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

A gangling boy-waiter made graceless progress towards their table on legs that might fold under the pressure of his bony body and large head. He planted his enormous feet on the carpet behind Freya and stooped to take their order.

Alice ran her eyes from the boy’s black apron, up his skinny body to his face. ‘Wow. What’s the weather like up there?’

He blushed, scooting his eyes round the table from person to person. Kitty took pity on him. ‘I’d like the spicy chicken wings and the house burger with skinny fries, please,’ she said with a smile, and he rewarded her with a grateful look.

The others gave their orders, Alice opting for fish and chips: not at all a healthy option. When the boy had departed, conversation moved from diets to the wedding.

‘Have you got your dress?’ Alice leaned on her arms, anxious for a description of the precious item.

‘Course I have. Would I be sitting here all relaxed if I hadn’t, like?’ Cerys snapped. Alice recoiled, her face burning, and took a long gulp of her wine before topping it up from a nearby bottle.

Kitty hoped Cerys’s ill temper came from mis-aligned hormones and not anxiety about marrying Dad, or even worse, a shrewish tendency.

Quick to react to her sister’s grumpiness, Anwen reached across the table to Cerys. ‘Are you all right, Sis? Can I get you a glass of water?’

Cerys smiled and pushed herself upright in the chair and stretch her neck to one side then the other. ‘Oh, ignore me, Lovely. I’m fine. A bit stiff, like, but nothing to worry about.’ To Alice, she said, ‘Sorry. I’m nervous, to be honest. No idea why.’

‘I remember my wedding,’ Freya said with a sympathetic smile. ‘I had last-minute doubts, too. It’s that sudden realisation that your life is about to change radically and once you’ve done it, there’s no going back - well I suppose you can go back, but it’s complicated.’ At a glare from Kitty, Freya pulled herself up and blurted, ‘Those feelings are natural, Cerys. You’ll be fine.’

Cerys nodded and stared at her empty glass. ‘Thanks,’ she murmured. ‘I’m sure you’re right. I got this feeling...’

Kitty was alarmed. ‘What kind of feeling?’

Cerys raised her eyes to Kitty’s. ‘Just a feeling. It’s gone now. Don’t worry, Kitty, I won’t stand him up at the altar.’ She gave a small smile.

‘Well, you wouldn’t, in your condition, would you?’ chortled Alice and poured herself another glass of wine.

Seeing the worried expression on Anwen’s face, Kitty touched her arm and said in a low voice, ‘It’s OK. Your sister’s a grown up. She’s well able to take care of herself - and you.’

‘You think so?’

‘I do. She’s got a mind of her own, hasn’t she?’

Anwen nodded, her eyes still on Cerys. Then her face became animated and she turned to Kitty and blurted, ‘How are the investigations going?’

‘Keep your voice down.’ Kitty frowned at her.

Anwen put a hand to shield her mouth from the others and hissed, ‘Sorry. Well?’

‘Well, this is neither the time nor place to talk about it.’

Cerys’s sharp eyes homed in on their sotto voce conversation. ‘I hope you two aren’t plotting to tie me to a lamppost or anything,’ She called with a smile.

‘Ooh,’ Kitty said. ‘I hadn’t thought of that, but now you mention it…’

Anwen clutched Kitty’s arm. ‘No, you mustn’t. She’s expecting a baby.’

Kitty bellowed with laughter. ‘Don’t be daft. I was joking.’

The arrival of their starters interrupted conversation for a while. Alice slopped the last of the wine into her glass and called for another bottle. Cerys was watching her with concern, but Alice kept it together while they finished the first course and ate their main meals.

Dessert was heavy with cream and sugar, and Kitty was wondering whether to lick the bowl, when across the table, Alice lurched from her chair and turned to face the other diners. Punching one arm the air, she yelled, ‘Everyone! We’ve got a bride to be here. Let’s hear it for Cerys,’ and she launched into song. ‘Congratulations, and celebrations, when I tell…’

The expression on Cerys’s face fired Kitty and Anwen to their feet. Each grasped one of Alice’s arms, and together, they yanked the claret-faced woman across the restaurant and out of the door.

‘Come on love,’ Kitty grunted as they struggled through the opening, ‘Time for some fresh air.’

On the street, they searched without success for a taxi. ‘What shall we do with her?’ Anwen eyed Alice, who now leant on the outside of the restaurant, humming Cliff Richards’ not quite Eurovision-winning song. As they watched, Alice’s legs gave up their battle with gravity and buckled at the knee, causing her backside to slide with questionable grace towards the pavement, and the coarse bricks to scour the back of her clinging satin dress.

‘Can you grab her while I go back and sort out the bill?’ Kitty asked.

Anwen wrapped her arms around Alice and lifted her back to her feet, pressing the woman’s slender, wine-scented body against the wall.

‘I’m all right,’ Alice slurred, pushing herself from the bricks in an attempt to get free. But Anwen clung on with admirable determination, and the pair staggered from side to side in a drunken dance.

By the time Kitty had returned with the other three, Anwen had once more pinned Alice to the wall, and the stupefied woman was dozing on the girl’s shoulder. Cerys padded off to fetch her car from a nearby side road, and when she pulled up at the curb, five minutes later, Freya and Kitty frog marched Alice towards her. After stuffing her into the back seat, Freya climbed in beside her inebriated neighbour and leaned across her body to fasten her seatbelt. As she did so, Alice emitted a loud belch