by Jill Mansell
Now, turning to the gossip column, he showed it to Daisy.
‘Don’t let Hector see.’ Rocky lowered his voice as Daisy started to laugh. ‘He’ll go bananas.’
‘Don’t let Hector see what?’ Hector demanded, breezing into the bar and making Rocky jump.
Daisy grinned and patted his arm. ‘A day without a faux pas is a day wasted. Go on, Rocky, show him.’
Maggie joined them and read the piece over Hector’s shoulder.
‘Paula Penhaligon, star of the London stage, is back with a bang from her sojourn in the sticks with Dennis the Dachshund creator Hector MacLean,’ Maggie read aloud. ‘Of her dalliance with the flamboyant hotel owner, she said, “It was pleasant enough, but I have a low boredom threshold. As I frequently told Hector, it was never going to last.” The new man in Paula’s life is rumored to be billionaire financier Alfred Swick who blah blah blah…’
‘The bloody cheek of that woman,’ Hector exclaimed in outrage. ‘Making out she was the one who ended it! I’ve a good mind to ring and let them know what really happened.’
‘You will not.’ Maggie crumpled up the paper and lobbed it smartly into the bin. ‘Because that would be undignified. Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore. So what if she’s got herself a billionaire financier?’ She planted a teasing kiss on Hector’s cheek. ‘You’ve got yourself a cushion-maker.’
‘What more could any man want?’ Hector agreed, sliding his arm round her waist.
‘And Alfred Swick’s bald,’ Daisy put in helpfully. ‘At least Maggie has hair.’
‘Damn right she does. She’s perfect in every way! In fact…’ Hector banged his fist on the bar. ‘Rocky, fetch me my accordion. I feel a serenade coming on!’
***
Spot the odd one out, thought Daisy a couple of hours later as she watched Josh drop to his knees in front of Tara, spread his arms wide, and launch into a boisterous, off-key version of ‘If You Were the Only Girl in the World.’ Tara blew him extravagant kisses and the assembled guests cheered. Tonight was Tara and Josh’s leaving party. Tomorrow they were meeting up with Annabel Cross-Calvert at Heathrow. At midday, Tara and Annabel would wave Josh off on his flight to Miami before setting off themselves for New York on the first leg of their own big adventure.
It was going to be strange without them.
Josh and Tara.
Hector and the radiant Maggie.
Even Barney and Mel were here, at Tara’s insistence.
All the couples, Daisy thought with a brief pang. And me.
Oh dear, mustn’t get maudlin.
Turning back to the bar, she caught Rocky’s eye.
‘Another vodka.’ Daisy winked at him. ‘And will you marry me?’
Rocky sloshed vodka into her glass and gave the proposal some thought.
‘I’d like to,’ he said at last, ‘but I just couldn’t.’
‘Spoilsport,’ said Daisy.
Hector, banging a heavy ashtray on one of the tables, called the room to attention.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he announced when everyone was finally listening. ‘We’re here this evening to say goodbye to Tara and Josh. Now Josh, as most of you know, originally came here to renew his acquaintance with my darling daughter Daisy. While Tara, who by the way wears jolly nice bras and frequently flashes them to all and sundry, was having a fairly diabolical time on the man front…’
‘See?’ Rocky shrugged at Daisy as the rest of the room rocked with laughter. ‘There’s your problem. I mean, you’re really pretty and nice and everything, but imagine having Hector as a father-in-law.’
The shudder said it all. It said that Hector was a liability and Rocky a prize wimp.
Just as well she hadn’t wanted to marry him anyway.
‘I see what you mean.’ Knocking back her vodka in one, Daisy licked her lips. ‘Ah well, better get another.’
***
Barney and Mel were walking through Victoria Park in Bath when Freddie, riding on Barney’s shoulders, began to jiggle and yell excitedly, ‘Car! Car!’
Barney swelled with pride and gave Freddie’s ankles a squeeze. The road running alongside the park was choked with traffic.
‘Good boy, that’s right, lots of cars.’
‘Car! Car! Car!’ bellowed Freddie, clutching handfuls of Barney’s hair as he bounced up and down.
‘He’s a genius.’ Barney grinned at Mel.
‘Actually, he isn’t,’ said Mel. ‘Motor cars are brrm-brmms. Car was his name for Clarissa.’
But Freddie was right. Having in turn spotted him from afar, Clarissa now raced across the grass to greet Freddie. Lowering him to the ground, Barney watched them clumsily hugging each other. If Freddie had owned a tail, it would be wagging every bit as frantically as Clarissa’s.
It was like one of those reunion programs on television.
Dev, wearing an ancient navy polo shirt and jeans, strolled over to join them. He took off his sunglasses and smiled at the sight of Freddie and Clarissa rolling joyfully together on the grass.
‘Look at them. You’d think they hadn’t seen each other for years.’
‘We’re taking Freddie to the children’s playground,’ said Barney, every inch the proud father. ‘He loves the slide.’
‘He’s grown.’ Dev nodded at Freddie, with his shock of white-blond hair and dazzling blue eyes. It had been a month since he’d moved out of the hotel. ‘You’re back in the cottage now?’
‘Oh, for ages,’ said Mel. ‘Since just after you left. Everything’s great,’ she added. ‘Thanks to you.’
Dev shoved his hands in his back pockets; he didn’t want to get into another round of we’re so gratefuls. If he was honest, he wished he hadn’t bumped into Barney and Mel today. The last few weeks had been hard enough without this. But now that they were here, he may as well ask the question that had been occupying practically his every waking thought for the past month.
‘So, how is everyone? Busy at the hotel?’
Actually, that wasn’t the question. He was being subtle, leading up to it.
‘Really busy.’ Barney nodded vigorously. ‘You wouldn’t believe it. Five major functions in the last week alone. Every room’s booked. We’re rushed off our feet.’
‘Daisy must be pleased.’ Dev took an imperceptible breath and said, ‘How are they, by the way? Daisy and Josh?’
That was the question.
Barney looked puzzled for a moment, then light dawned.
‘I’d forgotten, you left before it all happened. Josh has gone. He and Tara left a fortnight ago.’
Now it was Dev’s turn to frown. ‘Josh and Tara? Where have they gone?’
‘America. Together. Well, not exactly together. After Josh and Daisy split up, he and Tara hooked up. It was around the time Maggie was holding the washing machine man hostage. Then when Josh had to leave to start his new job in Florida, he wanted Tara to go with him,’ Barney explained. ‘But she’s decided to travel around the States for a few months first, with some friend of hers called Arabella.’
‘Annabel,’ Mel corrected. ‘Her name’s Annabel Cross-Calvert. But after their trip, Tara’s going to join Josh.’
This was too much information in too short a space of time. Dev was still struggling to take in something Barney had said earlier.
‘Hang on, I’m not with you. Are you telling me Josh and Daisy had split up before Maggie kidnapped the washing machine man?’
Barney turned to Mel. ‘That’s right, isn’t it? Or have I made a mistake?’
‘No, you’re right.’ Mel nodded, more interested in the expression on Dev’s face. She wasn’t sure quite what, but something was definitely going on here.
‘And you’ll never guess what else,’ exclaimed Barney, his eyes bright. ‘Tara passed her driving test! Isn’t that fantastic?’
; Dev echoed vaguely, ‘Fantastic.’
‘No, darling, Clarissa can’t come with us.’ Mel grabbed Freddie back by his dungaree straps as the two of them attempted to slope off down the hill. ‘Dogs aren’t allowed in the playground.’
‘I mean, none of us thought she’d do it,’ Barney chattered on.
Dev looked up, alarmed. ‘Do what?’
‘Pass her test!’
‘Oh, right.’ For a moment there he’d thought Barney was telling him Daisy had done something extraordinary.
Except she already had.
Chapter 63
Daisy checked her watch; five minutes before her next appointment.
Makeup, maybe that would help.
Delving into her desk drawer, she pulled out a small mirror, a worn down Guerlain lipstick in matte pink, and her trusty powder compact. She could almost slap it on without resorting to a mirror—and the moment she glimpsed her reflection, she wished she had.
Weeugh, what a sight. Carry on like this and she’d end up giving Olive from On The Buses a run for her money. To amuse herself, Daisy pulled an Edvard Munch scream-face at her reflection, but it was actually too true to be funny. She’d lost weight, especially from her face, and it didn’t suit her. The sparkle she’d always taken for granted had gone from her eyes. She was looking tired and drawn and no amount of matte-pink lipstick was going to help. Even her hair looked droopy and depressed, as if it could simply no longer be bothered.
Heaving a sigh, Daisy went through the slapping-it-on routine anyway, then dragged a comb through her hair for politeness’ sake. Her three o’clock appointment—a late booking penciled in yesterday by Pam—was with a Mr Smith, who would doubtless turn out to be as thrilling as he sounded.
Oh dear, she definitely needed to drum up more enthusiasm than this. But how, when she just felt so dead inside?
There was a knock at the door as Daisy checked the box under her desk. Hastily she swept her beautifying agents—ha!—back into the open drawer. Rising to her feet in order to greet Mr Smith, she called out, ‘Come in.’
The next moment all the breath was knocked out of her lungs.
It was Dev.
Oh no, this isn’t fair, this really isn’t fair…
‘What are you doing here?’ Shock had the unfortunate effect of making her voice wobbly. ‘You should have phoned, I’ve got an appointment with—’
‘Mr Smith. I know.’ Gravely, Dev said, ‘I changed my name by deed poll.’
Daisy discovered she no longer had blood in her veins, she had treacle. It wasn’t moving round her body properly and her heart was banging like a drum.
‘Dev. What’s going on?’
He shrugged. ‘We weren’t exactly on the best of terms when I left. I didn’t want you refusing to see me.’
‘Sit down.’ Waving at the chair on the other side of the desk, Daisy sat too. Rather suddenly. Why, oh why hadn’t she washed her hair this morning? What on earth had possessed her to put on a grey cardigan?
Dev stayed standing, which put her at even more of a disadvantage. He was wearing a dark suit and a deep-blue shirt and there were certainly no bags under his eyes. Basically, he’d never looked more desirable in his life.
‘I’d like to book one of the function rooms.’ He paused. ‘If that’s all right with you.’
Daisy exhaled slowly. So it wasn’t a social visit after all. Well, she could be businesslike.
‘Another conference?’
‘Wedding reception.’
Bonnggg. Oh God. Her hands began to tremble. All the color drained from her face like milk through a sieve.
‘You’re getting married?’ The words somehow stumbled out. If he’d told her he was about to have a sex change she couldn’t have been more shocked.
‘When you arrange a wedding reception, that’s the general idea.’ Dev waited, his dark eyes never leaving her face. ‘Aren’t you going to congratulate me?’
Daisy felt sick. It just went to show what an idiot she was. While she’d spent the last month not eating and pining miserably for him, Dev had been out enjoying himself so much with some gorgeous young thing that he’d realized he wanted to marry her.
Well, let’s face it, she was hardly likely to be some ugly old thing.
‘Congratulations.’ It was hard to get the word out. Why did it have to be so long?
‘Thanks. How’s Josh, by the way?’
Small talk, how civilized. Just what she needed right now.
‘He’s great.’ Daisy forced a smile. By chance, she’d had a postcard from Josh this morning telling her just how great everything was. The newly built golf complex was, apparently, out of this world.
‘Where is he?’
‘Playing golf.’ A guess, but undeniably a good guess.
Dev nodded. Finally he said, ‘You forgot to mention he’s in Florida.’
Oh shit.
Daisy clicked and unclicked the ballpoint pen she was twisting between her fingers. Click. Unclick. Click.
‘I bumped into Barney and Mel yesterday, in Bath,’ Dev went on.
Terrific.
‘Really.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me it was all over between you and Josh?’
It was horribly reminiscent of being asked by the head teacher why you hadn’t done your homework. Attempting to stare past him—and feeling like a caught-out fourteen-year-old—Daisy muttered, ‘I just didn’t.’
‘You lied to me.’ Dev shook his head. ‘You used Josh as an excuse not to see me again. Since Barney told me, I’ve been trying to figure it out.’ He paused. ‘And now I think I have.’
Not liking the sound of this at all, Daisy resorted to flippancy. ‘Maybe you’re just a lousy lay.’
The look he gave her made her stomach squirm with lust.
‘Except we both know that isn’t true.’
Getting desperate now, Daisy blurted out, ‘So who are you marrying?’
‘You idiot.’ A flicker of amusement crossed Dev’s face. ‘I’m not getting married.’
Not getting married. Daisy was beginning to feel light-headed.
‘No? So why are you here?’
‘I told you.’ He moved closer to the desk. ‘I’ve finally worked it out.’
‘And?’
His voice softened. ‘Daisy, listen to me. I’m not Steven.’
Her heart was by this time leaping erratically, like a dancer with absolutely no sense of rhythm.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Come on. You know. What happened between us the other week wasn’t a casual fling. It meant as much to you as it did to me. And it scared you witless,’ Dev carried on remorselessly, ‘because you’d made some kind of pact with yourself never to get involved with anyone who could end up hurting you. Like Steven did.’
All true. He was so right. Helplessly, Daisy shrugged. ‘Doesn’t that make sense?’
‘Sense? It’s been driving me bloody insane! You’ve been driving me insane,’ Dev exclaimed, ‘ever since the first day I met you. Can you even begin to understand how frustrating it’s been, having to stand back and do nothing, knowing you were with someone who didn’t make you as happy as I knew I could?’
Daisy bit her lip, unable to speak. She’d certainly learned her lesson there. Having deluded herself that she and Josh could be happy together, she now knew better. Relationships—proper relationships—didn’t work like that. It had to be all or nothing. Dev was all, and that was scary. But nothing was utterly pointless.
‘I’ve never felt like this about anyone in my life.’ A muscle flickered in Dev’s jaw. ‘I love you, and I’ve never said that to anyone before. This last month has been… well, I can’t tell you how bad. Not seeing you has been worse than seeing you with Josh.’ He pulled a face. ‘Which is saying something.’
Silence. Finally Daisy whispered, ‘Me too.’
He looked down at her. ‘Me too what?’
‘All of it. Everything you just said. Me too.’ Daisy couldn’t believe she was doing this. She couldn’t help it. Unsteadily, she pushed back her chair.
Dev’s arms came round her and she clung to him, hot tears of relief threatening to spill over. Because basically, if not being with Dev had made her this miserable, what did she have to lose?
She may as well take the plunge and risk it. Heavens, she might even end up happy!
And he really was… mmm… an exceedingly good kisser.
It was some time before he pulled away.
‘So is that a yes?’ murmured Dev. ‘We’ll give it a go?’
Daisy smiled and wiped her eyes. ‘What the hell. Why not?’
He really wasn’t Steven.
‘You won’t regret this.’ Dev sounded relieved. ‘You have no idea how scary it was, coming here today.’
Scared? Dev?
‘But you said you’d worked it out!’
‘In theory, yes. But it wasn’t until I mentioned the wedding reception that I knew for sure.’ Clearly entertained, he said, ‘You should have seen your face.’
‘Very clever. Anyway,’ Daisy retaliated, ‘I didn’t believe you for a second.’
‘I tell you what. You don’t lie to me anymore and I won’t lie to you.’
Belatedly remembering something else she had to tell him, Daisy said, ‘How’s Clarissa?’
Dev looked amused. ‘Just the same. Bossy as ever. I left her in the car, in case you paid more attention to her than you did me.’ He waited. ‘She’s missed you terribly, you know.’
‘I’ve missed her. Still, she’ll have someone else to boss around now.’ As she spoke, Daisy was reaching beneath the desk, sliding out the cardboard box she had checked on earlier.
‘Someone else? Don’t tell me you’re pregnant—oh my God.’ Dev’s expression changed as she folded back a corner of blue and white striped blanket.
A pair of coal-black eyes blinked bemusedly up at him. Beneath the rest of the blanket, a tail cautiously began to wag.