Katie Fforde - Going Dutch

‘Oh yes, but she's in England. She's got a bit of time off. But she's not sure how long for.'

‘Oh my God! And I'm in Holland. Typical.’

He paused and then went on steadily. 'Yes, but there's a train to the airport in a couple of hours. Or you could take a taxi. Perhaps that would be best.’

All the time she was rushing round making preparations for an early departure, she wondered if Marcus was packing her off. Was he relieved that he didn't have to spend the rest of the time in Holland with her? Or even the rest of the day! Perhaps he was grateful for the chance to kick her out of bed in the morning without any recriminations from her? He didn't seem pleased for her to be going, but on the other hand, he wasn't pleading with her to stay, either. Perhaps she had just been a challenge for him and now he would return to his usual type. But he had seemed so in earnest.

She wondered about this on and off all during the train journey to the airport. She felt addled by all their love making and attached herself to a couple who were also flying to England, so she wouldn't get confused and lost during the many processes that getting on a plane involved. She was longing to see Karen, but at the same time she longed to stay with Marcus. If he'd given her the choice, what would she have decided? Was she more mother, or lover? The trouble was, even if she was more lover, she couldn't possibly have said to Karen that she couldn't come home because she was all loved up with a man who wasn't her father. If only Karen had had more definite plans, she and Marcus could have discussed things properly.

She fell asleep on the plane, waking from time to time to check their progress. When they were stacked up waiting to land she was grateful because it meant more time to sleep. When they had to taxi a long way once they had landed, she was glad of that too. And when she was finally forced to wake up and get off the plane and retrieve Marcus's grip, which she had borrowed, from the over head locker, she realised that she had come down to earth in more ways than one.

Marcus may have implied he'd yearned for her for years, but now he'd had her he was almost bound to want to go back to supple, lissom-limbed, Pilates-trained Carole, or her lookalike. He was a very attractive man. He could have any woman he wanted. A night in her arms and between her far too substantial thighs wouldn't bind him to her. She sighed as she shuffled along the passport queue. Never mind, she'd had her grand passion, the most wonderful night of lovemaking anyone could ever imagine, and she'd never let herself regret that.

Dora was lying in the sun on the grass with her eyes closed. Her ankle was entwined in the strap of her rucksack. Tom and most of his male friends were a little way away listening to their favourite band, Eskimo Rolling. They all had their tops off. She was not looking at Tom but she now knew exactly what his naked torso looked like and the knowledge was distracting.

‘So, why aren't you and Tom an item?' asked Lizzie. She was sitting up getting her back brown. She had undone her halter-neck top and was holding the front to her. Although there was a group of completely naked people nearby, no one felt the need to join them.

‘Because we're friends! It's hard to make the change, don't you think?' The trouble was, Dora realised, because she'd gone out with John for so long, and he'd been her first-ever boyfriend, she hadn't had the usual sort of dating and boyfriend experiences that other girls had had.

‘But you do fancy him?’

Dora opened an eye and checked Tom's strong, smooth back that tapered into his jeans in a satisfying way. 'I don't know. I suppose so.'

‘I so would if he wasn't like a brother! All the girls loved him at college.'

‘Er – did he have girlfriends at college?' Dora did feel a bit disloyal talking about Tom like this, but it was a good opportunity to find out things about him, and Lizzie was obviously a good friend of his. She wouldn't say anything nasty.

‘Oh yes, loads. He managed to keep them as friends, though, which I think is cool.'

‘Good.'

‘So, how did you two meet?’

Dora would have quite liked to drift off to sleep. She sensed she wouldn't get much sleep later on, when they were all sharing a four-man tent. Tonight it would be housing not only four men, but two girls as well. 'Through the barge, I suppose. I was going to say through work, but he got me the job.’

They continued to chat, exchanging background details, finding more in common than Dora would have expected. They both had mothers who fussed.

‘But Tom's mother's cool,' said Lizzie. 'I remember a whole crowd of us turned up to stay the night one day – we were travelling back from somewhere, can't remember where, and the car broke down. She was great about it. My mother would have gone ballistic. So, where will you go after the festival? Back to work, or back to the barge?'

‘Back to the barge, I suppose.' Thinking about the barge and her cabin reminded her that she didn't have a sleeping bag with her. 'I should probably buy a blanket or some thing,' she went on. 'I didn't bring a sleeping bag because I didn't have one on the barge.'

‘I'd love to see it sometime.'

‘Well, maybe you could come back with us. Not everyone, though. That might be too much for Jo. Gosh, I wonder how she's getting on?'

‘Do you want me to walk up with you to buy a blanket? I really like the Eskies, but I could do with a break.’

Walking through the many stalls felt much less daunting now and Dora realised she'd relaxed into the festival and was no longer the nervous, sheltered girl she had once been.

‘So what are you doing now, Lizzie?' asked Dora as they made their way back to the tent.

‘Saving up to go travelling.'

‘Oh, like Tom!’

Lizzie chuckled ruefully. 'Yes, but he's really going travelling. I'm going to stay with relations in Australia!’

Dora was helping take the tent down when her mobile rang. She hauled it out of her pocket. It was Karen. She screamed and nearly dropped her phone. 'I can't believe it's you! Where are you?'

‘At home. My old home. Mum's here, but, Do, you've got to come back as soon as you can. I'm not here for long.'

‘How long?'

‘I can't really say. I came over with a painting from work. It's got to be repaired. We don't know how long that'll take and I've got to go back immediately it is, so I must see you.'

‘Oh my goodness. I'll have to check with Tom. This is so exciting! I can't wait to see you!'

‘Nor me. Oh, Mum wants a word.'

‘Jo? This is very exciting, Karen being home.'

‘I know. It would be lovely if you could see her. Do you think Tom wants to go back to the barge? There's not a lot of point as it'll be in dry dock for a while, and it's not really suitable for living on at the moment.'

‘Is Marcus still out there?'

‘Oh yes, but one person's not such a problem.’

Dora longed to ask if Marcus had been a problem, and how they had got on, but didn't think now was the moment.

‘I'll talk to Tom. The thing is, if I don't go back to the barge, where will I go?'

‘Talk to Tom. If all else fails, you could come here. Now Karen's asking me something. Oh, and Philip's here.’

Tom eased his shoulders back after digging out a particularly stubborn tent peg. Dora tried to ignore his chest, which was defined without being over-developed. She relayed Karen's message.

‘That's cool, we'll go to my parents.'

‘But they don't know me!' Dora protested.

‘Tom's parents are really safe,' said Lizzie. 'They'd love to have you. And isn't your mum going away anyway, Tom?' He nodded. 'Trekking in Peru.'