Rumours and Red Roses by Patricia Fawcett

hair.’
    ‘Yes, I noticed.’
    Her mother put her cup down, and was reaching into a bag before she realized, zipping it up quickly with a sigh as she did.
    ‘I could murder a cigarette. Sometimes only a ciggy will do.’
    ‘Is something wrong, Mum?’
    ‘Oh love …’ She sighed again. ‘Now, I know she means well, Becky, asking me to go on holiday with them, but I don’t want to be too pushy. And, bless her, she has no idea what’s happening. She worships the ground that man walks on. That Johnny …’ She looked around quickly and lowered her voice as if the room was bugged. ‘There’s a bit of a situation there.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Becky took a deep breath. She thought sheknew exactly what her mum meant. She still hadn’t said anything to Simon, who was oblivious to it, but her father-in-law was without doubt a ladies’ man and, unfortunately, he had set his sights – what was he thinking of? – on Shelley. It was amazing that Esther hadn’t seemed to cotton on yet when it was plain as plain could be. The man was not one for subtlety, that was for sure.
    ‘You know what I mean. I should have known after what happened at the wedding. I mean to say, fancy picking a moment like that to touch me up when we were all harassed? It’s no better. You’ve seen him looking at me but don’t you worry, love.’ Shelley sat up straighter. ‘There’s no way I am allowing anything to happen. The bloody cheek of the man. As I say, I like Esther a lot and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to upset her. Or you and Simon,’ she added with a small smile. ‘So, flattering as it is and I have to say he is a very handsome man for his age, it has to be hands off, mister. The trouble is the only way I can see my way out of it is to make myself scarce and put myself out of his reach otherwise it’s going to be so awkward. I’m keeping him at arm’s length but I don’t want to cause a fuss and he knows that. Esther keeps asking me over for dinner and I can’t keep coming up with excuses. So, that’s why I’ve come to a decision.’
    ‘Which is?’ Becky sighed, annoyed that her mother should be put in this position. It was sometimes hard to credit that Johnny Blundell was Simon’s father because, aside from a fairly obvious physical resemblance, they were like chalk and cheese as far as temperament went. Simon was much more like Esther, quiet and sometimes endearingly awkward, one of the things that had attracted her to him in the first place. Sexy, too, or so she thought, so she really had the best of both worlds. He loved her to bits and nothing must spoil it. And she certainly had no intention of allowing Simon’s roving-eyed father to upset things.
    ‘I could see from the word go that Johnny would turn out to be a right pain in the arse before long,’ Shelley said, saying what Becky was thinking. After a brief foray into classic elegance, her mum had reverted to normal, dress-wise, the skirt a fraction too tight and too short. ‘So that’s why I have to do something drastic. It’s all come to a head this last month. I had such a shock I can tell you. He didn’t even phone me, just turned up on the doorstep as if he’d never been away. He came over, you see, when you were in York. Wanted to catch up with me, he said.’
    ‘Who did?’
    ‘You know who.’ Her mum shook her head. ‘I’m not explaining very well but it’s hard to tell you, love. I don’t know how to say it. I know you’re going to be really upset.’
    ‘Come on.’ Becky smiled, realizing that her mum was not finding this easy, surprised and a little bemused by the faint flush on her cheeks. ‘For goodness’ sake, Mum, you needn’t make a big deal of it. You and Johnny don’t live that close to each other. Just avoid meeting him, that’s all – alone, that is. You’re safe in company.’
    ‘Haven’t you been listening? That’s easier said than done and I can tell he’s got the bit between his teeth. And, to be