"I’m Freddie, and this is my mate, Craig," announced the guy, who had just bought Julie a pint.  "So what’s a nice girl like you doing on her own in a place like this?"

   Julie heaved a huge sigh internally, but on the outside, she knew how to play the game.  Let these two prats believe that they were getting her into check.  Then, just when they’d become really complacent, you moved one of your own pieces, called out, "Check-mate", and watched them get pissed off, and overturn the board - because they’d be beaten by a woman, and that was against their own warped version of the "rules".  

Richard realised that he had already devoured both his bacon double cheeseburger and half of his fries, and Erica had barely touched her own meal.  She was doing what Dad would call "playing with her food".

   Erica seemed to read his mind.  "How’s your dad?" she asked.

   "Not too good."  Richard hesitated.  "Actually, he’s in hospital again," he added, reluctantly.

   "I’m sorry, love."  She sounded it - but not surprised.  "And – and your mum?"

   "She’s okay."  Richard couldn’t help feeling a tad defensive, when Erica mentioned his mother. 

   But he didn’t blame her for what had happened between his parents, not anymore.  In truth, he was more embarrassed than anything else.  Erica was so young.  I mean, bloody Hell - she couldn’t have been more than twenty-one or -two, when she and Richard’s dad…

   "I expect you’re wondering about Heather."  It was a statement, not a question.

   It was Richard’s turn to commit Dad’s cardinal sin of "playing with food", as he absentmindedly picked one of his ridiculously salty fries to bits, as if he’d been asked to dissect it in a Science lab or something.

   "Yes, she is Tim’s, and no, he doesn’t know.  I don’t want him to, either."

   Richard nodded.  "She’s a lovely kid.  I always wanted a sister."

   Erica smiled.  "You’ve changed, Rich.  Grown up, I suppose.  You use to be a right little sod – you and that mate of yours – John, wasn’t it?  Do you still hang around with him?"

   "Yeah."

   "And Steve – how’s he?"

   "Oh, Steve hasn’t changed much.  Still loves his footie.  Still likes 'the birds'."

   Erica nodded, with a wry smile.  "Good for him.  He’s young.  It’s important to have a good time, while you can.  I love Heather to bits, but having a kid – well, it changes everything."

   Richard considered how little motherhood had "changed" for his own mum - although, of course, he would never mention that to Erica.

   Georgina Anderson was still Richard’s mother, after all.

   It was then that his phone rang. 

   He opted not to exchange numbers with Erica, before leaving.