Katie Fforde - Going Dutch

‘Well yes, Mum's not likely to make a scene while he's actually there, but I can't rely on her not to send Dad and Tom out for some reason.'

‘She will want to see you on your own, but so will you, really.' Seeing Dora was ambivalent about this proposed visit she went on, 'You can borrow the car if you like. It would make it easier to get away if it all goes pear-shaped.' Dora laughed, but protested. 'I'm not insured!'

‘I'll ring up so you will be.' Jo was sprinkling cheese and breadcrumbs over a gratin dish full of pasta and vegetables.

‘There's just one thing I'm worried about.'

‘Yes?'

‘I don't want Mum thinking me and Tom are an item. That could be really embarrassing, and hurtful to her, if shefalls in love with him straightaway, like she did with John.’

‘I'm sure she's not so fickle as to fall in love with someone else so soon,' said Jo, thinking in fact that Dora's mother might easily transfer her affections to Tom, so keen was she to see her daughter married.

Dora laughed, possibly thinking the same thing.

‘Just make it clear from the beginning that Tom is only a friend,' Jo went on.

‘I've just thought. I'll have to think of an excuse to bring Tom.'

‘Tell your mother I made you. That I wouldn't let you borrow the car unless you had a responsible adult with you.’

‘Jo! This is Tom we're talking about!'

‘I know, but…' She paused.

‘What?' demanded Dora, instantly aware that Jo was pausing for reasons of tact and diplomacy.

‘I don't want to say anything about your mother that might sound like criticism..

‘But?'

‘While she must know that you're a good driver, she would probably think you were safer if you had a man with you. She can't help it. It's her conditioning.’

Dora chewed her lip. 'And I could say I wanted him to navigate.’

Jo laughed. 'After all, it's well known that women can't read maps.'

‘And that most men can't walk down the street and chew gum at the same time!'

‘Give your mum a ring. It'll give her plenty of time to plan lunch for you.’

Dora paused. 'I wish we could go out. Restaurants are less stressful, don't you think?'

‘Your mother will want to cook for you. The good thing about Tom is that he eats a lot. Mothers like that in a boy.’

‘OK, you know the way?' asked Jo, a few days later.

‘It's only getting out of London that's the problem,' said Dora, not for the first time. 'I've got my list of road num bers and places to look out for, and Tom's got the map.'

‘Sorry, I'm fussing.' Jo smiled in self-reproach. 'I'm such a mum!'

‘It's perfectly understandable, I'm taking your car.' Dora picked up her bag. She patted Jo's arm and smiled. 'I'd better go – Tom's waiting by the car. What are you going to do while we're away?'

‘Cooking for the trip. I shopped till I dropped yesterday. I'm going to fill the freezer, and then the fridge, with meals that can just be bunged in the oven or microwaved. I'll enjoy myself,' she added.

Reasonably convinced that this was true, Dora kissed Jo's cheek and went out to meet Tom, jingling Jo's car keys in her hand. It was a beautiful summer's day and her spirits lifted. She was nervous and excited at the same time. It was fun to be going off for the day with Tom, but the thought of seeing her parents for the first time since her escape was a bit daunting.

Tom was as relaxed as ever. 'When did you last drive, Dora?' he asked, getting in the passenger door.

‘I didn't have a car of my own but I used to use Mum's quite a lot.' She looked in the rear-view mirror and adjusted it slightly.'And John's?’

She shook her head. 'He always had cars it was too expensive to insure for me to drive. He wasn't a good passenger. But it did annoy me. I'm a far better driver than he is – was.' Her brow wrinkled, remembering how they used to share the driving before he got his own car, but afterwards he was so critical she always let him take the wheel if they were together, whatever car they were in.

‘OK,' said Tom after a moment's pause. 'Turn right out of the car park.'

‘I think I could have managed that bit on my own.'

‘If I'm here as your official navigator, I've got to do my job. Think of me as sat-nay.’

Dora relaxed. Tom wasn't John, he wasn't going to keep his hand on the handbrake and suck his teeth whenever she changed gear. 'Sat-nav gets people into all kinds of trouble, it's well known for it,' she said, beginning to feel confident and in control behind the wheel of Jo's car. She just hoped she went on feeling confident and in control when she got home.

‘The advantage of the human kind is that they can read maps too,' said Tom.

Later, when they were on the last stretch of the journey, Dora said, 'Now Tom, there are a few things I need to tell you about my mother.'

‘I'm sure there aren't.'

‘Yes! For example, you mustn't breathe a word of our bets-'

‘But your dad gave us the tickets to the races.'

‘Yes, but he didn't tell Mum about it first. She'll know by now, obviously, but you must not tell her that you made me get a tip for a race.'

‘Or that you picked up two Irishmen, did an accumulator, and won a hundred quid?'

‘No. And don't mention the karaoke.'

‘I really don't see that there's anything wrong with it,' said Tom, resting his knees on the dashboard.

Dora sighed, wondering if Tom was being deliberately obtuse or just winding her up. 'And if you mention us going to a music festival-'

‘Oh, didn't I tell you? I tried again, but I really couldn't get tickets for the one I wanted to take you to.’

Dora struggled to disguise her relief. 'Oh! Shame! Perhaps you'd better think of some other way of torturing me, then.'

‘Maybe. I'll see what I can think of. A music festival would be so fun.'

‘Yes. I'm really disappointed too. Especially if it involves lovely camping, and pyramids of poo in the loos.’

He nudged her elbow, even though she was turning a corner. 'Liar!’

'Darling!' Dora's mother ran out of the front door the moment the car pulled into the drive. 'How lovely to see you! And this must be Tom.’

As she and her mother hugged, Tom, Dora was embarrassed to note, got a head-to-toe inspection.

‘We're just friends, Mum, I told you,' Dora whispered as they released each other. 'Tom helped me map-read,' she added more loudly.

‘Not that she needed help,' said Tom, obligingly. 'She's an excellent driver.'

‘Yes she is,' Dora's mother acknowledged, somewhat surprised.

‘Where's Dad?' asked Dora.

‘In the garden. He's just getting the grass clippings off his feet. Or at least I hope he is. He mowed the lawn in your honour, Dora.'

‘I expect he mowed it because you told him he had to.' Aware that there'd been quite a rift in their relationship, Dora took her mother's arm. 'Let's go in.'

‘You haven't introduced Tom properly.’

Dora suppressed a sigh, determined to make the day a success however much her mother got on her nerves. She said, 'Mum, this is Tom. Tom, this is my mother, Mrs-'

‘Do call me Sukie,' said Dora's mother graciously. 'I'm sure we're going to be friends.'

‘Let's find Dad and a glass of wine,' said Dora, ushering her mother firmly inside.

‘You'd better have a spritzer, darling, if you're driving. So what do you do, Tom?' Sukie carried on as Dora led the way through the house and out of the French windows into the garden.

There was a bottle of wine in a cooler set on the table under an umbrella. Dora's father was waiting by it, his arms open. Dora ran into them, smelling his familiar Dad-scent that made her momentarily tearful. His arms closed tightly about her. 'How's my little Flora-Dora then?’