In The Stars Part II, Episode 11: Scorpio

By Debbie McGowan

The Circle try to move on with their lives, optimistic for a return to normality.
But something is amiss, and Josh is intent on solving the puzzle.
Shaunna and Andy are in need of TLC...or perhaps a touch of meddling will save the day?

* * * * *

‘Scorpio’ is the eleventh episode of In The Stars. For those readers unfamiliar with the series, ‘Capricorn’ (episode one) re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from here and perhaps catch up with the previous books later.

In The Stars explores the day-to-day lives of The Circle—nine friends from high school, now it their late thirties—following them through celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions.

Each episode covers the period of time indicated by the zodiac sign from which it takes its title.

The full novels of In The Stars Part I: Capricorn–Gemini and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius are also available for purchase (paperback/ebook).

In The Stars Part II is season five in the Hiding Behind The Couch Series.

The story follows chronologically from In The Stars Part I (Season Four) and Breaking Waves (Novella). It continues in A Midnight Clear (Novella), Red Hot Christmas (Novella) and Two By Two (Season Six).

* * * * *

What readers say about the Hiding Behind The Couch Series:

“The remarkable characterisation in these novels is what makes them for me.”

“This story reminds me of my favorite movies about friendship and relationships.”

“Few authors have explored the depths of longtime friends within a group, or ‘circle’ the way Debbie McGowan has!”

“I have a love-hate relationship with Debbie McGowan’s Hiding Behind the Couch Series. I love to read them, I HATE it when they’re over.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
• Release date: Oct 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781909192720

Debbie McGowan

Debbie McGowan is an award-winning author of contemporary fiction that celebrates life, love and relationships in all their diversity. Since the publication in 2004 of her debut novel, Champagne—based on a stage show co-written and co-produced with her husband—she has published many further works—novels, short stories and novellas—including two ongoing series: Hiding Behind The Couch (a literary ‘soap opera’ centring on the lives of nine long-term friends) and Checking Him Out (LGBTQ romance). Debbie has been a finalist in both the Rainbow Awards and the Bisexual Book Awards, and in 2016, she won the Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) for her novel, When Skies Have Fallen: a British historical romance spanning twenty-three years, from the end of WWII to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967. Through her independent publishing company, Debbie gives voices to other authors whose work would be deemed unprofitable by mainstream publishing houses.

Book preview

In The Stars Part II, Episode 11: Scorpio

Hiding Behind The Couch

Season Five

by

Debbie McGowan

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

Second Edition

Published 2018 by Beaten Track Publishing

First published 2014

Copyright 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 Debbie McGowan at Smashwords.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/debbiemcgowan

This book is available in print at most online retailers.

Cover Design by Debbie McGowan

Licensed stock images: usage is not indicative

of the models’ identity, activities or preferences.

Zodiac Illustrations by Emma Pickering

http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

* * * * *

This novel is a work of fiction and the characters and events in it exist only in its pages and in the author’s imagination.

* * * * *

The Circle try to move on with their lives, optimistic for a return to normality.

But something is amiss, and Josh is intent on solving the puzzle.

Shaunna and Andy are in need of TLC…or perhaps a touch of meddling will save the day?

* * * * *

‘Scorpio’ is the eleventh episode of In The Stars. For those readers unfamiliar with the series, ‘Capricorn’ (episode one) re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from here and perhaps catch up with the previous books later.

In The Stars explores the day-to-day lives of The Circle—nine friends from high school, now it their late thirties—following them through celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions.

Each episode covers the period of time indicated by the zodiac sign from which it takes its title.

The full novels of In The Stars Part I: Capricorn–Gemini and In The Stars Part II: Cancer–Sagittarius are also available for purchase (paperback/ebook).

In The Stars Part II is season five in the Hiding Behind The Couch Series.

The story follows chronologically from In The Stars Part I (Season Four) and Breaking Waves (Novella). It continues in A Midnight Clear (Novella), Red Hot Christmas (Novella) and Two By Two (Season Six).

* * * * *

Dedication

For Eileen:

See you in the next one. Maybe.

And for the Dog People:

we are a transient population,

unthwarted by rain, wind, snow,

sun-baked earth and horse flies;

may the source of our insanity

remain our salvation.

* * * * *

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my wonderful proof-readers, Tracy and Andrea, for your persistence in / insistence on finding and then laughing at my dreadful mistakes, not to mention your extraordinary expertise in all matters, but in particular, those of bingo and healthcare! The Circle thank you, too!

Much gratitude to Hans M Hirschi, for checking and correcting my dodgy Norwegian / Swedish translations, even though we had only just ‘met’!

Hans also writes beautiful stories – visit his website to find out more. www.hirschi.se

Thanks also to Beth, for excellent chat show related creative input.

Elliot Sanchez lives because of you.

***

Excerpts from:

‘The Signs’, by Henry Van Dyke

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Poems of Henry Van Dyke.

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare.

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.

Reproduced under the terms of the

Project Gutenberg Licence.

www.gutenberg.org

‘Footprints In Your Heart’, by Eleanor Roosevelt;

also attributed as

‘Today is a Gift’, by Laszlo Kotro-Kosztandi.

Further bibliographic information unavailable.

* * * * *

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Paint, Balls, Warfare: Tuesday 24th October

Therapy: Monday 23rd–Thursday 26th October

What’s Wrong with This Picture? Monday 30th October

Hurlyburly: Tuesday 31st October

Sleepless And Unsettled: Wednesday 1st November

Not this Time: Thursday 2nd November

Dogged Determination: Saturday 4th November

The J-Word: Tuesday 7th November

Dot: Wednesday 8th November

Hard On The Knees: Thursday 9th November

To Dot: Monday 13th November

Big Enough: Saturday 18th November

The Story Continues…

About The Author

By The Author

* * * * *

It’s the time-birth-death gimmick. Can’t go on much longer, too many people are wising up.

William S. Burroughs

* * * * *

Scorpio

There’s not a creature in the realm of night

But has the wish to live, likewise the right:

Don’t tread upon the scorpion, or he’ll fight.

Paint, Balls, Warfare

Tuesday 24th October

What we doin’? Iris asked, groaning as she eased herself into the front seat of the car.

Err, hospital, then housing office, then back to ours for dinner?

Dinner? Since when is it fuckin’ dinner?

All right. Tea! George tutted and fastened his seat belt.

I could’ve got the bus, y’know. She was still struggling to fasten her own seat belt.

Here. George went to assist.

I can manage, ta very much. She slapped his hand away and scowled at him.

Great. The two of you in a foul mood. My day off keeps getting better and better.

I’m not in a foul mood. I’m… She ummed and sucked air in as if inhaling from a cigarette. I’m a bit worried about this anaesthetic and whatnot.

Why? You’ve had operations before.

A long bloody time ago!

So, it’s safer these days.

I’ve seen it on the telly, that MRSA doodah. It can kill yer. Did you know that?

Mum—

And choppin’ off the wrong bits.

Mum! Stop worrying. You’re not gonna get MRSA and no-one’s gonna be chopping off the wrong bits. It’s a straightforward operation.

Says you. And I’ll be stuck indoors with that bloody idiot.

Who? Monty?

No. The feller next door. Bangin’ around all day, music blarin’. It’s no bloody wonder his missus fucked off with the postie. I’ll end up killin’ ’im before the year’s out.

Come and stay with us.

Don’t be daft.

What’s daft about it? If the lift packs up, you’ve had it anyway, and I can take you to bingo.

And what about Josh? Dun’t he get a say?

We can ask him when we get back. He glanced across at her; she still looked frightened to death. She’d already cancelled the appointment for her bunion surgery three times, so getting her this far was quite an achievement, not that it had anything to do with George, although it was why he was taking her rather than letting her get the bus. You know it’ll be worth it, he comforted. Just think. A few weeks from now you’ll be able to put your high heels on.

Oh, aye, she said dryly. Can’t you just see me clip-cloppin’ down the school corridor in them bloody things?

I didn’t mean for work. When you go anywhere posh.

What? Like your place, you mean?

He ignored her and concentrated on dodging around the potholes in the road. It wasn’t far to the hospital, and his mum didn’t say anything else until they got there. Today’s appointment was only the pre-operative assessment, and if all was well, she was in for the surgery in two weeks’ time. George dropped her at the main entrance and went to park up, giving her a chance to have a smoke before they went inside.

So what’s up with Josh, then? she asked as they made their way down the hospital’s long and noisy corridor.

It’s a bit complicated.

She tutted at him.

Well, it is! he protested. I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it later.

They arrived in the waiting room, where Iris gave the receptionist her details and sat down. There was no-one else waiting, and it couldn’t have been any more than a minute later when a nurse called her name. George moved to go with her, but she gave him a look that told him to stay right where he was. He picked up a magazine to pass the time. His phone vibrated in his pocket.

Can you get teabags?

No ‘please’, no ‘thank you’ and no ‘x’. He typed back:

Will do. xxxxx. X

He waited with his phone in his hand for a full five minutes before he gave up on getting a response. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to suggest his mother came to stay after all. He returned to skimming through the pages of the magazine, stopping to read an article entitled ‘Star Cooks’, with celebrities sharing their favourite meals. Accordingly, Kristian Johansson liked nothing better than a good traditional fry-up—sausages, bacon, eggs sunny side up—the full works.

At least he didn’t lie about that, George muttered to himself. His phone vibrated again.

Sorry. x

He smiled. His mother waddled in front of him.

You look a right bloody barmpot, sittin’ there, grinnin’ to yourself.

George got up and put his phone away. Everything OK?

So they say.

She looped her arm through his as they walked back along the corridor and out of the main entrance, where she stopped next to a ‘no smoking’ sign and lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke towards the automatic doors.

That’s what I think of your suggestion, interferin’ arse’oles.

George looked down at the floor and acted like she wasn’t with him. When she was about halfway done with the cigarette, she started walking slowly in the general direction of the car park.

I’ll go get the car, George offered. I had to park right at the back. He jogged off without waiting for a response, because she’d have insisted on paying the parking fee, which would escalate into an argument that inevitably he’d lose. By the time he returned with the car, she’d finished smoking and got in beside him.

You can leave the housin’, she said. It’s not so cold yet. I’ll manage without the fire for now.

He took a deep breath and let it go as slowly and quietly as he could. She turned and glared at him.

It’s nowt to do with you! she snapped.

No. It’s not.

Right then.

Now, where he would normally have kept his ‘gob’ shut and let her have her own way, he was suddenly feeling very brave, or stupid, he hadn’t quite worked out which, but it was about time she started listening to what he had to say. He was forty next year, for goodness’ sake, and he had her best interests at heart.

Actually, Mam, he began firmly, "it is to do with me. I worry about you all the time