The Wednesday rehearsal at Matt’s had gone OK, but when she went to her car Cindy discovered that it wouldn’t start. After a little tinkering they collectively decided that the best thing would be for Cindy to stay at John’s for the night (Matt had some guests over) and call the AA in the morning – she dropped me a text to let me know.
The band sat round John’s kitchen table drinking and laughing for some time – until Helen came down in her dressing gown and had a go at everyone – which killed the mood. She pronounced, sharply, to John that he would be sleeping on the sofa, then turned on her heel and disappeared upstairs before anyone could explain what was going on.
They chatted for a while longer, but the atmosphere had cooled and shortly thereafter Matt and Kenny got up to go, leaving John and Cindy at the table.
They sat and talked, John pouring Cindy a couple more drinks – noticing how drunk she was getting, and how more approachable she seemed. Predictably, they ended up talking about Helen – Cindy admitting that she felt a bit sorry for John, asking what it was that he had done wrong.