Read Online Crappily Ever After by Louise Burness - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Louise Burness
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have idealistic views of us Lucy. We are just the same as women, only worse.’
Harry gives a small laugh. ‘You have a strong family bond, in life and in spirit. It’s where you find your strength. You are a good person. You do what you want, when you want, so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. That is a good way to live.’
A knock on the door interrupts us. As if snapped out of a trance, Harry drops my hand.
‘Tea trolley.’ I hear the irate voice of my colleague. I was supposed to be doing tea after my drugs round.
‘Sorry Harry, I have to go help out.’ He nods graciously, with a small bow as I make my way to the door.
I have now been dating Paul for three months. The opportunity to discuss the impromptu palm reading with Harry has never arisen again. What he said did have a lot of relevance, however. I kept it on board. Besides, as a distraction, there’s much dusting off of hats in the Care Home and mutterings of:
‘Perhaps she won’t be a maiden after all…’
A little premature. Well, quite a lot premature. I’m having the time of my life hanging out with old school friends and exploring the clubs of Edinburgh, even though Paul is everything I want in a man. Funny and charming, generous the week before pay day when I’m broke, and gracious the week after when I‘m, albeit temporarily, solvent.
We see each other almost every night and his cute pretend sulks when I make plans that don’t involve him, and elation when I reluctantly cancel them, don’t bother me at all. One Saturday night we head off to a club in the Grassmarket. My flatmates have hooked up with some of our old school friends and there’s a big weekend planned in the city. As we walk over the George IV Bridge through driving rain, Paul is quieter than usual.
‘Everything all right?’ I shout from under my umbrella.
‘Yep,’ his reply is barely audible. He has refused my offer of sharing the umbrella. We walk in silence. I’m trying to work out what I could have said or done to annoy him. I’m so looking forward to tonight. So many people I haven’t seen since school. I’m a little miffed at the wet blanket literally trailing behind me.
The music pulsates through our bodies as we walk into the club. I spot some of the girls on the dance floor. Jess, one of my flatmates, runs over and grabs us both, chatting twenty to the dozen.
‘Seb’s here – and Jase. Louisa and Donna are dying to see you! This is gonna be great,’ enthuses Jess. I can feel the cloud over Paul darken. I decide to ignore his mood and throw myself enthusiastically into the throng. So many hugs.
‘How have you been?’
‘I mustgive you my number!’
‘Where are you living?’
I glance at Paul. He doesn’t have many friends. Certainly, I haven’t met any, only heard about them. Quite a few seem to be off travelling and a lot live out of town. I guess he feels left out. Despite his reluctance, I pull him by the hand and introduce him to everyone.
‘Kat, sat next to her in Geography.’
‘Stacey, bunked off many a gym class together. Same medical condition, out of control menstrual problems, strangely coincided with each other’s every time.’
‘Tom, High School boyfriend for a year, although we did no more than hold hands.’ Paul’s face clouds over with rage. He announces that he is going to the bar. I continue chatting, whilst out of the corner of my eye watching the bartender pour three tequila shots in front of him. Paul is talking animatedly and gesturing a lot at the barman, who throws me a cautious glance.
Tom saunters over smiling.
‘Luce, it is so good to see you, what are you doing now? Last I heard you were training to be a babysitter.’ I give him a jokey slap.
‘Oh, how dare you!’ I exclaim. It’s a bit more in depth than supervising a sleeping child I’ll have you know. I’m working in a Care Home now. I love it, old people can be so funny.’
‘Same old you,’ Tom
Harry gives a small laugh. ‘You have a strong family bond, in life and in spirit. It’s where you find your strength. You are a good person. You do what you want, when you want, so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. That is a good way to live.’
A knock on the door interrupts us. As if snapped out of a trance, Harry drops my hand.
‘Tea trolley.’ I hear the irate voice of my colleague. I was supposed to be doing tea after my drugs round.
‘Sorry Harry, I have to go help out.’ He nods graciously, with a small bow as I make my way to the door.
I have now been dating Paul for three months. The opportunity to discuss the impromptu palm reading with Harry has never arisen again. What he said did have a lot of relevance, however. I kept it on board. Besides, as a distraction, there’s much dusting off of hats in the Care Home and mutterings of:
‘Perhaps she won’t be a maiden after all…’
A little premature. Well, quite a lot premature. I’m having the time of my life hanging out with old school friends and exploring the clubs of Edinburgh, even though Paul is everything I want in a man. Funny and charming, generous the week before pay day when I’m broke, and gracious the week after when I‘m, albeit temporarily, solvent.
We see each other almost every night and his cute pretend sulks when I make plans that don’t involve him, and elation when I reluctantly cancel them, don’t bother me at all. One Saturday night we head off to a club in the Grassmarket. My flatmates have hooked up with some of our old school friends and there’s a big weekend planned in the city. As we walk over the George IV Bridge through driving rain, Paul is quieter than usual.
‘Everything all right?’ I shout from under my umbrella.
‘Yep,’ his reply is barely audible. He has refused my offer of sharing the umbrella. We walk in silence. I’m trying to work out what I could have said or done to annoy him. I’m so looking forward to tonight. So many people I haven’t seen since school. I’m a little miffed at the wet blanket literally trailing behind me.
The music pulsates through our bodies as we walk into the club. I spot some of the girls on the dance floor. Jess, one of my flatmates, runs over and grabs us both, chatting twenty to the dozen.
‘Seb’s here – and Jase. Louisa and Donna are dying to see you! This is gonna be great,’ enthuses Jess. I can feel the cloud over Paul darken. I decide to ignore his mood and throw myself enthusiastically into the throng. So many hugs.
‘How have you been?’
‘I mustgive you my number!’
‘Where are you living?’
I glance at Paul. He doesn’t have many friends. Certainly, I haven’t met any, only heard about them. Quite a few seem to be off travelling and a lot live out of town. I guess he feels left out. Despite his reluctance, I pull him by the hand and introduce him to everyone.
‘Kat, sat next to her in Geography.’
‘Stacey, bunked off many a gym class together. Same medical condition, out of control menstrual problems, strangely coincided with each other’s every time.’
‘Tom, High School boyfriend for a year, although we did no more than hold hands.’ Paul’s face clouds over with rage. He announces that he is going to the bar. I continue chatting, whilst out of the corner of my eye watching the bartender pour three tequila shots in front of him. Paul is talking animatedly and gesturing a lot at the barman, who throws me a cautious glance.
Tom saunters over smiling.
‘Luce, it is so good to see you, what are you doing now? Last I heard you were training to be a babysitter.’ I give him a jokey slap.
‘Oh, how dare you!’ I exclaim. It’s a bit more in depth than supervising a sleeping child I’ll have you know. I’m working in a Care Home now. I love it, old people can be so funny.’
‘Same old you,’ Tom
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