Moving behind the counter I place the order on the list and as I do so, I glance up to see the two women whispering and giggling together at their table. I get the impression I might be the subject of their conversation or at least half of it.
Chapter 28
Him.
‘I'm back from lunch, dear,’ my mother announces as she once again waltzes into my office without warning.
‘You should learn to knock, Mother.’
‘Why on earth would I want to do that? Anyway, I had the most delightful lunch with Seraphina,’ she says hooking her bag on a protruding branch of the coat stand.
Moving to perch herself on the edge of my desk, I rush to move my papers out of her way before she sits on them.
‘That's interesting,’ I say wondering if she can detect the sarcasm in my voice.
‘Yes, we went to a quaint little place down the high street,’ she says as she tugs at each individual finger on her long white gloves. ‘Do you know it, dear?’
‘I think I know the place, yes,’ I answer with caution, as can detect the prying tone in her voice I like to avoid. She always tends to take the same approach, drifting in to conversation and hoping to trick you into revealing the titbit of information she’s looking for.
‘You do?’ She says shuffling herself further along my desk and I’m forced to move my papers again.
‘Of course, I don't know the precise one you mean. There are about one hundred coffee shops dotted around here. I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific, Mother.’ I could have deflected her oncoming interrogation, or I could have made things worse.
‘Never mind,’ she replies, slapping her gloves into her left hand. ‘The point is, we had a lovely spot of lunch in there today and chatted with the most delightful waitress, I think you might know her. Seraphina did tell me the most amusing story about you and her.’
‘Wait, what?’ And there it is, that’s what she’s after.
‘I knew that would get your interest.’
‘Seraphina told you what story? And whom were you chatting with?’
‘Don't be so concerned, Crawford. It's the most delightful story. Romantic, even, I might add.’
My head falls into the palm of my hand as my mother continues speaking.
‘It was all about a guy and girl, him swooping down and catching her in his arms. As I understand it, you would be that man, she would be the woman, and everything was as it should be. Nothing short of a spectacle.’
‘And Seraphina was saying this in front of the waitress, was she?’ I say, moving my fingers to the side of my temple.
‘Yes. Amy was the woman in question, as I understand it. Beautiful girl. Lovely eyes, great figure.’
I rub my brow in frustration. ‘So, Amy had you and Seraphina to contend with this lunchtime did she? I hope you both went easy on her.’
‘Oh Crawford, you are silly sometimes.’ She taps my shoulder with her gloves. ‘Though I see why you like her. She's quite a funny lady, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, yes she is.’ Wait, I walked straight into that one, didn’t I, what was I thinking? That’s just it, I wasn’t thinking, this is how mother’s little interrogations work.
‘She went quite red when I mentioned you, I can tell you.’
‘Did she now? I trust you stopped short of showing her any baby photos?’
‘I may have refrained on this occasion.’
‘How kind of you.’
‘But I did get the impression there may be more to this story than Seraphina knew.’ She’s upping her game a bit now, going in harder.
‘And what makes you think that, Mother?’ I'm back on my guard again.
‘Oh, I don't know,’ she says, pursing her lips and pushing her thumb into the corner of my desk. ‘It's just a feeling I have. You could call it mother's intuition.’
‘Oh, could we now?’ I laugh. ‘And does your mother's intuition extend to knowing when you're prying?’
‘Of course not, Crawford. So, is there anymore to the story?’
‘Well, as nobody seems to be able to get anything past you, mother, then I'm sure if there were, you would be the first person to know about it.’
My mother's eyes narrow as she looks at me, then makes a humming noise with her lips.
‘What are you doing here anyway? With all this paperwork and so much concentration?’ she says, running a hand through the paperwork on my desk.
‘Nothing to do with you,’ I retort, trying to shield the details from her. But before I know it, she reaches out and snatches one of the files from under me. Kicking her legs up in front of her and jumping down from my desk.
‘I think you'll find it’s something that belongs to me, mother.’ I stand up, trying to snatch the file back but with no success.
‘It says here that you're going to Dubai, son?’ She asks, her eyes widening to look at me. I almost breathe a sigh of relief, as although I hadn’t broached this subject with any of the family yet. It’s a far easier one to explain than had she laid a hand on any of the lease documents for Amy’s fathers house.
‘It's not so strange Mother. I do go there often on business, you know.’
‘We’re you planning on telling me?’
‘Well I wasn't going to just disappear without letting you know, was I’
‘Does your father know?’ she asks, a hand on her hip.
‘Not yet. I was thinking of going round to see him later on. But, it shouldn't be too much of a shock to him. As I said, I do go there quite often. I'm a big boy now. I have my own private jet to travel in and everything.’
‘You will keep me posted, won't you? I imagine I’ll be expected to man the fort during your absence.’
‘I wouldn't be so sure about that, but I'm sure there will be things that you can do to keep you busy.’
‘You just let me know what you want. Oh, and take care of yourself while you’re away please. For me.’ Bending down, she kisses me on the cheek, taps me on the shoulder, and makes her way towards the door. Reaching for the handle, she stops and turns around.
‘I did tell you, didn’t I, how that waitress from the coffee shop blushed when we said your name?’
‘Yes, I think you did mention it thank you, Mother,’ I say sighing and sitting back down at my desk.
‘Perhaps she might quite like to know that you're leaving, too?’
‘Thank you, mother,’ I repeat emphatically. ‘Close the door behind you on your way out, won't you, please.’
Chapter 29
Her
‘Dad, have you seen my skirt?’ I call out across the house again.
‘Is it the fancy one you have for the grand events?’ He replies.
‘Yes, that one.’
‘No. But have you checked the tumble dryer first, this time?’
‘No, I haven't. I'm doing that now.’ Opening the door, I reach my hand inside and sure enough, there it is.
‘It's okay, it's in there,’ I call out.
‘Of course it is, it's always in there. Why don't you ever just look there in the first place?’
He's right. I know he's right. It's almost become a habit now.
‘Are you okay?’ I say, entering the room with my skirt in my hand and walking over to him to give him a kiss on the head.
‘Sure, what about you?’ he replies.
‘I'm fine, thanks, Dad. I’m just getting ready for work.’
‘So, what time’s the do tonight, then?’
‘I've got to be there in an hour. I'm pretty much ready, though, I just need to slip my uniform on and I'll be off.’
‘Is Rosie coming this evening?’ He asks.
‘Of course she is. Doesn't she always come?’
‘She does, except for when she sometimes doesn't,’ the corner of his mouth curled around his words.
‘Well, we did say we’d talk about that, didn’t we? I know it unsettles you to have anybody other than Rosie here. But there are times when she may not be able to make it. The last
time was unfortunate in that you weren't expecting it, I understand. But you do need to be prepared that she may not always be here.’
‘Well, I wasn't unsettled for long. Thanks to your lovely man.’
‘He's not my man, Dad.’
‘Is that right? Well he should be. I wouldn’t mind having him around here more often. Will he be coming again?
‘It's complicated. Listen, I'd better go and get ready, I don't want to delay,’ I say trying to avoid his line of questioning as I don’t want him to realise Crawford’s involvement with the eviction notice.
‘Is something wrong, Amy?’ he asks.
‘No, not at all. I just need to be getting on. That's all.’
‘Remember when his big luxury car was parked outside. You were the talk of the neighbourhood that day, I can tell you,’ he says, motioning toward the window.
‘I'm sure it was, and I’m sure they’ll find something else to talk about just as quick. Now, you know the routine. Anything you want before I leave?’
‘And you, young lady, know that I'm rather capable of helping myself.’
Making my way back up the stairs to get dressed, I think about my father. We've heard nothing more from the property agency. But I suppose that we will have to be looking at selling and moving soon. I haven't spoken to my father about that yet. The longer I leave that conversation, the better. But it is something that we're going to have to approach. I suspect my outburst at Crawford’s office has just delayed things. As I can't see it having much real effect on anything.
In my room I go through all the usual motions preparing for one of these events and think about the last charity dinner I worked at, and seeing Crawford there. I remember the dance we shared in the moonlight, and the warmth of his hand as he slipped it around the small of my back. I remember it as though it was yesterday. But I'm sure it was nowhere near as dreamy as I remember it to be. Besides, it’s a tainted memory now that I know what I know. A rather ugly one, in fact.
‘Amy, you're going to be late again if you don't get a move on,’ Dad calls up from the living room.
‘I’m almost ready now, I won't be long.’
Shaking myself out of my daydream, I rush to get my stuff together for the evening ahead.
Chapter 30
Him
‘Thank you, James,’ I say to my father's butler as he holds the door front door open for me.
‘You're welcome, Sir.’
‘Is my father home?’ I ask.
‘I believe he's in the drawing-room, Sir.’
‘Thank you.’
Walk across my father's marble floor I enter his drawing room.
‘Hello, father,’ I say, sitting down in the chair across from him by the fire. ‘Are you chilly?’
‘No,’ he replies shaking his head I irritation. ‘It’s Seraphina, she fears I may catch a cold,’ he sighs.
‘Oh, I see.’ I try to stifle a laugh.
We've always had a tendency to clash, my father and I, and I’m sure that will resume soon. But it hasn't happened for a while, and I’m quite enjoying how close we’ve gotten. It’s a shame I’m going away.
‘So, tell me. What brings you over?’
‘What, I can't come and see my father when I want to?’
‘Of course you can. And I can ask what it is you've come to see me for.’ He smiles.
‘I'm heading to Dubai this evening on business and I thought I'd just drop by and say goodbye before I leave. That's all.’
‘It's not like you to report your plans to me son.’
‘I know, but I mentioned it to mother this afternoon and she was her usual dramatic self. So I thought I better come by and tell you myself. Besides, I don't know, I don't like the idea of going away for so long after you've been so unwell. I wanted to see what you thought about it first, I guess.’
‘You know me, Crawford. Business is business. Besides, I'm just fine. Seraphina’s been looking after me very well as you might imagine. Too well, in fact. To be honest I'm desperate to get away from her overprotective clutches and back to work. But I’m yet to find an opening I can escape through.’ He says and we both laugh. ‘Don't work yourself too hard now will you, son? Make sure you leave yourself time to enjoy yourself. Life should be about more than just work.’
Enjoy myself while I'm away? Life should be about more than just work? Who is this man and what has he done with my father? What did they put in his drip at the hospital to make him say things like that?
‘Did they check if you’d banged your head or anything at the hospital father?’
‘Ha ha, very funny son. I’m just saying, you always do your best, son and a man should leave himself time to spend on himself, that’s all.’
‘Okay. Well, this is strange. So I think I'll go now,’ I reply, still a little suspicious of his sudden change of outlook.
Standing up I walk over to where he’s sitting and lean down to kiss him on the head.
As I do, he reaches up and ruffles my hair like I’m five years old. ‘Take care son, and I'll see you when you get back.’
‘I will, Father.’
‘Crawford, I didn't realise you were here,’ Seraphina says entering the room with what appear to be a tray full of all sorts of comfort foods and beverages.
Straight away I can spot a bowl of steaming soup, a chuck of crusty bread, a teapot, a bunch of grapes and some chopped up orange segments and that’s without taking a close look.
‘Hello Seraphina, I just stopped by to see Father before I left for Dubai,’ I say reaching out to relieve her arms of the tray.
‘You don't need excuses to come by here,’ she says as I place the tray on the table beside my father’s chair for her. ‘We were just talking about you today.’ She smiles as she lifts a napkin from the tray and flicks it out.
‘So I hear. You and my mother had the quite the lunch today, I gather.’ I reply as I once again try stifle a laugh while watching my father’s face as Seraphina stuffs a napkin into his collar.
‘Oh you know; it was a giggle. All girls together and all that. We have quite missed your mother since she’s been in her own place.’
‘Speak for yourself,’ my father says, prompting Seraphina to slap him on the shoulder.
‘Don't be so mean, Max. You got quite used to little Penelope when she was here. I'm sure that you still have white fluff all over your blanket. There! Don't think we didn't know how much time you were spending together,’ Seraphina says, making me laugh.
‘I’m sure I have no idea what you're referring to,’ he retorts, trying to sound innocent as he brushes a bit of white fur from the blanket.
‘Anyway, as I was saying, your mother and I were chatting with that waitress at the coffee shop. You know the one; you caught her that day when it was raining and she slipped outside the doors.’
‘Yes, I know the one.’
‘What's this?’ my father pipes up.
‘You know, darling. I told you about it, I'm sure.’
‘You did not. I would have remembered that,’ my father laughs.
‘I'm sure I did. Well, at least I meant to. Anyway, it was pouring down with rain, you know, one of those days you don’t want to be out in it. Crawford and I had gone out for coffee. It wasn't raining when we left, but it was one of those flash downpours which occurred as we were sitting in the shop. Anyway, as we were leaving some poor woman was rushing into work and must have misjudged her step. That combined that with the rain, she was over before you know it. Your fast moving son here swooped in and caught her before she hit the floor. If it had not been for him, who knows how she may have hurt herself.’
‘Did he?’ my father says looking at me.
‘It was nothing, Father. I can assure you.’
‘Well, you say that, Crawford. But she didn't seem to think it was nothing by the flush she gave today when we mentioned your name.’
‘Yes, I've already heard about that from my mother thank you, Seraphina.’
‘Poor
woman. I'm not surprised she was blushing. If she had you and Marcella questioning her,’ my father interjects.
‘We were quite polite; I’ll have you know. She seemed to quite like us. Not as much as she appeared to like you, though, Crawford,’ Seraphina says, touching her index finger to her lip.
‘Well, I think that's my cue to go. I'll see you both when I get back.’ I kiss Seraphina on the cheek and leave for the door.
‘Do give us a call when you get there won't you, Crawford?’ She calls after me.
‘Will do, Seraphina,’ I say closing the door behind me as Seraphina is beginning to spoon-feeding my father.
I can't help but think how embarrassed Amy must have felt talking to Seraphina and my mother. I know how they both can be, and am sure they would have put her on the spot as much as possible. I think I should perhaps apologise on their behalf, but then I remember I'm not going to see her again. I can't help feeling more than a little bit sad about that. But there’s nothing I can do, I must respect her wishes.
Chapter 31
Her
Another evening job, another exclusive event in northwest London. It's a charity dinner this time, so it's a good cause and the tables cost an absolute fortune. The people here must be pretty wealthy. I can't imagine I’ll see Crawford here, despite these being his sort of people. That is a good thing, though, as I don't want to see him. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I don't know why, but a small part of me keeps looking out for him all the same.
It’s been an uneventful evening so far. I haven't had any drunken idiots bang into me and spill my drinks like last time. So, in that regard it's going well. Everybody's been served opening drinks and seated for dinner. They’re all finishing their food and the speeches are about to begin in a few moments or so. This is the quiet time where we just stand out of the way and as I've needed the toilet for at least the last half-hour; this is the perfect opportunity for me to slip away.
‘Theresa,’ I say to my colleague standing next to me. ‘I’m just nipping off to the loo, in case anybody wants me. I won’t be long and I'm sure I'll be back before anything happens, okay?’
Romancing The Billionaire: The Complete Story Page 11