‘Thank God you’re here,’ said a voice behind me. ‘I don’t know about you, but I don’t recognise anyone.’
I turned around to face a tall man with big brown eyes, slightly spiky sandy-coloured hair and a cheeky dimpled smile. ‘Stevie! I didn’t realise you knew Kay.’
‘I don’t.’ He kissed me on the cheek. ‘Nick invited me. I usually go out for a few beers with Rob on a Saturday, but he ditched me tonight because he’s—’
‘—got a personal training session with Gary. That’s both of us ditched, then.’ Rob had been Stevie’s best mate since school but had left the area to go to university in Bristol where he’d stayed, only moving back to Whitsborough Bay a year ago following a relationship break-up.
‘You look stunning, by the way.’ Stevie smiled, dimples flashing. ‘Or is that an inappropriate thing to say to another man’s wife?’
I could have hugged him, but instead I kept my hands occupied smoothing down the front of my new dress – a pretty cream maxi dress with flowers and butterflies across the hem and the bodice – that Gary hadn’t noticed before storming out of the house earlier. So much for thinking he might pay more attention to me if I splashed out on some new dresses and underwear.
‘Not sure, but you’ve just made my day and I’m very happy to hear it, especially as the husband in question never seems to notice himself these days.’ I bit my lip. Perhaps I’d shared too much. Oh well, it was what I felt so why make out that everything was perfect when it wasn’t? I couldn’t bear lies, even if they were only white ones. They had a way of catching up with people. Stevie was really Sarah’s friend rather than mine. I’d only met him a couple of months ago, although I’d warmed to him instantly and, after a few more evenings in his company, had felt like I’d known him for years. I could trust him.
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ Stevie’s eyes fixed on mine. ‘Can I be even more inappropriate and offer to buy you a drink?’
‘Best offer I’ve had all day, although I’m driving so I’m afraid you won’t be able to get me drunk and take advantage.’
‘Shame. I thought it might be my lucky night.’
I laughed and linked Stevie’s arm as we headed for the bar. Sod Gary. He wasn’t going to ruin my night as well as my day, although the headache and churning stomach might ruin it instead. The warmth and noise in the function room weren’t helping at all.
A few minutes later, Stevie and I managed to grab a recently vacated table near an open window. I closed my eyes for a moment and breathed deeply, grateful for the cool breeze whispering round me.
‘I was surprised when Rob said he was still doing PT with Gary,’ Stevie said. ‘I thought he’d have been here with you.’
Shaking my head, I sighed. ‘You and me both, but it would appear that a day at work and an evening of pumping iron – or whatever it is they’re doing – is infinitely more desirable than spending time with me.’
Stevie grimaced. ‘I don’t want to pry, but if you need to talk…’
I took a sip on my tonic water. ‘Thank you. There’s really not much to talk about. Boy meets girl at fourteen, gets engaged at sixteen, and married at eighteen. He becomes a GP, she becomes a head of department, and they’re meant to live happily ever after with three or four children. Except boy seems to find every excuse under the sun, moon and stars not to start a family and girl wonders if the problem is that he doesn’t want to be with her anymore, but she’s too chicken to ask because she’s terrified of the thought of life without him.’
Stevie’s eyes widened and he gently touched my shaking hand. ‘That sounds like a lot of things to talk about. I’m listening if you want to.’
I blinked away my tears yet again. ‘Maybe not tonight. My sister announced last night that she’s expecting twins and, while I’m thrilled for her, I’m feeling a little delicate about my own situation and might turn into a soggy mess if I start now. I’ve also got a really bad headache so I don’t think the emotional stuff will help that either. Maybe another time? I’m thinking I might have to bail early tonight.’
‘That would be a shame, but the offer’s always there.’ His eyes seemed so full of sympathy – such a contrast to the anger in Gary’s eyes. He held my gaze as he took a sip on his pint. ‘I have something to tell you that should cheer you up.’
‘It’s not about babies, is it?’
‘No.’
‘Then yes please. I could use some happy non-baby-related news right now.’
‘I was chatting to one of my neighbours, Lorraine, last week. Her son’s got ADHD. He was doing well in primary school but started senior school this year and got no support. He changed schools this term and has come on leaps and bounds thanks to something called the EGO programme that a certain head of department designed.’ He grinned at me.
I felt my cheeks flush at the compliment. ‘You must be talking about Brandon.’
‘Brandon. That’s it! I couldn’t for the life of me remember his name. As soon as she realised that I knew you, she couldn’t give enough praise. I was nearly late for the dentist.’
‘That has cheered me up,’ I said, smiling. ‘Thank you. I mean the praise, by the way; not the being late for the dentist.’
Stevie smiled back. ‘Tell me more about this EGO programme.’
‘You’re sure I won’t bore you by talking about school?’
‘Of course not. I’m intrigued.’
I took another sip of my drink. ‘Okay. You asked for it. You must stop me if I go on for too long because I get pretty passionate about this. EGO stands for Everyone Gets an Opportunity and it’s all about making drama accessible to all students, regardless of ability…’
I’d created it when I became Head of English and Drama at Kayley School three years ago. Roles on regular school productions were still fulfilled through auditions, selecting the best students, but the EGO programme ran alongside this. Pupils who were shy, had learning difficulties or weren’t naturally gifted at drama were encouraged to participate in shorter performances, mentored by the stronger students. It wasn’t about building up to a grand performance in front of parents; it was simply about inclusion and confidence-building.
Running this alongside regular productions meant doubling my after-school commitments, but the rewards for the students and the school had been invaluable. I’d known it would mean another delay to starting a family but, as I’d vacuumed that morning while Gary was at the surgery, I’d started to wonder if that had been the only sacrifice. Had I failed to give Gary enough attention and was his lack of attention towards me the resulting payback for that? Had I brought it on myself?
‘That all sounds amazing,’ Stevie said when I’d finished explaining. ‘You obviously love your job.’
‘I do love my job, but that’s mainly because I love children, which takes us back to the predicament with Gary. I plan to teach for life, but it’s not enough for me to just look after other people’s children and watch them grow. I want to watch my children grow and develop into adults.’ I felt the tears welling again. ‘Let’s not go there.’ I glanced around the room. ‘I still can’t see Sarah or Nick. Can you?’