Goodness, Grace and Me

by Julie Houston

  ‘David, I did not want Nick to go into any sort of partnership with you. After his first business went into liquidation we struggled to get ourselves back upright. But we did. We managed. Only just, mind you, but we did it.’ I must have sounded very fierce because David sat back in his seat a little. ‘I went back to teaching and, with what Nick earned at Wells Trading, we managed to keep our heads above water. And then you came along, with your fancy ideas, and your even fancier wife, and totally upset the equilibrium we’d managed to achieve. We were poor, but happy.’ I could feel tears beginning to well.

  ‘Bloody hell, Harriet, you sound like some B-rated movie. Poor but happy, for God’s sake? When I met Nick he most certainly was not happy. He was utterly frustrated at being in a third-rate job, knowing, as did I once I’d researched his past history, just what a brilliantly clever man he is when it comes to the textile industry.’

  ‘Well, why was that man at your house so obnoxious about you?’ I said peevishly, feeling as if I was being well and truly told off.

  ‘Which man?’

  I struggled to recall his name. ‘Got big white teeth – Mike somebody.’

  ‘Mike Rawlinson? Oh, no wonder you think I’m a gangster if you’d been talking to Mike. He’s desperate to do business with my company, but I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole – or, perhaps, according to you, a fishing rod.’ David laughed to himself. ‘As I say, Harriet, I only work with people who I can almost guarantee will come up trumps. Nick is one such person.’

  ‘But what about the fifty thousand pounds you made Nick put up as surety? Where the hell do you think that came from?’ I felt angry again, remembering that we still owed Sylvia the money.

  ‘I’ve no idea, Harriet – that’s really not my problem. But you don’t think I was going to set Nick up with all my financial contacts without some sort of surety do you? I’ll be honest with you, all business is bloody hard work at the moment and the eurozone problem isn’t helping. It had made me think twice about investing in a new business, particularly in Europe.’ David looked glum for a moment, but then smiled. ‘I don’t take risks, you know, I’m not really a gambling man, but this whole opportunity – as long as I could find the right man – was just too good to miss.’ He laughed out loud. ‘And Richard was very put out that I got in there before him.’

  ‘Richard?’

  ‘Mm? Richard? Oh, Richard Branson. Had lunch with him a couple of weeks back and told him all about it.’

  Was this man for real? I stole a sideways glance at him, but he seemed genuine enough, chuckling away to himself and quite unaware that he’d been name-dropping. Not that I was particularly interested in the great bearded one. What I was more interested in was the whereabouts of Sylvia’s fifty thousand pounds.

  ‘Where is that money now?’ I asked, looking David Henderson straight in the face. I pride myself on always being able to spot a fraud.

  ‘In the bank, untouched, and ready to give back to Nick now that he’s accomplished what we set out to do.’

  I looked at David. ‘What do you mean?’

  David looked back at me, equally surprised. ‘Well, he’s taken the first step in achieving what we set out to do together. What I was backing him to do. I’ve very little knowledge of the textile industry, but Nick has masses of experience.’

  ‘And what exactly has he achieved?’ I asked slowly.

  ‘Harriet, haven’t you spoken to Nick lately?’

  ‘Err no, not exactly.’

  ‘Jesus, woman! Listen, Harriet, your husband has just pulled off one of the best deals ever in Italy. Even in the middle of this bloody recession he has managed to sign watertight contracts that have cornered the Italian market. It’s obviously very early days, but with Nick’s knowledge of the men’s clothing industry and my company behind him, we are one step nearer in making a real go of this.’ David sighed contentedly.

  ‘We are?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  So why wasn’t I feeling overwhelmed with relief? Well, obviously there was still the little problem of Nick being out there with Amanda. What was the point of having a much-lauded husband if said husband was possibly about to push off with the wife of the very man who was singing his praises? And what about Grace and Sebastian? And my brother, John? I couldn’t see David Henderson being too pleased about them. Would he think Nick and I were to blame for that?

  I squirmed in my seat trying to work out what, if anything, to say to David about Nick and Amanda. He might not actually be a hood, but I couldn’t see him being anything but pretty narked at my telling him what my husband and his wife had been up to in Milan.

  ‘David, there is a slight problem,’ I eventually said.

  ‘What’s that Harriet? You going to tell me my fancy wife, as you so succinctly put it, has got the hots for your husband?’

  I stared at him. ‘Err, well yes, I was actually. In fact, I was going to say that they’ve probably got the hots for each other.’

  David sighed. ‘Harriet, you have to know something about Mandy. She comes from a long line of serial philanderers. You wouldn’t have known her father, Frank,’ (Oh wouldn’t I??) ‘but he was a randy old goat. Chased anything in a skirt. While I truly believe that Mandy doesn’t actually have affairs like her father did, she constantly needs the approval of other men. Blame her upbringing, if you like. While Frank did spoil her rotten, there was a lot of time when he wasn’t there; when he was off like a dog on heat sniffing out his latest conquest. It was all in the chase, I’m sure. Once they’d submitted to his charms he tired of the whole thing and hotfooted it back home to Mandy’s mother. Mandy, I’m sure you’ve noticed, wants to be admired, actually needs men to be enthralled with her and spends a lot of time and effort making sure that men fall in love with her.’

  Was now the time to tell him about my brother John? Glancing once more at this man who’d rescued me from the snow, I had a feeling that, not only was John just one of many men at the beck and call of Little Miss Goodness, but that David Henderson would more than likely know everything about every one of them.

  ‘But how does that make you feel?’ I said indignantly, thinking of my poor silly brother and the hopelessness of the whole situation. I couldn’t see that he’d ever be able to cut loose from her while she was allowed to play her games whenever, and with whom, she was allowed.

  ‘Well, in a way, I’m partly to blame. I don’t always give her the attention she craves – I’m away a lot and she gets bored. Her letting me know that other men fancy her is, I think she feels, a way of keeping me on my toes.’

  ‘But don’t you ever worry that she might actually go off with one of these men one day?’

  ‘No. She’ll always come back to me.’ He said this without any arrogance. ‘It’s just the way we are. We understand each other. There’s an unwritten rule that it never goes further than flirtation. I know that if I know about it I don’t need to worry. And I know about her and Nick and exactly how far the flirtation goes. You really don’t need to worry.’

  It all sounded pretty weird to me. What a funny way to be married, having to play games all the time.

  ‘Mandy craves affection,’ David went on. ‘I think it’s something to do with being a Daddy’s girl. Frank Goodners doted on her, but that didn’t stop him having affairs with half the women in Midhope and beyond. With me, she has security. She knows I’ll never leave her.’

  ‘That’s all very well and good, but what if my husband is in love with her? Where does that leave me?’

  David sighed again and took my hand. ‘Listen Harriet, when I’d done my homework and Nick’s name came up over and over again as the man to headhunt for the Italian Job, as I called it, I approached Brian Thornton to get the low-down on him and arrange an introduction. You know who I mean by Brian?’

  ‘Yes, of course I know Brian. He did a lot of work with Nick when he was running The Pennine Clothing Company.’

  ‘Brian’s known Mandy all his life. He’s been in th
e textile trade for years – actually used to work for her father. When I said I’d probably have to send Mandy out to Italy with Nick because of her legal knowledge and because she’s fluent in Italian, Brian laughed, saying at least Mandy wouldn’t be able to get up to her old tricks with Nick Westmoreland.’

  ‘Oh?’

  David smiled. ‘Brian said to me, “Nick Westmoreland is a one-woman man. Has the most gorgeous, if at times scatty, wife whom he absolutely adores. You need have no qualms about him being distracted by Mandy.”’

  ‘Really?’ I felt myself go red with pleasure. ‘Is that what Brian said?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Would you mind just repeating that?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘The bit about having a wife whom he absolutely adores.’

  David laughed again and ruffled my hair. ‘If you’ve fallen out with Nick I don’t suppose you know he was due to fly in to Manchester Airport this afternoon? I spoke to him last night and again this morning just before he left. If this snow hasn’t held him up, he should be at home by now. Do you want to speak to him on my mobile? Tell him where you are?’

  ‘No,’ I said slowly, ‘I’ll surprise him.’

  ‘Up to you. Come on then, it looks like the traffic might be moving. Let’s get you home.’

  Chapter 25

  Once off the motorway I followed David Henderson down into the valley where we lived, the amount of fallen snow decreasing steadily as we got to the lower levels. It was still pretty treacherous, but nothing like the conditions caused by the freak blizzard on the motorway.

  By the time we were a mile or so from home, sleet was already turning what snow there was to a wet slush and David indicated before stopping at the side of the road. He jumped out of his car and came back to where I’d pulled up behind him.

  ‘Do you think you’ll be OK from here?’ he asked as I wound down the window. ‘I’ll go all the way with you if you’d rather, but I think the roads are pretty clear now and Mandy has just rung wondering where I am.’

  ‘What, she’s rung from Italy?’

  ‘Italy?’ David asked, frowning. ‘Mandy’s been back from Italy for almost a week. She flew out for a couple of days to ensure the legal documents were all in order before Nick signed on the dotted line, but she didn’t need to stay out any longer than that. I have to say I was surprised when she didn’t stay longer – Milan is her favourite city – but she said she had to do some sorting out with that nice friend of yours – Grace is she called? Don’t ask me what. She was very cagey about it.’

  Seeing the expression on my face, David reached into the car and, tying my scarf more securely round my neck, kissed my cheek. ‘Look, lovey, I don’t know what’s going on between you and Nick,’ he said, ‘but you need to get home and sort it out. Take it from me, your husband is one man Mandy didn’t manage to play games with. I always know when she’s not got her own way with whoever she’s been dallying with – she comes home, stays home and makes my dinner every night. Which is where I’m going now, with a bottle of champagne and some flowers if I can find any.’

  David squeezed my still cold hand before saying, ‘And I can quite understand why Nick will always be a one-woman man when it comes to you: you are gorgeous, even with a cold nose and mascara that’s run.’ He reached into the car, kissed me, almost politely, and was off.

  I realised I was smiling. No, grinning. In fact very soon I reckoned I’d be laughing out loud. My euphoria lasted as long as it took me to reverse off the pavement and skid into the road, missing a lamp post by inches.

  I drove slowly home, trying to remember the exact words Nick had used in that last telephone conversation we’d had over a week ago – and of course there was Suzy’s photo to take in to consideration – but nothing made sense any more.

  I finally pulled, or rather skidded, into our drive at seven o’clock. It had taken almost three hours from leaving the hospital to getting home. Nick’s car was parked up by the front door – he’d obviously made it home before the snow had started to come down.

  I realised I felt horribly nervous, my euphoria draining away again with each mile that brought me closer to home. What if David was being incredibly naïve about Nick and Amanda’s relationship and Nick was, even at this moment, packing his bags to move out while desperately thinking of the best way to break the news to me?

  I sat in the car, unwilling to actually walk up the path and face Nick. Then I shook myself, reached into my handbag for my reddest lipstick, replaced my run mascara and combed my fingers through my hair. A good squirt of ‘Aromatics’ and I was ready for action.

  There was no evidence of any packing having been done: no bags, suitcases or suits in their protective hangers slung over the banisters in the hall waiting only for my return before being bundled into Nick’s car. Bones appeared, weaving comfortingly through my legs as I made my way down to the sitting room; someone had obviously let him out of the utility room.

  There was no television noise, no CD playing. Silence prevailed.

  Nick lay on the settee, a half-empty glass of whiskey on the floor besides him. His eyes were closed, blue shadows of utter exhaustion smudged beneath them. I walked right up to him, gazing down at his beloved face, but still he didn’t stir, one arm thrown up above his head, the dark-blue pinstriped material of his suit jacket nestling carelessly in his tousled dark-blonde hair.

  ‘Hi,’ he said sleepily, his velvety chocolate eyes opening as he yawned. ‘Where on earth have you been? What time is it?’

  ‘Past seven o’clock. I need to fetch the children – they’re all out at friends.’’

  ‘How’re you doing?’ That’s all he said, but his gaze never left my face, and he took my arm pulling me down to him. He was warm, and the faint tang of lemon, Nick’s beloved smell, filled my senses.

  We lay there for a good half a minute, Nick’s arms clamped tightly around me. This surely wasn’t the action of a husband about to leave home for another woman?

  ‘Are you home for good?’ I whispered into his neck, holding my breath until he spoke.

  ‘For good?’ Nick struggled to sit up, releasing his hold on me only to push his hair back and reach for his whiskey.

  ‘Are you staying?’

  ‘Staying?’

  ‘Nick, will you stop repeating what I’ve just said?’ I needed to take the bull by the horns, but seeing as there was nothing remotely bovine in the sitting room, I did the next best thing and grasped Nick by his suit lapels instead. ‘Are you staying here with me and your children or are you leaving us for Amanda?’

  ‘No, Harriet, I am not leaving you for Mandy or anyone else,’ Nick said wearily.

  ‘But you said you needed her, couldn’t be without her.’

  ‘Did I? When?’ Nick looked at me in genuine surprise.

  ‘When you rang home last week.’

  ‘Ah, well, yes, I probably did say that. I did need her. Bloody hell, Harriet, it really was touch and go at one point. We had two evenings when Mandy was supposed to be going over the legal stuff with the Italians and on the first evening I couldn’t find her in the hotel. We had an appointment that we almost ended up missing because she’d had a phone call from a friend telling her she’d seen Sebastian wrapped around some woman old enough to be his mother. I eventually found her down in one of the street cafes on her mobile desperately trying to get in touch with Sebastian and, I think, Grace.’

  ‘Grace? How the hell did she know the woman was Grace?’

  ‘Apparently the friend was one of her prefect cronies from school and knows Grace as well as Mandy does. She knew Mandy had some sort of issue from the past with Grace and couldn’t wait to get on the blower and spill the beans.’

  ‘Blimey.’ I could see how close Nick had been to losing the contract. With Amanda so distracted over the knowledge that her beautiful son was throwing himself away on Grace she wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on anything else.

  ‘I had to calm her down, soo
the her and get her back up to the hotel …’

  ‘Hang on a minute,’ I interrupted. ‘Soothe her? Just exactly how did you go about soothing her?’

  Nick hesitated. ‘Look, Hat,’ he said finally, ‘I had to calm her down, alright? I had to hold her, physically wrap my arms around her to keep her sitting there. If I hadn’t she’d have been off in a taxi to the airport. I’d never seen her like that before. She has got real issues with Grace, you know.’

  A light seemed to go on in my brain as Nick spoke of having his arms around Amanda. He didn’t know I’d seen photographic evidence of his apparent infidelity, so why would he bother to tell me all this unless it was as he said? I tried to recapture the image on Suzy’s Blackberry. He had had his arms round her, but I suppose, like he said, they could have been there to restrain her rather than as an indication of any passion for her.

  ‘Yes, you don’t have to tell me about Amanda and Grace.’ I now said. ‘Amanda’s been like this about Grace ever since we were young but, I have to say, since we’ve got to know her again, she seems to have got worse rather than better, even before she found out about her and Seb. She’s totally over the top about it, don’t you think? I mean, for heaven’s sake, why can’t she just laugh about what happened when we were kids? But that’s Amanda for you, I suppose.’ I shook my head at the thought. ‘So what happened then?’

  ‘I had to get her back up to the hotel. I knew there were at least three others, including some Germans and another lot from near Leeds, who were pitching for the contract. If we didn’t turn up to sign the first set of papers that evening there were others who would. And that would have meant the end of everything.’ Nick ran his hand through his hair distractedly. ‘That was Sunday evening, I think. By two in the morning we still hadn’t sorted everything out and we had to have another round of talks on the Monday and Tuesday. I tell you, it was nerve-racking keeping everything going when I could see Mandy was getting more and more distracted.’

  ‘I bet she was all over you wasn’t she?’ I said crossly. Even though I really was beginning to see Nick’s point of view and understand the position he’d been in, I still couldn’t bear the thought of Amanda in his arms. It might have been a restraining hug to Nick, but I didn’t for one minute believe that Amanda didn’t relish both the embrace and the whole drama of it all.