Far From Home. Anne Bennett

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СКАЧАТЬ surely did,’ Kate said. ‘And she freely admitted that Phil called for her most mornings. She had not a whit of shame or embarrassment about it at all, and said that she hadn’t bothered to mention it to me because she didn’t think it was important, and then went on to say that in case I had any other spies in the streets that this Phil walks her home at night too. In fact, she said he will not allow her to walk home alone.’

      ‘He has a point,’ Susie said. ‘It could be dangerous for her because it’s late when she finishes and you get all types on the streets these days.’

      ‘Yeah,’ Kate said. ‘I agree that could be dangerous, but being alone with a young man in the dark of the night is just as worrying, in my opinion.’

      ‘She is a young woman with needs of her own,’ Susie said. ‘And it isn’t bad to want someone special in your life. It’s what everyone wants deep down, isn’t it?’

      Kate didn’t answer and Susie went on: ‘Don’t you want a home of your own, a family of your own one day?’

      ‘I suppose.’

      ‘Well, why don’t you get to know other men? Give them a bit of encouragement. You might be pleasantly surprised.’

      ‘You’re talking about David Burton, aren’t you?’

      ‘Not particularly,’ Susie said. ‘But at least you like him a bit, don’t you?’

      ‘Course I like him, but liking isn’t loving, is it?’

      ‘Maybe not, but it’s a good starting point,’ Susie said. ‘And I dare say with a bit of effort on your part you could grow to love David Burton.’

      ‘I thought we were discussing Sally,’ Kate said.

      ‘Well, if you ask me, Sally is doing all right,’ Susie said. ‘She has certainly grown up a lot in the short time she has been here and she is having fun and enjoying herself and where’s the harm in that?’

      ‘I know but—’

      ‘But nothing, Kate,’ Susie said. ‘Look, we are only young the once and you are letting your life float past.’

      ‘I’m not,’ Kate protested. ‘We’re out tonight, aren’t we? And it’s a Christmas dance, with spot prizes and everything. So how can you say I am letting my life float past? And I never seem to be short of partners at the dances – you have to agree with that.’

      She was right too, but Susie said, ‘I know, Kate, but sometimes it is nice to have someone special.’

      ‘I don’t feel the need for anyone special just now,’ Kate said dogmatically. ‘But if David Burton asks me up, then I will dance with him.’

      ‘He’ll ask you all right,’ Susie said assuredly. ‘But you won’t dance with him exclusively, will you?’

      ‘I doubt it,’ Kate said.

      ‘If he asked you to just dance with him, or to dance with him most of the time, then would you?’

      ‘Give over, Susie.’

      ‘What’s the matter with you anyway?’ Susie demanded. ‘The way you are going on you’ll end up a crabbed old maid.’

      That made Kate smile, and, as the tram pulled up at their stop, she said, ‘All right then, I’ll think about it, now stop nagging me. Anyway, how about going down the Bull Ring tomorrow?’

      Susie knew that Kate was trying to change the subject. She was a dab hand at doing that, and she could be aggravatingly stubborn at times. ‘Well, do you or not?’ Kate demanded. ‘Surely you’re not sulking because I can’t be filled with lustful passion at the mere mention of David Burton’s name?’

      Even Susie had to smile at that, and Christmas Eve in the Bull Ring was not to be missed, especially if it fell on a Saturday as this did, and so she said, ‘All right then.’

      ‘You can help me choose some little thing for Sally for Christmas,’ Kate said. ‘Whatever she says, she is bound to feel it, the first Christmas away from home. I know we have been invited to your house for dinner again this year, but I’d like her to have something to open when she comes home from Mass.’

      ‘Oh, you’re on,’ Susie said as they alighted from the tram. ‘I love choosing presents for people. Anyway, see you later.’

      ‘Yeah, I’ll be up about half seven,’ Kate said, and with a wave they went their different ways.

      Kate had planned what she was going to wear that night, having bought a dress from the Rag Market the previous week. She’d tried it on at home so that Sally could see it. She valued her sister’s opinion because she knew all about fashion from watching all the stars on the screen. Sally was really enthusiastic about the full-length silk dress in the softest pink. Apart from the ruffles at the neck, the dress was plain and sleeveless; it fell in shimmering folds to the floor.

      ‘Oh, Kate, that’s so gorgeous,’ Sally enthused.

      ‘Do you really think so?’

      ‘I know so.’

      ‘Susie thought I should have something with a fuller skirt to accentuate my waist. She had one like that with little grey and black flowers all over it, with big butterfly sleeves. It’s ever so pretty.’

      ‘So is that,’ Sally said. ‘You look like a Grecian goddess – only someone as slim as you could wear a dress like that.’

      ‘That’s what the woman on the stall said,’ Kate said to Sally. ‘She said she thought she might have had it left on her hands.’

      ‘I’m not surprised,’ Sally said. ‘It would look awful on someone my shape, and I don’t think even Susie could carry it off.’

      ‘If you’re sure then?’

      ‘I am,’ Sally said. ‘The only thing is – unless you are dancing every minute – your arms might get very cold.’

      ‘Oh, no, I’ve got this to wear after I’ve taken my coat off,’ Kate said, and withdrew a silver fur stole from another bag. ‘It’s artificial,’ she said. ‘But in a way I prefer that.’

      ‘Yeah, I know what you mean,’ Sally said. ‘But that settles it really. Kate, you will be the belle of the ball.’

      ‘Don’t be so silly,’ Kate said, colouring at the unaccustomed praise. But it did mean that that night she could dress with confidence, knowing that she looked good, and she did cause a bit of a stir when she went into the dance and she saw David’s eyes widen in appreciation. She smiled at him as he approached and put two hands on her shoulders as he said, ‘Kate, you look beautiful, absolutely stunning.’

      She couldn’t be anything else but pleased, any woman would feel the same, but the gesture did not go unnoticed. It was like a stamp of ownership – many of the other men were aware of this and so gave Kate a wide berth. She noticed, but she liked David too much to want to upset him, and he had made no secret of how he felt about her. So David got his heart’s desire as Katie danced almost exclusively with him. He knew she would СКАЧАТЬ