The Reunion by R J Gould Page A

I’m meant to be the host.”
    “Well you didn’t count on Sam’s accident. It’s no big
deal, we passed Waitrose round the corner. I’ll nip out.”
    “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I’ll get some money.”
    “No need. You got the fireworks so it’s only fair I get
the food.” She turned and headed out the room before he could protest.
    He called after her as she stood by the front door. “I’ve
made a list, it’s in my coat pocket by you there. The brown one.”
    Bridget took the sheet of paper from his coat and dropped
it into her handbag. “Got it. Tell Andy and Kay I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
    David went into the lounge where stony faces and silence
prevailed except for the piercing shrieks of the animals featured on Michaela’s
Zoo Babies . “Bridget’s popped out to get some food,” he informed them.
    “What are we eating?” Sam asked.
    “Hummus, couscous, pitta bread.”
    Rachel reddened. “I hate stuff like that. Why can’t we
have proper food?”
    “What do you mean by proper food?” the until now silent
Andy asked.
    “Stuff that tastes good and has lots of protein.”
    “And you’re the judge of that are you?”
    “Yes, I know what’s good and what isn’t.”
    “Well, I don’t think you do. Go on, define good.”
    If looks could kill, Andy was close to death as Rachel
growled “meat of course, sausages, bacon, ham, chicken satay, anything except
bloody veggie stuff.”
    Andy held his ground. “Well isn’t that a healthy diet. Before
you know it you’ll be as fat as the pigs you eat. And riddled with cancer, too.”
    Rachel stood up. “Fuck you, veggie boy,” she muttered as
she exited.
    A concerned David hoped Bridget would get back quickly. It
was Kay who took on the role of peace maker, breaking the icy silence by
chatting to Sam about his leg. She was a pretty girl, resembling her mother
with high cheekbones, blue eyes and light brown hair. It would be hard to
identify Andy as from the same family. He was tall and thin with a narrow face,
piercing eyes and longish jet black hair that was wild and uncontrollably curly.
Soon the three youngsters were chatting civilly and the crisis seemed over, at
least until Rachel reappeared.
    The door bell rang and Bridget was back balancing
cardboard boxes of pizzas in one hand and three plastic bags in the other.
    “Here, let me help,” David offered. He took hold of the
pizzas and they went into the kitchen, followed by Kay and Andy with Sam
limping after them.
    Rachel joined the group as the boxes were being opened. “I
thought I smelt pizzas. What happened to the Greek stuff?”
    “I reckoned you’d all prefer pizzas,” Bridget said
brightly. “There’s a roasted veg and a margarita for us, which you can share of
course, and I’ve got a ham and a pepperoni for you lot. And there are crisps
and cokes in the bags.” She had gained an instant giant brownie point and
before long the youngsters were tucking in.
    “Can we watch The Simpsons before the fireworks?”
Rachel asked as they munched the last slices of pizza.
    “Yeah, I’d like to,” Andy added, the antagonism between
the two children hopefully in remission.
    “Is that OK with you, Bridget?” David asked. “We could do
a quick clear up then get started in about half an hour.”
    The four youngsters headed back to the lounge, leaving
the adults to dispose of empty cartons, load the dishwasher, and drink a glass
of wine.
    “That was a big hit,” David said. “An inspiration to
ignore my list.”
    “I’m not sure I took the right piece of paper,” Bridget
replied with an expression of absolute serenity. She opened her bag and handed
David his now unfolded action plan, not altering her demeanour as David blushed
more than he ever imagined would be possible.
    Escape was the only thought on his mind. “I need to check
the fireworks,” he mumbled. Bridget was left standing alone in the kitchen as
David fled out the back door and into the garden. Once