Patently in Love

by Rhoda Baxter

  * * * *

  Marsh always phoned before he went to bed. They didn't normally talk for long, but it was the highlight of her evening. It meant that she fell asleep thinking about him. It made for very vivid dreams.

  When the phone rang, Jane dropped the novel she hadn't been able to concentrate on and pounced on it. Sometimes, she found it funny how excited she got at the thought of talking to him. Had she been this giddy when she'd first got together with Ashby? It was like being a teenager again. It would have been silly, if it wasn't so much fun.

  "Hi." He sounded less upbeat than usual.

  "Hello you. What's the matter?"

  "Sorry, is it that obvious? I'm standing in for Keith in Munich. He only briefed me very quickly before he shot off to see his mum, so I've had to read the whole opposition file to get up to speed." He paused, as though trying to decide whether to carry on with what he was saying.

  "And...?"

  "And I think I'm going to lose tomorrow."

  "You don't know that. I'm sure it's all in the way you argue it."

  "Normally, yes, but I think our arguments are quite weak. We're claiming they have no inventive step. If the representative for the other side is any good, they'll walk all over us. Keith must be quite glad to get rid of the case." There was a short silence before he added, "I'm not suggesting that he would prefer for his mum to be ill, obviously. Just..."

  "I know what you meant," said Jane. "Are you sure it's that bad? What was Keith's feeling on the case?"

  "You know what Keith is like. He's all bluster."

  That fitted in neatly with Jane's theory that Keith was over-compensating for his shyness by being gregarious.

  "So he thinks you can win it."

  "He didn't say that."

  "Well, all you can do is try your best."

  Marsh sighed again. "You're right. It's just a shame that this happened so close to the partner's meeting. All they're going to remember is that I lost a case."

  "And that you stepped in at the last minute to help out a colleague."

  "Yeah-ah." He sounded unconvinced.

  "Cheer up Marsh. At least you've got some good news on the stuff you're doing for Susan."

  "Yes, thanks to you."

  "I just got lucky. If I'd taken the second half of that list instead of the first, you'd have found it."

  "And that would have been awful," he said, with a little laugh.

  "Why awful?"

  "Well, you wouldn't have got all excited and rushed round to my office..."

  Jane's mind filled in the blanks. They wouldn't have had that first breathless kiss and things would never have gone anywhere. She would still be wondering if he liked her or not and agonizing over how to talk to him. The very memory of that night made her body tingle.

  "I wish you were here," said Marsh, his voice low. "Right now. In my bed."

  "I know. I wish I was with you too. But you've got an early flight to catch. You should get some sleep."

  "That's true. And if you were here, I certainly wouldn't get that."

  Jane blushed, even though there was no one around to hear. "Stop it."

  His low laugh made her tingle down to her toes. For one mad moment she considered getting her coat and going across town to his flat. Common sense made her dismiss the idea. "I'll see you tomorrow."

  "I'll see you tomorrow night. My flight gets in around eight. Do you want me to come 'round to your place?"

  She still hadn't had him to Polly's flat. Despite how comfortable she felt with him, letting him meet Polly would be a major step. Besides, she had very little privacy at Polly's, whereas they could have Marshall's place all to themselves. "No. Call me when you're at the airport and I'll head over to yours. I'll even pick up dinner en route."

  "That sounds wonderful. You can help me take my mind off my defeat."

  "Now, now. Be positive."

  "Oh I am positive. You can take my mind off work. Definitely."

  Jane giggled. "Night-night Marsh."

  "Night Jane. I...miss you."

  "Me too."

  * * * *

  From: Eric Korsky

  To: Keith Durridge

  Indra tells me that your mother is unwell. I hope it's nothing serious.

  Wish her a speedy recovery.

  Eric

  ##

  From: Keith Durridge

  To: Eric Korsky

  I'm back in the office today. Too late to go the hearing in Munich.

  Mum's fine. It was just a ruse to get Marsh to go to the hearing in my place. With him out of the picture, I can spend a bit of quality time with Jane.

  It was a lousy case anyway. We were bound to lose. This way it'll be Marsh that loses this one. Not me. Bonus.

  K

  ##

  From: Eric Korsky

  To: Keith Durridge

  That is low. I know you and Marshall don't get on, but I don't think sabotaging his career is called for. I don't want to be involved in your little shenanigans. The bet is off. I'm pulling out.

  Eric

  ##

  From: Keith Durridge

  To: Eric Korsky

  Ha! So, you forfeit the bet. Which means you owe me dinner at the club.

  Don't come over all straight-laced with me. In my position you'd have done the same. It's called keeping your eye on the prize. Besides, it's not like I've done Marshall any harm. It'll be a valuable learning experience for him.

  * * * *

  Jane was trying to draft a response to an examination report and constantly had to rein in her thoughts as they drifted towards Marshall. She had expected it to be easier for her to concentrate with him out of the office, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. At least when she could hear him next door, she knew where he was. Now, all she could do was daydream.

  She was wondering how he was getting on with his opposition hearing when Keith knocked on the door.

  "I thought you were at home. How's your mum?"

  "She's okay. On the mend," he said. "It was a false alarm."

  Ruth looked up from her work. "That's a relief."

  Keith gave her a quick glance. "Yes. It is. Jane, can I speak to you for a moment." He indicated that she should step outside.

  Puzzled, Jane went out into the corridor.

  "I was wondering," Keith said in a low voice. "Do you fancy a drink after work. I...need to talk to someone and you're a friend..."

  Jane felt a wave of sympathy. For all his bluff exterior, Keith was quite a sweet man at heart. "Of course. What time?"

  "How about I come and get you around 5.30ish?"

  "That would be fine. I'll see you then."

  "Great!" His voice returned to its normal volume. "Thanks."

  She couldn't help feeling sorry for Keith. Clearly, his mother's illness had affected him deeply, but he still felt he had to maintain his confident persona. He reminded her a bit of Ashby, who could be feeling dreadful, but would still manage to perform when he needed to. She wished she could be as cool and collected. She tended to show her emotions too easily. She sighed and went back to work.

  Her desk phone rang.

  "Hi Jane, it's Marsh."

  "Hey. Where are you?"

  "I'm still in Munich." He sounded breathless. "I won!"

  "What? Wow. Well done! I told you you would!" For a moment she forgot that Ruth was in the room and that she and Marsh were keeping their relationship a secret.

  "Yeah. The other guy was awful. I don't know where they found him. I can't believe we won. It should have been a complete disaster."

  Ruth's shoulders had stiffened. Her head was still bent over her work, but Jane could tell she was listening. She dropped her voice a little. "Are you coming back on an earlier flight?"

 
"No, there isn't one. I've got to kill a few hours. I'm going to see if I can get some work done. I've got to go. I just wanted to tell you the news myself."

  "Thank you. And congratulations!"

  "Thanks. I'll speak to you this evening." She could hear the smile in his voice.

  She hung up, and was wondering whether to make something up about the phone call to allay any suspicions Ruth might have, when there was a shout from outside.

  Val rushed in. "He won! He wasn't confident when he left, but he won." Seeing Ruth's confused expression, she added, "Marsh just texted me. He won the opposition."

  Not wanting to reveal that Marsh had just phoned to tell her in person, Jane said nothing.

  "Yes. Isn't that brilliant! I bet Keith wishes he'd gone after all."

  "I'm sure he'd have gone if he could," said Jane.

  Ruth coughed. Val gave Jane a surprised look. "Hmm."

  * * * *

  Keith took Jane to a pub off Fleet Street and found a quiet nook for them to sit in. Jane made herself comfortable while Keith was fetching the drinks. She glanced at her watch. Marshall would be flying over Europe about now. When Keith returned, he placed her glass of white wine in front of her and slid into the seat opposite. He took a sip of his pint and sighed.

  "Long day?" said Jane.

  "Something like that."

  "Have you heard from your mum today?"

  "Yes. She's definitely feeling better." He ran a hand over his eyes. "It was quite scary, you know. The ride home that day, when I thought I might never see her again."

  Jane nodded. She had nothing to compare it to but the journey home after realising that Ashby had been lying to her. She had felt broken, as though her life had been cracking from that one bullet-hole revelation outwards, just waiting to shatter. But her pain then would be nothing compared to what Keith had been through when he thought him mother was dying. Unable to think of a suitable response, she reached across the table and laid her hand on his.

  He looked at their hands and the corners of him mouth moved upwards, just a bit.

  He was grateful for her sympathy, she decided. She gave his hand a squeeze and withdrew hers.

  "Thanks," he said. "It's nice to stop pretending. I try and keep my personal life away from work. It's not professional otherwise, is it?"

  Jane thought about her own predicament. Her private life catching up with her work one was the thing that she dreaded the most. "I know what you mean."

  Keith contemplated his drink. "She's a fighter, my mum. I guess you'd have to be to put up with Dad for so many years." He appeared to be looking at something far away. "Do you know how they met?"

  Jane shook her head.

  "She was campaigning for women's rights of some sort and was lobbying my Dad, who was already an MP. He was one of the youngest people the Cabinet. He said he'd support her cause if she slept with him."

  Jane couldn't help being shocked at the mercenary nature of the proposal. "Didn't that contradict her feminist principles?"

  Keith shrugged. "They've been married for thirty-six years. I guess sometimes it's worth compromising your principles. She's an incredible woman."

  "Sounds like it." She wondered if all men were programmed to think their mothers were wonderful, regardless whether they deserved it or not.

  As they sat together in a thoughtful silence for a moment, Jane's thoughts wandered towards Marsh. Should she tell him about her conversations with Keith? Marsh, who seemed so reasonable when it came to most things seemed to have a blind spot when it came to Keith. He just saw the bold outer image and refused to believe that there might be a vulnerable human being underneath it all.

  Keith's voice interrupted her train of thought. "Your boyfriend's got a new album out at the moment, hasn't he? That must be hard for you."

  For a fleeting moment Jane thought he was talking about Marsh. Then she realised that the word boyfriend had conjured up Marsh, even though Keith had been talking about Ashby. Yes, she was definitely over Ashby now.

  Keith was looking quizzically at her, probably wondering why she was smiling. "Ashby?" she said. "He's not by boyfriend. He's my ex."

  "Sorry, I didn't mean--"

  "Don't worry about it. Yes, he does have a new album coming out. There are posters all over the place." Now she knew for certain that some people in the office knew about her famous ex. She wondered if it was everyone, or just a select few who had figured it out.

  "That must be hard for you, being reminded of him all the time."

  Jane shrugged. "I don't really care, so long as I get left alone."

  "Really? Don't you miss the fame?"

  "No I don't. I'm a fairly private person, I don't really like being under scrutiny."

  "Wasn't it fun though? At least a bit?"

  She'd already thought about it a lot. "I suppose it was at first. But at some point it stopped being just about the music and people started writing about our lives. It got weird from then on. Ashby became a little bit obsessed with it and we'd have to go to these parties, just to be seen. I never knew when a photographer would try and get a casual shot of me. I had to stop going to the supermarket and start getting the shopping delivered. It was just...intrusive."

  "And that's why you moved to London? To get away from the gossip mongers?"

  "Yes."

  "But what if they find you again?"

  "God, I hope not."

  "Well, a few people at work have figured out who you are."

  "I just hope none of them think it's a good idea to contact the press." The thought of being stalked by photographers again was too horrible. On the other hand, she was just another girl now, not part of the music scene at all. "Hopefully everyone's lost interest in me, now that I'm not with Ashby."

  "I bet you could make a lot of money if you sold your story."

  "No thanks. It's not worth it. Honestly."

  Keith looked at her in silence for a moment. "You're a curious person, Jane Porter," he said. "Most people are doing their best to become famous and you're trying to avoid it."

  Jane took another sip of her drink and said nothing. What was there to say?

  "I respect that. I hope they leave you alone." He stared thoughtfully into the distance. "It must have been really embarrassing for you, having your private life displayed in public like that. Bad enough finding out the person you loved was cheating on you, but to find out the details at the same time as the tabloid reading public..."

  "Embarrassing? Try humiliating." She shuddered at the memory, and realised she hadn't thought about the horror of it all for a few days, not since she started seeing Marshall. But she wasn't surprised to find the fear still there, hidden under the layers of everyday thought.

  Keith noticed the shudder. "I'm sorry, I've upset you. I shouldn't have mentioned it."

  "It's okay. I need to learn to deal with it."

  "Well, it's clearly a raw subject for you." He met her eyes and smiled. "What say we stop talking about things that upset us and talk about something else?"

  "That sounds like a great idea."

  She was still in the pub when Marshall's text arrived to say that he was at the airport. Her heart sped up immediately. "Listen Keith, I've got to go. I promised a friend that I'd pop by on the way home."

  "Of course." He finished off his drink. "Let me walk you to the station. Don't want you getting mugged again."

  "That's very kind. Thanks." Why on earth had she found him disagreeable all those nights ago? Perhaps because he had been coming on a bit strong. Now that she'd got to know the real Keith, she felt much more comfortable in his company.

  "Jane, if you every need someone to talk to--about Ashby, or anything else. You know you can come and see me."

  She smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I appreciate that. I really do."

  * * * *

  From: Keith Durridge

  To: Eric Korsky

  Shame you wussed out o
n the bet. Plan B is working like a dream.

  K

  ##

  From : Eric Korsky

  To: Keith Durridge

  I hear that Marshall won the opposition. On quite a difficult Inventive Step argument. He's quite the hero around here.

  Your plan B failed rather spectacularly, I'd say.

  Eric

  ##

  From: Keith Durridge

  To: Eric Korsky

  I briefed him thoroughly on my arguments so that he could reproduce them at the hearing. Of course he won.

  As for my plan B--on the contrary, I've just had a nice cosy chat with Jane. It was most illuminating and has given me a cracking idea for how to proceed.

  This whole thing is less fun without a wager riding on it, but I shall carry on because I enjoy a challenge.

  K

  Chapter 19

  In the days that followed, Jane was increasingly under pressure with work. As the deadline for submitting the documents to the client drew nearer Susan, Marsh and Keith all piled work on her. In an attempt not to appear biased, Jane always tried to leave Marsh's work until last, but that usually meant having to stay late to finish it. Although Marsh also worked late most nights, she didn't get much chance to talk to him. Keith, who seemed to keep the same hours as Marsh, kept popping round to see her.

  On Tuesday, with the deadline the next day, Jane managed to finish everything she was given a little after six. She fired off several emails, distributing the information to Marsh, Keith and Susan as appropriate and sank back in her chair, rubbing her temples. Her head hurt from reading documents on screen.

  In the next office, she could hear the clatter of keys as Marsh typed. Jane hauled herself out of her chair and made her way over.

  She knocked lightly on the open door.

  Marsh looked up.

  "I'm done," she said, as she sagged against the door frame. "Is there anything else you need?"

  Marsh looked at the mess of papers on his desk. "I don't think so. You've done a sterling job. I don't know how to thank you."

  She immediately thought of a few ways, but decided not to say anything. Marsh caught her eye and the dimple appeared in his cheek. "I've been neglecting you a bit these past couple of days, haven't I?" he said quietly, too low for anyone but her to hear.