chapter 50

After work, Mandy got to Fina’s house.
“Hey!” she smiled, smelling the delicious odours wafting from the kitchen, “Something smells nice!”
“Yeah, didn’t Mark tell you? I am cooking dinner for Mark tonight!” she smiled.
“Oh, so that’s why Brian was asking me out for a drink later then!” she smiled, pretending she knew nothing about it.
“He’s taking you out then?” grinned Fina, with a glint of hope in her eyes.
“No!” shrugged Mandy, playing along. She didn’t look at her. She just sat down and looked at the paper, trying not to smile.
Fina looked at her confused, “Oh…right!”
“I told him I had other plans!” she smiled, turning the page on the paper.
Fina stared at her, “Right. And have you?” she asked.
“Have I what?” asked Mandy, still not looking at her.
“Have other plans!” answered Fina, trying hard not to sound too eager.
“Oh that!” laughed Mandy, “Yeah,. I do actually.”
Fina didn’t know whether to hug her or slap her for keeping her guessing.
“Anything nice?” she asked.
“Well, I am baby sitting your kids while you and Mark have a nice romantic evening out at Guiseppe’s!” she smiled.
“What?” shrieked Fina, “Since when?”
“Since I booked the table this morning. Now go up and have a bath or something. I’ll hold the fort down here!” she smiled, shooing her away.
“Mandy, I cannot ask you to look after the kids while I go off gallivanting with my husband!” she hasped.
“You are not asking me. I am insisting!” smiled Mandy, “Now shoo. Off you go!”
Fina smiled and took her apron off. She then stopped half way and looked back at Mandy, “What about the dinner I am making? It’s almost ready and everything!”
“Save it for tomorrow then!” laughed Mandy.
“I cannot. I mean, it’s not something you can refrigerate. It’s steak in mushroom sauce!” she sighed.
“Well then. Feed it to the dogs or something. I dunno!” giggled Mandy, “You have not had a night out since you were pregnant. You deserve one!”
Fina looked at her with narrow eyes, “How did you know that?”
Mandy smiled sheepishly, “I heard you talking to Mark as I walked to my room last night. Sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard my name and I couldn’t help myself!” she blushed.
Fina looked at her. She suddenly stopped smiling how much had she heard, “OH erm, well, yeah, but…”
Mandy looked at her and saw a blush on her cheeks. She smiled and guessed what she was thinking.
“But I went back to my room when I felt that I was being a bit too nosy!” she grinned.
Fina smiled and sighed with relief. She looked worried again.
“Oh god, please don’t think we were trying to get rid of you or anything.” She panicked.
Mandy laughed and shook her head, “I thought no such thing. I understand you need your privacy and that’s why I am baby sitting tonight. Now will you go up and have that shower or bath already?”
Fina smiled, “Fine. But one more thing though. You eat that steak. In fact, why don’t you invite Brian over? You can both eat the steak”
She grinned, glad with the turnout of events. Maybe this would finally bring them together.
Mandy looked at her grinning, “Yeh, we’ll see about that eh? Now for the last time, GO!!!”
“Ok, ok I am going!” laughed Fina, walking away.
Mandy sat on the sofa, watching the tweenies on telly, which Tammy was watching. Mandy got up and sat next to her on the floor.
“So…Who’s your favourite then?” she asked the young girl, so engrossed on the TV.
“Fizz!” shrugged Tammy unenthusiastically.
“Really? Mine’s Jake” smiled Mandy, “He’s funny!”
Tammy looked at her and smiled. Her eyes creased as she grinned, just like her father’s.
“Do you know who else I like? Roly Mo from the Fimbles.” Grinned Mandy, “Now he’s cool!”
Tammy’s eyes lit up, “I love Roly Mo because he reads all these stories!”
“Cool!” giggled Mandy, crossing her legs like she was in school, “Do you like Pingu?”
Tammy grinned, nodded and crawled over to the dvd cabinet, where she pulled out a dvd of Pingu.
Mandy grinned, “I tell you what. Mummy and Daddy are going out tonight and guess what?”
Tammy just stared at her.
“I am going to stay here and look after you and Emma. Now what would you say, after we put Emma to bed, we both stay up and watch some Pingu?” she grinned.
“Yay!” she cheered, clapping excitedly, “Can we eat ice cream too?”
“Well, we’ll see what mummy and daddy have to say!” smiled Mandy, looking at the Pingu dvd cover Tammy had given her.
“Aren’t you a bit old to watch Pingu?” snorted someone behind them.
Mandy looked back quickly and saw Brian standing there, grinning. She quickly got up, “What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“Mark asked me round. Now here’s the deal Mandz. Him and Fina want a quiet night in and I knew you were lying earlier, saying you had other plans. So basically, Mark wants me to drag you out tonight so just go and get ready. I’ll wait!” he grinned, taking the direct approach.
Mandy shook her head, “I was not lying, Brian. I do have other plans!”
“Mandz, come on. They need their space!” he sighed.
“And they will get it!” smiled Mandy.
“You are coming out!” he ordered.
“No I am not!” she argued, folding her arms.
“Oh come on Mandz…” started Brian impatiently before Mark cut him off.
“Change of plans, mate. We’re going out instead while Mandy looks after the kids!” he grinned ad then looked at Mandy and smiled, “Thanks for offering, Mandz!”
Brian looked at Mandy who grinned and raised her eyebrows at him, “Lying was I?” she still had her arms folded.
Brian smiled and shook his head.
“Sorry mate!” laughed Mark, “But thanks anyway!”
Brian got up and nodded.
“hang on a sec. You could stay here and keep Mandy company!” he suggested with a smile.
Brian looked at Mark and then at Mandy from the corner of his eyes to see her reaction. He then turned his head to look at her. She just stared at him. The look on her face did not give him a clue as to what she thought about that, “Up to you babe!” she smiled.
“You sure you don’t mind?” he checked.
“It’s not my house!” she shrugged.
Brian sighed. She did not answer his question, “But would you mind me keeping you company?” he asked.
“No. Not at all!” she grinned, shaking her head.
He noticed the sincerity in her tone of voice and smiled, “One condition though!”
“What?” she asked curiously.
Brian grinned, “No Pingu once the kids are in bed!”
“And no funny business!” added Mark.
Mandy and Brian both looked at him with their eyebrows raised. Mark blushed and raised his brows, “So-rry!” he sighed walking back upstairs.
Tammy ran to Mandy and tapped her legs, “Mummy says I can eat ice cream!”
Mandy laughed, “Oh ok sweetheart! I’ll let mummy know when she comes down!”
“I am not lying!” she insisted, shaking her head.
“Oh honey, I am sure you’re not. But I need to let her know just so she doesn’t forget!” smiled Mandy. She saw from the look on her face that there was no element of truth in that. She laughed and shook her head.
An hour later, Mark and Fina walked down hand in hand, ready to go.
“You look nice, the both of ya!” smiled Mandy, standing in the hall.
Fina smiled, “Thanks. Now are you sure about this?”
Mandy sighed, “NO. Actually I am not!”
Fina’s smile faded.
“Go up and change, I don’t want to do this anymore!” she rolled her eyes and then smiled.
Fina was not sure how to take that, until she laughed, “Just go will ya?”
Fina smiled and grabbed Mark’s hand.
“Are you gonna be ok, Mandz?” asked Mark.
“No, I will probably poison your daughter and send her to bed at 1 in the morning while I just put my feet up and let her create havoc!” grinned Mandy.
Brian laughed loudly. Mark looked at him, smiled fakely and then looked at Mandy, “My you are sarky tonight!”
“Sorry. Yeah I’ll be fine! Just go!” she giggled.
“You sure?” he checked.
“Leave her alone, Mark. I am sure she knows what she’s doing. And besides, Brian is here!” sighed Fina.
“Yeah, that’s what worries me the most!” snorted Mark.
Brian stared at him, “I’ll have you know that kids love me!”
“Probably because you’re a big kid yourself!” chuckled Mark.
Mandy snorted and Brian quickly looked at her. She quickly pulled a straight face when he did and then laughed softly when he looked away again. Mark looked at her and chuckled.
“One more thing, Fina. Any rules on things, like, say…Ice cream?” asked Mandy, looking at Tammy from the corner of her eyes.
“Absolutely none allowed at this time of night. She will not sleep!” she specifically ordered.
Mandy looked at Fina and then at Tammy who just grinned and hid behind Brian’s leg, “You little liar!!! Just wait till I get you!” shrieked Mandy.
Tammy screeched as Mandy ran after her around the house.
“So you’re gonna be ok, yeah?” asked Mark, yet again.
Mandy did not answer. She caught Tammy and started tickling her as she screamed the place down.
Brian laughed, “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Just go and have fun!” he stood at the door and watched them leave.
“See ya later then!” called out Fina.
Mandy was still too busy tickling Tammy as they both walked out, leaving them to their own devices.