I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The driver asked, 'Cracking party?'

I shrugged, 'They're all rather the same, aren't they?'

When we pulled up the drive the house was dark. I was glad I wouldn't be interrupting anything and tried to make as little noise as possible making my way through the house and up to my room where Clem was asleep beside my bed.

I made my way downstairs around noon, and was startled to find someone reading the paper at the kitchen table, as I wasn't yet awake enough to remember there was a guest in the house. He lowered the top half and issued a booming, jovial, 'Hello, there. You must be Catherine.' He beamed at me with perfect teeth and after folding the paper and placing it on the table, offered his hand. I stared at it as though I were unfamiliar with the gesture, then took it. He had hands like hams. 'Alexandra speaks of you constantly.'

'Uh huh.' I filed that away to process when I was actually conscious.

I stared at the table, laid out with lunch, not wanting to join him, but thinking it would probably be rude to grab something and dash back upstairs. 'Where's Alex?'

'She's seeing to the dogs. Have a chair.' I pulled out a chair and sat, not keen on eating in front of him. It seemed too intimate a gesture somehow. He watched me contemplating the food and eventually asked, 'How was your evening?'

None of your damn business. 'Oh, fine.'

'Did you enjoy seeing your boyfriend?'

I stared at him before issuing in a level tone, 'I don't have a boyfriend.'

'Oh.' He said it as though he was humouring me.

'Did she tell you that?'

'No, no. She said you were going out with a guy friend, worried over you quite a bit last evening. Whether or not you were all right and if you thought you had to leave the house. Bit tiresome, really.' He sipped his coffee.

I wasn't thrilled with Alex discussing me, though I was flattered that her expression of concern for me annoyed him. It was as if I'd won a small battle without trying. I hoped he felt as secondary in her estimation as I felt when she mentioned him. Boy, could I be a jerk.

Smiling, he leaned in as though sharing a secret, 'Had a bit too much to drink last night?'

'What? No!'

He seemed shocked at the virulence of my response, and sat back, his perfect smile melting away. 'Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. You seem a bit sluggish, that's all.'

'Hello? I just woke up, didn't I? And I'm not particularly hungry.' I shoved my chair back and stood.

The girls came clattering in, followed by Alex. As she was hanging up her coat she saw me, 'Good afternoon, sleepyhead. What time did you get in last night?' She came into the kitchen and looked at Matthew and I, 'Is anything the matter?'

'No. My stomach hurts a bit, that's all. I'm going back to bed.'

She looked concerned, 'All right. Is it perhaps that bug you had earlier this week?'

'Yeah, maybe.' I turned to head into the living room and was stopped by her voice,

'I'm giving Matthew a lift to the airport, when I return I'll bring something up for you.'

'All right.' Without facing him I said, 'Nice meeting you,' and fled to the sitting room muttering to myself, 'Good riddance, have fun in Saudi Arabia.' Halfway up the stairs I heard steps behind me and turned to find Alex looking up after me.