Tea & Biscuits

Beth unlocked the front door and called out to Alice.

'Mum! I'm back...Mum....'

'In here, Beth' Alice called from the kitchen.

Beth walked up to her Mum and hugged her tightly.

'Sorry I scared you last night Mum, I should have called.'

Beth meant it. Since the rape and moving back home, Beth had made sure to call her Mum whenever she was out to stop her worrying.

'What happened Beth? I know you stayed at Alan's...' Alice's voice was even but underneath she was concerned.

'After the presentation at work we went out for something to eat and had a couple of drinks. I fell asleep...bit drunk actually!' Beth laughed, keep her voice light. There was no way she was sharing the details with her Mum, not yet. And anyway, she wanted to keep it to herself.

Alice smiled indulgently at her daughter. She wasn't daft, she could see by the flush of her cheeks there had been more going on than just alcohol, but she said nothing.

'How is Alan?' She asked casually.

'He's great...' Beth sighed and gave herself away. She looked away and changed the subject. 'Where's Sketch?'

Beth loved her Mum's ragged old cat, he had comforted her a lot during her recovery.

'Mousing somewhere I think.' Alice wasn't convinced. 'What about Alan's girlfriend?'

Beth was started to feel irritated. 'Twenty fucking questions' she thought.

'Not girlfriend Mum, it's partner. And if you really must know, they are not together any more, haven't been for a while. She moved out of the flat two months ago I think.'

Beth was trying to keep herself matter-of-fact but it wasn't working.

Alice sensed a change in mood and put the kettle on. It hummed loudly in the silence between them.

'I had better go and shower. I'm going out for something to eat tonight Mum, but I will be home and I will call you when I'm on my way, OK?' Beth smiled at her mother.

She hated keeping secrets but there were some things she couldn't talk about with her.

'Are you going out with your friends then?'Alice reached a mug from the cupboard and put in a spoon of coffee granules, keeping her back to Beth. She knew the answer before she even said it.

'No, Alan and I are going to see a film and go for pizza.'

Beth saw her Mum stiffen slightly. She put down the spoon and turned to her daughter, her eyes bright but full of concern.

'Are you sure you know what you are doing?

It told Beth that there was no point in pretending any more, she had been rumbled.

'It's fine, Mum, honestly, he's my friend, he has been so supportive...to both of us!' Beth was indignant.

'He is so much older than you, Beth.' Alice couldn't believe it. Her only daughter of almost 30 years was seeing a man twice her age.

'Mum, please. It's Alan...it's not like we're strangers to each other and he knows me so well. It just feels... I dunno... right, I suppose.'

'And have you....' Alice left it hanging. They never discussed sex before Beth's rape and they hadn't gone into details afterwards.

'Thats enough, Mum, it's none of your business.' Beth was firm but kind. 'I know you are worried but please, don't be. Alan will look after me.'

'OK, OK...as long as you know what you're doing....' Alice drifted off as Beth grabbed her bag and headed upstairs. 'By the way, there is post for you, I left it on your bed.'

'Alan will be coming round at 7pm Mum, Ok? And please, just be nice to him?'

Alice nodded as Beth disappeared around the corner. It was like having a teenager in the house again, all the worry about where she was going, who she would be with. What was Alan thinking?
Alice felt angry with him and resolved to speak with him when he arrived.


****

Beth showered and pulled on her black jeans and baby blue sweatshirt. She brushed her hair straight and sprayed a little perfume. She loved her CKOne, it made her feel special, just like Alan had earlier today. She smiled to herself, feeling smug.

They had made no definition of what was happening between them, they just agreed to go out as they would have done before. It felt good, normal.

Beth glanced at the clock. It was 6.50pm, ten minutes. She turned her radio on and listened as Avril Lavigne blasted out 'Girlfriend'. She lifted the small pile of letters on her bed and sifted through them.

'Bank statement...' Beth threw it aside unopened. 'Mobile phone bill.... and...oh shit.....'

As if a knife had buried itself inside her stomach, Beth looked at the untidy handwriting on the front of the envelope, the regulation 'On Her Majesty's Service' Stamp.

It was from Steve.

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