Lost Innocence (47 page)

Annabelle was regarding her incredulously, but before she could say anything June was lamenting her fate.

‘This is the trouble with being divorced,’ she grumbled, ‘I never get invited to anything any more.’

Sabrina was all compassion. ‘It’s very difficult when you’re on your own,’ she agreed. ‘I have to admit, we were all couples on Saturday night, with not one unattached person to be seen. It’s going to be just the same at the Bingleighs’ in France, apart from madam here, of course.’

Annabelle’s face told how much she was looking forward to it.

‘You know, June,’ Sabrina continued, ‘Joanna Willoughby was talking about someone on Saturday who might be interesting for you to meet.’ Her eyes were narrowing as she tried to remember exactly what had been said. ‘Apparently she’d invited him to join us,’ she continued, ‘but he couldn’t make it. He’s staying in the area, though, somewhere over Wyke way, and from what she was saying, he’s going to be here right through the summer.’

June didn’t bother to hide her interest. ‘Do you know who he is? Did she tell you anything about him?’ she demanded.

Now it was coming back to her, Sabrina’s expression was lightening with eagerness. ‘Actually, he’s quite a catch,’ she replied, ‘and I think you’ll probably have heard of him. Cameron Mitchell? The art critic.’

June pulled a face as she thought. ‘The name does ring a bell,’ she admitted, ‘but art critic sounds decidedly gay to me, and having already been there with my ex…’

‘Apparently his marriage broke up about a year ago,’ Sabrina told her, ‘and there was no mention of anyone else being on the scene, male or female. He’s very presentable, from what I’ve seen of him on TV, but you know how diminished people can seem in the flesh, so perhaps
we should make up our minds about that when we meet him.’

‘Can you set it up?’ June asked excitedly.

‘I’ll certainly try, but it’ll have to wait till we’re back, I’m afraid. There won’t be time before.’

‘That’s OK. It’ll give me something to look forward to.’

As she listened to their middle-aged drivel Annabelle was tapping her foot impatiently, wanting to be gone from here, in spite of having nowhere to go. Maybe she could talk her mother into paying for another massage. Actually, she wouldn’t mind having her nails done, and her hair blow-dried. There was a party at Melody’s tonight, everyone was going, and she still hadn’t worn the D&G dress she’d bought in Bath a couple of weeks ago. She wondered if it would be OK for her to go, but even if it was, no way was she going to call anyone to find out, especially when no one was bothering to call her. Except Bethany, who was more boring than blah, and Georgie, who she had to admit had rung yesterday to ask how she was. Georgie hadn’t mentioned anything about the party though, but that was OK, because Annabelle didn’t really want to go anyway.

‘When’s Robert leaving for Paris?’ she suddenly blurted.

Sabrina turned to look at her. ‘Tomorrow,’ she answered. ‘Why?’

‘I thought I might go with him.’

Sabrina gave an exasperated sigh. ‘He’ll be in meetings the whole time…’

‘I can go shopping and look at the sights.’

‘Not on your own, you can’t.’

‘So why don’t you come too?’

‘Because I’ve got far too much to do here before we go away. Now, will you please stop tapping your foot. It’s very annoying.’

Annabelle turned to June. ‘Everything about me is annoying to my mother.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true,’ June protested.

‘Of course it isn’t,’ Sabrina said, sounding crosser than she intended. ‘Why don’t you go for a swim, or see if they can fit you in for a manicure, while June and I plan what’s going in the next issue.’

‘Actually,’ June said, before Annabelle got up, ‘I was going to mention this before, but I wondered if Annabelle might be interested in writing something for
The Buzz
. It might help our circulation a bit to have some young input.’

Sabrina looked decidedly impressed. ‘That’s a great idea,’ she responded enthusiastically. ‘What do you think, Annabelle? Would you like to do it?’

‘I don’t know,’ Annabelle answered, slightly thrown. ‘What sort of stuff would I have to write?’

Sabrina looked at June.

‘You could do something on what people your age are up to,’ June supplied. ‘You know, the kind of events you go to, like festivals and concerts, and where’s good to shop. Anything you think’s suitable really.’

Annabelle turned to her mother.

Sabrina smiled encouragingly.

‘Tell you what,’ Annabelle said, ‘I’ll think about it,’ and picking up her lemonade she wandered back inside.

With a sigh, Sabrina said, ‘Thank you for that, June. I’ve been trying so hard to think of ways to include her since Robert gave me a dressing-down for neglecting her. He’s wrong, of course, because I’m always there for her, and the reason she’s being rude and stroppy at the moment is because she’s going through a very tricky time with all this unpleasant business.’

Not even starting to get into the understatements and denial going on there, June said, ‘Does she know Nathan was in court today?’

Sabrina nodded. ‘I tried to have a chat with her about it this morning, but all she said was, “Everyone’ll know the truth soon enough, and then you’ll all be sorry for not believing me.”’

‘But I thought you did believe her.’

‘Of course I do, but for some reason she’s telling herself I don’t.’

It was late on Sunday morning. After the boom and crash of a thunderstorm during the night, everything was peaceful now. The clouds, having emptied themselves lavishly over the countryside, had contracted into small white ruffles
floating through a swathe of perfect blue sky, while the ground steamed as it dried, filling the air with a fresh, earthy scent.

Nat was alone in the house, lying on his bed trying to read and listen to music. He’d been out a few times since he’d returned on Wednesday, mostly with Simon, when they were always careful to leave the village by the bottom road, and to keep well back as they waited for a bus to take them into Bruton, or Bath. Last night his mother had driven him and Darcie over to a pub in Somerton for a change of scene, and to meet up with Rachel and her family. They weren’t sure if the Traveller’s was the requisite hundred yards from Annabelle’s house, but even if it was, the way some people in the village were staring and whispering whenever they saw them, or blatantly blanking them, made it too uncomfortable for them to go out anywhere nearby.

Picking up his mobile as it bleeped with an incoming text, he clicked it open and seeing it was from Summer, his expression darkened with anguish and guilt.
What have I done? Why won’t you speak to me? Sx

He was still looking at it, trying to think how to answer, when someone knocked on the front door. Dropping the phone, he swung his feet to the floor and went out on to the landing. He didn’t want to answer in case it was someone come to shame him, and tell him to eff off back to London, the way a gang of young kids on the new estate had the other day, when he and Simon were waiting for the bus. ‘Dirty rapist,’ one girl had screamed. ‘Sex maniac,’ another had yelled. ‘Go back where you belong.’

Whoever it was knocked again.

Half afraid of something unpleasant or dangerous coming through the letter box, he went partway down the stairs and shouted, ‘Who is it?’

‘Nat? It’s Uncle Robert,’ came the reply.

Allowing relief to overcome his misgivings for the moment, he ran down to the hall and pulled open the door. ‘Sorry I took so long,’ he said, standing back for Robert to come in. It was better than being abused by the locals, he thought, but maybe his uncle was here to lay into him over Annabelle. Did he believe what she was telling him? Was
he going to read the riot act and say how ashamed and disgusted he was by what his nephew had done? If he did Nat was ready to defend himself – he might even dare to ask his uncle how he could have stayed with that bitch Sabrina after what
she’d
done.

‘No worries,’ Robert told him mildly. ‘Are you on your own?’

Nat swallowed. ‘Yes. Mum and Darcie have gone to a flea market in Frome. Not really my thing. I thought Mum said you were in Paris.’

‘I got back last night,’ Robert answered, following him into the kitchen. ‘We’re off again tomorrow so I thought I’d come and see how you are before I left. I don’t suppose there’s a cold drink going?’

‘Oh, yeah, sure. What would you like? We have squash, I think, lemonade and there’s probably some fruit juice.’

‘If it’s blackcurrant I’ll have squash,’ Robert replied.

As Nat dug some ice cubes from a tray and topped the squash with water from the tap, Robert pulled out a chair and sat down.

He didn’t seem angry, Nat was thinking, but since that wasn’t really his uncle’s style there was still no knowing how this might go.

‘So, how are you?’ Robert asked, as Nat brought two drinks to the table.

Nat shrugged. ‘I’m cool,’ he answered, not really knowing what else to say.

Robert regarded him closely, then took a sip of his drink. ‘We’re off to France for ten days tomorrow,’ he said, ‘so hopefully that’ll make things a bit easier for you around here.’

Nat’s cheeks flamed with colour.

With a sigh, Robert put a comforting hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m sorry all this is happening,’ he said, ‘for both of you…’

‘If you don’t mind,’ Nat interrupted, ‘I’d rather not discuss it.’

‘I can understand that, but I’m here in the hope that we can do something to resolve this unfortunate business before either of you has to face the ordeal of going to trial. It won’t be a pleasant experience…’

‘I’m not the one who’s making it happen,’ Nat broke in angrily. ‘It’s her you should be speaking to.’

‘And believe me, I’m going to try. Perhaps, while we’re away and in a different environment, she might be more willing to talk. Meanwhile, I can’t help wondering if perhaps you might have misunderstood what she…’

‘I didn’t misunderstand anything,’ Nat cried bitterly. ‘I couldn’t make her leave me alone. She kept coming after me, and then she was there with no underwear on, behaving like the slut she is. Everyone knows what she’s like, because they’ve all been there, and she couldn’t stand it because I didn’t want …’ He broke off as frustration and embarrassment swallowed his words.

Robert looked away, hating hearing his stepdaughter being spoken about that way, in spite of having suspected for a while that her virtue was a thing of the past. It was like being punched in the face with his own shortcomings, shown exactly how ineffective he had become as her parent and moral guide. However, he had to remember who he was hearing this from, so hopefully the picture wasn’t quite as profligate as Nat was painting it. ‘You two used to be very fond of one another once,’ he said.

‘That was a long time ago. She’s a different person now. We both are.’

‘But underneath, I think in many ways you’re still the same.’

Nat shook his head.

Robert sighed, and tried a different tack. ‘I’m ready to admit that Annabelle has her problems,’ he said awkwardly. ‘The past couple of years haven’t been easy …’ He stopped as Nat rose to his feet. Then, realising his mistake, he said, ‘I know they’ve been difficult for you too, but you’re older and…’

‘I’m not bringing this suit,’ Nat reminded him sharply. ‘She is, so like I said just now, it’s her you should be talking to.’

The spectre of Craig and Sabrina’s affair was looming large now, but unless Nat mentioned it, Robert wasn’t going to complicate matters even further by doing so himself.

Giving himself something to do, Nat walked over to the
door and pushed it open. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask his uncle why he’d stayed with Sabrina, how he could even bring himself to look at her after what she’d done, but knowing his father was as much to blame, he didn’t want to risk hearing his uncle saying so, any more than he wanted to hear how hurt Robert might have been too. He was a kind and decent man, and Nat just knew he would never behave in an underhand or disloyal fashion with anyone. To think of his father making a fool of Robert was almost as bad as thinking of what it had done to his mother. It made his father the very kind of person Craig himself had always claimed to despise.

Feeling a choking misery burning in his chest, he was about to walk outside when Robert said, ‘How’s your girlfriend? Summer, isn’t it?’

Nat’s eyes closed as he took a breath. As difficult a topic as Summer might be, he could handle it a whole lot better than a discussion about his dad. ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ he said, turning round. ‘She’s OK. She’s with her family in Italy.’ He thought of how he’d been invited to join them and wished with all his heart now that he had.

‘Does she know what’s going on here?’ Robert asked carefully.

Nat shook his head. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ he admitted. ‘Every time she rings … She thinks she’s done something wrong. I keep telling her it’s not her, but she won’t believe me. She thinks I’ve met someone else, and if I have I should just be honest and tell her. It’s getting so I don’t take her calls any more or answer her texts, and that’s not right. You shouldn’t treat someone like that, but I don’t know what else to do.’

Feeling for his dilemma, Robert said, ‘You have to tell her the truth, Nat. I know it’ll be hard …’

‘She’ll end it if I do, I know she will, and who can blame her? She hated Annabelle. I’m sorry, but Annabelle was so rude to her, and the way Annabelle kept coming on to me when Summer was there…If you’d seen it, you’d know what I mean.’

Taking a breath and blowing it out slowly, Robert said, ‘I’m afraid you still have to tell her the truth. How she deals
with it will be up to her, but if you continue avoiding her, calls it’ll only make it worse.’

Nat’s eyes went down. He knew his uncle was right, but the problem was finding the right words that would enable him, in spite of everything, to hold on to the threads of a relationship that were already starting to fray.

Glancing at his watch, Robert said, ‘I should be going.’

Nat walked with him to the front door, wishing he didn’t have to leave, but not saying so. He liked his uncle being around, in spite of his connection to Annabelle, and though there were subjects he really didn’t want to discuss, he’d have liked to talk some more. ‘I’ll tell Mum you dropped in,’ he said.