Chapter 2

The next day - Sunday - Mary & Andrew - [Mary]

"Andrew?" I said, "What are you up to? How's Lizzie?" He looked distinctly shifty.

He shrugged. "I was hoping to slip in unnoticed and get some things for her."

I frowned at him. "Things? Why can't she get them herself?" My heart sank. "Oh no! Andrew!" The prospect of my nice friendly innocent neighbour tangled with Lizzie was too awful. The damage that girl could do, looking the way she did! I sighed. "Come on in. You men are not safe to be let out round Lizzie. What have you done?"

He smiled at me, suddenly gay. "Fallen in love. Magic! Come on, let me in. I've got a shopping list in my head, and then I promised her breakfast."

"Andrew - they do say there's no fool like an old fool - did you sleep with her?"

We were up in Lizzie's bedroom by this time. I saw him pick up a packet from her bedside table drawer. Contraceptive pills!

"Yes! And I'm not in the least sorry. And I certainly don't feel old."

"Well, you and a couple of dozen before you - you idiot! Are you serious - in love? You'll be massacred. She goes through men like - well, I'll spare your sensibilities - Oh Andrew!"

I sat on the bed in despair. He sat beside me and put his arm round me. I started to weep.

"Mary - I think you've lost touch with Elizabeth. She's not like that. I was her first."

I snorted. "First today, you mean."

He was suddenly angry. "Mary - that's very unfair. She was upset, shocked, hurt, confused, wanting to be loved, wanting me to love her - unlikely as that seems. And very definitely a virgin. And before you say anything else, I asked her to marry me - and she accepted. Now - deep breaths!"

I couldn't take deep breaths - only splutter in a most undignified way. He sat patiently, looking at me.

Well, he's a handsome man still. In fact there are times when I've quite fancied him myself - more than just fancied in fact. But marrying Lizzie! I just can't begin...

"Don't be a fool," my brain was beginning to work again, "virgins don't need the Pill."

He opened the packet and shook the foil out - they were half gone.

"She started them a fortnight ago - happy chance. She planned to force the issue with Joseph."

"What issue?"

"You really have lost touch with her, haven't you?" He hesitated. "I'm not a psychologist - but some kind of frigidity - an inability to respond. You should be talking to her - well maybe not."

He positively smirked. "There didn't seem to be a problem last night."

"B... but - you don't fall in love - not the marrying kind - not after just one night."

"Where have you been this last fifteen months? She's been mothering me ever since Barbara died. I'd have been lost without her - yes, I know. You've been there - everyone's been kind to me. But Elizabeth has just been there. She's spent hours and hours, just sitting, working - keeping me company. If I wasn't half in love with her before, I certainly was after that. And she's got used to being around me. She says she's in love with me - and whatever it is, it's nothing she's felt before. I'd be a fool not to take the risk. - Now, she wants some clothes and a pill. Otherwise you might be a grandmother unexpectedly. And why don't you and Colin come to lunch? Is David here?"

I nodded.

"Right. David too. We'll make it an engagement party."