Free Never a Perfect Moment by Cathy Cole Page A

sink.
    â€œThat’s better,” said Eve, padding back into the bedroom in a pure white towelling robe. Her auburn hair hung in shiny wet tendrils down her back. “Steaming your pores is so important. I try and do it every day.”
    Finally , Polly thought. She sat up.
    â€œCan I go in the bathroom now?”
    â€œWhat a silly question! It’s your house, Polly,” Eve said generously. “Of course you can. Oh, wait, I need to floss.”
    Ten more minutes passed. Polly tried not to feel too irritated when Eve swanned out of the bathroom again, running her tongue over her perfect white teeth.
    â€œSo what are we going to do today?” Eve asked brightly. She surveyed her clothes, which lay in tangled heaps all over Polly’s carpet. It had taken every bit of Polly’s self-control not to pick them up and fold them and arrange them in neat piles. “It would be good to know before I get dressed so I can be sure of wearing the right thing.”
    â€œWe don’t normally do much on Sundays,” said Polly, tearing her eyes from Eve’s mountain of clothes and eyeing the bathroom longingly.
    â€œI’ll think of something fun,” said Eve. “How about—”
    â€œGoing in the bathroom now,” said Polly.
    She shut the bathroom door, and looked around in dismay. More mess. The tiny room looked like a bomb had hit it. Dripping shampoo bottles lay on their sides in the tub. The shower curtain was soaked and hanging out of the bath, water dripping and puddling on the bath mat.
    Polly found the only dry part of the bathroom floor and stood there, breathing hard.
    Stay calm , she instructed herself.
    The fact remained that Eve had needed a place to stay and Polly had offered. It was what friends did. Friends shouldn’t get worked up over damp towels, she knew, but she couldn’t help herself. How much longer would Eve be staying? She needed space to think .
    Polly located the only dry towel and laid it out on the chair. Then she climbed into the shower and turned on the taps. She closed her eyes, waiting for the familiar soothing, warm whoosh to come out of the shower attachment.
    â€œAaargh!”
    The water was stone cold.
    Â 
    â€œIs Eve still getting up?” Polly’s mum peered up the stairs at the sound of banging and crashing.
    Polly helped herself to a third piece of toast. She needed it, after the coldest shower she’d ever experienced. “It’s not easy, looking like Eve,” she said.
    Her mother put her hands on her hips. “Do you know how long she’s going to stay, Polly? I don’t mean to be a bad host, but I’m not sure this house can cope with Eve for much longer.”
    â€œI’m not sure I can cope with Eve for much longer,” Polly sighed.
    Her mother regarded her. “Getting a bit much, is she?”
    â€œI like Eve,” Polly said helplessly. “Really, I do. She’s hard work but she’s basically a kind person. She doesn’t mean to be annoying. She just … is.”
    â€œWhy don’t I call Beth and take you girls to the shops?”
    Polly looked gratefully at her mother. “Would you do that?”
    â€œOf course I would,” said her mother. “I could use a new work jacket. And Beth wants to show me some cushions she’s thinking of getting. Let’s all go down to the high street this morning and have some fun.”
    â€œDid someone say shopping?” said Eve, gliding into the kitchen. Her hair lay in perfect curls on her shoulders, and her white shirt looked as crisp as a layer of freshly fallen snow.
    Polly tried to smile. “Mum and Beth are offering to take us into town today. What do you think?”
    â€œThat’s so kind, I’d love that.” Eve clapped her hands. “I know! I’ll buy everyone something special. As a way of saying thank you for having me to stay.”
    Polly’s mother looked startled.