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‘Instead of getting less worried about you as time goes on,’ her Mom continued, ‘I’m getting moreso.What’s going on with that lovely bicycle boy from the other building?’

Kate flushed. She knew who her mother meant. She shrugged, moodily, reverting to the teenager she suddenly felt herself to be.

‘He’s obviously trying to get close to you and looking for an invitation.But you’re just not letting him in.I’ve seen you.You smile at him and you stop to talk, but you put up all these walls.It’s very confusing for men.Even I don’t understand why you’re doing it.’

‘I… I don’t think I’m doing anything,’ Kate protested.‘Mike is… he’s cute, yes.And I like talking to him.But where can it go, Mom?You’ve seen the hours I work.You’ve seen some of what I do.He manages an uptown bookshop.It feels like… it feels like what I do is too grubby and sordid.He’s such a nice man, I don’t want him going anywhere near it.And I DON’T want to have to explain about Elijah Cox. AND he’s a neighbor.That’s worse than dating someone at work.If it goes belly-up, we’ll still have to see each other.’

‘You’ve come up with some very creative reasons for not making a move. You need to re-direct that energy into working out a strategy, you know, how to bag him.’

‘Baghim?’

‘That’s what we used to call it.Forgive me for not knowing what you young people call it.”

“I’m not that young.”

“Iknow.”

“Thanks,” Kate huffed, irrationally.The whole conversation was irrational.

“The point is, honey, this is all nerves talking.You’re inventing these reasons because of nerves. You just need some time to feel relaxed with each other,’ the Professor said, sagely.‘Have dinner together and talk.’

‘Well…’ Kate tried not to sigh.‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

‘No need,’ said the Professor, with a smile.‘He said yes.’

‘Yes to what?’

‘Dinnera deux, tomorrow, 7.30 pm.Here.I will make a cassoulet and leave it for you.Give him peaches and ice-cream for dessert.I’d suggest a good beefy red for the main course and a sharp Riesling for afters.But don’t top his glass up.It can make for a disappointing conclusion.’

‘MOTHER!’Kate took a deep breath, to calm herself.‘Where will you be?’

‘Staying with the Mortimers,’ her Mom said.‘Allweekend,’ she added, pointedly.‘You’ll have to have the doggos, but they’ll give you a reason to go for a nice, long walk.And, hey, if you forgot your gloves, you’d have to hold Mike’s hand…’

‘What?Look, Mom, no, wait— I don’t understand.How did you evenmakethis arrangement?Mike is my neighbor, not yours.’

‘Yes, but you introduced us, sweetie, and yesterday, he saw me struggling to get all the shopping in my car outside Whole Foods.

Kate’s phone suddenly buzzed on the table. She had never been so relieved to see the name of her partner, Marcus, in the little green window.Nor to hear his voice.

‘I’m not finished with you,’ she said sternly to her mother, just as Marcus came on the line.

‘What did I do?Are you en route yet?’

Marcus pronounced this ‘enn rowt’, because he knew that it was supposed to be ‘on root’, and that his stubborn refusal to say it in the proper French annoyed his partner.

This, Kate thought, was one of the reasons why she didn’t need a boyfriend.She already had 24-7 access to a man who drove her nuts.

‘Sorry, that was directed at my mom.I’m about to leave.Why?’

‘We’ve got a call-out not far from you, so I’ll swing by,’ Marcus said.‘Asshole!Steer that bucket home and get yourself a fricken’ bicycle!’

He was clearly driving.

‘Where are we heading?’

‘Byoo Cadooks.’

‘Beaux Cadeaux,’ Kate said. ‘It’s French.Meaning beautiful gifts. And it’s also a word-play. It’s that big Disney kind of castle thing on Bow Lake, isn’t it?’