A Jersey Kiss (Jersey Romance Series) (14 page)

“
I do have one problem,” frowned the excitable bride-to-be.

“
What?” Shani asked, as Bea glanced back at an article she liked the look of.

“
Not what, but whom?”

“
Well, whom then?”

“
I need to invite Luke and Leilani,” she said tentatively, looking from one to the other.

“
What? Why do you have to?” Shani argued, ignoring Bea’s frantic mouthing to shut up as she didn’t need Mel to interrogate her yet again.

“
I have to, he’s an old friend of Grant’s.”

“
Take no notice,” Bea interrupted, “of course you must invite him.”

“
And I’ll invite Tom for you, although I’ve no idea who can accompany you.” She pointed a long finger at Shani. “After all Paul’s now with Guy and Harry never seems to be around, so you’ll be by yourself once again. I could try and find another of Grant’s friends to act as escort for you, if you’d like?”

“
Don’t you dare.” Shani glared down at Mel from her lofty height.

“
Surely Harry will be coming with you?” Bea asked. “And I’m sure Tom will want to come, so he can be my plus one.” Tom being her partner rather than some stranger Mel might link her with suited her far better.

“
I didn’t think you two were dating again?”

“
We’re not,” Bea said. “We do work together though and if you want me to have a partner I’m sure he’ll step in. I’m not bothered either way.”

Shani crossed her eyes and pulled a face, making Bea giggle. Bea knew the arrangements could only get more complicated and that there would be further rows between now and the big day. She needed to keep these chats with Mel as light as possible to be able to face them.

“Well if you two aren’t going to be my bridesmaids, and I’m to only have the twins, then I think I’ll ask Leilani to be my chief bridesmaid,” Mel suggested. “I think I need to add a little extra touch of glamour to the occasion, don’t you?”

There was a sharp intake of breath from Shani.
“Are you completely insane? You can’t ask her.”

“
Why not? She’d look fantastic and could watch over the twins.”

“
Don’t be so bloody ridiculous, she probably hates kids.”

Bea rolled her eyes.
“Mel, she’s a model, not a nanny.”

“
I know that.”

“
Well as pretty as you may be, Mel,” Bea tried again, “Leilani is a professional model, and I wouldn’t have thought you’d want to give her the chance to upstage you on your big day.”

“
Which she bloody well will,” Shani insisted glaring across the table in disbelief.

Mel grimaced.
“Honestly, you two are so easy to wind up sometimes.”

Bea and Shani shook their heads at each other.
“Is this going to take much longer?” Bea asked, forgetting her plan to keep things light and be nice.

Mel shrugged.
“Whatever,” she looked at her watch. “I’m going to go home and change. I’m meeting Grant later. I’ll leave you two in peace. Oh, and Bea, I haven’t forgotten what we discussed last night. I’ll get back to you as soon as I find out any info.”

Bea thanked her and saw her out, relieved to have peace restored once again.
“She can be so exhausting at times,” she said to Shani later as they sat quietly together chatting in the snug watching an episode of her favourite soap opera.

“
I’ve been thinking,” Shani said. “If you need help paying off that mortgage.”

“
The one I haven’t got yet?”

Shani rolled her eyes.
“Yes, that’s the one. Well, I thought I could always move in here with you and pay you rent?”

Bea thought for a moment.
“I’d love that, but what about Paul? Wouldn’t he miss you?”

“
I doubt it; he seems to be spending most of his time at Guy’s flat at the moment, so he’d probably be relieved.”

“
Good, I’m glad,” Bea admitted. She loved the idea. “It’ll be just like when we were younger and at boarding school.” But even though the extra money from Shani was better than nothing, it still wasn’t nearly enough to help her sort out her finances.

“
I can’t believe how miserly Simon is being with you, though.”

“
I think it’s probably because I’m insisting on keeping this house and going against his wishes,” Bea said, staring into the dancing flames in the nearby fire. “But I’ve had enough of doing what he dictates, and this time, I’m going to do whatever I can to keep my house, whether Simon likes the idea or not.”

TWELVE

December - Twisted Vines

Simon arrived at the house a few days later. Bea had just ended a call with the bank arranging a meeting with Mr Peters, in the New Year to discuss her mortgage application and her relief to have a definite appointment was short-lived. She stood on her doorstep glowering at Simon as he took out an envelope from his briefcase and handed it to her.
“I’m running out of patience with this crap. I know you’ve tried at a couple of banks, but you’ll just have to rethink things or agree to sell this dump. Why you even care about this garden now Annabel is dead, I don’t know. You don’t even know that much about gardening.”

“
I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

He went to place a hand on her shoulder, but she stepped back and his hand fell away.
“I didn’t mean for all this to happen, you know?”

Bea folded her arms creasing the envelope in her hand.
“No?”

“
Of course not. If your aunt hadn’t said anything about seeing me kissing Claire that night, then we’d probably still be together.”

“
That’s crap, Simon, and you know it.”

He marched down the front steps to his car and turned to face her.
“Fine, but we don’t have to be so angry with each other all the time.”

She took a deep breath.
“We wouldn’t be if you weren’t so dead set on me having to sell this house.” Without waiting for his reply, she turned and stepped back into the house, slamming the front door.

She tore open the envelope and unfolded his letter with shaking hands.
“
Claire’s due date is only a month away now and I need money to buy the furniture we need to complete the apartment before then. I think I’ve been more than fair with you, Beatrice. The sooner this matter is finalised the sooner we can both move on with our lives
.”

“
Moron,” she shouted, as a thin layer of plaster dust fell onto the sheet of paper in her hand. It was time to contact Mel and ask her to sort out the injunction against Simon. She was not going to put up with his unwanted visits anymore. She phoned Mel and told her to go ahead and draft something up for her. Enough was enough.

“
It’s about bloody time,” Mel said. “Don’t hold back from sending it to him either. He needs to be put in his place.”

Bea agreed.

That evening Bea sat in the drawing room carefully turning tatty pages of her aunt’s notebooks trying to take in some of her tips and work out if the sketches inside related to any of the plants she recognised. It was only five months until D-Day; what was she going to go? The phone rang. Bea thought about not answering, but when the shrill ringing continued she got up and picked up the phone. “Hello?” Bea said, trying not to show her irritation at being disturbed.

“
Hi,” said Tom. “Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could pop round for a chat this evening.” She didn’t answer. “If that’s not a problem, I mean?”

She wasn’t really in the mood to see anyone after Simon’s appearance, but it wasn’t Tom’s fault she’d chosen to marry the idiot.
“All right, Tom, if you want,” she relented.

“
Great. I’ll see you within the hour.”

“
Look, Tom, I’m not in the best frame of mind and if it’s all right with you I was looking forward to an early night.”

“
Why, what’s the matter?”

“
Nothing new, I’m afraid.” She couldn’t be bothered repeating what had happened with Simon.

“
Bea, I know you well enough to know you’re hiding something. Is there anything I can do?”

“
Thanks, Tom, but it isn’t anything you can help with,” she said miserably, sitting back down again and taking up her cup of coffee before giving in and relating the entire conversation with Simon earlier in the day. “So you see I just have to shut up and deal with it. It’s tough, but life stinks sometimes. I can do without further legal fees and will have to delay some of the work on the house, yet again, to pay for it, but I can’t have him coming here whenever the mood takes him.”

Tom sighed.
“Sorry, Bea I can imagine how you must feel. I’ll leave you to your early night, but if there’s anything I can do, promise you’ll ring me.”

“
All right then,” she said. “I’ll speak to you soon.” After he had ended the call, Bea wondered what he’d wanted to come and talk with her about that couldn’t be discussed at the office. It couldn’t have been that important surely, or he would have come round and told her about it. She looked over to the corner of the room where her aunt had always placed the Christmas tree. “Maybe I should put one up this year,” she said to Flea, who continued to snore in reply. It just didn’t feel like Christmas this year. “Maybe not.”

She picked up the books again and pulled her legs up onto the settee to get comfortable. If only she could close the shutters and the rest of the world out and be left to her memories. She closed her eyes and rested her head against one of the worn velvet cushions. Shutting out everything was so tempting. She snuggled up and let her mind wander back to happier days when she and Simon had had so many plans. Aunt Annabel singing tunelessly in the potting shed pushed the image of her and Simon away and Bea couldn’t help smiling. Her aunt looked up at her standing at the doorway.
“There you are, darling,” she said. “Be a good girl and stop wallowing. Go and fight for what you want.”

Bea opened her eyes and sat up, waking Flea with her sudden movement. Glancing around the room to check her aunt wasn’t actually somewhere near, she rubbed her eyes.
“She’s right, I need to get a grip and stop feeling so miserable.”

****

Over supper at Shani and Paul’s top floor flat the following evening Bea pondered how her two best friends managed to work together and live in such a small space without wanting to wring each other’s necks.

The attic flat, originally Paul’s and his previous boyfriend David’s, was bright and always inviting. The small lounge somehow appeared bigger with only a two-seater cream settee and a matching armchair taking up the floor space with a plain oak sideboard along one wall, displaying nothing but a wooden bowl fashioned from the wood of a cherry tree that had
been blown down in Paul’s aunt’s garden near Ludlow in the great storm of 1987. She couldn’t imagine how he managed to cook in the tiny kitchenette. It didn’t seem much larger than most wardrobes, with only a two-ringed hob, kettle, toaster and a tiny sink. Paul pushed back the veil of tiny coloured glass beads hanging from the doorframe and handed her a glass of wine.

“
I feel bad living in such a big empty house when you two have to share everything here.” Bea could understand why Luke had been so surprised that she lived in The Brae alone with all those empty rooms.

“
You can always take her ladyship here to live with you,” he said.

Shani looked at her thoughtfully. Bea could tell she was desperate to tell him about her offer for Shani to move in with her. Neither of them wanted to upset him though. Shani pulled a face at Paul.
“Thanks,” she said. “I thought you loved sharing with me.

“
I do, but your untidiness drives me mental. I’ve never met such a messy female. Did you know, Bea, this one sleeps in an old 1930s’ bed her grandmother passed down to her and every time she brings some poor unfortunate bloke home with her I have to wear ear plugs, the bloody thing squeaks so much. The whole house must know when she’s having a shag.”

Bea spluttered and nearly spat out her drink.
“Charming.”

“
Cheers, Paul.” Shani glared at him. “We can’t all be neurotic about keeping everything in the right place.”

“
A little bit of discretion wouldn’t go amiss,” he teased. “Supper’s ready and waiting.” Paul handed Shani a glass of sparkling water and Bea a glass of Shiraz. “Grab a plate and help yourself.” He indicated various tubs of different Thai food.

“
You’re not drinking, Shan?” Bea frowned. She’d never known Shani to turn down alcohol before. “Are you sure everything’s all right? You’re not pregnant are you?”

Paul and Bea laughed at Shani’s horror-struck expression.
“No, I’m bloody well not.”

“
Well, it’s not like you.”

“
My stomach is a little delicate at the moment,” she said, glaring at them both. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“
All right, calm down.” Paul handed Bea a plate of food. “Get this down your neck.”

“
It smells delicious,” Bea murmured, forcing herself not to rush the delicious-tasting food. “Where did you pick this up from?”

“
Rosa.”

“
Who?”

“
Rosa, she’s a Thai lady and married to one of the managers at the Studio. She’ll cook you whatever you like and is so reasonable. She’ll even come to your house and cook the meal for you if you’re having a dinner party, but we don’t exactly have much room in ours, so I asked her to do it at her home instead.”

“
This is so tasty. What a great idea.” Shani said, her mouth half full. “I haven’t tasted anything this good in ages.”

Bea made the most of every mouthful. For someone with a dodgy tummy Shani was certainly bolting down her food.
“You don’t seem to be off your food then,” Bea said. “Only alcohol.”

Shani tilted her head to one side and pursed her lips.
“My stomach has been a little sensitive, so I’m trying out a sort of detox. It’s something new and if it works I’ll tell you two about it, now butt out.”

“
Calm down.” Paul rolled his eyes heavenward. “So,” Paul asked, filling his plate with more food. “What’s happened recently, apart from you both mooning over Luke Thornton with a horse between his muscular thighs?”

Shani waved her fork in the air.
“Sorry Bea, I can’t forget how amazing that polo match was in the summer. Don’t you think it was pretty intense?”

Bea laughed, enjoying the image of Luke galloping across the beach.
“It was. I’m definitely going to go again next year, if they hold the beach polo again.”

“
Yes,” Paul scowled. “I still haven’t forgiven you two for not including me. You’re both so selfish sometimes.”

“
It hasn’t all been fun this year,” Bea said, telling them about her visit from Simon and then Tom.

“
Well, you both know he’s not really my cup of tea,” Paul said, sipping from his glass.

“
Which one?” Shani asked.

“
Either, both, neither,” Paul said.

“
Why?” Bea looked at him, fork midway from plate to her mouth with her last bit of rice. “I know Simon is a waste of space, but what’s wrong with Tom?”

“
Nothing I can put my finger on, but I can’t help having the feeling he isn’t all he seems.”

Bea laughed.
“That’s ridiculous, there’s nothing suspicious about Tom.” She didn’t mention that she’d not been so quick to believe his tales about Luke and the investigation until she saw his proof. “He was actually quite sweet when I last saw him. So, what’s wrong with him?”

“
Nothing is,” Shani said, mopping up some spilt food from the floor with a piece of damp kitchen towel. “Just ignore him, I think Tom was lovely to apologise to you and be so sympathetic about shitty Simon. Paul?”

“
Okay, it was the right thing to do, I suppose,” he relented grudgingly. “What the hell is that?” he asked hearing the 1812 Overture warble from Bea’s handbag.

“
I changed my ring-tone when I was bored the other night. It’s Tom,” she said, noticing the name on the tiny lit up screen and turned away from her inquisitive friends. After several minutes she ended the call and dropped her mobile back into her bag. “That was Tom.”

“
We’ve gathered that much.” Paul raised his eyebrows. “What did he want?”

“
You’re never going to believe this, but his assistant has been signed off work for three weeks after an appendix operation and he’s booked for me to go with him to New York for five days.”

They looked at her. Paul opened his eyes wide.
“You’re going on holiday with him? That’s a little unexpected, isn’t it?”

Bea shook her head.
“Not really. He’s always travelling to meet clients. I’ve gone to London once or twice in the last few years, but never further than that. Wow, I can’t believe I’m going to New York in a couple of weeks.”

“
Lucky cow. I wish I was going away,” said Shani. “The break will do you good though and if you get to spend some time with him you might find you hit it off. If not, at least you’ll be away from Simon and his crap for a bit.”

“
Sounds good, I suppose,” Paul said, refilling their glasses. “He must be earning decent money if they send him to the States to visit clients. I hope you get to do some sightseeing while you’re there.”