Best Laid Plans by Patricia Fawcett

old and much-read books.
    ‘Sorry if it was a bit boring,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘You must think I have no imagination at all.’
    ‘Nonsense. I always need shirts.’
    She sat down on a familiar chair. ‘They won’t think we’re being unsociable will they if we stay in here a while?’
    ‘Shouldn’t think so. Monique is keeping that man of yours entertained.’
    She noted the ‘that man of yours’, recognized the doubtsin his voice. He sat down opposite her and smiled and she relaxed at last. It was ridiculous but they rarely got the chance to be alone these days and so these moments were precious and to be treasured.
    ‘How are you, sweetheart?’ he asked quietly. ‘You look tired. I hope you’re not overdoing things.’
    ‘Hard work never killed anybody,’ she said, regretting that remark as soon as she uttered it. ‘At least—’
    ‘Hard work didn’t cause my problem,’ he told her. ‘I’m afraid a dicky heart runs in the family. Your mother made too much of it and, look at me, I’m absolutely fine. Never felt better, as a matter of fact, now that I’ve passed the MOT with the doctor.’
    She did not argue.
    ‘Do you like Brian?’ she asked and she knew that it was a ridiculous question to ask and instantly waved her hand as if she was retracting it. ‘Don’t answer.’
    ‘I have to reserve judgement,’ he said quietly and truthfully. ‘But if he makes you happy, darling, then that’s fine by me.’
    ‘It’s not serious, Dad,’ she told him, needing him to know that. ‘I don’t know why I brought him along. I can’t see it going anywhere. He’s all right but he irritates me to hell.’
    ‘And he doesn’t give tips.’ Her father shook his head. ‘He’d better not visit the States then or he’d be in real trouble.’
    ‘I’ll talk to him about it. There must be a reason because he’s not short of money.’
    ‘It’s a bit of an ordeal for the chap coming here to meet the family. I shall never forget meeting Monique for the first time. She looked about twelve years old, had her hair in a plait for God’s sake.’
    They shared a gentle smile. Enough said.
    ‘Give it a chance,’ he continued amiably. ‘There’s no such thing as the perfect man, you know. Ask your mother.’ His sudden grin was infectious and she laughed with him. He rarely let off steam and she knew she was likehim, firmly embedded in the serious side of life, craving perfection in both her private and working life and knowing that it would not happen. Something somewhere had to give. She had worried when she was younger that all was not well with her parents’ marriage but that was because so many of her friends’ parents were splitting up, but she was now satisfied that hers would stay together, that the crisp familiarity they shared was just their way. They did not seem overly affectionate towards each other but they had been married a long time and she supposed that happened. Suddenly, though, she had a vision of her future, knew that she would be crazy to enter into a relationship with somebody about whom she already had grave doubts but knew also that she did not want to be alone forever. She loved her career – how she loved it – but how would she feel twenty years on?
    ‘But do you like him, Dad?’ she persisted and it was suddenly important that she got a positive answer.
    ‘Don’t put me on the spot. I don’t know him yet. Aside from the fact that he’s a mean bugger he seems okay.’
    ‘I’m thirty-five,’ she said, looking across to the bookshelves and seeing some old favourites there. ‘No spring chicken as they say.’
    ‘
Who
says? You’re only a child.’
    ‘Hardly.’ She sighed, turning to face him. ‘How’s life with you these days? How are you feeling?’
    ‘Okay.’ He hesitated only a moment. ‘I’ve been better, I suppose. It was scary.’
    ‘How’s the business?’
    ‘So so, and we’ll get through this rough patch as soon as the housing market picks