A Secret Schemer by Charley Dee Page A

that?’
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 13
     
     
     
     
    The weekend had been rather
eventful, what with Tim moving in and then Kate realising Jodie has
a crush on Archie. Personally I’d rather not be in Kate’s shoes at
the moment with a couple of teenage kids. I wonder how she’ll
handle this knowledge, delicately I’ve no doubt. Since Tim moved in
I’ve hardly seen him, unpacking I expect, setting up his IT
equipment.
    Me and Jena went to the bank
together on Monday morning as the weekend’s takings had been
brilliant. Safety in numbers and all that, plus the bank manager is
still wearing his cheesy grin. I then coaxed Jena to tag along with
me to the shops for an hours retail therapy. She’s a pushover when
I offer a hot chocolate and cup cake at Starbucks. I fancied a new
outfit for next weekend, purely to allure Tim, I’m not talking
outer outfit, more Ann Summers delights….while in the shop Jena was
enjoying a good rummage through the outfits and also purchased a
sassy little number…I’m not sure who influences who, however we
always end up in fits of giggles.
    Some time later I was fairly
surprised when Kate walked into the kitchen, being as Monday is her
day off. ‘Always lovely to see you Kate, nevertheless there has to
be a reason to call in on your only day off.’ I ask
tentatively.
    ‘Sorry to be a nuisance Lucy, I
really need some advice on this crush Jodie has on Archie, how the
hell do I deal with it?’
    Kate looks rightfully anxious;
I want to help as I hate to see her once again stressed out, only
this time for a different reason.
    ‘Why don’t we go up to my flat,
we can have a coffee and talk it through.’
    With the coffee made and both
of us relaxed on the sofa I attempt to help with a solution. ‘So
what is your main concern Kate?’ Not a good start I’m thinking
although I have to begin somewhere, I don’t have teenage kids which
aint helping.
    ‘How the hell do I tell Jodie
I’ve been looking through her mobile?’ Kate says shakily. ‘She’ll
never trust me again, there has to be another way.’
    ‘How about saying the night she
left her mobile downstairs, his picture was on the screen?’
    ‘Mm I thought of that but she’d
say she always blanks the screen.’
    ‘If it’s the only way love
you’ll have to insist that’s how she’d left it, I mean she did
forget it anyway.’ I suggest hopefully.
    ‘You’re probably right I’ll
have to go where angels fear to tread so to speak, and wait for the
backlash.’ She adds gloomily. ‘That is just the start though Lucy,
how can I suppress the crush?’
    ‘She’s sixteen Kate cast your
mind back twenty years, it’s usually some kind of celebrity
infatuation at that age. Unfortunately Jodie has desires on a guy
who she can see on a fairly regular basis, unbeknown to you as
well.’
    ‘I know all of that Lucy, how I
deal with it is the question, by the way how old is Archie?’
    ‘He’s twenty four, have you
considered maybe approaching him?’
    ‘It has crossed my mind I mean
I get along great with him as a workmate; how he’d react to this
news I shudder to think.’ Kate frowns.
    ‘He is unbelievably popular
with all the youngsters, perhaps your answer lies with him.’ I
suggest optimistically.
    ‘I guess it’s worth a try.’
Kate shrugs. ‘I mean he hardly knows Jodie, surely he’ll see it for
what it is, a schoolgirl crush.’
    ‘Honey you won’t know until you
try, bite the bullet about how you found his picture on her mobile.
She’ll obviously give you verbal, because she’s been caught out,
then you can give her your mummy speech.’ I try my hardest to
appease the situation. ‘In fact Archie could be the solution.’
    ‘Thanks Lucy I’ll broach the
subject tonight and if all else fails it’ll be Archie to the rescue
tomorrow.’
    With Kate looking a little less
tense we make our way back