The Vintage Cinema Club

by Jane Linfoot

  The slow way she dragged in a breath suggested he had her on the ropes, but she was straight back at him, with a maddeningly inscrutable look. ‘I explained about the misunderstanding in France at the time.’

  That wasn’t how he remembered it. ‘So how come your explanations wipe out the wrong, but mine don’t count?’

  ‘Because…because…’

  He turned on her. ‘Because you have double standards. Simple as that. So get down off your bloody high horse, and face up to the truth.’ In a flash it was obvious to him what was at the root of her attack. ‘You’ve come here, guns blazing, and firing them at me but it’s actually all about your dad isn’t it?’

  Her flinch told him he might be right.

  ‘You talk about trusting people, but the one person in the world I should have been able to trust was my dad.’ Her voice was bitter. ‘He used to read us stories, and tuck us up in bed, and when I had bad dreams, he used to hold me when I cried, until I went to sleep again. But in the end, even after all that, he screwed us over. I can’t put myself in that position again. Trusting someone with money is not an option for me. That’s why it’s so important for me to be independent.’

  This was Xander’s last chance. Despite the way she drove him round the bend, he didn’t want to lose her. He could feel her slipping through his fingers. ‘But your dad wasn’t always wealthy was he?’

  ‘He was an engineer with a small business, but when some of his designs went global, the money poured in, from the patents.’

  Xander blew out his cheeks. ‘Look, my mum brought us up to put people before money, every time. For me, it’s inbuilt.’ He had to make her to see he wasn’t anything like her dad at all, or his for that matter.

  Izzy shook her head, apparently deaf to everything he said. ‘I didn’t plan to be with anyone, but I just assumed if ever I was, I’d be safer with someone ordinary, someone who wouldn’t ever have the power to control me.’

  ‘So that’s not a post I’d fit the job spec for?’ Obviously. Unless he became a Buddhist monk. This sounded like her winding up speech. She was two seconds away from the Goodbye Xander part.

  ‘I’m sorry, Xander. You’re an amazing guy, and part of me knows you are everything you claim, but we’re miles apart, both financially and in our backgrounds. I’d find it impossible to trust you, and without trust, I’d never feel safe.’

  There it was. His dismissal. He had one final, fleeting, thought. ‘You’re desperate to be in charge, but hanging on to what your father did means he’s still the one ruling your life. You’ll only be in control when you let this go, and move on.’

  He dragged in a breath. ‘Thanks for being honest.’ He wouldn’t have expected anything less, despite what he’d said earlier about her double standards.

  He hadn’t lost this fight, and nor was he finished. In fact she’d given him a huge amount to work with. It was important to make it out of here before she went any further, and blew him out of the water for good.

  ‘I’m the one who has to run now.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’m off to the hospital for the annual afternoon of tests.’ He’d been hoping she might want to come with him, but that was out of the question now.

  Her expression changed. ‘That’s why you came back?’

  He hadn’t meant to play the pity card, and worse, the devastated look on her face was wrenching his heart.

  ‘That’s one of the reasons I’m back.’ The biggest one of all though was sitting across the table from him, her brow crisscrossed with deep furrows, and it was taking every bit of self-control to stop himself dragging her against his chest, and never letting go.

  She pushed back from the table. ‘Don’t let me hold you up.’ Apart from the way she’d obliterated the frothy heart in the foam, her coffee was untouched, but she was already up out of her chair, one hand landing fleetingly on his shoulder. ‘Think about what we said about The Pink House, Xander, you belong there, and you do need a home.’ The slightest squeeze of her fingers. ‘And be careful what you haul out of skips in future.’ So maybe she did have a bit of bossy left, even if her voice was cracking. ‘I’ll see you then.’ She turned away, hiding her face behind her hand, and made a dash for the door.

  Xander locked his eyes onto the pale slice of skin at the base of her T shirt, as she disappeared around the end of the glass patisserie case. He rubbed his neck where she’d touched him, and focussed on the gaping hole in his chest that appeared like a chasm the moment she wasn’t there.

  As he eased to his feet, the waitress came along, sending a sympathetic eye roll in Izzy’s direction, and then turned into a narrow eyed stare.

  She came in close, with a hushed whisper. ‘You aren’t in that Poldark programme are you?’

  ‘What?’ If his stomach hadn’t been so knotted he’d have gone for an inward groan.

  ‘It’s just your hair, and your beard makes you look a lot like…’

  He let out a hollow laugh. ‘They wanted me for a body double, but I was too ripped.’ The waitress gawped. ‘Do you have the bill, please?’

  She gave him a beam. ‘Already paid thanks, your friend gave me ten pounds on her way out.’

  ‘Of course she did.’ He shook his head, for what she’d done, but also to try to shake away the dizzy sense that this morning wasn’t actually happening.

  So like Izzy, teeth grindingly stubborn and independent to the end.

  His phone beeped, and he glanced at the screen. A message from the estate agent.

  We have strong interest in the cinema building. Please get in touch if you wish to be included further.

  Izzy was at rock bottom, and this could only make things worse.

  81

  Saturday Afternoon, 15th August

  IZZY & LUCE

  At the cinema

  All the way from Lithuania

  ‘The customers can’t get enough of the French antiques.’ Luce was pouring over the sales ledger, writing in the codes and prices. ‘I just sold another two christening gowns there, and the person before bought a whole stack of wire baskets.’

  Izzy, unrolling a sheaf of posters along the counter, blanked that her stomach had curled up like a cabbage at the mention of wire baskets.

  Izzy tried for a smile. ‘We’ll be bursting at the seams when the next load comes in, and there’s still another delivery after that.’

  In fact it was hard to look at anything remotely France-related, when every piece came with its own agonising memory welded to it. Whether it was Xander’s easy, teasing laugh, echoing from when she’d bought yet another set of candlesticks, or the way he’d come to kiss her, when she was half way through wiping cobwebs off a bedside cabinet. Xander was clinging onto every goddam item that had arrived.

  Luce looked up, and peered at Izzy. ‘It’s been a total coup for The Vintage Cinema Club, but every time I see how pale you are, I wish we hadn’t made you go.’

  Izzy knew however bad she was feeling, she had to man up here. ‘Don’t feel guilty. Xander turned out to be amazing, and he helped us a lot. It’s not your fault there were just too many obstacles.’

  ‘And the money issue is totally non-negotiable?’ Luce kept on trying to talk her round.

  ‘My final position.’

  Luce’s face scrunched in concern. ‘Still crying yourself to sleep?’

  Izzy gave a rueful nod. As for the exhaustion and lethargy, some days she couldn’t even bring herself to crawl out of bed, and clearing up at home was a thing of the past. Her clothes were still in a pile on the floor where she’d tipped them out her first day home, and somehow she couldn’t bring herself to move them, let alone wash them.

  ‘I try to put off going to bed, and paint furniture instead.’ Izzy tried to smile. Even painting hadn’t cheered her up. She’d found herself painting one huge chest a deep dark dusky blue, and another in battleship grey, then asked herself what the hell that was about. But Izzy needed to move the conversation away from herself here.

  ‘How a
re you and Ollie getting on?’ Izzy sent Luce a grin. ‘He always liked you didn’t he?’

  Luce laughed. ‘You made it clear he was off limits from the first day I came home with you. On the up side, twelve years on, I think we both know what we want now.’ Luce’s eyes twinkled. ‘You may have done us a favour in keeping us apart.’

  ‘Back then I didn’t want my best friend and my brother hurting each other, or squeezing me out.’ Izzy did feel slightly guilty. ‘Now is different.’ Especially since Luce had pointed out that she hadn’t had one of her famous one night stands since the month after Ollie left. ‘Let’s hope you have better luck trying to domesticate him than I have.’ Izzy gave a laugh. ‘He still hasn’t learned to put the coco pops back in the cupboard at home.’

  Luce’s cheeks were a very pale shade of pink. ‘It’s strange, because now Ollie’s back, it feels like we couldn’t be any other way than this, and Ruby’s happy too. It’s early days, but we’re all homey.’ She gave her own contented smile. ‘Ollie’s sorting out his costume for the Fancy Dress Vintage Film Evening, even though it’s ages away. There’s a picture of him as a hound dog, back in nineteen eighty eight, so he’s recreating that, and dressing up as one of the hundred and one Dalmatians. He wanted me to be one too, but I’m not that couply yet, so I’m going as Pocahontas.’

  Izzy’s mind boggled at what love could do to people. ‘What the hell happened to the vintage part of the fancy dress theme? I thought we were aiming for classy.’ Someone had to make a stand. She might be way floppier than usual, but she wasn’t letting this through.

  ‘Pocahontas was historical, before she signed to Disney.’ Luce was unapologetic. ‘Anyway Dida’s coming as Bridget Jones the bunny girl. She’s definitely post Pocahontas.’

  Izzy gave up on that with a sigh. ‘Still no news on the paintings then?’

  Luce gave a grunt. ‘Nope. Which is a shame as Ollie and I discussed it – we’d definitely buy the cinema building if we hit the big time. LOL to that one.’

  Izzy couldn’t help smile at the new, extra happy Luce. ‘It’s cool. Do you realise you and Ollie are the Vintage Cinema Club’s first couple.’ She chewed her nail as she thought. ‘Dida and Aidie don’t count, because even if he does own the building I totally refuse to include him.’

  But Luce didn’t reply, because she was taking more notice of something out on the street.

  ‘Major shit alert, we’re about to get a visit from that very man.’

  Izzy gawped. ‘I thought he’s supposed to be in Lithuania this weekend?’

  ‘He is.’ Luce hissed through teeth clenched into a smile. ‘Leave this to me. We can’t risk you shouting at him.’

  Izzy hated to say there was no chance of that happening. These days she was too exhausted to be cross. She watched Aidie stop to dip into the basket of rusty tools outside the shop.

  Izzy couldn’t help her observation. ‘Is it just me, or is he looking ancient?’ She didn’t see Aidie that often.

  Luce was hissing under her breath. ‘Dropping a few stones can make you look very haggard.’

  Despite the weight loss, Aidie hadn’t lost his waddle. Luce made her voice bright. ‘Hi Aidie, anything we can help with?’

  Aidie clunked a wood plane down onto the counter. ‘I’ll take this please.’

  ‘Great.’ Luce kept up the brightness, as she located the stock ticket, and peeled it off. ‘That’s ten pounds fifty please.’

  Aidie gave a guffaw. ‘Stick it on Dida’s tab will you.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’ Luce exchanged a “cheeky sod” eye roll with Izzy.

  ‘So Dida’s in York then?’ Something about Aidie’s swagger made it clear he already knew the answer.

  Luce flicked back her hair, and carried on smiling. ‘And, in case you’re wondering, the children are up at Carsington with my mum and Ruby, having a picnic.’

  Izzy sent Luce a nod of encouragement and an insane grin, for that inspired retort.

  Aidie’s dismissive snort suggested that the children weren’t upper most in his mind. ‘Opera with a gay Geordie…rather her than me.’

  Luce beamed, and picked up the plane. ‘Shall I wrap this, or will you take it as it is?’

  ‘Or maybe not so gay after all, if you read his emails…’ Aidie gave a grimace. ‘Someone should tell her she needs a password on her laptop.’

  Izzy stood her ground, and held her fixed grin tightly in place, even though her stomach had dropped through the floor on Dida’s behalf.

  ‘Passwords are for people with something to hide.’ Luce’s expression was inscrutable, and she held Aidie’s gaze manfully, for a few seconds. ‘I’ll get you a bag.’ She dipped behind the counter.

  Izzy gave Luce a “good point well made” thumbs up, at low level, as Luce bobbed back into view, popped the plane into a Sainsbury’s bag, rolled it up, and stuck some sticky tape on.

  ‘There you go, Aidie.’ She pushed the parcel across the counter, still showing enough teeth to be on a toothpaste advert. ‘Enjoy your afternoon.’

  Aidie took the plane, stepped back, and rolled backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet.

  He leaned forwards, and narrowed his eyes. ‘This isn’t the end of it.’

  Then he spun around, and waddled out of the shop.

  ‘Bloody hell, pick my jaw off the floor time, or what?’ Luce’s eyes were wide, and perplexed. ‘He was practically snarling. Maybe I should have given him a proper carrier bag.’

  Izzy rushed to reassure Luce. ‘I’m not sure a bag would have helped. You nailed the rest brilliantly.’ She hesitated. ‘I wouldn’t like to be in Dida’s shoes. We’ll have to hope that Hamish and hunger don’t push him over the edge.’

  Luce rubbed her nose. ‘You know he didn’t even bother to turn up when Lolly was born. I shudder every time I remember that The Vintage Cinema Club is completely in his hands. The way he looks today, anything could happen.’

  Text from Luce to Dida:

  Aidie just dropped in at the cinema, not a happy bunny, said he’d read your emails

  :( Hugs xx

  *

  Text from Dida to Luce:

  Thanks, Aidie is full of shit. There’s nothing in them xx

  82

  Saturday Evening, 9th August

  Subject: More GI Joe’s news

  Hi guys,

  The future Mrs GI Joe has been to pick up her wedding dress today. Fab news – GI Joe’s has run into problems with their shipping, so the launch has been put back. She showed me round the shop, and the spaces are amazing. Big hugs to Izzy for her trip to France – the first load arrived and is AWESOME. See you Monday to unload the next. I heart armoires :)

  Love Luce xx

  83

  Monday Afternoon, 18th August

  DIDA, IZZY, LUCE & THE CREW

  At the cinema

  I don’t like Mondays

  ‘So, Henni’s got the cones out on the road and he’s waiting for the lorry.’ Dida marched through the cinema, talking to anyone who would listen as she passed. ‘We’ve cleared space at the far end to unload into, I’ve got four more lemon drizzle cakes here for the cafe, and some Prosecco for when we’ve finished, so it looks like we’re all set for a great start to the week.’

  It could be the new red Michael Kors pumps she’d treated herself to for Saturday, or the fab swishy skirt from Mint Velvet that practically made her hips disappear, or maybe it was a hangover from the brilliant day in York with Hamish. Three good reasons – all of which led back to Hamish – which meant, this afternoon Dida was literally waltzing on air.

  Izzy gave her a knowing wink as she passed. ‘I take it York went well then?’

  ‘It was amazing, thanks.’ If she closed her eyes, she could re-play every second of Saturday. Wandering along the white stone city walls, picnicking with champagne, being blown away by the music…

  Izzy leaned in. ‘So was there “a connection” then?’

  Dida tried to explain. ‘It’s a cerebral t
hing.’

  In the right context there’d be sparks. If they ever actually got to kiss, the voltage would probably equal the output of Ferrybridge power station. But this wasn’t just about her. Every tiny decision she made could have a huge knock on effect on the children’s lives. Getting entangled would only weaken her position. She needed every ounce of her active brain operational, when it came to considering and negotiating her future, with the family and Aidie.

  ‘And what about Aidie?’ Izzy asked, pulling a face summed that one up.

  Dida shrugged. ‘I arrived back to a takeaway, then he left the next morning. He knows he’s in no position to talk about adultery.’ The very bumpy sex that had come later was about territory marking not lust, but the way he’d ground her into submission was something else. She rubbed her wrist as she remembered.

  Izzy gave a sympathetic glance, then did a double take. ‘Are those bruises on your arm?’ Her voice rose as she leaned in to see better. ‘What happened there?’

  Dida rubbed at the marks on her skin and sighed. The colour had come out a lot since Saturday night. ‘Basically my first ever attempt at withholding sex from Aidie ended in a big argument.’

  Izzy hissed at her. ‘Shit Dida, we can’t let this go, he’s hurt you.’ Her forehead wrinkled with concern. ‘Does Luce know? It’s not on, it’s…’

  Dida cut in. ‘I know what it is. I’ll get an appointment with the solicitor.’ She’d put off ringing this morning. ‘I’ll do it once the delivery’s done. We’ll talk later. And thanks, Izzy.’ The thing was, Dida was reluctant to call the solicitor, because, however like a coward it made her seem, she didn’t want to inflame Aidie any further. Solicitors might jump in and force her hand. But so long as there was a chance to save the cinema building, she didn’t want to take steps against Aidie.

  Ollie was by the door shouting down the cinema. ‘Big blue truck pulling up outside, this could be it…’

  Luce hurried past them, almost running towards the door. ‘Right guys, we’re on, I can’t wait to see what’s coming.’