Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Nine

Nine

 “No, we did not!” Becky snapped into the phone. It was seven thirty in the morning, and since she’d forgotten to charge the handset next to her bed, she’d been forced to drag her weary body out of bed and into the kitchen to answer it.

Amy had been woken up at quarter past six, by Holly, requiring urgent toilet assistance . Every minute since had seemed like an eternity. She simply had to know what had happened after she and Ben had left the pub. She dialled Becky’s number the instant she considered it to be a reasonable hour. Becky’s idea of a reasonable hour, however, was worlds apart from Amy’s.

“Is that all you’ve called for, at this God forsaken hour?”

“Sorry. But what did you expect? And did I detect a note of disappointment in your voice just then?”

“As a matter of fact, you did,” she said, snatching up the kettle as though it were some sort of weapon that could be utilised via a telephone signal. “I’ll have you know that I forewent sex last night for your benefit and your benefit alone! And what thanks do I get?” she went on, shovelling a heaped teaspoon of coffee into a mug. There was no way she’d be able to get back to sleep, now. “I get dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn!”

“Don’t be so melodramatic,” laughed Amy. “It’s practically halfway through the morning. So, what happened? Did he ask you to go back to his place, or what?”

“No, it didn’t quite get to that point.” She filled Amy in on the details, wavering slightly when it came to telling her about the date they had arranged. “... and I agreed to go for a curry with him on Tuesday,” she mumbled.

“Oh, I see. So you’re not actually abstaining, you’re just postponing.”

“Amy, I’m going for a curry with him, not a romantic candlelit dinner for two. It’ll be no different to last night, really.”

“Apart from the small fact that it’ll be a date between Adrian and you, as oppose to four people going for a drink?”

“Okay, but it still doesn’t mean I’m going to shag him. Besides, I might decide to cancel; depending on how today pans out.”

“Why…? Oh yes, Leo. I’d forgotten you were seeing him today. Have you found out where he’s taking you?”

“Nope, he’s just said he’s taking me somewhere really nice for lunch. I’ve not made any plans for the rest of the day - or night.”

Amy was relieved to hear this. Leo sounded like the type of guy she’d like Becky to end up with. He’d fit just nicely into her plans - Becky’s family and her own, holidaying together, dinner parties, trips to the park, the zoo - yes, he sounded a much better candidate than Adrian.  

 “Come on, tell me where we’re going,” Becky pleaded. “I don’t like surprises - well, I do - I just like to know about them in advance so I can be prepared.”

Leo laughed. “You’ll know soon enough, have a little patience.”

Becky was gob smacked when they pulled into the car park, and her jaw hit the floor as they entered the reception. “Wow,” she exclaimed, “this place is amazing.”

“Worth the secrecy?”

“I’ll say!”

“Good afternoon.” Leo addressed the receptionist. “I have a reservation in the Forest Garden Restaurant. The name is Hughes.”

“A reservation?” Becky said as they were led towards the dining room by a suave gentleman in a tuxedo. “I don’t think I’ve ever made a reservation for lunch - I’ve never needed to.”