Blame Abba Chapter 3

"I don't care, Donna. I am dining with a gorgeous woman and I don't care what anyone else thinks"

I smiled to him, grateful for such an opportunity to 'come out' in public. We did the ordering, I went for a small meal, I couldn't imagine fitting much inside Mary's waist cincher, and Patrick poured the wine.

"To us," he said, holding his glass up.

I 'clinked' his and repeated the toast, revelling in every moment of the experience.

The meal wasn't sensational but it was good, and Patrick was great company. He told me about his job, his life in London, the bits he liked and the parts he detested, and then moved onto asking me about what I liked to do. He was careful about that, he didn't dwell much on my past life. Just after the dessert as we were waiting for the coffee I realised - I had to 'go'. I just hadn't thought of that! I excused myself and picked up my handbag.

Patrick knew his manners, he stood when a 'lady' left the table. I turned and walked towards Jacqui who was behind the bar, in a quiet moment, watching. She realised what was wrong.

"Hang on a moment, Donna. I'll have a quick word with Cheryl."

I had thought that I could sneak through the back, into the 'en-suite' toilet in our changing room, Room 4 but Jacqui had put a stop to that. She came back quickly, smiling.

"Go ahead, Donna," she said, smiling and gesturing towards the Ladies.

I know I had dashed in there accidentally once before, but this was new, an acceptance from Cheryl about who or rather what I was. I went in. There was fortunately nobody in there, I slipped into a cubicle and did what was needed. Coping with that dress and my under-garments was not easy in the confined space but I managed. As I was about to leave Jacqui came in.

"OK Donna, I thought you might have problems but you seem to have done well here. How is it going then, little sister?"

"It's going OK," I said non-committally.

"It's going better than that, I've been watching Patrick all evening. He really is rather a dish, you know. And he is totally smitten with you, and that means the next possible problem IS going to happen. It serves you right for all the flirting you have been doing, you tart. I hope you are ready for it."