《首发偶发空缺 (临时空缺)》第127章

rvellous。
She　checked　that　the　DJ　knew　that　Howard’s　favourite　song　was　‘The　Green；　Green　Grass　of　Home’；　Tom　Jones’　version；　and　looked　around　for　more　little　jobs　to　do：　but　instead　her　gaze　fell　upon　the　reason　that　her　happiness；　tonight；　had　not　quite　that　perfect　quality　she　had　anticipated。
Patricia　was　standing　alone；　staring　up　at　the　Pagford　coat　of　arms　on　the　wall；　and　making　no　effort　to　talk　to　anybody。　Shirley　wished　that　Patricia　would　wear　a　skirt　sometimes；　but　at　least　she　had　arrived　alone。　Shirley　had　been　afraid　that　the　BMW　might　contain　another　person；　and　that　absence　was　something　gained。
You　weren’t　supposed　to　dislike　your　own　child；　you　were　supposed　to　like　them　no　matter　what；　even　if　they　were　not　what　you　wanted；　even　if　they　turned　out　to　be　the　kind　of　person　that　you　would　have　crossed　the　street　to　avoid　had　you　not　been　related。　Howard　took　a　large　view　of　the　whole　matter；　he　even　joked　about　it；　in　a　mild　way；　beyond　Patricia’s　hearing。　Shirley　could　not　rise　to　those　heights　of　detachment。　She　felt　pelled　to　join　Patricia；　in　the　vague；　unconscious　hope　that　she　might　dilute　the　strangeness　she　was　afraid　everyone　else　would　smell　by　her　own　exemplary　dress　and　behaviour。
‘Do　you　want　a　drink；　darling？’
‘Not　yet；’　said　Patricia；　still　staring　up　at　the　Pagford　arms。　‘I　had　a　heavy　night　last　night。　Probably　still　over　the　limit。　We　were　out　drinking　with　Melly’s　office　pals。’
Shirley　smiled　vaguely　up　at　the　crest　above　them。
‘Melly’s　fine；　thanks　for　asking；’　said　Patricia。
‘Oh；　good；’　said　Shirley。
‘I　liked　the　invitation；’　said　Patricia。　‘Pat　and　guest。’
‘I’m　sorry；　darling；　but　that’s　just　what　you　put；　you　know；　when　people　aren’t　married—’
‘Ah；　that’s　what　it　says　in　Debrett’s；　does　it？　Well；　Melly　didn’t　want　to　e　if　she　wasn’t　even　named　on　the　invitation；　so　we　had　a　massive　row；　and　here　I　am；　alone。　Result；　eh？’
Patricia　stalked　away　towards　the　drinks；　leaving　Shirley　a　little　shaken　behind　her。　Patricia’s　rages　had　been　frightening　even　as　a　child。
‘You’re　late；　Miss　Jawanda；’　she　called；　recovering　her　posure　as　a　flustered　Sukhvinder　came　hurrying　towards　her。　In　Shirley’s　opinion；　the　girl　was　demonstrating　a　kind　of　insolence　turning　up　at　all；　after　what　her　mother　had　said　to　Howard；　here；　in　this　very　hall。　She　watched　her　hurry　to　join　Andrew　and　Gaia；　and　thought　that　she　would　tell　Howard　that　they　ought　to　let　Sukhvinder　go。　She　was　tardy；　and　there　was　probably　a　hygiene　issue　with　the　eczema　she　was　hiding　under　the　long…sleeved　black　T…shirt；　Shirley　made　a　mental　note　to　check　whether　it　was　contagious；　on　her　favourite　medical　website。
Guests　began　to　arrive　promptly　at　eight　o’clock。　Howard　told　Gaia　to　e　and　stand　beside　him　and　collect　coats；　because　he　wanted　everyone　to　see　him　ordering　her　around　by　name；　in　that　little　black　dress　and　frilly　apron。　But　there　were　soon　too　many　coats　for　her　to　carry　alone；　so　he　summoned　Andrew　to　help。
‘Nick　a　bottle；’　Gaia　ordered　Andrew；　as　they　hung　coats　three　and　four　deep　in　the　tiny　cloakroom；　‘and　hide　it　in　the　kitchen。　We　can　take　it　in　turns　to　go　and　have　some。’
‘OK；’　said　Andrew；　elated。
‘Gavin！’　cried　Howard；　as　his　son’s　partner　came　through　the　door　alone　at　half…past　eight。
‘Kay　not　with　you；　Gavin？’　asked　Shirley　swiftly　（Maureen　was　changing　into　sparkly　stilettos　behind　the　trestle　table；　so　there　was　very　little　time　to　steal　a　march　on　her）。
‘No；　she　couldn’t　make　it；　unfortunately；’　said　Gavin；　then；　to　his　horror；　he　came　face　to　face　with　Gaia；　who　was　waiting　to　take　his　coat。
‘Mum　could　have　made　it；’　said　Gaia；　in　a　clear；　carrying　voice；　as　she　glared　at　him。　‘But　Gavin’s　dumped　her；　haven’t　you；　Gav？’
Howard　clapped　Gavin　on　the　shoulder；　pretending　he　had　not　heard；　and　boomed；　‘Great　to　see　you；　go　get　yourself　a　drink。’
Shirley’s　expression　remained　impassive；　but　the　thrill　of　the　moment　did　not　subside　quickly；　and　she　was　a　little　dazed　and　dreamy；　greeting　the　next　few　guests。　When　Maureen　tottered　over　in　her　awful　dress　to　join　the　greeting　party；　Shirley　took　immense　pleasure　in　telling　her　quietly：　‘We’ve　had　a　very　awkward　little　scene。　Very　awkward。　Gavin　and　Gaia’s　mother　…　oh；　dear　…　if　we’d　known　…’
‘What？　What’s　happened？’
But　Shirley　shook　her　head；　savouring　the　exquisite　pleasure　of　Maureen’s　frustrated　curiosity；　and　opened　her　arms　wide　as　Miles；　Samantha　and　Lexie　entered　the　hall。
‘Here　he　is！　Parish　Councillor　Miles　Mollison！’
Samantha　watched　Shirley　hugging　Miles　as　though　from　a　great　distance。　She　had　moved　so　abruptly　from　happiness　and　anticipation　to　shock　and　disappointment　that　her　thoughts　had　bee　white　noise；　against　which　she　had　to　fight　to　take　in　the　exterior　world。
（Miles　had　said：　‘That’s　great！　You　can　e　to　Dad’s　party；　you　were　only　just　saying—’
‘Yes；’　she　had　replied；　‘I　know。　It　is　great；　isn’t　it？’
But　when　he　had　seen　her　dressed　in　the　jeans　and　band　T…shirt　she　had　been　visualizing　herself　in　for　over　a　week；　he　had　been　perplexed。
‘It’s　formal。’
‘Miles；　it’s　the　church　hall　in　Pagford。’
‘I　know；　but　the　invitation—’
‘I’m　wearing　this。’）
‘Hello；　Sammy；’　said　Howard。　‘Look　at　you。　You　needn’t　have　dressed　up。’
But　his　embrace　was　as　lascivious　as　ever；　and　he　patted　her　tightly　jeaned　backside。
Samantha　gave　Shirley　a　cold　tight　smile　and　walked　past　her　towards　the　drinks。　A　nasty　voice　inside　her　head　was　asking：　but　what　did　you　think　was　going　to　happen　at　the　concert；　anyway？　What　was　the　point？　What　were　you　after？
Nothing。　A　bit　of　fun。
The　dream　of　strong　young　arms　and　laughter；　which　was　to　have　had　some　kind　of　catharsis　tonight；　her　own　thin　waist　encircled　again；　and　the　sharp　taste　of　the　new；　the　unexplored；　her　fantasy　had　lost　wings；　it　was　plummeting　back　to　earth　…
I　only　wanted　to　look。
‘Looking　good；　Sammy。’
‘Cheers；　Pat。’
She　had　not　met　her　sister…in…law　for　over　a　year。
I　like　you　more　than　anyone　else　in　this　family；　Pat。
Miles　had　caught　up　with　her；　he　kissed　his　sister。
?