Hurry Up and Wait by Isabel Ashdown

Author:Isabel Ashdown [Isabel Ashdown]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780956792624
Publisher: Myriad Editions
Published: 2011-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

After work on Saturday, Sarah goes to Kate’s with her overnight bag. When she arrives, Tina answers the door and beckons her in with a flick of her head. She’s holding the biscuit tin in her chocolatey splayed fingers and she has to finish her mouthful before she’s able to speak.

‘Kate’s in the shower,’ she says, pushing the tin back on to the shelf and washing her hands at the sink. ‘She said to help ourselves to anything.’

Sarah drops her bag by the fridge and looks out of the window at the dark garden beyond. She can still see the edge of one of the tree stumps poking out from behind the large shed. ‘Clocks’ll change soon,’ she says.

Tina opens the fridge and reaches in for a Diet Coke. ‘Want one?’ she asks, snapping back the ring-pull and strolling over to lean against the warm oven.

Sarah takes a can and does the same, hiccuping as she swallows the first fizzy mouthful. She laughs, putting her hand to her mouth just as Jason walks in, tucking a smart black shirt into his jeans with the flat of his hand. He’s wearing black Chelsea boots, which have been polished to a high shine.

‘Hello, Sarah, love. Glad to see you’re making yourself at home.’ He gives her a bright smile, making a final adjustment to his jeans with a tug of the belt loops.

‘Oh, sorry – ’ she stutters, holding up the can.

Jason wrinkles his eyebrows in a frown. ‘Don’t be a daft mare!’ He walks across the kitchen and stretches one arm around her shoulder so that they’re standing side by side, facing Tina over by the oven. He gives Sarah a tight, jostling squeeze. ‘What do I always say, Teen? Mi casa es su casa, as the Spanish say. Help yourself!’

Sarah’s muscles go rigid, and she stands beneath the weight of his arm, uncomfortably gripping her can of Coke and staring blankly at Tina.

Tina laughs, blushing, and takes another swig from her drink. ‘What’s that other one you always say? Que sera, sera,’ she says.

‘Very good!’ Jason says, abruptly releasing Sarah and striding towards Tina.

In that instant, Tina stiffens, appearing small, her eyes uncertain. Jason stops and reaches into the cupboard above her head. He brings out a glass and carefully pushes the door shut. Tina stares at her feet.

He stands between the two girls, juggling the glass loosely from one hand to the other, regarding them both expectantly.

‘Well?’ he asks, his hands held wide. ‘Aren’t you going to say anything?’

Tina and Sarah look at one another, baffled, trying to stifle their embarrassed laughter.

Jason lets his shoulders fall, as if disappointed. ‘About how dashing I look? I’m taking Patty out tonight for our anniversary.’

‘Oh! You look very nice,’ says Sarah, smiling politely.

Tina keeps her bony hand clasped over her mouth.

‘Sixteen years we’ve been married,’ he says, filling his glass at the cold tap. He turns towards the kitchen door conspiratorially. ‘You’d get less for armed robbery,’ he whispers with a wink.

Sarah doesn’t know how to react, so she smiles and runs her hand through her hair.

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