London Calling (24 page)

“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m just in a cab there now so I’ll give you a call back when I know more.” I paused. “Actually, there is one thing you could do.”

“What?”

“Could you ring the restaurant and cancel?”

“Sure, which one?”

“Hexagon.”

“Blimey,” she said, sounding surprised. I smiled at the other end.

“I was trying to woo you.”

“It would have worked, too,” she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. “But another time. I’ll cancel, no trouble. But please call me when you know more.”

“I will. And I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

***

When I arrived at the house the boys were happily ensconced in front of the telly, oblivious to what else was going on. Jack looked pale and his eyes were red when he opened the door in jeans and a black Polo shirt. I hugged him tight and he let me. He put his finger to his lips and led me through to the kitchen. Last time I’d been here was for the barbecue, when Vicky had been alive and well. I swallowed hard and rolled my neck from left to right.

“So what happened?” I asked, putting my jacket on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Jack sighed and ran his fingers through his thick black hair, shaking his head and flexing his jaw.

“I dunno – I mean, they just left. Kate was over today and they were going into town – dinner somewhere, drinks… They got a cab to the station, I was going to run them but Vicky insisted getting a cab was easier with the boys. And then I get a phone call just before I called you. I don’t know much more apart from they’re at the hospital. I don’t know how they are, if they’re okay…” His voice cracked when he said the last bit and I took his hand.

“They’re going to be fine, Jack, this is Vicky and Kate we’re talking about. Tough birds. I’m sure they’ve just got some scratches and bruises on them and they’ve taken them to hospital as a precaution. Walking wounded. Walking, chattering wounded.”

He smiled at the last bit.

“I hope so but you know what some of these mini-cab drivers are like…”

“Don’t be daft,” I said. I was making myself believe my own words. “Look, why don’t you get your coat on and get going? Did you get through to mum and dad?”

“No, they’re not answering.”

“Well I’ll do that. What about Maureen?”

“I’m picking her up on the way.”

I hadn’t stopped to consider how Kate and Vicky’s mum would be feeling till then. Wretched, I would have thought, seeing as she buried her husband a few years back and now both her children were in hospital.

“Go. Just call me when you know anything, okay?”

Jack nodded. “I fed the boys, so they just need their milk.”

I stroked his arm. “Don’t worry. Just go.”

***

The boys seemed oblivious when Jack hugged them extra-hard as he left, so I got them some milk and we settled down to the end of Bob The Builder’s latest quest before putting them to bed. Freddie was a little teary his mummy wasn’t there to kiss him goodnight but I assured him she’d be back when he woke up. Luke threw a slight paddy about his pyjama choice – he wasn’t a fan of pandas. Together we selected a pair with monster trucks on them and he seemed happier as he climbed into his tiny bed. I kissed them both, tucked them in and felt my feet sink into the plush landing carpet as I retreated out of the bedroom.

“Aunty Jess?”

I poked my head back around the door.

“Yeah?”

“Will you get mummy to come and kiss us goodnight when she gets in?” Luke said. My heart lurched.

“I’ll make sure she does,” I said. “Night now.”

“Night.”

I walked across the hall and stood in the doorway of Jack and Vicky’s room, staring at their purple and white boudoir, their bed still strewn with a few garments that Vicky had rejected for her night out. I rested my head against the white doorframe and sighed. It was going to be a long night.

***

I tried mum and dad again but still no answer, so I left a message for them to call me on my mobile. Then I went back into the lounge and sunk into the brown leather couch, curling my feet up underneath me and flicking idly through the channels.

The programmes bounced off my brain like raindrops off an umbrella, so I settled on a music channel so my mind could relax. Lucy called half an hour later, making me jump out of my skin.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Any news?” Her voice sounded sexy even though my mind was elsewhere.

“Nothing and I’m going mad. I mean, I know Jack’s probably still dealing with stuff but I just need to know how they both are…”

“Listen, let me drive over to you now, then at least I can give you a lift back if you need one. I’m not doing anything except worrying about you so I may as well be with you.”

I smiled. “You’re worrying about me?”

“Call me stupid.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I said. I felt a warmth flow through my body. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one invested in this relationship after all.

“Text me the address. I’ll get my shoes on and be ready to leave in five.”

I did as I was told, then went into the kitchen and grabbed a cold bottle of Heineken from the fridge – I could count on my brother for these small things. My stomach growled and I realised I hadn’t eaten. I stuck my head in a few cupboards before finding the chocolate biscuits. Perfect.

Just as I took my first swig of the beer, my phone went. I could hear it but I couldn’t see it. Where had I put it after speaking to Lucy? The ringing was insistent and I spun around in the kitchen, trying to locate it. Eventually I saw it on top of the fridge, grabbed it and pressed the green button. It was Jack.

“How are they?”

“They’re all right. Shaken, bruised, a little broken in places but okay. Poor Maureen is the most shaken up of all three of them…”

“I can imagine,” I said. Relief flooded every tiny corner of my body. “So how broken is broken?”

“Kate’s got a broken arm and they’ve both got broken ribs as well as cuts and scratches but from what I can make out they were lucky. Cab got hit by a kid driving too fast and the driver took the brunt of it.”

“Is he okay?”

“Still critical.”

I breathed out hard. “Fuck.”

“Yep.”

“But they’re okay?” I said. I leant against the fridge, dislodging a children’s party invite.

“Essentially, yeah. They’re going to keep them in overnight just as a precaution in case they’re concussed but I think they’ll be released tomorrow.”

“Great news,” I said.

“Listen, I better get off, I need to let other people know. Can you hang on there till I get home?”

“Course – take your time.”

“Thanks.”

I pressed the red button and took a swig of my beer, picking up the party invite and putting it back in its place. They weren’t dead. Thank you Jesus, even though I believe you to be a mythical character.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Lucy arrived true to her word about half an hour later. I opened the door and was thrown by her beauty again. She still looked date-ready in sleek grey trousers, a white shirt and waistcoat and I realised that I probably did too, having been en route when the drama began.

“Hi,” I said. I shyly stepped aside, ushering her in. She echoed my feelings as she stepped uncertainly into the hallway, casting her eye around the house.

“Have you heard anything yet?” she said. I shut the door and told her the good news which seemed to break the ice. We wouldn’t normally have hugged so soon but this occasion seemed to call for it, so we did.

“What a relief – it’s the not knowing that’s the killer sometimes isn’t it,” she said, covering her mouth as she said it. “Not killer, but you know what I mean…”

“I know what you mean,” I said. I took her hand and lead her through to the kitchen. “I’ve been going mad imagining all sorts of scenarios but luckily they’re alright.”

“Both of them?”

“Yep, sounds really lucky. Better than the driver – he’s still critical.”

“Shit.”

“I know.” I breathed out heavily. “Still, makes you realise what’s important doesn’t it?”

She nodded solemnly.

“Nice house, though,” Lucy said, changing the subject deftly. “Lovely big kitchen. Perhaps I should consider moving to the burbs.”

“Tempting, until you remember you’d be living among suburbanites.”

“True,” she said. “Still, you’d be living in an actual house with a garden which would be terribly novel.”

There was a pause in conversation as we assessed how to handle this situation. Tonight was meant to have been a straightforward wooing mission replete with champagne and candlelight but now the game plan had dramatically altered.

“Drink?” I said. I indicated my bottle on the table.

“I better not,” she said. She dangled her car keys from her right index finger.

“Tea then?”

“Tea would be good.”

She pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down as I filled the kettle, suddenly self-conscious being on show in such a brightly lit, sanitised space. There were no expensive drinks, low lighting and fancy food to hide behind in Jack and Vicky’s kitchen. I was exposed but it felt good to have Lucy there. I placed the kettle back in its base, flipped the switch and turned to her, holding the counter top with both palms outstretched behind me.

“So tonight hasn’t gone exactly according to plan…”

“No.” She paused. “Bit like us so far would you say?”

“You could definitely say that,” I said. I was glad of the noise of the kettle to drown out my quickening heartbeat. “What did you do after I called?”

“Called the restaurant and then I went down to the Tesco near me and bought a meal for one like a saddo. I also learnt there’s some terrible telly on Saturday night so driving here was light relief, believe me.”

“I wouldn’t know, I was watching Bob The Builder.”

“Probably better than the dross I sat through,” she said.

I put her tea on the table, handed her a Twix and sat down opposite her.

“So…” I said, smiling at the absurdity of the situation.

“So…” she said.

“You look great.”

“I ditched the heels when I knew we weren’t going somewhere posh. So you didn’t get the full effect.”

“You still look great.”

“So do you,” she said.

“Even in my stressed state?”

“Even then.”

“I’m glad you came.” I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. “And just so you know, I meant everything I said the other day – everything,” I said, emphasising the last word.

She sighed. “I know.”

“So can we start again?”
Please say we can start again.
 

“I hope so. I’d like to…”

“But?” There was definitely a but.

“But… I don’t know. It was such a good start, Jess, then it truly went pear-shaped. I’m scared what’s next.”

“You and me getting to know each other better I hope.”

She gave me a weak smile. I took both her hands in mine and fixed her with what I hoped was a sincere stare – because it truly was, that one look held everything I had.

“Look, I get it… I totally do. But I’m going to do everything I can to ensure that you do trust me fully – because you can. You need to know that I’m all in. Have been from the moment I met you. Even though you did play hard to get by running off to Australia for a couple of months.”

That raised a smile and I squeezed her hand tighter.

“Whatever it takes Lucy, I’m willing to do. Even if it means sounding like I’m in some corny Hollywood rom-com. Even if it means taking you for dinner every week at Hexagon till I’m bankrupt,” I continued. “Even if it means learning a song and dance routine for your family.”

She was smiling now. Smiling was good, right?

“I really like you, Lucy.”

She didn’t take her eyes off me the whole time I was talking, so I took a chance, leaned over the table and kissed her lips gently. She raised her hand to my face and kissed me back. After a minute or so we eased apart and I touched her face, amazed that I was getting another go with this beautiful woman. Somewhere, somehow, it seemed that the love gods were on my side. I leaned in for another quick kiss before taking her hands again.

“So that’s a yes?”

She smiled again. “That’s a yes.”

I squeezed her hands again.

“But now we’re giving it another go, I have one more thing to ask you. Are you free on Saturday to come to Julia’s wedding with me?”

“It’s not in Brighton, is it?”

“No, they’re having it at Marylebone so they can pretend to be pop stars.”

“And that woman isn’t coming?”

Well, yes.

“Ange? Nope, negative,” I lied.

Lucy’s face relaxed and she smiled. “In that case, I’d love to.”

“Great,” I said.

I made a mental note to tell Julia not to invite Ange but pushed such negativity out of my mind. Tonight was a good night. Kate and Vicky were still alive and Lucy was my girlfriend.

***

Jack arrived back just after 11.30pm, having dropped Maureen off. He looked exhausted but relieved and filled us in on the details of the crash, uncapping a cold beer on the bottle opener that was attached to the wall. Both Kate and Vicky were asleep by the time he left and he said the doctor had advised super-strong painkillers for the next few weeks.

“And no sex with broken ribs apparently.”

“I’m sure that was top of Vicky’s worries,” I said.

“She couldn’t hit me when I said it, it hurt too much to move her arm,” he said, laughing.

“My sensitive brother.”

Lucy just smiled. “So glad they’re both okay, though,” she said.

“Yeah, me too.” He paused. “Anyhow, you’re both looking lovely tonight – were you going somewhere?”

“Well we were meant to be going out to dinner…” I said.

“Oh shit….” he said, putting his hand up to cover his mouth.

“It’ll keep,” I said, fixing Lucy with a killer smile. “It’ll keep, right?”

She nodded. “It’ll keep.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jack said, holding up his beer bottle.

“A toast. To the fabulous ladies in my life.”

“To all of us,” I said.

CHAPTER FORTY