Kate & Alf

by Carrie Stone

  ‘Hello,’ she called out, opening the street door and bending down to open Sam’s pet carrier.

  She noticed her small butterfly canvas, which Marcus had offered to hang, in the hallway. It looked so pretty against the usually bare white wall.

  ‘Hiya,’ Megan’s voice called out from the kitchen, closely followed by Marcus’s.

  Surprised, Kate stood up straight – closing the street door behind her and staring in confusion as Megan appeared before her.

  ‘I didn’t know you were coming over!’ she said, bristling slightly as she noticed Marcus’s eyes on Megan’s face. Shrugging off her coat, she looked on as Megan bent to fuss Sam.

  ‘I know – sorry, I just assumed you’d be home. You’re usually home by now. My battery died on the mobile so I couldn’t call.’

  Kate was aware that her body language was ever so slightly stiff and unwelcoming as she hung her coat on the banister. She tried to loosen up and forced a smile. ‘That’s okay. I was held up.’ She turned to Marcus. ‘I see you two have finally met then!’

  The appreciative glance exchanged between him and Megan wasn’t lost on her as she walked past them into the kitchen. ‘Shall we have a cup of tea?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ Megan said, sitting down at the small table. ‘Marcus was just telling me about the book he’s written. I said he should send it to Samantha – you know – the one who’s friends with Jo. Really tall.’ She flicked a crumb from the surface of the table. ‘Jo told me a while back that Samantha’s made a name for herself with her new agency – apparently she represents a few famous writers.’

  ‘Oh yes, I forgot about her.’ Kate was relaxing now that she’d got over Megan’s impromptu visit. She turned to Marcus. ‘Megan’s right, she might be worth a shot. I mean, I know you’ve got your own contacts, but if I get her details from Jo, it might be worth sending her the manuscript.’

  Marcus retrieved the carton of milk from the fridge and passed it to Kate. ‘Yes, that’d be great. Thanks.’

  Pouring milk into the three mugs, Kate glanced at Megan. ‘So what’s going on with you, then? Everything okay?’

  Megan darted her eyes towards Marcus’s turned back and shifted uncomfortably. ‘All’s good, work was busy today, though.’ She caught Kate’s eyes and made a ‘not now’ motion with her hand whilst Marcus wasn’t looking.

  Kate understood perfectly and tactfully changed the subject. ‘Are you still coming for the tea-leaf reading the day after tomorrow? I checked with Vivian and she doesn’t mind doing it in the evening for you.’

  ‘Oh, about that….’ Megan grinned devilishly and Kate knew what was coming.

  ‘You can’t come? Or you don’t want to come?’

  Marcus looked from one woman to the other, keeping quiet.

  ‘It’s not that I don’t want to come,’ Megan began, protesting. ‘I will come if you really want me to, but I don’t want a reading myself.’

  ‘Oh, go on, please…’ Kate urged, knowing that Megan wasn’t likely to change her mind. ‘She might tell you about a handsome stranger who’s going to come into your life and sweep your off your feet!’

  Hearing enough, Marcus decided it was time to make a polite exit and allow the women privacy for their girlie discussion. ‘I’m going to pop to my sister’s – leave you two ladies to chat.’

  ‘Oh, are you sure you don’t want to stay and listen to us slag off the majority of the male population instead?’ Megan teased.

  Marcus laughed, taking a final gulp of his still-hot tea. ‘No, I think it might be a safer bet spending time with my four highly strung nieces and nephews.’ He set his mug down on the sink. ‘Okay, I’d best get going. I’ll probably not be back until late. There’s a new Indie band showcasing at The Vibe that I’m going to check out.’ He picked up his keys from the table. ‘Well, it was very nice to finally meet you, Megan.’

  The women said their goodbyes – staying in the kitchen and making small chit-chat until the coast was clear. Megan jumped up to watch Marcus’s retreating figure from the back window. ‘Oh, my God!’ she exclaimed, open-mouthed. ‘He is so hot, Kate. I nearly had a heart attack when he opened the door to me earlier.’

  ‘Yes, well I did tell you this!’ Kate replied, giggling. ‘Why do you think I’ve been encouraging him to stay on longer?’

  ‘I know you did, but I also know what your version of “hot” is. Two words. Luke Drissold. Need I say more?’

  Kate rolled her eyes. Luke Drissold had been her first teenage crush and the boy she’d considered the most handsome in their school year. Sadly nobody else had agreed.

  ‘Well, this time I’m just pleased you can finally trust my judgement. The crazy thing is, he’s such a lovely guy, too. I always thought that combination didn’t exist.’

  Sitting back at the table, Megan looked at Kate expectantly. ‘So, why is he single?’

  ‘I still don’t know. He hasn’t really gone into details and I don’t feel comfortable to push him,’ Kate said honestly. She’d found it rather odd that each time the subject of his life in Leeds had arisen, he diverted the conversation in another direction, but then she wasn’t one to pry. People had their reasons for not wanting to talk about certain things.

  ‘Alf’s getting antsy about him being here, though. He feels he’s outstayed his welcome.’ She fiddled with a pen on the table. ‘I haven’t said anything to Alf, but Marcus told me last night that he might have found a place in North Street. He’s viewing it tomorrow. Whether he’s mentioned it to Alf or not, I don’t know.’

  Megan looked at Kate’s downcast mouth and felt a twinge of concern. Kate seemed to have grown extremely fond of Marcus, and although she could now understand why, she was relieved to hear that he might soon be moving on. It wasn’t a healthy situation, given the current state of her relationship with Alf.

  ‘North Street has some really nice properties. Let’s hope it turns out well for him, then,’ Megan said kindly.

  Kate was quick to reply. ‘Well, if not, he’ll just have to stay here for a while longer. He’s no trouble.’

  Biting her lip, Megan decided it was time to change the subject. ‘Oh, by the way, Shilpa got you a ticket for the cocktail opening. It’s this Saturday night.’ Retrieving her oversized handbag from the floor, she rifled through to locate her diary.

  ‘Oh, I forgot about that.’ Kate said, suddenly realising she hadn’t got around to mentioning it to Alf.

  Megan gave her a pointedly suspicious look. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind!’

  ‘No, no, not at all. I’m up for it.’

  ‘Good.’ She opened her diary and ran her slender, manicured nail across the appointments. ‘Ah, here we go – we’re meeting Shilpa at 8pm at Swoonies.’

  ‘Swoonies? Is that the purple, mirrored place on Ridge Road?’ Kate asked, feeling more and more out of her depth. ‘The one where all the glamorous people go and you need membership to enter?’

  Megan laughed. ‘Honestly, Kate, you sound like an old woman. Yes, it’s that one. And don’t worry – Shilpa has membership. We’ll go on to the cocktail place after.’

  ‘I think Marcus mentioned he went there briefly the other week.’ Kate said, trying to recall the conversation.

  Megan’s interest perked up a level. ‘Really? I didn’t have him down as a party person. I got a feeling he’d be more like Alf.’

  Without taking offence, Kate smiled. ‘No, actually he’s pretty much the opposite. From what I gather, he goes out a lot. Although I guess living here he’s had to curb his ways a bit to fit in with us.’

  ‘Hmm,’ was all Megan managed to mumble, reminded suddenly of the time and why she’d decided to drop in on Kate in the first place. She began to feel uncertain and wondered if she’d done the right thing by popping round…

  However, on the plus side, meeting Marcus had definitely been an unexpected highlight. She’d felt the chemistry with him the moment he’d introduced himself and they’d sat down. His intense gaze had ba
rely left her own and the electric current between them had been palpable.

  That was until Kate had arrived home and ruined the moment.

  ‘So, anyway, tell me, is there a special reason you came over?’ Kate asked, brows furrowed. ‘Don’t get me wrong! You know you’re always welcome, but it’s unlike you to get here early unless something’s wrong!’

  Megan looked awkwardly at Kate’s concerned face and knew in an instant that, regardless of protocol and ethics, she had done the right thing by coming. ‘Well, yes…’ she began. ‘It’s about a proposed change to Alf’s role.’

  Kate only heard the first few sentences before a swooshing sound of blood rushing to her ears blurred the rest. She felt a lump form in her throat and her heart sink to the floor.

  Where would this news leave her and Alf?

  Chapter 9

  Alf loosened his tie and stared mindlessly into the barely touched pint of Guinness in front of him. He rarely had time to take a lunch break and today was no exception, but Gary had convinced him otherwise.

  ‘I wouldn’t have put her a day over forty, but fifty-four, well, that did it for me.’ Gary pursed his lips and shook his head regretfully. ‘Turned me right off the idea.’

  Alf looked wryly at Gary, wondering how a man with so few physical attributes could afford to be so choosy in his conquests. ‘Deborah still on the scene?’ he asked, referring to the on-and-off long-standing casual relationship that Gary flitted in and out of.

  ‘No, mate, not heard from her in a while. Was getting bored with that anyway.’

  Alf raised an eyebrow, certain that Gary could never get bored with the feisty, tattooed blonde. He watched as Gary leaned forward.

  ‘What’s going on with you and your missus, then? She got you talking of tying the knot yet? Or should I say noose?’ Laughing, he mimicked a rope being tightened around his throat.

  The question caught Alf off-guard. All had clearly not been well between him and Kate in recent weeks, but the last person he was going to share that information with was Gary.

  ‘No, Kate’s not like that – she’s pretty easy going. We’re doing alright.’ He took a large gulp of Guinness and glanced at his watch. ‘Listen, mate, I’ve got to be heading back – got a meeting at two.’

  Gary appeared disgruntled at the news, but he shrugged with feigned disinterest. ‘Fair enough. We’ll go for a beer next week or something.’

  Alf gathered his belongings and took a last gulp of his Guinness. ‘Yes, we’ll do that,’ he agreed, with no intention of following it through. He set down his half-empty glass. ‘Right, then, see you next week.’

  Walking away quickly, he debated returning to the office or finding a quiet spot somewhere to collect his thoughts. His mind was made up for him as he walked through Devonshire Square and noticed an empty bench. Sitting down, he put his leather document wallet to one side.

  Gary’s words had hit a nerve. Things weren’t right at home. He was relieved that Marcus had finally found a property – albeit North Street – a desirable location where he himself would have loved to be able to live. It irked him that Marcus had been living at theirs and contributing very little towards expenses, and yet almost overnight he’d landed himself a potential book deal, a job on a national newspaper and a stunning apartment. Still, it would be good to have his home back without having to worry about his friend interfering in his life again.

  There’d been a definite shift in his friendship with Marcus since the day he’d got home to find him and Kate surrounded by her artwork. Maybe he wouldn’t have felt the same way had he not had an unsettling day at work, but it wasn’t just his already frustrated nerves that had triggered things. It was Kate’s enthusiasm about the entire matter – she might not have been aware of it, but it shone out of her. He’d been furious to see the house scattered with discarded bubble-wrap, dusty easels and of course, her works, ones that she’d long since banished to the loft. Sure, they were good pieces – he knew her capabilities and talent – but he hadn’t expected to come home to a bombsite. Plus she and Marcus been so caught up in the art, there hadn’t even been a dinner prepared.

  Yet it was her sparkle that had hurt him the most. Where had the sudden excitement come from? When they’d first met he’d tried repeatedly to encourage her to continue with her artwork. It had been one of the things that had attracted him to her – the fiery passion and enthusiasm in her eyes when she’d spoken about it. Yet she’d brushed him off every single time.

  He’d known back then that it was because she’d been struggling with her aunt’s death – feeling totally alone in the world and lost. And he understood that – more than she even realised. Sure, he’d grown up with a family around him, but it hadn’t been the ideal childhood. His father had been both controlling and manipulative and his mother had been too concerned with her own needs to shower Alf with the attention he’d desperately needed. Then his father’s affair had blown any remaining family life to shreds. So he’d learned to rely upon himself, to be a one-man band. But, of course, Kate – having no parents at all – couldn’t truly relate to how a person could feel totally alone, even if they did have a family. And he’d done his best ever since meeting that younger and lost Kate, to look after her in every way that he possibly could…

  Yet coming home that night and seeing her eyes shining and flushed cheeks had been a stab to the heart. Especially as there were clearly other issues she’d been struggling with over the past few weeks and not shared with him. She hadn’t looked that alive and enthusiastic in weeks…no…. months, even. He suddenly realised that that Kate had been gone for a while. The Kate that was more fun and vibrant, that didn’t take life so seriously… Somehow both of them had lost their way in the relationship, settled in a routine and dulled down. Had he been just as lacking as she had?

  It churned his stomach knowing that Marcus had been the one to influence and help her to feel inspired again. Not him, but Marcus. He’d asked her why the sudden turnaround, hoping for an answer that would contradict the feeling in his gut and make the situation bearable. It hadn’t come. Instead she’d mentioned that she’d been thinking of it for a while and had even made a comment at her party, which he’d supposedly been unsupportive about. He vaguely recalled it, but he wasn’t having her put all of the blame on him…

  Wasting no time in trying to get the situation back under control, he’d pulled Marcus aside and told him in no uncertain terms that it was time to move on. Kate didn’t think so, but he sure as hell did. He explained it was for the best as he didn’t want to lose the friendship entirely over the matter of him outstaying his welcome and meddling in their relationship. Marcus, although surprised, had seemed to understand this.

  Deep down, Alf knew his friend well enough. It wasn’t Marcus’s style to go after another man’s woman – he wasn’t that type – he had respect for others’ relationships. If he was honest with himself, he was aware it wasn’t Marcus’s fault – especially after he’d listened to Marcus apologise that he thought he was helping by getting Kate back into something she enjoyed. But hearing that Marcus, too, had picked up on her unsettledness had been the final straw. Her emotional distance and lack of interaction had been going on for weeks and he had to address the issue head on.

  He couldn’t deny, though, that since she’d started up the painting again, she did seem to be a bit chirpier. And given his current situation at work, she was making a considerable effort to be supportive… Yet there was something still not right.

  Breaking into his private thoughts, a middle-aged woman in a slightly too-tight skirt suit plonked herself down unceremoniously on the bench next to him.

  Alf looked up sharply, but she avoided his glance, noisily retrieving a foil-wrapped sandwich from her handbag. Irritated by the woman’s action, he picked up his document folder and decided he’d head back to work. He reminded himself again that in less than twenty-four hours Marcus would be moved onto pastures new.

  It was time he and Kate
had a long-overdue chat.

  ‘She should never have told you. Wrong of her, that was,’ Viv said, looking to Lillian for confirmation. ‘Isn’t that right, Lil?’

  Lillian nodded grimly without looking up from the complex baby blanket that she was crocheting. ‘Agreed. She should have thought twice before opening her mouth.’

  Kate considered their opinions and found a part of herself agreeing. She’d been in limbo for the past thirty-six hours, torn with the great burden of the knowledge that had been bestowed on her by Megan.

  How could she be expected to keep such a secret from Alf? She couldn’t go on allowing him to be filled with stress and anxiety over his predicament when she knew the possible outcome. Yet, she knew the role Megan had played in all of this and the risk she had taken by telling her.

  If she told Alf, it was at the peril of sacrificing Megan. She couldn’t be sure that he wouldn’t implicate her friend in some way and then Megan’s job and career would be at risk.

  It was an even worse situation given that Marcus had moved out the night before – he’d been her life-line, her distraction and her happy pill, all rolled into one. She felt strangely adrift knowing that he wouldn’t be there to greet her when she finished work later on.

  ‘If it comes to it, will you go?’ Viv asked quietly. She fiddled anxiously with the bottom button on her lavender cardigan. The thought of losing Kate was enough to start up the uneasy twitches in her chest again.

  Lillian stopped her crocheting and looked up, waiting for Kate’s response.

  It was the question she’d asked herself a million times over since finding out. ‘I don’t see much choice around the situation.’ She sighed sadly. ‘So of course I’ll go, if Alf wants to take it.’ She stopped folding the washing she’d been arranging and sat down on a small stool next to Lillian. ‘It’s unlikely he’s going to decline. He’s worked so hard for this. It’ll be a dream come true for him.’