Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 745 by Angharad

Stella closed my bedroom door, laughing as she went. I lay there frustrated and angry. Didn’t I have some say in when I got married and to whom? Okay, so the second part of the question was answered, it would be Simon – but the when – wasn’t that something we’d agree upon and do, not just rush into it? I mean, it’s not like I’m pregnant! I snorted at that – wishful thinking aside – what did we have to rush for? Absolutely nothing.

I picked up the crossword again, and although my eyes were scanning the clues, I wasn’t really reading them. My mind was elsewhere–I began to wish my body was, too.

It was nearly midnight when I called Simon. “Have I woken you?”

“No, Babes, I was reading.”

“A nice book I hope?”

“Fat chance – got a meeting tomorrow, reading the reports for it. What about you?”

“I was trying to do the The Observer crossword, but I can’t concentrate.”

“Missing me that much, eh?” he chortled down the phone.

“In some ways. I took the girls to the zoo today.”

“Manage to get a good price for them?”

“The going rate, why?”

“What’s that these days?”

“Two Mars bar wrappers and a bottle of coke.”

“I’d have held out for three wrappers.”

“I couldn’t, they wanted them for feeding the lions.”

“Oh! Oh well, I suppose you did relatively well.”

“I don’t have many relatives these days, Si.”

“Not surprised if you feed ‘em to lions.”

“That’s a new departure, started today.”

“Oh, that’s different.”

“Glad you agree.”

“I always agree with you, Cathy.”

If you know what’s good for you, “I’m glad to hear that, Si.”

“Did I need to spell it out, Babes?”

“Sometimes.”

“Oh, okay, I have – satisfied?”

“Of course.”

“Did you speak to Margaret?”

“No, she was busy.”

“Busy, she only works one day a week.”

“I think it’s more than that, darling.”

“Darling eh? What are you after?”

“Nothing – oh, and by the way, I’m not rushing into organising a wedding.”

“Fine – what do you mean, not rushing?”

“Exactly that. I’m not prepared to rush into a marriage ceremony just to go and meet Obama.”

“You don’t have to.”

“So, no amount of pressure will make me.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m going to do it when I’m good and ready.”

“Fine.”

“And not until, so any pressure to do it before Christmas…”

“Fine.”

“…will result in me taking longer to make up my mind.”

“Yeah, okay. I might have to go to China, anyway.”

“I’m not listening, Simon, so you can’t persuade me.”

“I’m not trying to persuade you.”

“I’m not listening.”

“Cathy, will you stop bleating and listen for one second.”

“What?”

“Shut up, woman.”

“Why? You’re not going to persuade me.”

“I’m not trying to.”

“That’s just a ploy to trick me.”

“Cathy, listen, will you?”

“I’m not going to let you persuade me.”

“CATHY, SHUT UP!”

“There’s no need to shout at me.”

“It’s the only way to get through to you some days.”

“What?”

“Shut up and listen, will you?”

“But you…”

“I’m trying to tell you there isn’t likely to be a Washington trip.”

“Oh, how come?”

“It looks like I’ll have to go to China and Vietnam.”

“What happened to Washington?”

“Dad's going instead, I’ve got to go and see some Chinese and Asian clients.”

“That’s not fair, is it?”

“Yes, it could bring in a few million in investments.”

“Can’t you do it over the internet?”

“No, I have to meet them. I’ll probably see some clients in the Middle East on the way back, then I’ll be able to get a few days off and perhaps we can get away for a weekend.”

“Oh that sounds nice, can I tell the girls?”

“I meant for honeymoon.”

“You what?” I felt myself shake.

“Only joking,” he laughed.

“You pig.”

“Oink oink,” he laughed down the phone.