Letting out the Worms: Guilty or not? If not then the alternative is terrifying (Kitty Thomas Book 1 by Sue Nicholls (primary phonics .txt) 📕

Irritated by the veiled criticism, Kitty opened her mouth to decline Cerys’s offer, but Cerys swept on, ‘And two, I hope you’ll be at my hen do tomorrow evening. Just a few of us for a quiet evening. Well, I can’t drink in my condition, like. There won’t be many of us: me, one or two neighbours, and Anwen.’

Bloody hell, a hen night. Kitty’s spirits plummeted. After pausing to phrase her refusal in acceptable terms, she said, ‘Thanks so much for the offer of being a bridesmaid, but I’d prefer not to, if you don’t mind. I’m sure Dad will understand.’ But, feeling unable to refuse both things, she said as cheerfully as she could, ‘Where will you be for your hen night, I expect I can drop in and have a drink with you?’ In all honesty, she would rather be at her dad’s stag night, so she asked, ‘Is Dad having a stag do, Cerys?’

‘Yes - same night different place.’

Kitty decided she would go to both.

When she checked under the towel, the damp carpet was still stained. To her surprise and delight, she discovered carpet cleaner in the cupboard. She must give Anwen extra money for the materials she bought.

As she scrubbed the carpet with a brush, she wondered who her dad’s Best Man would be. If there was any role she would enjoy, it was that. Dressed in trousers - so much more her style - standing beside her dad. She threw the towel into the washing-up bowl to soak and dialled Paul again.

‘So, you don’t want to dress up in frills for my wedding?’ he greeted her with a smile in his voice.

‘Har,’ she drawled. ‘What do you think?’

‘I tried to tell her it was a daft idea, but there’s no talking to the woman.’

‘I suppose you already have a best man?’

There was a pause. ‘Yeah… Would you have preferred to do that?’

‘Not if it’s already sorted. I have left it late to offer.’

‘You have, but can’t a man can have two best men, er people?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘Leave it with me. I expect Maurice has already written a speech and what-have-you and I don’t want to rob him of his moment of glory. But if he doesn’t mind, maybe you could hold on to the rings, and add to the end of his bit.’ Paul sounded perky now.

‘Does the best woman get to go to the stag night, too?’

‘Obviously. What do you call a female stag, anyway?’

Kitty grinned. ‘Is there a punch line to that? No eyed deer. You’ll have to look it up.’

Still smiling, she set up her lap-top on the dining room table and began to catch up. A string of unread emails awaited her attention, including one she had been waiting for. She put her eyes closer to the screen, clicked it open and ran her gaze down the short message.

Hi Kitty,

Thanks for your email. I should have mentioned before about the plastic you passed me. Unfortunately, I found no fingerprints or DNA.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help.

Lisa

Another dead end.

45 KITTY

For a hen night, this was a constrained affair. Cerys had refused Anwen’s request to sport a gaudy outfit, although she had consented to a pink tee-shirt that said Bride to Be on the front. Anwen had the sense to order her extra-large to accommodate her bump, but the outfit did not work. Around Cerys’s middle, the band on her navy maternity trousers bulged through the cerise fabric in an unattractive ridge, while the shoulders and sleeves were far too big, exposing occasional glimpses through the armholes of a sturdy and embedded white bra.

The rest of the group: Kitty, Anwen, and two neighbours, Alice and Freya, wore matching pink tops that announced Cerys’s Hens, across their chests, and on their backs: She’s about to be plucked. Kitty wondered if Anwen understood the innuendo contained in this message. It seemed unlikely, in view of her shocked response to Kitty’s planned trip with Sam. It was possible that Anwen’s mate, Charlie, had helped her with the on-line purchase. Kitty giggled inside at the awkward teen and three sedate women, making polite conversation while displaying these slogans.

The plan was to eat at this American restaurant then return home. Cerys would have no truck with Alice’s suggestion that after their meal, they visit a nightclub or crawl a few local pubs, and this, in Kitty’s opinion was not only a relief, but understandable considering Cerys’s condition and Anwen’s age. Cerys’s idea of a ‘Nice quiet evening while Paul’s out with his friends,’ was perfect.

‘What’s got the lowest calories?’ Alice chirped from behind an enormous, laminated menu covered in pictures of dishes that looked anything but healthy. ‘I’ve been sensible all week; I don’t want to spoil my hard work.’

They scanned the menu for unexciting salads and fish. Not the choice of a celebrant at a hen party.

Cerys ran her gaze down the long list of options and sighed. ‘I don’t fancy anything. It all tastes funny, still.’

Anwen and Kitty sat side by side, studying their menus with more enthusiasm. Kitty picked a burger and fries and Anwen plumped for steak, then took a sip of her lemonade and said, ‘I wonder if Paul’s having such a good time.’

From experience, Kitty was confident that Paul would be having a fine time. By now, he would have his third pint in his fist, and his wandering hands may well have received a slap from some tight-trousered waitress. Kitty planned to join him once this gang of clucking hens had gone home for their cocoa. Her desire to get to him was partly to monitor his behaviour but also for the fun. Hidden behind her own menu, she sneaked a peek at her