Note - this section is missing a few pictures, but I'll upload them later this evening)
Nancy was humming happily to herself as she touched up her make-up. Geoffrey had been awfully sweet to her since the dinner party. She had been quite upset that he'd been so late home with Malcolm, but Geoffrey had pointed out that it was her idea to have a party, so it was not fair of her to expect him to help. And besides, didn't she want her husband and son to be able to spend some quality time together? Of course she did, Nancy told herself. She did wish that Geoffrey would take Malcolm to things that they could both enjoy, though, rather than just assuming Malcolm had the same interests as a grown man. Malcolm had told her that Geoffrey had taken him to the club. Nancy had never been - had never been asked to go - but it sounded extremely boring for a ten year old boy, even one so precocious as Malcolm.
Anyway, he'd bought her beautiful flowers the next day, which were brightening up the kitchen, and even better, had suggested, quite out of the blue, that she have a night out with her girlfriends. This was, to the best of Nancy's memory, a first, and she was looking forward to it immensely. She'd been right about the party, it had really helped. True, it was a bit irritating that Geoffrey had suggested who she should ask, then stood over her as she called them, but it was always fun to see Susan, and while she did not know Morgana Wolff very well, she worked with Geoffrey, and her husband Thornton worked with Nancy, so it was probably a good idea to get to know her. She pushed down the unworthy thought that Geoffrey had insisted she invite Morgana so he could check up on what they'd done at work the next day. She didn't even know why it had come to mind, it was positively ridiculous. She'd texted Erin as well, when Morgana and Susan had confirmed, and Geoffrey had left the room. Geoffrey hadn't exactly given permission, but then again, he
had said a girl's night out, and it wasn't, after all, technically up to him who she invited, although she wasn't quite sure how to put that to him. He'd sighed when she told him that they were going to kareoke, and told her that a cocktail lounge would be far more suitable, but had eventually relented. Frowning slightly, she put the finishing touches on her lipstick, then smiled at her reflection.
The taxi would arrive in a few minutes. She quickly ran through the checklist in her head. The few times she'd gone out without Geoffrey in the evenings previously, she'd come home to a litany of complaints; generally, it was easier to stay home and get on with things. But not tonight! Geoffrey's and Malcolm's dinner was in the oven on a low heat; the house was spotless; she'd got in some nectar for Geoffrey as a treat; she'd helped Malcolm finish his homework (not that she'd been able to be much use to him), and the last of the laundry was in the machine. Yes, she thought that was everything. Just as she reached for her purse, she heard Geoffrey call out her name.
"Nancy! Get down here this minute."
She hesitated, but habit was strong, and she ran downstairs. The kitchen was filled with smoke.
"Nancy, I don't know what you're expecting us to eat tonight," Geoffrey reproved her. "This is burnt to a char, it's not fit for a dog."
"But... it was on a low heat..." Nancy stammered.
"Clearly, it wasn't," Geoffrey snapped. Nancy checked the oven. Sure enough, the oven was on maximum. She frowned, puzzled, but before she could think any more about it, Geoffrey's voice broke through her confusion. "You'll have to make something else. Even
you wouldn't leave your son hungry while you insist on going out. Would you? I don't know why you have to go out anyway. I'm going to be terribly lonely without you."
Nancy sighed, and without saying a word, snapped on her apron. Hearing the sound of a taxi beeping outside, she bit her tongue. She had just whipped up a very quick pasta sauce when Geoffrey said innocently "Is the laundry supposed to be pink, dear?"
Nancy shrieked in horror, and turned round to see that, yes, the erstwhile white laundry was swilling around cheerfully, brightly,
pinkly in the machine.
"Hadn't you better do something about that, dear?" Geoffrey enquired.
The taxi beeped impatiently again, then she heard it drive off. She looked at Geoffrey hopelessly. He stared implacably back at her. Without a word, she stomped over to the machine, and pulled out the sopping clothing. Right on top was the culprit: a red sock. "Where did this even come from," she muttered to herself.
"You must have not been paying proper attention when you sorted the laundry, Nancy," said Geoffrey patronisingly. She pulled it out, poured some bleach into the machine, and set the washing cycle.
"Right, I'm off out," she said firmly.
"Haven't you forgotten something, Nancy?" She looked at him exasperatedly. He stared back, looking utterly woebegone.
"Dinner, laundry, clean house... what else is there Geoffrey?"
"Well I thought, as you're leaving me alone for the whole evening while you insist on going out gallivanting like a teenager, you might think of giving your husband a kiss before you go." Geoffrey looked as though he was about to cry, and Nancy was filled with remorse.
"I'm sorry, dearest," she said gently, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll be back later, but I'll have my phone on me if you need anything."
"I'm not a child, Nancy," said Geoffrey, irritable again. "I
can take care of myself, you know."
Nancy sighed again, and headed out of the door. Geoffrey watched her leave, his face impassive.
With all the household problems, Nancy was half an hour late to the kareoke bar, and absolutely fuming. Within minutes of arriving though, she'd left Geoffrey and the house far behind her, as the other three women cheered and toasted her arrival with luridly coloured drinks - apparently not their first of the evening.
"You made it," cackled Susan. "We thought Geoffrey was keeping you prisoner!"
Nancy blushed, and hoped it wasn't noticeable in the pink light. "Just a last minute crisis, you know how it is. Now, who's for kareoke?"
The four women howled their way through various classic pop songs, almost crying with laughter. Erin saw a familiar blue hat at one point, but did not think too long about it. The colourful drinks slipped down rather easily, and it seemed like no time at all before Morgana looked at her watch, and gasped in shock. "I have an early shift tomorrow, I have to be up in five hours!" She stumbled over to grab her bag and coat. "Susan, you're on my side of town, do you want to share a cab?" Susan grinned rather lopsidedly, saying "Shuuuuure, Morgana! These two can look after themselves." They left the bar, still laughing and singing.
Nancy looked over at Erin. "I suppose you have to go too?"
Erin thought a moment. "Nah. I have to be in tomorrow afternoon, but I don't have an early start. Want a game of pool?"
Nancy nodded. The evening had been so much fun, she did not want end it just yet, to go back to her cold house and husband. The bar was quieter now, just a few patrons, and music was pouring softly from the speakers. Without noticing, they had drifted closer together. Nancy closed her eyes and smiled. "I love this song. I haven't heard it years."
Erin snorted. "Really? 'Build Me Up Buttercup? Nancy, I thought you had better taste."
Nancy groaned. "Don't, Erin. You sound just like Geoffrey."
Erin was overcome with guilt. "I'm so sorry Nancy. Here, let's dance." They clasped each other, dreamlike.
Too soon, the song ended, and they stepped away from each other, suddenly embarrassed.
"Come on," said Erin abruptly. "If you want to have this game of pool, we're going to have to step on the gas a bit; it
is getting late." Silently, they left the bar together.
