'No. Thank you, but no.'
'Look,' Harry says, 'How about you keep most of the pictures as just you at your apartment, as agreed. Then maybe they can take a couple of us discussing the plans for the garden you're designing for me? That way if the readers decide there's a hint of romance, well that's up to them?'
'I could work with that,' says Lulu. 'What do you think Ronnie?'
I rub just below my eye, where I'm starting to feel a throbbing pain. 'If it means a bigger cheque for charity I'll do it,' I say.
Lulu beams as if she's just won an Oscar and goes off to chat to the photographers.
'Sorry Ronnie. I had no idea,' says Harry.
I shrug. 'Oh don't worry about it. It benefits the charity. I do want to go over the design spec with you anyway. It's been approved now. It's a good job my course is mainly online or I'd be struggling with these celebrity things taking over. I'm missing my gardening. It gives me some peace.'
'Well come over this week and spend some time in my garden if you like.'
'I have Sam here at the moment, but thanks for the offer. I might pop down at the end of the week though, if that would be okay?'
'Well just let me know. In case I'm entertaining any hot females. I'll throw them out for you.'
I give him a fake hug. 'Oh why thank you. You're too kind.'
Hearing the rattle of cups, Harry turns around. 'Oh great, the coffee's here. That was good timing on my part.'
I turn around. Col has helped the runner bring up the refreshments and his teeth are gritted as he glares at Harry. I think if he didn't have Sam by his side, his clenched fist may actually have made a move towards Harry's face.
'Thanks man,' Harry lifts a coffee off the trolley.
A tic pulses in Col's cheek.
'Who are you?' says Sam.
'Hey, little guy. You must be Sam. I'm Harry. I'm a retired footballer, but I'm on the television now talking about it. I'm friends with Ronnie. You like football?'
'You mean soccer? I'm American.' Sam's face puckers up and his electric grey eyes assess Harry. 'Ronnie didn't say you were coming.'
'Nah, she didn't know. I turned up to ask about gardening. She's designing my garden for me.'
'Oh,' says Sam, his body visibly relaxes. 'That's alright then.'
Harry chuckles. 'Maybe I could show you some soccer moves sometime, while you're over here?'
'No thanks,' says Sam. 'Ronnie already has my calendar full of things. I'm only here for three days.'
'Well never mind, son, another time.' Harry moves his attention to Lulu who has just walked past him with her booty and cornrows swinging.
'Can we go back now?' Sam says to Col.
'Sure, mate. Let's go and get ready for the lunchtime rush.'
They turn and walk out of the door. Just for a moment, despite the fact my house is full of people, I feel lonelier than ever. My heart just walked out of the door and I'm left, part of a circus. I turn to finish the show. Even having my hair styled and wearing designer outfits fails to excite me. It's only the thought of a larger cheque for charity that brings a smile to my face for the shoot. I'm glad when they've all left, although Harry remains behind.
'So have you got Lulu's number then?' I raise an eyebrow at him.
Harry adjusts himself on the sofa. 'No, that's just my large dick.'
I laugh. 'You are so bad.'
'I know. Personally I prefer tiny blonde women with huge boobs.'
'Shut up and get out.' I point at the door. 'I've another man coming home soon. One I'm taking for dinner. That and an impressionable eight year old.'
'Oh yeah. What's that all about, putting up Isobel's widower and son? Did Stella ask you?'
'No. I did it because I'm a very loving and kind-hearted person.'
'Nah, if you were kind-hearted you'd let me fondle ya tits.'
'That's it—out!'
Harry walks to the door. 'You know full well you were checking out my arse when I walked over here.'
I smack him on it. 'Bugger off.'
'Don't forget to come over at the end of the week to visit the garden. If you won't dig me, you can dig that.'
'I'll most likely be over Friday,' I reply.
'I'll be waiting. Ready to plant my seedlings.'
Exhausted with the innuendo, I close the door in his face.
The cushioning of the sofa comforts me as I lie across it. I breathe in the silence that is now so pronounced. The magazine crew were very professional and have left the apartment tidier than they found it. I could have done without Harry crashing the shoot and Col with his everlasting sulk. Fucking men, or not as the case may be.
I stretch out, hoping to unkink the knotted muscles in my shoulders and neck. I'll have to book a massage if this carries on, although I don't know where I'd fit one into my schedule. I have the show tomorrow. I'm going to take Sam onto the set and then it's college on Thursday and Harry's on Friday. I exhale a massive amount of air in the largest of sighs. Maybe I need to re-acquaint myself with what was called The Rodeo, last time I visited. The club is now called Viktor's, though rumours say it's only the decor, not the clientele that's changed. Time chained to the wall would get the kinks out of me in more ways than one. I wriggle my shoulders trying to loosen them. Perhaps I need an orgasm? I could sort myself out while I have the opportunity.
I open my trousers and slip my hand down the waistband of my panties. I touch my clitoris with the middle finger of my right hand. My fingertip is cold against the warmth of my pussy. I stroke myself as I place my left hand on my right boob and move between teasing my nipple and squeezing my breast. I imagine it's Col's hands on me. My breathing gets heavier as my climax mounts. As I reach my peak my mobile phone starts ringing and vibrating in my pocket. I pull the pocket over against my clit and the vibration finishes me off.
'Aaaaaaarrrgggghhh.'
After a moment I realise I can hear a voice. Fuck I must have answered it with my clit when I pressed it against me. I scramble to get the phone out of my pocket.
'H-hello?'
'When you have a moment, would you like to come and collect Sam?' says Col.
'If you weren't such an idiot you could have been here, in my moment.'
'Yes, well someone has to show some responsibility and look after the child, that I think you agreed to look after. So are you coming?'
'I'll be right down. Though not for you, you fucktard.'
I switch the phone off and throw it across the sofa. My neck has knotted straight back up thanks to Col, so my solo event was a complete waste of self-fucking time.
I breeze into the coffee shop like nothing just happened, for Sam's benefit.
I smile at Sam. 'Col says he has a bad headache. He can't come out with us tonight.'
Col himself does not look me in the eye.
'Can't you just take some medicine, Col?'
'No, Sam, it's better if he stays in by himself where it will be nice and quiet.'
'I suppose,' Sam's lip drops again.
'You'll be seeing him again before you go. Now come on back to the apartment and get ready before your dad gets home. I'm going to take you out for fish and chips.'
Sam's face lights up. 'Can I try a cup of tea?'
'Oh yes. You must have a cup of tea, and also you have to have a slice of bread and butter with your fish and chips. It's part of the whole experience.'
'You Brits are weird,' He replies.
We walk out of the coffee shop. As I depart I turn and wave my little finger off my forehead at Col. He mouths the words grow up.
Mike arrives home looking like his head can hardly support his shoulders.
'It must be jetlag. I hardly slept last night…'
'Well you need to come out. Once you get some fresh air you'll be fine. It won't be a late night, so you can crash when we get back. Go and throw some cold water on your face.'
He strokes Sam's face. 'Hi, son. How was your day?'
'So cool, Dad. They took some photos of
me, but not for the magazine, for my wall. Then I spent the day with Col and he let me make some coffees and I helped tidy up.' He puffs out his chest. 'I'm going to work for him when I'm older and manage one of his coffee shops.'
'Really?' The corner of Mike's mouth twists in mirth.
'Yeah, Col said we were a great team. Then I met this soccer player, Harry, but I didn't like him. He had a mean face. I don't like soccer anyway. Col told me that Ronnie is designing the soccer player’s garden for her course. He doesn't like him either. I hope you pass your exam Ronnie and then I hope a cat comes and craps on his lawn.'
'Sam. Watch your language.' says Mike.
'Are we going out now for fish and chips, Ronnie?' Sam changes the subject fast.
'Yes.' I say. 'Grab your coat and let’s go.' While Mike isn't looking I mime a cat taking a crap and then waft my hand in front of my nose.
Sam laughs and says, 'Miaow,' then blows a raspberry like a fart.
I take Mike and Sam to Fish Central, an unassuming restaurant in King Square. As we walk towards the venue a familiar face comes bustling towards us. I step out into her path, waving my hand in her face. 'Nina. Hi.'
Nina steps back, then seems to re-join the real world. 'Oh, hi there, Ronnie. Sorry, I was miles away. Nice to see you again.'
'You too. You're looking a bit lost.'
'Oh, I was just daydreaming about eating in a restaurant or ordering a takeaway, rather than going home to beans on toast.'
I look at Mike and he nods, understanding my silent question.
'Come and eat with us. We're off to Fish Central.'
She shakes her head. 'Oh no, I couldn't possibly intrude on you and your family.'
'This is Mike and his son Sam. They're friends of mine from New York, over for a visit. I'm showing them a quick taste of London.'
Nina gnaws at her lip. 'Well...'
'Please, come and join us,' says Mike. 'To be honest Sam will monopolise Ronnie, so it will be nice to have someone else to talk to.'
She looks at him nervously. 'Well if you're sure?'
'We're sure. Now come on, let's go and eat.'
We take a seat on plastic chairs in the restaurant. The table is covered with a plain white tablecloth. The simplicity of the decor belies the gorgeous fish served here. We are handed menus, but all of us quickly decide to have grilled haddock and chips, home made bread with butter, plus cups of tea. Sam insisted he could eat an adult's portion. I interrupted Mike, who was telling him he had to have a kid’s portion, and said it was all my treat. Then we had a five minute argument over who was paying for dinner, before I let Mike win as he was giving me a headache.
'How do you know Ronnie?' Mike asks Nina.
'We met when we were filming Location for the Nation. I'm a TV Researcher.'
'It's thanks to Nina that I found my dream house,' I tell him.
She blushes. 'I think that's taking it a bit far. I just noted down what you liked.'
'Then the next day they showed me my new house. Sorry, but that's all on you.'
'Are you Ronnie's friend?' pipes up Sam.
I nudge him. 'We only met on the set of the programme, Sam.'
'Only Ronnie needs some friends. She doesn't have any.'
Nina bursts out laughing. 'Out of the mouth of babes. My nephew is exactly the same.'
'I'm not a baby. I'm eight.'
'Sorry, yes. It's a British saying. I can see you aren't a baby,' says Nina.
'Oh. Okay,' he says. 'Well it's true. Ronnie's friend, my Aunt, lives in New York now, so Ronnie doesn't really see her anymore. Plus Athena never stops crying so Stella's always busy when I ask her to play with me on my Xbox. Now Ronnie’s on her own, apart from Col, her boyfriend, but he has a headache.'
'Er, okay.'
'I'm sorry for my son, Nina. He seems to have verbal diarrhoea this evening,' says Mike.
'Don't worry. Like I said, I have a nephew a similar age.'
With that Mike and Nina start a conversation about troublesome boys.
I whisper in Sam's ear. 'Sam, you can't just ask people to be friends with me.'
'Why not?'
'It doesn't work that way.'
'Well how do grownups make friends then?'
'I don't know. Sometimes you just meet people and they seem nice. You might chat about somewhere you are going, and they might want to go. Ah, like the cinema.'
'Cinema?'
'Movies to you.'
'Weird. Nina. Do you like the cinema?' asks Sam.
'Er, yes.'
'Will you go to the cinema sometime with Ronnie?'
'Sam, that's enough.' says Mike. 'You're being very rude.'
Nina turns to me. 'Seriously, Ronnie, I don’t have many friends in London either. I would love to go to the cinema sometime, or see a play or something. I'm not a disco person though, more a quiet night girl.'
'See,' says Sam. 'I got you a friend.'
At that point our meals arrive and we tuck into a hearty plate of fish, chips and mushy peas.
Sam loves tea.
'Now you've caused me a problem, haven't you?' says Mike. 'Try and get a cup of tea in New York.'
'I'll post some out to you.'
Sam is munching away with the typical large appetite of an eight year old. He is smiling as he eats—content.
I’m pleased we came out tonight,' says Mike.
Mike insists we see Nina to her bus stop. We swap numbers so we can meet up again. I feel really stupid, having a friend match-made for me by a child.
'Sam. I think you did a good job there. Nina seems a nice friend for Ronnie,' says Mike, looking at me.
'You just have to ask them. I don't know why you adults make things so complicated.' Sam runs off to look in a shop window.
'Hmm, a nice friend for me, or for you?' I say to Mike.
He looks shocked.
'Oh I'm sorry, Mike. You know me, foot in mouth.'
'No. No, you're actually right. It's been eighteen months. I am ready to start dating again. I liked Nina and enjoyed chatting to her tonight, but she's here in the UK and I'm in the States, so I'll have to say no to that one.'
'Do you think Sam would be okay with you dating again?'
'I have no idea. He's not showing it here, but he has times where he is very clingy and dependent. We see a therapist together. It's normal for what happened, but I don't want to make things harder for him.'
'Well I'm neither a parent, or been through such a devastating loss, so I'm afraid I'm no use to you at all in that respect. Maybe I could sound him out though, see how he's feeling?'
'If you can do it… subtly, I'd appreciate it. It's lonely, just me and Sam. These last few days have shown me that.'
'Me too,' I tell Mike.
'What's going on with you and Col then? Don't tell me you're fine because he'd have been here tonight, or last night. Sam might be buying the headache thing, but I'm not.'
I sigh. 'We've split up. Trust issues.'
'I'm sorry to hear that.'
'It sucks. I love him, but he kept a secret from me. Now he thinks I have something going on with Harry Taylor.'
'I have to say I wouldn't trust this Harry either, with what I've heard about him.'
'I keep bumping into him with all the new social circles I’m engaged with, and I'm designing his garden. Col needs to realise that I can make my own decisions.'
'And there I see your problem.' says Mike.
'Pardon?'
'You want to make your own choices Ronnie, but in relationships, you have to compromise. If you can't hear what he's saying, or you can't agree, one of you has to relent.'
I sigh.
'I don't want Col to think he can tell me what to do. He has money Mike. Son of a billionaire money. He's a multi-millionaire himself and he didn't tell me. So I accept that, and then I'm supposed to accept his orders? I can't right now.'
'You definitely have issues. Depends on whether or not you want to work through them.'
'W
ell right now we’re barely speaking, so I'll take that as a no.'
'If you want to work it out, you will.'
'Yeah? Well right at this moment I want to enjoy the experiences life's presenting me with, and I want to pass my garden design course. No-one’s ever believed I could make a career for myself. My mother especially would love for me to marry Col and never have to lift a finger again.'
'Therapy can be great for relationships.'
'We don't really see therapists over here for that sort of thing. Not to the extent you do in New York. I spent far too much time with therapists in rehab for behavioural reasons.'
'Well don't rule it out.'
I smile. 'I'll keep it in mind, thank you.'
'I owe you an apology, Ronnie. Before we came here, I thought you were all designer shoes and handbags. I was wrong.'
'No, you're not. I am that girl. I'm just other things as well. Anyway, enough of the heavy talk, I'm taking you both for an ice-cream.'
'Yaaayy, did you just say ice-cream, Ronnie?' asks Sam.
'I sure did. I know the best ice-cream ever.'
'After fish and chips? I think I'm going to vomit,' says Mike.
'It's delicious,' I tell him. 'You'll make room.'
Back at my apartment, I get out Monopoly. I've bought it as a surprise for Sam. I can tell him about some of the places on it and then he can take it home with him. We start the game, but I spot Mike beginning to fade. He and Sam get ready and head off to bed.
I want them both to have a decent sleep, so I work on my garden design plans from the comfort of my bed, and then read the latest issue of InStyle. I still feel full, from my feet to my ears, but I snuggle under my duvet and have the most contented night’s sleep since Col and I split up.
Wednesday 5 March 2014
It's Sam's last full day with me in London so we have a lot to pack in. Firstly I have my show to do, and then I tell him we'll hop on and off buses so he can see all the sights of London in a day. Then I break it to him that we’re going to the Guardian's of the Galaxy Premiere.
'Fucking Hell.'
I give him a warning look, but let him off. 'I know, right?'
We fist bump. I am so cool and down with this kid.
As Sam doesn't know the Happy Morning programme he has no interest in meeting the presenters. He just wants to watch the filming. He lets the floor staff know of his expertise from the photo shoot. After ten minutes, Art gets fed up and Sam is ensconced to the green room where they make him hot chocolate.
The Calendar Game (The Alpha Series Book 2) Page 8