Page 8 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Kate was an absolute concoction of her parents. She had inherited her mum’s drive to succeed and her dad’s quiet determination. Her code of ethics and love of nature were all her dad, but the part of her that thrilled at a challenge was entirely her mum. And, though she didn’t like to admit it, perhaps some of her reluctance to commit to relationships was congenital from her mother’s side too.
Kate moved to the kitchen, still with the phone at her ear, and stoked the wood burner.
“Is he seeing anyone at the moment?” her mum asked.
“What do you care?” said Kate. It came out harsher than she had meant it to.
Her mumtsked.
“Tetchy!” she said. “You always were a daddy’s girl.”
“I just don’t know why you’re so interested,” said Kate. “It makes no difference to you whether he is or he isn’t.”
“I want him to be happy,” said her mum.
“Well, heishappy,” Kate said. “So, what will you be having for your Barbadian Christmas dinner?” She thought it wise to change the subject.
“We’re keeping it traditional, darling,” her mum told her. “We’ve booked into a five-star hotel in the bay for dinner.”
“Only five-star?”
“Don’t be glib, darling,” said her mum. “It’s an unattractive quality in a person.”
Kate pulled the stopper out of the wine bottle and poured herself a full glass. She took a gulp.
“I sent your Christmas parcel before we left,” said her mum. “Let me know when you’ve got it.”
“Will do.” Kate placed her dinner in the microwave and started the timer.
“I’ll be off now, darling,” said her mum. “Gerry’s making cocktails. Send my love to everyone. Love you, Katy-Boo!”
“I love you too, Mum.”
The call ended as the doorbell rang. Kate answered it with her glass of wine in hand. It was Laura, holding a cardboard cake box and grinning.
“One emergency cake delivery.”
“I love you,” said Kate.
“I know.” Laura’s grin widened.
“You coming in?”
“I can’t,” said Laura. “Ben’s mum’s got the kids. She’ll be about ready to hit the gin by now.”
“Fair enough. How was it, anyway?”
“It was really busy, a great atmosphere. I wish you’d have come up.”
“I didn’t really fancy being the only person on a mass date without a date,” said Kate.
“Oh, who needs that dick anyway,” Laura scoffed.
“His name was Richard.”
“He’ll always be a dick to me,” said Laura.
Kate waved Laura off, after pointing and laughing as she eighteen-point-turned her car in the narrow street and closed the front door on the cold evening.
