Page 22 of On The Edge

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The next morning, Cat went down for an early breakfast. Monique wiggled through the door in a tight green dress which looked positively stunning.

“Monique you look gorgeous today, that colour suits you so well!”

Monique graciously took the compliment, never one to shy away from attention, but then she quickly looked around to see if anyone else was listening, and said in hushed tones: “What happened last night?”

“Oh yes, what a night! I can’t believe how busy it was!” Cat exclaimed smiling. “Oh, can I have the full fry-up, I’m starving!”

“Yes, yes” Monique said with a slight flick of her hand, eager to get back to the original conversation. “I heard this morning a guy said something rude to you, and you threatened to glass him, and chucked everyone out!”

Cat looked up at Monique in bewilderment. “What, who said that?”

“Oh it’s going around the village that you scared a bunch of men away and have quite a temper on you!”

Cat let out a laugh. “Are you serious? It’s 8am! How has a rumour like that spread around already?”

“Well you know what village life is like, gossip moves fast and now you’re known as a tough-handed woman... did that really happen last night darling?” Monique looked both intrigued and a little scared.

“No it didn’t, well not really. Sit down and I’ll tell you what happened, so you can set the record straight for me!” Cat told the whole story to Monique, who gratefully lapped up the information with relish. Once every detail was told, Cat let go a big sigh, and asked petulantly: “Now can I have my breakfast? I’m wilting here from hunger!”

“Coming right up!” Monique was clearly impressed, and soon came back with a very large plate of food, and stacks of hot buttered toast. “Cat darling, you are a good barmaid, I hope I can rely on you for a few shifts a week regularly?”

Cat took a gulp of her coffee and got stuck in to her food. “Mmhmm!” and her cup swiftly received a top-up from her admiring waitress.

After breakfast was shovelled down, Cat packed her car with a makeshift lunch and set off to Bramble Cottage in the misty morning. A wall of fog completely covered the sea so much that it was hard to imagine the water that lay outstretched underneath. The cottage came into view at the end of the road looking a little spooky surrounded by the thick murky grey. Cat immediately set to work, cleaning the house of the larger items of rubbish, and clearing the bedroom to paint. Hours passed and Cat continued on, only stopping for a brief sandwich and a swig from her flask of tea. As she was screwing the lid back on, she heard a rumble of a car nearby, and went outside to see who it was. The mist had cleared to expose a beautiful summer’s day. Not a cloud in sight, the blue sky reflected in the water as well as the rays of dazzling sun. Cat looked around the back of the cottage and saw Patrick step out from his van. He looked even more handsome today in some paint-splattered jeans and a red shirt. He smiled as he walked towards her, his shirt hugging his broad shoulders, and showing freckled, tanned arms. Cat reflected how Spanish he looked, with his dark features.

“Well hello!” She said smiling with her hands in her pockets and admiring him on the approach.

“Hi!” He came up to her, and both of them stood awkwardly. “I was scared you’d kick my arse around town if I didn’t show up willing and put in a bit of time to help you,” he winked with a cheeky smile. “You might throw me into the road by my shirt collar next time we meet, followed by a broom and an empty cider keg!”

Cat sighed. “Oh great, you’ve heard also?”

“News travels fast round here!” He chuckled. “Of course it’s all gossip, and I know it won't be true!”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t try to beat up some rowdy customers if they asked for it?” she said in an offended manner.

“Oh, you’re too nice to do anything like that. Although you are tall and strong-looking, I’d say you could probably win a fight if you wanted to!”

Cat didn’t know whether to be offended or flattered, so she just bowed slightly, and escorted Patrick into the house to show him the ever-increasing list of jobs to be accomplished.

“OK, I’ll start in the kitchen and repair some of the woodwork, and the window. I’ll let you know when I’m done then I’ll move on to the bathroom.” Cat was utterly impressed by his practical attitude, and left him to it while she continued her own work upstairs.

Cat had finished an undercoat in the main bedroom, mopped down the wooden floors and arranged the wardrobe and cupboards. All she needed now was a mattress, and a couple of rugs for the floor to warm the room up a little and insulate against the cracks. She walked to the bathroom, hearing the sounds of Patrick routing the shower and poked her head around the door. “You want a cuppa?”

Patrick looked up and his lovely green eyes shone back at her. “Yes please, that would be grand.” Cat fetched her flask and poured him tea. He took the cup gratefully and stopped to look at his handiwork. “Not bad, if I should say so myself,” he nodded.

“It looks great!” Cat wondered to herself how she was ever going to pay Patrick back. “I can’t believe what we’ve done in a day! Thanks so much.” She touched his arm affectionately and withdrew her hand immediately, alarmed at her over-friendliness. Cat was quite a touchy person, and always gave her girl-friends hugs whenever she saw them. When it came to guys, she had a little less experience.

“No problem, I’m happy to help,” he reassured her “maybe next time we’ll get some better tunes on?” He indicated to the old battered radio player in the hallway which played only one radio station.

“Of course, next time I’ll hopefully have records and a record player. I’ve always wanted to play records, and I actually saw an old player in the charity shop in town.”

“I'm glad to hear it! It’s the only way to listen to music, really!”

They looked at one another with quiet appreciation.

“Right, well I’ll need another five minutes here to tidy up, then I’ll be finished.” He drained his cup and handed it back to Cat.