*Chapter 27*
Dirndl Day

"I suppose you want a lift this morning?” Dad proposed when I joined him in the kitchen.
"Er please,” well the rain outside is doing the stair rod thing, not bouncing but falling with a determined effort.
"You working this evening?”
"As far as I know,” I confirmed dropping a couple of slices into the toaster.
"Don’t you think you should ease up on some of these ‘extras’?”
I had to yawn before replying, "I enjoy doing them.”
"I wasn’t suggesting you didn’t but I don’t want to see you wearing yourself out, good rest is important whatever you’re doing.”
"Yes, Dad.”
"I mean it, Gaby, you can’t burn the candle at both ends.”

I peered out into the gloom for the umpteenth time, as you might expect for an essentially outdoor facility we’ve hardly seen a customer all morning. Well the Apollinaris dray driver stopped for his usual coffee and there were a couple of tourists who stopped for currywurst about an hour ago – not exactly busy. There’s no point in three of us sitting here all day so we sent Kris home – she has done a lot of hours the last few weeks, so anyhow it’s just me and Connie Thesing sat bored to death.

"It’s supposed to clear up later,” Con repeated once more without looking up from her Stern.
"Whatever time ‘later’ is.”
"What was that wedding you went to the other week?”
"In Stuttgart?”
"You’ve been to others?”
"Course not, Sara Taxis, why?”
"You’ve made the news again.”
"Where?”

She passed over her magazine opened at the ‘society’ pages, you know the sort of thing, celebs in restaurants, actors in Waitrose. I quickly scanned the pictures, the wedding although low key rated several shots, the wedding party, parents of the bride and for some reason a view entitled ‘Maximillian von Strechau with mystery girl’. Joy.

I read the longer paragraph on the nuptials, I know I was there but you have to read the report right? ‘...once again Maximilian von Strechau was escorted by the pretty blonde we first saw him with in München last year. (If you know who she is contact….)’.

I sighed, "Don’t they have anyone better to chase.”
"Could be good for business,” Con suggested with a smirk as she snatched the rag back, "I wonder what the reward for finding you is?”
"You wouldn’t.”
"Split it seventy thirty?”
"It’s not up for discussion,” I huffed.
"Sixty forty?”
"Con!”
"Spoilsport.”

The rain finally desisted shortly before twelve and Ahrweiler changed from a dreary place with minimal traffic to a bustling metropolis as people emerged to fetch shopping, get lunch, walk dogs and all the other stuff that a downpour delays. We went from thumb twiddling to wishing Kris was still about in the space of ten minutes. In fact when Max turned up I made him earn his lunch by wiping down tables and chairs.

"You were late today,” I probed.
"It was raining pretty damn hard,” he pointed out.
"Your dad rang mine yesterday, looks like we’re on for Friday.”
"Yeah, I got a right lecture, you alright with Mum taking us?”
"Guess so, it’s not like we’ve got a choice.”
“’Spose not, you working tonight?”
"Uh huh, you?”
"Might be,” he suggested.
"Walk me home?”
"I suppose I might be able to.”
"You can walk me too,” Con put in.
"I wouldn’t miss that opportunity fair maiden,” Max hammed.
"As long as I'm the only one you’re kissing.”
"Of course.”

"See you later,” Con suggested.
"Yeah,” I agreed before hurrying on back to Bond Acres, I've got stuff to organise before tonight.

"You all set?”
"Yep, doesn’t suspect a thing.”
"Cool, can’t wait to see her face.”
"Have to go, I can hear them coming.”
"Laters!”

"Come on, Gab!” Con called upstairs.
"Ow!” I had a second stab, literally, at getting a hair grip to actually do what it’s designed for. I wish Mand was here, she’s ace at hair stuff. I set off downstairs at an un ladylike gallop.
“’Bout time.”
"I couldn’t get my braids to stay put.”
"Let’s have a look,” she sighed motioning me to sit at the table, "Grips?”
"Right hand top drawer.”

She started fiddling about, re-pinning, adding extra grips and tucking stray strands into place.

"There, not perfect but it should last the night.”
"Thanks.”
"You really should learn to do it yourself.”
"I'm trying,” I defended.
“Very,” Dad opined joining us temporarily to deposit his coffee cup.
"Da-ad!” I groaned.
"Shouldn’t you be going somewhere?”
"Sugar! Come on Con or we’ll be late!”

At least it’s still dry.

"About time,” Max managed before I assaulted his face.
"Max,” Con allowed, "Come on, Mata Hari, you can snog him to death later.”
"So what kept you?”
"Someone was doing her hair, I wonder why?” Con pointedly queried.
"It’s practical for waiting on.”
"So it doesn’t have anything to do with the Baron here then?”
"No.”

Of course we’d planned this earlier, Max came to ours on his Mofa, later he can ride home – hopefully without a Dad inquisition.

"So, who’s the hunk?” Julia, the English tour guide asked consiprationally as I served the coach crew their soup.
I looked over to where Maxxie was talking to Helmut at the bar, "Max?”
"If Max is tall, blonde and good looking, that's the one.”
"He’s er filling in while Manda, the English girl is away.”
"Methinks someone is more than a temp?”
"Might be, well okay he’s my boyfriend,” I admitted.
"Respect girlfriend, he’s quite a catch.”
Of course I coloured up.
"Leave her alone, Jule, you’ve embarrassed her,” the driver, Matt I think it is put in.
"I er, should get back to your passengers.”
"Thanks, Gaby,” Matt mentioned.

Of course, we’re a well oiled machine now, we’ve been doing this for a couple of months now after all. It helps that the English passengers are less demanding than the Dutch last week, I hope Helmut doesn’t book too many of them. It seemed to be a given that Max would do drinks and P, Con and myself the food, not that I'm complaining, I get to see him much more this way.

"You guys set for tomorrow?” I asked as we cleared the table.
"Inge is gonna take us up, we’ll pick up Bridg and Nen on the way,” P advised.
"Steff’s coming with me,” Con added, "You sure you don’t want a lift, Gab?”
"Just my bag, I'll go direct from training again.”
"You have to love someone that dedicated eh, Maxxie?” P prodded.
"Er yeah, so what’re you up to?”
"Girls’ stuff, Big Boy,” Con stated.

Of course we had Connie as gooseberry again on the walk back to Dernau.

"You coming for lunch tomorrow?” I asked, my arms still draped around Max’s neck.
“Probably, so what’s so secret tomorrow?”
"That’d be telling,” I teased tapping him on the schnozz, "We made the papers again.”
"The kiosk?”
"No dumkopf, we as in you and me.”
"In the papers?”
"Well Stern to be more accurate,” I advised before moving in for more tonsil hockey.
"Mmmm,” he pulled away, "Stern, I guess we’re talking Sara’s wedding?”
"Uh huh,” I agreed turning my attention to his ear, “picture and reward.”
"You should claim it before someone else does.”
“’S what Con said.”
"So why don’t you?”
"And get plastered all over the newsstands?”
"Why not, I quite fancy having a cover girl model for a girlfriend.”
"Tell me when you find one,” I huffed.
"I was meaning you.”
"Hmm.”

I guess the idea does have merit, I don’t suppose the ‘reward’ is worth a great deal but at least I won’t be bothered by the paranoia of waiting to be outed.

"I should get home,” Max suggested.
"What time is it?”
He checked my watch, "Ten thirty.”
“Bum, Dad’ll be waiting.”
"I'm glad I'm not a girl.”
"You’re glad? I wouldn’t fancy you if you were a girl, so I'm more glad.”
"Really?”
"Really and I couldn’t even borrow your clothes.”
"You’re daft, Gabrielle Bond.”
"Daft enough to fancy you,” I suggested before launching a renewed attack on his face.

It was almost eleven before I waved the mofa off up the Rech road, my lust temporarily sated. Now all I've got to do is face Dad, I unpinned my braids before heading inside, well it doesn’t hurt to play the innocent card sometimes and braids are sooo innocent!

Maddy Bell © 23.05.17