Second Time Around (15 page)

‘I like to explore, too.’ She grinned. ‘The bars, the clubs and definitely the shops.’

Douglas smiled at Suzie. ‘All this time working for me and I haven’t managed to convert her. It’s really not good for my ego.’

‘I don’t think you need her approval. She was telling me that you’ve won an award.’

‘It’s really not that big a deal, more of an appreciation for writing about their country. The less well known East European locations are grateful for promotion, especially of a
cultural nature.’

‘Yet Mandy says that you don’t travel much,’ Suzie remarked.

He held her gaze, his eyes misting over. ‘I did all my travelling years ago. Now it’s time to stay put and do the hard work and write about it.’

Of course. That made sense. Suzie gave a brief nod of understanding and sympathy. There was so much that she wanted to ask him, but she understood why he wouldn’t want to have that
conversation now. It was clear that Mandy knew nothing about his past. She wished the two women anywhere in the world except at this table right now.

Mandy scowled and tapped her watch. ‘I hate to break this up but, if we don’t move, I’m going to get a parking ticket,’

Douglas stood up and took Suzie’s hand. ‘It’s been a real pleasure.’

Suzie sighed in frustration. ‘It’s a pity you have to go. There’s so much I’d like to ask . . . about your work.’ She was aware that it must sound
like a come-on to her sister and friend but didn’t care.

He looked pleased. ‘Next time,’ he promised.

Mandy forced herself between them and gave Suzie a brief hug, clearly unimpressed by the rapport between her boss and sister. Suzie didn’t give a damn. She watched Douglas as he said
goodbye to Nora and followed Mandy outside, pausing in the doorway to raise his hand.

She waved back and sighed.

‘Good Lord, what was all that about?’ Nora asked, staring at her, smiling.

‘He seems nice.’

‘Nice?’ Nora raised her eyebrows. ‘I have never seen any man affect you the way that he did.’

‘What are you talking about? We were just chatting.’

‘Oh, please. It was as if you were the only two people in the room.’

Suzie was sorely tempted to confide in Nora, but the fact that Doug had said nothing made her hold back. There must be a reason he was going by a different name and had pretended they
didn’t know each other. She smiled at her curious friend. ‘I liked him, what’s the big deal?’

‘Don’t you think that he’s a little bit old for you?’

‘Is he?’ Suzie suppressed a chuckle.

‘I can’t believe Mandy’s setting her cap at him. Does she honestly believe that he’ll take her to Zagreb? They’re like chalk and cheese.’

The idea of Douglas going anywhere with Mandy worried Suzie. The two might well be opposites, but Douglas had always been a sucker for a pretty face. And Mandy wouldn’t care about his age,
just the weight of his wallet. Would he be able to resist her if they were thrown together in a luxurious suite? Would he want to? Mandy certainly wouldn’t turn him down. To her, sex was a
commodity, and she wouldn’t let the minor fact that he was a pensioner get in the way of a potential meal ticket. As the saying went: better to be an old man’s darling than a young
man’s slave.

‘Suzie, stop looking so fierce. He isn’t in the least interested in Mandy. There was only one woman the esteemed Mr Thornton saw today and that was you.’

Suzie was amused. ‘You think he fancies me? Don’t be silly.’

Nora grinned. ‘I’d put money on it and I think you made it clear that the feeling was mutual.’

‘Was I that obvious? I need to learn to hide my feelings better.’ Suzie chuckled. If only Nora knew.

‘There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m just, well, surprised.’

‘I doubt it will come to anything.’

‘Don’t be so negative,’ Nora said, nudging her. ‘He was hardly going to make a move in front of me and your sister – his employee.’

That was a good point. Maybe Doug would get in touch and, if he didn’t, she could always call him. She’d just have to nab her sister’s phone and check the contacts list. She
felt cheered by the thought.

‘I bet you’ll have heard from him before the end of the week and, if you don’t, it’s his loss,’ Nora said as they got up to leave.

‘Thanks.’ Suzie smiled. Nora was probably right, although it wouldn’t be the romantic encounter that she envisaged.

Mandy shot a sideways glance at her boss. He’d been silent since they’d got in the car but there was a slight, almost bemused, smile playing round his lips. Suzie,
really? It wasn’t as if Mandy cared, but it was still a shock to the system for a man to be attracted to Suzie rather than her. She’d never seen him like this before. Douglas was lost
in thought as she drove them home, oblivious of her breaking the speed limit and overtaking on the inside. He hadn’t even noticed her cutting off another driver on a roundabout and the
furious driver giving her the finger. She opened her mouth to question him but closed it again. There was no point in shooting her mouth off. It would be much better to be cool and wait.

‘Amanda?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Can I have Suzie’s number?’

Really? She couldn’t believe her ears but, after a moment, managed to give a careless shrug. ‘Sure.’

He looked over at her. ‘I meant now.’

She glanced over and saw his finger poised to enter it into his phone. ‘Oh.’ She called it out. ‘Douglas?’

‘Yeah?’

‘I should warn you, Suzie’s not really on the market.’

‘She has a partner?’

‘No. She’s only ever loved one man and, despite the fact that he’s been gone eleven years, she hasn’t dated since.’

He seemed to ponder that for a moment, and then continued typing. ‘Noted.’

She looked over at him. ‘Noted? What does that mean?’

‘It means I appreciate the information.’

‘But you’re still going to contact her?’

‘Correct.’

The tapping recommenced and, though Mandy longed to know what he was typing, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking. He sent the text and fidgeted in his seat as he waited for an
answer. Moments later his phone buzzed and the delighted grin that spread across his face told Mandy that her sister was most definitely interested.

‘Don’t you want to know what she said?’ Douglas teased.

‘I think I can guess. Just don’t go getting your hopes up. To say Suzie’s behaviour has been unpredictable since her accident is putting it mildly.’

‘If I didn’t know better I’d think that you were jealous.’

Mandy raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s a good thing you know better. Go on, then, tell me, are you going on a date?’

‘We are. I think I’ll take her to a photo exhibition.’

‘Wow, you really know how to show a girl a good time.’

He tutted. ‘You’re such a philistine.’

‘Trust me, it’s not Suzie’s thing either. I doubt she’s ever been in a gallery.’

With that his phone buzzed and he laughed. ‘You’re right, but she said she’d love to go.’

Mandy rolled her eyes. ‘She’s lying. What’s going on, Douglas? You haven’t dated since I came to work for you—’

‘I didn’t know I was under surveillance,’ he retorted.

‘You stuck your oar into my love life so you can’t object to me asking a few questions.’

‘Go on, then.’

She pulled up outside his house and turned to look at him. ‘Why Suzie?’

He got a dreamy look on his face and shrugged. ‘She makes me smile.’

‘Great,’ she said, but for some reason his words were like a slap in the face.

‘Yes!’

Nora turned away from the buskers she’d been enjoying and turned to Suzie. ‘What?’

‘Douglas. He’s taking me out.’

Nora shook her head, bemused. ‘We’ve only just left him and he’s asked you out on a date?’

Suzie chuckled. ‘I know, weird, huh?’

‘I told you that you made an impression.’

‘It looks like it.’

‘Are you excited?’

‘I am,’ Suzie answered honestly. It would be nice to catch up and talk about old times.

Nora hugged her. ‘I’m delighted. He seems like a nice man and it will be good for you to have some male company for a change.’

Suzie smiled. It would be great. She and Doug had always been close despite the fact that there was twenty years between them, and she was sure that hadn’t changed.

Her phone rang, the Cher ringtone making her jump. Thinking it was Doug again, she grinned as she pulled it from her pocket. ‘Hello?’

‘Mum?’

Suzie frowned. ‘Jess?’

‘Yeah. I can barely hear you, it’s really noisy here.’

‘Where are you?’ Suzie shouted, putting a finger in her other ear and shrugging when Nora shot her a questioning look.

‘I’m at the hospital with Sharon.’

Suzie gasped and clenched the phone tighter. ‘Why, what’s happened?’

‘Sorry, Mum, I can’t hear you. Mum?’ Jess shouted back. ‘I’m on my way over to pick you up. Bye.’

‘Jess? Jess?’ Suzie stood, dazed for a moment.

‘Suzie?’

‘I need to get home right away. Sharon’s in hospital.’

‘Oh my God, why?’

‘No idea, Jess just said that she was on her way to pick me up.’

Nora walked to the corner and stuck her hand out. Immediately a taxi screeched out of the rank and pulled up in front of them. ‘Come on. Keep calm. I’m sure everything will be
fine.’

Suzie sat in silence, Nora clutching her hand. Just as the car turned into her road, Jess was pulling into the driveway.

‘Will I come with you?’ Nora asked.

‘No, thanks, Nora. I’ll call you.’ Suzie handed over her keys and jumped out of the cab as Jess was stepping from her car. ‘What’s happened? Is Sharon
okay?’

‘I honestly don’t know, Mum. Apparently she fainted in a supermarket and was carted off in an ambulance. My number was the last one dialled on her mobile phone so they contacted me.
I called Keith and waited at the hospital until he arrived before coming to get you. There was no news when I left. They were running tests. That’s all I know.’

‘She just fainted and they took her to the hospital? Why would they do that?’

Jess shrugged, as she crawled through city traffic. ‘No idea. Perhaps it was just a precaution.’

‘The supermarket’s afraid of being sued, more like,’ Suzie retorted. ‘By the time we get there she’ll probably be ready to come home.’

‘Well, that would be good news, then, wouldn’t it?’ Jess said, her voice sharp.

‘Yes, of course it would.’ Suzie scowled at her eldest.

‘Phone Keith and see if he knows any more,’ Jess instructed.

Feeling like a naughty child, Suzie bit her lip and did as she was told, but it went straight to his voicemail. ‘No answer.’

Suzie paced in front of the hospital’s reception desk, her eyes on the large double door where people were coming and going. Occasionally she caught sight of patients on
trolleys and her anxiety began to increase. She was about to push past the queue and demand to see her daughter when a young woman in a white coat came through the double door, talked to the
receptionist and then approached her.

‘Mrs Connors?’

‘Yes, is my daughter okay?’

‘She’s being admitted.’

‘What? But why?’

‘I’m afraid I don’t have that information, but I can take you to her husband. I’m sure that he’ll be able to fill you in.’

Suzie followed her down the long and all-too-familiar corridors. She hadn’t expected to be back here so soon. The young woman stopped outside a door and opened it and Suzie saw Keith
sitting at a table, filling out forms. ‘What’s going on, Keith? Is Sharon okay?’

He gave a weak smile and nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘Why are they admitting her, then?’ Suzie demanded.

‘Sit down,’ Keith said. ‘Sharon is fourteen weeks pregnant.’

‘Oh!’ Suzie found herself smiling. ‘That’s great news.’

‘I’m still trying to get my head round it,’ he admitted. ‘I’m happy but worried, too.’

Suzie was mystified. ‘Why?’

‘You don’t remember,’ Keith grimaced.

‘Remember what?’

‘Sharon had a really tough pregnancy with Bobby.’

Suzie searched her memory but could find nothing.

‘Her blood pressure’s sky high, apparently, so she’s going to have to take it easy.’

A nurse poked her head round the door. ‘Mr Mulvey? I can take you up to your wife’s ward now.’

Sharon was sitting in bed, hooked up to a drip and looking upset when they walked in.

‘Keith, what are you doing here? You have to go and pick up Bobby.’

Keith perched on the edge of the bed and took her hand. ‘Calm down. I called Zach’s mum and she’s taking him back to their place.’

‘He’s not that friendly with Zach.’ Sharon frowned.

‘He’ll be fine for a couple of hours. Stop worrying and tell me what the doctor said.’

Sharon ran a tired hand through her hair. ‘I’m not sure. I haven’t taken much in since they told me I’m pregnant.’

Suzie hugged her. ‘Congratulations, love.’

Sharon gave a half-hearted smile. ‘Thanks, Mum.’

‘When are they going to let you out of here?’ Suzie looked around with distaste.

‘I’m not sure. They’re waiting for some test results.’

‘I’ll go and see what I can find out.’ Keith kissed her cheek and left them.

‘You’ll be fine, love.’ Suzie smiled. ‘I’m sure they’re just being overcautious.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Here you are!’ Jess came in and plonked down on the end of the bed. ‘I’ve been all over the place looking for you. How are you doing, sis? Have they figured out why you
fainted?’

‘My blood pressure’s very high and, oh yeah’ – she gave her sister a lame grin – ‘I’m pregnant.’

‘Really?’ Jess smiled and then Suzie saw her face change as she obviously remembered what she hadn’t. ‘Is the baby okay?’

‘Yes, that much I do know.’

‘That’s good news at least. When are you due?’

Sharon frowned. ‘December, I think.’

‘Any problems?’

‘Hypertension.’ Sharon sighed.

‘What?’ Suzie asked.

‘High blood pressure,’ Jess translated, looking in concern at her sister. ‘Surely they can give you something to bring it down?’