The School Gates (25 page)

Dana nodded.

‘Yes. I love Stephen now and I hate to say it out loud but the fact that his wife is no longer around is fate in my eyes. He would never have left her – and I could never have left him alone. My feelings are just so strong. Before Stephen, yes, I fell completely in love with a married man. Saw him on and off through my twenties for years. Had so many lonely Christmases, holidays, et cetera. He had kids. I got the usual flannel that when they were both at boarding school, we would be together. He never left his wife.’

‘Oh, that’s awful.’

‘Yes, awful, but what a silly cow I was, thinking he would leave her. They rarely do – leave their wives, that is. Men just like the sexual buzz. Like to know that they’ve still got it. He was twenty years older than me. I mean, why wouldn’t he want the affair? So my advice to you, Dana, if it’s worth anything at all, is if you want extra-marital flings, make sure it’s you doing the buzzing. A no-strings fuck with an unattached sexy young man…what’s the harm if nobody knows?’

‘And what if it’s more than just sex?’ Dana asked quietly.

‘Then you’ve got to weigh up what you really want out of life and whether it’s worth the complete turmoil it will cause by following that path. You’ve got a good life going on up there on Bramwell Hill, and Mark may be older but he’s still a handsome man – and by what you tell me, a very good husband and father.’

Alana put her arm out and squeezed Dana’s. ‘I’m always here if you need a chat. Oh, and I nearly forgot.’ She stood up and went over to the sideboard. ‘Here.’

She presented Dana with a beautifully wrapped gift.

‘It’s not much, but I just wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve given me. Not just with Lissy but with…’ she stopped.

Dana couldn’t believe that Alana Murray actually had a tear in her eye.

‘…with everything to do with what happened with the baby and Stephen.’

Dana kissed her on the cheek. ‘I’ve done nothing really and you shouldn’t have, but that’s lovely of you. Thank you. Can I get you anything before I go?’

‘God, no – look at me. I’m absolutely fine. Getting used to all the attention. I will ask Mother to collect Tommy as well tomorrow and pack his uniform and we can take him to school on Friday too. That will give you a bit more time with Lover Boy.’

‘It isn’t happening,’ Dana stated adamantly.

‘Well, just in case it does.’ Alana winked.

‘You really are terrible.’

‘I know. But as Mother always says, quite possibly to my detriment: “We are only here for a long weekend so we might as well enjoy it”.’

– Chapter Twenty One –

‘What time have we got you until then? Forever, I hope,’ Tony flirted on their lull break.

Dana laughed. ‘Actually a friend of mine has Tommy and Mark isn’t home until after ten, so I haven’t got to rush back.’

‘Bene, bene. I shall kidnap you then in the flat upstairs and feed you grapes and pour champagne over your naked body.’

‘Tony Rosco! NO!’

‘No, what?’ Bruno sauntered in and kissed Dana on both cheeks. ‘Ciao, Dana. Thanks for helping today. Now fratello, bring these cakes through, can you please?’

‘Saved by the cream horns,’ Dana grinned as Tony carried the box through to the café.

The boys’ kind gesture of an Easter treat for their local clientele was really well received. Dana loved the generosity of her Italian employees and after just one glass of fizz she actually felt quite giddy.

She was clearing tables and putting more cakes out when Tony brushed up behind her. ‘I have saved the biggest cream horn for you for later.’

Dana could feel her heart start to beat a little faster. Her intentions had been just so strong, that nothing would ever happen again between her and Tony. She had to stick to them.

Undeniably, sex now with Mark had gone up several pegs. She had put to the back of her mind about having a baby and was just enjoying it whenever she could, which had been quite a lot, to be honest – now that Mark was so into it too.

She did love her husband, but as Alana had so rightly said, that didn’t stop you fancying other men. It was just what you did with that ‘fancy’. She had been brought up with strong values of what was right and wrong. And to sleep with someone else was obviously a complete no, no. Then the devil would get on her shoulder and tap at it. But who would ever find out if once, just once, she slept with Tony? She wasn’t hurting anyone on his side, and Mark need never know. Just one little fling and then she would settle with Mark and Tommy in her lavish lifestyle up on the hill. It was almost as if the more sex she was having, the more she wanted!

There was no denying Tony was a fit lad and had a lot of admirable qualities, but his focus now was the business, not settling down with a ready-made family – she was sure of that. Also, both he and Bruno had said they wanted to go back to Italy when they had enough money. The brothers shared the flat upstairs. Somehow she couldn’t see Tony moving out and playing Happy Families with her, despite his declaration of how much he thought of her.

No, she had to keep her conscience clear. How could she possibly wake up next to Mark every day, knowing she had cheated on him? It was a good thing that she was going on holiday. She could clear her head of this folly.

She recognised Mo from the school coming in with the young Welsh girl from the surgery.

‘Hello, there – Mo, isn’t it?’

‘Oh hi. You’re Tommy’s mum, aren’t you? I kept seeing you in here and couldn’t put my finger on it.’

‘Looking forward to the holidays?’ Dana politely chit-chatted.

‘Not really. We are not going anywhere. Ron – my husband, that is – has cancer. So we need to be at home.’

‘I’m so sorry – I didn’t know. It’s like having a cold these days though, isn’t it, the big C. They seem to have people in and out like a conveyor belt with loads of new treatments.’

‘Sadly, it’s not as easy in his case.’

‘I’m so sorry. Look – here’s my mobile.’ Dana scribbled the number down on her pad. ‘If you need any help with anything, lifts for Rosie, or to the hospital – anything – please do give me a call, eh? It must be so hard, not driving.’

‘You little love, thank you!’

‘Right, let’s get you a couple of glasses of fizz.’

Bruno was already by their side.

‘Bella, bella, Foxy Ffion – how are you, my darling?’

‘Always better when fuelled by a little fizz,’ she flirted.

‘Your wish, my lady, is my command.’

Mo laughed. ‘You two. Get a bloody room. But refill my glass first.’

The place was empty by six and Dana hung her pinny on the peg in the back room.

‘Do you want me to take it home and wash it?’ she asked Tony as he came through to join her.

‘No, I want to take you home and lick you all over.’

‘Tony Rosco, it isn’t going to happen. I am so sorry. It just can’t.’

‘But stay and have another drink with me and Bruno, please.’

‘OK, just the one though as I’m rubbish with champagne, it goes straight to my head. And we wouldn’t want you taking advantage of me now, would we?’

The flat upstairs had a beautiful roof garden, which couldn’t be seen from the outside. The fence surrounding it had fairy lights and lanterns, and a spotted parasol sheltered the four chairs which were sat around an ornate French antique table.

‘It’s lovely up here. Bet it’s beautiful at night when the fairy lights come on. I didn’t expect this at all.’

‘What, did you think it would be a real lads’ pad, I guess?’

‘Yes, I did, to be honest. But I love your flat too. You have good taste, you Rosco boys.’

Bruno stuck his head around the door to the garden, saying, ‘I’m off to the pub with Ffion and then probably for dinner, so don’t wait up.’

‘OK, bro. Have fun.’

‘Yeah, see you in a couple of weeks, Bruno, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’ Dana blew him a kiss.

‘What wouldn’t you do, Dana? Go on, tell me,’ Tony urged, pouring her another glass of champagne. She was already light-headed but didn’t want to stop.

‘I wouldn’t sleep with a married man and wreck a marriage.’

‘I see. Sleeping with a single man is OK then. You can do that, si?’

‘Oh, Tony. You just do something to me and I know I shouldn’t be here, but I so want to be. And, I do so want to kiss you again, but it is just too dangerous.’

‘I’m not asking you to leave your husband, Dana, but you do something for me too. It’s hard to explain. You are like this drug and when you are not around I want you even more. I have got my head around the fact that this may not go anywhere, but just to have you here and alone is the most beautiful moment.’

He got up and leaned down to kiss her. He was so tender and so loving, and Dana melted into him. He pulled away, picked up her glass of champagne and poured it into a plant pot.

‘And I don’t want you drinking this and feeling you are doing something that you don’t want to be doing. As much as I would love to make love to you, it has to be your decision alone. I would fuck you without stopping until Christmas if I had my way. You are just... just so fuckable.’

Dana loved it when he spoke like this. But what the hell was wrong with her? She was getting all the sex she needed, Mark was giving her loads of attention. She wanted for nothing.

She stood up and brushed her skirt down straight.

‘Are you leaving?’ Tony asked softly.

‘No.’ She roughly ripped the tie from his ponytail and let his hair go free. ‘I’m hopefully coming.’

It was the best sex that Dana had ever had in her life. She screamed in pleasure time and time again. Tony just wanted to please her – and please her he did. Every which way but loose. When they were spent she lay back on the pillow in complete ecstasy. Tony went to speak and she put her fingers to his lips. He pulled them away.

‘Pazza di te. That is all I can say.’

She snuggled into him and within minutes they were both sleeping.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

‘What the…?’ Tony sat upright, waking Dana. ‘Shit, Dana, it is midnight.’

‘I’m frightened – what’s that noise?’

Tony ran to the window. ‘Please don’t tell me that your husband has a black Porsche.’

‘Oh my God. What am I going to do?’

Suddenly Bruno came rushing in. He threw some keys at Tony.

‘You, fire escape. Give it five, then drive up the road in the van until I call you. Dana, get dressed quickly and just get on the sofa and keep your eyes closed. NOW!’

‘Where’s Ffion?’

‘God, woman, she’s not the issue – come on, get dressed and leave the talking to me.’ He was whispering now.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

‘All right mate, I’m coming.’ Bruno shouted.

Mark pushed his way into the café. ‘Where the fuck is my wife? And more importantly the little shit with the ponytail?’

‘Hey, calm down. If you mean Dana, which I think you must, she is upstairs. Had a few too many champagnes so I suggested she sleep them off on the sofa. She must have forgotten to text you as she said she was going to. Come on up and have a drink. She was so worried about driving that she’ll be pleased to see you.’

Mark leaped up the stairs two at a time, adrenaline making his heart race – only to find his wife looking dishevelled but fully dressed, on the sofa under a grubby duvet.

‘Hey.’ Dana yawned and rubbed her face, then sat up. ‘I’m so sorry, darling. It’s so not like me to be at home when you get back. We just had a little bit of an Easter party, that’s all. I should never have had those three glasses of champagne. God, I feel ill. My head is banging.’

‘Well, I was worried sick,’ Mark said, his anger beginning to fade. ‘You could have let me know.’

‘I’m so sorry, I meant to text you but must have crashed out. You know what I’m like when I drink champagne. Never again!’

‘And where’s Tommy?’

‘He’s staying the night with Eliska – he’s fine.’

‘So it’s just you two here then?’

‘Yes, my girlfriend Ffion has gone home now. And Tony, “the little shit with the ponytail” as you call him, is out with his.’

‘Oh right, well, sorry for the commotion. I was just worried about Dana, that’s all.’

‘Well, you needn’t have been. You’ve got a good wife here, mate, don’t forget that. The fact she didn’t want to drink and drive is commendable and she’s worked her socks off for me here. Now go and enjoy your holiday, the pair of you.’

Dana grabbed her bag and shoes and dutifully followed her husband back down to the café and out of the front door, saying a sleepy ‘thank you’ to Bruno as he locked up.

That was it now. She had had her cream horn and eaten it.

After a post-mortem with Bruno and a very large Amaretto, Tony sat on his bed, head in hands.

Poor Dana, he knew she would be getting such shit now. Sometimes, maybe it was better to hang on to the glorious intent rather than going through with the action.

Her husband must have had an inkling, to mention him like that – and if she had any chance of saving her marriage, which is what he thought she did want in the long run, he would have to leave her alone now.