The Playdate by Louise Millar Read Free Book Online

what a silly. What will Allen say? That was his mummy’s teapot.” She smiled, steadying herself on the table.
    Callie looked mortified. “Sorry, it’s my fault for distracting you. Let me help you with that.”
    “No!” Debs said, louder than she meant to. It was all she could do not to let the word come out as a shriek. “Please. Leave it. I do apologize, I’m just very tired from the move.”
    “Oh, this is a bad time, I’m sorry. We’re just barging in on you,” the young woman said, her face flushing. “Why don’t we do this another time, when you’re more settled?”
    “Of course,” said Debs. “Give me a couple of days, and when everything’s unpacked, come over and have a proper cup of tea.”
    Except from now on she’d be on alert. She wouldn’t answer the door.
    “Actually,” the young woman said, her voice with a slight quiver in it. “This might be a bit presumptuous, but I noticed all your books . . .”
    “Oh, yes,” Debs replied warily. “I have far too many. Allen keeps asking me to clear some out—but I do like my books.”
    “It’s just that it’s ages since I read a book. I need to get myself going again. I was wondering”—the young woman grimaced nervously—“if maybe I could have a look at them some time?”
    Oh Lord. What was Debs getting herself into here?
    “Mum . . .” A whine came from the hall. They both looked to see the little girl standing at the front door. “I want to go home.”
    “Sorry,” said Callie. “We better go. Rae’s a little tired today.”
    “Well, it was kind of you to bring the lasagne,” Debs said, relieved, following her through the hall. “Allen will enjoy that when he gets back from the cricket.”
    At the front door, Debs stopped, and looked down at a box marked green for “loft.” She had a thought.
    “Rae, is it? Do you like little puppets, dear?” she asked.
    The little girl nodded.
    “Would you like this?” Debs pulled out a revolting Christmas reindeer puppet with felt antlers and a scarlet pom-pom nose from a box. “This was Allen’s mummy’s. She made it.”
    Rae took the puppet wordlessly from Debs. She fixed the puppet over her fingers with a smile, then looked up at Debs. Without any warning, she ran the puppet up Debs’s arm, and banged it hard on her nose.
    “Rae!” Callie shouted.
    Debs took a deep breath. “Oh, goodness!” she said.
    “I am SO sorry,” Callie said. “Rae—that’s not like you! She’s usually very well behaved. Rae, say sorry.”
    “No,” said Rae, looking at Debs sullenly.
    “I don’t know what to say,” Callie said. “I’m so embarrassed.”
    “Oh, not at all, dear,” Debs said. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”
    “Well, I’m sorry,” said Callie, grabbing the puppet from Rae and putting it back in the box. “I will have a word with her when we get home. And thanks again.”
    Debs waved good-bye and shut the door behind them.
    “Oh,” she groaned, falling against the wall. Her thighs felt as if they had heavy weights strapped on them. She rubbed her sore knee and her sore neck, then her sore nose. The ugly puppet sat back in the box, its blue button eyes laughing at her.
    Not to worry, though. She’d met little girls like that before and she knew how to deal with them.
    *     *     *
    By the time Allen arrived home from the cricket at 3 P.M ., she had recovered herself. Most of the green boxes were on the upper landing for him to put up in the loft, and she was sorting through more books.
    “Love, have you got a minute,” he called from the front garden.
    What now? she thought.
    She came out and found him standing with the American woman from next door and a man with dark, wavy hair pushed back from his face. He was towering over Allen, with a jowly face and hooded, tired eyes. Her palms went clammy.
    “Love, this is Suzy and Jez from next door,” said Allen. “They were just telling me that Thursday is pickup day for the rubbish and