Ange gave Ellie an apologetic shrug before logging into her emails.
Ellie chewed on her lip, fighting the overwhelming urge to run away. With Vernon now in the loop, that was not an option. She nodded with as much professionalism as she could muster. ‘It’s no problem, I can rearrange my schedule. Did she say where they wanted me to meet them?’
‘Constance Street.’
Ellie’s stomach lurched. In light of recent events, she had already decided that if she ever had to visit the vicinity of that street again, she would take great care to drive around it and not down it. Yet Gemma had specifically asked for Ellie to cover the reunion story and to meet them at the place where everything always, with a frightening inevitability, led back to.
‘Constance Street. Of course… where else?’
‘So I can leave it with you? It seems only right that you report the story anyway.’ Vernon shook a sachet of tomato ketchup onto his bacon and replaced the lid of his sandwich. ‘I couldn’t understand why Ange had taken it over in the first place.’ He glanced at Ange but it seemed she hadn’t been listening as her attention was fixed firmly on her PC monitor.
Ellie almost smiled. Good old Vernon – so sharp when it came to sniffing out news, but completely oblivious when hormones were flying around his office so thick anyone else would need breathing equipment to fight their way out.
‘Yeah. Leave it with me,’ she replied stiffly. ‘I’ve got it covered.’
Just over a week before Valentine’s Day and already the end of winter felt like spring. Ellie pulled up on Constance Street with the sun warming her back to see a small crowd of the regulars focused around two figures. At her approach, Annette hailed her, moving some of the others aside to reveal Ben on his usual seat with Gemma sitting on his lap looking every inch the queen holding court. Ellie shot a quick glance around. Other than two chairs, every scrap of evidence that Ben had ever lived there at all was gone. It seemed he had cleared everything away, gone with Gemma wherever they would go to make up, and then come back to his corner expressly for Ellie’s benefit. She wondered whose idea that had been. As her gaze went back to them snuggled on the chair together, she tried desperately not to think about the making up part either. Her mental calculations took seconds, and as Ben seemed to realise Ellie was there, his face betrayed a certain amount of confusion and embarrassment. He sat up straight, almost throwing Gemma off-balance.
‘Ellie… I didn’t expect…’
Gemma stood and greeted Ellie. ‘Thanks for coming. I must have forgotten to tell Ben that I’d asked for you rather than anyone else. After all…’ she smiled sweetly, ‘you are responsible for bringing us back together.’
Ellie made herself smile at Gemma’s happy, open face. ‘I’m glad to have had a part in it, but I really can’t take all the credit. Perhaps you should give that to Ben for his tenacity.’
‘Oh, I do,’ Gemma replied, throwing him a smouldering look. ‘I gave him plenty of credit last night.’
It was all Ellie could do to stop herself grimacing. The last image she needed now was of them having sex. Ben looked equally mortified at the revelation. He threw a nervous looking glance at the residents still milling around.
‘Ladies, would it be OK if we do Ellie’s interview and catch up with you later?’
Ellie guessed that he was no happier about what Gemma might say in their presence than she was. Annette nodded. ‘We’ll pop home for a bit…’ She glanced at the others for approval. ‘Come back later if they’re still here?’
‘Don’t worry,’ Gemma purred. ‘We’re going to have a reunion party soon. It might even become a celebration of something more permanent. Whatever, you’ll all be invited…’ She looked directly at Ellie. ‘Especially you.’
‘I look forward to it,’ Ellie replied. As much as she would her three-yearly smear test. Even the most unobservant person would have found it hard to miss the insincerity in her voice, despite her best efforts to mask it, and her inner guilt-worm gave an especially large wriggle. Gemma simply smiled in return. The ladies dispersed, making their way back to their own houses, only Annette moving a little slower as she tried to get every last drop of gossip from the drama that would, in a few days, be a memory. Gemma ignored her. She was about to speak again when she stopped and glanced past Ellie, who followed the direction of her gaze to see Patrick striding along the street towards them. He held up a hand in greeting.
‘So, the happy couple is back together,’ he said. Annette beamed at him as he drew level with them. ‘Hello, lovely to see you again,’ he said to her. ‘Where are the other angels?’
Annette giggled and flushed. ‘They’ve just gone home for a while. I was on my way when you arrived.’
‘Oh, you were going to make me a cup of tea, weren’t you?’ Patrick winked. ‘You are a love.’
‘I can do that!’ Annette said brightly. ‘Just give me ten minutes and I’ll bring a pot out for everyone.’
Annette scurried away and Patrick pulled out his camera. ‘Can we get a few photos first?’
Ellie began to wonder what Patrick was up to. She gave him a pointed look but he simply smiled amiably and began to fiddle about with the lenses on his camera. Had he guessed Ellie’s distress? Was he giving her time to think, time to collect herself before she had to talk to them and dig out the details of a story that it would very likely kill her to write? Whether he was doing it consciously or not, she was grateful for the breathing space.
‘Great idea, coming back to the corner where it all began,’ Patrick said as he manoeuvred them into their poses. ‘Who takes the credit for that bright scheme?’
‘That was me,’ Gemma said. ‘It seemed kinda right.’
‘Plus, everyone will know where to find you, eh?’ Patrick said carelessly. ‘You had the regional TV news here yesterday, I believe. It was a real stroke of luck that they arrived just after you did, wasn’t it.’
Gemma seemed to hesitate, just for a moment. But then she regained her composure. ‘Oh, I know, wasn’t it? One of the neighbours must have told them I was here.’
‘They got here fast from Birmingham too,’ Patrick commented, not a flicker of anything but good-natured interest in his face.
‘They did,’ Gemma agreed, trying not to look at Ben’s expression of sudden illumination.
Patrick nudged them together. ‘Ben, can you just squeeze in closer… Gemma, how about looking up at him? Perfect… so are the TV crew from Every Morning coming back too?’
Gemma glanced at Ellie as she addressed Patrick. ‘I’ve no idea – do you think they will?’
‘So nobody has phoned them? I’d have thought they would be very keen to come back and interview you both,’ Patrick replied.
‘I suppose they would,’ Gemma mused.
‘You’ll be like Will and Kate,’ Patrick said. Gemma beamed at him, but Ben’s face seemed to lose a shade.
Ellie stared at Patrick. What on earth was he up to?
The thread of conversation took a safer turn when Annette returned with a tray of tea things.
‘You are an absolute poppet,’ Patrick said, causing Annette to flush with pride. ‘Mr Annette is a lucky, lucky man.’
‘He is,’ Ben agreed. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without Annette all these weeks.’
Gemma gave an earnest smile. ‘Three cheers for Annette then, eh?’
Even Annette shot Gemma a faintly disbelieving look at this suggestion. When nobody obliged, Gemma linked her arm in Ben’s and snuggled into him, almost as if to reinforce her ownership to anyone who doubted it.
‘Are we done now?’ Ben asked Patrick.
‘Yep,’ Patrick said to the couple, taking a mug from Annette with a jaunty nod. ‘But I’ll stick around for a while and drink this lovely cuppa while you do the words, eh, Ellie?’
Ellie pulled her notebook out. ‘So Ben,’ Ellie asked in a dull voice, ‘how do you feel now that this is all over and you have the result you wanted?’
�
�We’re totally happy,’ Gemma said. ‘We just want the world to know all about it.’
Ellie smoothed back a frown and resisted the urge to question whether Gemma thought Ben had suddenly developed a chronic inability to speak. ‘OK… Gemma, how do you feel now that it’s all over?’
Ben clamped his mouth shut as his girlfriend began to elaborate on her thoughts about their reunion. Ellie would have said he looked distinctly miserable if anyone had asked her. But, of course, how could a man who now had everything he’d ever wanted look miserable?
‘She’s a scheming little cow.’ Patrick leaned into the open window of Ellie’s Mini as she slotted the key into the ignition.
‘Hold on a minute,’ Ellie said, staring at him. ‘That’s going a bit far. What on earth makes you say that?’
‘It’s obvious that she arranged for the film crew to be here when she arrived for her reunion.’
‘Really, do you think…?’ Ellie said uncertainly. ‘But I suppose they’re back together now and that’s the most important thing, isn’t it?’
Through the car’s wing mirror, Ellie could see down the street to where they had just been chatting. Ben was packing away the chairs as Gemma looked on. Annette had returned to her house half an hour previously mumbling something about vegetables that needed peeling.
Patrick turned his gaze back to her. ‘You liked him a lot, didn’t you?’
‘I like her too.’
‘Not that sort of like, though…’
Ellie gave a wan smile. ‘And there was me thinking nobody had noticed.’
‘I just wish I’d noticed it earlier.’
‘What would you have done differently?’
‘I’d have told you to stop trying to sort his life out and offer him a blowjob.’
Ellie couldn’t help but laugh, her anxieties draining away with Patrick’s one well-timed joke. He always knew the right thing to say.
‘You know he isn’t happy about all this fuss,’ Patrick added.
‘He was happy with it before,’ Ellie replied stubbornly. She knew that he hated the attention, but she couldn’t bring herself to stick up for him right now.
‘That was different. He was using it to get his message across.’
Ellie glanced in the mirror again to see Ben and Gemma turn the corner of the street together and disappear from sight.
Patrick straightened up and fished in his pocket for his own car keys. ‘You’re going to be OK?’
‘Not much choice, have I?’
‘Come over, have dinner with me and Fi tonight.’
Ellie hesitated. ‘I don’t really think I’m in the mood for company.’
‘It’ll do you good…’
‘No. Thanks but I’d only curdle the milk.’ She forced a smile. ‘I’ll see you at work, OK?’
He nodded. ‘You know I’ll do my best to change your mind though.’
Ellie really needed to keep her feelings out of the reunion story in that night’s edition, but it was a task that she found taxing, to say the least. It wasn’t helped by the memory of the smug expression that the girl had worn earlier in the day every time Ellie had happened to shoot a furtive glance in her direction. She had an awful feeling that Patrick’s suspicions were true, though Gemma had been perfectly pleasant and likeable to everyone. She tried to tell herself that it was jealousy, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. She managed, finally, to pull together a flattering selection of quotes from the couple and a carefully neutral account of them together back on Constance Street where their love affair had begun.
After lunch, she clicked open an email from Patrick. He had attached an assortment of the photos he had taken that day. Ellie scrolled through them. She couldn’t deny that Ben and Gemma looked good together – they looked right. Whatever Ellie felt about the situation, it was the way things ought to be. The admission was like a knife in the heart. Ellie got to the last photo, preparing to close the email, but then a slow smile spread across her face. Patrick had manipulated it, making Gemma’s eyes pop out of her head. He had also given her a moustache and some enormous fake boobs.
Ellie hit reply:
You nutter! Let’s hope you don’t get them mixed up when you submit for copy! Thank you for cheering me up. x
Ellie shook herself. For what seemed like the hundredth time that week, she told herself that it was ridiculous pining over a man like this. She had a life of her own to live – and a complicated enough one at that. She also had a whole bunch of brilliant people in her life that she was neglecting. She pulled out her phone and sent her mum a quick text to say she’d be over during the week to visit. Next she tapped out a message to Kasumi.
What are you doing this weekend? I could come to London if you’re free. x
She sent the same one to Jethro.
Locking the screen, she placed the phone back on her desk. She tried to work, but her eyes kept flicking back to her phone, waiting for a reply. It didn’t take long for Kasumi to answer.
No can do, hon. I have the dreaded relatives come to inspect the homestead. Next weekend? x
Ellie tapped her phone against her chin for a moment. That was one plan scuppered. But then a second text came through from Jethro.
Fantastic! We can take you to that new club. x
Ellie pondered for a moment.
Sorry, Kasumi can’t come out. So it looks like another weekend. x
A minute later Jethro replied.
I don’t think she’d mind if it’s just you and me. We can always try to catch up with her for lunch before you go back. x
Somehow, it didn’t seem right going out without Kasumi. They were a trio – always had been. But Ellie did feel as if the time away would do her good. She sent another message to Kasumi.
I might still come and go out with Jethro on Saturday night. How about we meet you for a quick lunch on the Sunday? x
Kasumi’s reply was as lightning fast as ever.
No problem! I’ll see if I can rohypnol my parents and sneak off for an hour. x
A re-run of their previous weekend was just what she needed to shake this stupid state of constant moping that had settled over her of late.
Ok, Kasumi is cool with that so I’ll see you on Saturday. x
Jethro was obviously waiting by his phone too as his reply was almost immediate.
Awesome! Are you coming into Euston? Let me know what tickets you book and I’ll pick you up from the station. Can’t wait to see you! x
Ellie gazed at the screen of her phone. She read the message again. She was going to get so drunk on Saturday night that she wouldn’t even be able to remember who she was, let alone a man named Benvolio Kelly.
Miranda opened the front door and gave Ellie a quick peck on the cheek. ‘I thought you’d defected or something.’
Ellie followed her into the dim hallway, peeling her coat off. There was a faint, comforting smell of freshly chopped onion and herbs that set Ellie’s stomach rumbling. ‘What was the or something?’
‘I don’t know… you could have joined a nunnery, run away with the circus, taken up extreme knitting…’
Ellie laughed. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve just been working really hard.’ The heat hit Ellie as soon as they opened the door to the living room. ‘Bloody hell, Mum, how high do you have your thermostat? And the fire is on!’
‘It’s my house,’ Miranda replied in the manner of a moody teenager. ‘And now that your dad isn’t here to complain, I can have it as hot as I like.’
‘Oh… so this is a protest sauna…’
‘Very funny. Open that window if you’re too hot.’
‘If I open that window, hedgehogs in your garden will think summer has come early. I could be responsible for wiping out an entire ecosystem.’ Ellie flung her coat over the arm of the sofa and stripped off her hoodie so that she was down to jeans and T-shirt.
Miranda ignored the jibe. ‘Are you staying for tea?’
‘What have you got?’
‘Cott
age pie.’
‘Sounds amazing. If you have some going spare I’ll gladly take it off your hands.’
‘You know I always cook too much.’
‘That’s because you’re still subconsciously taking me and Dad into account.’
‘Lucky you’re here, then. And as your dad isn’t, it looks like you get double helpings.’ The radio was murmuring quietly in the corner of the room. Miranda switched it off. ‘I suppose you’ve seen him even though you haven’t seen me this week?’
‘Dad?’
‘Who else?’
Ellie could think of a lot of who elses, but now wasn’t the time to mention it. ‘I saw him last week.’ She paused, weighing her next words carefully. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard from him?’
‘Do you want a cup of tea?’ Miranda turned for the kitchen. Ellie followed her.
‘That means you have.’
Miranda filled the kettle. ‘Do you want that cup of tea or not?’
‘Yes, please…’ Ellie replied very deliberately. ‘What did Dad say? He asked you to meet up with him?’
By the look on her mother’s face, Ellie guessed that any vague hope she had that her parents might reconcile their differences was a forlorn one.
‘Oh, Mum, this is getting boring now.’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
Ellie flopped onto a chair. ‘Why can’t you just see him? He wants to explain properly. What have you got to lose by letting him? It would be an opportunity to put your side forward too.’
‘Your father is already perfectly aware of my feelings. I don’t need an opportunity.’
‘So he asked and you told him no?’
‘Naturally. There’s no point in meeting because there is nothing to discuss that can’t be discussed through solicitors.’
Worth Waiting For: A heart-warming and feel-good romantic comedy Page 15