Lola's House (Lola Series) (17 page)

Chapter Seventeen

By the time I g
et home I am exhausted.  I pull up on the drive and Roberts’ car is nowhere to be seen.  James’ car however, is parked in my space.  My eyes dart over to the portico and there he stands with a holdall at his feet.  As I get out of the car I grab my bags and the takeaway carrier then walk over to greet him.  Although I feel bone tired and ready to pass out, I make an effort and put a smile on my face.

‘If you gave me a key, I wouldn’t have to stand and wait
for hours like a tradesman by the door.’  No kiss, no proper greeting.

‘Hello to you too, James,’ I sa
y, harrumphing to myself and shuffle the bags up my arm to put the key in the lock.  I haven’t got the strength for another confrontation today.  ‘I’ll get a key cut for you as soon as I can.’ 

‘No need, I called in earlier and saw Ned.  He’ll do a copy of his key, but it would have been nice for my girlfriend to give me one voluntarily
,’ he says, flicking through his mobile nonchalantly. 

I sp
in on my heel to face him.  ‘What, you asked Ned for a key?’

‘Yes, I don’t want to have to wait outside my own home do
I?’  He looks most indignant and thrusts the phone back in his pocket.

I ma
ke a mental note to speak to Ned in the morning and bite on my lip to hold back any further comment, I can’t keep on doing battle like this.  I drop my bags on the hall table.

‘Anyway, I’ve cleared my schedule for the week so I can spend every night with you.’ 
He steps in front of me and wraps his arms around me.

‘Oh.’  I sa
y, I hadn’t been expecting that.

‘I
bought a few things with me,’ he says, nodding down to the holdall on the floor.  Then he runs his hands over my hips and back up to my breasts, where he slips one hand through the buttons of my blouse.  He raises his eyebrows lasciviously and licks his lips.  ‘How’s about a proper welcome.’

I pull his hand away.  ‘I’m tired
, James, and I wasn’t expecting you here.  You said you would be away in London for the week.’

His face f
alls and a dark look comes in his eyes.  ‘I wanted to surprise you and show you how committed I am to making this work, but I can see you’re not interested.’

‘I am interested, I’m just tired, I’ve been in the shop for twelve hours and I’m going to be there every night this week.  We’re having a re-launch, I told you about it.  We’re doing a bit of tidying and some paint
ing just to freshen things up,’ I say, as an idea comes into my mind.  ‘You could come and give us a hand if you’re free?’

A nervous looks appears on his face
and he pulls away from me.  ‘Oh painting, I’m not sure.  You know the fumes play havoc with my sinuses.  Besides, when I said I’d cleared my schedule there are still a few things I couldn’t get out of sorry, babe.  You know I’d help if I could.’  He gives my buttocks a quick squeeze and nods to the takeaway bag.  ‘Is that Indian food I can smell, I’m really starved.’

The shop has been really busy all morning.  Muriel and I have just finished dealing with the latest rush of customers when my phone beeps a message from Chrissie.  She is on her way back from Brighton and is going to call in the shop, so I leave Muriel and pop out to the Coffee Pot to pick up cappuccinos and chocolate muffins.  When I return, Chrissie is already in the back of the shop with Muriel checking out the website.

‘Hi,’ I sa
y, dropping the muffins and coffee on the desk.  ‘You look lovely, Chrissie, all fresh faced and radiant.  Must be all the sea air.’

‘Do I?’  She peer
s into the mirror on the wall.  ‘It’s more likely the sex and good loving.’

I look over at Muriel whose face
is steadily turning a furious pink and she is starting to fidget around uncomfortably.  ‘You could have just said you were happy.’  I nod to where Muriel is intently examining the website.

Chrissie turn
s to Muriel.  ‘Sorry, Mu, but you know I like to share these things.’

The bell clang
s in the shop and Muriel quickly rises from her seat.  She gives Chrissie’s shoulders a little squeeze as she goes past.  ‘That’s okay sweetheart, I’m happy for you.  And it’s nice to know someone is still getting it.’  With that she disappears into the shop.

I look
at Chrissie.  ‘Subtle as ever, can you stop talking about sex for just five minutes do you think?  At least in front of Muriel, you know she gets embarrassed.’

‘I could, but I like it.  Anyway, Muriel’s okay, she’s not as prudish as you think she is.’

A definite subject change is in order, although I doubt I will ever get Chrissie to find anything she likes talking about more than sex.  ‘How was the rest of your weekend?’

‘Fantastic
,’ she says, leaning back in the chair, her face beaming.  ‘Poor Cal is worn out, honestly I have worked him so hard.   But, I’m going to give him a rest now we’re back and look after him, you know cook him some special meals and give him a relaxing massage or two.’

‘That’
s nice, I’m really pleased it’s all worked out for you two.’

‘We’re going to look at engagement rings at the weekend.  We’re not going to have a massive engagement party though, just an intimate dinner for a few friends.  You’ll come won’t you?’

‘Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for anything,’ I say, giving her hand a squeeze and we both fall silent.

‘So, how are things going with you and sexy Robert?’

I roll my eyes and sigh.  ‘There is no me and sexy Robert.  James on the other hand, is moving in with me soon.’

‘What, why?’
  A look of pure distaste puckers her face.

I sho
ot her a warning look.  ‘Don‘t, Chrissie, he just is.  Not straight away though, just a few nights a week at first, and then he’ll move in completely in a few weeks time.’

‘And how is that working out?’ The puckered expression
is still evident, curling her lip slightly at the corner.

‘Well to be honest it’s exhausting.  Every time I get home he’s jumping on me for sex.  For instance, last night we had just had dinner, I was clearing the plates away into the dishwasher, when I heard Robert pull up on the drive.  James just leapt on me and dragged me upstairs for sex.  I wouldn’t have minded but I had loads to do.’

She thinks about this for a second and then says, ‘scent marking.’

‘What?’ I sa
y, frowning.

‘He’s scent marking, showing Robert you belong to him.  Let me guess, was James the one to suggest moving in together?’

‘Yes, he kept going on and dropping hints.’

‘There you
go, he’s asserting his ownership on you.’

I th
ink about this for a few moments and let it sink in.  James has been very possessive over the last few weeks.  But then again, he had always been a little insecure underneath, I had never thought it was anything to worry about, until now.  ‘Oh my god, you’re right.  What should I do?’

Chrissie gi
ves a little laugh.  ‘Don’t do anything, you’re getting lots of sex aren’t you?’

‘Chrissie,’ I
say, tutting.  ‘I don’t want him to think he has to assert his ownership on me for goodness sake.  Maybe I haven’t been paying him enough attention what with the re-launch and everything.’

Chrissie grimace
s.  ‘Yeah, right.’

Muriel pop
s her head around the door and holds out my mobile phone to me.  ‘Your phone was ringing but I couldn’t get to it while I was serving.’

‘Thanks, Muriel.’  I
take the phone from her and glance at the screen.  ‘Oh, missed call from Robert.’

I look up and s
ee glances passing between Muriel and Chrissie.  ‘What are those looks for?’

‘No reason.’  Chrissie st
ands and grabs Muriel’s arm.  ‘How about you show me this new range you’ve got, Mu, I could do with something really sexy for the weekend.’ 

They both disappear into the shop and le
ave me to call Robert.  The phone rings just once before he answers.  ‘Hi, Robert, everything okay?’

‘It depends,’ I hear him say, ‘did you ask an estate agent to come round and view the house?’

‘No, why?’  I sit bolt upright in the chair.

‘Because I’ve just caught some guy snooping round and taking
photo’s.  He was in the kitchen when I found him - he said he’d been instructed by the owner.  I thought I had better check it out with you.’

My heart
is beating furiously.  ‘Has he gone now?’

‘No, I told him to sling his hook but he refused.’

‘Okay, keep him there.  I’m on my way.’  I hang up the phone and grab my bag and keys.

I find Robert and Ned in the hallway with a greasy looking man.  He is dressed in a suit, holding a clipboard to his chest and keeps pushing a pair of glasses up the bridge of his nose, which slide back down again as soon as he moves his hand away.  He pounces as soon as I come through the door. 

‘Mrs Page, I have been asked to survey the house, but these gentlemen are being very obstructive,’ he sa
ys, indicating both Robert and Ned on either side of him.

‘Mrs Page?’  I frown as I drop
my bag onto the hall table.  ‘Can I ask who instructed you to carry out the survey?’

‘Yes, Mr Alex Page.  He said it would be okay to drop in this week.  He even gave me a key.’  He h
olds out his hand to show the little gold key nestled in his sweaty palm.  ‘Now I have a lot of work to do today, so can you please ask these gentlemen to let me get on?’

I fe
el my blood begin to boil in my veins.  Bloody Alex has gone a step too far this time.  He has pushed me to a point where there is no other alternative - I will have to commit fratricide.  I smile to hide what’s going on inside me.  ‘Okay, Mr...?’

‘Johnson, Mr Johnson.’

I nod.  ‘Mr Johnson, we’ve decided to put the sale on hold for now I’m afraid.  My erm, my husband was supposed to call you and let you know.  So for now, I’ll have my key back please...’  I hold out my hand.  ‘…and I apologise for any inconvenience.’

He look
s most indignant. ‘Well, I’ve never experienced anything like it.  I will speak to my client forthwith.’

‘And so shall I
, Mr Johnson,’ I say, smiling through gritted teeth.

He le
aves through the front door harrumphing to himself and I turn to Ned and Robert.  Ned speaks first.  ‘We didn’t know he was in here, missus.’

‘Has your brother got a key?’ sa
ys Robert.

‘I didn’t think so, but apparently he has, which is weird as I had the locks changed when I moved in to keep my mother out.’

Robert raises his eyebrows.

‘It’s complicated.’  I smile at him.  ‘If you met my mother you’d understand.’

‘Do you want me to change the locks again, missus?’ Ned says, scratching his head.

‘Thanks
, Ned, but I don’t think we’ll have any more problems in that department.  Not once I’ve spoken to my brother.’

Ned pull
s a large screwdriver from his pocket and fiddles with the end.  ‘I’ve got to get on, missus, we’re one man down what with our Kevin being off with his foot.’

‘How is Kevin, is he any better?’

‘He’s resting, but he’ll be back next week.  He’s driving his mom mad with his heavy metal music blasting out all day.  Betty keeps phoning me so I can tell him to turn it down.’  His mobile phone rings, and he blows out a large gust of air as he pulls it out of his pocket and walks off.  ‘They’re driving me mad, they are.’

I turn and look at Robert.  ‘I’d better get back to the shop.’

‘Do you fancy a quick cup of tea before you go?’

I look at my watch.  ‘Yes, I think I will, I never got chance to drink my cappuccino before I left the shop.’

‘Sorry about dragging you away like that, but I thought I had better check it out with you.’

‘That’s okay,’ I sa
y, following him into the kitchen.  ‘I’m glad you did.  To be honest, this whole thing with Alex is stressing me out.’

‘Has you brother got a stake in the house?’  He fill
s the kettle and switches it on, then stands with his back to the worktop.

‘No, none at all.’
  I pinch the top of my nose trying to stop the headache which is now forming.

‘Do you want me to have a word with him?’

‘Thanks, Robert.  But I think I need to sort this out myself, once and for all.’

‘I’m a bit surprised James hasn’t said something to him.’  Robert g
ets the cups out ready and reaches for the tea bags.

‘Well to be honest, I don’t think James would mind if I sold the house, that’s why I’ve never really spoken to him about it.  James never really liked it here that much.’

Robert’s frowns in confusion.  ‘But isn’t he moving in?’