cash or a card for a night out.’

‘Come on all is OK now and no accidents. Let’s go eat.’

‘Yes then let’s show Kim here how to have fun and lots of laughter. You don’t have tummy ache do you?’

‘Not yet I feel mch better thanks. Maybe I’ll drink some water as well as the wine.’

‘Do you need to re-stock for your bag?’

‘No I’m good thanks.’