Public Property

by Mandy Baggot

  Freya took a bite of her spring roll and watched Nicholas as he sucked on the straw. She was trying to wait for exactly the right moment to bring up Jonny. But she knew better than anyone that right moments never came. You had to face things head on and just get it out there.

  ‘Nick,’ she began.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’

  ‘Oh? Am I going to need to suck a bit harder on this straw to soften the blow?’

  ‘Possibly.’

  ‘Go on,’ he urged.

  ‘You remember I told you about Jonathan, the boy I went out with when I was seventeen.’

  ‘Of course I remember. You were in love with him. You told him who you were and took him to meet your folks and they welcomed him with open arms only for your father to pay him money to leave you alone,’ Nicholas recounted.

  ‘Yes, you obviously don’t have a problem with your memory. That was about the size of it.’ She let out a nervous sigh. She didn’t know why she was nervous. There was nothing to this, absolutely nothing.

  ‘What about him?’

  ‘Well, I met him. Yesterday. He lives here now, in America.’ She’d said it quick before she backed out.

  ‘He’s Jonny.’ He put the bottle of wine down and sat up straight.

  ‘Yes. He’s Jonny,’ she admitted.

  ‘So, he isn’t the Jonny Sasha’s dating? That’s a different Jonny is it?’

  ‘Yes. Well, actually Sasha isn’t exactly dating anyone called Jonny.’ Her face was red and she couldn’t look at Nicholas. She sounded like an infant lying and trying to cover it up very unsuccessfully. And what was the big deal anyway? Nothing was going on.

  ‘No? You surprise me. Why didn’t you tell me, Freya?’

  His expression was a mixture of angry and sad. Why hadn’t she told him straight away? Why had she kept it to herself?

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. It felt awkward and I didn’t want you to think what I thought you would think.’

  ‘And what did you think I would think?’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe that I was hiding something from you I suppose.’

  ‘Which you were. Freya, are you saying you were too scared to tell me because you were worried about what I’d think?’

  ‘No. Yes. I don’t know what I thought. He’s just from my past. That horrible, awful past and I don’t want things from back then to be part of our future.’

  ‘Neither do I, but that shouldn’t mean you don’t tell me stuff. We’re about to get married. We should be able to share everything with each other.’ He got to his feet and picked his jacket up from the floor.

  ‘We do. I’ve told you everything, except this. And I’m telling you now. Nick, please, sit down. I’m sorry.’ She stood up and tried to take hold of his arm. He brushed it away.

  ‘Back in Corfu, we said no more secrets and I meant that.’ He folded his arms across his chest.

  ‘I meant it too. It was stupid not to tell you about Jonny, I realise that now. In fact I realised it the minute I thought it was too late to mention it. Then, as time went on, I realised more and more how stupid it was. But, you know now.’

  She sounded pathetic. There was no justification for it.

  ‘Well, what did he want? You haven’t really told me anything yet.’

  ‘Will you sit down and help me out with the sweet and sour pork?’ She gave him half a smile, wary of his reaction.

  ‘What did he want, Freya?’ Nicholas repeated, unmoved.

  ‘He wants to develop some land near Gatebrook and turn it into a community for the Every Day project. Housing, jobs, a school.’ She rattled it out fast.

  Nicholas didn’t reply. He remained standing, his arms crossed, looking down at Freya.

  ‘He’s a property developer now. He owns the chain, Recuperation Inns, amongst other things. He’s changed so much - in appearance, in personality - I hardly recognised him.’

  ‘So, let me get this straight. This Jonny turns up…where? At your office? At our house? And he pledges millions of pounds to your charity. I don’t get it. Why would he do that?’

  ‘He told me he thought the project was a great idea. But I also think he was feeling a little guilty about how he treated me.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Freya. I don’t buy it.’

  ‘What d’you mean? He told me he made a bid on some land I’ve bought for the first centre in Chesterville and he found out I was behind the project.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘How what?’

  ‘How did he find out you were behind the project?’

  ‘I don’t know. He said he had contacts and…’

  ‘Whoa!’

  ‘He wants to support the charity.’

  ‘But what’s in it for him? If he’s turned into some big shot hotel owner and property developer, why does he want to throw money at your charity?’

  Freya could almost see the steam coming out of his ears. He didn’t get angry often, but when he did it wasn’t pleasant.

  ‘Well, you could say the same about us. And anyway, why does anyone give to charity? Maybe to do something for someone else. Or get rid of some excess cash so the tax man doesn’t get it. Or perhaps they do it because it makes them feel good or look good to other people. I don’t know, maybe he wants to make himself feel better about building those ugly hotels all over the place.’

  ‘OK, let’s say his intentions are honourable. It doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t tell me about it. And I really want to know why.’

  ‘Nick, please sit back down. I’ve apologized. I should have told you. What else can I say?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Look, he wants to meet me for lunch tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me and then you can hear for yourself what he has to say.’

  And then the awkwardness would be halved and she wouldn’t have to worry about keeping secrets.

  ‘So, you’re meeting him again. Well, I suppose I should be grateful you’ve mentioned it.’

  ‘Now you’re just being pathetic. And I really don’t see why all this is so important.’ She began to pack away the Chinese food. She’d deserved the dressing down for keeping her meeting with Jonathan from him, but how long was she going to have to pay for it?

  ‘Well, it was obviously important enough for you to hide it from me.’

  ‘For God’s sake! I didn’t hide it from you. If I was really hiding it from you I wouldn’t be telling you now. Do you know something? Perhaps I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.’

  ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘I knew you’d be jealous.’

  That’s what all this was about. If this had been about anyone else offering the money, other than the boy she’d pledged to marry years ago, they wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

  ‘I’m not jealous.’

  ‘Well, you’re doing a pretty good impression of someone who is.’

  ‘And if I remember correctly, you made lying to people a full-time occupation not so long ago.’

  The comment was well below the belt and she felt her temper erupt and take over. She slapped him, hard across the face and then stepped back in shock at what she’d done.

  He took in a sharp breath and just looked back at her, unmoving.

  She pushed past him, ran out of the gazebo and raced off up the road.

  Thirteen

  She caught her breath and put a hand to her chest. The blood was pumping so hard she could hear it echoing in her ears. She pushed open the door of Casey’s diner.

  Blond-haired Casey was wiping down the surfaces and removing some doughnuts from display when Freya arrived at the counter.

  ‘Hey, Freya, no doctor’s outfit tonight,’ Casey asked, smiling.

  ‘No and I can see you’re missing a gorilla suit. Can I have a large cup of tea and a blueberry muffin?’

  ‘Doughnuts are two for one. It’s that time of night,’ he offered, indicating the remaining doughnuts
on display.

  ‘I’ll take four and some chocolate sauce.’

  ‘I’ll bring it over.’

  She went across the room and sat down at her favourite table in the corner by the jukebox. Billy Ray Cyrus was playing. Inappropriate honky tonk that didn’t suit her mood.

  The bell above the diner door rang and she raised her head. Nicholas entered and she hurriedly put her head back down and pretended to be engrossed in the menu.

  ‘Hey, Nick. How you doing?’ Casey asked as he appeared from the kitchen and came back to the counter.

  ‘I’m fine, Casey thanks. Could I get a coffee? Strong black?’

  ‘Sure, I’ll bring it over.’

  He walked over to Freya’s table and stood in front of her. His presence made her look up.

  ‘Is this seat taken?’ he asked, indicating the chair opposite her.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well I don’t see anyone sitting there and I have Chinese food.’ He shook the bag at her.

  ‘I’m expecting someone. I’ve just called Jonny and told him to come right over and have his way with me on this very table.’

  He sat down opposite her, reached out and took her hands in his.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ His tone was soft.

  ‘Sorry for what?’

  ‘For what I said and for being stupid. You were right. I was jealous.’

  ‘I’m sorry I hit you.’

  ‘I’m sorry I provoked you. I should know by now you have a mean right hook.’

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Jonny the minute he walked into the office.’

  ‘I think I overreacted because of who it was. He was the only man you trusted to tell everything to before you met me. He was important to you, you loved him.’

  ‘I loved him when I was seventeen. I don’t love him now. Anyway, you have to trust me.’

  She looked across at him. Her handsome fiancé, the man who graces magazine covers and wore swimwear on David Letterman.

  ‘How bizarre is this conversation? You’re the one idolised by millions of women, most of whom are a thousand times better looking than me. You snog a different actress every other month. If there’s anyone who should be having a fit of jealousy here it’s me.’

  ‘One large tea, one coffee and four doughnuts with chocolate sauce.’ Casey put the order on the table.

  ‘You ordered doughnuts,’ Nicholas remarked.

  ‘I was depressed.’

  ‘Can I share?’

  ‘I suppose so. But no hogging the sauce.’ She picked up a doughnut, tore some off and dipped it in the sauce.

  ‘Listen, if Jonny’s genuine about donating all that money and time to your project, I do think it’s great,’ Nicholas told her.

  ‘Well I was suspicious of his intentions at first, but the trade off was I have to take some photographs of some of his hotels.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound like too bad a deal.’

  ‘No and besides that, I really think he feels bad about the way he treated me. Everyone has a moment in their life when they take stock, think back, regret things and want to try and put them right. Perhaps this is his.’

  ‘So, are we friends again?’

  ‘Well that depends on how many doughnuts you’re planning on eating.’

  ‘I thought I might order a chilli burger with everything on it actually.’

  ‘Make that two and we’re BFFs.’

  After food at Casey’s, they got ice creams from the ice cream parlour and ate them on the walk back to their home. One of the joys of living in America was ice cream available all year round. Even though the night was almost as frosty as their dessert, it still tasted good.

  ‘He has a crap car,’ Freya said, her mouth full of ice cream.

  ‘Who? Jonny? I thought you said he was a millionaire.’

  ‘He is, but he obviously has bad taste in cars. And he had a driver.’ She laughed at the absurdity.

  ‘Then he obviously classed meeting you as an official function.’

  ‘Either that or he’s just plain lazy. Listen, I spoke to Emma today and told her we’d set a date for the wedding.’

  ‘And can she make it?’

  ‘Well, she actually came up with a different suggestion.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘She thought we might consider getting married in Corfu.’

  ‘And what did you think about that idea?’

  ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I asked first.’ He smiled.

  ‘I quite like the idea. It’s probably one of the only places in the world where we might actually get some privacy. We could stay with Emma and Yiannis at the villa and we could spend our honeymoon there, visiting all the places we didn’t get to see together last time.’

  ‘I think it sounds like a fantastic idea.’

  ‘So shall we do it? The beach might be out, it’s warmer than here but…’

  ‘How about up at the fort? At sunset.’

  ‘That sounds perfect.’

  She touched his cheek with her hand and moved forward to kiss him.

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered.

  ‘I love you too.’

  He kissed her cheek then entered the security code for the front gate into the pad.

  ‘Notice anything? No photographers,’ he stated, leading the way through the gate as it swung open.

  ‘We are going to be B-list celebrities before too much longer.’

  ‘Well that wouldn’t bother me. We would save a fortune on tea.’

  As they approached the front porch Freya saw Willis sat by the door clawing savagely at something lying on the deck.

  ‘Oh, Nick he’s got a bird or something. Urgh, go and stop him.’ She turned away and concentrating on finishing her ice cream.

  ‘It’s a crow. Hey, boy, get off it. Let me open the door and you can go inside,’ he said to the cat, kicking the dead bird out of his reach.

  ‘Is it dead?’ Freya called.

  ‘Yeah it’s dead. Looks like it flew into the front door. The glass is smashed.’

  Freya looked up at their front door and observed the jagged edges where the circular panel of glass had been.

  ‘Looks like I’ll have to call a glazier. I’m surprised it didn’t set the alarm off. It must have hit quite hard,’ Nicholas said, pushing open the door.

  ‘Um, I think I might have forgotten to set the alarm when we left,’ she admitted.

  ‘Freya! You must set the alarm! Remember you promised. You said you’d cope with an alarm as long as we didn’t have the electric fence or CCTV. You have to keep your end of the bargain.’

  ‘I know, I know and I usually do. I just forgot. Blame Bruce and the lure of the spring rolls. Urgh! God, Willis, don’t rub your face against me it’s got feathers and guts all over it.’ She tried to evade the cat by hopping from one foot to the other.

  ‘I’ll call the window guys, see if they can come out tonight.’ He headed into the kitchen.

  ‘Ooo move the dead bird first please. I’m sure I read somewhere that crows are unlucky.’

  ‘That one certainly was.’

  Fourteen

  ‘Do you think Matt and Susannah will still be able to make the wedding if we decide on Corfu?’ Freya asked.

  It was the following morning and they were sat at the dining table, eating for breakfast the Chinese they had started the night before.

  ‘I’m sure they will and we can always pay for their flights.’

  ‘I’m making a list of people to invite. I’ve got Matt and Susannah and little Jo obviously. Roger and Dionne, Emma, Yiannis and Melly, Mr and Mrs P. Then I’m kind of struggling.’ She chewed the pen she was writing with. There was no one else she could think of unless she invited her ex-boyfriend Russell or people she’d met in jail.

  ‘Well, you can add my Uncle Ted and my Aunt Carol. Though I don’t expect they’ll come because I haven’t seen them since my parents’ funeral. I ought to ask though.’ He raised his head out of the script he
was reading.

  ‘So that’s twelve. Do you think that’s enough? I mean, I know we said we wanted a small wedding but ten people and two under fours?’

  At this rate they wouldn’t need catering, they could just ask Samos to open the kebab shop and serve everyone gyros.

  ‘We only need two witnesses, so ten is good. And probably just enough for a game of beach volleyball after the ceremony,’ he joked.

  ‘I keep telling you it isn’t that warm there in December. There might be snow. Are you reading through that same script?’ She put her pen down and jabbed at a sweet and sour ball with her fork.

  ‘Yeah, I’m still not sure about it. It’s not a role that’s going to stretch me.’

  ‘So don’t do it. What’s the point of doing something if you aren’t going to get anything out of it?’

  ‘They’ve offered me fifteen million.’

  ‘Shit! Fifteen million! That could…’

  ‘Go towards building another hospital. Or buying more equipment. Or helping set up another Every Day centre.’

  He’d read her mind. Fifteen million for one movie was extortionate but how much good could that do for so many other people?

  ‘But, Nick, regardless of the money, don’t do it if it isn’t right for you.’

  ‘I don’t know. It’s a whole lot of money for not a lot of work.’ He sighed.

  ‘Money isn’t everything. No matter how wisely you spend it, or give it away.’

  ‘No, I know. Hey, why don’t you read the script, see what you think.’ He pushed the wad of paperwork over to her.

  ‘Me? Oh, I don’t know. You know I’m not really one for reading.’

  She got bored halfway through a postcard.

  ‘No, but you are one for films. I’d value your opinion.’

  ‘Well OK, I’ll give it a go.’ The intercom buzzed and Freya jumped up. ‘Ooo that’s Amos with the post.’

  ‘Are you expecting something important because you leapt up like your life depended on it.’

  ‘Not my life, our wedding. I called Sharona Owen yesterday afternoon and asked her to send me some wedding dress catalogues.’

  Sharona Owen was a well-known designer and one of her specialties was plus-size gowns.

  ‘Sadie Fox not getting your business then?’