Page 83 of (Not So) Mad About You

Bea looked at the kitchen table, strewn with her papers, then back at the application she was filling in. Her computer showed six more tabs open with jobs she wanted to apply for. Marilyn was sure to make noise and mess making dinner.

“Actually,” Bea said. “I’m busy in here at the moment. Would you mind waiting an hour or so until I’m finished?”

Marilyn grinned. “Yeah, no problem. I’ll go and take a shower and do my nails while I’m waiting.” She left the kitchen and Bea noticed that Robbie was staring at her.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Robbie said. He sniffed. “Nothing only… are you alright?”

“Fine.”

“You sure?” His blue eyes looked concerned. “You seem… different, kind of.”

“Different how?” asked Bea, going back to her application.

“Just… different. Like more… bossy maybe?”

She looked up now. “Is that a problem?”

He shook his head. “No.” Then he grinned. “Actually, it’s pretty attractive.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t go getting any ideas.”

“I’m not.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m really not. I’m just glad to see that you’re starting to grow up a bit, starting to look after yourself. It’s nice.”

“And not really any of your business.”

He looked hurt. “I know things haven’t been easy, Bea. But we’ve known each other a long time. I could have handled our break up better, but we both know it had been a long time coming. We weren’t working together anymore. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care for you.”

She softened. He was right. “I know. I do know that.”

“So, seeing anyone?”

“Not your business,” she snapped.

“Alright, alright. I was just wondering. Since you seemed all confident and stuff, I thought there might be someone in the picture.” He scratched his nose. “Just so you know, I wouldn’t mind or anything if you wanted to bring him over. I know you don’t need my permission, but don’t hide him away ‘cos of me.”

Bea bit her lip. “Actually, there was someone. But we, um, we broke up. It was just a fling, really, I suppose.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Robbie said staunchly. “Having a bit of fun. Not everything has to be serious.”

She sighed. “I know. Except for a little while there, I did think it was serious.”

“Want me to chase him down and punch him?”

“No. Apart from anything else, he was a she. And she doesn’t deserve that. It was all a bit complicated. And it was my decision in the end.”

“A she? Alright,” Robbie said. “Well, she doesn’t know what she’s missing.” He got up but paused.

“What?” Bea asked, ready to get back to work.

“Nothing, just…” He took a deep breath. “Just, if she’s the reason that you’re different now, well, that seems like a good thing. And maybe, maybe things aren’t as complicated as you think they are. If you like her enough to think it was serious, maybe you should give her a call.”

Bea shook her head. “No, thanks for the advice, Rob, but I don’t think so. She needed to make some changes in her life, and I’m not sure she could see it. I don’t want to force anyone to change. That’s not my place.”

He gave her a sad smile. “That’s the first time you’ve called me Rob,” he said. “Not Robbie. Just Rob.”

“Well, we all change, don’t we?” she said. She hadn’t even noticed that she’d done it. “You’re more of a Rob now than a Robbie, I can see that.”

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