Carole Singer's Christmas (16 page)

‘So what happened?’

‘I packed away my music and said I’d got to go and he asked me what the rush was and then he came over and said that stupid line about tickling my ivories.’

‘And he definitely meant it in a revoltingly lecherous way.’

‘Hmm! I think one hand grabbing my boob and the other lifting up my skirt is pretty lecherous and it was certainly bloody revolting!’

‘Oh my God! What did you do?’

‘What do you think? I kneed him in the groin, stomped on his foot and got the hell out of there.’

‘Why didn’t you come to me last night?’ Carole was finding this difficult to take in.

‘I did, but I saw Sebastian’s car was still outside and I was hardly going to stroll in and say, “Oh, hi Seb, your dad’s just tried to molest me,” was I?’

 ‘Wh … what are you going to do?’

Josie shook her head. ‘I’m not absolutely sure. He put this note through my door last night.’

She handed Carole a small scrap of paper. It read:

Dear Josie,

I’m sorry about our little misunderstanding. I’m a happily married man.

Regards,

Justin Jarvis. JP

‘That’s short and sweet,’ Carole said.

‘Short notes seem to run in the family. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘What’s the JP?’ Carole asked, ignoring the obvious dig at Sebastian’s notes.

‘Justice of the Peace. He became a magistrate a few years ago, remember? He made a big thing about it.’

‘Vaguely. I’ve tried to avoid all contact with that family if possible.’

Josie raised her eyebrows. ‘Yes. So Sebastian having his tongue down your throat and proposing on your gran’s doorstep is avoidance, is it?’

‘Fine. I meant until this week.’

‘He’s such a git. Not Sebastian – his dad ... although, like father like son ...’

Carole frowned. ‘That’s not nice, Josie. Just because his dad did something stupid, and because they both seem to prefer brevity in their correspondence, doesn’t mean Sebastian would ever do anything so ... awful.’

‘The thing is,’ Josie said, ‘it may have been a genuine misjudgement on his part. He may have actually thought I fancied him or something. We do have that sort of pseudo-sexual banter sometimes as I said, and I’ve always thought he just had a weird sense of humour. But what if it’s more? What if he ... well you know ... preys on women?’

‘I think we would have known about it before now if he did. He definitely fancies himself though. I’ve always thought that but he’s never made any sort of move towards me or anyone else that I know of. Perhaps ... perhaps it’s just you he fancies.’

‘Lucky me,’ Josie said. ‘I think I’ll tell him that if he ever comes near me or touches me again, I’ll call the police.’

‘Oh Josie, I really don’t know what to say. I’m sure he would have stopped if you’re told him to anyway. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm. I think he’s just a middle-aged man who made a really bad mistake.’

‘And mistakes are another thing that seem to run in that family, if Sebastian is to be believed. Sod it, I’m taking the morning off and coming to Tunbridge Wells. I could do with some retail therapy while you’re at your meeting. I’ll call in sick – and believe me the thought of Justin Jarvis lusting after me is making me feel very sick indeed.’

***

Carole couldn’t believe what Josie had told her. She knew her friend wasn’t lying, of course; they’d known each other since primary school and they’d always told one another the truth, even when that truth had been painful. Best friends did that.

But the thought of Mr Jarvis trying it on with someone young enough to be his daughter, and someone who was a friend of his son what’s more, well, that was just too difficult to comprehend. He was Sebastian’s dad. Only dirty old men seduced young women. Dads didn’t.

She realised how ridiculous that premise was though. Thousands of young women had affairs with much older men; some even married them and lived perfectly happily together for the rest of their lives, but this was Sebastian’s dad for heaven’s sake. And no matter how much she thought about it – and she thought about it a great deal all day long, she just couldn’t get it to sink in.

What she really needed to do was to talk to her gran about it but once she and Josie had returned to Jutsdown after her meeting, she’d gone directly to the garden centre. Thanks to yet more delays and train cancellations, she was now running even later.

‘Are you okay? You seem ... preoccupied,’ Nick asked.

‘What? Oh. Um. No. I mean, yes, I’m fine, it’s just ...’

‘Just ...?’

‘It’s not something I can talk to you about.’

Nick gave her a serious look. ‘You can talk to me about anything, Carole. Is ... is it about Sebastian and Dominic? I hear your boyfriend’s coming down this weekend. That’s going to be difficult to–’

‘You see! That’s it, right there. We just can’t have a conversation without you making some sarcastic remark about my boyfriend and my fiancé!’

Nick seemed surprised.

‘Do I? I can’t even remember the last time we had a conversation, well not one that lasted for more than two minutes anyway, and I certainly don’t recall mentioning either your boyfriend or your fiancé when we did. Although I’d heard that he isn’t your fiancé ... yet.

 ‘Well, that just shows how much attention you really pay when we do have one! And he isn’t my fiancé. At least the village gossips have got that bit right.’

‘Okay. Look, I apologise if you think I’m always being sarcastic but you must admit, it’s a pretty odd situation. I suppose it’s a good thing only one of them lives here. You’d never be able to have a relationship with two people if they lived in the same village, especially such a small one as this. Are you worrying how you’re going to keep Dominic from finding out about–?’

‘You’re doing it again!’

‘No, I’m not. That’s not sarcasm, that’s a genuine question. Or does he know about Sebastian?’

‘Of course he knows about Sebastian! Well ... he doesn’t know he’s back in the village. I haven’t had a chance to tell him that yet. And he doesn’t know that Sebastian proposed either.’

‘So that’s pretty much a ‘No’ then? This weekend should be fun. You could always spend the entire time ensconced in Mitsy’s cottage and ...’

‘And what? Go on. Have a good laugh about it. You clearly find the whole thing terribly amusing.’

‘Actually,’ Nick said, ‘I don’t.’

He sounded almost sad and that annoyed her even more.

‘Oh, of course, I forgot. You don’t approve of such behaviour, do you? I remember you telling me how disgusted you were by the whole thing and how disappointing it was to discover that I am ‘that sort of girl’. Well, Mr High and Mighty, Holier than thou, I’m not the only one you know. You’d be surprised by how much this sort of thing happens – even in a small village like this!’

She stormed into the office to get her coat. Yet again, Nick had made her so mad that she really felt as if she wanted to hit him. She had never been the type of girl to even raise her hand and give someone a friendly slap, let alone a punch in the face as she so very much wanted to give him. The man definitely brought out the worst in her; there was absolutely no doubt about that.

She hadn’t heard Nick follow behind her so when he closed the door and stood in front of it barring her exit, she very nearly did punch him in the face.

‘Excuse me,’ she said as calmly as her mounting temper would allow.

‘No! Not until you tell me what’s going on. What did you mean by that remark just now? About me being surprised how much this sort of thing happens. Has Sebastian been seeing someone else, too? Is that why you’re so upset?’

She couldn’t believe her ears. ‘What? Sebastian! Don’t be so ridiculous. He...’

‘He ... what?’

‘Nothing,’ she said, putting on her coat and giving him a look which she hoped said, “If you don’t let me out of here, you’re going to regret it.” Clearly he misread it.

‘Sit down,’ he said, ‘I’ll make some hot chocolate and you can tell me all about it.’

‘I don’t want hot chocolate. And there’s nothing to tell,’ she said, folding her arms and hanging her head. ‘Don’t you have a garden centre to run?’

‘Yes, you do and yes, there obviously is. And the garden centre can wait. You’re more important than this garden centre.’

Her head shot up at that and her eyes met his. He looked flustered.

‘I mean ... as Mitsy’s granddaughter, that is. Well ... you’re a sort of stand-in for my business partner, aren’t you? And ... and you’re a friend. At least I’d like to think you are. And I care about my friends ... and my work colleagues.’

The spark of hope he’d ignited by his remark died and Carole slumped onto a chair, feeling thoroughly dejected.

‘I’ll make the hot chocolate,’ he said, ‘and then you had better start talking because I’m not letting you out of here until you tell me exactly what’s wrong with you today.’

‘It’s Sebastian’s dad,’ she said without even realising she’d said it.

Nick had only just put the milk in the microwave but he came back into the office and sat down opposite her, looking her directly in the eye.

‘What about Sebastian’s dad?’

Carole could detect the note of apprehension in his voice and she noticed the muscles at the side of his mouth seemed to twitch, but not in a good way. She saw his lips form a hard, tight line as if he were trying to hold something back and she wondered why he should be so concerned for Sebastian’s dad.

Nick sucked in a breath. ‘Carole? Has he ...? Has he tried ...? Has he done something he shouldn’t have?’

Carole just nodded. She could feel tears pricking at her eyes and wasn’t sure she could hold them back. She was so tired. So confused. So ... disappointed.

Nick jumped to his feet. ‘The bastard! I’ll kill him.’ He dropped back down onto the chair and took Carole’s hands in his. ‘Did he hurt you? Tell me, Carole. What did he do to you?’

Carole blinked several times and little teardrops fell off her lashes like ticking time bombs. She shook her head in astonishment.

‘N …nothing! He ... he didn’t do anything to me! It was Josie. He tried to grope Josie!’

Nick let out a long sigh as if he’d been holding his breath. ‘Thank God for that. For one terrible minute there I thought he’d done something serious.’

He still held her hands but she snatched them away.

‘He has! It is serious!’

‘Are you saying he molested her? Or ... or worse? Has she been to the police? Is she okay?’

‘What? No. I mean, yes, she’s fine. She kneed him where it hurt and stomped on his foot so I don’t think he’ll be trying it again but that’s not the point.’

‘What is the point then exactly? You’re losing me.’

‘The point is he’s a dirty old man. Sebastian’s dad is a dirty old man!’

‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ Nick said drily, flopping against the back of the chair.

Carole stared at him in disbelief.

‘Y ... you knew? How did you know?’

‘Josie isn’t the only woman half his age he’s hit on. From what I’ve seen I would say she’s one of many.’

‘What? No way! That ... that can’t be true.’

‘I assure you it is. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. And he tries to touch up Jenny every chance he gets. Mind you, she doesn’t seem to mind and I’m not sure which is worse, the fact that he does it or the fact that she lets him.’

Nick shook his head as if he found the whole thing too distasteful to dwell on.

‘Who …who’s Jenny?’ Carole asked, wondering if she was about to find out that Nick fancied someone and her name was Jenny.

‘The barmaid in the village pub. Don’t you know her?’

‘No, I rarely go to the pub.’ Not someone he fancied then. She could tell by the disinterested way in which he’d made that statement.

‘Of course not. You prefer to drink at home.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Carole snapped.

‘Nothing. Just that you prefer to have a glass of wine at home, that’s all. What on earth is wrong with you? You seem to fly off the handle every time I open my mouth.’

‘It’s the way you say things. You make it sound as if you think I’ve got a drink problem or something. And don’t forget, I’ve just had a very nasty shock!’

He burst out laughing. ‘Good God, Carole. You really can be a drama queen sometimes you know. I don’t think anything of the sort, I can assure you. As for the nasty shock, I can see why Josie would be very upset but if he hasn’t tried to grope you, why has it affected you so badly? Oh, silly me. Because he’s your ... sorry, he’s the father of one of the two men you’re thinking of marrying. Yes, I can see that would be a little unpleasant.’

‘Unpleasant! I may be a drama queen sometimes but you’re the king of understatement. It’s horrendous! I’ll never feel safe to be alone with the man again.’ She shivered for dramatic effect.

Nick smirked. ‘Actually, now that I think about it, I’m sure you’ll be perfectly safe with him. I don’t think he finds you attractive.’

Her mouth fell open and she felt her temper rising again.

‘Thank you very much! Just because you don’t think I’m attractive, that doesn’t mean that no one else will either. Some men find me very attractive indeed.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Of course they do. And I don’t remember ever saying that I don’t find you attractive. This isn’t really about you, Carole, it’s about him. I just don’t think you’re his type. In fact, I’m certain you’re not. All the women I’ve seen him come on to have been blondes and you, Carole are definitely not a blonde.’

‘Oh. I see what you mean. Josie’s blonde. I assume Jenny is then, and Penelope, Sebastian’s mum is. Yuk!

 Nick glanced over his shoulder as someone called his name from somewhere in the garden centre. ‘Just a minute,’ he called back. He smiled at Carole. ‘I’ll have to get on. Are you okay?’

She saw the concern in his eyes and smiled back. ‘Yeah. I’ll be fine, thanks. I ...I’m sorry I’m such a drama queen, Nick.’

She stood up and he opened the door for her.

‘You’re not always a drama queen,’ he replied. ‘Sometimes you’re really very nice. I never did make that hot chocolate for you, did I?’