Pippa fiddled with her enormous engagement ring. ‘Fine, darling, nothing to worry about. Tell me all about you and the girls.’
Alice and Pippa chatted while Ben and David had a tête-à-tête. Pippa and David were drinking extremely quickly and the waiter kept topping up all of their glasses. Before long, Alice was feeling lightheaded.
They were called in for dinner, much to Alice’s relief. She buttered her bread roll and ate it in an attempt to soak up some of the champagne. Pippa continued to drink rapidly.
‘I see the house next door is up for sale,’ Ben said.
‘Apparently some hot-shot property developer is looking to buy it,’ David answered.
Alice ate her soup. ‘This is delicious.’
‘Gavin is rather good at soup,’ Pippa said, but barely touched her own.
‘So, how have things been? How was Christmas?’ David asked.
‘It seems like ages ago now,’ Alice said.
‘It was interesting,’ Ben drawled.
‘Oh, yes? I like the sound of that.’ David rubbed his hands in anticipation.
‘It was fine,’ Alice said, glaring at Ben.
‘It was a complete shambles,’ Ben said. ‘Kevin arrived at eight a.m. and proceeded to get completely drunk, stood up on his chair in the middle of dinner and sang, or rather howled, “On My Own” before he passed out.’
David laughed and shook his head. ‘He didn’t?’
‘Oh yes he did,’ Ben said.
‘He wasn’t that bad. He was just lonely and drank too much.’ Alice defended her brother.
‘Christmas can be a very lonely time for some people,’ Pippa said, glaring at David.
‘What did Harold make of all this?’ David asked.
Before Ben could say anything Alice, her tongue loosened by champagne, said, ‘Oh, you know Harold. He was his usual charmless, humourless and spiteful self.’
Ben bristled. ‘That’s a bit harsh.’
‘Is it?’
‘Yes, actually, it is. My father was entitled to be appalled by Kevin. Frankly, I was too. I didn’t like him drinking so much in front of the girls and making an exhibition of himself in front of my father and aunt.’
‘Your father and aunt were rude to him. He was upset. Give him a break.’
‘I do, Alice. I give him lots of breaks. But I don’t want to see him in that state in front of the girls again.’
‘He won’t be. He never normally drinks in front of them.’
‘Well, no harm done, I’m sure.’ David smoothed things over. ‘Kevin and Harold were never likely to become best friends,’ he said, with a grin.
Ben laughed. ‘No.’
‘I’m fond of Kevin. He’s such fun. Perhaps we could set him up with one of our friends?’ Pippa suggested.
Yes, please, Alice thought. A nice rich gay man would be perfect for Kevin. He’d love a luxurious lifestyle. ‘Do you know any nice eligible gay men?’ she asked.
Pippa tried to frown but her Botox prevented her forehead from moving. ‘Yes . . . What’s his name, the fellow who was at school with you, David? The good-looking one who works for Goldman Sachs now. We met him at Duncan and Heather’s party.’
‘Russel?’
‘Yes.’
‘I suppose he is rather eligible,’ David agreed.
‘Is he nice?’ Alice asked.
‘I’m not sure “nice” is the word to describe him. “Ambitious” is probably more apt, but he’s a decent chap,’ David said.
Alice had no problem with ambition. Kevin needed someone focused and driven.
‘His parents own a lot of land up in Scotland,’ Pippa said.
Everyone Pippa and David knew seemed to own a lot of land somewhere. Alice was convinced that she and Ben were the poorest friends they had. In Ireland, if someone said they knew someone with land it usually meant a small farm. In London, it meant half a county.
‘Well, you know, he’s single at the moment, so if Russel is willing to do a blind date, I’m sure Kevin would be too.’ Alice hoped Pippa would follow up on it.
‘OK,’ Pippa said, and reached for her phone. She tapped at it for a minute, then put it down again. ‘Done. I’ve sent him a text asking if he’s up for it. I’ll let you know when I hear back.’
Alice smiled at her gratefully. She really was a lovely person.
The bracelet on Pippa’s arm caught Alice’s eye. It was awash with brightly sparkling diamonds. ‘That’s gorgeous,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ Pippa said unenthusiastically.
‘It was her Valentine’s Day gift,’ David announced.
Alice raised an eyebrow. ‘Wow! That’s one impressive gift. I didn’t even get a card.’
Ben had the decency to look embarrassed. ‘You said you hated Valentine’s and all its forced Hallmark schmaltz.’
Alice put her spoon down. ‘Yes, I did, but I still expected you to mark the day. A bunch of flowers from the shop on your way home would have been nice.’
‘But you didn’t get me anything either.’
‘That’s not the point,’ Alice said. Men were supposed to do the buying on Valentine’s Day.
Ben threw his arms into the air. ‘If you say you don’t want something, I take that to mean you don’t!’
Alice sighed. ‘We’ve been together twenty years. Don’t you know me by now? Even if I say I don’t want anything, I do. Just something small. I’m not expecting diamond bracelets, but a card or flowers would be nice.’
Ben punched David playfully on the arm. ‘Thanks a lot, friend. Your extravagant gift has landed me in it.’
David shrugged. ‘I don’t usually buy Pippa diamonds for Valentine’s, but this year I wanted to.’
Pippa didn’t respond.
‘FYI, Ben, if you ever want to buy me diamonds, feel free to go right ahead and do it.’ Alice winked at him and drank some more wine.
‘Between Jools and now Pippa, I can’t win,’ Ben said.
‘What did Jools get?’ Pippa asked.
‘Several cards and a huge bouquet of heart balloons from horny teenage boys who are trying to impress her,’ Ben replied.
‘God, don’t say that,’ Alice said.
‘She is rather stunning, I’m not surprised she received lots of gifts,’ Pippa said.
‘Despite all of their efforts, she didn’t seem impressed,’ Alice said. ‘The balloons were gorgeous, but apparently the poor fellow who sent them is a chess player so he has no hope. I wish I’d been that confident at her age.’
‘I wish I was that confident now,’ Pippa muttered. ‘Hopefully no man will ever knock her wonderful self-belief.’
‘No chance of that.’ Ben laughed. ‘She has them all wrapped around her little finger.’
‘Yes, well, many relationships start like that, but people change.’ Pippa was glaring at David, who was staring at the table, shoulders hunched. ‘People you love let you down and disappoint you. It’s crushing.’ Pippa took a large sip of her drink and put her glass down noisily.
Alice glanced at her. Something was definitely up, just as she’d suspected.
There was silence as the main course was served. Alice didn’t know what to say. You could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. She stole a glance at Ben, who was cutting his steak purposefully.
‘How is Sebastian?’ Alice asked, trying to get the conversation going again.
‘Super.’ David looked relieved. ‘He’s settled back in very well after Christmas.’
‘No, he hasn’t, David,’ Pippa snapped. ‘He was on the phone crying for the first three weeks.’
‘It was only one or two phone calls,’ David argued.
Pippa flung her napkin onto the table. ‘No, it wasn’t. He was upset because of you and what you did,’ she shouted.
Alice was shocked. She had never before seen Pippa lose her cool. Ben was concentrating on his plate, showing no emotion or shock. Did he know what was going on? she wondered.
‘Pippa, not now,�
� David said.
‘Why not now?’ Pippa hissed. ‘Why shouldn’t your best friend and his wife know what a snake you are?’ Turning to Alice and Ben, she said, ‘Wonderful David has been sleeping with one of his nurses. What a cliché. My fabulous husband has been cheating on me for six months with some young whore in a uniform. I found out on Christmas Day. David was in the shower and I heard his phone beeping. Thinking it was his parents wishing us a merry Christmas, I looked at it, and there it was . . . a very explicit text message from Sally, the bloody slut.’
David’s face was red. ‘Really, Pippa, there’s no need to –’
‘No need to what? No need to let your friends know what a rat you are? No need to cause a scene? No need to let my emotions out? I’m sorry, David, would you prefer that I sat and smiled and pretended everything was perfect? Because I can’t. I hate you. We had a great marriage and you ruined it. Take your bloody guilt bracelet. It’s burning a hole in my arm.’ Pippa flung it across the table and ran out of the room, sobbing.
David bit his lip. ‘I’m sorry about all this. I’m afraid I’ve behaved rather badly. I’ll go after her.’
Alice jumped up. ‘No, I will,’ she said quickly, and rushed out.
She wandered around downstairs in the vast house, trying to find her friend. Then she heard crying, followed the sounds upstairs and found Pippa lying on her huge bed.
Alice hugged her. ‘Oh, Pippa, I had no idea. I’m so sorry.’
Pippa sat up, her face streaked with mascara. Alice had never seen her like that. Pippa was always perfectly turned out and in control. Alice often felt badly dressed beside her. It was terribly sad to see her like this. What the hell had possessed David? Pippa was beautiful and lovely, the perfect wife and hostess. If David could have an affair, God knew what Ben might get up to, with a wife who was usually grumpy and tired when he came home.
‘It’s just been so awful,’ Pippa said. ‘I knew something was wrong this autumn. He was being so distant. I thought perhaps he was a bit depressed and suggested he go and see someone. Men do get a bit down in their forties – they seem to have a sort of “Is this it?” moment.’
Alice wondered if Ben felt like that. ‘What did he say?’
‘Well, that he did feel a bit out of sorts and he’d go to see someone. Obviously he decided to self-medicate with that slut called Sally instead of talking to a psychiatrist.’
‘How awful for you.’
‘Honestly, Alice, after I found out at Christmas, I was so low I left him to go and live with Mummy and Daddy but they sent me straight back. Mummy told me not to be ridiculous, that “these things happen” and one should just “get on with it”.’
‘Poor you. So much for parental tender loving kindness.’
‘Exactly, darling. They wouldn’t even let me stay the night. I had to come back here the same day. It was awful. Mind you, when I got back David was waiting for me. He told me Daddy had called him and told him to get a grip on himself and stop behaving like a spoilt child.’
‘Has he?’
Pippa pulled at the tissue in her hand. ‘I think so. I made him tell me the truth about it all. I told him that if I found out he was lying, I’d go to the hospital, confront Sally and make a huge scene.’
‘Good for you.’
‘You know how private David is, he’d rather die than have a scene. So he admitted it had been going on for about six months and claims it was only sex.’
Alice rolled her eyes. As if ‘only sex’ made it better. Men really were clueless.
Pippa curled her legs under her. ‘I don’t know about you, but our sex life has always been quite good. I’m not saying we’re at it constantly, but I try not to let too much time pass.’
Alice made a quick calculation in her head. How long had it been since she’d had sex with Ben – two weeks? Three? Damn, she’d better make sure they had some action tonight.
Pippa leant forward and placed her hand on Alice’s arm. ‘I’m not saying I’m very adventurous, darling. I’m not one of those women who . . . you know . . . takes it up the bum,’ she whispered, ‘but I do try to be enthusiastic in other ways.’
Alice blushed. She didn’t know where to look. She’d never discussed sex with Pippa before, never mind anal sex. She was mortified. ‘Well, why should you?’ she spluttered.
‘According to David, Sally made him feel special. When he told me that I threw one of his mother’s china dogs at him. To be honest, I’d always hated it. It was a good excuse to be rid of it, despite its value.’
‘What did he mean, special?’ Alice asked, beginning to worry. What, apart from sex, was Sally giving David that he didn’t have at home?
Pippa twisted her necklace. ‘Oh, she laughed at his stupid jokes, told him he was marvellous and liked lots of sex.’
Alice sighed. Did men really need their wives to laugh at their jokes all the time? After a long day at work and arguing with Jools over homework for two hours, the last thing Alice wanted to do was listen to some ridiculous joke. What was wrong with David and men in general? Didn’t they get it? Their wives were worn out. They needed support and encouragement, not to have to pretend to find their husbands’ jokes hilarious. ‘That’s just so silly,’ she said.
‘I think so too, but our marriage counsellor said that men need attention, and if they don’t get it at home, they’ll seek it elsewhere.’
‘What about us? What about our need for attention?’
Pippa nodded. ‘Apparently they need it more.’
Alice shook her head. She’d pay more attention to Ben now. If David was going through a mid-life crisis, who was to say Ben wasn’t? She’d thought the cycling was his ‘time out’, but maybe he was using it to meet some hot nurse friend of slutty Sally’s. Alice hadn’t been paying him much attention at all lately – she hadn’t had time. She’d have to make some.
God, when did life get so bloody complicated? There were so many people needing her attention. Between her patients, Kevin, her girls and now Ben, there was no time left for her to breathe.
‘How are you getting on now? Is the counselling any help?’ Alice asked.
‘Well, tonight obviously wasn’t a great leap forward.’ Pippa smiled sadly. ‘I don’t think throwing diamonds about and calling your husband a snake is considered progress.’
She began to giggle and soon the two women were rolling about on the bed, in fits of laughter, tinged with hysteria, but it was a welcome relief from the tension that had gone on before.
Pippa dabbed her eyes with a tissue. ‘All I’ve done since Christmas Day is cry or shout. Poor Sebastian heard us arguing late one night, so he knows now. He keeps calling from boarding-school and asking me if we’re going to get divorced.’
‘I hope you can work it out. You’re so good together.’ Alice really meant it. They were a lovely couple, and although she was furious with David for hurting Pippa, he was – generally speaking – a very nice person and a great friend to Ben.
‘I hope so too,’ Pippa said. ‘But it’s a long road back to trust. Every time he goes to work I imagine him with Sally, although he has sworn on Sebastian’s life that it’s over. I do believe him because I hired a private investigator.’
‘Did you?’ Alice was impressed.
‘Oh, gosh, yes. I won’t be made a fool of twice. The detective says that as far as he can see, David is definitely not sleeping with anyone and he also found out that Sally is leaving the hospital to take up a new job in north London. I’d prefer her to go to New Zealand, but at least she’ll be out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind.’
‘Do you still love him?’
‘Yes. I always have. David and I have been together even longer than you and Ben. I can’t imagine life without him and we do get on awfully well . . . At least, I thought we did. It’s different now, though. There’s a heaviness to the house and our relationship. The counsellor said it will lift in time and we’ll get back to a new normal.’
‘I’m sure he regrets it
so much.’
‘He says he does. He follows me about apologizing and saying he never meant to hurt me, but the thing is, Alice, he did – deeply.’
Alice felt profoundly sorry for her. Pippa didn’t deserve this. No one did. She really hoped they’d work it out. She couldn’t wait to talk to Ben about it. She wanted to hear his side, David’s side. She needed to know why this had happened and how to make sure it didn’t happen to them.
Chapter 5
Ben
David poured Ben and himself large glasses of wine. ‘Sorry about that. I didn’t think Pippa would cause a scene tonight.’
Ben sipped his wine. ‘Don’t be silly. It’s fine. We’re all good friends.’
‘She’s been quite good lately. Less angry. I’d thought we were moving forward.’
Ben looked at his friend. ‘It’s going to take time for her to trust you again. You have to be patient.’
‘I know, and I’m trying. I’m going to a counsellor with her, apologize daily and shower her with gifts. I don’t know what else I can do.’
‘She’s upset, she feels betrayed. Just give her time.’
David stood up and began pacing the room. ‘I wish I’d never bloody had the affair.’
Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘So it wasn’t worth it, then?’
‘No. Well . . . no.’
‘You hesitated, David.’
David sat down again and leant across the table. ‘Did I mention how fantastic the sex was?’
Ben grinned. ‘Yes.’
‘Honestly, it was like Pippa and I used to have when we first met. You know, the crazy whenever-wherever sex.’
Ben put his hands over his ears. ‘Too much information. I like your wife very much but I don’t need to know all of the details.’
‘Sorry, I know it’s no excuse. I’m a stupid fool who risked everything for some attention and sex. I’m a caricature of a man wanting to relive his youth. Pathetic. I should have bought a bicycle like you.’
‘Well, it would have caused fewer problems. Do you think you guys can work it out?’
David sighed. ‘I hope so. Some days I feel positive about it, others I’m not sure Pippa will ever forgive me.’
The Way We Are Page 3