The lustful expression left his face as he answered the call.
‘Hello?’
His face darkened, and he hung up almost immediately.
Uh-oh, I thought. ‘Was that your wife?’
‘No, someone wanting to know if I need a new kitchen.’
I laughed with relief and couldn’t believe the comic timing of it all. My body had drained of most of its horniness – probably a good thing as I’d had no intention of complicating Nathan or my life more than necessary, not yet anyway, but I liked the fact he found me attractive.
‘You probably do need a new kitchen.’
‘It just needs cleaned.’
‘Especially the fridge.’
‘You told me that earlier.’
We sat down opposite each other at the table like normal people instead of horny rabbits.
I’d completely lost my appetite but assumed that, as he’d been living off tins of beans, his need for food would be greater. I pushed things towards him: smoked ham, crusty bread, strawberries, grapes and a triangular slab of Brie. ‘Eat,’ I commanded and poured myself some more wine while I watched.
He spread some Brie on the bread and shoved a big chunk into his mouth. Some of the cheese got stuck to his cheek and breadcrumbs rained down onto the table.
‘This is like watching a pig eat.’
‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘Do you know what else you need?’
‘A bib?’ he mumbled.
I laughed. ‘Probably, but you also need a friend, maybe a girlfriend.’
‘I do? Why?’
‘You’ve been through a traumatic experience. Not many people get to die and come back.’
‘Vampires do.’
‘Does that mean you’re going to bite my neck?’
‘Do you want me to?’
‘I’ll think about it. I can’t be your girlfriend just now, though.’
‘You can’t?’
‘No, not while you’re married.’
‘Right, okay, I forgot about that.’
‘Yeah, that tends to happen when the little head takes charge of the big head.’
‘Thanks for pointing that out and reminding me of my domestic strife.’
He appeared to be a little sad, which lifted my spirits and made me decide to ignore Hayley’s advice.
‘You’re beautiful when you sleep.’
His brows knitted together. ‘I don’t think I am, and how would you know anyway?’
‘When you were all drugged up I watched you sleep for a while.’
‘That’s weird, Kat, and a little creepy.’
I nodded. ‘My friend Hayley did say I shouldn’t tell you that.’
‘She sounds like a wise woman. You should listen to her more.’
‘She doesn’t know you.’
‘You don’t really know me either.’
‘I knew I liked you as soon as I saw you.’
‘I’d been dead when you first saw me.’
‘Fair point, but the moment I pulled you out of that drawer I just knew – as long as you survived, of course. I’m not into necrophilia.’
‘Just as well, given your occupation. It’s possible that you might need professional help too. I’ve got some good mental health people recommendations recently – maybe I could arrange for you to see one of them.’
I laughed. ‘I’m one hundred per cent sane. I just know what I want. I go out of my way to avoid people, but when I like someone, which doesn’t happen often, I tell them straight off.’
‘I’ve noticed.’
‘You fancy me.’
‘I do?’
‘Of course, you do, your eyes don’t lie.’
‘My eyes?’
‘Your pupils dilate every time you look at me. You want into my knickers.’
‘I do?’
‘You do. But you’re not getting into them, not yet anyway.’
‘Why?’
‘We’ve already had that conversation.’
‘Have we?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I must have forgotten.’
‘Oh, dear, amnesia too. You should go and see Dr Spencer again.’
‘She wants to introduce me to Jesus.’
‘I’ve heard he’s a nice guy.’
‘We won’t have anything in common.’
‘Oh, I don’t know – he came back from the dead as well.’
‘I forgot about that.’
‘See? Amnesia.’ I stared at him for a moment, wondering what fascinated me. Yeah, he looked good, but there must be something else, possibly that mysterious stuff called chemistry. He wouldn’t have been my first choice as he was confused, had three kids in tow and was heading for a messy divorce. Hayley was right – I must be a sucker for lost causes.
I smiled at my thoughts and said, ‘I’m going to tidy up in here, then get a taxi home. I can’t drive because you’ve made me drink too much. If my car gets broken into or stolen overnight, I’ll send you the bill.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘Keep an eye on it – it’s a black Fiesta – and text me if anything happens.’
‘It’ll be fine.’
‘I hope so.’ I gave him my number anyway.
He texted me later to make sure I’d got home okay, which was nice of him. He then texted me to say, I hope you get a good night’s sleep.
Thank you.
Thanks for dinner.
You’re welcome.
Are you tired?
A little bit.
OK goodnight.
Goodnight Nathan.
In the morning I woke to a plethora of messages:
2.11 a.m. Sorry I can’t sleep, you are haunting my dreams.
I wasn’t sure how I could be doing that if he wasn’t asleep.
2.16 a.m. What are you doing for breakfast? Do you want to meet up?
Needy or what?
2.19 a.m. Sorry, that sounds like I’m really needy.
Glad he agreed.
2.31 a.m. I know you are worried about me being married and having kids and still hankering after my wife and all that stuff and I suppose you’re right to be worried (I’d be worried) but having a friend at this time would be nice. Will you be my friend?
He sounded like a child.
2.35 a.m. I shouldn’t have sent that one, it makes me sound pathetic, lonely and about five years old. Sorry.
At least he could be quite self-aware.
2.43 a.m. I’m going to sleep so I’ll stop texting you now, but let me know if you’d like breakfast, or lunch or brunch (depending on when you collect your car). I’m sorry about the texts I’m not used to texting pretty girls. PS your car is fine.
I lay in bed, thinking and working on a mental checklist. On the plus side he was cute, vulnerable, funny, didn’t take himself too seriously and had a bonkers streak running through him that had probably been shaped by a weird childhood. (The last item might have been a red marker for most folk, but a green one for me.) He also liked me and fancied me and said I was pretty.
On the negative side, he was married, had kids, hadn’t got over his wife yet. (Would he ever? Did married people ever get over splitting up?) His life was in turmoil and he lived in Dumbiedykes, despite his denials.
It was too late for breakfast anyway, so I texted back: Let’s have brunch but not in Dumbiedykes.
Holyrood.
Yep, in denial.
See you soon, Nathan x.
Our first kiss!
Chapter 15
When I got off the bus I noticed him standing beside my car. I hoped he’d not been guarding it all night.
‘Hi, Nathan.’
‘Hi, Kat.’
We stood staring at each other awkwardly before I said, ‘I’m hungry.’
‘So am I.’
‘Where will we go, this is your end of town?’
‘There’s a nice place not too far from here, I sometimes take the girls there for lunch.’
/>
‘OK, your car or mine?’
We took mine. We ended up in the Elephant House Café and squeezed into a tight corner table near the toilets. The waitress took our orders and a few moments later delivered us coffee.
‘Why are all these people taking selfies?’ I asked Nathan as he read the menu.
‘This is the place where J. K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books – well, the first one or two at any rate.’
‘Oh.’ I watched lots of foreign tourists come in the door, pose for a selfie and disappear without buying anything.
‘I’m sorry for texting last night. I’m not used to texting girls, except Millie.’
‘Who’s Millie?’
‘My eldest daughter.’
‘Oh, okay.’
‘I hope I didn’t disturb your sleep.’
‘Nah, once I’m out I sleep like the dead.’
‘That’s a gruesome description, Kat.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I’m not sure I meant it as a compliment.’
‘You should have.’
‘Well, all right. That might take some getting used to. Last night, well … I think I was trying to sort out my feelings.’
‘That’ll take more than a few texts to a sleeping girl.’
‘You’re probably right.’
‘I am right. Now, if you want to talk about your feelings, that’s fine, but as you know I like you, and you like me. That’s the easy bit. The more complicated issue is that you’ve got loads of baggage to sort out and I’m YFS.’
‘YFS?’
‘Young, free and single. Well, quite young; younger than you at any rate.’
‘With no baggage, so why would you want to get involved with me?’
‘Oh, I’ve got baggage, but you’re right – you’ve got three children and they might not like me. I’m nothing like their mother.’
‘That’s a big plus for me.’
‘That remains to be seen. Let’s talk about your wife. What’s she up to?’
‘She’s working, in London.’
‘Yeah, you told me that, but what else? Has she got a boyfriend?’
‘Oodles.’
I stared at him for a moment. ‘What, loads of boyfriends?’
‘No, just one called Oodles.’
‘That’s a strange name and, believe me, if I think that, it’s true.’
‘He’s called Simon. He’s got oodles of money – that’s why we call him Oodles.’
‘Who’s we?’
‘Me and Millie.’
‘Ah, your daughter knows.’
‘She told me about him.’
‘Oh.’ I tried to process that. ‘So, your wife’s quite open about it, then?’
Nathan nodded and took a bite from his bagel.
‘If your wife has introduced your kids to her new boyfriend, then your marriage really is a Humpty Dumpty. I was right.’ He nodded again. ‘So you need to move on.’
‘I know.’
‘I assume that’s why she moved to London?’
He frowned. ‘Why?’
‘To be with Oodles.’
‘Laura said she’s just met him.’
‘And you believed her?’
He nodded again. Aw, bless, what a trusting soul. ‘The first thing we should do, if you want to see how things might pan out, is introduce me to your daughters. It will be awkward but necessary if you want to move on.’
‘I want to move on, I think.’
I laughed. ‘That’s an honest answer, at least. I don’t want you to do this for the wrong reason. I don’t want to be used as a pawn or a lure to tempt Laura back.’
‘I don’t think I understand. How would I do that?’
I studied him for a minute to see if he was being obtuse, but he genuinely seemed puzzled, so I let it go. ‘There will be plenty of bumps in the road so be prepared.’
‘Okay.’
I wasn’t completely convinced, but I fancied him, and he needed me. I liked that. I didn’t often feel needed; in fact, I couldn’t remember the last time anyone needed me, apart from Sid to help open up a cadaver or to compare notes on our dysfunctional families.
‘What shall we do, then?’ I asked, sipping my now lukewarm coffee.
‘I had planned on taking them to the safari park on Monday. It’s a school holiday. You could come with us? It’ll be on neutral ground and with other things to occupy their minds. I’ll just say you’re a friend. Oh, but won’t you be working?’
‘One of the good things about shift work, perhaps the only good thing about shift work is that my work-patterns are quite varied. I’m off Monday. As for being a friend, I suppose, for the time being, that’s all I am. It might be fun. I’ve not been there for years and we can visit your relatives.’
‘My relatives?’
‘The chimps.’
‘Are you sure you’ve not been speaking to my wife?’
‘Why?’
‘That’s what she said when we went to the zoo.’
‘Must be true, then.’
Chapter 16
That evening I caught up with Hayley.
I’d blagged a quiet table in The Fall Guy, an old bistro pub in the Grassmarket area. I’d already finished a glass of red wine while watching the door for her arrival.
The waitress had been over twice to see if I’d decided what I wanted before Hayley showed up. Her timekeeping had always been terrible.
‘Sorry,’ she said quietly, chewing her bottom lip. She looked uncharacteristically flustered.
‘Busy day?’
‘Every day’s a busy day now. I even have to go in tomorrow just to catch up, but I don’t want to bore you with my work stuff.’ She smiled at me and waved the waitress over. I ordered penne-pasta with meatballs, considered another glass of wine but opted for caffeine free diet coke instead.. Hayley went for a lean chicken salad and sparkling water. ‘Do you know what’s in that stuff?’ she asked, pointing at my drink.
‘It’s diet, caffeine-free Coke, so practically nothing, it’s just dirty fizzy water. It must be okay though, as they tested it on kangaroos in the Australian outback.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I read it in the Metro.’
‘Oh, well, must be true, then, but it’s got that sweetener stuff in it that your body changes into formaldehyde.’
‘We use that in the morgue.’
‘There you go, then, it can’t be good for you – and on the subject of the dead, how are things with your dead boyfriend?’
‘Well, he’s still not dead, or not any more – you need to stop calling him that – and he’s not my boyfriend.’
‘I know you gave me the basics over the phone, but what’s your plan?’
‘I’m going out with him and his kids on Monday.’
‘That’s a big step. What if he gets back with his wife? What if he decides it’s too early to date someone new? What if he just wants a shag?’
‘He’s not like that. His brain doesn’t work that way, at least I don’t think it does, plus, his wife has introduced his daughters to her new boyfriend.’
‘That was quick.’
‘I think she’s been seeing him for a while.’
‘Oh, did Nathan tell you that?’
‘No, common sense.’
‘You might end up as a surrogate mother that he can dump the kids on and bugger off to the pub.’
I laughed. ‘He wouldn’t do that – leaving me in charge of children, can you imagine?’
Hayley put her finger to her lips, pouted and raised her eyebrows, pretending to be thinking deeply about my child-caring abilities. It just made her look dipsy. ‘Stop it. I’m not that bad.’
‘Yeah, okay, but have you thought this through? You hardly know this guy and yet are thinking of taking on his kids.’
‘I’m not taking on anything. It’s a day out and nothing more.’
‘Whatever. I reckon he still might just want a shag and I think you’re wasting your time with
him.’
‘He needs me.’
‘The wife won’t like it.’
‘She’s done it to him.’
‘Is this his idea of payback?’
‘It was my idea.’
Hayley laughed. ‘For some reason that doesn’t surprise me. Still, it can’t be worse than Dr Dave.’
‘Don’t swear.’
‘Listen, I’ve got some news.’ I watched Hayley chew her lip again and twirl some of her hair in her fingers, avoiding looking me in the eye.
‘What’s happened?’
‘Um, I’m not sure how to tell you this but … well, I’ve met someone.’
‘You have?’ I squealed, a little too loudly, as everyone in the pub turned and stared at our table.
‘Shhh, Kat, too noisy.’
‘Sorry,’ I said, bouncing up and down on my seat. ‘How, where and when?’
‘I kind of met him at work, I suppose.’
‘What? Another lawyer? I thought you hated—’
‘He’s not a lawyer.’
‘Right, so …’ I tried to think what other males worked in Hayley’s office. ‘Is it that cute paralegal guy that you wanted to snog last Christmas?’
‘Alex? No, he’s moved on anyway.’
‘So, who is it? Come on, Hayley, don’t keep me in suspense here. You never mentioned anything the other night; how did this happen so quickly?’
‘You’re not going to like it, Kat.’
‘Why won’t I like it? Who could …?’ Suddenly the penny dropped. ‘No-o-o-o-o.’ I gasped. ‘You can’t. You haven’t. It’s not right, it’s not decent, it’s like …’
Hayley smiled guiltily. ‘I couldn’t help it. He came in yesterday morning when I’d been sitting in the open office and I didn’t have time to hide and, well, we just got to talking and—’
‘Hayley, what are you thinking? He made your life hell.’
‘Yeah, but it was a long time ago and, in a way, also helped save me. That drawing he did was the final push I needed to stop eating crap and start losing weight.’
‘Your weight loss was hormonal, wasn’t it? That’s what you’ve always claimed.’
The Second Life of Nathan Jones Page 12
