Loving Alex (21 page)

We both wake early’ish, about eight
but lie in until a little after nine, just holding onto each other, kissing,
cuddling,
playing
. We’ve invited Gia and Ramiro for Sunday lunch and I
need to be in the kitchen pretty quickly to get this organised. James offers to
help and after a wonderful shower, in which James joins me for some
more
fun
we go downstairs. Anna is still fast asleep, I’m pleased, she needs to
get her body back in time with the UK.

We eat a breakfast of Weetabix and strawberries and I watch
as James picks through the red berries pulling out the biggest, best ones and
putting them aside for me, not himself. “What
are
you doing?” I ask.

“I’m picking out the very best ones for you, because you
deserve them. Only the best for Blossom.” He smiles.

I look down at my ring, “It really is beautiful James, I
can’t believe they let you change it?”

“It was no problem really. I told them who you were and that
we may be able to send some business their way if they helped me out. They
agreed and the swap was made.” He dismisses the issue as trivial, when it’s
certainly not, that initial ring cost a small fortune, this I am sure was a
hell of a lot more.

We eat in silence, so comfortable in each other’s company. I
think back to yesterday, I could still kick myself for what I did, I was
stupid, a stupid, stupid, silly woman. I
have
to move on. I’ve spent the
last three or four months telling myself that I have to start a new life, move
on from Lewis and what do I do? The very moment something happens I’m straight
back there, it can’t happen, not again.

Once we’ve finished our breakfast and tidied away I set
about preparing lunch. I turn the oven on and sort the large rib of beef out,
seasoning it and searing the edges. I make a trivet in the roasting tin with
some vegetables and pop the meat into the oven for the next three hours. James
washes and prepares the fresh vegetables for me including the potatoes for
roasting, he’s really handy around the kitchen it’s great working with him. He
moves away from the sink with a saucepan full of broccoli which he places on
the hob ready to cook nearer lunchtime. As he turns around he grabs me from
behind, “I do love you,” he whispers as he nips my ear, “so very much. Please
don’t send me away again. Please don’t doubt me again.”

I turn to look at the deep brown eyes, the curls and that
handsome face. I hold my palm against his day old stubble, “I won’t, I’m sorry.
But you’re going to have to bear with me, for a little while, you know that.”

“I do, but please don’t send me away, not again!” He’s
almost begging.

We hug as Anna appears at the kitchen door, “Morning.” she
says sleepily.

“Good morning you. Feeling better?” I ask.

“Much. Can I get some breakfast, if I’m not interrupting?”
She yawns giving us a filthy look.

“Help yourself, there’s plenty of cereal, bagels, toast – whatever
you want.” I wave my arm to the island where the remnants of breakfast are laid
out.

“I’ll get a bagel.” She pops a sesame seeded bagel into the
toaster whilst pouring a large glass of orange juice.

“Your ring’s lovely mum, good choice James. When’s the big
day?” She laughs, knowing that I can’t make any arrangements just yet.

“Don’t know. Haven’t given it any thought,” I say flippantly
“You know I can’t do anything until I’m divorced from your dad.”

She takes her bagel and juice to her room as I whisk up some
batter for my Yorkshire puddings. I send James out for an extra apple crumble
or pie because I think with two men and a hungry daughter we’ll need it,
another readymade one will do and sit down with a magazine and relax whilst the
meat cooks, waiting for the pre-dinner rush that will mean vegetables being
boiled and potatoes being roasted, not to mention getting the Yorkies just
right!

At twelve Gia and Roberto arrive. “Alex, let me look at
that
ring again.” Gia gushes as she makes herself comfortable in the kitchen. James
and Roberto take a Peroni into the living room and Anna sits with us just
listening to the conversation the main topic being last night and how wonderful
it was. I’m not brazen enough to recount how James continued to be wonderful
after we returned home and got into bed, but let’s just say, between you and
me, that he can do one or two things I never imagined possible – with a
strawberry!

The conversation turns to Gia’s home country with Anna
asking so many questions about Italy, she’s clearly interested in what Gia has
to say and appears to be taking every little detail in, about growing up there,
the way of life, the food. She tells Anna how she met Roberto and about my
birth father. Anna sits, her elbows on the island her hands cupping her chin,
wide-eyed and just listening. I can see that Gia is enjoying having this young
lady take such an interest in her history and where she comes from.

It’s soon one and I call through to my guests to make their
way to the dining room, which is at the end of the living room. Anna has set
the table for five and goes through with our guests. I tip all of the
vegetables and new potatoes into serving dishes which James carries through, he
returns for the rib of beef and gravy which he takes to the table. I follow
with my Yorkshire puddings.

“Alex, how did you get them to be that big?” Gia exclaims,
“They’re huge! Mine never rise that much, never!”

James looks at Gia, me and coughs, covering a laugh, his
dirty mind working overtime it would seem! But, I have to admit, today’s batch
of Yorkies are excellent they’re tall, light and crisp.

“How
do
you make them like that?” She enthuses over
the highly risen crispy batter.

“Aah, the secret is to add the flour to the egg and milk,
not the other way around! And I use skimmed milk, full cream makes them too
heavy.” I share my secret.

Gia smiles as everyone tucks into a delicious roast beef
dinner. As Roberto and James reach for second helpings my doorbell chimes.
“I’ll get it.” James stands up from the table.

I hear talking at the door but can’t make out who it is,
then he appears in the dining room with Benito, looking dapper as usual in his
dark suit and white shirt, no tie.

“Gia, Roberto.” Benito says as he approaches the table, he
nods an acknowledgement to Anna.

“Have you eaten?” I ask, standing. “Would you like to join
us?”

“No, I’m fine, but I have some news for you. May I sit?” He
indicates towards the sixth chair around the table which is unoccupied.

“Of course, please.” I look to Benito and then at James
slightly concerned that whatever news he has can’t wait until tomorrow.

He sits, reaches inside his jacket and products a single A4
sheet of paper which he unfolds, lays out on the table and smoothes over with
his large palms. He takes a deep breath and looks at James and me directly,
glancing at the others before he opens his mouth and delivers what feels like a
blow to the stomach.

“We found prints on the photographs and on the package, the
last one you received. We also found some odd prints, which we assume were the
postman’s, yours which we expected to find, we also found other odd prints that
were on the Jiffy bag
and
on the photographs inside, which we must
assume belong to the person that put the photographs into the Jiffy bag.” He
explains calmly and clearly.

“What’s this? What are we talking about?” Roberto butts in.

“What photographs?” Anna asks.

He looks confused, so do Gia and Anna. “Alex has received
two packages of photographs, of her, her and Anna and also with you Gia, random
pictures taken by someone clearly following her, her and you.” James tells
them. I wait for the balloon to go up. Roberto’s face hardens, “Whoever took
these pictures took photographs of
my
Gia with Alex?”

“Yes,” Benito stands, “but that’s all, just photos.” His
tone is calm, he’s trying to cool the situation.

Benito continues, “What is quite alarming is that the prints
we found on the photographs and Jiffy bag, the ones that are the same, match
the prints we took from the can of furniture polish – they’re Muriel’s!” He
looks deadly serious at James, “You need to get rid of her James, now. You need
to call her
now
and tell her not to come back! She’s your link to her
ex-husband.” He takes a deep breath, folding the paper and putting it back into
his inside pocket. “How did you find her?”

“An a..a..agency,” I stammer, “the same one we use for the
hotel staff, the same one that Archie came from.”

“Was she new to them?” Benito asks.

“Yes, I had to wait for her references. Archie had already worked
for them so they had his. She was wonderful at the interview, knew exactly what
I would want her to do, she reminded me of my mum, in lots of ways.”

“There you have it. Lewis would have told her what you would
be looking for, the sort of person he knew you would warm to. But I have no
idea how they knew you were looking for a housekeeper, unless someone overheard
you talking about it?”

“We’ve spoken at the hotel and lots of people could have
overheard us, but I don’t know who?” I stand and walk around the dining room
feeling as though my personal space has been violated, intruded upon. I feel so
angry, cheated. “I let that woman into my house, she knew my secrets, what
happened a few weeks ago. She knows
so
much. You know, now I think about
it the last few times I’ve been out she’s quizzed me before I’ve gone. And, I
told you Gia that I thought I saw her by Harrods – Do you remember?” I look
directly at Gia.

“Yes, you said more than once you thought it was her.” Gia
backs me up, looking horrified but nodding.

“Have you got her address?” James asks.

“Yes, it’s all written down in the address book, in the
kitchen.” I sit, feeling, to be frank like a fool. How could I have not know
that Muriel was spying on me?

“Can you come with me if we go now?” James returns from the
kitchen looking at Benito. I can see he’s all fired up, his face angry, but not
with me. His fine features contorted, his fists clenched ready to pound the
first thing that comes in his way.

“I’m coming too,” I stand facing James, “I want to talk to
Muriel, ask her why?” I’m so angry, but sad and confused. I can’t believe I
fell for Muriel’s ploy, her acting, her persuasion to take her on.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” James puts his hands on my
shoulders.

“No, I want to. I insist. Anna, you’ll be okay here with Gia
and Roberto?” I place my napkin on the table ready to go, looking to Anna, Gia
and Roberto.

“I’ll be fine mum, but please be careful.” Anna stands and
walks around to me, giving me a hug.

Within minutes Benito, James and I all piling into the
Jaguar and setting off for the address that Muriel has provided. After a short
drive we arrive outside a small mid-terraced house, a two-up, two-down style
property. The three of us leave the car on the kerbside and ascend the few
steps to the front door.

Benito appears to take charge, standing in front of James
and I. He knocks firmly, no answer. He knocks again a little louder almost
thumping the door. After a few minutes we hear shuffling from inside.

“Hold on.” I hear a croaky voice and the door chain and
locks.

The door opens slightly and, “Lola!” James all but shouts,
“What are you doing here?” He blurts out, clearly shocked, as I am, to see her
answering Muriel’s door.

“It’s my mum’s house, why? What are
you
doing here?”
She’s appears half asleep and wearing the most hideous onesie I’ve ever seen, a
sort of mish-mash of colours and random non-patterns, her hair’s a complete
mess and in general she looks wrecked.

“We’re looking for Muriel,” Benito explains, “she has this
noted as her address.”

“My mum, what do you want with my mum?” She seems to wake
up. “Oh fuck, mum!” She yells and tries to slam the door, unfortunately
Benito’s and James’ combined weight is far greater than Lola could ever fight
off, her resistance causes nothing but wasted energy.

“Mum!” She yells again.

Through the commotion by the door I hear Muriel calling
back, “Wait a minute Lola, give me a second.” She has no idea what’s happening
and takes her time coming to the door.

Eventually the mother and daughter stand beside each other
and I now know why Archie made the comment that Muriel looked familiar, why I
didn’t see it I’ll never know but Lola looks so much like her mother, her hair
colour the ice blue eyes, the skin tone even their build is so much like each
others.

“Keys!” James demands holding his hand out to Muriel.

“Sorry?” She says, questioning.

“Keys, Muriel give me the keys to Alex’s house.” He says
again, starting to become angry, his body is still, pent up tension coursing
through every inch of him, ready to strike at any moment. She just stands
looking at him.

“Give me the fucking keys - now!” He shouts.

“What’s happening?” Lola looks at her mum and the three of
us at her door.

Muriel’s face turns from the soft, kind face I’ve become
used to, to a hard looking mask full of fury.

“We only wanted what was rightfully ours.” She hisses at me,
her devious nature surfacing for all to see. “We’ve nothing! What you have is
half Lewis’s, it’s only right that you hand it over you little bitch,” she
hisses, “Lewis says you’re a nasty piece of work, a conniving little cow. Well
have your bloody keys and I hope you rot in hell. He said it wouldn’t be long
before you found out, he said you were slimy and could get where water
couldn’t!” Her tirade clearly based upon what Lewis has told her, brain washed
her into believing.

I just look at the woman who, from what I see here, is
clearly as deranged as Lewis. “You two deserve each other Muriel. And as far as
rotting in hell, fortunately the way things stand at the moment it’s not
me
who will be going there, you’re the devious bitch Muriel!” I yell, another
blast of confidence causing me to stand my ground, fight back and not lie down
and take the abuse any more.