part0009

Returning to the house they found that Emma and Mia had cooked a lamb tagine, Mia had taught Emma how, it was great. Steph and Rob set the table and they were soon sitting down to eat.

“Trying to get rid of us already Pop?”

Steph laughed, she found Mia’s term for her father rather endearing, although she couldn’t see herself calling Emma anything other than her name. “Clearly we are gooseberries Mia, they must want to be alone.” They both laughed as her dad and Emma looked embarrassed.

Mia winked at Steph. “Yes, are we cramping your style Mum?”

“You’re acting like kids girls, anymore of this and you’ll be sent to bed.” Emma watched as it was the girls’ turn to redden, she laughed. “I meant alone.”

“Okay Steph I don’t know about you, but I know when I’m not wanted, fancy grabbing a beer. It’s a nice night and the local has a pretty good beer garden if you’re interested.”

Steph stood up laughing. “Great, I’ll get my jacket, best get out of here before we’re grounded.”

Twenty minutes later they were sitting outside the local pub in the beer garden nursing pints, a beer for Mia and cider for Steph. The garden was large, with trees shading them from the majority of the sun, and a band playing covers could be heard from inside the pub. They sat at wooden picnic tables. It was a warm evening and they just needed light jackets.

“This place is great Mia.”

“Yes, some of my misspent youth was here, I’m surprised there’s no plaque. I should bring it up with the owners. The beer garden has always been hard to resist, particularly on a sunny day.”

“I can see why. So, did you grow up here?”

“We moved here just as I started high school, to this area, not this house. Mum and dad moved to this house 5 years ago, it was more manageable as it was modern. We lived in Edinburgh before that. Mum was born in Falkirk though and stayed here until she got married.”

“That must have been tough, not starting secondary school with any friends from primary. I stayed in the same house throughout my childhood, but I used to feel for those who had to move regularly. One of my friend’s dad was in the army and she has moved away and back here a few times, she would tell me how hard it was.”

“Actually it was okay, better than I’d anticipated. We’d moved at the start of the Summer, so I’d made some friends locally from hanging about outside, and about five primaries went to my school, so few people had their friends in their classes. Also, in a way I could reinvent myself.” She smiled.

Steph looked interested, she recalled how Abby had described her. “And did you?”

“Yes, I suppose I did. I’d been bullied at my old school, not badly but enough, I decided I’d no longer be the victim, and it worked, I wasn’t. I just acted confident, even if in some situations I was nervous as hell.”

Before long, their conversation inevitably led to their parents. “Steph don’t you want them to get married?”

“Yes, if that’s what they want. Is it mum?”

“God no Mia she’s lovely, I really like Emma, it’s just I don’t know it seems so soon, for my dad anyway.”

“Well let’s face it they’ve both suffered losses so they know that life can change in a second. My dad died within weeks of his diagnosis, he went from a healthy fit man to a wasted wreck within 3 weeks.”

“I’m sorry Mia.”

“Thanks, it was a difficult time. I was in Bali, and it took me 4 days to get home. I felt so guilty, I still do.”

“Why marriage though?”

“They’re that generation. Look is it about inheritance, as believe me I don’t want anything from your dad, or my mum for that matter.”

“No, god you’ve got a really poor view of me, I’ve said to my dad to enjoy life, spend what he has. I don’t want or need his money and as for his house it’s not where I grew up, they downsized. It doesn’t hold good memories either, it’s where my mum was ill. I’ll be happy to see it sold.”

“I think they plan to rent it.”

“Okay now we’re clear on that let’s change the subject. So, what’s your type?”

Steph nearly choked on her cider, amused by the sudden change in conversation. “Type?”

“Yes, who do you go for, tall, short, blonde, brunettes?”

Steph thought for a moment. “Actually, I don’t know, I’m not sure I have a type.”

“Okay, tell me about your last girlfriend, what did she look like, Beth wasn’t it?”

Steph paused for a minute, realising it had been a while since she had given any thought to Beth. “Middle height, blonde, blue eyed...”

Mia sounded surprised. “What like me?”

Steph was embarrassed. “God no, not like you at all.”

Mia was intrigued. “How not?

Piercing ...eyes met her. “She wasn’t nearly as attractive as you, she wasn’t in your league. You’re a very attractive woman Mia, as I’m sure you know.” While Mia wasn’t in any way arrogant, or over confident, she seemed comfortable in her own skin and aware of her looks. Her clothes fitted her like a second skin and whilst not showing too much, certainly highlighted her assets.

“Why not, you could get attractive women?”

Steph coughed. “Yeah right, I’m realistic, I don’t punch above my weight.”

“Seriously!” Mia was surprised at Steph’s lack of self-awareness. “Have you never looked at yourself? You’re tall, lots of women like that and you hold yourself well, sometimes tall girls slouch as though they’re ashamed of it. You have fabulous bone structure, glossy hair that frames your face, and unusual green eyes you could get lost in. You could be a model Steph. Is that enough?”

Steph was embarrassed. “More than enough. Hey, you don’t have to compliment me because you’re going to be my sister.”

Mia laughed. She could see from Steph’s expression that she was not convinced. “Remember Jo that you met earlier today when we were shopping?”

“Your friend from Uni, small with long dark hair, cute.”

Mia gulped, did Steph fancy Jo, she could feel a twinge of jealousy? “Mm, yes her, anyway she texted me later, I think her words were she’s hot. As for the sister part.” Believe me your sister is not what I want to be. “I thought we’d agreed just to be friends?”

“You’re right, we did, didn’t we? Anyway, what about you?”

Me, Mia looked thoughtful for a minute, she wanted to get to know Steph so it was important that she shared information about herself. “Well I’ve got no problem getting women, blonde hair and blue eyes does it for many, they assume I have 5 brain cells and just want one thing. I can have a quick fuck whenever I want one. If they don’t think that’s all I’m good for from looking at me, when they find out what I do for a living then they are convinced. You know the stereotypes about nurses being an easy lay.”

“So yes, I can easily pick up women. If they don’t just want to fuck me in the toilets, I tend to last a few dates, before they leave me for someone, they could see themselves having a relationship with. They certainly don’t take me home to mummy and daddy.”

Steph was surprised, despite Mia’s casualness she could tell that this was painful for her. “I’m sorry Mia, if it’s any consolation I can see that you are clever and caring, as well as beautiful. You are kind and thoughtful too, I can see how you are with your mum and my dad. It’s their loss.”

“Thanks, I suppose it’s not helped by my moving around.” She changed the subject. “So, Steph when you meet Ms Right, what’s the future, marriage, 2.4 children, a dog?”