Battle Lines. (21 page)

“Umm.” She stopped to think and then a memory came to her. She sat back in her chair.

“When I won the championship cup when I was fourteen. You filled the trophy with them.” She looked at the trophy cup sitting on the coffee table, the red hearts heaped up and overflowing onto the table around it. 

“Took you a month to get through them all.” He agreed.

“I am surprised that I didn’t end up fat and with no teeth.”

“I only did it because I thought it would sweeten you up. You were so sour through your teenage years.” Jake complained.

“You are not funny.” She protested.

“But I speak the truth. Strawberry laces?”

“Erm... I have no… oh no wait, I remember. I threw them at you when you beat me at chess.” She said.

“Very good.” He applauded. “Sherbet fountains?”

“Halloween when I was fifteen.” Then she gasped. “And enough said about that one.” She grimaced.

“Yes, that was particularly… what is the word I am looking for?”

“Painful.” She said.

“It was definitely that.” He laughed. “Jelly worms?”

“Umm.” She stopped to think and then giggled. “Camping trip. You put them in my sleeping bag and I nearly had a fit when I got in it in the dark.”

“You screamed like a girl.” Jake agreed.

“I was a girl.”

“That you were.” He agreed. “You was in a foul mood for the rest of the holiday.”

“That was your own fault, you shouldn’t have done it.”

“You shouldn’t have spent all four days moaning, there was no tv. It was cold. Sleeping on the floor was uncomfortable. And it went on and on.” He moaned.

“All valid points, I still stand by them.” Amanda told him.

“White mice?”

“Christmas just before my sixteenth birthday.”

“Yes.”

“Nothing happened that I am aware of.”

“Our first kiss.”

“We didn’t kiss.” She told him.

“We did, under the mistletoe.”

“We never kissed under the mistletoe.” She told him.

“Yes we did.”

“That was a peck on the cheek and you only did it because you knew I would hate it.” She informed him tartly.

“I did it because I wanted to. You hating it was just a bonus.” He joked.

“You are being an arse again.” She told him.

“Love heart candy?”

“I have no idea about that one.”

“Sixteenth birthday.” He prompted.

“Umm.” She stopped to think. “I don’t know. No wait. That was the year I got that anonymous present. A heart box filled with them. They all had the same thing written on them.”

She had never found out who had sent them. She had figured someone at school had sent them. She had not been short of admirers.

“I love you.” Jake said and Amanda’s heart stopped dead in her chest.

“Excuse me.” She said breathlessly and she heard Jake cough before saying.

“That was what was on the love heart candy, all of them. I love you.” He was right.

“It was you.” She said now. She had never shown anyone them, not even her parents. She had been embarrassed that someone might have had a crush on her and so she had kept them up in her room. There was only one way that Jake would have known that and that was if he had sent them to her. “Why?”

“You really don’t need to ask that. Do you?” Probably not. She guessed she had always known, perhaps not when she had been a teenager but later. It was one of the reasons she hadn’t come back. The reason she had always been vulner-able where Jake was concerned.

“Okay, why did you do this? In my office.” She said instead.

“Caramac.” Jake said.

“What?” She frowned in confusion.

“Caramac.” He said again. The Caramac bar in her bottom drawer, on top of that picture.

“Uh… I…”

“Thank you by the way.”

“For what?”             

“I have looked in every photo album looking for that photo. I thought somehow it had got lost. I am glad that you’ve had it all these years.”

“Well…” She stopped, there really wasn’t anything she could say. She had been found out.

“I was surprised when I opened the drawer and saw it.” He continued. She gripped the receiver in her hand tighter.

“Jake…” she began to warn.

“I wanted to thank you.” Jake said now, letting her off the hook and she relaxed in her chair.

“Thank me. What for?”

“A nice weekend.” He told her.

“A bunch of flowers would have sufficed. Or a simple thank you.”

“True, but I wanted something a little more personal, intimate.” He told her.

“Why?”

“Why more intimate or why more personal.” This conver-sation was getting into dangerous territory.

“No, why do something thoughtful?” she said.

“Can’t I do something nice once in a while without there being an ulterior motive?”

“No.” She stated.

“You really do have a low opinion of me.” She thought she heard the tinge of sadness in his voice.

“Jake.”

“I just wanted to thank you for a nice weekend. I enjoyed myself.” He told her.

“Oh… oh…” She cleared her throat. “Well…” She felt herself blush.

“Have a good day at work Mandy.” He said softly and then the phone line went dead and he was gone.

Chapter 22.

The next two days flew by in a flurry of activity. Harry spent more time out of the office than he had inside it. When she challenged him he told her that he was working on a project. She had told him that perhaps he should work on his project in his own time after all she was paying his wages.

Harry reminded her that she had already put him in a bad situation that had gone above and beyond his job description. And that he was having to go to dinner on Wednesday and that he wasn’t being paid overtime for it.

She had reluctantly agreed, mainly because she knew that Harry was right.

So on Wednesday she cleared the paperwork on her desk and tried to find more work to do once the day was done. Anything than having to go home and get ready for a dinner that she did not want to attend.

Finally, she had to admit defeat. She locked up and set the alarm before reluctantly taking off in the direction of her home.

Once home she went upstairs and took a shower before she got ready for the night ahead.

Harry would pick her up at seven and then she was in for a rough couple of hours. Amanda sighed heavily as she looked over her appearance in the bedroom mirror.

She looked at the dress that she had bought for the occasion before the weekend. But now Amanda wasn’t so sure this one was a good idea. It seemed far too revealing than it had when she had tried it on in the shop.

If she had been going out on a date this would have been fine but she wasn’t. She was going out to have dinner with her mother and, her husband who technically wasn’t her husband and, her brother who technically wasn’t her brother. How did her life get so complicated?

Amanda crossed the room to the wardrobe and opened it up to search for something more suitable. She didn’t have much time. Harry would be here soon.

She spotted a two-piece trouser suit in mint green and she grabbed it. She had bought it last year and had never gotten around to wearing it yet. It still had the shop tags on it.

Amanda grabbed an ivory blouse and put them on her bed and then undid the zip on the sparkling emerald green dress and stepped out of it.

Finally, when she was happy Amanda went to her dresser and put her hair up in a severe looking bun. Pulling it tight and fixing it in place with hairspray.

She winced at the tightness, she would have a headache by the end of the evening but she did not care. It would give her a good excuse to end the evening early.

She rummaged through her make up bag. She would keep her make up to a minimum. Opting for a light bronze on her eyelids, some mascara, a little blush and a shimmering rose lipstick.

Her doorbell chimed and she sprayed a little perfume on herself before getting up, giving her appearance the once over. She smoothed her hands down her trousers, picked up her purse, and made her way down the stairs.

Harry smiled at her as she stepped over the threshold and he opened the passenger door for her before starting the engine and they were on their way.

“Please do not go totally nuts tonight.” She told him.

“Right boss, I will keep myself low key.” He said.

“I mean it Harry.”

“So do I.” Amanda closed her eyes briefly and took a breath. Why hadn’t she cancelled? She knew why, Jake would not have left it there. She knew that. He would have come round and demanded that she let him in so that they could talk. And then she would be alone with him. And just recently that had not ended well for her.

No, it was far better to attend, there was safety in numbers.

Twenty minutes later they pulled up outside her mother’s house and Harry helped her out of the car before they went up the path to the front door.

“Remember Harry.” She warned quietly.

“Got it. Low key, don’t go nuts.” He said.

“Harry.” She stopped at the front door and pressed the bell.

“I know. Low key, don’t go nuts.”

And then there was no time to say anything else as the housekeeper let them in and showed them to the parlour where Jake and Her mother stood up when they arrived.

“Jakey… brother.” Harry exclaimed in loud excitement. Amanda bit down on her lip and held her breath. He wasn’t going to listen to her, was he? “It is so wonderful of you to invite Emee and me.” Harry threw his arms around Jake and hugged him, tight.

She watched Jake grit his teeth. “I was just telling Emee in the car.” He let Jake go and turned to her. “Wasn’t I darling?” Harry exclaimed throwing her a mischievous lop sided grin.

“Yes you were… darling.” She agreed.

“I realise that you are a busy man Jakey.”

“It was no trouble.” Jake assured him.

“Oh but it was. I know you went to a lot of effort for tonight.” Jake’s fist clenched at his side several times as Harry smiled up at him. Jake was a tall man. “Mother.” Harry greeted her mother as he scooped her up into his arms and kissing her soundly on the lips. She was going to kill him, Amanda decided.

“Oh… um…” Her mother flustered. Jake stepped forward and came between Harry and her mother. The look he cast in Harry’s direction could have started a fire.

“Perhaps you would like a drink before dinner Alan.” Jake said.

“Oh Jakey that would be wonderful.” Harry exclaimed as he clapped his hands together.

“Why don’t we go to my study and leave the ladies to talk for a while.” Jake set off.

“Are you sure?” She heard Harry ask. He sounded worried. She couldn’t blame him. Amanda was worried, why did he need to get Harry on his own, this couldn’t be good.”

“I would rather…” She began but Jake was already cutting her off.

“It will give the ladies a chance to catch up.” Jake put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “And it will give us a chance to get to know one another a little better… brother.” He finished.

“Oh well… if you insist.” Harry’s voice came out as a squeak. Harry turned to look at her.

“I think it would….” But again Jake cut her off.

“Come on Alan. I have a nice cognac that I think you will like.”

“In that case, lead the way.” Harry said and slapped Jake on the back soundly several times. Jake stopped abruptly and turned to look at Harry. Harry stopped immediately, turning quite white. Then they were gone and Amanda was left staring after them. She hoped Harry would be alright.

“How are you dear?” Her mother asked her and she turned to give her mother a hug.

“I am fine.” Amanda answered, trying to shake off the feeling of impending doom.

“How is work?”

“Doing okay.” She told her.

“Did you want something to drink before dinner?”

“No I am fine mum really.” She had a feeling that she needed to keep a very clear head.

Amanda sat with her mother and talked for a few minutes before Jake came back to let them know that dinner was ready.

So, they made their way to the dining room and Harry joined Amanda as they went in.

Harry got himself comfortable in a chair, Amanda heard Jake sigh and he stepped forward to pull out a chair for her.

“Thank you.” She said as she sat down.

“You are welcome.” He said and then proceeded to hold out a chair for her mother before he took his place. Amanda looked across the table at Harry who sat opposite her.

“What?” he asked and Amanda shook her head.

“So, Alan. Have you been busy since you were last here?” Her mother, who was sitting on Amanda’s right asked him.

“There always seems so much to do. It’s not easy. Still let’s not talk business. I do find it a trifle boring.” Harry chatted animatedly about many different subjects. Amanda sat quietly nodding her head once in a while as she ate her food.

She had to be honest she wasn’t really listening.

“And what about you Emee?” She heard the angry sarcasm in Jake’s voice and she looked up then to stare blankly at him. How had she managed to anger him by just sitting here?

“What?” she said as she shook herself out of her daze. Jake looked at her angrily. His face dark and ominous. She frowned as she looked from Jake to her mother, who looked embarrassed, oh that couldn’t be good. She felt her heart plummet into her feet as she turned to regard Harry who was giving her a big grin before she looked back to Jake.

“How do you feel about it?” Jake asked her.

“I… Sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” She admitted. “How do I feel about what?”

“Moving to a country where it is considered okay to take on a second wife.” She immediately looked up at Harry who raised his wine glass at her in a salute before taking a sip.

Great. Hadn’t she warned Harry not to take it too far? Had she not said keep it low key? Why didn’t he listen? Just this once.

“Well… I.” she stopped.

“I was just telling them that sometimes I am in the mood and you are not.” Harry moaned at her and immediately she felt the heat rise in her face. How could he have said that?

“That’s not exactly true.” Amanda shuffled in her chair uncomfortably.

“Not tonight I’ve got a headache.” Harry said, his eyes never leaving hers and then he turned to look at Jake. “I hear that one a lot. I am too busy. I am to tired.” Harry tutted loudly.

“Oh… dear.” Her mother said.

“Perhaps tonight will be your lucky night.” She heard Jake suggest.

“Don’t hold your breath.” She snapped.

“I mean it is one of the wifely duties is it not? Am I right? I am right.” Harry continued as he lifted his wine glass to his lips.

“Yes well, if that is what Alan wants.” She said.

“And let me tell you.” Harry looked back at Jake. “She is not in the mood quite often.” Amanda’s foot snuck out and met Harry’s shin painfully. The table shook and Harry winced. “Ouch.” Amanda smiled at him and picked up her own wine glass before saluting him and taking a sip.

“Yes well, um, Jake?” her mother again.

“It was like I was telling Emee.” Harry continued. “I expect a certain standard. Heaven knows I have tried.” He put a hand on her mother’s arm and patted it. “You have to tell me how you survived her teenage years.”

“Well.” Her mother began but Jake interrupted.

“Who says we survived.”

“I know what you mean.” Harry turned to look at Jake. “And when she gets angry she goes quite red in the face. Never a good look.” Harry tutted. Jake picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

“Oh I don’t know… I rather like that hot and flustered look of hers.” And he looked at her then. His eyes held hers and Amanda felt herself go red.

“Each to their own I guess.” Harry dismissed.

“So then Alan. What look is it you like?” Jake asked him.

“She sometimes gets this funny look on her face. You know the one Jakey. When she’s thinking about…” Harry let his voice trail off and Amanda felt her face burn hotter.

“I know the one.” Jake said. “The one that says she’s getting hot… under the collar.” Jake finished.

“That’s the one. Poor Emee, she fell a little short in the looks department.” Harry complained. “Not that I am comp-laining.” Really? It sure sounded like it to her.

“I think she has a certain charm.” Jake said.

“What a quaint way of putting it Jakey. Yes, I approve of that word. Charm.” Harry said.

Dessert came then and Amanda picked up her spoon to eat it without looking at what it was. Something chocolate because she could smell it.

“Emee.” Harry’s voice was sharp and she looked up at him.

“Yes Alan.” She asked him.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t eat that.” Amanda looked down at the dessert in front of her and then back at Harry.

“I…”

“Have we not discussed this before?” Harry wiggled in his chair. “I mean honestly, how many times do we have to go over this.” He tutted and shook his head, his body becoming animated in his chair like he was agitated with her.

“Um.” She had no idea what he was going on about.

“Oh Jakey, I don’t know what to do with her.” He pretended to weep into his napkin. “Do you have any suggestions?” He asked Jake.

“None that I could discuss openly.” Jake told him.

“That does sound promising.” Harry said. “Go on.” He urged.

“Why don’t I see to some coffee.” Her mother suggested.

“The housekeeper can do it.” Jake said.

“It’s okay.” Jackie said and got up from the table. “I need a little air.” And then she was out the room before anyone could stop her.

“So then Jakey. You were going to give me some suggest-ions as to what I could do with Emee.” Harry said.

“Was I?” Jake lifted an eyebrow.

“If I thought putting her over my knee would work I would do it.” He said.

“That’s an option I will be keeping in mind.” Jake said.

Amanda gritted her teeth. They were both enjoying themselves it would appear, and at her expense. She scooped some dessert onto her spoon and brought it to her lips.

Harry squealed like a girl and his arm reached across the table and slapped the spoon out of her hand. The spoon clattered onto the plate.