Friends and Lovers

by June Francis

  Viv had completely forgotten about her cousin. Now she turned to him to be greeted by a scowl that turned his handsome face ugly. Dear God, don’t let him turn stroppy on me now, she pleaded inwardly. But she need not have worried. Mavis homed in on her cousin.

  ‘Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie! Remember how you used to kiss the girls and make us cry!’ She flung her arms around him and pressed him to her maternal bosom.

  Viv and Nick exchanged glances and there was laughter in his voice as he pulled on her hand and said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  ‘I’ll meet you back at the hotel, Uncle Mike,’ cried Viv, almost falling over Nick’s feet in her rush to escape.

  George looked like he was about to follow them but Mavis and Mike seized an arm each. ‘Perhaps I can tag along with you and Georgie, Mike?’ she beamed at the two men.

  Viv did not worry any more about her cousin. It was taking her all her time to control the joy and excitement effervescing inside her. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked as they raced out of the gallery.

  ‘Anywhere! You name it, we’ll go there! I just had to get you away from them. I want nobody distracting us from saying what we’ve got to say to each other – and that means George especially.’

  ‘You know what’s wrong with him?’ she whispered as an art lover gave them a frowning look.

  ‘Emotional trauma, so Stephen said.’

  She slowed her pace and scrutinised his features once more, her gaze lingering on his mouth which had a tender curve to it. ‘What did you think of Stephen?’

  ‘There’s nothing sugary about him’. He flicked back a lock of dark hair that had fallen into his eyes. ‘We could have spent the last few months together instead of in misery apart.’

  She nodded. ‘I was stupid. Even so, some of our misery is definitely down to my mother.’

  ‘Not just yours, mine as well. Mam lied to me about Hilda’s visit. She gave me the impression it was all over between us. At least your mother did try to make amends, so Stephen said.’ He toyed with her fingers.

  Viv was silent.

  ‘What is it?’ Nick’s voice was concerned and he took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. ‘Don’t clam up on me now, love. You can say anything to me. We’ve got to be as honest as we can be with each other.’

  Her mouth quivered. ‘Mam and Stephen were lovers and I never knew it. When I found out I didn’t want to have anything to do with her. I was so angry, Nick, I didn’t want to believe or understand why they could feel and need each other in such a way.’

  His uppermost emotion was relief because there was still a tiny part of him that felt insecure in regard to Viv’s feelings towards Stephen, but he was determined to try and understand how she felt. ‘I bet you were hurt?’

  ‘Yes. But it wasn’t just that.’ She rested her head against his shoulder. ‘It was a few things, one on top of the other. Mam not being pleased about us getting engaged – then it was her keeping the letter so long that it was too late to meet you. I felt terrible about that. And then on top of everything else she told me that Jimmy wasn’t my father – which meant that Stephen wasn’t my uncle.’

  ‘What?’ Nick held her off from him and his dark eyes blazed. ‘She told you that herself! Did she tell you who was your father?’

  ‘No. Although …’ She bit her lip, then rubbed her cheek against his neck. ‘I don’t think I want to know anymore. You were right, Nick. I should have left the past alone.’

  There was a short silence before be murmured against her ear, ‘Let’s forget about your father then and just think of now. I want us to be alone so I can kiss you.’

  ‘Me too.’ Her voice was muffled against his shoulder.

  They hugged each other then she lifted her head and smiled. ‘Let’s get out of here and you can tell me where you’ve been all this time.’

  ‘Working on the Wirral.’ He returned her smile as, hand in hand, they left the relative quiet of the Frick. Their feet made crunching noises in the snow as they made their way into the white wintery landscape of Central Park. He talked as they went and when he had finished, she said hesitantly, ‘Now you’re going up in the world, you won’t let it change you too much, will you? I mean it won’t change the ‘deep down’ you? I know circumstances can change us all, make us stronger or weaker or more uncertain.’

  ‘Stop worrying.’ He drew her close and they wrapped their arms around each other. It was an extremely cold day and they were muffled up against the elements. ‘It hasn’t stopped me fantasising about you,’ he murmured. ‘Remember that conversation we had about armour?’

  She threw back her head and laughed. ‘If you think I’m going to strip off here, mate, you’ve got another think coming!’

  He grinned. ‘Somewhere else?’

  ‘Behave yourself.’ Her eyes sparkled and she pressed an icy cheek against his. ‘We’ve only just met after yonks! But … I have a hotel room which is central heated. We could talk …’

  ‘Talk?’ He looked thoughtful. ‘I have your ring with me. I could propose all over again. Go down on one knee if you like?’

  ‘Having you at my feet is an offer too good to miss!’ She kissed him and the moment was as sweet as the sun after a hailstorm as she thought of how many more kisses there were to come.

  It did not take them long to get to the hotel where they took the elevator to the ninth floor. They peeled off their top clothes and Viv placed their footwear in the bathroom before padding back into the bedroom. Nick was gazing out of the window where a few snowflakes whirled lazily against the dark bulk of the building opposite.

  ‘Not much of a view,’ she said, standing at his shoulder.

  ‘It makes me feel sleepy looking at snowflakes,’ he murmured.

  ‘Sleepy? You mean you’re tired and want to go to bed?’ There was a diffident note in her voice.

  His eyes rested on her rosy face. ‘Did I say that?’

  ‘No, but …’

  ‘No buts.’ He led her over to the bed and kissed her ear.

  ‘What about my ring?’

  ‘I’ll give it to you as long as you promise never to throw it at me again,’ he said solemnly, getting down on one knee.

  ‘I didn’t throw it,’ she protested. ‘Anyway, I promise. If nothing else it’s safer on my finger than in your pocket.’

  That’s what I thought. It’ll warn George off. He’ll know you belong to me.’

  She raised her eyebrows. ‘What about you belonging to me? Perhaps a chain round your neck … who is this Ursula you mentioned a couple of times, by the way?’

  His expression stilled. ‘Nobody important. A friend. She sussed out that I was suffering from unrequited love and wanted to cheer me up.’

  Viv’s eyes narrowed and she tried to fathom if he was teasing her. ‘I requited your love. What’s she like, Nick?’

  ‘Not as nice as you. Nor as pretty.’

  ‘What colour eyes has she got?’

  ‘Violet.’

  ‘Violet!’

  ‘She’s just a friend.’ His face was serious. ‘I was in need of a friend. I believed I’d lost the best one I ever had. Weren’t we that to each other, Viv? Friends as well as lovers?’

  His words touched her heart and mutely she held out her left hand. He placed the ring on her finger and then sprang up and sat next to her. His arm slid round her waist and he kissed the hollow of her throat.

  ‘You must have got awfully close to see the colour of her eyes,’ murmured Viv.

  ‘Not as close as I’ve been to you. Nor did I want to be.’ Nick undid the top button of her blouse with his teeth. Then he lifted his head. ‘What about Norman?’

  ‘He meant nothing!’ She seized Nick’s head and pressed it against her breast. He smiled and managed to unfasten the next three buttons.

  Viv swallowed and closed her eyes as he lowered her on to the bed. ‘You won’t be seeing her again, will you?’ she said softly.

  ‘Boxing Day. Same party. It’s business
really – and I’ve got to be home for Christmas. I promised our Kenny. Besides, I couldn’t get any more time off to stay here longer.’ He felt the sigh ripple through her.

  ‘Don’t kiss her under the mistletoe.’

  ‘Don’t you kiss George.’ He loosened his tie and dragged it off. ‘Let’s forget them both. It’s you and me now, Viv.’ He touched her cheek with a gentle finger before dragging his shirt and T-shirt over his head. Then he lay beside her. ‘Missing you was hell,’ he said unsteadily.

  Viv turned on her side and gazed at him. ‘Hell,’ she agreed, and went into his arms, her breasts brushing his chest.

  He ran a finger down her spine and a tremor shivered through her. They kissed forcefully, passionately, and desire was a sweet flame that flared up inside them. They were both thinking of what had happened on the hills above West Kirkby.

  ‘It’s not safe,’ she said.

  ‘It would be nice, though,’ he said languidly. The room was warm and all sound seemed muffled, outside and in. He landed several small kisses on her face that were as gentle as dew.

  ‘I mean no, Nick,’ she said, knowing that if he persisted she would soon be like putty beneath his touch.

  ‘Trust me.’ He laid the palm of his hand flat on her stomach.

  Her flesh trembled but her mind was determined that her body would not respond to the sensations that swept over her. ‘Nick, we’ve got to be sensible.’

  He tickled her stomach with the tips of his fingers.

  She closed her eyes and counted to ten. ‘My mother said it was difficult. Perhaps I’m like her after all?’ she said with a hint of self-mockery.

  Nick sat up, his blue eyes dark. ‘You’ve got a thing about behaving like your mother!’

  She struggled upright. ‘Is that surprising? You forget, I’m illegitimate. It still hurts at times, Nick.’

  ‘OK!’ He breathed deeply. ‘But it’s not important to me. But – just to prove that I’m not after your body, Viv, we’ll call a halt right now. You’re right. We have only just met after months. We should give it more time. Put your clothes back on.’

  ‘You mean it?’ Her voice was incredulous.

  He frowned. ‘Of course I bloody mean it! I’ve lived like a monk for months. I can carry on a bit longer. It’s a struggle but – the battle is to the strong.’

  ‘I think it’s to the swift, isn’t it? Or is that the race?’ Viv’s tone was doubtful and she sighed as she eased herself against him and put her arms around him. ‘I know it won’t be easy when you go back but you won’t run off with Violet Eyes, will you?’

  He pushed her away and said crossly, ‘And you won’t flirt with any Californian surfers while enjoying yourself in the sun?’

  She kissed his bare shoulder and said mischievously, ‘All the time, love.’

  His frown faded. Taking one of her hands, he pressed a kiss on its palm. Longing ran through her veins like warmed syrup. ‘Help me fasten my bra,’ she said huskily, and knelt up on the bed with her back to him.

  He picked up her bra but dropped it and cupped her breasts instead, holding her against him. ‘I wonder if Delilah played your kind of tricks on Samson?’ There was a deep tremor in his voice.

  ‘I don’t want to weaken you,’ she whispered. I just want you to make an honest woman of me.’

  ‘Damn!’ he said savagely, and flopped on to the bed beside her. She kissed him ardently, saying against his mouth that she really did love him more than all the tea in China and adding that she madly wanted sex with him but that it was not on. Eventually they pushed each other away with desperate determination and slid off opposite sides of the bed.

  ‘Are you still going to marry me?’ said Viv with a slight smile.

  He returned her smile and stretched out a hand. ‘If that’s the price I have to pay to have you.’ And with that he pulled her flat on the bed again and began to kiss her all over again which was sweet torture.

  ‘I think we should go shopping,’ said Viv, a quarter of an hour later as she fastened her skirt. I haven’t bought you a Christmas present.’

  ‘Me and you both.’ Nick slipped his tie under the collar of his shirt. ‘I wish you could come home with me.’

  ‘I wish we could both go swimming in the Pacific,’ she said lightly before going into the bathroom for their footwear.

  They walked back to Fifth Avenue, almost in silence. Nick commented on some of the buildings and added, ‘I mightn’t be able to build the house I want for us right away.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ She smiled up at him. ‘We can both work towards it. I know we’re going up in the world. Mam was wrong all the way about you.’

  Nick hesitated before saying, ‘When did you last see her?’

  ‘Months ago.’ Viv’s brow furrowed as she stopped outside Tiffany’s. ‘Do you think I should buy her a Christmas present? If I do, will you take it to her for me?’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘You’ve made up your mind about her then, have you?’

  ‘She tried to make things right between us as you said.’ Viv stared at a glass bauble streaked at its heart with red and pink and green. It was a pretty piece of nonsense and somehow spoke to her of her mother. Red could be for danger or for warmth. Green was for go and growth. Had her mother been honest with her and Stephen about Jimmy? Perhaps she had lied because she was jealous? Viv wanted that to be true.

  They went inside and the pretty piece of nonsense was more expensive than she had expected but she told herself that it was Christmas and her mother would probably be spending it alone. While she waited for her transaction to go through, a lengthy business in Tiffany’s, Nick said that he would have a prowl round and meet her outside in half an hour or so. She guessed what he was up to and had a look around herself, coming to the irritating conclusion that there was nothing she liked that she could afford – so she spent money that she could ill afford but felt the better for it. Whether Nick would appreciate the thought behind the choice was a different matter.

  As she emerged from Tiffany’s she was humming ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ but it had stopped snowing. Even so it was still Christmas inside her. Nick slipped his arm round her. ‘After shopping in there all I can offer you is coffee and a doughnut,’ he said with a smile.

  ‘That’ll do me.’ In that moment she realised it was a very long time since she had felt so happy and she wanted to clutch the moment to her. All too soon Nick would be winging his way across the Atlantic while she headed West, following the trail of a hundred movies. Momentarily she felt afraid. What if anything happened to him which meant they would never see each other again? She shivered.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Nick. ‘Cold?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, and smiled up at him. No way was she going to spoil the next hours with irrational fears. Even so, she could not help remembering that where George was concerned, her fears had proved correct.

  When the moment came for them to part Viv clung to Nick. ‘It’s not really goodbye, is it?’ she said.

  ‘No. Just au revoir!’ He hugged and kissed her one more time before handing her a small package. ‘Don’t open it till Christmas.’

  She gave him his present and the one for her mother. ‘I hope you agree with it,’ she said softly. ‘Wear it and think of me. And don’t say anything soppy to Mam. I don’t want her thinking I’ve gone soft.’

  Viv ran up the steps of the hotel, determined not to cry. In the doorway she stopped and looked back. He lifted a hand, blew a kiss and was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Off and on across America Viv thought of Ursula’s violet eyes. Stupid of her to worry, she told herself. Nick had not had to tell her about the girl. It was just an example of the honesty he wanted them to share with one another. So why hadn’t she told him her suspicions about her father?

  As they neared the California state border Viv’s worry about her father’s identity grew and she wondered if perhaps her mother might have written to her aunt about
the cause of their quarrel? If she had not then Viv intended keeping quiet about Jimmy not being her father. Her aunt had enough worries with George, who had been sulky since the meeting with Nick.

  At last they were in Napa country. Mike pointed out Mount St Helena a few miles away, and named trees and shrubs. Oaks mingled with redwood, laurel and pine. There were rivers and streams watering the land in plenty. As Viv looked about her at the green and beautiful paradise she wondered how her aunt, a city sparrow, had settled in such a place. They came to a wide range of vineyards and orchards and Mike said with relief and excitement in his voice, ‘Nearly there.’

  They passed through a stone gateway and travelled up a drive lined with trees. ‘Walnut,’ informed Mike, who was looking tired after the week-long journey.

  A house came into view. It was built of stone and wood and had a veranda running its length. There were lots of windows and the roof was graced by a high multi-windowed turret. Viv thought the view from there must be quite something. A hand slipped into hers and she glanced at George to see he was looking slightly apprehensive.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered. ‘Everything’s going to be all right.’ He nodded but kept a grip on her hand.

  The car came to a halt on a wide gravelled space and Viv and George climbed out. A door opened and a woman came flying towards them. She halted a foot or so away. Her copper-coloured hair was streaked with grey and she wore it in a curling top knot; hazel eyes creased at the corners in a familiar smile in her sun-bronzed face. ‘Aren’t I going to get a hello or a kiss?’ she said in a voice that quivered.

  Viv would have flung herself at her aunt; George held her back. ‘George, this is your mother,’ she said quietly. ‘You must remember her?’

  His grip tightened and his throat convulsed but he did not speak.

  Flora’s smile faltered and tears brimmed in her eyes. For a moment she struggled for control and at last managed to say, ‘It doesn’t matter, Viv. All this must be so strange to him.’ She moved towards them, hugging Viv but only touching her son’s arm gently. ‘Come into the house, George. You must be tired as well as hungry. I’ve made apple pies and there’s steak and plenty of veggies. I could never fill you up in the old days. Remember we used to say you had hollow legs?’