Happily Ever After by Lynne Hallett

Would Kate ever find the fairy-tale ending she dreamed of?

AND they all lived . . .” Kate said, pausing. “Happily ever after,” Lily, her six-year-old daughter, sang. It had become tradition that she would say these three words and Kate didn’t mind.

While Lily still believed in this concept, experience had brought home to Kate that happily ever after was just for stories.

“Now, it’s time for you to go to sleep.” She took her arm from around Lily and closed the book, putting it on her chest of drawers.

“But I’m not sleepy, Mummy. Look; my eyes are wide open,” Lily returned, putting her fingers to her eyes and stretching them. Kate sighed. Typical. She didn’t go out that often in the evening, but it was like Lily had some sort of radar about when she would be away from home.

The fact that she was all dolled up might have given the game away, too.

Lily looked at her, pursed her lips and tilted her head to one side.

“You look very beautiful, Mummy. Just like Cinderella. Are you going somewhere?”

“Well, as a matter of fact I am.”

“Are you going out with a man?”

Kate could feel her cheeks flood with colour.

“I might be.”

“Do you think he might be Prince Charming?” “I certainly hope so.” Then again, Kate had thought that about Lily’s father.

“Do you think you’ll get married to him?”

“Lily! Shush! I’m going out on a date, that’s all.”

That’s all. “That” was actually quite a big deal.

It was her first date in three years. She was seriously out of practice and only hoping that she hadn’t completely lost her touch.

“What does he look like?” Lily asked.

“Tall and dark-haired. He’s a friend of Uncle Marcus’s.”

Lily’s eyebrows puckered slightly.

“You will still love me best, won’t you?”

“Of course I will. Whatever made you think I wouldn’t?”

“Well, I don’t think Daddy loves me now he’s got a girlfriend.”

Kate forced a smile. “Oh, he does, darling. Nothing would stop him from loving you, would it?”

“Why did he say I couldn’t go over to his house this weekend, then?” Lily asked sadly.

“Because he was busy with work, that’s all. He had to do the weekend shift because he’s the manager.”

That was what he’d said, anyway. Kate had her suspicions that he was trying to wreck her social life, but there was no way she was going to share that with Lily.

“Stop worrying. Lie down and let me tuck you in.”

Lily shuffled down under her covers and Kate’s heart melted as she smiled up at her.

“Love you, Mummy.” “Love you more.” Kate bent down and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Who’s looking after me?” “Jade. She’ll be here very soon.”

“I like Jade. She’s cool.” As if on cue, the doorbell

rang at that moment.

“That’ll be her now. I’d better go, sweetheart,” Kate said. “Be good, won’t you?”

“I will be very good, Mummy. Cross my heart and hope to die.” “Night, then.”

Kate left the room, pulled the door to and trotted downstairs.

She opened the front door to welcome her next-door neighbour. “Come on in, Jade.” “Thanks, Kate. Is Lily in bed?”

“Yes, but she’s not asleep, I’m afraid. I hope she’ll behave for you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Jade assured her. “If not, I’ll give her a great big cuddle and let her watch ‘Frozen’.

“Are you all set for your big date?”

Kate groaned.

“To be honest, Jade, I’m nervous.” Her stomach somersaulted and churned as if to confirm what she was saying.

“It’s been me and Lily for so long that I’ve forgotten how to do adult conversation, especially with a man I don’t know.

“I can’t believe I allowed Marcus to talk me into it.

“He’s not exactly the most reliable of brothers. Some of his friends when he was younger were decidedly dodgy.”

“Sounds like it could be fun.” Jade grinned.

“Let’s hope so,” Kate replied, pulling her coat off the peg and putting it on. “Do you have your phone with you?”

“Of course.”

“If it’s going badly, I’m going to nip to the Ladies’ and text you.

“Can you text me back or ring me and pretend Lily needs me?” Kate asked.

“If it will make you feel better,” Jade agreed.

“It will. I like the idea of a get-out clause.”

“Go and have fun. And don’t worry.”

Jade virtually pushed her out of the door and Kate walked to her car.

The King’s Arms wasn’t far away, but she didn’t really like walking alone in the dark, and a car also meant a quick getaway if required.

****

When Kate arrived at the pub, she found a parking space, turned off the engine and sat for a few moments, taking deep breaths.

Her first task was to find Simon. The photo Marcus had sent was a group one with a reference to Simon’s position in the line-up, but it wasn’t the best, by any means.

Surely there couldn’t be too many tall, dark-haired men on their own in the pub?

She locked the car and headed towards the pub entrance.

As she pushed the door open, warm air enveloped her. It was comforting after the chill outside.

She wandered through to the bar and cast her eyes around the room.

Many of the tables were occupied by groups, families and couples, and she searched for any with only one occupant fitting Simon’s description.

Just as she was starting to lose hope and the sinking feeling of being stood up took hold, she heard someone say her name.

She spun round, looked up and caught the eye of a man she assumed was Simon.

He was tall, dark, tanned and well-groomed. He was wearing black jeans, a red shirt open at the neck and a black leather jacket.

Her heart missed a beat. This was a promising start. “Simon?”

“I am. Well, at least that’s the first hurdle leapt.”

He broke into a smile and she noticed the crinkles round eyes that were the dark blue of the ocean.

They were the sort you could lose yourself in, but they were kind, too. You could tell a lot about someone from their eyes. “What can I get you?” “Oh, I’m driving, so an orange juice would be lovely.”

“OK. How about you get us a table and I’ll bring the drinks over?”

“Fine.” Kate weaved her way through the pub to a table for two in an alcove, away from some of the rowdier groups.

She took off her coat and put it on a chair with her bag, then sat down.

Simon returned surprisingly quickly with her orange juice and a pint of lager for himself.

“There you go,” he said, placing the drink on the mat. “I decided on a pint. Bit of Dutch courage.” She raised an eyebrow. “Do you think you’ll need it?”

Simon laughed. “Maybe not as much as I thought I might, but I’ll be honest – it’s been a while since I went on a date.”

“Me, too.” Kate sipped her drink. “I’m guessing from the photo Marcus sent that you’re in the Army, like him?”

“I was.” He held both sides of his glass. “I quit a few months ago.” “Oh?”

“An old injury started playing up. I’ve started work at the local outdoor activity centre, so there are still some thrills and spills.

“It’s great giving the kids a good experience, too.”

“Ideal,” Kate replied. “I’m a primary school teacher.”

“I wish my teachers had looked like you when I was at school.” Simon grinned mischievously.

She blushed.

“Oh, get away with you. I don’t look like this all the time.”

“I bet you do.”

Was he flirting with her? “No, believe me, I don’t.” She paused. “How much has Marcus told you about me?”

“He filled me in about your situation . . . and, yes, I do know about Lily. You must show me a photo of her.”

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her photos.

“There. That’s a good one.” She turned the phone round so he could see it.

“She’s cute.”

“Oh, she’s that all right. Got it out of me that I was coming on a date and then asked if I was going to marry you.”

Kate blushed. “Forget I said that.” “Don’t worry. You haven’t scared me off,” Simon reassured her.

“That’s good. In the past, the very mention of Lily was enough to bring dates very quickly to a close. So I just stopped going out.

“It’s just been her and me for the last three years.”

“Has it not been a bit

“I can’t believe I allowed Marcus to talk me into it”

lonely for you?” he asked.

“I’ve been too busy to be lonely. Teaching is pretty all-consuming and then trying to make sure I’m being as good a mother as I can be fills up the time.” Simon nodded.

“My sister’s a single mum, too. She has two boys. One’s five and the other’s seven.

“I see them quite a lot, so I’ve seen first-hand how parenting can be.”

“I feel for her,” Kate replied. “It’s rewarding having children, but it’s hard sometimes when you have no-one to share it with.

“That’s not how I wanted it to be.” She took another sip of her drink.

“We all want a happily ever after, don’t we?” Simon stared into his beer.

“Lily would be delighted to hear you say that.” Kate smiled. “She loves fairy tales. It’s her job to say those three words when we read them.”

He smiled and looked at her, but there was a sadness in his eyes.

“What stopped you having yours?” she asked.

“My career. Amy – she was my long-time girlfriend – couldn’t cope with the long-distance nature of the relationship, so eventually she dumped me for an accountant. She needed stability.

“Anyway, that’s in the past and there’s

nothing much I can do about it.

“Marcus suggested getting back in the driving seat and, like you, I was persuaded against my better judgement.

“But I’m glad I agreed,” Simon added with a smile. “Me, too.”

“In which case, would you like to order some food?”

“I could just do with popping to the Ladies’ first, then that would be lovely.”

She got up, taking her bag with her.

“I won’t be long.” Even before she had reached the Ladies’, her phone buzzed.

She pulled it out of her bag and saw a text from Jade.

Reading it, her heart sank.

She turned right round and hurried back to the table.

“Simon, I’m so sorry. I’ve got to go. Lily’s inconsolable and my babysitter can’t calm her down.

“She’s tried everything apparently and nothing has worked.”

She leaned over and picked up her coat, slipping it on.

“Well, of course you must go. I understand.” Simon smiled, but his voice was laced with disappointment.

When she looked into his eyes, it was like shutters had come down.

Maybe she had tempted fate by having Jade on standby to text her.

“Thanks for the drink. I’ll be in touch,” she said, before darting off to the car park.

It was only as she was driving home that she realised they hadn’t exchanged phone numbers.

As she thought more about the look on Simon’s face as she told him about the text, the more she realised he could have thought it was an excuse.

It was pretty convenient getting a text just as she went to the Ladies’.

He may have thought that she’d initiated it, just as she’d planned to do if things weren’t going well.

The irony was that things had been going very well.

She pulled up on the drive and darted into the house.

“Mummy, is that you?” She heard a plaintive little voice coming from the living-room. “My tummy hurts.”

“Yes, sweetheart, I know. I’m coming now.”

She went into the livingroom to find Lily sitting on the sofa holding Flopsy Bunny and cuddled up to Jade. “Frozen” was on in the background.

“So what’s all this about, then?”

Lily’s face was blotchy from all the crying and her eyes were red-rimmed.

“I just got very scared and my tummy went all horrid and I started to cry, didn’t I, Jade?”

“Yes, that pretty much sums it up.” Jade mouthed the word “sorry” to Kate.

“And why did you get scared, darling?”

“I don’t know.” Lily looked down for a few seconds and then fixed her eyes on the television. “I’m going to watch ‘Frozen’ now.”

Kate frowned. Was this all because she had gone out? She recalled the earlier conversation.

“It’s probably best if I go now, Lily, and leave you with Mummy,” Jade said. “I hope your tummy feels better soon.”

“Night, Jade,” Lily muttered, eyes still glued to the television.

Kate raised her eyebrows, looked at Lily and stifled a sigh.

“I’ll see you out, Jade. Thanks for coming.”

They headed towards the hall and Kate pulled the living-room door to behind her.

“I’m sorry about all this.” “Don’t worry.” Jade smiled sympathetically. “Lily wouldn’t tell me what the matter was, but there’s clearly something preying on her mind.

“I hope you get to the bottom of it.”

“I think I know what it’s all about. Her dad’s got a new girlfriend and I think she’s feeling unsettled.” “That’s a tricky one.”

“It is.” “Especially if you want to find love, too,” Jade added.

“There’s not much chance of that if I have to run away from a date twenty minutes after arriving.”

Jade smiled.

“It won’t always be like this, Kate. Maybe she just needs some time – and lots of reassurance.”

“I’m not sure if Simon will have the patience to wait, which is a shame actually.” “Was he nice?”

Kate smiled sadly. “Yes. He was very nice. Not averse to children. A good uncle. Very attractive, too. Definitely someone I would have liked to get to know better.

“But I can’t see it going anywhere. Not if Lily’s going to have such a bad reaction. She has to be my first priority.”

Jade frowned. “Don’t forget yourself in all this, Kate. Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she told her. “You can make it work.”

“You’re a real friend, Jade, but I didn’t get Simon’s number and now that he’s seen what he could be in for, I’m guessing it’s over before it began.”

Jade gave her a quick hug before stepping outside.

“Just remember what I said,” she called.

****

As the film was nearing the end, Lily’s eyelids drooped despite her best efforts to keep them open.

Kate picked her up and carried her upstairs.

She was asleep within seconds of being tucked under her duvet.

Kate stroked her hair and then went downstairs, made herself a G&T, curled up on the sofa and pulled her phone out of her bag.

She opened her messages, half-hoping to find one from Simon there, though she knew that was impossible.

How could she resolve this situation and not make a fool of herself in the bargain?

As she sipped her drink, she admitted how drawn to him she felt.

She didn’t want things to end so soon.

He had made her heart quicken, much to her surprise, and even if romance didn’t blossom, perhaps they could be friends. He also liked kids.

Could she just let it end there?

Jade’s words kept echoing around her head. “You can make it work.” They helped her to a decision.

She put her glass down and texted her brother.

Do you have Simon’s phone number? Thanks xx.

She held the phone and, sure enough, it buzzed within a minute.

There was Simon’s number and a message after it.

I think he’ll be pleased to hear from you.

Her heart beat faster again as she typed a reply.

Why?

Marcus’s reply was infuriating.

Message him and find out for yourself.

Before Kate could think any more about it, she added Simon to her contacts list and composed a message.

I’m so sorry about that. I was having a great time and I don’t want you thinking I ran out on you.

What next? It was definitely too soon for kisses.

Maybe a sad emoji instead? Yes, a sad emoji.

She added it in and pressed Send.

Her eyes were glued to the screen, waiting for his response.

One minute passed, then two, and finally his response came.

Of course not. Well, maybe I did, if I’m honest. I texted Marcus to get your number but didn’t know whether or not to make contact.

He’d added a confused emoji.

She smiled. They’d both asked Marcus for the other’s phone number.

That had to mean something, didn’t it?

Without hesitating, she typed her message.

Ring me? Then we can continue where we left off.

He sent her a thumbs-up, and seconds later her phone rang. ■