by Mandy Baggot
‘I am so glad I didn’t get Stephen,’ Kate assured him.
‘Me too,’ Joel agreed.
‘Really? Truly? Because you could have someone like Marina, I mean Sophie, perfect looking and without any baggage.’
‘I like to keep things interesting, besides I’ve just told a room full of people, not to mention a few thousand viewers at home how I feel,’ Joel reminded her.
‘And you’re standing by that because.....’
‘Because I want to make sure I get my 40%.’
‘Oh.’
‘I want to spend it on top of the range chickens.’
Kate laughed.
‘I love you Kate and I want to be with you. And if we’re really getting into the realms of baggage here I should be the worried one. I’m carrying around a whole suitcase full of anxiety, night terrors and flashbacks; we might have to have separate rooms,’ Joel told her.
‘Never,’ Kate replied putting her arms around him and laying her head against his chest.
‘Sshh, they’re coming! Quiet everyone! You over there, put down that serving tray a minute and stop banging around, the guests of honour are coming! Party poppers at the ready!’ Lynn hissed loudly as she ducked back into the hotel dining room and flapped her arms around.
‘Mummy! Mummy!’ Bethan exclaimed excitedly, waving her arms up and down.
‘Sshh Bethy, want some more toast Sweetie? Here you go, that’s right, all in your mouth at once,’ Hermione said, handing Bethan another soldier shaped piece of toast.
Everyone fell quiet and then the dining room door opened and Kate and Joel came into the room.
Party poppers were let off, everyone in the restaurant cheered and clapped and Kate jumped and clutched at her chest in surprise and excitement.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the winners of ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ 2011! Kate and Joel,’ Hermione announced in her best Larry Rawlins voice.
‘God, are you all still drunk?’ Kate enquired as everyone quietened down.
‘Unfortunately no and when I asked for rum with my cornflakes the waitress looked at me a bit funny. God you’re so loved-up aren’t you? I am so glad Darren and I didn’t have the room next to yours or we wouldn’t have got any sleep last night,’ Lynn remarked as Kate and Joel came to sit down at the table.
‘Children present,’ Kate said quickly and she sat down next to Bethan in her highchair and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
‘Then I’ll ask, did you ‘sleep’ well?’ Hermione spoke with a big wink.
‘Yes thank you Mione, did you?’ Kate answered, giving nothing away.
‘Oh yes, we slept very well, must invest in a queen-sized bed at home. And Bethan slept well too, bit wet this morning though, probably the coke, sorry, nothing organic behind the bar and the orange juice was pricey,’ Hermione told Kate.
‘That’s OK; it doesn’t hurt to have a treat once in a while.’
‘Do you want some coffee?’ Joel offered Kate.
‘Please.’
‘I’ll go and ask for some,’ Joel said, standing back up.
‘So, how does it feel to be £100,000 better off this morning?’ Hermione asked her.
‘I can’t stop looking at him Mione; I can’t believe I nearly lost out on the chance to be with him,’ Kate responded.
‘Did you really think that Hermione Wyatt was going to let that happen? I mean there’s only so much the tea leaves and tarot can do, sometimes you need to use your mobile phone and your contacts.’
‘And ‘Elite Escorts’,’ Kate added.
‘Hmm, yes, well, I knew if you really cared for Joel you would react with good old fashioned jealousy and I was right wasn’t I? Despite you wrinkling up your nose in disapproval.’
‘And I suppose I have ‘Elite Escorts’ to thank for even meeting Joel in the first place.’
‘And who gave you the business card?’
‘OK, I get the picture; I am totally in your debt,’ Kate answered.
‘No, not debt, no more of that with £100,000 in your pocket,’ Hermione responded.
Joel came back to the table carrying a pot of coffee.
‘No Lady Dragon this morning, probably on the wig hotline trying to order a replacement, Darren put it on one of the yucca plants in the foyer, it’s still there,’ Lynn announced proudly.
‘Great show last night mate, full of surprises, I loved it, said to Lynn we should enter next year,’ Darren spoke, slurping up his tea.
‘You must be joking, have that giant bird shouldering up to me and Larry, a bad Graham Norton substitute, asking weird questions.’
‘You’re forgetting the greenroom Lynnie, free food and drink,’ Darren said, biting into a sausage.
‘He does have a point and if you get to the final I’d be more than happy to make you a wedding dress,’ Hermione offered.
‘Hey, no stealing our thunder, 2011 is mine and Kate’s year, let us enjoy it,’ Joel told them, taking hold of Kate’s hand.
‘Quite right too, a toast, everyone please raise your cups and join me in toasting the happy couple, to Kate and Joel,’ Hermione announced, raising her cup of mint tea in the air.
‘Joel! Joel!’ Bethan announced and she banged her spoon on her highchair tray.
‘Kate and Joel!’ the table repeated.
3
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty One
Twenty Two
Twenty Three
Twenty Four
Twenty Five
Twenty Six
Twenty Seven
Twenty Eight
Twenty Nine
Thirty
Thirty One
Thirty Two
Thirty Three
Thirty Four
Thirty Five
Thirty Six
Thirty Seven