Nadia Knows Best (13 page)

Tilly saw him in the afternoon as they passed each other in the corridor on the way to their respective classes. Glancing up and accidentally catching her eye, he hastily looked away. One of the boys behind him, also recognizing Tilly, whacked him on the shoulder and jeered, “Hey, Davis, aren't you gonna say hello to your girlfriend?”

Appalled to realize she was blushing, Tilly shot the boy a filthy look, which only amused him all the more.

“Oi, Robin, where's Batman today?” Darting across the corridor he aimed a skillful kung-fu-style kick at the hem of her pleated school skirt. “Got your pants on over your tights, I hope, Boy Wonder. Phwoarr, very sexy”—Tilly's skirt flew up to reveal sturdy navy knickers—“NOT.”

Any attempt at retaliation was pointless. The boy was a Year 10 and there was nothing Year 10s enjoyed more than reducing Year 9s to puree. Making sure her skirt was covering her knees once more, Tilly gave him another killer stare then extended it to include Davis, letting him know he wasn't the only one suffering here. Davis glared back at her, indicating that he still blamed her and her sister for causing all the trouble in the first place.

Tilly stalked off down the corridor in disgust. Honestly, it was times like this that made you almost look forward to double physics.

***

He was loitering casually, waiting for her when school finished at three thirty. Tilly knew this because of the way he ignored her totally as she walked past him at the school gate.

As she made her way down the road to the bus stop, Tilly sensed him behind her. Finally, when there was no longer anyone else from school in sight, he caught up to her.

“Look, I'm sorry.”

“What?”

“You heard.” He loped along beside Tilly, hands stuffed into trouser pockets, narrow shoulders hunched. “It wasn't your fault, OK? I do know that. And I'm sorry Moxham's having a go at you now.”

Tilly shrugged. “He'll get bored soon enough, find someone else to pick on.” She paused. “How's your face?”

“Not so bad.” He touched the livid greenish bruise along his cheekbone, then the cut below it. “And nobody beat me up today, which has to be good news.”

He'd only arrived at the school a week ago, Tilly remembered. He barely knew a soul. It couldn't be very nice, being new.

Transferring her overstuffed schoolbag from one shoulder to the other, she said, “What's your name?”

“Me? Davis.”

Tilly hid a smile. “I meant your first name.”

“Oh. Calvin.”

“
Calvin?
” Crikey, talk about embarrassing. She'd thought hers was bad enough.

“My friends call me Cal. Well,” he amended, “the friends I
used
to have. Since we moved down here, everyone's called me Davis.” Pause. “I keep asking my mum to stop it, but she won't listen.”

Tilly realized he was making a joke, actually laughing at himself and his rotten situation. When his eyes lit up like that he looked so much better. Still thin of course, and on the disheveled side, but a lot less nerdy than before. It couldn't be much fun, having to start all over again at a new school; people saw you observing from the sidelines and forgot you had a personality. It didn't occur to them that at your last school you might have been Mr. Dazzlingly Popular, the life and soul of the party.

“You can call me Cal if you like,” Calvin announced. “Or Calvin. Or Davis. Up to you.” For a moment it seemed likely that he might actually smile. “Multiple choice.”

“OK.” He wasn't what you'd call fantastically good-looking or anything, but he wasn't ugly. Just… average, verging on not bad, Tilly concluded. Plus he'd be better when the cuts and bruises had gone. “I'm Tilly.” Glancing over her shoulder as a familiar rumbling noise reached her ears, she added, “And this is my bus.”

“Right.” Cal's gray eyes crinkled at the corners as he watched her jump onto the bus. “See you around.”

***

Nadia was feeling pleased with herself as she arrived for work early the next morning. It was going to be another stunning day and to celebrate she had stopped off at the mini supermarket on the way. Nestling in a bag on the passenger seat beside her were four Galaxy truffle ice creams. Thanks to the fridge Jay had supplied, with its minuscule freezer compartment, she had been able to treat the workers. Oh yes, she would definitely be popular today. An ice cream each for herself, Bart, Kevin, and Robbie. And nothing for Jay because… well, to be brutally honest, she didn't think he deserved one. Then again, there was every chance they wouldn't see him. Babies didn't pop out like bars of chocolate from a vending machine; at this very minute Belinda could be panting and screaming and gouging fingernail-shaped wedges out of Jay's hand. Crikey, you heard about some women being in labor for
days
.

Eeeuw. Imagine that.

But as she climbed out of the car clutching her brown paper bag, a double-parked post van pulled away revealing Jay's car parked behind it.

So, he was here after all. Indicating that either Belinda had already had the baby, or it had been a false alarm.

Hugging the bag of ice creams possessively to her chest, Nadia decided that either way, he still wasn't getting one.

Noiselessly, she unlocked the front door and let herself into the hall. On tiptoe she made her way through to the kitchen. The fact that Jay's car was outside meant he had to be somewhere in the house, but so far there was no sign of him. Holding her breath, Nadia inched open the fridge door and prepared to slide the bag into the freezer section without—

“What are you doing?”

“Ouch!” yelped Nadia as the spring-loaded door of the freezer compartment snapped back, catching her fingers. The Galaxy truffle ice creams tumbled to the ground. Guiltily, she swung round to face Jay. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Just wondered what you were up to.”

“I was putting stuff in the fridge, that's all. It's allowed, isn't it?” Dropping to her knees, she began to scoop up the ice creams.

“All for you?”

“No. One for each of us. I wasn't expecting to see you today.” Nadia hesitated, because it was all very well having a dig, but Jay did actually look terrible. His face was drawn, his eyes heavily shadowed. Dark stubble covered his chin and he didn't appear to have slept. The clothes he was wearing were the ones he'd had on yesterday. “Um… is everything all right?”

“Is everything all right?” echoed Jay, rubbing a hand over his face. “To be honest, no.”

In the time she'd known him, he'd always been In Control, capable of handling anything at all. Now, for once, he appeared defeated. It was quite scary.

Unnerved, Nadia said, “Did she have the baby?”

“What? Oh… no.” He shook his head. “It's not due for another month.”

Right.

When he didn't elaborate, Nadia said cautiously, “Look, it's none of my business, but if you want to talk about it…”

“Yes.” This time Jay nodded. Slowly he repeated, “Yes, I think I do.”

“Does she want you to marry her?” As she said it, Nadia stuffed the ice creams into the freezer section, shut the door, and straightened up.

Jay smiled briefly. As if he'd forgotten how to.

“Belinda is my sister-in-law.”

Blimey. He was in deeper trouble than she'd imagined.

“It's not my baby,” said Jay. “Belinda's married to my brother, Anthony.” He paused and glanced out of the window, visibly collecting himself before carrying on. “She
was
married to my brother Anthony,” he amended. “He died last night.”

***

They sat outside on the stone steps leading down to the garden. Seated next to her so he wasn't forced to make constant eye contact, Jay explained about Anthony's earlier brush with cancer, the radiation therapy, and punishingly aggressive doses of chemo.

“It was rough, but he came through it. The doctors warned him not to raise his hopes but Anthony was convinced he'd beaten it for good. Six months later, even more of a miracle, Belinda found out she was pregnant. They'd thought the treatment would leave him infertile. You've never seen a happier couple.”

Picking up a small stone, Jay turned it over and over between his fingers before lobbing it into the leveled earth where the patio would be built. “Then a few weeks ago the cancer came back with a vengeance. This time it was everywhere, in his bones, in his liver, in his lungs. Anthony didn't have a chance. He knew he was going to die, but he was desperate to see the baby. The doctors were planning to take Belinda into the hospital next week for a Caesarean, but Anthony went into a coma yesterday. That was when Belinda came here, trying to find me. Anyway, it was clearly too late to do the Caesarean. And then Anthony died at eleven o'clock last night. He was thirty-two,” Jay said steadily, “and now he's gone.”

Silence.

Nadia felt as if she'd refused to give money to a beggar in a wheelchair, convinced that not only was the man not really a beggar, but that he was only pretending to need a wheelchair. Now, belatedly, she was discovering that the beggar was a homeless old soldier who had lost both legs during some heroic action in the war that had earned him the Victoria Cross.

“I'm so sorry.” She meant not just the usual condolences, but for thinking bad things of Jay all this time. He'd spent every spare minute of the last few weeks visiting his brother in the hospital—no wonder his phone had been turned off. Desperately ashamed, Nadia said, “We hadn't any idea. You should have said something before now.”

Above the treetops, a yellow and red hot-air balloon glided into view. Shielding his eyes from the sun, Jay watched it float through the cloudless sky.

“I probably should,” he agreed. “But I didn't want to. I made the mistake of telling my neighbor a while back. Since then, every time I've pulled up outside my house, she's been there with her caring face on, asking me how everything is, how Anthony's doing and how poor Belinda's bearing up. I started to dread the sight of her. In fact, that's why I haven't been home yet. When we left the hospital at five o'clock, I came here instead. It's been easier,” he explained, “knowing that you didn't know anything about it. Being treated like a normal human being.”

“Sometimes I treated you like a bastard,” Nadia said bluntly. “Especially yesterday.” She went hot and cold all over again, just thinking about it.

“It's still been better than everyone being unnaturally nice because my brother's dying of cancer.”

Nadia picked at the frayed ends of her cut-off shorts. It was good to know he hadn't minded, but her conscience was working overtime. Toe-curlingly, she remembered thinking yesterday that Belinda's hair could have done with a wash.

God, that poor woman.

“Where is Belinda now?”

“Her parents drove up from Dorset last night. They've taken her back to stay with them until the funeral. I'm organizing everything,” said Jay. “So if you can't get hold of me, that's what I'll be doing.”

“And I had such a go at you,” Nadia groaned, “because we could never get hold of you. I can't believe you just let me do it.”

“I'll be more reachable from now on. I won't need to keep my phone switched off. Apart from when we're actually in the church, of course.”

He was trying to cheer her up, which only made Nadia feel worse. Humbly, she said, “Um… do you want an ice cream?”

The hot-air balloon was drifting out of sight now. As the gas burners opened, a whoosh of neon-blue flame illuminated the inside of the balloon and it disappeared behind the rooftops. Jay, lifting his head to watch it go, said, “No, I have to get to the register office.”

Of course, register offices weren't only places to get married in. They were where you had to go in order to register your brother's death.

“And you need something on these,” Jay went on, tapping her shoulders. It might only be eight thirty, but the sun was already beating down on her bare skin.

“I have sunscreen.” Like David Blaine, Nadia magicked a tube of Ambre Solaire from her jeans pocket.

“D'you want a hand?” Jay indicated the low-cut back of her white tank top.

She hesitated, then shook her head.

“I'll be fine. I'm very bendy.”

“Sure?”

“Sure.” Nadia watched him stand up, brushing the dust from his trousers as he prepared to leave. If she had to twist her arms right out of their sockets, she'd manage without Jay's help. Rubbing in sunscreen would feel way too intimate right now. It had just occurred to her that at last she knew why he'd been so offish and abrupt ever since she'd come to work for him, and so completely unlike the Jay Tiernan she'd first met in the wilds of Gloucestershire in a decrepit snowbound pub.

Everything suddenly made sense.

As if reading her mind, Jay said drily, “You never know, once things get back to normal I might turn out not to be the boss from hell after all.”

“I won't count my chickens.”

Nadia only said it to make him smile. The trouble was, things weren't likely to get back to normal, were they? Not for a while at least.

Belinda hadn't even had the baby yet.

It had been James's idea to hold a barbecue in the back garden. He wanted to introduce Annie to the rest of his family, and this seemed the best way to do it. The weather had been fantastic all week. Barbecues were casual, informal affairs. Everyone could relax and enjoy themselves. Far better, James thought happily, than a sit-down dinner in the dining room. Nicer for Annie and easier for the rest of them too.

At least that had been the plan before Leonie had turned up and James found himself faced with the prospect of having to introduce Annie to rather more of his family than he'd had in mind.

Hearing a car pull up outside and thinking it was Piers, Clare raced across the hall and yanked open the front door.

“Mum!” She stared in alarm at Leonie, who was stepping out of a brand-new Renault Clio—goodness knows how she'd managed to mistake
that
for a Ferrari. “What are you doing here?”

More to the point, how had Leonie managed to get her hands on a brand-new car? By smuggling it out of some showroom under her coat?

“Nice, isn't it?” Intercepting Clare's look of disbelief, Leonie said gaily, “Brian bought it for me.”

“But what are you doing here?” Clare was puzzled. She knew Tilly was due to be spending the weekend in Brighton, but the plan had been for her to catch the train down there tomorrow morning.

“It's a surprise, darling! Tilly mentioned on the phone that you were having a little get-together this evening and there was me dying to try out my new car… and Brian had to take Tamsin to some ghastly school function, so I just thought why not pop on down? Come along now, give your mother a kiss. There, that wasn't so bad, was it? And Nadia as well, look at you! Honestly, it's like being given the once-over by a couple of nightclub bouncers. It wouldn't kill you to be a tiny bit more welcoming.”

Clare was torn. Their mother was a hopeless case—she and Nadia were in complete agreement on that—but if she'd come all this way, could they actually refuse to let her in?

Plus, Clare wasn't particularly looking forward to meeting this Annie person. Apart from the very occasional blind date, James had been single as far back as she could remember and in a purely selfish way she was happy with that. When you were used to having your dad all to yourself for practically your whole life, the thought of him suddenly finding someone was… well, a bit yucky, to be frank. OK, maybe she shouldn't be feeling like this at twenty-three, but she couldn't help it. What's more, everyone else might be pretending to like the woman, but hadn't it even occurred to them that she might be after his money? James had a good job, financial acumen, and a hefty shares portfolio. He also drove a top-of-the-range Jaguar and wore expensively tailored suits.

As far as Clare was concerned, you had to keep your wits about you these days. Annie Healey worked in a newsagents and clearly wasn't in the higher tax bracket. She was bound to regard their father as a catch.

And speaking of catches, where was bloody Piers?

Behind her, Nadia said flatly, “This isn't a good idea, Mum. Dad's bringing his new girlfriend over. She might feel a bit awkward—”

“Oh, that's ridiculous, why on earth should it be awkward?” Leonie trilled with laughter. “I left James over twenty years ago, for heaven's sake. I'm hardly likely to be jealous, am I?”

Behind Nadia and Clare, Tilly's footsteps sounded across the oak floor. “Gran says the barbecue's ready to start cooking stuff and can someone fetch the steaks marinated in bourbon from the kitchen—oh!”

“My
baby
,” Leonie exclaimed, pushing past her two elder daughters and enveloping Tilly in a hug. “Isn't this a lovely surprise? I couldn't wait to see you, so I drove down early. Tamsin's
so
excited about this weekend—she hardly stops talking about you. Steaks marinated in bourbon,” Leonie added, eyeing Nadia over Tilly's shoulder. “Mustn't keep Miriam waiting. Where is James, anyway? Why don't I have a quick word with him? I'm sure he wouldn't begrudge me a steak sandwich.”

At that moment they heard another car slow down in the lane before turning into the drive. Make this be Piers, make this be Piers, Clare silently prayed. But it wasn't, of course. It was James's dark blue Jaguar. He'd been to pick up Annie and now they were back.

Nadia saw the look of barely contained horror on her father's face as he spotted his ex-wife in the doorway. His lips moved and then it was Annie's turn to look dismayed.

“So this is the girlfriend?” Leonie stood with her arm round Tilly's narrow shoulders watching with amusement as they emerged from the car. “Darling, what did you say her name was again?”

“Annie.” Tilly sounded torn, as if she wasn't quite sure whose side to be on. Nadia guessed that she'd mentioned to Leonie on the phone that Annie would be coming to the barbecue tonight.

“James, you're looking wonderful, just as handsome as ever.” Leonie threw out her arms and left her daughters standing in the doorway. Greeting her ex-husband with enthusiasm, she then turned and said gaily, “And you must be Annie, I've heard so much about you, how lovely to meet you at last! And what gorgeous earrings you're wearing!”

“Leonie, what are you doing here?” James's voice was level.

“I was missing Tilly. She mentioned the barbecue. The girls said I might make things awkward for Annie, but I told them we'd be fine. And now we are fine, aren't we?” Leonie gazed brightly from James to Annie. “Heavens, there's not even anything to be awkward about!”

Nadia sighed, realizing that, like it or not, they were going to be stuck with Leonie for the rest of the evening. She had skin thicker than a brontosaurus and absolutely no shame.

Oh well, served James right for marrying her.

“It's gone seven.” Nadia gave Clare a nudge. “Are you sure Piers is coming?”

Clare, through slightly gritted teeth, said, “Of course he is.”

Up in her room a couple of minutes later, she rang Piers to check he was on his way.

Déjà vu
. Phone switched off. Taking deep breaths, Clare told herself that he'd be here by seven thirty. She'd kill him if he let her down again.

Out in the garden, chiefly for Tilly's sake, everyone was behaving in a civilized fashion and acting as if Leonie was an invited guest.

Well, fairly civilized.

“What would you like on your steak, Leonie? Tomato sauce? Mustard? Herbicide?”

Beaming, Leonie took the plate from Miriam.

“Just as it is, thanks. Everything looks gorgeous.” As unflappable as ever, she went on, “Did Tilly tell you I'm getting married again?”

“Poor man,” said Miriam.

“He's not poor.” Leonie's bracelets jangled as she pushed her dyed blonde hair back from her face. “Actually he's quite rich.”

“That's good.” Miriam nodded. “I'm happy for you. Just promise me one thing, OK? Don't have any more children.”

Even this wasn't enough to make Leonie take offense. Calmly she said, “I did what was best for my daughters. I couldn't give them the kind of upbringing they needed. Mm, this steak is tender. Anyway, they were far better off staying with James. Clare? Over here, darling, you've got a face on you like a wet Wednesday in Wigan. Whatever's wrong, my angel? Come on, you can tell me.”

“Nothing's wrong.” Clare allowed Edward to refill her wineglass.

“Boyfriend was supposed to be turning up,” Miriam cut in, “and he hasn't. Mr. Unreliable,” she added, with a pointed glance at Clare. “If you ask me, he's giving you the runaround. Men like that don't suddenly improve. This one needs getting rid of.”

“He isn't unreliable.” Clare felt bright spots of color spring to life in her cheeks; she hated it when Miriam launched into one of her lectures. “He's probably just been held up.”

“Could have phoned,” said Edward, who was busy pouring drinks. “If I'm held up, I let people know. Another one
already
?” He looked shocked as Clare held out her just-emptied glass. “Shouldn't you eat something first?”

Clare rolled her eyes because Edward could never quite forget he was a doctor.

“I'm fine. I'll have some food later.” Draining the measly half glass Edward had poured her, she said brightly, “Bathroom first, then I think it's time I got to know Annie.”

In the deserted living room, Clare used the ordinary phone to dial her mobile. With the windows open, those outside would be able to hear it playing its jaunty tune. After several bars, Clare hung up the landline and pretended to answer her own phone, wandering back out onto the terrace as she did so.

“Oh no, that's
such
a shame. Your poor mother, how awful for her… Piers, how can you even think that? Of course I don't mind. You stay there as long as you have to. And give my condolences to your family. Yes, yes, I love you too. OK, ring me tomorrow. Bye.”

There, ha. Gwyneth Paltrow, eat your skinny heart out.

“That was Piers,” Clare said pointlessly. “He's in Surrey. His grandmother died suddenly this morning and his mother's in a complete state. He tried to ring me earlier but he was stuck on the motorway and the battery was flat on his phone. It was a heart attack, apparently. All very sudden. Poor Piers, he's trying to comfort his mother and apologizing to me for not turning up… he sounds pretty upset as well. He was very fond of his grandmother.”

“Oh darling, that's such a shame, I was so looking forward to meeting him,” said Leonie. “Honestly, old people are so selfish, aren't they? You never know when they're going to drop dead.”