Chapter 37
37
Kate held the cheque up in front of her face, looking at it, making sure it was real. K Baxter, the sum of one hundred thousand pounds. She smiled and then turned her attention from the cheque to Joel lying next to her in the bed.
It was almost sunrise, they hadn’t got to bed until 2.00a.m. and he had been asleep ever since. A deep, undisturbed sleep.
Bethan had still been awake when Philip had brought her into the green room after the show. Wide-eyed and pepped up on Coke and crisps, she danced around for all the other contestants who ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over her and called her ‘adorable’. Surprisingly, none of the other contestants were at all bitter about Kate and Joel’s victory; Gloria even gave Kate a hug and said their win was well deserved and the bride with the beehive had bought her a drink.
It still didn’t seem real, though. The cheque, the hideous, heart-shaped trophy, Joel in her bed in a completely non-platonic way, Frank Peterson’s job offer, Miranda’s lack of hair being exposed in such a public place. She almost felt a bit sorry for her. Almost.
She got out of bed and walked over to the full-length windows, admiring the view of the London cityscape and the Eye. It was built-up but beautiful, vibrant and full of life. That was how she felt now: vibrant, beautiful, her old self again, Kate Baxter the woman, not Kate Baxter the slummy mummy.
She was just about to turn back towards the bed when a pair of strong arms were around her waist, pulling her into their embrace. She felt Joel kiss her neck and he turned her around to face him.
‘I’ve had almost three hours sleep,’ he stated with a smile.
‘I know and you never moved; I watched you,’ Kate told him.
‘Couldn’t you sleep?’ Joel asked.
‘No, too excited,’ Kate admitted.
‘A hundred thousand pounds is a lot of money,’ Joel agreed.
‘I’m not excited about that; I’m excited about everything else. I’m excited that I’m going to go into Randall’s on Monday morning and hand in my notice, I’m excited about saying yes to Frank’s job offer and I’m excited about going on our Eurostar trip to Paris to check out property,’ Kate told him.
‘Is that what you want to do? You’re sure?’ Joel questioned.
‘Yes, I’m sure. More sure than I’ve been about anything in a long time,’ Kate spoke.
Joel smiled and kissed her.
‘Look: a hundred thousand pounds, a real cheque for a hundred thousand pounds, not that stupid big cardboard one we held last night from the Bank of Love,’ Kate spoke, getting the cheque and holding it out to Joel.
‘I know and it all started because you couldn’t book Stephen,’ Joel reminded her.
‘I am so glad I didn’t get Stephen,’ Kate assured him.
‘Me too,’ Joel agreed .
‘Really? Truly? Because you could have someone like Marina, I mean Sophie: perfect looking and without any baggage.’
‘I like to keep things interesting. Besides, I’ve just told a room full of people, not to mention a few thousand viewers at home, how I feel,’ Joel reminded her.
‘And you’re standing by that because…’
‘Because I want to make sure I get my 40 per cent.’
‘Oh.’
‘I want to spend it on top of the range chickens.’
Kate laughed.
‘I love you, Kate and I want to be with you. And if we’re really getting into the realms of baggage here, I should be the worried one. I’m carrying around a whole suitcase full of anxiety, night terrors and flashbacks; we might have to have separate rooms,’ Joel told her.
‘Never,’ Kate replied, putting her arms around him and laying her head against his chest.
‘Shh, they’re coming! Quiet everyone! You over there, put down that serving tray a minute and stop banging around – the guests of honour are coming! Party poppers at the ready!’ Lynn hissed loudly as she ducked back into the hotel dining room and flapped her arms around.
‘Mummy! Mummy!’ Bethan exclaimed excitedly, waving her arms up and down.
‘Shh Bethy, want some more toast, sweetie? Here you go, that’s right, all in your mouth at once,’ Hermione said, handing Bethan another soldier-shaped piece of toast.
Everyone fell quiet and then the dining room door opened and Kate and Joel came into the room .
Party poppers were let off, everyone in the restaurant cheered and clapped and Kate jumped and clutched at her chest in surprise and excitement.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of Knowing Me Knowing You 2011! Kate and Joel,’ Hermione announced in her best Larry Rawlins voice.
‘God, are you all still drunk?’ Kate asked as everyone quietened down.
‘Unfortunately no and when I asked for rum with my cornflakes, the waitress looked at me a bit funny. God, you’re so loved-up, aren’t you? I am so glad Darren and I didn’t have the room next to yours or we wouldn’t have got any sleep last night,’ Lynn remarked as Kate and Joel came to sit down at the table.
‘Children present,’ Kate said quickly and she sat down next to Bethan in her high chair and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
‘Then I’ll ask, did you “sleep” well?’ Hermione spoke with a big wink.
‘Yes thank you, Mione. Did you?’ Kate answered, giving nothing away.
‘Oh yes, we slept very well, must invest in a queen-sized bed at home. And Bethan slept well too. Bit wet this morning, though – probably the Coke, sorry. Nothing organic behind the bar and the orange juice was pricey,’ Hermione told Kate.
‘That’s OK; it doesn’t hurt to have a treat once in a while.’
‘Do you want some coffee?’ Joel offered Kate.
‘Please.’
‘I’ll go and ask for some,’ Joel said, standing back up.
‘So, how does it feel to be a hundred thousand pounds better off this morning?’ Hermione asked her.
‘I can’t stop looking at him, Mione; I can’t believe I nearly lost out on the chance to be with him,’ Kate responded .
‘Did you really think that Hermione Wyatt was going to let that happen? I mean, there’s only so much the tea leaves and tarot can do; sometimes you need to use your mobile phone and your contacts.’
‘And Elite Escorts,’ Kate added.
‘Hmm, yes, well, I knew if you really cared for Joel, you would react with good old-fashioned jealousy and I was right, wasn’t I? Despite you wrinkling up your nose in disapproval.’
‘And I suppose I have Elite Escorts to thank for even meeting Joel in the first place.’
‘And who gave you the business card?’
‘OK, I get the picture; I am totally in your debt,’ Kate answered.
‘No, not debt, no more of that with a hundred thousand pounds in your pocket,’ Hermione responded.
Joel came back to the table carrying a pot of coffee.
‘No Lady Dragon this morning? Probably on the wig hotline trying to order a replacement. Darren put it on one of the yucca plants in the foyer; it’s still there,’ Lynn announced proudly.
‘Great show last night, mate: full of surprises. I loved it, said to Lynn we should enter next year,’ Darren spoke, slurping up his tea.
‘You must be joking! Have that giant bird shouldering up to me and Larry, a bad Alan Carr substitute, asking weird questions.’
‘You’re forgetting the green room, Lynnie: free food and drink,’ Darren said, biting into a sausage.
‘He does have a point and if you get to the final, I’d be more than happy to make you a wedding dress,’ Hermione offered.
‘Hey, no stealing our thunder. 2011 is mine and Kate’s year; let us enjoy it,’ Joel told them, taking hold of Kate’s hand .
‘Quite right too. A toast! Everyone, please raise your cups and join me in toasting the happy couple – to Kate and Joel,’ Hermione announced, raising her cup of mint tea in the air.
‘Joel! Joel!’ Bethan announced and she banged her spoon on her highchair tray.
‘Kate and Joel!’ the table repeated.