Chapter 111
The lights in Donna’s flat are low, and Stevie Wonder is working his magic from the speakers. Chris is happy and relaxed, shoes off, feet up. Donna pours him a glass of wine.
“Thanks, Donna.”
“Pleasure. Nice shirt, by the way.”
“Why, thank you. It’s just something I threw on.”
He smiles at her, and she smiles back. Donna can sense what is about to happen, and it makes her happy.
“Mum?” she inquires, holding the bottle toward her mother.
“Thank you, darling, I will.”
Donna then pours a glass of wine for her mother, who is sitting beside Chris on the sofa.
“Honestly, you could be her sister, Patrice,” says Chris. “And I’m not just saying that because Donna is aging so badly.”
Donna mimes throwing up, while Patrice laughs.
“Madonna told me you were charming.”
Chris puts down his wine, a look of delight creeping onto his face. “Sorry, who told you I was charming?”
“Madonna.” She tilts her head toward her daughter. “This little madam.”
Chris looks at Donna. “Your full name is Madonna?”
“If you ever call me that I will Taser you,” says Donna.
“It would be worth it,” says Chris. “Patrice, I think I love you.”
Donna rolls her eyes and picks up the remote. “Shall we watch Jason Ritchie?”
“Sure, sure,” says Chris, distracted. “So what do you do for a living, Patrice?”
“I teach. Primary,” says Patrice.
“Do you?” says Chris, thinking about his fantasy checklist.
Donna looks him straight in the eye. “And she sings in the choir on Sundays.”
He refuses to hold Donna’s gaze, turning back to Patrice.
“This is going to sound like a ridiculous question, Patrice. But do you like dogs?”
Patrice takes a sip of her wine. “Allergic, I’m afraid.”
Chris nods, takes a sip, then gives his glass an almost imperceptible raise toward Donna. Two out of three ain’t bad. He is glad he is wearing his blue shirt with the buttons.
“What happened to your date?” Chris asks Donna.
“I just said I had a date. I didn’t say it was my date,” replies Donna.
Donna’s phone buzzes. She looks at the screen. “It’s Elizabeth. She wonders if we’re free tomorrow morning. Nothing urgent.”
“Solved the case, no doubt.”
Donna laughs. She hopes everything is okay with her friend.