A Suitable Lie Read Free Page A

sigh and the tight smile that welcomed me. ‘You’re not nervous are you?’
    She shifted in her seat and clicked her seatbelt into place. ‘Feel like I’m sixteen…’ she paused. Reflected. ‘No. Don’t think I was this nervous when I was sixteen.’
    ‘You’ll be fine,’ I said. ‘Mum’s great.’
    She raised an eyebrow, then reached across and patted my hand. ‘Just what you should say.’
    ‘She is. Honest.’ I took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. ‘Shenever comments on our girlfriends. Never judges.’ I studied the traffic, saw a space and moved into the stream of cars that flowed down Miller Road.
    Anna laughed. ‘She’s a mum. She’ll be judging.’
    ‘If she does, she’ll keep it to herself.’
    ‘Yeah. Well.’ Anna looked away from me, out of her window. ‘You’re a man. You guys miss all that stuff.’
    ‘What stuff?’
    ‘Reading between the lines.’ She turned back to me. ‘That’s where women communicate.’ She took another deep breath. Exhaled. ‘Anyway. How do I look?’
    ‘Fantastic.’ I took my hand from the gear stick and gave hers another squeeze. She had changed out of her bank uniform and was wearing black jeans and a bright-pink top. ‘And Mum loves colour, so you’ll fit right in there.’
    Anna pulled at the neck of her top. ‘Jesus,’ she laughed. ‘I can’t believe how nervous I feel. This is ridiculous.’
    ‘It’s also very cute. Makes me love you even more.’
    She pinked. ‘And that right there is the best thing you could have said, Andy Boyd.’ She picked my hand up to her lips and kissed the back of my fingers.
     
    M um made lasagne for the adults and mince and potatoes for Pat. He was openly curious about Anna, hardly taking his eyes off her for the first ten minutes. Then he handed her one of his dinosaur toys, which was a clear sign of his approval.
    ‘What’s his name?’ Anna asked as she eyed the lump of plastic in her hand.
    ‘Let Anna eat her dinner in peace, Pat,’ said Mum.
    ‘Diplodocus,’ answered Pat, demonstrating that, no matter how much trouble kids had interpreting the world of adults, the Latinate name of a long-dead species was, quite literally, kids’ play.
    ‘Is he your favourite?’ asked Anna.
    Pat snorted. Looked over his shoulder at a box in the corner. Histoys had all been tidied up before we came to the table and he was clearly itching to get back to play with them. ‘Velociraptor. He’s my favourite ’cos he’s small and fast.’
    ‘Just like you,’ I said and rubbed the top of his head, mussing his hair. He stuck his tongue out in response.
     
    O nce we’d finished eating, Anna insisted on helping mum with the dishes.
    ‘Another woman in my kitchen?’ asked Mum with mock seriousness. ‘Cherish the thought.’ She smiled to show that was exactly what she meant. ‘Next time, for sure, Anna. This time, why don’t you take the easy way out and make the coffee?’
    ‘Deal,’ said Anna with a grin.
    Pat and I launched into the box of toys while the women went into the kitchen, no doubt to begin the dance in earnest. A few minutes later Anna emerged with a tray of cups and a cafetiere. She was wearing an expression that was half pleased, half harassed.
    I sent her a smile of enquiry. She smiled in reply. My male brain read that everything was fine. And this was confirmed a short time later when Mum pulled Pat onto her lap.
    ‘Why don’t you let this wee guy stay with me tonight?’ Mum asked. ‘Let you guys do some adult stuff.’
    I raised an eyebrow. Anna blushed.
    ‘Adult stuff?’ I asked.
    ‘Go to the pub. Go for a walk. A drive? Do something without this…’ She reached under Pat’s arms and give him a tickle. ‘… wee monster.’
    ‘Great idea.’ I stood up. Although Anna and I stole every moment we could together, we had rarely managed to spend a full night together. Waking up with her in bed beside me had so far been a rare treat during our short romance. ‘You okay with