suppose so. That’s a good thing, at least.”
When I walked into my office, it was like deja vu. The small dining table was back, and had been set for a meal. Winky was busy polishing the cutlery.
“Are you entertaining Katrina again?”
“Definitely not. I couldn’t put up with that a second time. I’m still having nightmares about the noises she made when she ate.”
“What’s this then? Are you expecting another candidate from Purrfect Match?”
“If you must know, Bella is coming over tonight.”
“She is?”
“I’ve given the matter serious consideration, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Socks was to blame. Bella should have known better, but my brother can be very persuasive. He’s always been a bit of a ladies’ man. I’ve decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, and another chance.”
“That’s very magnanimous of you.”
“I know. I’m a fool to myself sometimes.”
“I’m really pleased. You and Bella make such a lovely couple.”
“Don’t get carried away, Jill. It’s only dinner. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to prepare.”
I could have objected to my office being taken over yet again, but I was so pleased that Winky and Bella were back together, I decided to go home early, and leave him to his preparations.
Back at my flat, I’d been waylaid by Mr Ivers.
“I’m glad I’ve bumped into you, Jill.”
That makes one of us.
“You and I are the only people in this building who aren’t terminally boring,” he said.
Huh?
“Take that Betty Longbottom, for example. All she’s interested in, is crustaceans and the likes. It’s enough to drive you insane.”
“Betty’s okay.”
Why was I sticking up for the tax inspecting, jelly fish wielding little minx?
“And then there’s Luther Stone. Since he’s taken up with Betty, all he wants to talk about is sea creatures. It’s like she’s got him under a spell. I sometimes wonder if she’s a witch.”
“You might have something there.”
“The two of them cornered me earlier today.” Mr Ivers shook his head. “I had stereo crustaceans coming at me. It was horrible.”
“You’re right. There’s nothing worse than being trapped by someone intent on boring you to death.”
“Precisely. Anyway, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve just finished this month’s newsletter.”
Oh irony, thou art a cruel neighbour.
He was still talking—apparently. “I’m waiting for my new toner cartridge to arrive, so I can print them off. But, don’t worry. I’ll get the next issue to you PDQ.”
“PDQ? Great. IDNC.” I. Do. Not. Care.
I’d made myself macaroni and cheese. It was all I could be bothered with, but it hit the mark. I was enjoying the last few mouthfuls when the room became a little chilly, and my mother appeared.
“Is that all you’re having to eat, Jill?”
“It’s what I fancied.”
“It’s hardly a meal, is it? With all the stresses and strains your job entails, you need more than macaroni and cheese.”
“Have you come here just to nag me?”
“That’s a mother’s job.”
“You didn’t nag me for the first twenty odd years of my life.”
“No, but I wanted to when I saw some of the things you got up to.”
“Was there another reason for your visit today? Other than to criticise my diet?”
“Actually, I wanted to tell you how pleased I am that you and Jack are seeing more of one another.”
“And you know that, how?”
“A mother knows these things.”
“In other words, you’ve been following us.”
“Of course not.”
“So you weren’t at The Old Trout the other day?”
She laughed. “You made a bit of a fool of yourself at that murder mystery—whoops—err—I mean—no, I wasn’t there.”
“Mum, what have I told you? I don’t want you looking over my shoulder all the time.”
“No. Obviously, but I do think that this man is a good catch, so don’t go doing anything stupid, again.”
“What do you mean again
When I walked into my office, it was like deja vu. The small dining table was back, and had been set for a meal. Winky was busy polishing the cutlery.
“Are you entertaining Katrina again?”
“Definitely not. I couldn’t put up with that a second time. I’m still having nightmares about the noises she made when she ate.”
“What’s this then? Are you expecting another candidate from Purrfect Match?”
“If you must know, Bella is coming over tonight.”
“She is?”
“I’ve given the matter serious consideration, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Socks was to blame. Bella should have known better, but my brother can be very persuasive. He’s always been a bit of a ladies’ man. I’ve decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, and another chance.”
“That’s very magnanimous of you.”
“I know. I’m a fool to myself sometimes.”
“I’m really pleased. You and Bella make such a lovely couple.”
“Don’t get carried away, Jill. It’s only dinner. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to prepare.”
I could have objected to my office being taken over yet again, but I was so pleased that Winky and Bella were back together, I decided to go home early, and leave him to his preparations.
Back at my flat, I’d been waylaid by Mr Ivers.
“I’m glad I’ve bumped into you, Jill.”
That makes one of us.
“You and I are the only people in this building who aren’t terminally boring,” he said.
Huh?
“Take that Betty Longbottom, for example. All she’s interested in, is crustaceans and the likes. It’s enough to drive you insane.”
“Betty’s okay.”
Why was I sticking up for the tax inspecting, jelly fish wielding little minx?
“And then there’s Luther Stone. Since he’s taken up with Betty, all he wants to talk about is sea creatures. It’s like she’s got him under a spell. I sometimes wonder if she’s a witch.”
“You might have something there.”
“The two of them cornered me earlier today.” Mr Ivers shook his head. “I had stereo crustaceans coming at me. It was horrible.”
“You’re right. There’s nothing worse than being trapped by someone intent on boring you to death.”
“Precisely. Anyway, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve just finished this month’s newsletter.”
Oh irony, thou art a cruel neighbour.
He was still talking—apparently. “I’m waiting for my new toner cartridge to arrive, so I can print them off. But, don’t worry. I’ll get the next issue to you PDQ.”
“PDQ? Great. IDNC.” I. Do. Not. Care.
I’d made myself macaroni and cheese. It was all I could be bothered with, but it hit the mark. I was enjoying the last few mouthfuls when the room became a little chilly, and my mother appeared.
“Is that all you’re having to eat, Jill?”
“It’s what I fancied.”
“It’s hardly a meal, is it? With all the stresses and strains your job entails, you need more than macaroni and cheese.”
“Have you come here just to nag me?”
“That’s a mother’s job.”
“You didn’t nag me for the first twenty odd years of my life.”
“No, but I wanted to when I saw some of the things you got up to.”
“Was there another reason for your visit today? Other than to criticise my diet?”
“Actually, I wanted to tell you how pleased I am that you and Jack are seeing more of one another.”
“And you know that, how?”
“A mother knows these things.”
“In other words, you’ve been following us.”
“Of course not.”
“So you weren’t at The Old Trout the other day?”
She laughed. “You made a bit of a fool of yourself at that murder mystery—whoops—err—I mean—no, I wasn’t there.”
“Mum, what have I told you? I don’t want you looking over my shoulder all the time.”
“No. Obviously, but I do think that this man is a good catch, so don’t go doing anything stupid, again.”
“What do you mean again
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