A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke Page B

minute. Why don’t you play the Chopin you’ve been working on? I really do think you’ve mastered it now.’
    ‘I
said
I didn’t want to play.’
    ‘It’s fine, Mrs McAllister. Really. Kate’s right – I don’t know the first thing about classical music … but yeah, you should definitely do the tour of Mary King’s Close – it’s really interesting and–’
    ‘Why are you being so stubborn about this, Katherine?’ All the softness had disappeared from Mrs McAllister’s voice.
    Kate let go of my hand. ‘I’m not being stubborn! I just don’t feel like playing, that’s all. I’m not some performing seal, you know!’
    ‘You’re going to need to get over this phobia ofyours if you’re going to be a professional pianist. It’s really getting beyond a joke now, don’t you think?’
    ‘How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t want to be a bloody pianist?! You NEVER listen to me! I can’t believe you’re doing this in front of Alex – you ruin
everything
!’ She stood up and stormed out of the room. There was no door slamming, at least.
    My first instinct was to go after her, but I didn’t know if that would be rude or disrespectful to Mrs McAllister. I didn’t know the rules.
    Kate’s mum was sipping her coffee as if nothing had happened. Clearly this was a regular occurrence in the McAllister household.
    ‘Um … I should go and see if she’s …’ It felt like I needed her permission to leave the room.
    ‘She loves the piano, you know. She wants to play professionally more than anything. And she could do it – her teacher said she’s got real potential. She just lacks … focus.
That’s
what makes the difference. I know it’s hard for a girl her age – I really do understand that. But it’s so important to think about the future and not get distracted.’
    Mrs McAllister’s eyes bored holes into my brain when she said ‘distracted’. There was no doubt whatshe was getting at, I just wondered whether she was going to come right out and say it. Was she actually about to launch into the whole stay-away-from-my-daughter thing? I stayed quiet, resisting the urge to apologize or reassure her or say whatever it was that she wanted me to say.
    ‘You seem like an intelligent boy, Alex.’ I shrugged – she was half right. ‘I’m sure you care about what’s best for Kate.’
    I nodded. Of course I cared; I just wasn’t sure exactly
what
was best for her. I didn’t want to think about it too much in case it turned out that what was best for Kate didn’t include me. I
thought
I made her happy – Kate
said
I made her happy. But what if her mum was right? What if spending time with me was jeopardizing her future? What if … I shook myself. It wasn’t going to work. If Mrs McAllister wanted me to stay away from Kate she was going to have to say so, or lock Kate in her room or something. And for some reason I reckoned she wouldn’t do either of those things.
    I stood and hitched up my jeans. ‘Thank you for a lovely dinner, Mrs McAllister. I’m sure my mum would love the recipe for that risotto … I’m just going to check on Kate and then I’d better be getting home. Mum really doesn’t like me staying out late on a schoolnight.’ I smiled my most genuine parent-pleasing smile and left the room before she had a chance to say anything else.
    *
    Kate was lying face down on the bed, crying. I sat on the edge of the bed and put my hand on the small of her back. ‘Maybe I should have told your mum I think a woman’s place is in the home … Might have taken some of the heat off you, eh?’
    ‘Alex, would you mind leaving?’ Her voice was thick with tears and muffled by the pillow. ‘I don’t want you to see me like this.’
    ‘Hey, it’s OK. It’s nothing to stress about. We
all
argue with our parents.’
    ‘I can’t believe she did that in front of you. I’m sorry.’
    ‘No sorries, OK?’
    ‘She just … I hate her sometimes. I really do.’ She turned her