Forget Me Knot (31 page)

DAN INSISTED ON GIVING
her a lift to work.

“Bet you wish you hadn’t now,” she said, looking at her watch. In the last ten minutes, they had moved no more than a few yards. There was construction on Camden Road, and the traffic was down to a crawl. Abby rang Martin to tell him she was going to be late for work. He said not to panic and that he’d already opened up. “By the way,” he purred, “I can’t wait to hear how last night went. Was it totally fabulous?”

“OK, Scozz, if you could make a start on those orders, that would be great.”

“Oops. Silly me. Dan’s there and you can’t speak— right?”

“Pretty much.”

“OK, see you in a bit.”

For the next hour, the traffic inched through North London. Abby was anxious for news from Buenos Aires, so they kept the radio on. There was nothing other than the briefest of reports saying that the protest was continuing. It was past eleven by the time Abby and Dan reached Upper
Street. After ten minutes spent driving around looking for a parking space, Dan finally got lucky and found a spot a few doors down from Fabulous Flowers. As they got out of the car, Abby saw a figure she recognized coming out of the shop. It belonged to Christian. She felt herself flush with anger.

“See that bloke over there in the green vest?” she said to Dan. “It’s Christian. Bet you anything he’s been upsetting Scozza again. You know, for two cents, I’d get hold of him and—”

“If you like, I could set him straight, tell him a few home truths.”

Abby’s eyes remained fixed on Christian, who was walking in their direction but appeared not to have seen them.

“Thanks, but this isn’t your fight. I’m not sure Scozza would appreciate it.”

“But it’s not just about Scozza. Christian has hurt and bullied you, too. He also stole your boyfriend.”

“I know, but I don’t want to make a scene. I think the best thing would be to ignore him.”

“I could try out my fencing moves on him.” Dan smiled, assuming the pose of a musketeer about to skewer one of Cardinal Richelieu’s dastardly scoundrels.
“En garde
, Christian, you worm.” With that, he played air sword for a few moments, parrying and counterparrying before finally lunging at a lamppost, which was closer than he thought, and bashing his hand. He let out a yelp and began rubbing his knuckles.

“See,” Abby giggled. “You’re nothing without Aramis and d’Artagnan.”

She watched Christian pass them, his eyes self-consciously focused on the pavement. It was clear to her
that he had finally noticed them but was too embarrassed to make eye contact. It was then that she realized she couldn’t let him go by without a confrontation. Before she knew what she was doing, she was striding out to catch up with Christian. She overtook him, positioned herself in front of him and blocked his path. “Look, Christian, if you’ve been to the shop and upset Martin again—”

“Let me pass,” he said. It had occurred to her that, since he’d stolen Toby from her, he might have the grace to be just a little shamefaced, but Christian appeared as arrogant and haughty as ever.

“Just leave Martin alone, that’s all. Or I’ll—”

“Or you’ll what?”

She glared at him. “You’ll see.”

“You seem to forget that I am in a relationship with an exceedingly high-powered lawyer. If I were you, I’d think twice before I started threatening people.”

“So, how are you and Toby?” The question came out with a curled-lip sneer that was so unlike her.

“My relationship with Toby is none of your business. Get out of my way.”

By now Dan was at her side. “He’s right. Come on, let’s go.”

Christian looked Dan up and down in that snooty way of his. Then he turned back to Abby. “I’d take your friend’s advice if I were you.”

Dan took Abby’s arm and steered her away. He had been steering her for a few seconds when he suddenly let go. “Shit. Look at my car. I’m getting a ticket.”

“Go, go,” Abby cried. “Sort it out. I’ve said all I’m going to say to Christian. I’ll meet you back at the shop.”
Dan started running to his car and Abby headed toward Fabulous Flowers.

“Oh, by the way,” Christian called after her. “I think you should know that I am appealing the council’s decision allowing you to continue with your pavement displays.”

“Right! That’s it! I’ve had it.” Flushed, Abby ran back over to Christian. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Constantly persecuting me. What have I ever done to you?”

Christian wasn’t about to be drawn into an argument, and he attempted to walk away. She grabbed his shirtsleeve. A few passersby noticed and slowed down to take in the action.

“Take your hands off me,” he snarled. Her hand remained attached to his sleeve.

“I said, take your hands off me.” She did as he instructed, not least of all because more people were staring now.

“Do you know what, Christian? You are a nasty, spiteful, vindictive, jealous bully. God only knows what Toby sees in you.”

“More than he saw in you, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Only because he’s gay! I mean it, Christian, if you don’t stop harassing me, I will take action.”

Christian had opened his mouth to reply when Toby appeared, a bulging Sainsbury’s carrier bag in each hand. “Would the pair of you mind telling me what on earth’s going on?” he barked, placing the carriers on the pavement. “You may not be aware, but you are causing a public spectacle.”

Christian looked down at the ground. Now that Toby had turned up, he appeared—for the moment, at least— embarrassed.

Toby turned to Abby. “What’s all this about?”

Abby put her hands on her hips. “Blimey, is that the greeting I get? What about ‘Hi, Abby, how are you? Long time no see. How’s life since I left you for another man?’ ”

“God, Abby, please don’t start.”

“I’m not starting. I’m just making a point, that’s all.”

He smiled. “On your high horse as ever, I see.” His words weren’t without affection. “So, how are you?”

“Fine, thanks. You?”

“Fine, too.”

“Good.”

“Bloody hell,” Christian butted in. “Now that we’ve established that the two of you are fine, can we please go?”

“No, you most definitely can’t,” Abby cried. “Not until you promise to stop threatening Martin and me.”

Toby turned on Christian. “Christ. Don’t tell me you have been in the shop terrorizing Martin again. You told me you were going to the drugstore for shaving cream.”

Christian ignored Toby and continued to glare at Abby. “I am threatening you and Martin? If anybody is being threatened, it’s me. Toby, can’t you see that this woman is mad?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Abby is not mad. The only mad person around here is you.”

Christian blushed. Abby couldn’t believe he was taking this admonishment from Toby without fighting back. When Toby suddenly remembered he’d forgotten to buy bok choy, he dispatched Christian back to the supermarket to fetch it. The man obeyed without so much as a murmur.

Abby was astonished. “My God, he’s like a pussycat around you,” Abby said. “Do you have some kind of magical hold over him?”

Toby shrugged. “When Christian detects even the faintest fear in people, he’s in there like a Rottweiler. But he doesn’t scare me. Never has. I think it’s because I’m one of the few people who understand how vulnerable he is.”

“Oh, please. Christian is about as vulnerable as Goebbels.”

“Abby, he had a lousy childhood.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Scozza told me—his mother died and his dad was a drunk.”

“Right, and my father was a drunk, too, if you remember. I can sympathize with many of Christian’s issues.”

Abby was in no mood to engage in a sympathetic analysis of Christian’s psyche. She decided to change the subject. “So, how’s your mother?”

“Ah—well, she still scares the pants off me, if that’s what you mean, but I’ve been getting some therapy. My shrink pretends to be my mother and I have to shout at her and tell her how bullying and cruel she is. It’s going OK, but it’ll be ages before I get up the courage to confront Mother for real.”

Abby assured him that he would get there.

He didn’t seem convinced. “Actually, I haven’t seen her in ages. She’s involved in some media project. Telly thing, apparently. Won’t tell me anything. Deeply hush-hush by all accounts.” He paused. “Anyway, I’d better go and catch up with Christian. Great to see you, Abby.”

“Toby,” she said. “Before you go—I’ve started seeing somebody.”

“Wow, that’s great news.”

“That’s him over there.” She nodded toward Dan, who
was remonstrating with a traffic warden. “It’s Dan—you know, the film director I got stranded with in the elevator.”

Toby made no attempt to look in Dan’s direction. Instead, he gave a thoughtful nod. “From the way you talked about him, it did occur to me that the two of you had a connection. I’m pleased for you, Abby. I really am.”

He started to move off. Then he stopped. “I want you to know,” he began, his voice soft and hesitant, “that you are a wonderful person and that I really did have feelings for you. I did love you. If I wasn’t gay, you would have…”

“… been the one?” She was grinning now.

“No question.” He took Abby’s hand and squeezed it. “I just want to say again how sorry I am for what I put you through.”

“I know you are. And hearing it really helps.”

“I’m glad.”

Just then Christian reappeared, carrying a bag of bok choy. “My God, the madwoman’s still here.”

“Come on, calm down,” Toby said firmly, taking Christian’s arm.

“I will not calm down,” Christian hissed.

“Yes, you bloody will. Now come on.”

Christian allowed himself to be led down the street. “But the woman is mad. She’s ill. You know that as well as I do.”

“I’m not the one who’s mad,” Abby cried, getting angry again. “It’s you. You’re round the bloody bend. You need help—”

By now Dan had returned. “C’mon,” he said, endeavoring to calm her down. “Let Christian go. You’ve made
your point.” He paused. “So that’s Toby. Good-looking bloke.”

Abby blinked. “Omigod, you’re jealous! You’re jealous of a gay man.”

“Abby, how can I possibly be jealous of a man who by virtue of his genetic makeup has no romantic interest in you?”

She thought for a moment and said she didn’t know, but jealousy often defied logic.

“Well, not in my case it doesn’t.”

Toby continued to drag Christian down the street. Judging that they were still within earshot, Abby couldn’t resist calling out to Christian one last time. “For your information, my boyfriend Dan here fences. For England. If you come near me or Martin again, I’ll set him on you. He has some brilliant moves. You should see him! He can parry… and thrust… and leap from one chandelier to the next. Just you wait.”

Abby had succeeded in causing another scene, and passersby were giggling and smirking. Dan took hold of Abby’s arm again and practically pulled her toward the shop. She knew he was going to be furious with her for claiming he was some kind of fencing master, but she’d gotten so worked up that she hadn’t been able to stop herself. She waited for him to tell her off, but all he did was grin. “So, I’m officially your boyfriend, then, am I?”

Her hand went to her mouth. “Oh, God. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It was way too forward.”

“Not at all. I couldn’t be more pleased. But just so we’re absolutely clear—that would appear to make you my girlfriend.”

“I guess it does.” She smiled.

“And you’re sure this is what you want? It’s not too soon after Toby?”

She paused and looked directly into Dan’s eyes. “Look, maybe you and I getting together so soon after my relationship with Toby is a bit risky, but I can’t help what I’m feeling.”

“And what are you feeling?”

“That we have a real connection and I want to see where it takes us.”

He was beaming. “Me, too.”

She planted a kiss on his lips. “Ooh, by the way, what happened with the traffic warden? Please tell me you didn’t get a ticket.”

“Actually, I didn’t. I was parked in a residents’ bay, but when I pointed out the commotion going on across the street and that I was with you, he let me off.”

“He didn’t!”

“He did. Honest.”

“Well, that has to be a first… So, you hungry?” She suddenly realized that they hadn’t had any food since the night before.

“Starving.”

She invited him into the shop and said that after she’d touched base with Martin, she would nip down the road to get coffee and pastries.

AS THEY
walked in, Martin was finishing serving a rather greasy, clueless-looking lad wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan:
I do my own calculus stunts
. Martin was being polite but
barely saying a word. His usual energy and sparkle seemed to have vanished.

“I hope your mum enjoys them,” he said to the teenager, offering him the weakest of smiles. He handed him a bouquet of blue and white hyacinths.

The boy grunted his thanks and turned to go. Since the shop was so narrow, Dan had to move to one side to let him pass. Abby held the door open for the lad. “See you again,” she said with a smile. The boy offered another grunt and stepped onto the pavement. Abby let go of the door and headed toward the counter. “Christian’s been in here threatening you again, hasn’t he?” she said. “I just had words with him outside.”

“He’s being so evil and vicious,” Martin said, his eyes suddenly glassy with tears. “I’m not sure I can cope anymore.” Apparently Christian had found out through mutual friends that Martin was planning to see a lawyer; he’d come charging into the shop, ranting and raving about how he would rather give Debbie Harry away than let Martin share custody.

“I wasn’t about to mention that suing him would cost thousands and was out of the question for anybody on an ordinary income. I dunno, maybe I should just give up and let Debbie go.”

By now Abby was on the other side of the counter, hugging Martin. “Not on my watch, you don’t. You adore that dog. We will sort this thing out. I don’t know how exactly, but we will.” She opened her bag and took out a tissue, which she handed to Martin. He started dabbing at his eyes.