I Could Love You

by William Nicholson

  ‘If only. Is that how it is down your way?’

  ‘Exeter is Dullsville Central. Nobody has any brains to fuck out. Myself included.’

  Enchanted, he gets her a drink at the bar. Vodka and Coke. They sit by the Christmas tree grinning at each other.

  ‘So what’s the story on the girlfriend front?’ Chloe says.

  ‘Not great. I was with someone in the summer, but we broke up a while back.’

  He says it with an easy smile, as if the decision was mutual. Painless.

  ‘So you’re available. That’s perfect.’ Not exactly Jack’s experience: but it’s refreshing to have it presented in this way. Chloe’s eyes have never left him for one second. He feels intoxicated. If it wasn’t so totally unlikely he’d say Chloe is flirting with him.

  ‘Do you ever meet up with the old crowd from Underhill?’ she says.

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘I met Alice Dickinson on the train down. Do you remember Alice?’

  ‘Just about. Her mum married Mr Strachan, didn’t she?’

  ‘She remembers you.’

  Jack can think of nothing to say to this. He’s not interested in Alice Dickinson. He’s interested in Chloe.

  ‘So how about you?’ he offers. ‘How’s your love life?’

  ‘Oh, insane as usual. I met this boy called Hal and I decided he was the love of my life but now I think maybe he’s a bit of a tit.’

  ‘Sounds like you’re available, too.’

  ‘That’s me. Always available. Why not? I’m only nineteen. I’m not about to settle down, for fuck’s sake. So if I’m not settling down I’m available, right? Not exactly rocket science. But certain people don’t seem to get the message. It’s not as if I’m asking them to be saints in shining armour. Why can’t everyone just lighten up?’

  Jack smiles and nods, struck by the obvious wisdom of this attitude. We’re young. Live for the moment. Just lighten up. As uttered by Chloe, wriggling on a barstool before him in a way that makes him acutely aware of her body, it has the force of revelation.

  ‘You should meet up with Alice,’ says Chloe. ‘You’d like her.’

  ‘Alice?’

  ‘Yes, Alice. Remember? We were talking about her. Oh, maybe ten or twelve seconds ago.’

  ‘Then we were talking about you.’

  ‘Oh, you don’t want to talk about me.’

  ‘Why not? You are sitting here, in front of me.’

  ‘I’m not your type at all. I’m far too empty-headed.’

  ‘Oh, sure. I bet you secretly believe you know what’s going on better than anyone.’

  ‘Well, yes.’ She opens her blue eyes very wide. ‘How did you guess? Can you read my mind?’

  ‘Everyone secretly believes that.’

  Her pretty lips curl into a slow smile.

  ‘Aren’t you the clever one.’

  She finishes her vodka and Coke, still smiling at him.

  ‘You want another drink?’ he says.

  ‘No, I’m supposed to be getting back for dinner. My first day home.’

  ‘God, I’ve been home for days.’

  ‘So you’ve got plenty of time on your hands.’

  ‘You could say that.’

  ‘Why don’t we meet up in Lewes for lunch sometime?’

  Jack is astonished all over again, but he’s careful not to show it.

  ‘Sure. I’d like that.’

  ‘I’m meeting Alice on Sunday. Harvey’s at one o’clock. You could join us.’

  So it’s not quite the hot date it looked like for one shining moment, but it’s a start.

  ‘Seems like you and Alice have turned into best friends.’

  ‘She’s really interesting, you know? You’ll see when you meet her.’

  She looks round and catches sight of the clock over the bar.

  ‘Shit! I have to go.’

  She jumps up and starts muffling herself up with her scarf.

  ‘So Sunday, okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Thanks for driving over. If I ever pass my test I’ll do the same for you.’

  ‘No sweat.’

  She gives him a peck on the cheek, her face warm against his.

  ‘I really have to run.’

  Jack drives home more slowly than he came, absorbing the implications of their brief meeting. Chloe asked him if he was single. She made sure he knew she herself was available. She fixed for them to meet again. All that points one way, doesn’t it?

  So where does Alice Dickinson come in?

  Suppose Chloe’s got the idea that she might like him, but isn’t quite sure. It would make sense for her to make a date for lunchtime, to check him out, and to bring along a friend. That’s what girls do.

  This explanation fits all the facts but one. Why should Chloe show this sudden interest in him? Such a thing has never happened to Jack before. He just isn’t the sort that girls go after, not like this. With Hannah it took weeks. Even then he found it hard to believe she wanted more than friendship.

  But Chloe plays a different game. She just wants to have fun.

  Jack feels it then, like the approach of a warm wind. What if it could really happen? Teasing and smiling, touching and kissing, no talk about for ever, Chloe in his arms.

  Oh yes, I’d like that. I’d go for that. Nothing grand, nothing serious, just fooling around till the real thing comes along. Or returns. Secretly he hasn’t given up on that possibility. Maybe Chloe is just what he needs, to win Hannah back. If some of Chloe’s casual way of love rubs off on him it would take the pressure off and then Hannah could love him again. Cruel that people only love you if you don’t love them too much. Loving too much makes you needy. You become passive. You look for ways to please her, you want to do what she wants, you stop caring about your own desires because you have only the one desire, for her to stay with you. So she goes. Your love is selfless, sacrificial, perfect. So she goes.

  Was I too passive with Chloe? He reruns their meeting in the pub and it seems to him he let her make all the moves. Apart from when I did my mind-reading thing. She liked that. She’s not the airhead she likes to make out she is. Maybe I was too ready to agree to everything. I could have said I wasn’t available Sunday lunchtime, except I am. I could have told her not to bring Alice, except what right do I have to tell her what to do?

  Face it, I’m not the forceful type. I’m not her type at all. But she called me. She asked me to drive all the way to Plumpton. For what? A bit of Christmas cheer? Christ knows I could do with that.

  When he gets home he finds the rest of the family are eating supper. He’s still starving.

  ‘We didn’t wait,’ says his mother. ‘You said you didn’t want supper.’

  ‘No problem,’ says Jack. ‘I’ll get myself some bread or something.’

  ‘Don’t be silly.’

  So he gets himself a plate and there’s plenty of pasta left. It smells wonderful.

  ‘Where have you been?’ says Carrie.

  ‘Checking in with a friend.’

  He starts eating.

  ‘Not really good enough, Jack,’ says his father. He’s using his disappointed voice. ‘No one’s forcing you to eat with us, but you can’t just come and go as you please.’

  ‘Right,’ says Jack.

  His mother watches him eating.

  ‘Are you all right, darling?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ says Jack. ‘Me and Hannah split up.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Weeks ago.’

  They all stare at him. So that’s it: now they know. It doesn’t seem such a big deal any more. He’s seeing Chloe again on Sunday.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ says his mother. ‘I liked Hannah.’

  ‘Why?’ says Carrie accusingly, as if once again Jack has failed to respect the family tradition.

  ‘I’m only nineteen, for God’s sake,’ says Jack. ‘I’m not about to settle down. Just lighten up.’

  14

  Tom pours another glass of red wine
for Belinda, and one for himself. Chloe is back, upstairs in her room, but she’ll be down any minute. By an unspoken accord they’re both concealing what has happened from Chloe. Belinda has repaired the damage to her face so Chloe won’t know she’s been crying. Tom has cleared up the red cabbage, or at least, he tried to. Apparently he was doing it wrong because Belinda took over, pushing him angrily out of the way.

  ‘Not like that!’ she said. ‘You can’t pick it up with a wooden spoon!’

  Now she’s banging a bag of frozen peas on the work surface to loosen them up. She’s not looking at him but she’s not crying any more.

  What am I supposed to do now?

  Tom feels aggrieved even though he’s the guilty party. He’s not stupid, he knows that’s illegitimate, even outrageous, but it’s how he feels. He’s confessed his crime, he’s promised restitution. He’s promised his little fling is over, which by the way is something of a wrench, but he’s not allowed to present that in mitigation. Now what does he have to do?

  The truth is he’s frightened. He doesn’t want his marriage to be over. He wants to say, ‘I still love you’, but he feels as if he no longer has that right.

  Chloe comes bouncing in. She comes to him for a kiss.

  ‘Dad! I’ve hardly had a chance to say hello.’

  He hugs her. He admires her.

  ‘So how’s your term been, darling? Are you a star?’

  ‘Not exactly. I don’t think I’m much good at drama. But apparently we’re developing our presentational skills, and they’ll help us in our careers.’

  ‘Of course they will. Got to have presentational skills.’

  ‘Not that there are going to be any jobs when I graduate. Will you go on supporting me, Dad?’

  ‘For how long?’

  ‘Till you die and leave me all your money.’

  ‘And Alex.’

  ‘Forget Alex. You love me much more than him.’

  ‘No, I don’t. I love you both just the same.’

  But it’s not true. Alex is unreachable. You can’t love someone who’s never there. But this is treacherous ground. He can see Belinda watching him.

  She’s just put the steaks on the griddle pan. The smells and sounds of frying fill the room. Chloe goes over to the stove.

  ‘I am so hungry,’ she says.

  ‘Well, I couldn’t put them on until I knew you were back, could I? And the red cabbage got ruined so we’re having frozen peas, but at least that means it won’t be an all-red meal.’

  ‘All right, chill out, Mum, I’m not complaining.’

  Belinda starts to cry. Tom braces himself. Here it comes.

  ‘What is it?’ says Chloe. ‘Is it me?’

  ‘Just everything,’ Belinda says. ‘Sometimes it’s all too much.’

  ‘Oh, Mum.’ Chloe takes her mother in her arms. ‘I shouldn’t have gone out. I was ever so quick, wasn’t I? We’re not really late, are we? We’re going to have some lovely steak and some wine and you’ll feel much better. Say you’ll feel better.’

  ‘Yes. I expect so.’

  ‘I hate it when you cry.’

  ‘I’d better turn the steaks.’

  She dries her eyes. Chloe fetches her half-drunk glass of wine and makes her drink some more. So the moment passes.

  Over dinner Chloe does most of the talking, telling them silly stories about her life in Exeter. She’s decided she’s responsible for the family’s morale. Then she tells them about meeting Alice Dickinson on the train.

  ‘I’m going to fix her up with Jack Broad,’ she says. ‘My Christmas present.’

  Tom says, ‘Does she want to be fixed up with Jack Broad?’

  ‘Definitely. I get to play Cupid.’

  Belinda looks down, bites her lip. Tom closes his eyes for a moment. This is heavy pulling. When he opens his eyes Chloe is gazing at him across the dinner table.

  ‘You look tired, Dad.’

  ‘I am tired. Early night tonight.’

  Chloe helps him with the clearing away and the washing up. For a brief moment he thinks she must know what has happened. But when she starts to chat again it’s clear she knows nothing.

  ‘Don’t you think I’d make a great Cupid?’ she says.

  ‘Yes, darling.’

  Belinda is at the other end of the room by the fire.

  ‘He makes people love each other. Don’t you think that would be a great job to have? I mean, if you got people together, and they ended up married and having kids and all the rest, you’d feel pretty good, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘I expect you would.’

  Chloe is scrubbing the tin the tomatoes were baked in, which is the kind of dirty job she usually evades.

  ‘Do you think I’m an entirely worthless person, Dad?’

  ‘Of course I don’t. You’re my pride and joy.’

  ‘I’ve decided to be a better person. I’m going to start thinking of others from now on.’

  Belinda lets out a sudden cry. Tom turns to her with nervous dread.

  ‘I made a pudding!’ she says. ‘I forgot all about it.’

  The table is cleared. The moment has passed.

  ‘We’ll have it tomorrow, Mum,’ says Chloe. ‘It’ll be even more delicious tomorrow.’

  It’s a big bed, so wide that they can lie in it side by side and not touch, as they are now doing. Impossible for Tom to know what’s going on inside Belinda except that it’s not good. He can tell that because she’s crying again.

  She lies half curled on her side, face in the pillow, and makes this pitiful whimpering sound. Once he reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder but she shakes him off and twists her head even further away. So he’s not welcome. No surprise there.

  He’s dizzy with tiredness and can’t sleep. Unwillingly awake in the darkness he tries to work out what he should do. What he should say to Belinda in the morning. He’ll say anything, he’ll say whatever she wants him to say. But she won’t accept that. Words won’t do it. She’ll want feelings. She’ll want to know how he could do something that hurts her so much and he won’t be able to explain.

  Here’s the question, which he can’t speak aloud because it’s unacceptable: how bad have I been? How unforgivable has my conduct been?

  It’s Tom’s nature to respond to any given crisis in an entirely practical way. Analyse the problem, identify a solution, act. Don’t flinch from the harshest reality. Is the marriage over? If so, what will that be like? Not good. Let it not be over.

  Let this be about me for a few moments, while I’m alone with myself in the night.

  What do I need for my happiness?

  To his surprise the answer is work. Only when he’s in the moment of doing what he’s been trained to do, fully focused on the precise and delicate task in hand, cutting through tissue, suturing blood vessels, slowly and with infinite patience stitching a wound he himself has made, is he fully himself. People think a surgeon’s work must be stressful but it isn’t. It’s his time of tranquillity.

  By contrast all the rest of life is a mess. Tom hates being in a situation where he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do. Like now.

  Tell me what I’m to do. Tell me what price I’m to pay. If I’m to be punished, let me be punished. And then can we forgive and forget?

  Unacceptable, of course. And yet, and yet – his crime is so very small, he’s done no more than all men do, and if they don’t it’s only for lack of opportunity. If you only knew – he addresses Belinda in his mind – it changes nothing between you and me. I still love you as much as before. I still want to be married to you. I still want to come home to you. Why do you have to be so hurt, when I never meant to hurt you?

  You want to know the simple truth? It’s different for men. For us sex is something that happens outside our bodies. It’s something that has no consequences. For you, for women, it’s an act that takes trust and surrender, it has lifelong consequences. So don’t grant my actions the emotions that would accompany them if they were yours.
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  He hears her snuffling on the other side of the bed. He feels the urge to shake her into full wakefulness. Don’t just lie there and suffer. Let’s sort this out. But he knows he must let her come to him in her own time. This is a grieving process, it can’t be rushed. She’s grieving over me.

  Every hour that passes in the dark bedroom leaves him more exhausted. Guilt, of course, but also other emotions that are not appropriate but nevertheless drain away his energy. Frustration, that the problems can’t be thrashed out and resolved. Self-pity, because however this thing works out he’s going to suffer. And anger, secret anger, impermissible anger, that his life should be ruined by such a minor offence.

  At last, maddened by sleeplessness, he gets up and pads softly out of the bedroom. Once the bedroom door is closed behind him he feels for the landing light switch, but then decides not to turn on the light, not wanting the shock of brightness. The landing window looms above the stairs, a rectangular grey blur in the surrounding blackness. Somewhere out there is a full moon, more than a full moon. He read about it in the paper, the moon’s orbit is an ellipse, every fifteen years it reaches its closest point to earth, and so appears bigger and brighter. Except that right now clouds cover the sky, and the rare phenomenon is of course invisible.

  He feels for the banister rail and descends the stairs like a blind man, by touch and memory. He likes doing this, it makes him feel he’s coping with his difficulties. So feeling his way he crosses the hall below and enters the kitchen.

  Here to his surprise he finds an array of tiny lights, as if fairies have taken up residence while the family sleeps. They are the pilot lights of the many electrical appliances the kitchen holds, far more than he ever knew. The amber light on the fridge-freezer, with its illuminated temperature display. The red charging light on the cordless phone. The green light on the dishwasher that says its cycle is completed. The white numerals on the cooker’s digital timer. The red standby light on the TV. There’s no need to turn on the main room lights. The fairy lights show him all he needs to see.

  He sits at the kitchen table and considers whether he wants a drink of some kind. Brandy, perhaps, or hot chocolate. But he makes no further move. Slowly, as his eyes adjust to the darkness, he makes out the faint forms of the two tall kitchen windows, and the night garden outside. The roof of the stable block against the sky. The thin bare branches of the willow tree. The curving line of the Downs.