I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-One

As if he knew he were discussing him he looked over at us and I actually took a step back, almost standing on Alex's foot. I felt her hand on the small of my back just before she said, 'Steady on, there, Catherine. He's not going to come over.'

I turned to give her a look of "Well, no kidding," and saw her smile and wave in his direction as though she were thrilled to see him. This only served to disconcert him even further, his eyes narrowing and his mouth turning down. It was at that moment that the woman with him, looked over and waved at Alex cheerfully. "Cheerfully" in a subdued sort of way; more "Oh, hello there, so nice to see you," than, "Howdy! How ya been?!"

I commented without moving my lips, 'Is she pretending or is she really glad to see you?'

Alex did the same, 'Not putting it on, we've always got on quite well.'

We moved forward in the row a few steps, 'She's his wife?'

Alex replied, 'Yes, lovely woman. People make the queerest matches sometimes.'

We scooted the rest of the way out and joined the exodus heading outside, eventually winding up beside Mrs Burrows, who was quite tall when you were standing right beside her. The word "formidable" comes to mind. Her hair was grey, with white streaks in it and was up on her head in a bun worthy of A Room with a View. She looked vaguely familiar.

Once we were next to her she said with a posh accent, 'Alexandra, it is so nice to see you again. Where have you been keeping yourself?'

'Oh, you know, painting, working. You?'

She shook her perfectly coiffed head, her delicate diamond earrings glistening, 'Oh, Melvin insists on having the benefactors for the new museum over in a fortnight and who do you think he leaves the planning of this little soiree up to entirely? My hands are quite full with all of that nonsense.' She looked down at me as though she'd only just seen me and gave me a tight-lipped smile, 'You must be Miss Perfect.' She offered her hand to me palm down and I thought perhaps she meant me to kiss it.

I just shook it, whilst Alex said, 'Yes, this is my Catherine.'

'Nice to meet you, Mrs Burrows.' I swear she looks like someone I know.

Her eyes narrowed as she fairly hissed, 'Yes,' then placing the tips of her bony fingers under my chin she gently tilted my face up a bit, to get a better look at me, I suppose. She declared, 'Not what I'd pictured,' in an undertone. I couldn't tell if that was a bad thing or not, but I was glad when she stopped touching me, as she was making me feel like one of the contestants at Crufts.

Then I realised who she reminded me of: the wicked queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! She had the same mouth and eyes! Of an evil cartoon! This realisation almost made me laugh out loud, but as though she sensed my rising mirth, she pulled herself up to her considerable height, crossed her arms whilst drawing her wrap across her waist and observed me from down her nose. One eyebrow raised infinitesimally when she said, 'From hearing Melvin speak of you, I was expecting someone much more...intrusive,' she smiled and her eyes sparkled, 'but I believe he was exaggerating.' She was less frightening when she smiled.

It was only then that I realised Professor Burrows was nowhere to be seen. 'Where is...he?' I never knew what to call adults when addressing other adults.

'He's gone to bring the car round.' Her dark blue eyes drew me in, 'Melvin hasn't been giving you too very much of a difficult time I hope. I've only heard his side of the matter, of course, but he's a bit unduly harsh at times.'

I shrugged, feeling it impolite to tell a woman that her husband was something of a jerk. Alex patted me on the back and addressed Mrs Burrows, 'Georgina, it has been lovely seeing you again, but I must get this one home,' she put her arm around my shoulders and pulled me to her before continuing, 'It's getting on to eleven.'