‘Oh, I need to talk to him is all. I’m sure you’re right, he’ll be here soon.’ I fidget nervously with my bracelet again. ‘Did you see Robert at home?’
‘No, not seen him.’ He looks at his empty glass. ‘Better get a refill, can I get you one babe?’
‘No, I’m okay thanks. I’m trying to keep a clear head.’ I smooth my clammy palms on my dress, not sure how long I can keep going in this state of heightened awareness. I’m just not made for high stress situations, and would love nothing more than to sink a bottle of champagne.
‘Well I for one need more booze. You know fashion isn’t my thing.’ He plants another damp kiss on my cheek and squeezes my butt as he walks off with a shrug.
I watch him retreat and then survey the rest of the guests. The noise in the room is getting incredibly loud with everyone talking at once and I can hardly hear myself think any more. My stomach is still fluttering and I am considering sloping off out the back door to have a cigarette with Malcolm, although I never ever smoke, when Chrissie catches my eye. She holds up a carrier bag for the last customer in the queue and beckons me over.
‘He’s looking pleased with himself, has someone died and left him money?’ she nods her head to where James stands, another full glass of champagne in his hand.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to defend James out of habit when Muriel tactfully cuts in. ‘Never mind that, we have made a fortune tonight. We’ve sold at least half of the new stock and so many vintage items, I’ve lost count. We’ll need to re-stock pretty soon.’ She tidies up the counter and straightens the stiff paper carrier bags underneath as I have seen her do a thousand times before. ‘How did the interview go? I saw you talking to that girl from the paper.’
‘It went brilliantly. She loves our stuff, the shop and everything. The piece will be in next week’s edition so fingers crossed we should be getting more bodies through the door soon. I’ve got a few leads for new stock and have appointments lined up for next week, which all sound promising.’
‘Just what we need, Lola, things are looking up. At least all this work has been worth it,’ she says, as she serves another customer. Chrissie pulls me away from the counter.
‘When is that gorgeous lodger of yours getting here?’ she whispers into my ear.
‘He said he would be here by seven-thirty.’ I look at my watch. ‘It’s nearly nine now, I know he had to go to Derby today, maybe he’s been held up.’
‘Hmm maybe,’ Chrissie says, distractedly arranging her neckline to show off her generous cleavage. ‘He had better turn up soon – I put this dress on especially.’
I shake my head and roll my eyes at her. Some things will never change, and life just wouldn’t be the same without Chrissie flirting. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll let you, and your chest know, when he turns up.’
‘Oh touché,’ she says, flashing her pearly white teeth at me.
I’m still laughing to myself as I turn and bump right into the arms of my mom. My smile makes a miraculous exit.
‘For goodness sake, Lola, look where you’re going. It’s okay for you swanning around all night. I’m totally stressed out trying to keep those waiters moving.’
I look over to where the waiters are busy serving drinks and passing out canapés as they have been doing all evening. ‘What are you talking about mom - those guys haven’t stopped all night.’
‘Only because I’ve had my foot up their bums, otherwise they would have been slacking off round the back, probably smoking dope or something.’ She folds her arms across her chest.
‘I don’t think so. Mark’s Muriel’s nephew, he’s a really good kid. And he doesn’t smoke.’
‘Well I can only say what I’ve seen,’ she says, pursing her lips.
‘Can’t you ever be nice to anyone?’ Why I thought she would behave herself, even for just one night is beyond me. Same old, same old, I think to myself.
‘I’m just being honest, Lola. I understand some people can’t handle honestly.’ She looks at me pointedly.
‘Mom, please, give it a rest.’ A subject change is in order, preferably her favourite subject. ‘What time is Alex coming?’
Her face lights up like a beacon. ‘He said he would be coming up straight from London. I thought he would have been here by now. I’ll give him a quick call shall I? - I don’t want him to miss your little party, especially if you want some business tips from him.’
‘I’m alright for tips at the moment thanks, mom, just let me know when he deigns to grace us with his presence.’
She huffs and walks off, no doubt to start haranguing the waiters again and I turn and find Malcolm standing in the space she has just vacated.
‘Lovely party, Lola, well done.’ He kisses my cheek. ‘Has she been giving you a hard time again?’ He nods towards my mom’s departing back.
‘Of course, I would think something was seriously wrong with her if she didn’t - she only cracked her face when I mentioned Alex.’
‘Don’t take it to heart, Lola. I have found that the secret is just to agree with her, and then do whatever you like anyway. It makes for a much easier life.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s easier than hiring a hit man,’ I mutter under my breath.
‘It is, I’ve looked into it.’ He smiles and winks at me. ‘Anyway, I think you may have more pressing problems at the moment.’ He nods over to where James is talking to Charlotte Hope, a very attractive fashion blogger. She is examining our vintage inspired range, while it appears, also trying to avoid James who is almost sticking his tongue in her ear, he is so close. Talk about invading personal space. I knew he could be flirty when he’d had a drink but that’s ridiculous, and would also put my chances of a good write up in jeopardy.
‘Oh for god’s sake,’ I say, shaking my head and marching over to pull him off. ‘James, I see you’ve met Charlotte?’
‘Yeah, she’s got her own blog.’ He has his arm around her, breathing alcoholic fumes into her face. ‘She knows everything about fashion you know.’
‘I know, James,’ I say, taking his other arm and gently pulling him off her. ‘That’s why I invited her to the party.’
He stumbles to one side, as he pulls himself from my grip, and then straightens himself up, adjusting his tie. I knew I shouldn’t have left it until after the party to talk to him. I’d never get any sense out of him tonight. I apologise to Charlotte, praying to every god she would still give me a good write up, and then almost drag James towards the back of the shop where a space has cleared.
‘What are you trying to do, James? You were almost having sex with her, you were that close. Are you deliberately trying to sabotage my party?’ I say, unable to hold back the anger in my voice.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, I was just being friendly, that’s all. No harm in that is there?’ he says, slurring his words and grabbing another glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
I take the glass off him. ‘Well I think you’ve had enough to drink for tonight. Anymore and you’ll be French kissing my mother.’
‘Just chill out for fuck’s sake will you,’ he says, taking the glass back off me. ‘I’m just enjoying myself.’
I watch him walk away, knocking back the champagne, and quell the urge to cry with frustration, just as Cal appears by my side. ‘Do you want me to keep an eye on him?’ he asks.
‘Would you please, Cal?’ I say, releasing my breath at last. ‘I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight.’ Actually I do know what has gotten into him - approximately two bottles of champagne and an overwhelming desire to sabotage everything I love, I think to myself bitterly.
Eventually, by eleven o’clock everyone has gone and we can at last breathe a sigh of relief. Muriel cashes up the till, while myself and Chrissie collect up all of the glasses we can find. Malcolm and Cal have taken James outside for some fresh air. At least I don’t have to deal with him for half an hour or so, with a bit of luck he may have sobered up by then. I’m disappointed that he has acted up ton
ight but hopefully, Charlotte Hope will still give me a good write up, she did seem very impressed by the shop.
I was also disappointed, and a little surprised, that Robert never turned up. After all the work he had put into the shop I couldn’t work out why he hadn’t come. He had promised he would be here to give me moral support, but for whatever reason he has chosen not to do so. At the end of the day, maybe it was all for the best, I think to myself. With James as drunk as he is, it could never have ended well.
I say thank you and goodbye to everyone and watch as they drive off. I take a final look around to make sure everything is as it should be and switch off the lights and lock up the shop.
Chapter Twenty Two
I arrive home utterly exhausted. James is slumped in the passenger seat, snoring and filling the car with his alcohol infused breath. I glance at him as I swing the car into the driveway and notice his mouth has fallen open. Robert’s car is missing from the driveway and in its place is Alex’s Porsche. I tut and take a deep breath. I will have to steady myself and fix a smile on my face, whether I feel like it or not. The last thing I want to do is ruin what has, in the main, been a successful night with a run in with Alex. I get out the car, slamming the door behind me and watch as James jumps upright in the passenger seat. I ignore him and head towards the house.
Alex is in the driver’s seat, talking on his mobile, he briefly raises his hand as I walk past to the front door, and then he ends the call and jumps out the car. I hear his footsteps running rapidly behind me on the gravel.
‘Hey sis, sorry I missed your party. I got stuck in traffic.’ He kisses me on the cheek and gives me an awkward hug. ‘Okay if I crash here tonight?’
‘That depends,’ I say, as I pull my keys out of my bag. ‘Do you have an estate agent with you?’ I raise my eyebrows in enquiry and watch as his face takes on a nice rosy hue.
He holds his hands up in submission. ‘Okay, I thought I was doing you a favour, honestly. I thought once you had seen the collateral in this house you might consider selling. I realise now it was a step too far.’
‘I’d say several steps too far, Alex, but you always did have a problem with boundaries didn’t you?’ I put my key in the lock and open the door.
He looks slightly shamefaced so I decide not to torture him too much. He is my little brother after all and I do still love him even though he’s a pain in the arse. In the kitchen I place my bag on the table and produce two pieces of paper stapled together and put them in his hands.
‘What’s this?’ He stares down, his brows knotting in confusion.
‘That, Alex, is what I have spent on building costs so far.’
‘So why are you showing it to me?’
‘Well I believe it is in both our best interests to firmly establish where we stand to prevent any further bad feeling between us.’
‘I don’t understand. How are your building costs going to achieve that?’
‘When Gran passed away you received, what some might say, a more than generous inheritance. And yet despite this you still believe you have a right to claim a portion of my house. A house, may I add that I do not wish to either sell or turn into flats.’ My lips harden as I try to emphasise my point.
‘I’ve apologised for that.’
‘Yes you have, but whether the message has fully sunk into your head is debatable, so just in case you need to be aware of how much it has cost me so far to bring this house into full repair and how much I still have to spend on it. It’s only fair if you want to make money here that you’re aware of how much you will need to stump up for your half.’ There is no way I will ever sell the house and split the money with him, but he doesn’t know that. He’s too blinded by his love of making easy money.
‘I never thought for a moment to profit from you, sis.’
‘Didn’t you?’ I look up at his face which has now turned white despite his year round tan.
‘Well maybe just my fee as project manager,’ he says, shuffling uncomfortably.
I take the sheets of paper from his fingers before he faints. ‘So, can we agree that there’ll be no more hassling and conniving, and especially no more estate agents?’
‘Agreed,’ he says, slumping into the chair at the table, all the fight has now left him. He puts his hand out for me to shake. ‘Friends again?’
I smile and shake his hand, satisfied that at least for now, I will get some peace from him.
The front door slams and my head shoots up expectantly, hoping to see Robert. Instead James stumbles in, bumping into the doorframe as he enters. Alex ignores him and gets up to look in the fridge. I roll my eyes at the two of them and push James down into a chair before he falls over.
‘I’d better go and see if Harley needs a walk before I go to bed,’ I say, striding into the hall and opening Robert’s door.
I expect Harley to bound up to me, frantically wagging his tail - instead I’m met by cold hard silence. I peer into the darkness, my heart beating faster as my brain comprehends what I see. The room is dimly lit from the streetlight coming in through the window so I snap the light on for confirmation and realise my worst fear. The room is empty. Completely empty. Every single piece of furniture has gone. The sofa, the table, the TV, the bookshelves that normally heave with CD’s and books. I walk through to the adjoining room. Again, completely bare, the bed, the rugs all gone. I walk across to the opposite window, my heels echoing off the floorboards as I move through the emptiness and stand surveying the room, my heart pounding in my chest.
I can’t believe what my eyes are telling me, that Robert has just upped and left without talking to me, it’s just so out of character for him. I don’t understand it.
I go back into the kitchen where James and Alex are now sat at the table stuffing their faces with chicken drumsticks.
‘Did you see Robert earlier?’ I stand on the opposite side of the table facing James, hands on my hips, ready for battle.
He laughs to himself. ‘I saw him loading his shit into a van, yeah.’
‘What? Why was he loading his stuff up?’ I can feel my fingertips digging into my sides.
‘How the fuck should I know?’ he grins, stupidly to himself.
I know he is lying. That supercilious grin is there for a reason and I intend to get to the bottom of it. ‘James, what did you say to him?’ I thrust my head forwards.
‘I said what you should have said, what we agreed you would say,’ he shrugs and bites into the chicken.
I bang my hand so hard on the table, both he and Alex flinch. I feel the sting prickling through my skin. ‘What did you say?’
‘I told him you didn’t want him here, that he was in the way, but you were too nice to get rid of him. Bloody good job he’s gone too, now we can have some privacy,’ he says, pushing the chair back and waving a half eaten chicken piece in my face. ‘You should be thanking me, I did you a favour.’
I slap the chicken from his hand and he watches as it flies across the table and lands with a greasy thud on the floor. ‘How dare you. How dare you start throwing your weight around in my house.’
‘We decided he should go, I just sped things up a bit.’ He squares his shoulders up to me.
‘You had no right,’ I say, standing my ground.
‘I had every right, three’s a crowd, babe,’ he says, holding three fingers up in my face.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, he was planning to move out soon anyway.’ I push his hand away from me.
‘So I just helped him move on faster.’
I stare him in the eyes, feeling rage boil up inside me. ‘You’re an idiot sometimes, James, and you’ve gone a step too far this time.’ I turn my back on him, march out the door and up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door behind me. I couldn’t stand to be in his presence a second longer.
Kicking off my shoes, I watch as they bounce off the skirting board. The fury inside me is raging and cursing through my veins. I cannot believe James would do such a thing, that he could let
his jealousy get the better of him like that. And what will Robert think of me now? I shudder just thinking about it. I have no idea how I can put this right.
I count to ten to quell my burning anger, and then another ten, and eventually feel myself begin to calm down and deflate. Breathing steady, getting back to normal.
I take off my dress, carefully placing it on its hanger, I’m not going to take my temper out on my beautiful dress. That deserves to be treated with the utmost respect.
As I’m taking off my eye make-up I can hear raised voices coming from downstairs. I stop, listening carefully as they get louder. I hear the voices on the move, into the hallway, so I pull my robe around me and hold the door open to hear them better. I sigh, wondering whether I will need to intervene.
‘I told you she would never go for it you bloody idiot, I should never have gotten mixed up in it,’ James spits the words out in anger.
I’m not aware of moving, but I find myself standing just behind the newel post at the top of the stairs. They carry on talking, oblivious to my presence.
‘You got mixed up in it because you thought you could make a fast buck, James and we all know how much you love money,’ he says, jabbing his finger in the air. Their voices are almost being drowned out by the blood thundering through my veins.
‘Yeah, well you’d know all about that, you’d sell your own grandma to get your hands on her money. Oh wait, you already did get your hands on her money and now you’re after your sister’s too,’ James sneers. They had never been the best of friends but this was getting way too personal.
‘Don’t be such a hypocrite, James, you’re no angel yourself. From what I’ve heard you have been busy fucking your last girlfriend while my sister thinks you’re away on business, so don’t preach to me about deceit,’ Alex laughs. My hand flies to my mouth as the floorboards creak beneath my feet, both their heads turn to me at once, faces frozen.
Time seems to stop.
Then James moves towards me. He holds his hands up in surrender at the foot of the stairs. ‘It’s not how it seems, Lola,’ he says, his face pleading, no trace of his drunken state from earlier.
Lola's House (Lola Series) Page 18
