Amanda raised an eyebrow at him, pudding face! Harry took no notice of the look she threw him. Instead he threw back a mischievous look with a devilish smile.
Was that growling she could hear? Oh she knew who that would be without having to turn around. Harry was so gonna get it. And so was she at some point, she had no doubt.
“Alan. I would like you to come meet my family.” She told him as she grabbed his hand forcefully trying to silently warn him not to push his luck. Jake was already angry enough.
“Oh I am so excited.” Harry said in what could only be described as a camp voice as he bounded along behind her. A bounce in his step and a little wiggle in his hips.
Then he walked passed her and with big exaggerated arm movements. Harry walked forward exclaiming in animated fashion
“You must be Emee’s sister. You look so much alike. It’s uncanny.” Amanda bit down on a smile that was dangerously close to forming. In fact, she did not know whether to laugh out loud or burst out crying.
Still, she guessed the more obnoxious Harry was the more Jake’s nose would be put out of joint. And that’s what she wanted. She smiled secretly to herself,
Of course the more obnoxious Harry was the more likely it would be that she would end up buying a plot for him in the local churchyard.
“No. I am Amanda’s mother.” Her mother smiled as she corrected him.
“No.” Harry exclaimed in shock. “Really? But you look so young.” He told her and she watched her mother blush slightly.
“Why thank you.”
“Perhaps I married the wrong one?” Harry cast a look in Amanda’s direction and then back to her mother. “Emee is starting to look a little worse for wear these days.” He told them all in a loud voice. “Your skin is so translucent. It’s a shame Emee didn’t inherit that from you. She is looking quite dowdy.” Harry tutted.
“Alan.” Amanda said in a warning tone but Harry completely ignored her.
“You must tell me what your secret is. And this.” He put his hands to his mouth and looked over at Amanda before turning back in the direction of Jake. “And this must be your brother Jakey wakey.” Oh god, he was so dead. Amanda’s heart raced in alarm.
She really had to stop him, right now. “I have heard so much about you Jakey. All good things I promise. I feel like we are brothers, brother.” And then she almost fell on the floor with hysterics as he threw his arms around Jake and hugged him.
Not just a small quick hug. But a full on squeezy tight hug that went on for at least thirty seconds or more, and finishing with Harry slapping Jake on the back.
Jake stood stock still, unmoving. His fists at his sides clenching and unclenching. But it was his face. That menacing look, that face said it all. Harry was in trouble. She was in trouble. And there was going to be no escaping it.
“Alan… darling.” Amanda crossed the room quickly coming to stand next to Harry.
She moved sideways, bringing her hands to Harry’s arms and pushing him back away from Jake as she positioned herself between them.
She could feel Jake at her back. The hair on her neck stood up to attention. She was sure she could hear Jake grinding his teeth. She must not laugh. “Alan why don’t you sit down and I will pour you some tea.” Harry did as he was told, thankfully and she retook her seat as she felt Jake slide back down into his own.
When she had poured Harry his tea and passed it to him with shaky fingers Jake silently held out his cup to her and without looking up at his face she poured some more tea into it. Being very careful not to spill any. She knew Jake’s eyes were watching her face intently she did not need to look up to know it. She could feel it.
“Ah, Alan.” Her mother began, cutting into the thick tense silence of the room. “Amanda was telling us that you have been married for four years now.”
“Oh the wedding was a wonderful affair. It was a shame that you could not attend.”
“Yes, that was a shame.” Jake agreed sardonically.
“If I had known Jakey I would have spoken to you directly. But Emee said that you were too busy to come. And that you wouldn’t have wanted to be there.” Amanda looked down at her lap. If Jake did not kill him she would.
“I wasn’t too busy.” Jake said roughly. “Trust me, I would have made the time.” Yes, Amanda was sure that he would have. He would have made sure that he got there long before the wedding to make sure that it never went ahead in the first place. He was horrible like that.
“Anyway.” Harry continued. “Some people said I went a little over the top, especially with the hot air balloon. The basket had layers of pink taffeta and little shiny red hearts. It was so beautiful.” He turned to her. “Am I right…? I am so right.” And then he tuned back to her mother. “Then there were the six and twenty blackbirds and the white doves. There was a full orchestra.” Harry sighed and put a hand on his chest. “Of course nothing was too good for my big day, isn’t that right Emee? I mean I had been waiting a long time for the wedding of my dreams.”
“Um…” Her mother fidgeted in her seat. “Perhaps there are photos of the wedding.” Her mother said. Oh great, why hadn’t she thought about that.
“That is a good idea. I would love to see Amanda in her wedding dress.” Jake said curtly.
“Oh yes, I am sure you looked lovely in white.” Her mother gushed and Harry burst out laughing and slapped his thigh with his hand.
“Well that would have been hypocritical of her don’t you think? No, she was in a rather fetching… scarlet. Wasn’t you dear.”
“Ah… yes.” She agreed. Note to self, really kill Harry later.
“So… um… what are your plans for the future?” Her mother asked him changing the subject.
“Oh I am so glad you asked.” Harry bounced on his seat as he clapped his hands together avidly. “You see Jackie. May I call you Jackie? Of course I can. What was I thinking darling?” Harry proceeded to pat her mother’s knee.
Amanda did not know what he was thinking. Heck, the question should have been what in the world was she thinking. “For the last couple of years we have both been busy with our careers. Of course I am a fair husband and very tolerant. After all I allow Emee to work.”
Amanda and Jake both winced at the same time. She chanced a glance up at him but only managed to be brave enough to get as far as the cup he was holding in his hands.
If he grabbed that cup any tighter it was going to shatter, Amanda thought. “But I really think the time has come for me to start thinking of having a family. The time is right, and after all that is why you get married is it not Jackie. Am I right? I’m right. Emee is not getting any younger poor thing. That little biological clock is ticking away. Tick, tick.” Harry said and Amanda bit back on another wince as she felt the colour infuse her cheeks.
“Of course…” her mother gave a delicate little cough and exchanged a look with Jake. Who shook his head warningly at her?
“Although maybe we will adopt. Knowing my luck, they will all pop out and end up being very… red headed. If you know what I mean. She can get so…” Harry stopped.
“Pig headed.” Jake suggested.
“Oh that’s not the half of it. That temper of hers.” Harry shook his head and tutted.
“So were you thinking of a small family.” Her mother again.
“Well I thought maybe six or seven.” Amanda choked on her tea. Harry turned and patted her back several times. “I don’t know I can’t take her anywhere. Has she always been this much trouble?” Harry turned back to her mother.
“Um.” Her mother began but Harry was already swapping his attention to Jake.
“Come on Jakey, you can tell me. Brother to brother. How much trouble was she when she was growing up?” He lowered his tone a little.
“Not nearly as much trouble as she is now.” Jake told him.
“They do say that they get worse with age.” Harry agreed. “I was kind of hoping that she would mellow, you know like a fine wine.”
“Amanda’s always been more of a champagne.” Jake commented. Really? She wasn’t sure if that had been a compliment.
“It looks like I still have some work to do.”
“I doubt you will change her Alan.” Jake told him. “You’re not man enough to handle her.” Amanda felt herself blush. Harry ignored the comment.
“If she were an animal she’d be a tiger.” Harry said now.
“More like an anaconda or rattle snake.” Jake threw back. It had obviously become a competition to see who could insult her the most. Jake was probably winning. Rattle snake? Charming.
Harry suddenly snapped his fingers and thumb right under her nose and she blinked to refocus.
“Serviette.” He told her and too bemused to do anything else she did as she was ordered and handed him a serviette from the tray that was set right in front of him. “Of course Emee would have to give up work. I tolerate it of course. However, there is only so much patience a man possesses. Am I right? I am so right.” Harry clicked his fingers again. “Another serviette.”
“Here you go dear.” She said as she handed another serviette to him.
“But it hasn’t been easy.” Harry continued. “You see Emee had many problems when we first met.” He rolled his eyes heavenward and tutted loudly. “I do not know how you managed with her I really don’t. Do you know she had many of her own views and ideas? If you can imagine that.” He scoffed. “And again there is that temper of hers. Never-theless I managed to knock that out of her. Well for the most part.”
She felt Jake move in his chair and for a moment she actually thought that he was going to attack him. Amanda’s heart lurched in her chest and running on automatic she reached out a hand and placed it on Jake’s arm to stop him jumping up.
She looked up straight into his eyes. That pulse was ticking away in his neck again.
“Sorry.” She mumbled and removed her hand from his arm.
“But there have been times when she has tried my patience to breaking point. Well you know how she was.” Harry lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“Well…” Her mother tried again but then stopped.
“Jake. You’ll back me up.”
“She can be… infuriating.” Jake agreed.
“Well that’s putting it mildly.” He scoffed. “And when she gets angry she looks so ugly. She gets this grimace on her face. You know the one Jake. The one that looks like she’s sucking on a lemon.”
“Oh dear.” Her mother said now. She looked as shocked as Amanda was herself.
Didn’t Harry realise how it all sounded. Maybe he did and that was the point. How bad did it make her look, and she probably deserved it, she was the one that had started this lie.
“An angry woman is never flattering. I keep telling her that. I told her that it made her look ugly. Not that she was a raving beauty to start with. Emee my cup.” Amanda took his cup from his hand and put it down on the tray. Even though he was closer to the tray than she was. “The key to a long happy, successful marriage is a well-trained wife. There is nothing worse than a woman that doesn’t know her place. Am I right? I am right. Don’t you agree Jakey?” Harry asked giving Jake his best innocent look.
“No I do not. I think both men and women are equal. A relationship is a partnership. You should cherish the woman you profess to love not bark orders at her as if she were nothing more than a dog.” Jakes voice remained low, clear and concise. His point easily made. “Besides having her own views is one of Amanda’s better qualities.” Really, she never thought she would ever hear something like that out of Jake’s mouth.
Coming from Jake that was a big compliment. The biggest one she had ever received anyway. “And there is something to be said for a fiery temper. It usually indicates the under-lying passion that’s bubbling just underneath the surface.” Amanda blushed profusely and she dared to glance up at Jake.
Those eyes of his bored into her own and she felt herself grow hotter. She turned quickly for fear of giving herself away.
“Yes well, if she has then she hides it under many layers.” Harry complained loudly and then chuckled, slapping his hand on his thigh again.
“Though the ultimate prize may be that passion. The unwrapping can be just as bittersweet. Slowly taking away one layer after another to strip it all bare can be just as enticing as the end result.” Jake’s voice took on a different tone, laced with… Amanda closed her eyes as she felt a familiar feeling uncurling inside.
It wasn’t fair that he was able to do that with just a few well-chosen words and with other people around them. She felt herself getting very hot indeed.
Harry, however was either oblivious to Jake’s comment or he chose to ignore it and continued on regardless.
“It took me a long time to break Emee of her bad habits. Now, as you see, she simply does as she is told. Emee has got used to it. All women do in the end.” Amanda winced audibly and so did Jake.
Amanda turned to look at Harry, the words dead man walking, flashed in her head.
“Really.” Jake drawled, his tone tense. “It’s obvious that you know women very well.” He told Harry sarcastically. “That you know Amanda very well.” The tone in his voice changed and it made Amanda shiver. She wasn’t sure what it was that she thought she had heard but she had heard something that had her stomach flipping and her heart beating.
“Oh yes, you see Jakey.” Harry continued oblivious to anything other than his act. “Women need to be taught their place.”
“Their… place?” Jake asked and Amanda chanced a sideways glance at him. His eyebrows were raised as he watched Harry intently before he turned his eyes on her. Quickly she lowered them as she felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
“They need boundaries. Well, I don’t need to tell you that Jakey. I can see that you are a man of the world. Women are like children and, just like children, if you do not set rules then they end up walking all over you. A man ruled by a woman is so yesterday. Am I right? Oh I am so right.” Harry clapped his hands together in sheer enjoyment.
“Tell me something Alan. Where exactly would a woman’s place be… in your opinion.” Jake asked Harry.
“Well, if not in the kitchen, then most certainly in the bedroom. Am I right? I’m right.” Harry continued.
“Well… erm…” her mother blushed. “Jake?”
“There is something you have to understand.” Harry intervened before anyone could say anything. “A woman’s brain just doesn’t have the capacity for anything too challenging. Well you must know that. You have had to deal with Emee. I mean, she’s not the brightest bulb in the pack now is she.”
Amanda looked down in her lap for fear that she would either hit Harry, scream at him, or laugh hysterically. She felt movement and snapped her head up in alarm as she watched Jake lean forward.
The lines on his face looking tight and taunt over his bones. He slowly put his cup on the tray and then sat back up. He clenched his hands together several times and Amanda knew that he was hoping that his hands could be wrapped around Harry’s throat, or possibly hers, Amanda wasn’t sure.
“Right now I would second that.” Jake said quietly.
“Emee isn’t exactly known for being logical or rational now is she.” Harry put a hand on her mother’s hand. “I really do not know how you coped all those years. I mean really.” He turned back to her. Bringing up his hand and brushing his fingers against her cheek. “Emee is like a delicate flower and she needs to be treated as such. Once she’s had a couple of kids she will be far too busy to service my needs.” He dropped his hand from her. “I will have to take in a mistress for that.” He shook his head. “And I am not looking forward to that at all.” And then he tutted. “Though I think I will go blonde, not another redhead. Redheads are so… what’s the word I am looking for?” he asked and then looked directly at Jake giving him his best innocent little boy lost look.
Jake looked at Harry for several moments and then at Amanda who stared back unable to move.
“A handful.” Jake suggested.
“She most certainly is. Headstrong too. I am sure you have noticed that.” Harry continued.
“Yes.” Jake said almost absently as he continued to stare at her with those piercing steel blue eyes of his. “Quite willing to cut her own nose off to spite her face.” He said.
Amanda bit down on her lip to stop herself from saying something and snapping at him angrily. He knew that she would not when they had an audience. That was why he was doing it. “And what about you… Emee?” Jake spat the word out with such contempt that even Harry felt his toes curl. “You do not mind being treated like a mindless idiot?”
Well now, here was a dilemma. On the one hand this was a chance for her to calm the situation before it got any more out of hand than it already had. But then on the other…
“I am here to serve my loving husband and to tend to all of his needs.” She said.
“And speaking of my needs. I need the little boy’s room.” He clicked his fingers right under Amanda’s nose. Amanda stood up and dutifully bowed to her husband replying as casually as she could.
“Of course Alan. If you would follow me.” And she proceeded to show Harry out of the room, like a good little wife.
Once outside in the hallway Amanda grabbed Harry’s arm firmly and pulled him up the stairs so that she could get far away from the other occupants. She did not want to be overheard.
“What do you think you are playing at?” she asked him quietly.
“Funny, that was going to be my first question.” He said as they stared at one another. He had a point. She had been the one to get him into this not him. “It’s funny how in sync we are.” She heard the sarcasm. She let it go, she deserved it.
“Oh I am so sorry Harry. I just, it was. He just.” She stopped. Was there really an excuse.
“He really likes you.” Harry told her. A smug smile on his face and she punched his arm.
“No, he really doesn’t.” She told him.
“Yes, he really does.” Harry said.
“No… eh. Harry.” She sighed deeply.
Battle Lines. Page 10
