No Bra Required! (11 page)

“Okay, pet, if you say so.”  Callie looked at Lucy and
smiled.  “But if you believe that, then you’re a bigger fool than Mr
Presley.”

By 3:30 p.m., Nate and Lucy were back home, and Nate was
kicking his shoes off at the front door.  There had been no confrontation
with Mrs Bushnell today, so Lucy assumed that Nate’s day hadn’t involved any
misdemeanours on his part.

“Can I go up and see Daddy, please?” he asked, one foot
already on the bottom stair.

“Okay, but if he’s asleep try not to wake him.”  Lucy
picked up Nate’s shoes and discarded school bag and put them into the cupboard
under the stairs.

After half an hour, while Lucy was preparing a salad, Nate
reappeared now dressed in tracksuit pants and a hoody.

“Daddy said can you go up and see him?”  Nate flopped
down on to the sofa in the dining area.  “Can I watch T.V., please?” he
asked, already pointing the remote control at the wall-mounted television.

“Okay, just until dinner is ready and then afterwards we
will do some reading.”  Lucy smiled warmly at Nate, cute as he was his
punishment still stood.

Lucy walked slowly up the stairs, wondering what Ed needed
and worrying that his chest would be bare again.  She wasn’t sure she
could refrain from touching him for much longer.  She’d left a bottle of
water and packet of Paracetamol next to his bed this morning, perhaps he’d run
out of one, or both. 

Once outside his door Lucy knocked gently, hoping that he
would have a T-shirt or pyjama top on.

“Come in,” Ed answered, rather huskily.

Lucy gave a sigh of relief, he was wearing a T-shirt. 
“Hi, Nate said that you wanted to see me.”

“Hi,” Ed looked at her intently. She looked beautiful he
thought. Her hair was tied up in a bun, revealing her slim neck and her deep
green eyes peeked at him from under long dark lashes.  She was wearing a
simple, long sleeved, T-shirt with skinny jeans and on her feet were pink,
fluffy slippers.  Ed thought that she looked tired, tired but
beautiful. 

“How’s your neck?” he asked, conscious that he was staring at
her.

“Oh, fine thanks,” Lucy replied, instinctively putting a
hand to it.

“Oh that’s good.  Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks,
for looking after Nate, and me.  I really appreciate it.”  Ed
gulped.  It was hurting his throat to talk.

“No problem, I don’t mind.  Is your throat sore? 
Nate and I could go out and get you some lozenges if you like?”

“God no, load of rubbish.  Some salt water would be
great, or some watered down antiseptic, there’s some in the medicine
cupboard.  But before you go though, can I ask you something?”  Ed
paused to take a sip of water.

Inexplicably Lucy’s heart started to thud like a bass drum
in her chest.  “Y-y-yes, what?” she asked.

“Well as thank you, I was wondering…God how do I say this
without sounding like I’m coming on to you, because I’m not, it’s just that I’m
really grateful for all that you’ve done…but well, I was wondering if you would
like to come to the annual NHS dinner with me next Saturday evening…just as
friends of course.”  Ed hadn’t meant to sound so pathetic, but he was
anxious not to frighten Lucy.  He knew that she was nowhere near ready for
a relationship, but he genuinely wanted to take her as she deserved a night
out.

Lucy, her colour rising, lowered her head.  She began
playing with a tendril of hair that had fallen down from her bun.  “Oh
that’s really kind of you, but what about Nate.  Your dad won’t be back
until the Sunday, and your mum on the following Wednesday, who will you get to
look after him?”

“Dr Kindler’s grand-daughter, Amy, has done some babysitting
for me before, I’m sure she’ll do it.”  Ed coughed and then groaned, his
throat felt as though he were swallowing razor blades.

Lucy moved over to the bed and looked more closely at
Ed.  “You look terrible, let me go and get that salt water for you. 
Do you need anything else?”

Ed shook his head and coughed weakly.  “No, that’s
fine.  So, what do you think, about the dinner I mean?”

Lucy surprised herself with her quick response.  “Okay,
that would be lovely, thank you.  Now let me get you that water.” 
Lucy turned away to hide the blush that was at her cheeks.

As she turned to leave Ed reached out and grabbed her
hand.  “Thanks Lucy, I don’t know what I would have done without you
today, and I’m glad that you’re going to come with me to dinner.  
They’re quite a good night usually.”

“Okay, now you get under the covers, and I’ll be back in a
few minutes.”

As she made her way back down the stairs, Lucy couldn’t
believe that she’d said yes.  What was she doing to herself?  She
kept agreeing to do things that put her in close contact with Ed, having dinner
with him, working for him, staying overnight to look after him and Nate and now
this, the NHS dinner.  She fancied him like mad, but the old question
cropped up once more, wasn’t it was too soon after Simon to feel like this?

After Nate had done some reading, Lucy said that he could
watch T.V., just for half an hour before bed, giving Lucy time to call
Gerald.  She left him a message on his mobile yesterday, to say she was
staying over to look after Nate, but now felt the need to speak to him in
person.

“Hi Dad,” she said breezily as Gerald answered the phone.

“Hello darling, how are you?  How’s Ed, I got your
message?” Gerald was smiling on the other end.  He liked Ed and thought he
might be just what Lucy needed.

 “He’s still not well Dad.  I’m going to have to
stay at least another night.  Your house is fine though, well, it was when
I drove past earlier.  It’s all locked up, and the alarm is on.”

“Oh that’s okay, not that I’m worried about it. 
Anyway, anything exciting happening there?”  Gerald asked.

“No, nothing much happening, I’m afraid.  Although, I
did have a run-in with Nate’s teacher, Mrs Bushnell.”  Now she thought
about it Lucy was a little embarrassed.  She hated it when parents shouted
the odds at her, plus she wasn’t even Nate’s parent.

“Really, why was then that?”  Gerald asked, settling
himself further in his chair, ready to hear Lucy’s tale.

Lucy recounted the trouser incident and Mrs Bushnell’s name
calling of Nate and his friend.

“So I know it was wrong, and everything I hate about
parents, but I couldn’t help myself,” Lucy explained, expecting a telling off
from her father for being rude.

“Well if you thought it justified, but maybe you’ll
appreciate the 'horrible parents' a little more now.”  Gerald laughed,
imaging Lucy telling Nate’s teacher off.  “Funny though isn’t it, you know
that you feel so protective of him already?”

Lucy’s brow furrowed.  “I suppose so, but I’d react the
same way for any child.”

“I’m not saying you wouldn’t, and Nate is a terrific
kid.  I totally understand why you felt it necessary to protect him. 
So, what about Ed, I know he’s ill, but how are you coping being around him?”

“Hey, what do you mean?”  Lucy blushed, surely her dad
hadn’t realised that she was lusting after Ed, she’d hoped that she wasn't that
obvious.

“You know what I mean Lucy.  I’m your dad, I don’t miss
anything.  I’ve seen a change in you since you’ve been working for him,
and
young lady, I’ve seen that glint in your eyes whenever you speak about him.”

Lucy shook her head vehemently.  “Dad, seriously, you
don’t know what you’re talking about.  There is no way I fancy Ed,” she
whispered, frightened that Nate might hear.  She looked across at him, but
he was still engrossed in a quiz show on the T.V.

“Rubbish,” Gerald admonished.  “Of course you do,
crikey Lucy you’re only human, he’s a good looking man.  Oh, sweetheart I
do worry about you.”

“What are you worried about me for?”  Lucy frowned,
unsure what Gerald could be worried about. 

“I worry about you because you’re obstinate Lucy.  You
can’t see what’s in front of you, and if you can you’re too stubborn to admit
it.  Ed is perfect for you, so just ask him out on a date, or whatever it is
you youngsters do these days.”  Gerald sighed.

“Dad, for one I would hardly call myself a youngster, and
for two, what on earth makes you think that I want to go out on a date with
him, or him with me for that matter?”

“It’s obvious that you like each other, so why wouldn’t you
want to go on a date with each other?”

Lucy sighed and shook her head, a small smile touching her
lips. “If, and that’s a massive if, I did fancy Ed, well I wouldn’t do anything
about it because it’s just too soon after Simon.  Plus I think Ed is still
heartbroken over his wife, so he’s not ready either.”

“What a load of rubbish, too soon after Simon. 
Seriously, Lucy, life is too short to spend worrying about time, it’s just a
number.  Do you think that Simon worried whether it was too soon to jump
into bed with Jennifer ‘bloody bitch face’ Grayson?  No, he bloody well
didn’t, so why should you?”  Gerald was quite animated now, banging his
fist down on the arm of the chair.  “As for Ed, I’m pretty sure that
believe it or not, Ed has had sex in the last three years.  He doesn’t
come across to me as a man heartbroken over his ex-wife.”

“Okay Dad, keep your hair on,” Lucy giggled.  “I hear
what you’re saying, but don’t you think people will think I’m being a bit
reckless, or more to the point stupid?”

“Sod what people think or say, it’s your life.  And if
it doesn’t work out, well you’re stronger than you think, you’ll get over it.”

“I know Dad, and
I know you just want what’s best for me, but it’s all a bit scary.” 

“Lucy my
darling, life is scary.  I worried about you marrying Simon, and I know
it’s different, but I just don’t worry about the thought of you being with
Ed.”  Gerald sighed heavily.  “Sweetheart, I just want you to be
happy.  I want you to step out there and take life by the scruff of the
neck and enjoy yourself.”

Lucy exhaled as she thought about Gerald’s words.

“Okay Dad, I will, I’m just not sure how big the steps will
be.”

When Lucy called Sarah later that evening, her news of the
dinner had been met with squeals of delight.

“What are you going to wear?” Sarah asked excitedly.
 “You should go shopping and buy something fabulous, something so sexy
that he won’t be able to resist you.”

“Hang on; I haven’t decided whether I’m going to go
yet.”  Lucy frowned as she played with the hem on her T-shirt.

“I thought that you just said that you'd agreed to
go.”  Sarah was perplexed.

“Yes I did, but I may change my mind, I might make up an
excuse.”

“Lucy,” Sarah moaned.  “Don’t be so silly; go to the
bloody dance for goodness sake.”

“Sarah, don’t have a go at me, please, I know it’s stupid,
but all this business of fancying someone other than my husband is a bit
scary.”

“The husband you’re separated from because he’s got a
pregnant girlfriend, don’t forget.  Ah Luce, please don’t be scared, it’s
meant to be fun.”  Sarah’s tone softened.  “What are you scared of
anyway?”

Lucy heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to go through it all
again. It's too boring and complicated.  Anyway, we’ve talked about it
before, so you know why.  Dad gave me a good talking to though, and I am
erring more on the side of going, at the moment.”

“Good old Gerald, I say.  Okay, let’s work under the
premise that you’re going, what are you going to wear?”

Lucy giggled, imagining Sarah rubbing her hands together at
the thought of picking an outfit for her.  “Listen, do you want to meet in
Newcastle for the day, and go shopping?  In fact, you could stay over if
you like.  Dad has plenty of space, and I’m sure Ed will feel better in a
couple of days so I won’t need to be here for Nate.”

“A shopping trip, of course I’ll come.  Saturday would
be better for me, because of the boys.  Ben won’t mind. He's just had a
golf weekend in Scotland.  What time shall I meet you?” 

Lucy smiled, aware that Sarah was beyond excited about the
prospect of a shopping trip.  “It’s up to you; you’ll need to check the
times of the train first.”

“Okay, I’ll do that as soon as I put the phone down, and
then I’ll text you the time.  God, I’m so excited now.  Not only do I
get to shop with someone else’s money, but we can have a lovely lunch, a
gossip, and maybe I’ll get to meet the good-looking Doctor.”  Sarah
started to laugh.

“Don’t you dare embarrass me while you’re here.”

“I won’t.”  Sarah giggled again.

“I mean it Sarah, I won’t be happy if you do,” Lucy scolded,
deep furrows forming on her brow.

“Okay, okay, I promise.”  Sarah sighed.  “I’ll
text you later with the time I get into Newcastle.”

The following Saturday morning, Lucy sat in the station cafe. 
She sipped hot, black coffee as she waited for Sarah’s train to arrive. 
The day after speaking to Sarah on the telephone Ed had been feeling much
better.  He wasn’t quite well enough to go back to work, but could look
after Nate, and so Lucy packed up her overnight bag and went home after taking
Nate to school.  Ed was extremely grateful for the extra hours she’d put
in while he’d been ill, and insisted that she take the Friday off.  As the
weather had turned to rain, Lucy had spent the day doing nothing but reading
and watching rubbish TV chat shows with warring families.  At 3 p.m., when
she would pick Nate up from school normally, Lucy realised how much she already
missed him.  It was going to be hard when Georgina came back and picked up
the reins again.  However, Lucy also realised it wasn’t just Nate that she
was missing, but Ed too. 

By the time Gerald arrived home later that evening, Lucy was
glad to see another human being that wasn’t insisting on a DNA test because ‘my
girlfriend cheated on me with my brothers, wife’s uncle!’  Gerald had
suggested that they share a bottle of wine, and Lucy told him all about the
last few days with Ed and Nate.  He didn’t comment, just nodding and
smiling as Lucy had talked.

Lucy looked at her watch; it was 11:25.  Sarah's train
would be arriving in a couple of minutes.  She drank the last of her
coffee, picked up her bag and made for the platform.

Among the crowd of people jumping from the train, Lucy could
see Sarah desperately trying to drag her overnight case behind her. 
People were pushing past Sarah, who was tugging at the bag that was obviously
stuck.

“Here, let me help you.”  Lucy laughed as she reached
out to drag Sarah’s case off the train.

“Oh thank you,” Sarah sighed, hugging her friend to her
chest.  “I had visions of having to leave it on the train, stupid bloody
thing.”

“More haste less speed, I think the phrase is,” said Lucy
hugging her friend back.  “Did you have a good journey?”

“Hmm, apart from having to leave so early.”  Sarah
tutted and took the case from Lucy.

“I thought you left at eight, that’s not too early.”

“It is when Saturday is normally your lie-in.  Anyway,
let me look at you.  You look fab sweetheart. The northern air is doing
you the world of good.”

Lucy blushed slightly as she slapped at Sarah’s arm. 
“Ah, don’t be silly.  I don’t look any different than I did three weeks
ago, when I last saw you.”

“Oh you do.  Remember back then there was a green
bobble hat stuck on your head.”  Sarah laughed as she ruffled Lucy’s hair.

“No, I didn’t, I’d actually taken it off by then.  I
have to admit though, it is lovely here – away from Simon, and you know
who.”  Lucy took hold of Sarah’s arm and steered her toward the station
exit.

“I need to drop my bag at left luggage before we hit the
shops.  A little retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered,” Sarah
said, smiling at Lucy.

Nearly two hours later and Lucy and Sarah finally took a
break for lunch.  Lucy already had the perfect dress, according to Sarah,
and now just needed shoes to match.  Sarah even persuaded her to buy some
new underwear to match the beautiful ivory, lace dress that she’d bought. 
Lucy had argued with Sarah about the underwear. It was expensive, and as Lucy
had pointed out she didn’t
actually
need a bra.  She wasn’t exactly
well endowed.

“Okay,” Sarah said, pausing from eating her salmon. 
“You’ve officially got just over three weeks left here, so do you think you’ll
sleep with the good doctor in that time?”

“
Sarah
, you’re obsessed with my sex life.  All
we’ve done is a little flirting.”  Lucy shook her head and gave Sarah a
withering look.

“Well if it was me, I probably would.” Sarah shot a smile at
Lucy before continuing to eat her lunch.

 “Oh there’s a shock!” Lucy replied sarcastically

“I just think it’s worth considering, although you’ve not
said much about him since I got here, you’ve not gone off him have you?”

“No, there’s just nothing to say about him.”  Lucy put
her knife and fork down and pushed her plate away.

“So you do still fancy him then?  Come on Lucy, you
fancy him like mad don’t you, and from what you’ve said he seems to fancy you
too.”  Sarah grinned as she poked Lucy in the shoulder.

Lucy held her hands up in submission. “Okay I admit I do
fancy him and after spending a few days with him, and Nate, well…I fancy him
more than ever.  I can’t stop thinking about him.”  Sitting back Lucy
felt relieved that she’d finally admitted it aloud. “Happy now?”

“Hallelujah!” Sarah smiled and shook her fists in the
air.  “I never thought you’d admit it.  So, does that mean you may
actually let him see that new underwear you’ve just bought?”

“Sex really is all you think about isn’t it?”  Lucy
blushed and drank some of her wine.  “Look, I think he may like me, he's
definitely flirted with me, but it’s the same old question – is it too soon?”

“Honestly, no I don’t think it is.  I know on the
telephone I said to sleep with him and be done with it, but having seen how
well you’re doing, I think you’d cope if you had a relationship with him and it
didn’t work out. Plus, if you’re honest, your marriage hasn’t been brilliant
for a long time.  I know it sounds harsh, but think about it.”

Lucy dropped her head and sighed again.  She had to
admit that Sarah was right.  “I think I kidded myself that we were happy
all this time, but I’ve thought about it a lot, especially the last few
days.  You’re right; things hadn’t been brilliant since Lottie…not as
happy as they should have been, anyway.  But, that doesn’t mean that Ed is
the man I should be with, or will be with for the rest of my life.  We may
have flirted a little, but that’s as far as it goes.  I can’t base my
future on a bit flirting, the twitching in my knickers and chapel hat peg
nipples,” she said as she smiled at Sarah.

“Even thinking about moving on is a massive step forward
though, Luce.  No one is saying he’s going to be the one, but it might be
fun finding out.”  Sarah took a sip from her drink, before coughing to
clear her throat.  “Anyway, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“What, something exciting I hope.”

“Depends how you look at it.  Simon and Jennifer have
had a little boy.”  Sarah paused waiting for a reaction; Lucy merely
nodded for Sarah to continue.  “He was born two days ago, about two weeks
early, and he’s called Caleb.”

Lucy downed the rest of her drink and was silent while she
took in the information that Sarah had just given.  Finally, she was ready
to speak.

“How did you find out?”

“He rang Ben.”

“Where are they living, do you know?”

“They're living in Jennifer’s house, in Knutsford. 
Apparently, when Ben saw them in town, a few weeks ago, they’d been to visit
Andrew, his solicitor.”

“He hasn’t contacted me, or my solicitor.”  Lucy played
with the salt cellar as she mulled the information over in her head.

“Actually, he may have Luce,” Sarah interrupted her
thoughts.  “I’ve got a pile of letters here for you.  When I knew I
was coming over, I called in on Brian to pick up your post.”  Sarah
reached down to her handbag and pulled out a ream of letters, held together with
an elastic band.  She passed them over to Lucy.

Lucy flicked through them quickly, finally stopping and
pulling a white envelope free of the band.  Across the top was emblazoned
“McCartney, James & Munroe”- Simon’s solicitors.  She ripped open the
envelope, pulled out the letter and read it.  After a few minutes, Lucy
refolded it, put it in the envelope and popped it into her handbag with the
rest of her post.

“Well?”  Sarah leaned forward and took hold of Lucy’s
hand.

“He wants a divorce, no massive shock there.  He wants
to sell the house but is willing to give me two-thirds of the profit. 
Unless of course, I want to buy him out, and then he wants a third of the
equity, which is probably about twenty-five thousand pounds.”  Lucy sat
back in her chair and indicated to the waiter for two more drinks.

“I’m assuming the grounds for divorce are his adultery?”

Lucy shook her head.  “You’re joking aren’t you? No,
he’s gone for unreasonable behaviour, apparently we have no common interests –
twat!”

“No way!”  Sarah was astonished.  “He can’t do
that, you were having sex up until he left, isn’t that a common interest. 
I bet Jennifer ‘bloody bitch face’ Grayson doesn’t know that!”

Lucy laughed emptily.  “I don’t care anymore,
Sarah.  Like you said, I need to move on and if agreeing to that means
that I can, then so be it.  I’ll call my solicitor on Monday. A copy has
apparently gone to him.  Thank you,” Lucy said, looking up at the waiter
as he placed two more glasses of wine on the table.  “I suppose he’s being
quite generous only asking for a third of the equity, he could have asked for a
third of the value.”

“Bloody hell Lucy,” Sarah spluttered.  “Generous is the
least he can be after what he’s done to you.  So what are you going to do,
sell or buy him out?”

“Until I speak to my solicitor I don’t know.  I have to
be honest though, my heart is saying, sell up and make a fresh start. 
Anyway, where am I going to get that much money from?”

“Re-mortgage, ask your dad?”  Sarah winced. Neither
were particularly attractive options.

“Hah, neither,” Lucy echoed Sarah’s thoughts.  “How can
I get a mortgage when I don’t have any income? I can’t ask my dad and Richard.
It wouldn’t be fair, and I have no way of paying them back.  Even if I get
another job teaching, most of my salary would go on the mortgage.  My
savings from when Grandpa died amounts to about twelve thousand pounds, but
that would still leave a massive chunk of money to find.  No, I think I’m
going to have to sell up, get a job teaching if I can, and then either rent or
buy something small.”

“Oh sweetheart, I’m sorry.  He’s really messed your
life up hasn’t he? Maybe you should think more seriously about staying. 
You could stay with your dad for a while until you get a job, and then you’d
have a lovely lump sum to put down on a cottage in the town.”

“Hmm.”  Lucy nodded.  “It’s an option, but places
in Dad’s town aren’t cheap, but at a push I may be able to manage it. 
Anyway, let’s not think about that now.  I’ve got shoes to buy for this
dinner that I may not even go to.”

“Lucy!”  Sarah practically snarled at her.

“I’m joking; of course I’m going to go.  I haven’t
spent nearly two hundred pounds on a dress that I’m not going to wear. 
Come on drink up; let’s spend some money while I still have some.”

Later, that evening, Lucy and Sarah were back at the house
enjoying some dinner and a bottle of wine with Gerald.

“So Sarah, did you manage to spend any money this afternoon,
or was it just Lucy?”  Gerald leaned forward and filled Sarah’s glass.

“I did manage a lovely pair of shoes and matching handbag,
but generally, it was Lucy splashing the cash.  She’s going to look
amazing, by the way.”  Sarah grinned at Lucy.