A/N the italics is Gary's POV at Kate's grave
Despite the fact that some of the small talk was less than cheerful, I had a really nice evening, but not looking forward to the inevitable grilling I'm going to get from Stevie.
"Morning, so how did the date go?" First question. Help
"Rather well actually, we're going out again on Friday."
"Oh, getting serious then."
"Probably not actually, this was his first date in a while, and no not because he finds the idea terrifying, he lost his wife almost 2 years ago, and couldn't face the idea."
"That's awful, what happened?"
"I don't know seemed a bit insensitive to ask."
"Hi, Kate, know I don't need to say I miss you, but I do, and now for the hard bit. I've met someone , we've only been on one date so far, but I think you'd like her, she's got a great sense of humour. I've told her about you, she even understands about the ring."
"What are you doing for lunch?"
"I was going to that new sandwich place, why do you want something."
"Yeah, just can't decide."
"You have until I get my coat in to choose."
When the door opened I expected it to be mum, so was surprised to see Gary.
"I couldn't wait until tomorrow to see you, fancy a picnic?"
"That sounds lovely."
"Have you." Stevie stopped mid sentence when she saw Gary. "You must be the elusive Gary then, I'm Stevie."
"I don't know about elusive, but yes I'm Gary."
Knowing that if we stayed any longer we would have been subjected to a demonstration of 'The Allure'.
"Hi mum, bye mum."
Great, I'll be getting another grilling when I get back.
"Who was that man Miranda was with?"
"Gary, they went on a date a couple of days ago, and are going out again tomorrow."
"What? She's been on 2 dates in less than a week? I've got a hat to buy."
"So that was your mum we passed of the way out? She didn't seem that bad."
"That's because she didn't speak to you. I'm expecting the Spanish Inquisition when I get back."
We were chatting quietly after lunch.
"So, what do you want to do tomorrow?"
"As I don't have a local yet, pub?"
"Sounds great."
"Don't you have to get back to the shop?"
"No, Stevie will cope on her own, don't you have to get back?"
"No, I've had today and yesterday off, it was mum'a birthday yesterday, so I went home to see her, and I did go and visit Kate." I squeezed his hand as his voice faltered and there was a tinge of sadness in his eyes. "I told her about you, I think you would have got on had you ever met. " I stood up and stretched.
"Come on, let's get back to the inevitable."
"You've been all afternoon. I've been rushed off my feet."
"Sorry, did you get rid of mum?"
"No, she did not 'get rid of me' and I'm very disappointed, you had a date and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't tell you because I haven't seen you, and I knew you would overreact."
"Well I've been waiting all afternoon to meet him, so why don't the 3 of us go upstairs for a cup of tea and get to know each other better."
"Sorry." I whispered in Gary's ear.
"If she's anything like my mum, I can cope." It was his turn to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Quick question, where's the loo."
"Straight ahead."
"Ah Gary, milk and sugar?"
"Just milk, thanks."
"He's very nice, but I did notice a wedding ring."
"Let me stop you there. I'm not seeing a married man, he's widowed."
"How tragic."
He took a seat on the sofa next to me, I hoped she wouldn't ask after Kate straight away, and for once I wasn't disappointed.
"I've not seen you around, are you new to the area?"
"Yes, I moved about 6 weeks ago, I was offered a job and there were too many bad memories at home."
"So, what is it you do?"
"I'm a doctor."
Mum turned to me and said 'good catch' in a slightly too loud voice.
"Miranda tells me you're widowed." Drag me into this, thanks."May I asked what happened?"
"Mum!"
"No, it's fine. It started out as a perfectly normal day, as these often do. Kate was walking to school, she was a primary school teacher, when she suddenly collapsed. An ambulance was called, but it was always going to be too late. She had an undiagnosed heart murmur." He pause to collect his thoughts, once again I found myself giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, mum looked like she was going to ask something else when Gary started speaking again. "Sebastian."
"Dr Gail, his ex brother in law." I explained to mum.
"Had noticed how down I seemed to be so offered me the job here."
"I'd better go, your father will be wondering where I am, nice to meet you Gary." I followed her out.
"Couldn't you have been a bit more what I call tactful when asking about Kate?"
"I'm sorry I was just curious."
As he appeared to be understandably upset I grabbed the box of tissues when I rejoined him on the sofa.
"I'm sorry about mum, but don't say I didn't warn you."
"That's true, well I'd better get going, I've got work stuff to do for tomorrow." He gave me a hug and apologised for how upset he got.
"I think I'd have been worried if you hadn't."
"You're brilliant, I never dreamed that I would meet someone so understanding, and as much as I want to stay here with you, I need to spend the rest of the night with a mountain of dull and generally pointless paperwork." After a kiss that was definitely more lingering than the one a few nights ago. A little later my phone beeped, so I spent the next 10 minutes trying to remember where I had left it. After eventually tracking it to my coat pocket, read the text from Gary. 'Pick you up at 8 tomorrow xxx."
I had spent most of the day with Stevie giving me her so called dating advice and mum asking if I had any ideas for engagement party/wedding reception venues.
"So, lead the way." Once again Gary was right on time. When we got to the pub, apart from the staff, we were the only people over the age of 25, so we went into the games room, as it was much quieter and there was the chance to show off my spectacularly mediocre pool skills.
"What would you like to drink?"
"At the risk of sounding like my mother, a gin and tonic please."
"So, how was your day." He asked handing me my drink.
"Fine, well apart from Stevie offering me advice, and a visit from mum. How was yours?"
"Busy, as it always is after having time off, but knowing that I was seeing you tonight helped the day go faster."
"You are such a charmer."
"Thanks, I do try. Same again?"
"Yes please." I didn't notice when he came back with the drinks as I was texting Stevie, so to get my attention he decided to put the very cold glass on my arm, naturally this made me jump.
"You're so mean."
"No, I'm cheeky, let me make it up to you by letting you win at pool."
"What do you mean, Let me win?"
"OK we'll make it serious then, loser buys the drinks for the rest of the night." Help! May have to use my natural allure to distract him.
It's not going well so far, he's potted 3 balls, I've hit one. I know I should have been suspicious when Gary offered to help me. He slid his hand down my arm, supposedly to help me line up the shot, instead it sen shivers down my spine. Even more distracting was the feel of his breath on my neck. When we had set up the shot he leaned in closer, I thought this was to refine the angle, but no, it was to distract me by kissing me on the neck as I took the shot, so I missed. I mean how rude.
As the game wore on it was clear that I was going to lose, so I decided to exact my revenge. He had a tricky shot lined up, if he was only slightly off target he would pot the 8 ball. So when he was about to take the shot I pinched his bum, so he missed and potted the wrong ball, so I won by default.
"That's not fair"
"It may not be fair, but it is revenge, and I believe you're buying the drinks and I could do with a refill."
The rest of the evening went much the same way, but with less pool playing.
After the pub I had an idea.
"Do you know what I really fancy right now?"
"Me?"
"No" he looked rather hurt. "I mean apart from you, a kebab."
"You're drunk aren't you?"
"Yes, a bit, and you're not?"
"Well..."
"I'll take that as a yes then."
As usual he insisted on walking me home, but we did stop and sit on a bench in the park to finish our kebabs, he noticed some stray sauce so he reached up and wiped it from my cheek. He replaced his thumb with his lips, he did regent this soon after.
"Chilli sauce, really?"
"Serves you right for getting me drunk."
We weaved our way back to the flat, and with a, thankfully chilli less, kiss at the door we made it back OK. He promised to text me to let me know he got back OK, and to organise going out again. I think I can safely say that I have a boyfriend.