E for England (30 page)

‘Edward is a such a pain in the bum.' Leonie twisted round to look at James in the back seat. ‘You know he fancied you, James?'

‘He's not so bad,' said Hugh.

‘Bullshit! He's mean and nasty under that polite veneer.'

‘I didn't fancy him at all,' said James. ‘Kevin's better than I expected after what he did to Annie.'

‘Yes. The kids are happy, which I guess was Annie's aim all along.'

‘She seems happy too, don't you think?' said James. ‘Great meal. She's a terrific cook.'

‘Yes that's another thing I'll miss. Annie's cooking.' Leonie sighed. ‘Maybe I should learn.'

‘Hugh can teach you how to do paella.'

‘And garlic prawns,' added Hugh.

‘Sounds good. Are you planning on using the fish you catch? I'd better place an order at the fish shop just in case you bomb out.'

Kevin rang Annie at work the next day.

‘I have a big favour to ask.'

‘Yes?' She turned away from Julia and lowered her voice. Julia had been quietly satisfied with the new arrangement. She didn't know all the details — that Kevin was gay with a boyfriend — she assumed they'd patched things up and were giving the marriage another shot. She assumed Annie had taken her advice. Annie let her think all those things.

‘There's a function on Sunday. The boss wants everyone there with their spouses and children. I told you he's big on family. He wants to meet the new people and welcome them to the company.'

‘I've never heard of that before.'

‘No, me neither, but that's what he does, apparently. He's about seventy and quite the old-fashioned autocrat. Will you come?'

Julia left her desk and headed for the photocopier.

‘And pretend we're a couple? I bet he doesn't approve of deception.'

‘We
are
still married, Annie, so it's not a lie.'

‘Not for much longer. Is this job really worth it to you? What about Edward? You can't keep him secret forever.'

‘Just this once, please?' And what did Edward feel about being sidelined?

‘All of us? What time?'

‘It's a barbecue from three on. In Beauty Point.'

‘Nice.' Big houses, water views.

‘Yes. Does that mean you will?'

‘All right. But it's a once off. Remember that. We're getting divorced.'

‘I know. Thanks, hon.'

‘You're collecting the kids tonight, yes?' Hon. That's what he used to call her but hadn't for years. Annie firmed her mouth. She was sliding on ice with no hand-holds.

‘Yep. See you later. Thanks.'

She hung up and stared at the numbers on the screen in front of her. Should she have refused? Did she have a good reason for saying no apart from the basic fact that they weren't really together anymore? But did that matter? They were united in the care of the children and in that respect they were and would always be a family.

And it would help Kevin in his new job. Messing that up for him wouldn't help anyone, least of all her with rent to share. Why he'd want to work for a boss who made those sorts of demands on the staff she had no idea, but if he liked the job and the pay was good… Plus it would be a free feed in a great location.

Sunday. Weren't Kevin and Edward supposed to be doing something on Sunday? Something that meant the fishing was postponed till the following weekend? Oh dear. Annie smiled and refocused on the figures in the account before her.

She met Leonie for lunch on Friday. Leonie was back in her old job two floors up.

They met in the foyer and headed for the corner café. A blustery wind blew scattered raindrops in their faces as they hurried, heads bent. Hope it blew over by Sunday.

‘How's the job? Regretting you passed on Tokyo?'

Leonie laughed. ‘No, not at all.'

‘Is James part of the reason?'

Leonie shrugged. ‘We're getting on really well.'

‘Why are you so surprised?'

‘I don't know. I just never thought I'd be attracted to a guy and like him as well. Without having sex.'

‘Whose idea is that? Not yours, I bet.'

‘His.' She grimaced.

‘And you're still seeing him?' Annie glanced at Leonie. ‘I told you James was special. Don't mess it up.'

‘I'm trying not to but if he doesn't change his mind soon I might have to do something. Do you think he has a problem?' She forged on, hugging her arms around herself against the chill.

‘Doubt it. What's his reason for no sex?'

‘He wants me to make love to him. Love being the operative word. He wants to wait until it means something. Whatever that means. Can you believe it?'

What a question. But for James to say that would be unusual. Attractive, young, virile men didn't turn down sex as a rule. Annie tilted her head, considering, then nodded. ‘Yes, I can. James and Hugh are very similar. They're kind, decent men who respect women. James must really have fallen in love with you.'

‘I'm not convinced and I don't want him to do that.' She shuddered. ‘Too much pressure.'

Annie smiled. ‘You can survive without sex for a bit longer. Look at me. I have for years.'

‘Years?' shrieked Leonie. ‘I doubt whether I can last the weekend. Anyway I've told him I don't want to see him every spare minute, it's too intense. I need some time to myself. I need to assess the situation.' She pushed open the café door and dived on an empty table by the window. ‘I'll have a Chicken Tandoori wrap and a short black, thanks.'

Annie went to the counter to order. When she returned Leonie said, ‘The house is great. I can see why my place wasn't right for you.'

‘Personally I loved your place; it wasn't right for the kids. Are you getting someone else in?'

‘I might. I can afford a few months on my own.'

Annie sipped her coffee and put the cup down. ‘Guess what? Kevin asked me to come with him to a work party with the kids. His boss is some old guy with strong family values and he likes to meet the families of his staff.'

‘Are you going?'

Annie nodded. ‘It'd be mean not to, don't you think?'

‘Hang on a minute.' Leonie frowned with a very familiar expression. Annie braced herself. ‘He wants you to pretend you're a happy family? To lie to this bloke, in other words. This bloke with strong values.'

Annie nodded. Leonie smiled. ‘Wonder what Edward thinks.'

‘Don't know, don't care. I think they were supposed to do something together on Sunday.' She smiled and bit into her sandwich.

‘He won't like that.'

‘He mightn't mind. He seems okay with Kevin living with me again.'

‘I don't reckon he is. I think he's pretending to be devoted and loving and sacrificing himself for the one he loves, but in reality he's furious and jealous. He's doing being the generous, understanding lover. It won't last.'

Annie laughed. ‘Anyway I've told Kevin this is a once off and the divorce is still going through. Edward is his problem, not mine.'

‘You've filed the papers?'

‘Yes.'

‘Thank goodness for that. Now you have to get your act together, Annie and start dating.'

‘Dating?'

‘Yes. Hugh.'

‘Hugh?'

Leonie sighed. ‘Who else? You two are hopeless, the pair of you. It's obvious you both like each other.'

‘I'm not like you. I can't launch myself at a man, and anyway Hugh and I are friends. That's all.'

‘All the more reason to go out together. Friends do that, you know. I'm not saying you have to marry the guy.'

Annie stared at Leonie. ‘Are you saying I should ask Hugh out?'

‘Why not?'

‘But I can't. I've just invited him over for dinner.'

‘That was all of us, it's different.'

‘But I can't ask him so soon. He'll think I'm desperate.'

‘He won't but…hmm, all right, wait till next week and suggest a movie. Line Kevin up first.'

A movie. That might work. ‘Maybe. I'll think about it.'

‘Too much thinking can be dangerous. It's just a movie. Coming for drinks tonight?'

‘Yes. Kevin's collecting the kids.'

‘Good.'

‘It is except I have to train and bus home, which isn't much fun in this weather.' Annie looked through the blurred glass to the street where the spots of rain had turned to a proper downpour.

Leonie shrugged. ‘Take a taxi.'

The Watering Hole was already crowded when Annie and Leonie joined their colleagues in the usual corner. Mike shifted along on the bench to make room for Annie. Leonie sashayed to the next table and asked the two business suited men if a chair was spare. Both looked mid forties and one wore a wedding ring. Both looked at her as though she were edible.

‘Join us,' said one. ‘Your table is too crowded.'

Annie didn't hear Leonie's reply but she saw the seductive tilt of her head and the sexy smile when she turned, chair appropriated. She shoved it in next to Annie and sat down, affording the men a perfect view.

‘Those guys invited me to join them,' she said, glancing across. One of them smiled and raised his glass, the slightly better looking of the two, the married one.

‘Lucky you.'

Her eyes sparkled as she returned the salute with her own glass. ‘One of them is English.'

‘One of them is married,' said Annie.

‘Aah! E for England,' said Jane.

‘Is E still blank?' asked Mike. ‘Been slacking off?'

‘I've been busy,' Leonie said, primness belied by the grin. ‘He sure is attractive though. Maybe later.'

Annie groaned. No point mentioning again minor details such as wedding rings or James.

‘How's the house working out, Annie?' asked Jane.

‘Not bad so far.'

‘The built-in babysitter is good,' Leonie said. ‘Means Annie can come out drinking with us.'

‘I'll drink to that.' Bernie raised his glass. ‘Here's to Annie's new-found freedom.'

‘I can't stay too long, though. I still have to get home and feed them.'

A predictable chorus of outrage greeted that remark. The truth was she didn't want to spend hours sitting in a bar drinking and taking part in inane conversations about single people's sex lives or work. It wasn't appealing any more, if it ever had been. The occasional drink after work on Friday? Fine, it was a good way to unwind, but on a regular basis? She'd rather be at home.

But she
was
a single person. Technically. Annie sighed and focused on something Bernie was saying about someone in the office. Half an hour later she gave up.

‘I'm off,' she said.

‘Already?' Leonie looked at her watch. ‘It's not even seven.'

‘It'll take me ages to get home.'

‘Grab a taxi.'

‘In this rain? Hardly.'

‘Fine. You win. Don't forget what I said.' Leonie gave her a stern frown.

‘And don't you forget what I said.' Annie tilted her head in the direction of the two suits who were well into their umpteenth round, ties abandoned, coats off, voices raised.

‘I can't help who I am.' Leonie drained her glass. ‘I like to party.' She stood up and kissed Annie's cheek. ‘See you.'

Annie returned the kiss. ‘Take care. Bye, everyone.'

As she threaded her way to the door, Leonie dragged the chair across to the suits and said, ‘You can have your chair back now, thanks.'

When she glanced back before she stepped outside, Leonie was leaning on the chair and laughing at something the two blokes were saying. Poor James. Although the sooner he found out what Leonie was really like, the better. If he loved her he needed to know and accept everything about her; if he thought he could change her by saying he loved her, he was doomed to fail. And if he wanted to keep her he'd better give her what she thrived on — sex.

The sun managed to struggle through on Sunday and provide a reasonable level of warmth from behind billowing clouds.

‘Where are we going?' asked Floss for the tenth time since they'd piled into the car. She'd resurrected her whingey voice.

‘To Mr and Mrs Bates' place. He's my boss.'

‘Will there be other kids there?' Mattie kicked at the back of the seat.

‘Stop that,' said Kevin. ‘I don't know who else will be there.'

‘There might be,' said Annie.

‘But whether there are or not I want best behaviour,' Kevin added, glaring at them in the rear-view mirror.

‘I don't want to go. I want to go to Adrian's place.'

Annie twisted round. ‘I know darling, but his mum said she'd invite you to play another day.'

‘I thought we were going to get a puppy,' said Floss. ‘When are we getting our puppy?'

‘In a few weeks,' said Kevin.

‘Why can't we go today?'

‘Because we're going to a party.'

‘We don't want to go to the party.'

‘We won't stay long,' said Annie. Add her to the list of who didn't want to go. Why had she agreed to this farce?

‘We have to stay to eat,' said Kevin. ‘We can't race in and out in five minutes.'

‘Does your boss have a rule about that, too?' she murmured.

‘It's plain good manners,' he said through gritted teeth. The tone was familiar from the painful fractured year before his flight.

‘Don't worry. We won't embarrass you. I'll keep them under control.'

He gave a long-suffering sigh. ‘Don't be like that, Annie.'

‘Kevin, none of us want to be here. I'm doing this as a favour so be nice.'

He didn't say anything, just drove with his eyes fixed firmly ahead. Annie read the map and gave terse directions.

Hugh looked up from the newspaper. ‘Are you home for dinner?'