Page 19 of Doc Rock
When he’d arrived a few days earlier, he found that Donnie had been meddling again, contacted Taylor’s manager and basically set them up on a‘date’by inviting Taylor to Ford’s house.
Again, all very strange behaviour from Donnie.
Anyway, here he was about to have a‘date’with one of the most famous actors in the world and his wife.
Sometimes the life he managed to end up in baffled him.
Dust rose as the car braked in front of the house, and Taylor hopped out and dashed around the other side to help his wife, who was already halfway out of the car, and grumbling to Taylor that shecoulddo it.
It quickly became clear why Taylor was fussing over her when she turned sideways and stretched, sticking out a very pregnant-looking belly. She winced when her arms were fully above her head, and Taylor leaned forward, murmuring something in her ear that made her giggle.
Something squeezed in Ford’s chest, even as he put a smile of welcome on his face and strode down the front steps.
“Hi. Good to meet you.”Ford held his hand out to Taylor, who gripped it, giving it a firm shake.
“Great to meet you too. This is Clara,”Taylor drawled, slinging his arm around his wife’s shoulder. She elbowed him gently in the side so shecouldshake Ford’s outstretched hand.
“Hi. I’ve been a big fan for a long time. It’s so great to meet you.”Clara shook his hand firmly before Taylor recaptured her and tucked her under his arm again.
“Nice to meet you, too. Come on up. I’ve got drinks set up on the porch and some snacks.”Ford gestured to the front deck.
The couple followed him up the steps, and for a moment, Fordfelta twinge of loneliness.Therewas nothing worse than being on the outside of a couple as in love as these two clearly were.
Taylor made sure Clara was sitting comfortably before he took his seat.
Ford asked,“What can Igetyou to drink? I’ve got beer, wine, and sparkling water.”
“Sparkling water, please,”Clara said and smiled.“Until Igetrid of this parasite, I’m off the booze. I’ll drive home, Taylor. You have a drink.”She reached over and laced her fingers through her husband’s.
“I’d love a beer. Whatever you’ve got,”Taylor said.
When they all had drinks, Ford sat opposite them. Things started tofeela little awkward as he wasn’t entirely sure what to say, but Clara broke the silence.
“Ihearyour concert was fantastic. I wanted to go, but was at work one of the nights, and the next night my friend, Hel, was proposing to her fiancé, and she needed some moral support at the ice-rink.”
Ford blinked a couple of times.Therewas a lot to digest in that sentence.
“Your friend got engaged at the ice rink? Why?”
Clara laughed.“Her boyfriend, sorry fiancé, Jake aka Frost, is an ice hockey player. He coaches the Burra Wombat team. She got a bee in her bonnet about proposing to him at the ice rink after a game. The funny thing was, he’s been wanting to do it for ages and was even carrying a ring around. He just didn’t want to freak her out by doing it too soon.”
Ford nodded slowly.“Okay. I guess that makes sense. And that happened the night of our concert?”
“Yeah. I was forced to go to a game and freeze my butt off, sitting on those awful plastic seats as she decided that me and Sadiehadto bethere, and Gloria decided she couldn’t miss it either,”Clara said.
Taylor shrugged ruefully.“My mom doesn’t like to miss out on things.”
“Is that Gloria or Sadie?”Ford asked, in bewilderment.
“Gloria.”Clara supplied.“Sadie is another anaesthetist. She’s married to George, and they’ve got a couple of kids. She pretends to be sensible at work, but she’s a real shit stirrer.”
Taylor leaned forward in his seat.“Don’t worry, when you come to the pub quiz, we’ll introduce you to all these people. The local hospital doctors are a nice bunch. You’ll like them, they’re discreet.”
“I’ve got an idea. You should come to our baby shower!”Clara exclaimed.“It’s on Sunday.”
“Ummmmmm…"Ford looked between them. He didn’t mind being set up for a dinner date or going to the pub quiz, but he wasn’t sure he was baby shower material.
“It sounds worse than it really is,”Taylor said, having obviouslynoticedthe slightly terrified look on Ford’s face.“It’s co-ed, and an excuse to have everyone over for a party. No one isbringing gifts. If they want to do something, they’re donating to our charity.”
