Love-40

by Anna Cheska

  * * *

  At the end of the number, Michael went to get a pint, observing the body language of Blondie (how the hell was it that he still didn’t know her name?) and the guy she was with. He was short, stocky, didn’t look her type, and, to Michael’s relief, there was no touchy-feely, lovey-dovey stuff, just some pretty intent talking and the odd burst of laughter. Her brother maybe?

  She saw him looking, said a few words to her companion and made her way over. Lovely legs, Michael thought, watching appreciatively.

  ‘Let me get that for you,’ she purred. ‘Can we have a chat?’

  Michael shrugged. ‘Why not?’ He followed her over to the table, wondering what was coming, and why he’d ever thought her predatory. She was just sexy and sure enough of herself not to be afraid to come on to a guy. Anyway, she could hunt him down anytime.

  ‘This is Chris Baker.’ She introduced them. ‘He’s an old colleague of mine. From when I was working in London.’

  Michael nodded to the guy, but he was more interested in his blonde. ‘What did you do in London?’ Modelling, maybe, with those legs.

  ‘I was a P.A.’

  ‘Oh yeah? Who to?’ And brains, Michael thought. A P.A? His life could do with some organising and assisting of the personal variety.

  ‘A guy who handled Public Relations internally for the company.’

  Public relations. ‘Right.’ Michael thought about making a joke about private relations, but decided that now was not the time. He’d always had a habit of cracking jokes when he was a bit nervous and Suzi for one had never appreciated them. Why should this woman be any different? Perhaps jokes were a lad thing. Sure, women sometimes seemed to find them funny, but were they pretending, as if they thought a guy had to be flattered before he’d take any notice of them? Michael took a gulp of his beer. He might be forty but sometimes he thought he was doing more learning now than he’d done in his whole life before. ‘So why did you leave London?’ he asked her.

  She smiled. Great teeth, Michael thought. In fact great all over.

  ‘Looking for the rural idyll. Me and my ex thought we’d put down roots, have kids, start a business.’

  Her companion grinned. ‘It’s a dream most of us Londoners have from time to time. Sounds great, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Until you wake up,’ she agreed.

  Michael wasn’t sure where all this was leading. And he couldn’t think how the hell to find out what she called herself. How could you ask someone you seemed to have known for ages, someone you’d chatted to so often, ‘oh, by the way, what is your name?’ ‘So you woke up?’ he asked instead, wanting her to go on. There were things he wanted to know. Like, what had happened to the ex, for example?

  ‘With a jolt.’ She sipped her wine. ‘We never got as far as the kids. Steve missed London…’

  Great, Michael thought. He knew the name of her old colleague and now the name of her ex-lover. But not hers, damn it.

  ‘He couldn’t wait to get back there,’ she went on. She hooked a strand of blonde hair behind one ear.

  Out of a bottle and who the hell cared, Michael thought. ‘How about you?’

  ‘I didn’t.’ She shrugged. ‘Didn’t miss it, didn’t want to go back.’

  ‘Sandy did start her own business, though,’ the guy called Chris said.

  Sandy. One problem solved, Michael thought. ‘Doing?’ He watched the way her fingers played with the stem of her wine glass. Not nerves, but a kind of restlessness he could empathize with.

  ‘I set up an independent travel agency.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘But listen, I didn’t drag you over to hear all this stuff. Chris was down for the weekend and so I got him to come along and have a listen.’

  ‘Yeah, great.’ Michael picked up his glass and got up. It was time for the next part of the set. ‘Nice meeting you, Chris, but I’ve gotta –’

  ‘He likes the song.’ She seemed to be waiting for something.

  Michael had no idea what. ‘Song?’

  ‘“Someone else not you”.’

  ‘Oh, great. So –’ He began to move away from the table.

  ‘Michael – Chris works for Echo.’

  ‘Echo.’ Michael’s brain finally lumbered into gear. ‘Echo, the record company?’

  She nodded. ‘That’s where I used to work too. They handle all their PR internally.’

  ‘Sit down, Michael,’ said Chris.

  Michael sat.

  Chapter 26

  ‘I think I owe you an apology.’

  Estelle blinked at Amanda in surprise. She seemed to have recovered her poise. Now, she was looking positively dewy-eyed and smiling. ‘An apology?’

  ‘I was a little um … forceful. In the match today.’

  She wasn’t kidding. ‘Ah.’ It didn’t take much imagination to work out what had brought this on. Estelle was still standing close to Henry Lake and the Raddles, who had now been joined by Nick and his mother. And Amanda of course. A glowing Amanda. And from the way she and Nick were looking at each other, Nick’s fall (from which, Estelle noted, he appeared to have completely recovered) had been a productive one.

  ‘I haven’t behaved well,’ Amanda admitted. ‘Daddy says I’m too used to getting my own way, and I suppose he’s right. You can’t always expect people to fall into line. And of course some things have to be worked for.’ She smiled. ‘All that jazz.’

  Estelle thought of Secrets. ‘Very true.’ And she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised about Henry Lake’s work ethic. Someone had told her once he hadn’t always had money. And it was his father who had founded Chestnut Grove in the first place.

  ‘But you see,’ Amanda went on. ‘I thought you’d taken something rather special away from me.’

  Estelle shrugged. ‘Nick and I were never involved.’ She had never, she knew, felt free enough of Liam to be involved with anyone else. Would she ever be? She looked around the crowded room. Couples were dancing, chatting, drinking, eating. Even Deirdre Piston had a man in tow. Right now they were attempting a version of the twist to ‘Sugar and Spice’ – not an easy task for anyone, Estelle reflected, and Deirdre had never seemed the twisting type. But there was no Liam. She had to face it. If he’d wanted to see her, he’d be here.

  ‘Nick told me that already,’ Amanda said. ‘And in case you’re interested – neither were me and Liam, not really. I just did it to make Nick jealous. To make him, oh, I don’t know…’ she batted her eyelashes. ‘To make him do something about us.’

  Estelle looked into the baby-blue eyes and sighed. How could Liam have ever been interested in anyone as shallow as Amanda? Playing games with people’s loves, lives and emotions. She had no idea why Nick hadn’t made a move on Amanda before. And she didn’t much care. It was all very well for them. But what about Estelle? What about Liam? Maybe right now he was drowning his sorrows all alone in his garret flat. Maybe he simply couldn’t face seeing Amanda with another man.

  ‘And it worked.’ Shelagh Rossi came over and linked arms with them both. ‘My Nick has been hell to live with, I can tell you.’

  Amanda leaned closer to the older woman. ‘And have you told him our plans?’ she whispered.

  ‘Plans?’ Nick had come up behind Amanda, put his hands round her waist. Estelle thought she’d probably throw up soon if she had to watch much more of this soppy stuff. And yet – despite the fact that Liam wasn’t here, she felt strangely at peace.

  Ten minutes ago, as they’d stood chatting at the bar, Suzi had dropped a bit of a bombshell, but it wasn’t, now she came to think about it, a destructive one. It presented, actually, a way to go.

  ‘I wasn’t aware you two even knew each other,’ Nick went on.

  ‘You don’t know everything,’ Shelagh teased him. ‘Amanda invited me over for lunch.’

  At this point Estelle managed to extricate herself from Shelagh’s grasp. She might go home, she decided, if Suzi didn’t mind. She wasn’t in the mood for drinking and she wasn’t in the mood for dancing. Think
ing was more what she was after right now. And planning the way ahead. But Shelagh was still talking.

  ‘The three of us had a lovely chat…’ She exchanged a meaningful look with Henry Lake, who took a step closer.

  ‘We certainly did,’ he agreed. ‘It was most enlightening. And rewarding.’

  Erica Raddle’s head shot up to attention. All eyes were on Henry and Shelagh. That was some look. And some sub-text. Goodness, Estelle thought, as she headed for the ladies loo. Whatever next?

  * * *

  Michael couldn’t think of anything to say. It was so far from what he’d been expecting … He waited.

  ‘It’s a good song.’ Chris pulled a business card out of the inside pocket of his jacket and handed it to Michael. It was simple, understated, just the name, Chris Baker, with phone number and the usual email and website stuff.

  ‘Why don’t you give me a call?’ Chris suggested. ‘We could have a chat about it.’

  Michael stared at him vacantly. Nobody had mentioned the words recording deal or contract. It was nothing like the way he’d dreamed it – no drama, no effusiveness, no promises, no cash. No, hey, kid I can really do something with you. I’m gonna give you a new name, new clothes, new image. Nothing like that. Just, give me a call sometime. ‘OK,’ Michael said.

  ‘We’ve got to go.’ Sandy’s smile was apologetic. ‘Chris has got an early start in the morning.’ They both got to their feet and Michael followed suit.

  ‘It was good to meet you.’ Chris shook his hand (Michael hadn’t imagined a handshake either – it seemed far too bloke-ish and ordinary).

  Sandy kissed his cheek – one each side and then one more, continental style. He smelt the sharp insinuation of her perfume, though he had no idea what it was, and saw her faint smile. ‘See you,’ she said, like it was a promise.

  And as they left the pub Michael knew his grin went from ear to ear. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘See you very soon.’

  * * *

  ‘I’m opening the house up to the public,’ Shelagh told them all.

  It seemed to be, Estelle reflected, a night for revelations.

  ‘Hallelujah,’ Nick said. ‘Though really, Mother, you should –’

  ‘Not sell.’ Amanda looked very firm, and Estelle had a glimpse of who would be in charge between the two of them.

  ‘Definitely not sell,’ Henry agreed. ‘Your mother loves the place and we should respect that.’

  We? Estelle saw Nick open his mouth, look at Amanda, shut it again.

  Amanda took his arm. ‘Daddy thinks your mother could manage if she opened it up to the public. In fact he thinks she could do well. In fact,’ she smiled, ‘he’s going to make an investment in the scheme.’

  Shelagh nodded. ‘We might open a tea-room,’ she said.

  Estelle glanced towards Erica Raddle, whose mouth gaped slightly as she absorbed all this information.

  ‘Or a sushi restaurant,’ Amanda added, also casting a wicked glance towards Erica.

  Estelle giggled. She’d long suspected Henry to be CG’s secret sponsor and Erica’s horrified expression seemed to confirm this. But no doubt Henry would have enough funds left over to support CG’s – especially if it was to remain a club for the people as Liam and now Nick intended.

  ‘So you knew about this?’ Nick asked Amanda. But he was smiling too.

  ‘Amanda’s in charge of the entire project,’ Shelagh replied. ‘She understands that the house is all I have left of your father.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘Apart from you, darling, of course.’

  ‘And your mother understands,’ said Amanda, ‘that she can’t go on like this. She needs to face up to the practicalities of her situation and use them to her advantage. She needs to move on.’ She shot him an understanding look. ‘And neither can she expect you to go on pouring money down a drain.’

  Estelle couldn’t help smiling. Amanda had certainly made the most of her lunch with Shelagh Rossi. It struck her that Amanda might be shallow, but she was clever too. She had probably put her finger on the main reason why Nick Rossi had not formalised an arrangement of a romantic kind with her before now. Amanda was a girl who was used to money.

  ‘Though I’d still adore him if he didn’t have a bean,’ Amanda assured Shelagh, re-draping her designer dress over her arm.

  ‘So you’re taking care of the whole thing?’ Nick’s expression as he gazed at Amanda was one of total admiration, Estelle observed. With only the faintest touch of astonishment thrown in.

  ‘I told you ages ago I was looking for a new career path.’ Amanda’s dress rustled as she moved closer to Nick, the beads catching the light. ‘This is exactly my kind of thing.’

  A little bit of sparkle, Estelle thought, that’s what she would call it.

  * * *

  Michael saw her as soon as he walked into the conservatory. She looked like she’d never looked before, in a green floaty number that almost took his breath away. And yet … And yet …

  ‘Hi.’ She came towards him. ‘I thought you weren’t coming.’

  And yet his feelings for her seemed to have drifted away, Michael thought. What a pity. He sighed. What a pity they couldn’t have just been friends. ‘You look beautiful,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks.’ Suzi smiled and a slow flush spread across her neck and up to her face. ‘Michael, there’s something –’

  ‘I can’t go on like –’

  They both stopped.

  ‘You first,’ said Suzi.

  ‘No, you,’ he told her.

  She took a deep breath. ‘I’m so sorry, Michael. But it hasn’t worked out between us,’ she said.

  ‘I know.’

  ‘So…’ she paused. ‘You know?’

  ‘I was going to say the same thing to you.’ He took her hand and led her into a dance. ‘So let’s cut the crap and just say, sorry it’s over, ta ta, have a nice life.’

  ‘Oh.’

  He could feel her tense shoulders under his palms. ‘Don’t worry, Suze,’ he said.

  She looked up at him, wide-eyed. ‘I’m moving out of the cottage,’ she told him. ‘Maybe for good.’

  He was surprised. ‘What about Hester?’

  ‘Hester?’ At last she laughed, as if this had been held inside for a very long time. ‘Hester? I was more worried about you.’

  ‘I’ve got somewhere.’ He told her about the room above the pub, but not about the song, not about what had happened tonight. For one thing he didn’t want to tempt fate – and he had to face it, nothing had happened – yet. And for another, he wanted to hold the thought of it to himself, for a while longer at least.

  ‘So you’re not angry?’ Suzi asked him. ‘Or upset?’ She was clearly relieved. She looked as though the worries of the world had been lifted from her narrow shoulders.

  ‘Not a bit.’ Michael wanted her to feel as good as he felt. He had, after all, a lot to thank her for. Without Suzi, he would never have written that song.

  * * *

  Estelle swept out of the revolving doors of the clubhouse in much the same way as she had swept out of it once before and bumped into Nick Rossi. Only this time she bumped into a different someone. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘It’s you.’

  ‘You’re not going already?’

  Liam looked gorgeous. Estelle drank in the sight of him. He was wearing his dress suit with a red cravat she’d not seen before. His dark hair curled over the wing-collar – unruly, thick, fat curls she’d like to slip her fingers through.

  She shrugged. ‘It’s not so hot in there. And I’ve got things on my mind.’

  ‘Things?’

  She wondered if Suzi had told him. Probably not, that would be why she had wanted him to be here tonight. It looked as if Suzi was doing all her telling in one go. ‘Suzi’s giving up the shop,’ she said. ‘She’s becoming what you might call a sleeping partner.’

  ‘Really?’ But Liam didn’t seem all that surprised. And he kept looking towards the doorway of the clubhouse as if he couldn’t wait to get in there.


  ‘Amanda’s inside,’ Estelle told him. It wasn’t cold, but all of a sudden her fingers felt icy. She shivered.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘With Nick Rossi.’ Well, she couldn’t have him going in there and making a fool of himself, now could she?

  ‘Good,’ said Liam. ‘Don’t you think he’d make an excellent chairman for the club? I mean, Erica’s bound to resign now, don’t you think?’

  Good? Chairman for the club? ‘Good?’ She moved her black clutch bag from one arm to the other. Wished she’d brought a warm fleece instead of this ridiculous crocheted cardi thing. ‘Wouldn’t you want to be chairman?’

  ‘Not really.’ Liam looked decidedly shifty. ‘I wouldn’t have the time, would I? I’ve got far too much on.’

  Something about his expression reminded Estelle of when he’d been haring out of the pub and she’d seen him from across the road. ‘What happened between you and Lorraine?’ she asked.

  Liam shuddered. ‘She scared me to death.’

  Estelle smiled. Now that she could believe. She looked at him, all dressed up, and thought of how he’d appeared on the tennis court this afternoon in those crazy shorts and T-shirt. Probably the only items in his wardrobe that hadn’t needed washing. And the way he’d been – all hot and bothered and stressed out. Gorgeous.

  ‘Y’know, Estelle.’ Liam took a step closer. ‘If you ever thought that there was ever any chance, you know, ever, for me and you…’ He faltered. ‘I know there isn’t and I’ve blown it but if there ever was…’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I’d leave Pridehaven like a shot,’ he said.

  ‘You would?’ It was funny, Estelle reflected, that she had always thought Liam and Suzi so rooted here. Always resented the fact that he’d never leave.

  He nodded. ‘Like a shit, I mean, like a shot.’

  They both smiled.

  ‘I’m not leaving,’ Estelle told him. ‘I’m taking over the business. Paying only one salary will help out. But I’m branching away from antiques and into jewellery. No more Secrets … Now it’s A Little Bit of Sparkle.’

  ‘Does you good.’

  ‘I hope so.’ All the signs were that she could make a success of it this time around. She could only do her best.