Somebody to Love: Sigh With Contentment, Scream With Frustration. At Time You Will Weep. by Sheryl Browne Page B

protected herself, stipulated no complications from outset and not allowed herself to get too emotionally involved. She’d just cut her losses and, um… Ahem.
    Donna dragged a hand under her nose, tugged in a deep breath… but a great, fat tear plopped into her eggshell anyway.
    ****
    Detached. Donna reminded herself what she should be when doorbell rang half an hour later. Emotionally unfettered.
    He’d come back for his mobile, presumably. Well, she heaved herself off the sofa, stuffed all evidence of chocolate over-indulgence under a cushion, braced herself and headed for the door.
    She wouldn’t demean herself anymore. Uh,uh. Absolutely not. No way was she about to turn into a snarling green-eyed monster; demanding to know why he had a woman staying over with no luggage bar a toothbrush and a fictitious lodger to back up his lies. She didn’t care.
    At all. ‘ Sniffle ’.
    Hoisting up her shoulders, Donna quickly checked her face in the hall mirror, then swung the front door wide — to find Alicia and Evelyn standing side-by-side, Alicia with her tongue hanging out, in anticipation of juicy details, no doubt, and her mum wearing half Alicia’s new Next collection and what-have-you-been-up-to expression on her face.

Chapter Seven
    ‘Has he gone?’ Alicia peered interestedly past Donna up the hall.
    ‘Definitely,’ Donna reported gloomily, not sure she was ready for a post mortem .
    ‘Good. The doorstep’s a bit drafty, Donna. Do try and answer a bit more quickly next time.’ Evelyn stepped in, painted toes protruding from peep-toes — Alicia’s — and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in hand.
    ‘Give us the goss, then.’ Alicia followed, wheeling a pyjama-clad Jack before her.
    ‘And a corkscrew, darling.’ Evelyn handed Donna the wine and headed for the lounge.
    ‘Oh, and some cheese and biscuits would be nice,’ she called. ‘I’m starving. Dot’s trying to diet, so we’re both on a diet. I left her watching Kelly and Flavia’s Strictly Dancing DVD, trying to jive her way to a honed backside. I think she quite fancies getting down and dirty with that little Italian one. Personally, I’d prefer a few hot moves with that moody Brendan Cole myself.’
    ‘In your dreams.’ Alicia laughed, handing Donna her Yummy Mummy baby bag, then heading after Evelyn. ‘I think he prefers tall women to mature ones, Mum.’
    ‘I know.’ Evelyn’s voice drifted from the lounge. ‘Never mind though, I can live with substituting food for sex, especially if Donna can find me a bit of chocolate for afters. Oh, not to worry, I’ve found some.’
    Donna sighed and heaved her baggage to the kitchen. Cheese and crackers, she suspected, even with chocolate for afters would be no substitute for Mark.
    ****
    ‘Come on then, spill the beans.’ Alicia helped herself to wine and patted the seat beside her. ‘What’s he like?’
    Donna checked on Jack, who, with his thumb in his mouth, was contentedly watching his CBeebies DVD form his pushchair. Sighing again, heavily, she plucked up a cheese cracker, and plonked herself down. ‘Quite nice,’ she said, guessing she was going to be grilled about Mark whether she liked it or not.
    ‘Riveting, I’m sure, but I meant in the bedroom department.’
    ‘Alicia!’ Donna spat cracker. ‘I haven’t… We haven’t…’ She trailed off, flushing furiously.
    ‘Done it?’ Alicia gawped, her wine glass halfway to her mouth. ‘Why ever not? The electricity between you two could light up the streetlights.’
    Donna’s shoulders slumped. She so didn’t want to be reminded of Mark’s twinkly-eyed smile, which had lit up her world, for a little while.
    ‘Donna, I know you’re not the sort to leap into bed willy-nilly,’ Alicia said, gently, ‘but a second date’s not too soon, you know, honey. Unless he’s married, of…’
    ‘He’s not,’ Donna cut in. But then, he might as well be. There she’d been agonising about how she was going to bare all, emotionally