Part Five Chapter II

II wake yourself, teased Howard Mollison at midday on Saturday. Mums about to post the results on the website. Want to wait and see it made public or sh both I tell you now?Miles turned away instinctively from Samantha, who was sitting turnaround him at the island in the middle of the kitchen. They were having a last coffee in advance she and Libby set off for the station and the concert in London. With the handset press tightly to his ear, he verbalise, Go on.You won. Comfortably. Pretty much two to whizz over Wall.Miles grinned at the kitchen door.OK, he said, keeping his voice as firm as he could. Good to know.Hang on, said Howard. Mum indirect requests a word.Well done, darling, said Shirley gleefully. Absolutely wonderful in the buffs. I knew youd do it.Thanks, Mum, said Miles.Those two words told Samantha every function, but she had resolved not to be lordly or sarcastic. Her band T-shirt was packed she had had her hair done and she had bought new heels. She could hardl y 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 passing game to be a real celebration tonight, then. Im glowering 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 battle cry Harriets mum?Why?Please will you?But why, Libby?Because she wants to talk to you, because, Libby wiped her eyeball and nose on the back of her hand, Harriet and Ive had a big row. Please will you call her?Samantha took the telephone through to the sitting room. She had only the haziest idea who this char was. Since the girls had started at boarding school she had virtually no contact with their friends parents.Im so desperately sorry to do this, said Harriets mother. I told Harriet Id speak to you, b ecause Ive been cogent her its not that Libby doesnt want her to go you know how cozy they are, and I despise seeing them like this Samantha checked her watch. They needed to leave in decennary minutes at the latest.Harriets got it into her head that Libby had a spare ticket, but didnt want to take 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 suddenly regard your protectiveness, and I would never suggest it if I didnt calculate it would save you an awful lot of bother. Its near 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 in that respec t would be an adult there with them. I could drive Libby and Harriet up to matureher this afternoon, wed meet up with the others removed 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 halo in her ears, is expecting us, you see But if you still wanted to go and chit-chat your friend all Im saying is theres really no need for you to attend, is there, if individual 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 knowledge Then, on a less gushing note, Wed buy the ticket from you, of course.thither was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.Oh, said Samantha. Yes. I just thought it energy be nice to go with her Theyd much prefer to be with individually other, said Harriets mother firmly. And you wont have to crouch down and hide among all the little teenyboppers, ha ha its all right for my sister, shes only basketball team foot two.