Where There's Smoke

“No, but they’re careful.”

“I should hope they are, but it still doesn’t alter the fact that you wouldn’t know who the father was, would you?”

That was something that Kate wasn’t entirely happy about herself. But she wasn’t going to admit as much to Lucy. “Hundreds of women have it done,” she said, dodging the issue.

“Yes, but as a last resort, not from choice! That’s just asking for trouble!”

Suddenly Lucy turned to the woman at the next table. “Perhaps you could give us your opinion, since you seem so interested. How do you prefer your sperm, hot or cold?”

The woman reddened and quickly turned away. Lucy looked back at Kate with a hard smile. “What was I saying?”

Kate had covered her eyes with her hand. She tried not to laugh. “Telling me it’s asking for trouble.”

“Yes.” Lucy looked at her plate, as though she’d just remembered it. “Well, what else can I say? I can’t believe you’re even considering it. I’m sorry, but you wanted my opinion and that’s it.”

Kate said nothing. She sat with her chin resting on her hand, prodding with her fork at the salad.

Lucy sighed. “Obviously that’s not what you wanted to hear.”

“I just wanted your opinion, that’s all.”

Lucy’s eyes were very blue as she looked across at her. “I don’t know why. You’re going to please yourself anyway.” She looked down at her plate, torn between further censure and the cooling moussaka. She sighed again. “If you’re really set on the idea, then I don’t suppose it can hurt just to talk to someone. They’ll probably tell you the same as me, but at least you’ll have got it out of your system.” Lucy spread her hands. “There. Is that what you wanted me to say?”

Kate grinned, but Lucy hadn’t finished. “I just hope you don’t do something you’ll regret, that’s all,” she said. Then, before Kate could respond, she turned to where the waiter was wiping down another table. She beamed at him and held out her plate. “You couldn’t be a love and pop this back in the microwave for two minutes, could you?”

They walked to the tube station. The café was on a side road near Oxford Circus, a convenient mid-way point for both of them. Lucy was chatting about something, but Kate barely listened. She felt that even her fingertips were tingling with excitement. Now that she’d told Lucy it was as though a burden she’d been carrying around had been shucked off and left behind. Lucy was still talking as they started down the steps to the Underground. Suddenly she gripped Kate’s arm. “Oh, shit.”

Kate looked up. Her excitement curdled and died. Paul Sutherland was walking up the steps towards them. A second later, he saw them and it seemed to Kate that a flicker of unease crossed his face before his customary arrogance replaced it. She faltered, but Lucy forced her to keep moving. “Come on. Too late for that.”

He stopped directly in front of them, blocking their path. Kate ignored the irate looks from the other people who had to jostle past. Her mouth was dry.

“Hello, Paul,” Lucy said, brightly. “Assaulted anyone else lately?”

He gave her a cold look. “You’ve put on weight.”

“That’s what having two children does for you. What’s your excuse? Still taking lunch from a bottle, are we?”

His cheek muscles worked, but he didn’t respond. He looked at Kate. “You ruined my shirt and nearly cracked my head open. I hope you’re satisfied.”

The impulse to apologise almost won through. She felt herself wavering, on the brink of reverting to a former self. Then her anger kicked in. “What did you expect?”

“I didn’t expect you to get hysterical, that’s for sure.” His tone was scathing and familiar. “You need to see a shrink.”

Kate felt gagged with fury. Lucy spoke for her. “One of you does, but it isn’t her. And I think you’ll find attempted rape’s more a police matter, anyway.”

Heads turned as people streamed past. Paul gave Lucy a murderous look. “You stay out of this.”

Kate had regained control of herself. “There’s nothing for her to stay out of. You’re not worth bothering with.”

She took another step down, so they were almost touching. She stared at him. “Are you going to move?”

There was a moment of stasis. Then he broke his gaze from hers and moved to one side. Kate brushed past without giving him another glance. She held herself tense as she walked, feeling him staring after her. Lucy followed a step or two behind. The sunlight was cut off as they entered the cool of the subway tunnel. Paul’s shout reverberated after them.

“Fucking bitch!”

Kate carried on walking, her eyes fixed straight ahead. The shouts pursued her, bouncing off the hard walls.

“you think you’re so fucking clever, don’t you? Well, ask your friend who she used to shag. Go on, you smug bitch! Ask her!”

The shouts became indistinct as they went further into the station. Kate was conscious of Lucy beside her, but didn’t look at her. Neither spoke. She walked through the crowded foyer and stopped by an out-of-order ticket machine. A few feet away the turnstiles rattled and clacked as people pushed through. Lucy cleared her throat. “Look, Kate...”