Beginnings

I had to put up with glaring looks from her, the Child Catcher, when all I wanted to do was take
her outside and slap her around for a bit. All because Stephen used to have a crush on me ten
years ago.
I mean - ten years!
How sad is that
But my attention was taken as my eyes drifted on their own volition over to Ash time and time
again. It was so good to be back with her and her family after all these years, and for some
strange reason it didn't seem like I had been away.
It was the same chitchat; the same ribbing, joking and love bouncing back and forth to each
member of the family.
I felt reborn.
And it felt good.
Stories were thrown around of childhood experiences … times that made us all flush with
embarrassment. Ash even told the story of how I'd got my foot caught in the flared bottoms of
my jeans and I had somersaulted arse over tit and landed, ungraciously, in a heap in the middle
of the playing field.
God … I loved those jeans. Pale blue with embroidery of cornflowers growing up each leg.
Pure class.
Before I knew it, we were clearing the pots away and stacking them in the kitchen ready to wash.
The whole family joined in, me included. The only one who didn't help was Tracy, which was no
surprise. She just plonked herself back onto the chair and picked up the Sunday supplement from
the newspaper and began flicking through the pages.
Everyone took turns giving her a look as they passed, but she didn't pay any attention to them,
just carried on turning the pages and ignoring us all. I honestly couldn't see what Stephen saw in
her. She was nothing to look at, and he was gorgeous. Tall, with raven black hair that seemed
tousled in his boyish way. His eyes were a darker blue than Ash's but still intense … although
they didn't catch the sunlight like hers did.
I caught myself staring. Not at Stephen … at Ash. She was so beautiful, and had a body to die
for, although that rather defeats the purpose I suppose. Every movement she made seemed
effortless … almost like she was a dancer on stage, captivating her audience with her graceful
way.
And she was only washing up!