Chapter Five
Kimberley got up from the dining room table, she collected the empty plates and headed for the kitchen, leaving Cheryl and Derek chatting amongst themselves, laughing at some annecdote that happened in LA, that apparently “you had to be there” to understand.
It was his second night with them, and the first that he had spent in Kimberley’s presence, and already she was finding it hard to keep up the friendly facade.
She sensed someone behind her in the kitchen doorway and turned around to find Cheryl staring at her.
“Is there something wrong?” Cheryl asked, walking in to the kitchen. She took the plates from Kimberley’s hand and started loading up the dishwasher.
“No” Kimberley replied, a little to quickly to be believable.
“I’ve spent the past three months telling him how wonderful you are and you’ve acknowledged him about twice throughout the whole night” Cheryl said grumpily, her tone lowered so that Derek couldn’t hear from the dining room.
“Well its two times more than you have acknowledged me tonight” Kimberley said, trying her best not to shout.
“That’s not fair... I’m just trying to make him feel welcome Kimberley... what’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Kimberley repeated incredulously. “What’s wrong with you... is it so wrong to want to spend some time alone with you after you have been gone for three months?”
“Is this because of what they are saying about us in the paper?” Cheryl asked after a few seconds of silence.
“What are they saying about us?” Kimberley asked with a confused look, that was the last thing they needed.
“Me and Derek I mean” Cheryl corrected herself.
“Oh... that us” Kimberley replied sarcastically, and just a little bit bitter.
She walked towards the kitchen door, passing Cheryl in a hurry.
“Kimberley...” Cheryl said, putting her hand out to touch the girl as she passed. “Are we okay?”
Kimberley sighed heavily and gave Cheryl a serious look, “You seem to be doing fine Cheryl” she said quietly, although her words were loaded.
-
“I couldn't help but overhear” Derek said after a while of them both sitting in silence.
“Oh that... that was nothing” Cheryl lied, knocking back her glass of wine and quickly pouring another one.
“If me being here is getting in the way of you and Kimberley, then I can go” he added.
“Don’t be daft” she said, brushing the matter aside.
“Well... I best be off to bed, it’s getting late” he said, looking at his watch and making a move towards the stairs.
she nodded and sarted to drink from the glass that she had just poured herself.
“You coming?”
She looked around, the shock evident on her face.
“I meant are you going to bed yourself” he blushed. They both laughed nervously until Cheryl shook her head.
“No... I think I’m going to stay down here for a bit and drown my sorrows” she said with a sad smile and wished him good night.
She watched him leave and dissapear up the stairs before she let herself crash backwards on the sofa.
