Part Five Chapter II

IIBrace yourself, teased Howard Mollison at midday on Saturday. Mums close to to post the results on the website. Want to wait and see it made universal or shall I tell you now?Miles turned away instinctively from Samantha, who was sitting opposite him at the island in the middle of the kitchen. They were having a last java before she and Libby set off for the station and the concert in London. With the handset pressed tightly to his ear, he say, Go on.You won. Comfortably. Pretty much two to virtuoso over Wall.Miles grinned at the kitchen door.OK, he said, keeping his voice as steady as he could. Good to know.Hang on, said Howard. Mum wants a word. hale done, darling, said Shirley gleefully. Absolutely wonderful news. I knew youd do it.Thanks, Mum, said Miles.Those two words told Samantha everything, scarce she had resolved not to be scornful or sarcastic. Her flock T-shirt was packed she had had her hair done and she had bought new heels. She could hardly wait to leave.Parish Councillor Mollison then, is it? she said, when he had hung up.Thats right, he said a little warily.Congratulations, she said. Its going to be a real celebration tonight, then. Im sorry Im missing it, actually, she lied, out of excitement at her imminent escape. Touched, Miles leaned forward and squeezed her hand.Libby appeared in the kitchen in tears. She was clutching her mobile in her hand.What? said Samantha, startled.Please will you call Harriets mum?Why?Please will you?But why, Libby?Because she wants to talk to you, because, Libby wiped her shopping centers and nose on the back of her hand, Harriet and Ive had a life-sized row. Please will you call her?Samantha took the telephone through to the sitting room. She had only the haziest idea who this woman was. Since the girls had started at boarding school she had virtually no sink in with their friends parents.Im so desperately sorry to do this, said Harriets mother. I told Harriet Id speak to you, because Ive been telling her its not that Libby doesnt want her to go you know how close they are, and I scorn seeing them like this Samantha checked her watch. They needed to leave in ten minutes at the latest.Harriets got it into her head that Libby had a spare ticket, but didnt want to film her. Ive told her its not true youre taking the ticket because you dont want Libby going alone, arent you?Well, naturally, said Samantha, she cant go alone.I knew it, said the other woman. She sounded strangely triumphant. And I absolutely generalize your protectiveness, and I would never suggest it if I didnt think it would save you an awful lot of bother. Its just that the girls are so close and Harriets absolutely wild about this silly group and I think, from what Libbys just told Harriet on the phone, that Libbys really desperate for her to go too. I totally understand why you want to keep an eye on Libby, but the thing is, my sisters taking her two girls, so there would be an adult there with them. I could drive Libby and Harriet up together this afternoon, wed decorous up with the others outside the stadium and we could all stay overnight at my sisters place. I absolutely guarantee that my sister or I will be with Libby at all times.Oh thats so kind. But my friend, said Samantha, with a strange ringing in her ears, is expecting us, you see But if you still wanted to go and sojourn your friend all Im saying is theres really no need for you to attend, is there, if somebody else is with the girls? And Harriets absolutely desperate really desperate I wasnt going to get involved, but now its putting a strain on their friendship Then, on a less gushing note, Wed buy the ticket from you, of course.There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.Oh, said Samantha. Yes. I just thought it might be nice to go with her Theyd much prefer to be with each other, said Harriets mother firmly. And you wont possess to crouch down and hide among all the little teenyboppers, ha ha its all right for my sister, shes only five foot two.