E for England (22 page)

‘I'm making good money, so are you.'

‘And I still want a divorce. A joint application is better. I've got the papers and I'll post them to you.'

He hesitated at that. ‘If you insist.'

‘I do. It's a deal-breaker.'

‘Done.'

James was in the kitchen with Leonie when Annie staggered in that evening. The early morning, sleepless night combo had caught up with her midafternoon. Her head pounded with weariness on top of the stress of traffic wrangling in the wet, miserable conditions outside. Floss sneezed all the way home from the minder and Mattie had been unusually quiet. Not even the news that they'd all be moving in with Daddy roused him. His pale face in the rear-view mirror looked lifeless when she cast anxious glances at him. Thank God it was Friday.

‘Hi Annie. Hello Mattie and Floss. How are you all?' His voice was way too bright and energetic.

‘I'm sick. My head aches and my throat's sore,' said Floss while Mattie dropped his schoolbag with a thud, gave James a feeble smile and headed for his bedroom with dragging feet.

‘Hi. Sorry, I'll have to see to them.' Annie shed coat and bag and followed her ailing children to their room. Soup for their dinner tonight, then into bed for everyone, herself included.

Leonie appeared in the doorway. ‘What a horrible day. Need some help?' She knelt down and started undoing Floss's shoes. Floss sneezed. ‘You need to hop into bed, poppet.'

‘Thanks. I think they're both getting something.' Annie pressed the back of her hand against Mattie's forehead. Hotter than normal. ‘Into pj's and straight into bed, darling.'

He slumped onto Floss's bed, eyes closed. How on earth would she get him into the top bunk? And was he safe up there? Was Floss?

‘I think he'd better go in the bottom bunk,' she said. ‘Floss can share my bed.'

Leonie whipped Floss's pillow off and gave it to her to hold. She switched Mattie's pillow and turned the covers down on the lower bed. ‘All ready, Mattie. Come on Floss, let's put you in Mummy's bed. Bathroom first.' She grabbed Floss's pyjamas and steered her across the hallway but darted back in. ‘Whoops, nearly forgot Mr Bear.'

Annie tucked Mattie in. His eyes closed immediately. She watched for a moment, wondering if this was the precursor to something nasty or one of the regular flu bug invasions. She went to her own room where Floss lay tucked up in one small portion of the queen-sized bed. She smiled her usual cheeky smile. Annie kissed her and smoothed the hair from her forehead. No temperature.

‘I'll bring you something to eat, sugarplum.'

‘My throat's sore.'

‘I'll make soup. That'll be easy for you to swallow.'

‘Okay.' Floss closed her eyes and snuggled down. Annie smiled. Not so sick she couldn't enjoy being in Mummy's big bed.

She changed into jeans and a white cable knit sweater and pulled on sheepskin slippers. What a foul day. Nonstop rain and wind and more forecast for the weekend. Thank goodness they didn't have to go out, although she was supposed to drive Leonie to the airport on Sunday. If the kids weren't well enough she'd have to call a taxi.

What was James doing here? When had they met?

Annie joined the packers in the kitchen. A box sat on the floor almost filled with paper-wrapped articles. A quick glance at the open cupboards showed Leonie had cleared her glassware and crockery. Was James helping? Why?

‘How are they?' he asked.

‘I think Mattie is brewing flu. Floss's looks like a cold.' She smiled at Leonie. ‘Thanks for helping.'

‘That's okay. I hate to see them sick. Poor little things.'

James sent her such a tender look Annie's eyes opened wide in surprise. James and Leonie?
Both
Clellands? Wasn't one enough for her?

‘I didn't know you two had met.'

‘We met last night.' Leonie turned and took a salad bowl from the shelf. Uncharacteristically stiff all of a sudden. Self-conscious? Not Leonie. ‘Do you want this, Annie? I don't need it.'

Wood, decent size, souvenir from somewhere. ‘Oh okay. Thanks.' Met last night and he was here helping her pack? The woman was a man magnet.

‘Rotten timing,' said James, ‘with Leonie leaving on Sunday. I can't understand how we've never met when we've both lived here for so long.'

‘Must have different schedules,' said Annie. ‘And you're both out a lot.' Leonie was being very quiet, removing bowls and wrapping studiously. James couldn't keep his eyes off her.

‘That's true. It's amazing.' He gazed adoringly at Leonie but she kept her back turned.

‘Would you like us to get out of your way, Annie?' she said suddenly. ‘So you can feed the kids?'

‘I'm only heating soup for us. Don't worry. Mattie probably won't want to eat anything.'

Leonie grabbed the packing box and attempted to drag it but James stepped forward. ‘I'll do it.'

Annie caught Leonie's eye and to her astonishment Leonie's cheeks turned a slow but definite pink. Hiding her smile she opened the pantry cupboard and studied the choices of soup. Chicken noodle, pumpkin, pea and ham. Chicken noodle for them, pumpkin for herself. She pulled out the cans and found two saucepans.

‘We're phoning out for Chinese, Annie, would you like to eat with us?' James asked.

‘No thanks. I'm going to bed straight after dinner myself.'

‘Are you sick, too?' Leonie looked ready to dive on the disinfectant and give her a good spraying.

‘A headache, plus I'm exhausted. Thank God it's Friday.'

‘I'll drink to that,' said James.

‘Are you staying in or going out tonight?'

Leonie waved an arm around. ‘Staying. James has been helping but I haven't touched my bedroom yet.'

‘At least you haven't lived here long and there's only one of you. I had to pack up after nearly eight years in that house. It won't be so bad this time when we move.'

‘I'll have to put some stuff in storage,' said Leonie.

‘I did. Furniture mainly. It was easier than trying to get rid of it. But we'll be needing it soon enough.'

‘Tell me you're not!' Leonie glared, back to her old self now the focus had switched.

‘I have no choice.' Annie flicked on the gas and emptied the chicken soup into a saucepan.

‘Not what?' James leaned on the bench with a bewildered frown.

‘Moving back in with her ex-husband.' Leonie shook her head and sighed. ‘There's always a choice.'

‘Tell me what mine is?'

‘Find someone else to share with. Rent a smaller place, an apartment.'

James's phone chirruped. He read the text. ‘Hugh, wondering about dinner.'

‘Tell him to come up,' said Leonie.

‘Sure? Annie, is that okay?'

She nodded, concentrating on stirring the soup. Leonie would be in her element. Why entertain one sexy man when two hunks were available.

James typed rapidly, waited for the response then said, ‘He'll be up in about fifteen minutes with a bottle of wine.'

‘Great.'

Annie pulled a tray from its slot beside the oven. She set a bowl and spoon on it then stuck bread in the toaster. Mattie first, then Floss.

‘Why don't you eat with us, Annie? You don't need to do anything except feed the kids.' Leonie stopped wrapping and packing and folded her arms. ‘Loll on the couch and rest and we'll look after you.'

Very tempting. Pumpkin soup wasn't appealing but it was easiest. Her headache had eased, leaving simple weariness. ‘All right. Thanks.'

She could eat then remove herself to bed and leave Leonie with her admirers. She ladled chicken noodle soup into the bowl for Mattie. The toast popped.

How could she sit and watch Hugh and Leonie, knowing what they'd done together last night?

Hugh tapped on Annie's door, bottle of wine in one hand, bunch of white and yellow flowers tucked under his arm.

Leonie flung the door open. ‘Hi, Hugh. Come in. We're deciding what to order.'

She darted away before he could offer the wine or the flowers. He followed her through to the living area. James and Annie sat at the kitchen bench studying a takeaway menu. Annie looked up with a tiny smile. It lacked the usual warmth he'd begun to take for granted. Did she resent this invasion? Her shoulders sagged, she looked exhausted.

‘Hi.'

He put the wine on the bench and held out the flowers.

‘Hello. I thought these might brighten up this gloomy day for you, ladies.'

‘Oh, how lovely. Thank you.' Leonie smiled. ‘I've packed my vases. You'll have to find one of yours, Annie.'

Annie slid off the stool and opened a cupboard. Hugh joined her at the sink where she was filling a glass decanter with water.

‘They don't have much scent, I'm afraid.'

‘They're very pretty,' she said. ‘Thank you.'

‘Are you all right?' he murmured, although Leonie and James were discussing what to order and not interested in anything beyond each other anyway. Annie's movements were jerky and her posture stiffly unnatural.

‘I'm tired and the kids are both sick.'

‘Like me to take a look?'

Her startled eyes swung to his face, her shoulders relaxed. ‘I don't think they're seriously ill. Mattie has a slight temperature but Floss just has a cold starting.'

‘I don't mind checking on them.'

‘Would you? I'm a tiny bit worried about Mattie but I don't want to take advantage of you. I wasn't going to ask.'

‘I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to. Do you have a thermometer?'

‘Yes. I'll get it.' Hugh followed her to the bedrooms.

‘What do you two want to eat?' Leonie said.

‘Mongolian Lamb,' called Annie. ‘We can boil our own rice.'

‘Crispy Skin Chicken with chilli sauce, please,' said Hugh. He nipped into the bathroom and washed his hands then joined Annie.

Mattie lay pale-faced and still, eyes closed. His breathing was featherlight, barely lifting his chest but rasping slightly. He was, sensibly, in the bottom bunk.

‘He only ate a couple of mouthfuls of soup,' Annie said. ‘Darling, are you awake? Hugh's here to look at you. He's a doctor.'

The eyes flickered open but he barely raised a smile.

‘Hello, Mattie. Can you open your mouth, please?' Hugh took the thermometer and popped it into Mattie's mouth. He touched his hand to his forehead. Clammy and hot. Opened his pyjama jacket. No rash. Felt under his armpits and jaw. Slightly swollen lymph nodes. Fighting an infection.

‘Does he have any health problems? Asthma, allergies?'

‘No.' She looked at him anxiously then her attention returned to Mattie.

‘Has he complained of a stiff neck?'

‘No.'

He closed the pyjama buttons and pulled the covers up. ‘I think you're right, he's got the garden variety flu.' He whipped the thermometer out. ‘Only up a degree. He needs to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids. He can have paracetamol if the fever goes up any more. A cool sponge on the face and neck helps.'

Annie heaved a deep sigh. ‘Thanks, Hugh.'

He studied her. Dark shadows under the eyes. None of the usual sparkle. Weary slump to the shoulders now, after that earlier tension. ‘You take care of yourself,' he said. ‘You need to wash your hands after dealing with him, and keep his cups and things separate. We don't want you getting sick too.'

‘Oh cripes, no.'

‘Do you want me to take a look at Floss?' As he spoke he returned to the bathroom and washed again. ‘Where is she?'

‘In my bed. I thought it was safer to have Mattie on the bottom and Floss is too little to be up there.'

‘Very wise.'

Hugh tried to focus on the child in the bed and not stare round Annie's bedroom. Floss was asleep. A sweetly innocent curve to her lips, red gold hair spread across the pillow. Hugh touched his hand lightly to her forehead. Normal.

‘She ate all her soup and two pieces of toast,' Annie said from the doorway. ‘I'll have crumbs in my bed.'

Pale blue sheets and a navy blue self patterned cover. What did she wear to bed? Something from the same catalogue as those knickers? A sensible white towelling robe across the foot of the bed indicated otherwise.

‘Doesn't sound too ill.' He sent her a smile.

‘No, she's not. I'll try to keep them apart so she doesn't get it too.' She rubbed her hands over her face and groaned. Wisps had escaped from the neatly coiled up hair. He wanted to stroke the silky dark strands clear of her face, ease the tension and worry from her forehead. Hold her, kiss her.

‘Don't worry about them they'll be fine. They're basically strong, healthy children.' He stepped towards her unable to stifle the need to be close.

‘I know. It's just…this is the last thing I need right now. On top of everything.' She looked past him at Floss, dragged in a tired breath.

‘You need a glass of wine and food right now.' Hugh placed his hands on her shoulders and twisted her around to face the hallway. She didn't resist which surprised him a bit, but she wasn't bouncing with energy so perhaps she was simply too tired. Her skin was warm and softly pliable, inviting him to slide his hands down her body, explore the curves. Instead he let his fingers linger briefly then followed her to the living room where she dropped onto the couch with a sigh.

‘Are they all right?' asked Leonie.

‘Yes. Mattie has the flu but he'll be fine after a few days in bed.'

‘Hope I don't get it.' Leonie grimaced.

‘I don't think any of us want to get it,' Hugh said mildly. ‘Make sure you wash your hands after contact.' He opened the bottle of wine he'd brought and filled the four wine glasses ready on the bench, took one to Annie. He sat next to her, close enough to brush against her body when he moved.