‘I’m only keeping it there ‘til Nathan comes back. I int having him laughing at me’ Charlene’s proud smile turns into a sulky pout and she repositions the framed slip of paper on the corner of her desk.
‘He won’t laugh’ Ingrid looks up from the accounts book ‘He’s very proud of you too...just like I am. You’ve worked really hard’
‘I know what I int finished yet’ Charlene sighs apologetically ‘but I thought it’d keep me going when I get fed up of doing stuff...you know...seeing it there an’ that. I still got loads to do’ She makes a face.
‘I think you’ve done very well. It’s not easy’
‘No, it int cos most a them come straight from school. I feel like their mum or summat... ‘cept for that nice lady what I told you about. We gets on alright...but she’s been a bit poorly and int there all the time’
‘You’re not finding it too much?’ Ingrid asks, giving Charlene her full attention.
‘What....Like I int clever enough?’ her chair squeaks as she swings round ready to defend herself.
‘No. I know you’re clever enough. I meant with working full time...’
‘I don’t though, do I? I gets a day off t’go’ Charlene rolls her eyes at Ingrid’s stupidity.
‘Yes...but you have to make time to study at home’ she points out. ‘Then there’s Jonathan’
‘Yeah’ Charlene nods slowly and sighs as she waits, staring at the monitor, for her computer to boot up.
‘You and him...you are alright, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah...and he’s ever so good with me homework an’ that’ she replies absently then blinks out of her reverie and turns and grins ‘I don’t mean what he does it for me...I mean he helps test me on it and stuff. He don’t mind. He were ever so nice when I got me results, got me some flowers an’ everything’
‘That was nice’ Ingrid smiles and breathes an inward sigh of relief. ‘Very thoughtful of him’
‘Yeah, an’ that was only the first bit!’ Charlene’s eyes widen excitedly at the possibility of more gifts at the end of her course. She turns back to the computer and lays her hands correctly on the keyboard. ‘Nathan int coming in ‘til Monday is he?’
‘No. He’s making sure everything’s sorted for the wedding. One or two minor hitches from what he was telling me’
‘Aaaw, be a shame if it goes all wrong’ she comments without taking her eyes from the screen as her fingers gather speed.
‘MINOR hitches!’ Ingrid reiterates with a laugh. ‘Things like having some of the flowers at Jessie’s house and some at George’s. He’s sure the florist will get it wrong. I think he’s decided it’s best to pick them up and deliver them himself’
Charlene flips over the page in her notebook and is just about to start typing again when her brow furrows ‘Why can’t they all go to one place and then he gets ‘em from there?’ she asks, looking puzzled ‘He wouldn’t have t’go into town then cos he’s gonna have a lots t’do anyway, int he?’
It is Ingrid’s turn to roll her eyes ‘Neither of us thought of that, I’ll give him a ring in a bit’ she glances at the clock ‘Daresay he’s having a lie in’
‘Yeah, an’ so’s Dave!’ Charlene cranes her neck to see out of the window ‘He’s suppose t’be here by now’
Ingrid groans ‘He’ll be late. Sorry, haven’t had chance to tell you yet. Tania’s got a bit of an upset tum so he’s got to drop the boys off at school first’
‘Aaw, poor Tania’ Charlene instantly regrets her annoyance. ‘Hope she’s okay. Wonder if she needs any shopping or anything?’
‘Ask Dave when he gets here. I wouldn’t ring in case she’s managing to sleep’
‘Yeah...that’s a point...Okay’ she accepts Ingrid’s advice with another slow nod. ‘You reckon Nathan’s a bit nervous...you know...what with giving Jessie away and everything?’ she changes the subject completely ‘Kester said he’d got t’keep an eye on George...cos he’s best man an’ that.. That’s what they have t’do, don’t they....make sure they get there and stuff? ...AND he’s got t’make a speech....But I know he’s alright at them cos he sort a made one at his wedding an’ I was there’
‘Heck! I wonder if Nathan’s thought about having to say something’ Ingrid steeples her hands over her nose as she worries ‘I suppose he’d be a bit like the bride’s father...and they usually make a speech at the reception, the same as a best man does. Something else to check with him’ she hurriedly scribbles a note on her blotter ‘Daresay it’ll be a bit different....with them being an older couple’ she gives a hopeful grimace ‘They might not want so much fuss’
‘George told Kester what they was having a pie and a pint at The White Horse after!’ Charlene looks incredulous.
‘There’s not much fuss and there’s no fuss at all’ Ingrid looks up from under her brows ‘I think they’ll be having a bit more than that if Nathan’s got anything to do with it...which he has’
Charlene returns to her computer and Ingrid to her accounts. The office falls quiet save for the sounds from the yard.
‘You think what...you know....Nathan and Stephanie’ll get married?’ Charlene says once she has finished typing the estimates. The printer whirrs and clatters in the background.
‘I’ve no idea and don’t you go asking him either’ Ingrid notes the addition on her calculator and makes another entry into the book.
‘Only....that’d be a proper one...in a church and everything, won’t it? Cos her Dad’s a vicar’ her chair swivels from side to side.
‘Jessie and George are getting married in church’ the buttons on the calculator click through another short column of figures.
‘Yeah...but she won’t have no white dress nor nothing... like bridesmaids and stuff and Stephanie’s bound to have bridesmaids int she?’ Charlene sighs wistfully.
‘Probably...but they haven’t been going out five minutes, so don’t even think of pushing him’
‘They have!’ she disputes hotly ‘They’ve been going out ages and Kester and Helen got married ever so quick’
‘Char-lene!’ Ingrid cautions with a severe look.
’Well, they did’
‘That as maybe but you know Nathan and you know how annoyed he got when you tried to fix him up before’
‘Yeah, but he don’t need no fixing up now, cos he’s got Stephanie’ Charlene smiles happily and clasps her hands in her lap. The chair swivels some more. ‘I was only wondering if....’
‘Stop wondering!’ Ingrid gets up to return the day to day accounts book to the shelf behind her ‘I’m being serious, Charlene’ she says with a frown ‘You start wittering on and you’ll really put him off...whatever he thinks of Steph’
‘You reckon he loves her then?’
‘I have no idea’ Ingrid enunciates each word separately on a weary sigh.
‘You always says that when you’re telling fibs’
Samms Plant Hire, Oatfield
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-two
