'You've been baking bread!' she charged as she entered the kitchen.
Jamie turned round from the sink, where he was washing up. He pointed to the wire rack beside the oven.
'Two loaves?' she said. 'You're a genius, Jamie.'
'I know. Have a good time?'
'Yes, thanks. I met Jenny for lunch.'
'How is she?'
'The same as usual.'
He nodded and continued clearing things away. It was extraordinary, she thought, how ordinary everything seemed. Well, almost everything.
'Not working today, Jamie?'
He shook his head. 'The trade's in a bit of a slump. Not so many people are buying new cars at the moment.'
'It must be a pretty big slump, if they're not out buying on a spring Saturday. And even if they're not buying, I'd have thought they would at least be looking.'
'You'd think so, wouldn't you?'
He didn't seem particularly bothered. Not jumping-up-and-down angry, anyway. No condemnation of the Government, the Bank of England, the public, or even his own boss.
She wandered into the living room and noted the empty beer cans, and was disappointed. He'd said he'd given up drinking. Still, it was Saturday afternoon, and at least he was home. That made a change.
'Have you been watching something on TV?' she asked, returning to the kitchen.
'Just an old movie. Black and white.'
'What was it?'
'I didn't catch the title.'
'What was it about?'
He shrugged. 'A man and a woman.'
She laughed. 'That must have been good.'
'Well, I had to do something.'
'You could have come shopping.'
'Oh?' He grinned. 'I never thought of that. New shoes? New skirt?'
'New shirt and tie, maybe. That one's a bit crumpled.'
'I've been cooking!'
She laughed and headed upstairs to change. Cooking! she thought. That was new. And so was the crumpled shirt. Jamie had always been immaculate in his appearance.
As she changed, she wondered if she was being too hard on him. He'd been good as gold since he'd returned. Only a week or so, of course, but it was a good start.
He seemed different somehow. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but there were all sorts of little ways in which he was different. Helping around the house, for one thing. Baking bread even! She almost laughed aloud at that. What would Jenny say?
Then there was the fact that his appearance wasn't what she was used to. He seemed less …. Well, less immaculate. He'd always ironed his own shirts, because he was better at it than her, and in his job he needed them to be perfect. So he said. Now it didn't look as if he was doing much ironing at all. Not to perfection, anyway. Perhaps it was something to do with his working arrangements changing. He'd said he was in the office more than the showroom now.
'Are we going out tonight?' she called down the stairs.
'I thought we'd stay in, if it's all right with you?' came the reply.
It was perfectly all right with her. But that was something else that was different. Saturday night at home? Jamie? Unthinkable!
Perhaps, she thought almost happily, he really was making an effort at last.
*
'Good weekend, Robert?' Fiona asked.
'Not bad, thanks. You?'
'Great. Martin took me to St James's Park for the first time on Saturday.'
'Oh? Exciting?'
'They lost. Newcastle lost! Can you believe it? The first time anybody has ever taken me there, as well. And I don't have to tell you what sort of mood he was in all day yesterday, do I?'
Meg smiled and kept her head down. She'd got in early in order to write a letter that needed to be sent as a matter of urgency. She wouldn't allow herself to be distracted until it was done.
By ten it was done, and off to the solicitors for perusal before being posted. She could relax. It was a good way to start the week.
'Did you take the kids anywhere nice?' she asked Robert in passing.
'The coast. Whitley Bay. We kept well clear of St. James's park, mind. I made sure of that.'
She laughed. 'You're going to have to take Sean there one day,' she told him.
'Aye, well. Not yet. How about you? How are you?'
'Fine, thanks.' She hesitated. 'Meet me for coffee?'
'Sure. Half an hour?'
She nodded and pressed on.
*
The staff room was busy, which was a good thing. Plenty of noise and chatter. No-one taking particular notice of her, or listening to what she had to say.
She smiled warmly as Robert arrived. 'White or black?' she asked.
'White.'
She fed coins into the machine and let it do its job.
'It wasn't all plain sailing yesterday,' Robert said as she rejoined him. 'We could have done with some help.'
'Oh?'
'Kirsty fell down in the sea within the first five minutes. She was soaked.'
'Poor thing! What did you do? Go home?'
'We managed. I wouldn't put it any higher than that. We didn't have a full set of spare clothes in the car, but there was enough to get by with. Anyway, what did you do at the weekend?'
She considered.
'There's something I have to tell you, Robert.'
'Oh?'
'Jamie's come back.'
She watched anxiously as his expression changed, as the thoughts flickered through his head. Then he smiled.
'That's wonderful, Meg! I'm very happy for you.'
She smiled back with relief.
'It's what you wanted, isn't it? What you hoped for?'
'It is. Yes.'
Of course it was. She and Jamie had to patch things up, and move on.
'All couples have difficulties from time to time,' Robert added. 'It's normal. So don't worry about that. The important thing is you're back together again.'
'Oh, I'm not worried.'
'That's good.'
Not worried? she thought. What a laugh. She was worried to death.
'I hope we'll still see something of you?' Robert said. 'The kids are always asking after you.'
'Of course,' she said. 'There's no reason why not.'
'And Jamie, perhaps?' he added.
'Perhaps.'
Fat chance, she thought. Anything less likely than Jamie agreeing to visit Robert and his children she couldn't imagine. And that, of course, meant she could hardly go herself.
Later, she wondered, sadly, how much Robert would welcome a visit from her now anyway. Things were different now. Everything was different. And better, she reminded herself. Everything was better.
Chapter Nine
The little jewellery box her grandmother had given her all those years ago was empty. Not a penny in it, never mind the hundred pounds and more she knew had been there a day or two earlier.
Worried, she checked other drawers in the bedroom. Nothing else seemed to be missing, thankfully. And there was no damage. Plenty of small disturbance, but no damage. Not a burglary, then. She blew out with relief. Jamie must have borrowed it. He probably needed some cash urgently. Oh, well. She could put off the shopping trip. It would be a while before Baby arrived.
She made herself some scrambled eggs for tea. Jamie would be a while yet. He worked funny hours these days, and was rarely home in the early evening, That was the car business, she supposed. As Jamie said, you couldn't close at five o'clock any more. The evening was when so many folk liked to do their shopping these days, whether it was for groceries or for cars.
It seemed to be when people in the car trade did their drinking, as well. Being on the wagon hadn't lasted long. She could smell it on his breath most nights, and now she was pregnant she liked it even less than she always had. It was good to have him back, though, and she wasn't going to complain about anything at all. Certainly not him liking a drink.
They belonged together. Whatever their problems, that couldn't be denied. They would be fine
, she told herself once again. Just fine. It wasn't easy at the moment but …. Everyone went through sticky patches. And they were no different to everybody else. Maybe she didn't feel quite the same about Jamie now. How could she? But she had to give it time.
*
The phone rang. She glanced at the clock. Just after seven.
'Hello, dear. It's only me. I just thought I'd see how you are.'
'Hello, Mum! I thought it would be Jamie. I'm fine, thanks.'
'Where's Jamie?'
'Oh, he's not back from work yet. He works late these days.'
'Earning extra money for the baby, is he?'
She laughed but hoped they could get off that subject quickly.
'Dad and I were so pleased you're both back together again. We're very relieved. It would have been difficult for you on your own. You could have come back to us, of course, but even so ….'
'I know what you mean, Mum. But it's all behind us now. I don't want to talk or think about it any more.'
'Quite right, too! Silly me. I don't blame you one little bit. Just put it behind you, and get on with your lives. You've got so much to look forward to now.'
Yes, Meg thought uneasily. We have, haven't we?
'Like that nice young man – Robert, was it? –and his children. He's done so well, hasn't he? How awful for him to have lost his wife so young. And the children, their mother. But he's just got on with it, hasn't he? Such lovely children, too.'
It was true. Robert had done well, and was still doing well. He'd put it all behind him, and got on with his life, just like Mum said. Just as she herself was trying to do with Jamie. It wasn't easy, though. A lot easier said than done. She couldn't imagine what Robert had been through.
'What did you say, Mum?'
'I said Dad's building a new shed.'
'Oh? That's nice. You must be very pleased.'
Mum sailed on. Meg smiled and shook her head.
'Right where I wanted a rose garden, as well! What do you think of that?'
Reassuring! That's what she thought. Some people's problems were not actually very big ones. But she couldn't say that.
'Presumably you don't want to set fire to it?'
'Well …. I wouldn't go that far, no. Not yet anyway, I wouldn't say absolutely I'm ruling it out, but probably not, no.'
'Has construction actually started?'
'Not quite. He's just cleared the ground so far.'
'There you are, then. Why don't you get the garden centre to deliver a load of rose plants before things get any further? And thank Dad for preparing the bed for them?'
The chuckle at the other end became a giggle, and then a disgracefully hearty laugh.
*
'That you, Jamie?'
'Why aye! Most of me anyway.'
She glanced at her watch. Half-nine. It was getting late. She smiled as she heard him wrestling with the door.
'Push it at the bottom!' she called.
It was what you had to do to close it in winter. She got up and went to meet him in the hall.
'You've had a long day,' she pointed out sympathetically.
'And a long evening!' he said, swaying and smiling. 'But here I am, home to the prettiest girl in all the world.'
She smiled and let him hug her, but she evaded his attempted kiss. His breath was making her feel sick.
'Are you hungry?' she asked. 'Do you want something to eat?'
'Eat? No, thanks. Not me. I'm on a diet.'
He staggered towards the lounge, bumping into walls and doors on the way. 'I'll just watch a bit of telly.'
She grimaced. He wasn't supposed to be doing this any more. Maybe nothing had changed after all.
'Have you been driving in this state, Jamie?'
'That old car drives itself, my love. Not a thing to worry about. She knows her own way home. Doesn't really need me.'
She followed him and watched wearily as he slumped onto the sofa.
'Jamie, I don't want to nag, darling, but it's not good enough. You shouldn't drive if you've been drinking.'
He waved the point aside and struggled with the remote for the TV.
'What if you hit someone?'
'Me? Never had an accident in ….'
He broke off to concentrate on the buttons.
'Would you like a coffee?' she asked.
'Good idea.'
She felt depressed as she waited for the kettle to heat. In this state, Jamie was a danger to himself and everyone else. And it wasn't unusual. She wondered what, if anything, she could do.
By the time she rejoined him, he'd found some snooker to watch, but without real interest. She wondered if he could actually see it.
Something else came to mind as she sat beside him. 'Jamie, could you let me have that money back you borrowed, please?'
'What money?'
'You know – the ….'
'I've never borrowed any money.'
'From that little jewellery box on my dressing table.
'Not me, pet. It must have been somebody else.
'There is no-one else!'
'Well, it wasn't me,' he insisted.
'Jamie, I was going to go shopping with it for a few things for the ….'
She stopped. She was annoyed and upset. How stupid he was being! Of course it was him.
Well, she wasn't going to tell him now about the baby, not when he was drunk. She would wait till tomorrow. She would tell him then, and see if she could get more sense out of him then about the money as well. He probably didn't know what he was saying at the moment.
Chapter Ten
'I haven't got long for lunch today,' Jenny said as she dumped her bag on the table.
'Me neither,' Meg assured her. 'How are you?'
Jenny rolled her eyes. 'Don't ask! Let me just grab a bowl of soup.'
Meg smiled as she watched her friend make for the self-service counter. Jenny was in high-speed mode.
'What was I saying?' Jenny asked when she returned.
'How busy you are?'
'That's right. Terrible. But before I forget, can you and Jamie come round on Friday night? We haven't seen you for ages.'
Meg forked a piece of tomato in her salad, and tried to avoid the mayonnaise that went with it.
'I'd better say no, Jenny. Thanks all the same.'
'Not well? Tired?'
'No, it's not that. I'm fine. It's Jamie. His hours are so unpredictable these days. He usually works late in the evening, as well.'
'Why's that?'
'Something to do with a re-organisation. His job seems to have changed.'
Jenny nodded and concentrated on her soup for a moment. 'Microwaves!' she said with disgust, pushing the bowl aside. 'This is far too hot.'
'Better too hot than too cold,' Meg pointed out with a mischievous grin.
'You sound like my mother.'
'Anyway,' Meg said, 'apart from being too busy, how are things with you?'
'Fine, thanks. But Mike's on about changing his car again. So I'm getting a bit bored with hearing about fuel consumption and 0-60 performance statistics.'
Meg laughed. 'It doesn't seem long since he last changed his car.'
'It isn't. But he wants an estate. So he can put the dogs in the back, and not worry about hairs all over the seats and sticking to his posh suits.'
'He'll need a big estate for those dogs.'
Jenny nodded. 'If it was down to me, I'd have Yorkies. But German Shepherds seem to be a virility statement.'
'It could be worse.'
'Pit Bulls, you mean? Rottweillers?'
Meg laughed.
Jenny finished her soup and glanced at her watch.
'Time for coffee?' Meg asked.
'Just. You sit there. I'll get them.'
Meg was glad to sit and relax for a moment, content to be waited on. She seemed to get so tired these days. Because of the baby, presumably.
'Jamie's new job,' Jenny said when she returned. 'Where is it?'
'Oh, he's
still at Sutton's. The same place. He's not moved.'
Jenny placed the cups on the table and found somewhere to deposit the tray. Then she sat down. 'I don't want to worry you, Meg,' she said slowly, 'but are you sure?'
'About what?'
'His job.'
'Of course I am! What a funny thing to say. Why do you ask?'
Jenny shrugged and drew breath. 'Well, it's just that he wasn't there when Mike called in to see him.'
'Oh?'
'Mike thought he'd look in on him when he was going round the showrooms. Get some advice. But he wasn't there.'
'He'll have been busy. Out with a customer, I expect.'
Jenny shook her head. 'No. I don't think so. He's not there at all now. He doesn't work there any more. That's what they said.'
Meg felt herself colouring. 'What on earth do you mean?' she demanded.
Jenny grimaced. 'That's what they said. What they told Mike. He hasn't been there for two or three months, apparently.'
Meg stared hard at her, willing her to be joking.
Jenny shrugged. 'The funny hours you were on about? I think you should ask him what's going on. I would,' she added unnecessarily.
'Damn you!' Meg said, the blood rushing to her brain, the heat to her face.
She jumped up. 'Keep out of our affairs, Jenny! It's nothing to do with you.'
'Meg! I…'
Meg flung a five-pound note on the table and stalked off.
She was so upset she didn't return to work. She kept going, all the way back home. Damn Jenny! And her opinions and suggestions. Interfering busy-body!
Why, oh why, couldn't she mind her own business? How would she like it if somebody poked their nose into her life? Mike was no paragon of virtue. Jenny neither, for that matter.
Just as things were getting better, as well!
She used her mobile to call the office from the bus. Robert answered. Probably he was the only one not out for lunch.
'I'm not coming back this afternoon, Robert. Tell them, will you, please?'
'Are you OK?'
He sounded worried.
'No, I'm not feeling well. So I thought I'd better get away home. I'll be all right, but it's best for me to go and lie down.'
'Well, take care! Do you hear?' After a moment's pause, he added, 'And let me know if there's anything I can do.'
She thanked him and ended the call. Dear Robert! she thought with a wistful smile. What a lovely man. Even that short conversation had calmed her down and made her feel better. She would ring Jenny later and apologise. Jenny had meant well. She knew that.
Days Like These Page 5
