Between The Sheets

by Caddle, Colette

  'Sorry, I had some stuff to take care of.'

  Tom scowled. 'I don't suppose that "stuff" had anything to do with our company?'

  'No. No, it didn't. Listen, Tom, I really don't need this—'

  'Well, tough. We're supposed to be partners but you seem to have forgotten that—'

  'I went to see Dana.'

  Tom dropped into the chair on the other side of Gus's desk and stared at him. 'How did it go?'

  Gus shook his head. 'It didn't.'

  'She wouldn't see you?'

  'Oh, yes, she agreed to see me all right. The only problem was she had to get rid of her lover first. Sadly for her, she wasn't quite quick enough.'

  'She had a man there?'

  Gus sighed. 'I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. We knew she was getting on with life. Then, of course, she may have seen the photos of me and Terry.'

  Tom frowned. 'Terry?'

  Gus felt his face redden. 'The reporter from the other night.'

  'Oh, right. Still, even so. Are you sure you haven't got your wires crossed?'

  'Pretty sure. I wandered out into the garden while I was waiting for her to come down and this bastard was standing at the bedroom window. My bedroom window,' he added, the anger starting to surface again.

  'Shit,' Tom murmured.

  'I went there this morning to talk to her; something I should have done weeks ago. But I've left it too late.'

  'What is it all about anyway, Gus?' Tom asked, unable to hold his silence any longer. 'Why did you leave her in the first place?'

  Gus raised his eyes to meet Tom's. 'Because our whole marriage has been a lie.'

  'What?' Tom looked baffled.

  'It's complicated.'

  'Do you want to talk about it?'

  'No. Thanks, but I'd just like to get down to work, and forget about it for a while.'

  With a sigh, Tom stood up and walked to the door. 'No problem. If you change your mind—'

  'Sure.'

  Tom hesitated in the doorway. 'Why don't you head down to Cork for a few days? You could bring some work with you.'

  'That's her house,' Gus said bitterly.

  'Rubbish! You've invested money, not to mention blood, sweat and tears into that place. And she's never loved it the way you have.'

  Gus nodded thoughtfully. 'Maybe it's time we put things on a more official footing. Dana could keep the house here — she's welcome to it — but I would love to hold on to the farmhouse. I'll have to find a flat in Dublin too. I'm going nuts in that bloody hotel.'

  'You know you're welcome to our spare room—'

  'No,' Gus said quickly. He couldn't imagine anything worse than living with his happily married, pregnant friends. It would be torture. 'Thanks for the offer but I need some space at the moment.'

  Tom nodded. 'You're probably right. It would be only a matter of time before Ashling roped you into decorating the nursery.'

  The phone rang and Gus put his hand out to get it. 'Sorry, Tom, but I'd better get on.'

  'Yeah. You know where I am if you need me.'

  After sitting in a stupor in her office for several hours, Dana picked up the phone.

  'Hello?'

  'Judy, it's me.'

  'Dana? Dana, are you all right?'

  'Not really. Is there any chance you could come up?'

  'You're scaring me now. What is it? Are you sick?'

  'No, nothing like that. Sorry, don't mind me. I'm being stupid. Forget I called.'

  'No! Don't hang up,' Judy yelled. 'If you need me, I'll come. I can be with you by six, will that do?'

  'But the girls—'

  'Mum will mind them, don't worry. See you then.'

  Dana put down the phone and smiled through her tears. Judy was something else. She really didn't deserve a friend like her. She wasn't even sure why she wanted to talk now, but somehow she felt that she was losing her grip on life. She needed someone sensible to help her figure out what to do next. Who better than Judy?

  Dana had sent Sylvie home. The girl had skipped into the office this morning full of chat about the previous night and was stunned to see her boss looking miserable. Dana had no intention of explaining herself so she said she was sick and told Sylvie to take the day off.

  She fetched wine from the fridge and headed out to the garden. She was settling down to wait for Judy when she decided a cigarette would be nice. She didn't often indulge, but if there was a day she deserved a smoke, this had to be it. She was jumpy and she didn't think the wine would be enough to calm her.

  Going back inside she rooted in drawers and coat pockets but, apart from an empty Silk Cut packet, there wasn't a sniff of tobacco in the house. 'Damn,' she muttered, the craving growing as she searched. She'd have to either nip down to the filling station at the corner or do without. The latter was suddenly inconceivable so she grabbed her coat, slung her bag over her shoulder and set off down the road. She bought twenty Marlboro Light and was out of the shop and back up the road within a couple of minutes. As she neared the house, she groped in her pocket for the remote control for the gate. As it slowly opened, a car drew up alongside her.

  'Hey, Dana, how's it going?'

  She looked around, smiling automatically. 'Hi.'

  'Good night, last night?'

  She frowned. The sun was in her eyes and she couldn't see the man's face clearly.

  'Who are you?'

  'I'm a reporter on the Daily Journal. Would you like to tell us about this new man in your life?'

  She stared at him. 'What?'

  'Go on, Dana, give us a quote. Can you imagine your husband's face when he sees the photos?'

  'Photos?' she said faintly.

  'Yeah, we took a few at the club, then a couple of you when you got back here.' His grin widened. 'You make a very attractive couple.'

  'I have nothing to say,' Dana said with as much dignity as she could muster, and she hurried inside. 'Damn, damn, damn,' she groaned when she was in the safety of her kitchen. This day was getting steadily worse. With trembling fingers she opened the packet of cigarettes.

  Chapter Twelve

  'Sylvie! What a nice surprise.' Ian waved the PA into his office.

  'Hi, Ian.'

  'Sit down, sit down. I'm dying to hear all about last night. How did it go?'

  Sylvie sat down on the small, lumpy couch and crossed one long leg over the other. 'I'm not quite sure.' 'What do you mean?'

  'We had a pretty good day and her mood was good. Then we went to the club and we kind of got separated. I kept an eye on her,' she said hurriedly, when she saw his expression darken. 'She was talking to this guy for a while, and then she was gone. I asked the guy and he said she'd gone to the loo, but when I checked she wasn't there.'

  'And then?' he prompted. 'I left.'

  He blinked. 'You left?'

  'Well, yeah. You see I was invited to this really cool party and Westlife were going to be there—'

  'So you deserted Dana.'

  'No, of course not. I'd looked for her and when I couldn't find her I just assumed she'd gone home.'

  'Didn't you try phoning her?'

  'My phone died,' Sylvie said, unable to meet his eye. 'Sorry.' Of course, the truth was that when Dana had disappeared, she'd grabbed the opportunity and left with the man who'd been chatting her up all evening. She hadn't planned to but as soon as he told her he drove a Jag, that he was separated and had a villa in Spain, she had stopped noticing his thick lips, receding hairline and clammy hands. She'd convinced herself that he was probably a very nice person and it was just a matter of getting to know him better. The fact that he turned out to be incredibly boring, had a slightly affected laugh and was lousy in bed had changed her mind. Yes, she'd slept with him. She wondered if Ian would still fancy her if he knew she was capable of something like that.

  But he didn't know what her life was like. She wasn't prostituting herself in order to live a celebrity lifestyle — although that would be nice too. She just wanted security for her family.
This episode with Dana had made her realize how uncertain her future was, and she lay awake at night wondering how they would manage if she lost her job.

  'Are you cold?' Ian asked.

  Sylvie hadn't even realized she'd shivered. 'Someone walked over my grave,' she said with a weak smile.

  He studied her closely. 'Why do I get the feeling that you're not telling me everything?'

  She sighed. 'When I went in this morning she sent me home. She was obviously very upset but she wouldn't tell me why.'

  Ian dropped his head in his hands and groaned. 'Oh, for the love of God, what is wrong with the woman now? Give me a male author any day. They just get pissed and feel up the shop staff.'

  Sylvie giggled. 'Maybe she just has a hangover. We did have a lot to drink.'

  'I warned you that I didn't want her making a fool of herself,' he said sharply.

  'She didn't, honest! She was fine all evening. She didn't get loud or messy or anything.'

  He sighed. 'I'd better go over there and see what the story is.'

  'I doubt she's in the mood for visitors.'

  'Then at least let me phone her.'

  Sylvie shrugged nonchalantly. 'You'll just get the answering machine.'

  Ian opened his mouth to reply but the phone rang. Tan Wilson?' He grinned widely at Sylvie. 'Dana, I was just going to call you.' He listened, frowning. 'No, no reason, just wanted to check in. What?' He started to scribble on a pad in front of him. 'Yes, well, I can understand why you might feel that way. It might be better if we just waited to see what they actually publish—' He listened again for a moment, pulling a face at Sylvie. 'Look, let me see what I can find out.'

  Sylvie could hear Dana's raised voice at the other end of the phone.

  'Fine, fine,' Ian soothed. 'Leave it with me. Yes. Yes, I promise I'll get straight back to you as soon as I've got any news.'

  He flung down the phone and threw his hands up in the air. 'Bloody hell! I have got to get out of this business.'

  'What is it?' Sylvie asked, watching him nervously.

  'Apparently she got lucky last night but was photo-graphed with the guy. Some reporter's just turned up on her doorstep, looking for a quote. He says he has pictures of the two of them, outside the club and the house.'

  Sylvie had a vague recollection of the man that Dana had spent the evening with and she'd been sure he was gay. 'But what's the problem? Isn't that what she wanted? I thought the whole idea was to make Gus jealous.'

  'It was, until Gus dropped by the house this morning and when he saw the guy there he left. Dana's worried that if the photos are published it will ruin any chance of them getting back together.'

  'I would have thought it was ruined the moment he realized she'd slept with this other guy.'

  'Yes, well, she thinks they could get past that. But he's a proud man and if it's in the papers he won't give her a second chance.'

  'But what can you do about it?' Sylvie asked.

  He sighed. 'I'm not sure. I can find out what photos they have but I can't stop them being published. Not unless they actually got into her garden and invaded her privacy in some way. But if the photos are of them kissing outside the club, or of them getting into a taxi together ...' He shook his head. 'I need to talk to a lawyer.'

  'You know, this could put us right back to square one.' Sylvie chewed a nail nervously. 'She'll probably be locked away in that bedroom for months now.'

  'I hope you're wrong.' 'What the hell am I going to tell Walter? He'll go mad.'

  'I don't blame him.'

  Ian picked up the phone.

  'Are you going to call him?' Sylvie asked.

  'Lord, no. Not until I've tried everything else first.'

  Dana poured Judy some wine and handed it to her.

  Judy eyed the size of the glass. 'It's just as well I'm staying the night.'

  'Are you sure that's okay?' Dana asked. 'Will Phil and the girls be all right?'

  'Jess and Janey,' Judy reminded her.

  'I knew that,' Dana protested.

  'I know,' Judy said gently, pulling her jacket tighter around her. 'So, tell me what's wrong.'

  Dana took another drink and lit a cigarette with shaky hands before answering. They were sitting in the garden watching the sun sink low in the sky, and though there was a slight chill in the air, Dana was past caring. 'I slept with someone last night.'

  Judy choked on her wine. 'Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time,' she said when she'd caught her breath. She mopped at her face and chest with a tissue and grinned. 'Was he any good?'

  Dana smiled, relieved that her friend was being non-judgemental. 'Yeah, from what I remember.' It was the first time she'd had a chance to think about it but, despite the amount of alcohol they'd consumed, she remembered that the sex had been brilliant.

  'So what's the problem?'

  Dana sighed. 'He stayed over and Gus chose today, of all days, to show up.'

  'Oh, dear.'

  'Yes.'

  Judy patted her hand. 'Well, it was unfortunate, but it's been weeks now. What can Gus expect? Anyway, what was he doing, turning up unannounced? That was completely out of order.'

  'Maybe he was coming to tell me he wanted to move back in,' Dana said sadly.

  'Maybe he was coming to ask you for a divorce,' Judy shot back, but immediately covered her mouth with her hand when she saw the look of shock on her friend's face. 'Oh, Dana, I'm sorry, I didn't think. I'm sure I'm wrong.'

  Dana looked back at her, her eyes huge in her white face. 'I'm not.'

  'Did you try calling him?' Judy asked.

  Dana shook her head. 'What's the point?'

  'You could lie. Tell him he jumped to the wrong conclusion. That it was all completely innocent.'

  'I can't. The Daily Journal has photos of Ryan and me together. It will probably be in the paper tomorrow.'

  'But they couldn't have any photos of you actually doing anything.' Judy's eyes widened. 'Could they?'

  'No, but if there's a photo of Ryan and me leaving a club and Gus recognizes him as the same man who was here this morning ...' She shrugged.

  'Lie,' Judy said glibly. 'If you want Gus back, lie through your teeth. Tell him Ryan was an absolute gentleman, he escorted you home and then he passed out on the sofa. Gus will believe you, because he'll want to believe you.'

  'I didn't know you could be so devious,' Dana remarked.

  Judy laughed. 'Tell me, if Ryan hadn't been here and Gus had come to ask you if he could come back, what would you have said?'

  'Are you crazy? I'd have said yes, of course.'

  'So you still love him.'

  'Yes!'

  'Then why did you sleep with this other guy?'

  Dana groaned. T was drunk, he was there, he made me feel wanted, all the usual pathetic reasons.'

  'They're not pathetic,' Judy said gently. 'They're human. I tell you, if I got chatted up by a man even remotely attractive, I'd jump on him.'

  'Judy!' Dana looked at her friend in astonishment.

  'Why are you so surprised? I may be a wife and mother but I'm still a woman. A very bored woman who gets fed up being taken for granted all the time.'

  'But Phil's great,' Dana protested.

  'How do you know?' Judy retorted. Her friend and her husband had met only a handful of times. Even then, they'd exchanged nothing more than the usual polite pleasantries.

  'You've told me he is,' Dana reminded her.

  Judy sighed. 'He is, most of the time. It's just, well, sometimes I wish he'd treat me more like a lover and less like the live-in housekeeper. You know, he hardly ever calls me Judy any more. It's always "Mum" or "your mother".'

  'But that's when the girls are there,' Dana reasoned. 'What about when you are alone?'

  'I watch telly and he messes about on his laptop.'

  'You must talk,' Dana insisted.

  'Oh, we do — about the girls, about what bills need paying, about who's going to take the car to the garage for a service. It's all
just so fucking boring, Dana.'

  'Judy, you don't curse.' Dana stared at her.

  Her friend scowled. 'Yeah, well, maybe I should start. Maybe if I stopped being good old reliable Judy, he might notice me more.'

  'You need a break,' Dana announced, sloshing more wine into their glasses. 'We both do.'

  'How can I take a break? A night off is one thing. But anything more would be impossible.'

  'Surely Phil could take a week off work?'

  'The way he talks, the business would fold if it wasn't for him. You'd think he was the head of the Central Bank instead of an insurance broker.'

  Dana laughed. 'That's men for you; they need to feel indispensable.'

  'Anyway, forget about him. I'm here to talk about your problems.'

  'I don't think I want to any more. Let's go out.'

  'Out?' Judy blinked.

  'Yes, why the hell not? We could go for a nice dinner and then on to a club.'

  'But after what happened last night, shouldn't you lie low for a while?'

  'That's what everyone will expect me to do,' Dana pointed out. 'If I'm out with my best friend instead and we keep away from men—'

  'Oh, great!' Judy made a face.

  Dana laughed. 'Okay, then, we don't have to keep away from them. Just don't leave me alone with any.'

  Judy looked doubtful. 'But if they have photos of you with this man they're still going to print them.'

  'Let them,' Dana said defiantly. 'I'm going to have to pretend it just doesn't matter.'

  'You're right.' Judy nodded enthusiastically. 'I think that's a great idea.'

  'So let's go and get ready.'

  'But I've nothing to wear,' Judy reminded her.

  Dana waved away her protests. 'I've plenty of stuff that will fit you. Go on up and have a look while I phone Ian.'

  'Ian?'

  'He's the guy that looks after my PR. We need to make sure that we get photographed tonight.'

  'What on earth will Phil will say if he sees his wife in the papers?'

  'You said you wanted to shake things up a bit, didn't you?' Dana grinned.

  Judy smiled slowly. 'I did, didn't I?'

  Chapter Thirteen

  'Sylvie, we're going out.'

  Clutching the phone to her ear, Sylvie slipped out of the kitchen where the telly was blaring and sat on the stairs. 'Ian, I've told you, I'm not interested. Anyway, it's nearly ten o'clock.'