by Jill Mansell
Ellie smiled. Behind her, she was intensely aware of Zack’s warm breath on the back of her neck.
‘Those hair things.’ He sounded puzzled. ‘They look like the ones you wore that night we met them.’
‘They do a bit.’
Zack peered more closely, his arm brushing her shoulder. ‘They’re exactly the same.’ He shifted position, looked round at Ellie. ‘Are they yours?’
‘Yes.’
‘You gave them to Bibi?’
Ellie flushed; was he cross with her? Embarrassed that she’d given the wife of a billionaire such cheap combs? ‘She said she liked them. I didn’t think she’d actually wear the things.’ She indicated the photo on the screen. ‘Especially not to something like that.’
‘Hey, I’m not complaining.’ Zack straightened and swung her chair round so she was properly facing him. Searching her face, he said, ‘Did you think I was?’
‘I don’t know.’ Ellie felt herself getting flustered; when Zack was looking at her like this, it was hard to concentrate. ‘After I got home I thought I probably shouldn’t have done it.’ God, really hard to concentrate. ‘I mean, you wouldn’t believe how cheap they were… I just hope no one lets on to Bibi… people might laugh at her for wearing them and then she’ll be mortified.’
‘Can I just say something?’ Zack cut through her babbling. ‘Bibi’s a smart lady who knows her own mind. She wears whatever she wants to wear and I wouldn’t want to be the one who tried to laugh at her. Apart from anything else, she has a black belt in karate.’
‘Haven’t we all,’ said Ellie.
He did a slight double take. ‘Have you?’
‘That’s for me to know and you to find out.’ She didn’t have a black belt but had got as far as green at the age of fourteen. Once you’d got that far you could always fake the rest.
‘Now I’m scared.’ He smiled briefly. ‘Anyway, it was a nice thing to do. Bob and Bibi liked you very much.’
‘I liked them.’ Ellie shifted in her swivel chair; had the atmosphere changed? For the past few weeks Zack had been distant and businesslike. But now he was leaning against the desk, his leg inches from hers, and it was as if all the tension had melted away. There was a softening in his manner, a return to the laid-back, relaxed Zack who had cared for her and been such easy company while she’d been ill with the flu.
In fact, maybe even more than that. Was it her imagination or was he looking at her almost as if there was something he wanted to say but didn’t know quite how to say it? Or did she just wish there was? Oh Lord, was she doing it again, conjuring up fantasies like a deluded Take That fan?
‘You never know, something like this could make all the difference.’ Zack picked up the diary and idly flipped through the pages. ‘Bob’s looking for a partner in a new electronics company. He might ask me to go in with him. If he does, I’ll need to fly out to Texas for a week or two, probably early December.’ He frowned, deep in thought. ‘You know, it’d be pretty hectic. Lots to do, workwise and socially. I might need you to come out with me.’
Eeeeeep, yelped a little voice in Ellie’s head. A trip to Texas with Zack! Oh God, what if they took an overnight flight and had to sleep next to each other on the plane?
Except that wasn’t actually likely to happen, was it? He’d probably be cocooned in luxury up there in business class, while she’d be squashed into economy at the back of the plane, surrounded by screaming kids.
Aloud she said, ‘That’s fine.’
He was watching her intently. ‘Sure it won’t interfere with your plans?’
He thought she was still seeing Joe. Was this the moment to tell him it was over? But if she did, would he just assume she’d been dumped again? Ellie shook her head. ‘It’s my job. Not a problem, no problem at all.’
‘Good, good.’ He carried on turning the pages of the diary. She saw him check his appointments for September. There at the end of the month was the weekend of his sister’s wedding. He flicked on past without saying anything. It hadn’t been mentioned since the day he’d asked her to go with him. Had he forgotten about inviting her? Was he hoping she’d forgotten? Had he made arrangements to take someone else?
Was this why he was in a better mood? Ellie’s stomach clenched with anxiety. Just because Zack hadn’t talked to her about it didn’t mean it wasn’t happening.
Right, ask him.
‘Er…’ Bugger, her throat had gone funny and her mouth was dry. Pushing back her chair, she said, ‘Cup of tea?’ It would be easier to ask the question when he wasn’t so close.
‘Thanks.’ But when she went into the kitchen, he followed her. Right, just get it over with. Ellie threw tea bags into two mugs. ‘So what’s happening with your sister’s wedding?’
‘Utter chaos.’ Zack visibly relaxed. ‘A million things to do and not nearly enough time to do it in. The twins are refusing to be bridesmaids unless they can wear trainers that light up. Plus, they want the dogs to walk up the aisle with them. Steph’s tearing her hair out. But it’ll all get sorted out in the end.’
The tea bags fizzed and filled with air as Ellie poured boiling water on to them. ‘Look, if you don’t need me for that anymore, it’s fine.’
‘Why?’ Zack stiffened. ‘Don’t you want to come?’
‘No… I mean yes…’ Stirring too vigorously, she sploshed tea over the worktop.
‘Is it Joe?’
‘No, I just thought you might have someone else you’d rather take.’ Honestly, did he have any idea how hard it was to sound casual when he was looking at her like this?
‘Someone else like who?’
She may as well say it. ‘OK, I saw the postcard that arrived for you the other week. From Australia. I wasn’t being nosy,’ Ellie went on hurriedly, ‘I just couldn’t help seeing what it said.’
‘The one from Meg.’ She caught a glimmer of a smile. ‘What makes you think I’d want to take her along to Steph’s wedding?’
‘Well, she used to be your girlfriend. And she seemed pretty keen to see you again.’ OK, she sounded so nosy. ‘Look, sorry, but it makes things easier if I know what’s going on.’
‘Nothing’s going on.’ Zack took the milk out of the fridge and passed it to her. ‘You’re right, Meg was pretty keen. I met up with her for a drink at the Queen’s Head the other evening. It was nice to see her again, catch up with her news, but that’s as far as it goes. There’s no way we’ll be getting back together.’
‘Oh. Right.’
‘And I definitely won’t be inviting her to come along to Steph’s wedding.’
Milk. Slosh. Milk. Bigger slosh. Whoops. Flustered, Ellie said, ‘So you still want me?’
Oh God, did I really just say that?
After a moment, Zack replied evenly, ‘Yes. If you still want to go.’
Oo-er. Was it her or was it getting hot in here?
‘I do want to. I’m looking forward to it.’ The way he was watching her was having a strange effect on her knees. ‘Meeting your family.’
‘It’ll be good fun. You may need earplugs,’ said Zack, ‘but you will like them. You’ll get on really well together.’
And now he was looking at her mouth. Was this how it felt to be hypnotized? Barely able to think straight, Ellie murmured, ‘They sound great,’ and wondered if she’d said it right or if her lips had gone all rubbery and completely lost control of themselves. Was she making any sense or was it all coming out as blah-blah-blah? And still he was gazing at her in such a way that it was almost as if—
‘Woof ! Woof-woof !’
Chapter 49
Ellie leapt a foot in the air as the dog flap clattered and Elmo erupted into the kitchen. She heard Zack exhale with what could have been frustration. Or was that just more wishful thinking on her part? Mentally dragging herself back to the real world, she picked up a rag and gave the granite worktop a wipe down where she’d spilled the milk.
‘It’s not time to go out,’ Zack told Elmo, who was still barking and l
eaping around like a landed salmon. He shook his head at the dog, then gave in and said, ‘Oh, what the hell, come on then.’ He reached for the red lead, hanging on a hook by the back door. This was Elmo’s cue to stop fooling around and stand still, allowing Zack to clip it to his collar. As Zack bent down to do this, Elmo scuttled into reverse, did a speedy three-point turn, and hurtled back out through the dog flap.
‘What’s he playing at?’ Zack frowned and hung the lead back up.
Ellie went to the window. Elmo was dancing around in the garden, jumping up onto the wall then down again. The next moment, still yapping noisily, he launched himself back into the kitchen. Ellie picked up the phone and called Geraldine next door.
‘No reply.’ She looked over at Elmo, then at Zack. ‘Did she say she was going out?’
He shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Where’s the spare key?’
‘She asked to borrow it last week when her sister came to stay. Hasn’t given it back yet.’
‘Let’s see if she’s there.’ Ellie opened the kitchen door. The three of them jumped over the low wall. There was nothing to see through Geraldine’s kitchen window but Elmo was still yelping in a state of full-on agitation. Yelling Geraldine’s name provoked no response.
‘OK, I’ll give it a go.’ Ellie slid her arms out of her pink cotton cardigan, handed it to Zack and eyed the dog flap in Geraldine’s back door.
Think yourself thin, think yourself thin.
‘Can you get through?’ Zack was looking doubtful; it was a flap designed for a medium-sized dog.
‘Thanks for that vote of confidence.’ She took a swipe at him. ‘If I get stuck, it’s your fault for buying so many doughnuts. And no videoing this and putting it on YouTube. Right.’ She kicked off her shoes. ‘You’ll have to do the thing with the sensor.’
Was this wise? If she did get stuck, would the fire brigade have to be called and the entire door dismantled? Might she have to be crowbarred out? Ellie knelt down and waited for Zack to disconnect the sensor from Elmo’s collar. He held it right next to the flap, enabling her to push it open.
‘You’d better not be laughing at me.’ No longer able to see him, Ellie went through arms first and began wiggling her shoulders through the tight bit.
Above her, Zack said, ‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’
He was definitely laughing. She prayed her skirt hadn’t ridden up. OK, halfway through now. Hips and bottom next. It was going to be a tight squeeze. Bracing herself, Ellie said, ‘And if I can’t manage this, don’t go calling the fire brigade. Just leave me here until I’ve lost enough weight.’
But she eventually got through. Just. As she scrambled to her feet, it occurred to her that they may have overreacted. Geraldine had probably gone out to visit a friend. Either that or she was upstairs having a bath or an afternoon nap, and Elmo had been doing his Superdog-to-the-rescue impression for a laugh.
‘Geraldine?’ She raised her voice as Elmo dived in through the dog flap behind her. ‘Hello? Geraldine?’
And then she heard Geraldine, very faintly, calling out, ‘Ellie? Thank God. I’m up here.’
Ellie turned, unlocked and unbolted the kitchen door, and opened it to let Zack in. ‘She’s upstairs.’
They followed Elmo up to the top floor. Geraldine was lying in the doorway to the bedroom, a curled-up copy of World Medicine magazine to the right of her and her walking stick to the left.
‘The cavalry’s arrived.’ She managed a faint smile at the sight of them. ‘Don’t touch me. I’ve fractured my right femur.’
Zack was already calling an ambulance. Elmo licked Geraldine’s hand and she fondled his ears with gratitude. ‘Clever boy. Did you bark at them in Morse code?’
‘Put it this way, forcing him to watch all those Lassie DVDs really paid off.’ Ellie knelt on the carpet beside her. ‘How did it happen?’
‘There was a massive spider up on the wall and I tried to splat it with my rolled-up magazine. But it scuttled off to one side. So I went to whack it again.’ Geraldine sounded exasperated. ‘That’s when I lost my balance and came crashing down like a bloody tree.’
‘That’s karma for you,’ said Ellie.
‘You’re telling me. I’ve been lying here for the last twenty minutes and it’s been smirking down at me the whole time.’
Ellie followed the line of Geraldine’s gaze and let out a squeak; the spider was indeed up there, malevolent-looking and measuring a good three inches in diameter.
Zack ended the call. ‘Right, ambulance is on its way.’
‘Thanks for coming to the rescue. Oh Lord,’ Geraldine sighed. ‘They’re going to cart me off to the hospital.’ She looked at Ellie. ‘Could you be an angel and help me get a bag packed?’
‘No problem. Zack, kill the spider, would you?’
‘What, and end up like Geraldine? Let him live. I’ll go down and keep an eye out for the ambulance.’
When he’d left them, Geraldine murmured with amusement, ‘Just like my husband. Scared of them but would die rather than admit it.’
For a precarious moment Ellie found herself wavering; could she confide in Geraldine? Then she saw the mischievous glint in the older woman’s eye and came crashing back to her senses. Sharing her feelings for Zack would clearly be insane; Geraldine had no self-control.
‘Don’t worry about Elmo. We’ll take care of him.’ Rising from her kneeling position and mentally zipping her mouth shut, Ellie said, ‘Tell me where your overnight bag is and what you want me to pack.’
***
Zack accompanied Geraldine to University College Hospital and waited with her until she’d been seen in the ER, then admitted onto a ward. Surgery to pin and stabilize the intracapsular fracture was scheduled to be carried out first thing tomorrow and the pain was under control. As he made his way home, a text came through from Ellie:
Travel schedule sorted, meetings rearranged. Taking Elmo for a run, back by six. Give Geraldine our love xx
The kisses, needless to say, were for Geraldine, not for him. But that hadn’t stopped him looking at the text three times already. On a whim, as the taxi reached Primrose Hill and Regents Park Road, Zack told the cab driver to stop. The hill itself was bathed in sunshine and there were still plenty of people about. Heading up to the top, he kept a look out for Ellie. This afternoon he could have sworn her attitude towards him had changed; just thinking about the incredible longing he’d experienced brought it all back. He’d so badly wanted to kiss her, had been right on the verge of doing it, right up to the moment when Elmo had come crashing through the dog flap.
And then he saw her. Having reached the brow of the hill, Zack saw a flash of pink. There they were, Ellie with her long dark hair flying and Elmo’s tail wagging in joyful anticipation as she hurled his red ball into the air and he launched himself after it. Ellie waited until he’d reached the ball before haring off in the opposite direction. By the time Elmo caught up with her, she was lying on the grass pretending to be asleep. With a giant leap, he landed on her stomach and dropped the ball on her chest. She doubled up laughing and lifted him into the air, causing Elmo to bark with delight and paddle his legs furiously. The next moment Ellie had thrown his ball and the two of them were off again, chasing after it.
She had no idea he was there. Zack didn’t want to move. He could stand here and watch her forever; her complete lack of self-consciousness was irresistible. Gripped by a surge of longing, he made up his mind. After the events of today, surely he had the perfect excuse to invite her back to the house for dinner. They could talk about what had happened to Geraldine, discuss the care of Elmo in the weeks ahead, maybe recapture the moment that had felt as if it might have been about to happen before bloody Elmo had come bursting into the kitchen and interrupted them. When he’d checked with Ellie earlier that she could look after Elmo if he was held up at the hospital, she had said it was fine, she wasn’t seeing Joe tonight.
Which could only be good news. Wherever Joe might be this
evening without her, it served him right.
***
‘Hey!’ Spotting the figure heading her way, Ellie waved wildly with both arms.
When they reached each other she said, ‘I can’t believe you’re making me do this.’
‘Don’t be like that. It’ll be great.’
‘It won’t be great! You’ve already told me it’s going to be horrendous. You just want me there to share the agony.’
But Ellie was smiling; she couldn’t help herself. Roo had called her twenty minutes ago, desperate for support. Brian, in his late forties and terminally dandruffy, was the kind of person you really hoped wouldn’t sit next to you on the bus. A fellow volunteer at the charity shop, he was a nonstop chatterer and somewhat eccentric; he also drove everyone insane with his misplaced enthusiasm for… well, just about everything you could possibly think of.
‘OK, it’s true,’ Roo admitted. ‘But he doesn’t have any friends. He joined this amateur dramatics society to try and make some, and it didn’t work. What could I say?’
It was the opening night of Brian’s first play, being held in a crumbling church hall in Crouch End. This afternoon he’d proudly presented Roo with two tickets for the performance. ‘They’re his friends and family tickets,’ Roo had explained during her begging phone call, ‘and there’s no one else he can invite. Please, please, say you’ll come with me.’
Vowing to become a good person was all very admirable, but Roo wasn’t above taking other people down with her. ‘Because if it’s just me,’ she’d pointed out, ‘Brian might get it into his head that it’s some kind of date. And he’ll insist on walking me home afterwards.’
Ellie shielded her eyes from the sun, watching as Elmo wrestled playfully with a pair of terriers for control of his ball and ended up rolling down the grassy slope. ‘What time do we have to be there?’
‘Eight o’clock, curtain up. But Brian says if we want good seats to get there by seven.’ Roo was tilting her head to one side. ‘Now is this who I think it is?’
Ellie followed the direction of her gaze and felt her stomach give a little squeeze. Seeing Zack unexpectedly had that effect on her.
