Chapter 28: Richard Schormann

Manchester: Friday, September 26th

‘Duw, I’m glad that’s over.’ Richard hooked his finger into his jacket-loop and slung it over his shoulder. He held out his other hand. ‘You cool?’

‘Yep.’ Karen jumped down from the low wall.

‘Did I tell you how fab you look today?’ She’d matched her purple mini-dress with zig-zag patterned purple tights. A silver chain belt hung loosely from her hips. Richard raised her arm and twirled her around. ‘Absolutely fab … u … lous.’

‘Like it?’ She giggled, falling against him. ‘Thought we might have something to celebrate?’

‘No. Not yet.’ He kissed her the tip of her nose. ‘They said they’d let me know.’ He’d been more nervous than the first time, taking care to face each questioner, make sure he could see what they were saying, watching their expressions. He’d always been good at telling what people thought from their eyes. But today he hadn’t been able to fathom any of the board out. They’d been impassive.

She lifted her mouth to his. Her breath smelt of peppermints. ‘How did it go? Was it the same panel that interviewed you the first time?’

‘No.’ Richard pressed his lips on hers, savouring the taste. ‘Had a good interview, though. Fingers crossed.’

‘Everything crossed.’ Karen demonstrated this by crossing her eyes.

‘Idiot.’ He grinned. ‘If the wind changes, you’ll stay like that. Mum always says that to Vicky when she’s sulking.’

‘Does your sister sulk a lot then?’

‘All the time. She can be a right pain but she’s cool mostly. And funny.’

‘Then I’ll like her.’ She ran off, swinging her white shoulder bag and then turned and ran backwards, watching him and giggling.

‘Be careful,’ he called, ‘you’ll fall.’ He chased after her and she turned again, slowing to a trot.

When he caught up with her, he held her to him. ‘I can’t believe we only met a week ago,’ he said, kissing her neck.

‘I know. I feel like I’ve known you all my life.’ She tilted her face, looking at him. ‘So, what shall we do this afternoon?’

‘Haven’t you got college?’

‘No. Monday afternoon next.’

‘Okay.’ Richard loosened his tie and took it off. ‘Need to get out of these threads before I do anything else. Then, if it’s okay with you, I have to go and see someone for ten minutes. It’s her birthday.’

‘Her?’ Karen huffed and pouted. ‘Her?’

‘Think she’s about eighty.’ He grinned. ‘Ancient anyway.’ He looked up as a bus trundled past. ‘That’s ours.’ He grabbed her hand again. ‘Come on.’

‘So, spill the beans.’ Karen hauled herself up the stairs of the double-decker bus and flopped down on the front seat. ‘Whose birthday is it?’

Richard sat alongside her, folding his jacket over his arm. ‘Never mind that for a minute.’ He twisted in the seat and faced her, studying her face. ‘You would tell me if you’d had any trouble from your stepfather because of that lad who saw us, wouldn’t you?’

‘Yes, ’course I would. Stop worrying, there’s nothing George can do to me. To us. He’s just a weird old git who thinks he’s some sort of tough guy. I told you yesterday I haven’t seen him at all this week. I’ve been in college. I don’t want to think about him, Richard,’ she wheedled. ‘Tell me again about the old lady.’

‘It’s a bit complicated.’ Richard leaned back, linking his fingers behind his head. ‘First of all, she’s been a friend of Mum’s for a long time, and Mum and Dad gave me a present to give to her for her birthday. But…’ How to explain? He didn’t understand half of what he’d always taken for granted. ‘You know Uncle Ted and Auntie Ellen?’

‘Where you’re staying? The uncle I met?’

‘Yeah. Well Linda is their daughter. My cousin…’ Richard looked out at the road in front of them, the bus was stuck in a long line of traffic. ‘We’d have been faster walking.’

‘Don’t be daft. Go on.’

‘Well, Linda isn’t really Uncle Ted’s. Her mum had her before they were married.’

‘And she kept her? Brave,’ Karen murmured. ‘She was brave to keep her in those days.’

Richard was embarrassed. ‘Perhaps. Yeah, probably. Anyway Mrs Shuttleworth, the lady whose birthday it is, is the mother of the man Auntie Ellen had a fling with. Linda is her granddaughter. That’s about it. Like I said, complicated.’

‘Not really. Is she nice? Mrs Shuttleworth?’

‘As far as I remember. I haven’t seen her much. But Linda likes her. And Mum likes her. So she must be all right, I s’pose. Look, I have to call at Uncle Ted’s, ring home to let my parents know how the interview went, and pick up the present and get changed. Is that okay? We can go to the pictures later if you like?’

‘It’s cool with me.’ Karen kissed him.