Cathy glanced at him. What is it?
He shook his head. Nothing. . After a few moments he reached for his cigarettes again.
You smoke an awful lot.
Och, no that much.
How many a day?
Depends. He struck a match, inhaled and exhaled. Sometimes I dont smoke any.
Honest?
Aye, when I’m skint!
Aw, tch! Cathy laughed. She leaned over to punch him on the shoulder. That’s because you’re a gambler! Vi told me.
She seems to tell you a lot!
She doesnt; no really, just sometimes, sometimes she talks about what like Wylie was.
Mm.
Cathy smiled. And Stan, hanging about her like a big sheepdog! She gets them so she does!
Hh, thanks a lot.
No I dont mean you, just these Wylies. But Stan’s different anyway, he’s no like his brother at all. In fact he might no even be his brother, he might be his cousin or something.
After a moment Tammas said, How d’you mean? did Vi say that?
No, I just think it myself.
He nodded.
You never know what Vi’s thinking anyway. Even what she tells you. And it’s like trying to get blood out a stone. Honest, if you’ve ever got a secret go and tell her because she’ll never let it out.
Mm. Cathy. . he dragged on the cigarette before asking, What did you mean when you said she has to keep on that guy Stan’s right side?
No I just meant that in case he told him where she is, Wylie I mean.
In case Stan told Wylie?
Yeh.
D’you think he would?
I dont know, I dont think so, he doesnt seem like that. You’ve met him but what do you think?
Hh, I dont know. . Tammas had been resting back on the settee; now he leaned forwards, his elbows on his knees, gazing into the electric fire.
Cathy stood up from the armchair. I’ll no be long, she said, walking to the door and leaving, shutting it behind herself. Tammas glanced at his watch. There was a stack of magazines on the shelf beneath the glass top of the coffee table and he lifted a few out. They were mainly for women and he leafed through them quickly, pausing to read a couple of pages with letters on personal problems. Then he discovered one which had an article on the wives and girlfriends of National Hunt jockeys. He was still reading it when Cathy came back in. They’re both sound asleep, she said as she closed the door. She had changed out of the jeans and jersey and now had on a skirt and a sort of blouse. She shrugged: When you’re stuck in the house all day you just end up wearing anything. I feel as if I’ve been living in these jeans!
He nodded.
It’s this weather; you feel as if it’s going to last forever.
Ach it’ll be spring soon now Cathy, and you’ll be out and about. There’s that big park up the road.
Mm. . She glanced at her mug of coffee and lifting it to show him she said, Cold as usual look! She walked to the sink and refilled the electric kettle: Want another yin?
Eh. .
I’m making it for myself.
Okay, he smiled, passed her his mug.
Those presents you got Vi and Kirsty at Christmas, they were lovely so they were.
Ah!
No, honest, and that bracelet!
Hh — she never wears it!
Because she’s scared of losing it; she’s accident prone — or so she says. It must’ve cost a fortune though!
Och!
Cathy left the sink, returning to the armchair; but after a moment she got up and picked the cushion off, putting it on the carpet, and sitting down there, arranging the cushion between her back and the front of the chair. She sighed, kicking off her shoes. It’s good to relax at times.
Aye.
With the kids you dont always get the chance.
He nodded. When the kettle of water began boiling he rose: I’ll do it. . D’you take sugar?
No just milk.
She had already put the coffee into the mugs and he poured on the boiling water, the milk; the sugar into his own. Then he handed hers down, carefully, leaning over the top of the settee. As he sat back on the settee with his own mug he said, Were you wearing that skirt at the New Year?
The skirt?
Aye, I seem to remember it.
No. Cathy smiled. I wore a dress. She looked at her skirt and smoothed it out. I’ve had this yin for ages.
I thought you were wearing it.
No, definitely, I wasnt. I know the dress I was wearing, it’s one I dont wear very often.
Mm.
I keep it for best really.
Aw aye. Tammas grinned, And you didnt even end up getting drunk either eh!
I didnt, no.
Ah you let me down — Hogmanay!
Hogmanay, yeh, and you let me down!
Tammas smiled then added: How d’you mean? let you down?
Well, you said you were going to come back!
O aye — and I would’ve!
No you wouldnt’ve!
I would’ve, honest!
Cathy laughed.
Tammas nodded. If I hadnt’ve found Milly’s place. Honest, honest Cathy, I would’ve.
You wouldnt even take a drink!
What!
Well you wouldnt! I offered you one and you wouldnt take it.
Naw, because I didnt want to get involved in the company. You know how it is.
Cathy looked at him. I’ll believe you this time!
Well it’s true. He grinned: And you were calling me Thomas.
I thought that was your name though.
Did you. .
Yeh.
Honest?
Yeh, of course, what d’you think?
I dont know what to think!
Cathy frowned then grinned.
Tammas laughed and lifted his coffee from the table. Cathy lifted hers from the floor. She shivered suddenly, replaced the mug where it had been; she stretched forwards a little, to put her hands closer to the fire, and she switched on the other electric bar.
It’ll be too hot, he said.
Cathy shook her head. This place is always freezing. I had the two bars on just before you came in. And sometimes I put the oven on as well.
Christ!
It’s damp, the whole building. That’s how I go about looking like a tramp all the time, it’s to keep warm.
He nodded.
After a moment she asked, D’you no feel it cold?
Naw, no really.
Well, men dont get as cold as women.
He looked at her.
It’s true.
What!
That’s how little you know.
Hh! He chuckled.
Honest Tammas I’m no kidding, feel my hand! She moved to kneel, putting forwards her hand and he took it in his and held it for a few seconds, gazing at the fireplace. She asked, Well?
He nodded.
She gave him her other hand and he took it, and she withdrew the first. And eventually she asked, Well?
Aye, hh. He opened his hand and she withdrew hers, placing it on the edge of the settee, balancing herself; then she rested back the way, sitting on her heels. He reached forwards to her and said, Give us your hand again. . just till I see. .
When he took her hand this time he cupped both of his round it. She stared at it. He looked at her but she continued to stare at her hand inside his two. Then he opened them and she withdrew it again, and she sat back against the armchair once more. He picked his cigarettes up from the coffee table, lighted one.
Vi’s started again. Smoking I mean.
Has she?
Cathy nodded, shifting her position a little, stretching to hold her hands to the fire. Even more now than she used to. . or so she says.
Hh.
Cathy was gazing into the electric fire, and without taking her gaze from it she asked, Can I make you a sandwich?
He cleared his throat. Naw it’s okay.
Sure?
He nodded. He glanced at his wristwatch: Actually I better be going.
Are you sure you dont want something?
Honest, I had quite a big dinner — a pub lunch; soup and all that.
It wouldnt be any trouble.