‘I had my reasons.’
‘Which were?’
‘Let’s get to the restaurant first, eh?’
‘I think I know what this is about,’ said Amber gloomily. She gazed out of the window at the night beyond.
‘You do?’ Steve gave her a quick side-long glance. Amber’s face was inscrutable.
‘I suspect you’re taking me out as a softener.’
‘Sorry?’
Amber sighed. ‘Is this a precursor to redundancy?’
Steve found himself exhaling with relief. Thank goodness Amber hadn’t found out about Matthew and Katherine Colgan. Amber was a sweet girl and didn’t deserve the way they’d treated her. Steve felt bad that he was going to be the one delivering the awful news. He was deliberately choosing a restaurant out of the locality so that if Amber broke down and wept nobody would know her.
‘No, you’re not going to be made redundant.’
Amber was both relieved and surprised. She was even more surprised when she found herself outside The Beagle and Bugle.
Chapter Forty-One
Chrissie’s Monday had been fraught. It had started with the hangover from hell – entirely her fault after downing all those gin and tonics the night before at The Beagle and Bugle. She was mortified at making an idiot of herself in front of the proprietor. The phrase “sex on legs” had surely been invented just for Jack.
Chrissie had driven to work in her mother’s car, confident she was no longer over the limit. Harsh January light had forced her into wearing an old pair of sunglasses. Behind the shades her eyeballs had been the same colour as the red cones cordoning off an area of roadworks. Pneumatic drills had throbbed in time to her headache.
As she’d walked into the offices of Hood, Mann & Derek the air had crackled with tension. Nobody had known why apart from young Jessica in Accounts. The girl had been visibly bursting to tell anybody who’d listen. She’d ventured into the open plan area shared with Dee and Amber, ready to spill the gossip beans but an apoplectic Steve Hood had intercepted her. Steve, normally so mild, had bristled like an angry porcupine. Jessica had paled to the colour of a McDonald’s McFlurry and scarpered. Steve had then insisted a very hungover Amber leave the office and go home. This had confused Dee and Chrissie because they’d been emotionally wrecked too. Then Clive Derek had rung Chrissie on her internal line informing that Katherine Colgan had resigned with immediate effect. He’d stipulated that Chrissie must not discuss this news with anybody, and then insisted she cover Cougar Kate’s workload. Chrissie had barely ended the conversation with Clive, when Steve had summoned her and Dee into his office. He’d promptly dropped the bombshell that Amber’s ex-boyfriend was with Cougar Kate.
Both Chrissie and Dee had spent the day aghast at the additional misery Amber would suffer when she found out. They’d also been terrified she’d ring in for a chinwag and accidentally find out. Predictably Amber had tried speaking to both women. They’d had to be curt to the point of rudeness to get her off the phone.
Chrissie’s highpoint of the day had been skipping off to the local hair salon in her lunch hour. She’d been given a style makeover more usual for someone like Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez-Versini-thingybob. She’d floated out of the salon like a helium balloon, until seeing Andrew outside the office. His uninspired attempts to woo her had not been appreciated, especially when he’d asked for money. She’d stalked off, outraged, only to have Clive Derek do a double-take and spend the rest of the afternoon hassling her to go out for dinner. What was it with some men? And why did she always end up with the prats going after her?
Chrissie had heaved a sigh of relief when the working day had drawn to a close. Dee had grabbed her arm on the way out and chatted loudly about how much fun they were going to have at Bluewater, which had sent a hovering Clive Derek back into his office. Thankfully there had been no sign of Andrew. Dee had hugged Chrissie good-bye insisting she was going home for a hot soak followed by a chillax in front of the telly.
Chrissie had then driven to Bluewater fizzing with excitement at the prospect of shopping. For one moment, she’d felt a twang of guilt at refusing Andrew financial help. A second later she’d squashed the thought. Andrew was no longer her responsibility. His dodgy dealings and debts were no longer her concern. And anyway, if she had agreed to help him, her plans for a big fat shopping spree would have become a big fat full stop. No way! She was single, she worked hard, and right now the money in her bank account was hers to spend.
When Chrissie arrived at Bluewater, the first thing she did was visit Boots. She bought eye drops guaranteed to put sparkle in the sorest of eyes, then browsed the cosmetic counters. Testing samples, she was like an excited child at a pick ‘n’ mix sweet counter. Clutching her purchases, she disappeared into the nearest Ladies. Inside the washroom she positioned herself in front of a huge mirror and began applying brown and gold-tones to her lids, mascara to her lashes, and slicked a lipstick across her mouth in fire-engine red. Finishing off with blusher to her cheekbones, she stood back and preened. She couldn’t believe the transformation. What with the hair and now the make-up, she looked like she’d been dolloped with celebrity gloss. This Chrissie was as shiny as a new one-pound coin.
She spent the next hour impersonating a woman attempting a shopping challenge, like one of those daytime programmes on the telly where you had to try on as many outfits as possible in a time slot to win all the clothes. By half past six she was laden with carrier bags and absolutely desperate for a coffee and something to eat. She sailed out of Next looking at her watch instead of where she was going, and smacked straight into a man with such force she fell backwards, thumping down on her coccyx. Her shopping flew in all directions.
‘Ooof,’ she gasped, as hard flooring slammed into soft flesh. Chrissie had always thought her bottom well padded, but at that moment it could have done with an extra layer.
‘Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,’ said the man, rushing to gather up all the scattered bags.
It occurred to Chrissie that if this person had wanted to steal her purchases, she’d have had to let him. She was in no fit state to give chase to anyone.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
‘I’ll live,’ she groaned, addressing the man’s feet. It was a whole different world down here on the floor. A group of teenage girls walked past and sniggere
‘Here, let me help you up.’ A hand appeared in front of her face. Oh, but her back hurt. ‘I feel terrible,’ said the man. ‘I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.’
‘That makes two of us,’ she said to the hand.
‘Let’s get you on your feet.’ She found herself being hauled upwards, and her face contorted with pain. The man notice. ‘We’re not far from Boots. Do you want me to buy some paracetamol or…,’ his voice trailed off. When he spoke again he sounded surprised. ‘Chrissie?’
Chrissie attempted straightening from her bent-double posture so she could look properly at the man. Craning her neck upwards, her eyes widened in surprise as she realised it was Jack, the proprietor of The Beagle and Bugle.
‘H-hello.’ Hell, he was even better looking than she remembered. And here she was doing an impersonation of Quasimodo.
‘You look like you’re in agony. Can I fetch those painkillers?’
‘I have some in my bag, thanks. I can take them without water.’ She reluctantly clung on to his arm with one hand whilst rubbing her throbbing lower back with the other. ‘I was finished here anyway. I’ll be fine after a hot bath.’
Jack regarded her doubtfully. ‘Where’s your car?’
‘Across the other side of the shopping mall.’
‘Listen, I’m parked behind this shop. Let me take your shopping, and come with me. I’ll drive you to your car.’
Chrissie was going to protest but then realised this made sense. She nodded her agreement and, still hanging onto Jack’s arm, the two of them made slow progress to his vehicle. By the time they’d reached her car and tran
sferred the shopping bags across, the painkillers had kicked in and she was feeling a little better.
‘Are you okay to drive?’
‘I’ll be fine,’ Chrissie assured. ‘Thanks for helping me.’
Jack smiled, the effect of which nearly had Chrissie falling to the floor again. ‘Sorry again. It’s my night off and I was in a tearing hurry. I only came out to buy a new pair of jeans, and then I was going to chill out in front of the footie.’
‘Oh, and you haven’t even bought your jeans,’ said Chrissie in dismay.
‘Doesn’t matter. Look, have you eaten?’
Chrissie shook her head. ‘Not yet. I was about to grab a coffee and a sandwich prior to–’
‘–me knocking you flat,’ said Jack ruefully. ‘Can I make up for what happened by taking you out for some dinner?’
‘Honestly, you don’t need to do that,’ Chrissie protested.
‘I’d like to,’ Jack insisted.’
‘Then y-yes,’ Chrissie stuttered. She suddenly felt flustered. ‘I’d like that. If it’s no trouble,’ she added.
‘It’s definitely no trouble. I happen to know a very nice restaurant that does amazing food,’ he said, a twinkle in his eye. ‘If you’re sure you can drive, follow me.’
Which was how Chrissie found herself, half an hour later, sitting at a beautifully laid table in The Beagle and Bugle.
Chapter Forty-Two
As soon as Josh had left the bathroom, Dee hauled herself out of the tub and, sploshing wet footprints across the floor tiles, hastily locked the door. Grabbing a fluffy towel off the heated radiator, she rubbed herself down, squirted deodorant into each armpit, and then wrapped the towel tightly around herself. Picking up her discarded office clothes, she unlocked the door and scampered off to the bedroom. She could hear the sound of the television. Josh was in the lounge. Hopefully he’d stay there while she sorted herself out. So much for a peaceful night in with a microwave meal. Dee slipped on a clean pair of pants, and was hooking her bra together when Josh appeared in the bedroom doorway.
‘I’m not dressed,’ she snapped.
‘You look overdressed to me,’ said Josh with a lazy grin. ‘Nice undies, babe.’ He came over and slid his hands around her bare waist. ‘You have a fabulous body.’
‘Get your hands off me.’
‘That’s not what you used to say,’ said Josh, dropping his mouth to her bare shoulder and kissing his way down her back.
Dee shuddered, but not with desire. ‘I said,’ she hissed, ‘get off.’ The hooks on the bra met, and she quickly yanked a t-shirt over her head.
‘Hey,’ said Josh, putting his hands up in a gesture of surrender, ‘no problem. We’ll talk first, and make love later.’
Dee grabbed her jeans and stuck one leg in. The thought of being intimate with Josh after him being all over another woman made her hand involuntarily twitch. She had a sudden urge to slap him.
‘Don’t you want to put a nice dress on?’ he asked. ‘I said I’d take you out to dinner. I want us to have a champagne celebration.’
‘What exactly do you want to celebrate?’
‘Us, of course. Our new start.’
‘I haven’t yet agreed to one. And thanks for the dinner invitation, but it’s a no. Right now, I couldn’t eat a thing.’
‘That’s because you’re cross with me.’
‘You don’t say,’ said Dee sarcastically.
‘C’mon,’ Josh cajoled. ‘Where do you fancy going?’
‘Into the lounge. You can tell me everything in there.’
‘But what about dinner?’
‘I just told you. I’m not hungry. Now can you stop prevaricating?’ Dee shoved past him and stalked off. She thumped herself down in an armchair, avoiding sitting next to Josh. The last thing she wanted was an octopus arm winding around her as he tried to persuade her to get undressed.
Josh sat down on the sofa and gave her a frank look. ‘Okay, okay,’ he sighed. ‘I’ll tell you the truth. As I said, cards on the table time.’
‘I’m all ears.’
‘Look, this isn’t all my fault you know. It takes two to make a relationship work.’
Dee realised he was starting off by going on the defensive. She played along. ‘I quite agree.’
Josh looked pleased at her acquiescence. ‘Things weren’t right between us.’
‘In what way?’
‘You were nagging me.’
Dee arched an eyebrow. ‘About?’
‘Everything,’ Josh grimaced. ‘Moving…getting a house instead of staying here in this flat…dropping hints about getting married – and you don’t have to be Einstein to work out that after marriage comes a baby. There’s no room for a baby in this flat. I felt pressured. Like I was being boxed into a corner.’
‘I see. So why didn’t you sit me down, like now, and talk about it?’
Josh shrugged. ‘I panicked and ran. I spent the week thinking about us, and evaluating my feelings…like whether I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. As the week went on, I realised I was missing you. A lot. And…and that I’d behaved foolishly.’ He gave Dee a contrite look. His eyes filled with just the right amount of water to make him look both vulnerable and little-boy-lost. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘I appreciate your honesty,’ said Dee.
‘Honesty is the best policy.’
‘Absolutely.’ Dee paused for a moment, allowing Josh to digest the bit about honesty. ‘So where did you go?’
‘To a mate’s.’
‘Ah.’
‘Yeah.’
‘That was very accommodating of…him?’
‘Him?’
‘The mate was male, yes?’
‘Of course,’ said Josh indignantly.
‘Does he live far away?’
‘No, no, not really.’ Josh caught something in Dee’s expression, and hastily corrected himself. ‘Well, it depends how you look at it. Not far away in travel time but…um…quite far away in miles. If you see what I mean.’
‘I think so,’ said Dee. ‘So, what you’re trying to tell me is,’ she put her head on one side and considered, ‘not far away in travel time–’
‘–absolutely!’
‘–especially if you travel there by plane,’ Dee finished.
‘Er, w-well not exactly by plane but–’
‘But you took your passport, didn’t you?’
‘Ah, y-yes, it was by plane,’ Josh nodded.
‘So that’s how you got the suntan!’ She clapped her hands together as if the whole thing was a game. ‘Why didn’t you say so in the first place, you big silly!’
‘Ha ha ha,’ Josh laughed nervously. ‘Well, I wasn’t sure you’d be too impressed with me taking off to Tenerife and leaving you here–’
‘–in January, in good old freezing England,’ said Dee, finishing Josh’s sentence.
‘Exactly!’ Josh smiled. ‘So, now that’s all out the way, shall we go to dinner?’ He stood up.
‘Not yet. Sit back down.’
‘Why?’
‘Because we’re still chatting.’ She watched as Josh reluctantly re-parked his bottom. ‘Do tell me, who’s your mate in Tenerife? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention a friend over there.’
Josh puffed out his cheeks. ‘No, well, that’s because…because he’s a very private guy.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Emmerson.’
‘Emma-son,’ Dee enunciated, rolling the name over her tongue. She liked the way Josh flinched as she pronounced the “Emma” bit. She narrowed her eyes as if thinking. ‘Has Emmerson, by any chance, been on your mind these past few weeks?’
‘Er, why?’
‘Because recently you’ve been sleep talking. Last time around, you woke me up shouting Emmerson’s name.’
Josh blanched. ‘Really?’
‘Mmm. Except you called him something else. It was more like,’ Dee threw her head back, closed her eyes and, in an orgasmic voice moane
d, ‘Emma, oh Emmaaaaa.’
‘Oh dear. You’ve discovered Emmerson’s little secret.’
‘And what would that be?’
‘He’s transgender. He’s thinking about having the op. You know,’ Josh nodded at his crotch by way of explanation. ‘But he’s changed his name to Emma. It’s been a tough time for him. We used to clean windows together, before I met you. Happily, these days things are much easier for transgenders. I mean, it’s really quite cool to say you’re transgender, eh!’
‘Oh absolutely,’ said Dee, her tone sugar sweet.
‘But a few years ago, he felt completely out of his depth. I mean, her depth.’
‘So he-who-is-now-a-she took off to Tenerife for a new beginning, and recently you joined him-who-is-now-a-her to give moral support?’
‘That’s it!’ Josh stood up again. ‘Can we go out to dinner now? I’m famished.’ He rubbed his stomach and attempted a jolly tone. ‘I’m so glad we’re back on track. And I might as well tell you some fabulous news. You’re going to love this! I want us to get married. But I want to propose properly. This evening. While we’re out. So please get changed into a posh frock, sweetheart. It’s going to be lots of flickering candlelight and me down on one knee.’ He grinned in delight at Dee’s stunned expression. She looked like she’d been presented with six bouquets of roses and didn’t know what to do with them all. Not that Josh ever gave her any flowers, but he decided that he might start doing so after tonight. Just to distract her and stop her interrogating him. Josh inwardly groaned. He’d now have to fork out for an engagement ring. Then he perked up a bit. They did some nice second-hand ones at the local jeweller’s. He cleared his throat and gave Dee a dazzling smile, like a film star who’d been let loose with dentist’s whitening bleach. ‘So where shall we go, my angel?’
At that moment the flat’s intercom buzzed.
‘I’ll get it,’ said Dee faintly. Good heavens. Josh wanted to marry her. He’d popped the question and was prepared to propose all over again, romantically. She went out into the hallway in a daze, and picked up the intercom handset. ‘Hello? Yes. I see. Yes, he’s here.’
The Woman Who Knew Everything Page 23