Katie Fforde - Going Dutch

She couldn't speak for a while, but eventually she managed a squeaky 'Fine.' Then, 'This is Tom, Dad; Tom, this is Cliff.'

‘How do you do?' said Tom, and Dora remembered that, however much he teased her, his parents were probably like hers, and that he knew how to behave.

‘Glass of wine, everyone?' asked Cliff. 'Darling, are we eating inside or out?'

‘I thought out,' said Sukie. 'Dora, you could come in and give me a hand.'

‘Let the girl have a drink first,' said Cliff soothingly. Sukie tutted. 'She's driving, don't forget. I'll get the canapes.' And she hurried off.

Cliff poured the wine. 'So, Tom, you work in a boatyard, Dora told me in her email,' he said as he handed Tom a glass, but with, Dora was relieved to notice, only polite interest.

‘Yes,' said Tom as they all sat down. 'It's like an apprenticeship, really. I studied at Falmouth but it took a while to find somewhere to take me on. I do anything boat-related that I can.'

‘Why don't you study to be a surveyor or something?’

Tom made a face. 'I may do that eventually but I got really fed up with studying and I want to go travelling for a bit before I settle down to a real career.'

‘Quite right,' said Dora, sipping her drink. 'I want to travel too.' The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this was true.

‘Do you? Then why don't you?' said Cliff.

‘I will,' said Dora firmly. 'When I've saved up enough.' Although she would hardly have admitted this to herself, she was quite glad her mother was out of earshot when she said this.

Sukie reappeared with a dish divided into compart ments, each one containing a different sort of nibble. 'Have an olive, Tom,' she said, putting the dish on the table. 'Or a cherry tomato with cheese. Those are stuffed vine-leaves, and those are just green beans tied with a bit of leek. Oh, and I've got some nice crisps, the ones you like, Dora.'

‘Thanks Mum, that's really kind,' said Dora. 'And of course I'll give you a hand with lunch in a minute.'

‘This looks like lunch to me,' said Tom, helping himself to a miniature kebab of chicken, tomato, cheese and pimento.

Cliff laughed. 'These are just a few little snacks before we eat. We're having coronation chicken with salad. Have a napkin, Tom.'

‘You've gone to so much trouble, Mum. You needn't have.'

‘Well, it's not every day your runaway daughter comes home, is it?' Sukie's eyes were bright, and Dora realised that while she might have gone over the top with the hospitality, it was for all the right reasons.

‘I didn't exactly run away from home,' said Dora.

‘Let's not get into that now,' said Cliff. 'Have something else to eat, Tom.'

‘Thank you,' said Tom, speaking with his mouth full. 'So, tell us about your new job,' said Sukie, pulling up a chair near Dora's.

‘Well, it's in a boatyard, in the office. It was a complete muddle when I joined. I'm having such a good time sorting it all out.'

‘But, darling, a boatyard! It doesn't sound quite as good as an estate agent. Do you meet nice people?’

Dora glanced at Tom, who winked at her. 'Oh yes, very nice.'

‘Tell me about this trip you're going on,' said Cliff. 'To Holland, isn't it?'

‘That's right,' said Dora.

‘I don't understand why the boat can't be repaired in England,' said Sukie, sipping her wine. 'Why can't it be taken somewhere a bit nearer?'

‘It doesn't actually need repairing,' said Tom. 'It has to have a survey for its certificate – rather like an MOT, I suppose. And while it's out of the water, it's going to have its hull gritblasted and given an epoxy coating.'

‘Really?' asked Cliff. 'That's a good idea, is it?'

‘Lots of surveyors recommend it nowadays,' said Tom, oblivious to Cliff's rather bewildered look. Once he was on to the subject of boats there was no stopping him. 'Our boatyard wanted to offer the service but because it's in a residential area, they weren't allowed. Noise pollution,' he explained.

Sukie caught Dora's eye. 'Do come and look at this new outfit I've bought. It's for Hannah's wedding.' She turned away, obviously trying to avoid looking reproachful. 'I couldn't bear to wear the outfit I bought for yours.'

‘OK, Mum, let's have a look. But I hope you haven't bought anything that's too old for you. Lots of those Mother-of-the-Bride outfits are terribly ageing… Sorry! I didn't mean that quite like it sounded.’

To her surprise and relief her mother managed a laugh. 'It's being the mother of the bride that's ageing, sweetheart, nothing to do with the clothes.’

Dora pulled her mother to her feet and kissed her. 'Let's go and look.’

Upstairs in her mother's bedroom, Dora put her arms round Sukie. 'Mum, I know I've tried, but I've never really managed to say sorry for all the awful trouble I caused you. I do think I did the right thing not marrying John, but I should have found that out a bit sooner.’

Sukie patted Dora's arm. 'It's OK, after I got over the upset, I understood that it was better just before the wedding than just after. John's got a very nice new girl friend now. We met her when we went there for drinks.'

‘That's nice.' Dora wandered over to the dressing table and started picking up bottles, reading the labels and sniffing them. Although she was pleased for John, she couldn't help feeling it was rather pathetic of him not to stay single for a while and just find a replacement for her immediately.

‘So you and Tom..

‘No. I've said. He's a lovely friend but there's nothing else between us.'

‘You don't think anything could – develop?’

Dora sighed. 'John obviously doesn't feel the same about this as I do, but I think it's a bit soon to start rushing into a new relationship. Now, let's see this outfit.’

Sukie moved across the room and opened the wardrobe. 'You're absolutely right. Men are so pathetic about being alone, aren't they? Even quite nice men, who really loved their wives, seem to find new ones really quickly if they're widowed. Jo's still on her own, isn't she?'

‘Apart from me, she is. Now, what have you bought yourself? Oh! Fab! I bet that was expensive,' said Dora as her mother laid a confection of peach and pale grey swirls on silk chiffon, palazzo pants and a long coat tenderly on the bed. 'Much nicer than what you bought to wear at my wedding!'

‘Perhaps I'll save it for when you do decide to get married.' They exchanged glances in the mirrored wardrobe door.

Dora decided to risk teasing her mother. 'I wouldn't bother. You're bound to have put on weight by then. And you wouldn't want people thinking you were mutton dressed up as lamb.'

‘Cheeky! But you do like the outfit? I thought I'd wear the same hat as I got for yours. It was so expensive.’

‘Put it on. Let's see the whole effect.'

‘I feel it's important to look good, for my pride's sake,' said Sukie, twiddling with her hair under the hat.

‘But, Mummy' – Dora reverted to what she had called her mother as a child without noticing – 'no one thinks it's anything to do with you. They're all blaming me.'

‘I know, but it's not very nice having everyone think your daughter's a flibbertigibbet who can't make up her mind.’

Dora swallowed. She hadn't really thought about this aspect of it. 'Well, anyway, that's a really super get-up. All your friends will envy you and the best man will run off with you.’

Her mother laughed and took the hat off. 'I must say I think it's awful what's happened to Jo. That girl must be half her age!'

‘I don't think quite half.'

‘And is it true she's pregnant?’

Dora considered. There was no point in pretending ignorance. 'Yes, but don't spread it about. Jo's quite upset, although she's not showing it.'

‘Too late for discretion. The whole village knows.'