Second Helpings by Charlie Cochrane

Author:Charlie Cochrane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

aul was dead to the world. Maybe it had been that romp on the sofa, or the glass of wine afterwards, or the highlights of the cricket they’d watched on the telly once they were both cleaned up and decent again. He looked comfortable, at home, able to sleep it off, while Stuart was wide-awake, mind in a million places. Paul could stay the night, if he wanted—they were of a similar build, so finding him a T-shirt to sleep in would be simple. If he wore anything at all to sleep in.

He imagined Paul in the dappled morning light that would dance through the London Plane tree, shadows playing across his body. Any thoughts of a repeat performance in the spare bed disappeared in sudden recollection that this Sunday meant his monthly lunch with his Aunt Catherine—technically his great-aunt, but she hated the title—and a dose of village gossip, usually including plenty about the defrocked vicar who lived down the road.

He’d been going to use the occasion to get some advice about Dad, but maybe he needed some advice about himself as well. Would it be presumptuous to see whether she could lay another place at the table?

He took a long, fond look at the sleeping form, then sneaked downstairs to the phone.

“Aunt Catherine?”

“Who do you think it is? You just caught me. I’m off to bed.”

“Are you sure you’re not going out on the razzle?”

Aunt Catherine giggled, an unexpectedly high-pitched laugh out of keeping with the deeply fruity tones of her speaking voice. “What do you want, troublemaker?”

“Tomorrow.” Stuart felt like he was seven again. “Um, can I bring a friend?”

Aunt Catherine laughed so much she had to catch her breath. “Will he play nicely? Does he have good manners? Good grief, child, you’re a grown man. Bring who you like. There’s always too much food.”

“You’re a star. Do you know that?”

“Go to bed.” She put the phone down in her usual abrupt manner.

“I should go.” Paul’s voice sounded—blearily—from the top of the small flight of stairs.

“You don’t need to. I’ve got a spare bed. You might as well use it.”

“If you’re sure . . .” Paul sounded relieved. “I can be out of your hair early.”

“Ah, actually . . . do you fancy lunch out? With my great-aunt?”

“Your great-aunt? You want me to come and meet her?” Paul sounded like he’d been offered a trip to the South Pole. He rubbed his forehead, clearly trying to rouse his wits.

“Got it in one.”

“And what’s my role in this? Apart from minding my manners and looking gorgeous?” Paul grinned.

“Your role is to behave. This isn’t the official ‘meet the family and get sized up’ session.”

“I should come and thump you. Does she know about ‘us’?”

Was there an us? Paul clearly thought there might be. Stuart let that one pass by for the moment.

“You sound exactly like her. I didn’t say anything, just that you were a friend. But she’ll guess. Telepathic as well as X-ray vision.”

“She breathes fire too?”

“Only as a party trick.

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