The New Woman (32 page)

‘Um, can I get you a drink?’ he asked her.

Oh, she did like his voice. Low, but not a growl. Just enough of a northern accent to be sexy.

Play it cool
. She raised her eyebrows. ‘A drink?’

‘Yep, that’s all. I’m not suggesting anything else. This is a genuine offer. You don’t have to join us if you don’t feel like it. You might have sneaked out to the pub for a bit of me time.’ He gestured at his friends—two women and a man—who were playing some sort of game with the beer mats. ‘Though you’re welcome.’

She glanced again at her watch. Owen was now fifty minutes late; he obviously wasn’t coming. The singers were taking a break, which was a mercy.

‘Why not?’ she said. ‘Thanks very much. A half of Guinness, please.’

He nodded and made for the bar. She kept him under surveillance. Dark-blond hair and a bit of stubble. Heavy eyebrows. Long legs. That nose was probably too big, if he was wanting to be a model, but the effect was rugged. This washout of an evening was looking up.

After a decent interval she joined him at the bar, and he held out his hand to shake hers.

‘Peter,’ he said.

‘Kate.’

Ouch
. Bit of a firm handshake.

They talked as they waited to be served. Kate said she’d been stood up by a complete idiot. Peter told her he wasn’t a local. He was visiting his sister, who’d just got engaged. When their order was ready he picked up four glasses, and Kate took hers.

‘Join us?’ he said. ‘Don’t expect intellectual conversation from this rabble. We’re building a house of beer mats.’

She accepted the offer and nipped back to the corner for her magazine. That was when she felt fingers gripping her arm, and heard an all too familiar voice.

‘Kate. Thank God you’re still here.’

Frig’s sake, Owen!
She could have clouted him. He stood there looking tousled and wide-eyed. Little boy lost, wearing an awful anorak.

‘
Now
you show up,’ she hissed. ‘What time d’you call this?’

‘Baffy ran away. He’s nuts, that dog. Took me ages to find him.’

‘Yeah, well, you’re too late. I’m busy now.’

He thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘But I have to talk to you. I’ve come all the way across London.’

‘You could have sent me a text, at least. I’ve been sitting here like a lemon.’

‘My phone’s flat.’

She ground her teeth. ‘Oh, for God’s . . . okay. Grab yourself a drink.’

Peter was standing at his table, waiting for her. She mouthed the word
sorry
, and pointed at Owen with both hands
before miming the act of throttling him. Peter obviously got the message; he smiled and shrugged before turning away. To make matters worse, the singers had started up again. They were murdering other artists’ songs now, starting with ‘Scarborough Fair’.

‘Right,’ she began, when Owen returned with a glass. ‘Shoot. But I’d better say right now, Owen: we’re not getting back together. Just putting it out there.’

He gaped at her. ‘You and me?’

‘Not going to happen.’

‘Um, Kate . . . this is really embarrassing. I thought you might’ve heard.’

‘No,’ she said. ‘No, I haven’t heard anything. D’you think you could possibly get on with it, before I tip this drink over your head?’

‘Okay. I’m with someone. We’re very serious, actually.’

This was an intriguing development. ‘Really? Who?’

‘She works with me. Eva Jones. I’m moving into her place tomorrow.’

‘Great news! Woo-hoo! So what’s she like?’

‘What’s she like?’ Owen looked shifty. ‘She’s, um, a lot more mature than you. Don’t take that the wrong way . . . I mean, she’s had life experience. She’s got two boys, and they’re . . . um, the older one’s eighteen.’

It was Kate’s turn to gape. ‘How old is this woman?’

‘Why does her age matter?’

‘Hang on, I’m doing the maths. You’re twenty-three. She’s got a son aged—’

‘Forty,’ snapped Owen. ‘She’s forty, okay? And we’re great together.’

Kate leaned back in her seat, smirking. So Owen had found a surrogate mother at last, and Eva now had three kids instead of two. Perhaps they
were
perfect together.

‘Well,’ she said, holding up her glass. ‘Here’s to you and Eva Jones. What I don’t get is why you couldn’t just tell me on the phone? Why trail all the way across town?’

‘Yeah, that’s a bit more difficult to . . . You might not . . .’ Owen started nibbling at his cuticles. ‘Look, come outside and you’ll see.’

‘See what?’

He tipped back his drink and stood up, not quite meeting Kate’s eye. She knew that look. He was trying to find the balls to ask a favour.

Eilish

‘So I went outside the George and Dragon with him,’ said Kate. ‘And what d’you think I saw? You’ll never guess.’

It was Saturday morning. Stella had already dropped by for coffee, and was all agog when Jim phoned to say how much he’d enjoyed their evening at The Lock. Once Stella had gone, Luke phoned to say he’d signed some transfer documents, as requested by my solicitor. And then—lovely surprise—Kate’s face appeared around the door from the lobby.

‘You alone, Mum?’ she yelled, her eyes screwed shut. ‘I hope I’m not going to be traumatised by the sight of Mr Chadders in a bathrobe?’

‘Kate!’ I ran to kiss her. ‘No naked physics teachers, you’re quite safe. You’ve just missed Stella. How did you get here?’

‘Borrowed Mathis and John’s car. I brought lunch—unless you’re going out? I’ve got to tell you about Owen, and . . . well, I’ll explain.’

‘I thought he stood you up.’

‘He did—then he didn’t. It’s a bit of a long story. I’ll get the kettle on.’

She was bearing flowers as well as goodies from a delicatessen, and I had a nasty feeling these offerings were designed to soften some blow. I laid the table for lunch while she told her story. It seemed Owen was in deep disgrace: partly because he’d been so late to arrive at the pub, and partly because he’d arrived at all.

‘Sounds as though he saved you from being abducted,’ I said when she described the man who’d tried to pick her up. ‘Probably a serial killer, preying on single women in pubs.’

‘Peter was out for a drink with his sister and her fiancé. I don’t think he fits the profile of a predatory killer, Mum. It wasn’t even a pick-up, really.’

‘Hmm . . . you never know. Anyway, Owen’s happy with this woman, Eva?’

‘Seems to be. But don’t you think it’s all a bit kinky? He’s not much older than her sons.’

‘I don’t think our family is in a position to judge the kinkiness of others,’ I said. ‘What I can’t quite follow is why he had to make such a meal of telling you. Was he afraid you’d be upset?’

‘Ah.’ She looked at me with a half-smile, and I knew that this was what she’d really come for. ‘Good question. At that point, I discovered what a total wanker Owen really is. He said he wanted me to come outside. So I went into the street with him, and who d’you think I saw?’

‘Was it Mrs Jones and her teenagers?’

‘Thankfully not.’

‘Um . . . Owen’s parents?’

‘Nope.’

‘I give up.’

‘Wait here. Brace yourself.’ Kate hurried out of the front door and over to her borrowed car. Curious now, I stood watching. Suddenly the quiet was shattered by a wild bark, and something came hurtling across the gravel: something white, fluffy, and far too energetic to be cooped up in a car. He ran right around the house before galloping up to me.

‘Baffy!’ I bent down to pat the dog. ‘I thought we were rid of you.’

‘He was tied up outside the pub, freezing cold,’ said Kate. ‘Wearing a stupid tartan coat, but still shivering. I had to rush him straight home to get him warm. I nipped back to the pub later, but the serial killer had left.’

‘So Owen’s going on holiday, and wants a dog-sitter?’

Kate watched as Baffy charged off again, barking at some birds. ‘Mum, here’s the thing. Eva and her sons are allergic to dogs. Well, so she says, sounds like bollocks to me. She’s probably just a control freak. Poor old Baffy is now surplus to requirements in Owen’s life. So he brought him over and dumped him on me.’

‘He can’t do that! Baffy’s no angel, and Mathis and John have just redecorated that place. It’s their pride and joy.’

‘That’s right.’

‘You’re on the first floor. No garden.’

‘No garden, not so much as a balcony. And he goes insane if he can’t get outside.’

The awful truth was dawning on me. Lose a husband, gain a dog.

‘Um,’ said Kate. ‘I have a favour to ask.’

Thirty-three

Simon

An enormous Christmas tree was not designed to be carried in a small car.

He and Nico had chosen an extravagant one from a stall outside the tube station, but getting it home proved a challenge. In the end he managed to cram it into the car by moving Nico’s seat to the front. The top of the tree poked between them and covered up the gearstick. By the time he’d parked outside their house, Simon had a faceful of pine needles.

‘Magnificent!’ cried Carmela, as her menfolk carried it through the front door—Nico holding only the very tip, and making this-is-heavy groaning noises. ‘Birnam Wood is come to Dunsinane! Coffee’s ready, Simon, just the way you like it, and then would you go into the cellar and find the decorations? I tried to do it but the light has blown and I tripped over something. It’s chaos down there. I would have changed the bulb, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea with this passenger I’m carrying.’

She smiled over her shoulder. Rosa was fast asleep, tightly strapped to her mother’s back in a bright red cloth. Only the upper part of the baby’s face was showing. She seemed soothed by the warmth and movement. Simon could see her dark lashes
fluttering, as he stooped to nuzzle one softly curled ear. She smelled of milk, and he felt his heart swell. It was one of those good moments. This—now—was all he wanted. Nico wandered off to play with his Lego.

‘I’ve been thinking,’ said Carmela.

‘That’s a worrying opener.’ Simon made a mock-frightened face. ‘You’re planning on real reindeer this year? Think of the mess.’

She walked away, into the kitchen, and he followed.

‘Christmas can’t be a family gathering at your mother’s house,’ she said. ‘Not this year.’

‘No.’ Simon felt his shoulders sag. No more happy family events.

‘So I think we should invite your mother to come here.’

‘Great idea! But she’ll bring that maniac of a dog. I can’t believe Kate dumped him on her.’

‘We can cope with Baffy,’ said Carmela, smiling as she handed him a cup of coffee. ‘So shall we also ask Kate, and Meg, and even Wendy? Let’s gather them all here, around our tree. The children will keep things happy.’

Simon drew her closer to him. She was so thoughtful; so good at caring for his family. He knew how much she missed her own.

‘You are a wonderful, wonderful girl,’ he said fervently, kissing her. ‘I’ll phone Mum.’

‘And what about your father?’

The perfection of the moment died. Simon dropped his arms. ‘He’s out of the picture,’ he said flatly. ‘We agreed.’

‘It’s Christmas, Simon, and he’s alone.’

‘For Christ’s sake! Do we have to have this conversation? He’s made his bed.’

‘It is still Christmas, and he is still alone. He has not even seen his granddaughter.’ Carmela reached back, touching the fluff of Rosa’s hair. ‘She is the most precious treasure, and he’s excluded. He sent presents today, they came in the post. And . . . you know what? I think you miss him.’

Simon drained his coffee. ‘I’ll change that light bulb,’ he said, and stomped out of the room.

Carmela was tenacious. She followed him to the top of the cellar steps, her shape outlined in the light from the hallway behind her. Simon was up a ladder by then, changing the bulb.

‘Why won’t you admit that you miss him?’ she asked.

He ignored her. This wasn’t fair. Nobody should have to argue with a stubborn woman when they were risking their neck in a pitch-black cellar.

‘Why, Simon? Nico asks all the time, “Where is Grandpa, where is Grandpa?” What shall we tell him?’

Sometimes, if he was dogged enough in his silence, she’d give up. But not this time.

‘This is your problem too,’ she persisted. ‘What do we tell Nico?’

‘Fucking bulb, it’s broken off in the fitting. Hang on . . . bloody hell, now I’ve cut myself, I’m bleeding all over the place . . . Look, do we really have to discuss this now?’

‘I think we do.’

‘Ouch, that’s sharp. Okay. How about we tell him Grandpa’s ill?’

‘And have him develop some morbid fear that Luke is about to die? No.’

‘All right. We’ll say he’s been really, really naughty and we don’t want to see him anymore. That’s the truth.’

She sounded doubtful. ‘Naughty?’

‘Do you have a better idea?’

‘I know what will come next. He’ll ask if Luke’s sitting on the bottom stair. That’s where naughty people go, in Nico’s world. The bottom stair.’

‘Try the switch now.’ Simon felt a dull satisfaction as the light went on. ‘Bingo! And then there was light. Right, where are these decorations?’

‘In the plastic box. No, not that one. There, behind those rolls of wallpaper.’

Simon carried the box upstairs, licking his forefinger as Carmela bolted the cellar door behind them.

‘You tell him, then,’ she said. ‘You tell him his grandpa can’t be his friend anymore.’

‘Okay, I will.’

‘Now?’

‘Next time he asks.’ Simon dumped the box next to the Christmas tree. ‘He might never ask again. It’s been months since he saw Dad. He’ll soon forget.’

Rosa stirred in her papoose and opened her eyes. She was a sleepy little clam peering out of its safe place. Simon stroked her head. He had to protect her, and Nico too. He hated to think of the sniggers and teasing, if other children knew they had a freakish grandparent. He’d heard that kind of laughter before.