Bad For Me (13 page)

“Sorry about the biscuits,” Julie said. “I’ll buy some more tomorrow.”

We both knew she wouldn’t.

“Do you want a coffee?” Julie offered. “I’ve only just made it.” 

“Thanks. That would be great.” I sat opposite Janet. “How’s life as a solicitor?”

“Busy, as always,” Janet said. “I hear you're working at DraxSoft.”

“Yeah. I'm enjoying it so far.”

Janet glanced at Julie, and then leant forward.

“Julie tells me you’re seeing JJ,” Janet said in a hushed tone.

I nodded.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

My initial reaction was to think this was some kind of joke, but Janet’ was stone-faced.

“Why? Don’t you?”

Janet checked on Julie again; she obviously didn’t want to be overheard by her sister.

“I’m sorry, Megan, but no. I don’t think you'll be good for him.”

I was stunned. I didn’t know Janet particularly well, but our previous meetings had been friendly enough. I couldn’t think of a single reason why she should have taken against me. Before I could ask her why, she'd picked up her bag, and started for the door.

“I have to get going, Julie,” she shouted.

“Already? I thought we could tell Megan some embarrassing stories about JJ.”

“Sorry. Got to rush. Bye. Bye Megan,” she said, but didn't look at me.

“Thanks.” I took the coffee from Julie. “Had Janet been here long?”

“No. Only about twenty minutes before you came. I’m not sure why she bothered if she was going to shoot off so quickly.”

“Maybe I scared her off. I don’t think she likes me.”

“Nonsense. She barely knows you. Why would you say that?”

“No reason.”

Between the two of us, we polished off the remaining chocolate digestives. Although we talked (well Julie did; I mainly listened), I couldn’t stop thinking about what Janet had said. I couldn't shake the idea that she had come over specifically to warn me off. That's what it felt like. What did she mean when she said I'd be bad for him? Did she think I was after his money?

Chapter 23

I phoned JJ first thing the next morning to check on Billy. JJ said he was okay. He hadn't wasted any time—there was a private ambulance coming to pick Billy up later that morning. I knew the clinic must be costing a small fortune. He promised to bring me up to speed when he arrived at the office. I almost mentioned Janet, but what would I have said? If I'd told him the truth, I would've run the risk of driving a wedge between brother and sister.

“Morning.” Julie was on her feet, but barely awake.

“Morning. That was JJ.”

“How's your brother?” she half said, half yawned.

“He's okay. JJ has arranged for him to go to the clinic later today.”

I wondered what Julie thought of JJ footing the bill for Billy's treatment. She'd half-jokingly suggested JJ might buy her a car. Would she resent him spending money on my brother? What would Janet think when she found out? It was hardly likely to improve her already low opinion of me.

“Morning, Megan.” Caroline was at her desk when I arrived. “Any luck last night?”

I'd told her about Billy. She knew I'd been looking for him.

“I found him.”

“Really? How is he?”

“Not great. He was in a doorway—passed out.”

“Oh god. That's terrible. Where is he now?”

I hadn't mentioned that JJ had been helping me to look for Billy. I hadn't wanted to stoke the office gossip.

“He's in hospital.” It wasn't exactly a lie.

“That's good. Best place for him.”

I didn't know much about private clinics, but I assumed that they couldn't keep people against their will. Would Billy be receptive to the idea? I wasn't sure if he wanted to get dry. Even if he did, what were the chances? Mum had tried and failed a million times.

I saw JJ's car pull into the car park just after lunchtime. I made an excuse, and shot out of the office.

“How is he?” I caught JJ as soon as he walked into reception.

“He's okay. Let's go to my office.”

I hated all of this sneaking around, but didn't argue.

“Is he okay?”

“He's not very happy. It took me all of my time to persuade him not to take off before the ambulance arrived.”

“But he's at the clinic?”

“Yeah. He's there.”

“Do you think they'll be able to help him?”

“They're the best at what they do. If anyone can help him, they can. But... ”

“What?”

“It doesn't matter how good they are. It will only work if Billy wants to give up the drink.”

“He does. He will.” I couldn't bear the thought of Billy going the same way as Mum.

“I hope you're right.”

“Thank you for doing this.” I gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Not exactly the night of passion I'd hoped for.”

“I know. What are we going to do about work?”

“What do you mean?”

“It's really awkward for me—working alongside Caroline and the others. I think some of them suspect there's something going on, but I can't say anything.”

“Tell them.”

“Really? I didn't think you would want it to be common knowledge.”

“Why not? I want the world to know.”

So did I.

********************

It was a relief to know that I didn't have to keep it a secret any longer. Still, I didn't want to make a big production about letting people know, so I decided to have a quiet word with Caroline first.

“Caroline, have you got a minute?”

“Sure. Grab a seat.” She pointed to the chair next to her desk.

“Would it be okay if we talked in the small conference room?”

“Okay.” She looked a little puzzled.

“Is everything okay?” she asked as we made our way out of the office.

“Yeah. I just wanted a few words in private.”

“You're not leaving are you?”

“No.”

“Thank god for that.”

“I wanted to tell you first.”

“What?”

“JJ and me. We're an item. We're seeing each other.”

I used to think I could read people. As it turned out, I was clueless. I'd thought Caroline would be pleased for me, pleased for us, but I could see by her expression I'd got that badly wrong.

“What, like boyfriend/girlfriend?”

I nodded.

“Oh. Right—thanks for telling me.”

'Thanks for telling me'
—what kind of reaction was that? Not a good one—I was certain of that.

“What's wrong? I thought you'd be pleased.”

“I am. Really.”

She wasn't—her smile was forced.

“What?” I said. I could tell that she wanted to say more.

“I'm just surprised.”

“I thought you would have guessed.”

“Christ no. I'd no idea. I thought with JJ's problems... ”

“What problems?”

Her expression changed again. This time it was easy to read—she was flustered, as though she'd said something she shouldn't have.

“The money problems with the business.”

“He's just sold it. He's going to be rich. Oh god, you don't think I'm after his money do you?”

“No. No. Of course I don't. You're a lovely girl Megan. I would never think that. I meant the problems he had a couple of years ago when the business was in trouble. He got quite stressed.”

“But that's sorted now isn't it?”

“Yes. Of course it is. I'm just being silly. Come here.” She put her arms around me, and gave me a hug. “I'm really pleased for you. Both of you.”

Her words had a hollow ring.

I didn't tell anyone else that afternoon. After seeing Caroline's reaction, I was a little deflated. I wanted people to be happy for me—I was reluctant to tell anyone else in case I got another negative reaction. I'd hoped to get a lift home with JJ, but he had emailed me an hour before the end of shift to say he had to go out on business, but that he'd pick me up from the flat in the evening, so we could visit Billy.

My phone rang at dead on five o' clock—just as I was about to leave the office. I thought it might be JJ—maybe his meeting had finished early. It wasn't. I didn't recognise the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Megan?”

“Janet?”

“Julie gave me your number.”

“Oh? Is she okay?” I couldn't think why Janet would call me.

“About what I said yesterday. About you and JJ.”

“Yeah?”

“Go to Russell Street now.”

“I don't understand... ”

“Listen to me. Go to Russell Street. There's a greasy spoon cafe on the corner. Buy a coffee in there and watch the building across the road.”

“Janet. I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Just do it.”

The line went dead. What the hell was that about? I called her straight back, but the call went to voicemail.

“Are you okay, Megan?” Caroline was on her way out.

“Yeah.”

“Can I give you a lift anywhere?”

“You couldn't drop me in town could you?” I knew Caroline drove through town on her way home.

“Sure.”

Neither of us said much on the short journey into town. My mind was elsewhere.

The cafe wasn't somewhere I would normally have visited. I felt dirty as soon as I walked through the door. I ordered a coffee, which I had no intention of drinking, and took a seat by the window. That whole area of town was pretty run down. Janet hadn't said which building across the road I should watch, but I assumed it must be the church hall. All of the other buildings were identical houses, most of which had been converted into low-rent flats for students. The street wasn't particularly busy, so if anything did happen I should notice it—but what was I looking for?

I didn't have to wait long for my answer. The doors of the church hall opened, and a number of people came out. At the rear of the group was a couple. I didn't recognise the woman—pretty, in her early thirties with long, dark hair. The two of them stood outside the church hall—talking and laughing. After a few minutes, JJ kissed the woman on the cheek, and they went their separate ways.

I probably should have chased after him, but I couldn't move. It hadn't been a passionate kiss—more of a kiss between friends. Who was she, and why had JJ been with her? Janet obviously had the answers—why else would she have called and told me to go to the cafe? I tried her number again, but she still wasn't picking up. Was she deliberately ignoring my calls? When I left the cafe, my coffee cup was still full. I found it impossible to believe anyone could actually drink that stuff. The church hall doors were closed by the time I'd made my way across the road. I tried the handle, but the door was locked. I knocked, but there was no response. Next to the entrance was a notice board which displayed all the usual notices, but nothing which gave any indication as to why JJ might have been in there.