I shook my head. My bladder had followed the rest of my body in waking and was now demanding attention. My feet wriggled and kicked at the duvet until I escaped, ostensibly by being deposited on the floor. I felt Charlie lean forward from the sofa, so I stuck a hand out behind me and waved him off, signalling that I was OK. Between the coffee table and the sofa, I managed to haul myself up into a mostly upright position and blew my fringe up with a quick puff of breath. Standing was apparently on the list of Exhausting Things To Do right now too. My glance slid to where Charlie was watching me.
‘You all right? You’re swaying like a tall building in a high wind.’
OK. I’d thought that feeling was in my head. Apparently not. I reached out for the end of the sofa. Carefully I made my way across the room and towards the bathroom, using various pieces of furniture as impromptu crutches. I grabbed at the door handle, pulled myself in and sat down heavily on the closed loo seat to catch my breath, sounding more like Darth Vader on forty a day than a thirty-something, mostly clean-living woman. A few minutes later and I scraped together enough energy to do the necessary ablutions and clean my teeth. It made me feel mildly more human but my jammies were still sticking to me and I was pretty sure I probably didn’t smell all that great either. I risked a quick sniff. Oh, wow. I leaned over and started the water flowing to get it to the right temperature while I stripped off.
Charlie knocked on the door. ‘Are you having a shower?’
I said yes, but not a lot came out volume wise.
‘Knock once for yes, and twice for no.’
I knocked once.
‘For goodness’ sake, don’t slip over. Leave the door unlocked.’
I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a bath towel and wrapping it around me before yanking open the door.
‘I am capable of taking a shower, you know.’ My voice was mostly a series of croaks intermingled with the odd squeak, but it got the message across for the most part.
Charlie turned from where he’d begun walking back to the living room.
‘I realise that,’ he said, his sensible, even tone neutralising my grumpy sarcasm, ‘but you’re unwell and couldn’t stand up straight for ten minutes if I paid you, so just be careful.’
I let out a sigh and gave a palms-up gesture that said, ‘Fine, whatever’. Unfortunately, I hadn’t taken into account the fact that I’d not secured my towel for self-support and the whole thing began unwrapping itself. It wasn’t an elegant save, but it was a save. Just about. I hardly dared look at Charlie, who hadn’t moved from his position. When I eventually raised my eyes, he gave a little shrug.
‘Can’t be that ill,’ he said. ‘Your reflexes are still pretty sharp.’ His mouth was non-committal, but his eyes were laughing.
‘If you were a gentleman, you would have brushed past that moment without mentioning it,’ I forced out.
‘On the contrary. If I weren’t a gentleman, I would have added the word “unfortunately” to the end of my sentence. Which I didn’t. Ergo, I’m a gentleman. Now stop straining your voice arguing and go do whatever you’re going to do. Carefully!’
I obeyed his instruction to rest my voice and replied instead by rolling my eyes.
‘Very mature.’
I gave him another look that told him how much I cared about that opinion. He smirked, shook his head and closed the door.
Annoyingly, Charlie was right about the whole shower thing and I felt decidedly wobbly about a minute and a half in. I slid down into the bath and opted for a sit-down version. Hardly ideal but it did the job and even if I didn’t feel relaxed and invigorated, I did at least feel clean, which was a start. Taking advantage of every surface I could, I managed to get myself out of the bath without falling over, and into clean pyjamas. I sat for a moment, recovering from the effort of it all. A drip escaped from the towel wrapped around my head, and I shivered as it chased its way down my spine. Five minutes later, I’d blasted my hair into a state of semi-dryness, without any consideration of styling, a fact soon confirmed by a quick glance in the mirror. Had I had more energy, and felt less rotten, I might have been bothered. But I didn’t, and the only person witness to it all was Charlie so it didn’t really matter. It seemed that, as far as Charlie was concerned, I could spend two hours or five minutes on my hair and, to him, the result would be much the same. Which was just as well. Especially today. I picked up my dressing gown and made my way back towards the living room, shoving my arms in the sleeves as I did so. I got one in, but the second was proving impossible to find. Charlie looked up as I entered, making annoyed squeaks and getting crosser by the minute. I decided that it was probably a good thing I’d lost my voice just at this moment, as I yanked off the dressing gown and glared at it.
‘Wow. Little flash of redhead there.’ Charlie laughed, getting up off the sofa and bending down to pick up the dressing gown.
I gave him a look but he missed it as he was studying the clothing. He fiddled for a second and then held it out to me, ready to put my arms into.
‘You had one of the sleeves inside out.’
I hesitated for a moment, but, despite the heatwave-temperature weather outside, I was beginning to feel a chill.
‘Come on. Stop being stroppy and put it on.’
I gave him another look, making sure he saw it this time. He just laughed it off and nodded his head at the dressing gown.
I slid my arms in and Charlie tucked it over my shoulders before turning me around and tying the belt for me.
‘You really are feeling rotten, aren’t you?’
I shrugged, and pulled a fed-up face, showing that my hissy moment was over.
He gave a smile and steered me towards the duvet, which he’d neatened up and now sat looking all snuggly and inviting on the sofa.
Two minutes later, I was tucked in, sitting up and awaiting the soup that Charlie informed me he had warming up on the hob. He ignored my protests of not being hungry and of being tired and said I’d feel better for having eaten something. Plus, he added, I was due medicine and it was best not to take it on an empty stomach. Sensible Charlie. I loved him, of course, and I was so grateful for him coming round today, especially after everything with Alex. But right now, I didn’t want soup. I wanted painkillers, and I wanted sleep. Both of which he was denying me until I ate something.
Once again, Charlie’s rational, steady plan was, of course, correct. I actually did feel a little better for eating, and the cold and flu liquid medicine he’d got from the shops was soon kicking in and reducing the thumping headache to something in the more bearable range.
‘Why don’t you try and get some rest now?’ Charlie said, after he’d taken our bowls out to the kitchen and stacked them in the dishwasher.
I nodded, and then stopped as it made the headache flare. Instead I scooted down inside the duvet cocoon and pulled it around me. Charlie crouched down next to me. I moved a little so that I could see him properly.
‘I’m going to head off now.’
I’d been reluctant to let him in, but now a part of me wished he wouldn’t go.
‘I’d already made arrangements for this evening. It’s a work sort of thing and I can’t really cancel.’
‘I’m OK. Thank you for everything.’
Charlie nodded almost imperceptibly, and pushed a tendril of hair I’d been trying to blow away back from my face. He seemed to be considering something.
‘But if I can catch them, I might be able to rearrange—’
I stopped him by putting a finger to his lips. Which suddenly felt way too intimate for what I was going for. I quickly moved my hand and instead squished his lips together with a finger top and bottom, holding them closed. There. Much better.
Charlie didn’t move. Admittedly, my having hold of his lips made that difficult. His blue eyes were focused on mine.
‘Just go,’ I croaked, smiling.
He made a noise that sounded as if it might have been an ‘OK’ so I let go.
I grabbed again.
‘Mmmmnnnnnmnmn.’ He held his hands up in surrender.
I let go.
He twitched his nose and rolled his lips in and out a couple of times.
‘Thank you.’
I gave a little nod against the pillow in acceptance.
Charlie stood, tucked me in a little more and then crouched down again.
I frowned in question.
‘I hate this. You’re normally so bouncy and full of life. I really don’t want to leave you feeling so rough.’
‘Just a cold,’ I forced out. ‘Now, go away.’
He made to stand, and I snagged his arm. ‘Thank you.’
He gave me a big hug and a half-hearted smile, then made his way to the door.
‘Call me if you want anything. OK. Or text me. Probably best. Save your voice. And I’ll see you when I get back from my trip, if not before.’
I nodded.
‘OK?’ he called again.
I realised he probably couldn’t see me nodding in the huge cocoon so I wriggled an arm free and stuck it up in the air with my thumb up.
‘Good. Get some rest.’
I wiggled the thumb as answer.
The door closed behind him and I quickly pulled my arm back in and snuggled down.
31
It was three days later when I finally spoke to Charlie on the phone shortly before heading off to bed.
‘Hello, you.’
‘Libby?’
‘You sound surprised. Did you mean to call someone else?’
‘No! No, not at all. It just doesn’t sound like you.’
‘I promise it is.’ I laughed, before proceeding to launch into a massive coughing fit. I muted the phone whilst I pulled it together.
‘Still there?’ I asked when I’d recovered.
‘Yes. You OK?’
‘Yeah, just the cough gets set off whenever I laugh.’
‘I’ll try not to make you laugh, then.’
‘Good plan.’
‘You know, you could probably boost your income for a bit whilst you’ve got this cold.’
‘What?’
‘Premium lines.’
I laughed down the line, before quickly smothering the cough with a sloosh of water.
‘Is that advice in your professional capacity as my accountant? Earn a bit of extra cash by answering sex-chat lines?’
‘Obviously it’s your decision. I’m just advising you of all the options. Laying things out there for you to decide.’
I did a laugh-cough thing and tried again. ‘So, did you ring for something, other than to offer me dodgy career advice?’
‘No, just saying hello. I’ve ordered dinner so thought I’d see how you were doing whilst I was waiting.’
‘How’s the weather over there?’
‘Bloody scorching. I went out to the park earlier and there were people dancing in and out of the fountains, just trying to cool down.’
‘There’s a park near the hotel? That’s nice. Not all just skyscrapers, then.’
‘Umm, it’s Central Park. The hotel is just off it.’
‘Oh, wow, OK. Listen to you, all Mr Local, calling it “the park”,’ I teased.
Charlie didn’t reply. After a short pause he instead asked how I was feeling.
‘Much better, thanks. Really. The voice isn’t as bad as it sounds. I think it’s all heading off into the distance now, thank goodness. Just need plenty of concealer on my bright red nose at the moment from all the blowing, but, apart from that, I’m getting there. I think someone giving me a good start on Saturday helped enormously.’
‘My pleasure.’
‘What, seeing me suffering and looking like I’d just shipped in from Scary Town?’
He laughed. ‘Of course not. I just meant that I was glad to be able to help. And there was nothing Scary Town about you.’
‘Charlie, I have mirrors. I was not sporting a good look.’
‘You were sick.’
‘I know. Which can be the only explanation for the fact that I even opened the door to you in the first place.’
‘What, because you didn’t have your make-up and hair done for the first time since I met you?’
‘Something like that.’
‘So? You still looked fine to me. I mean, not fine, obviously. It was clear you weren’t well, but you didn’t look hideous or anything, just because you didn’t have any make-up on.’
‘Gosh. Not hideous. Thanks.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘I do. And next time I’m just going to send you down the hall to Rula.’
‘You wouldn’t do that to me.’
‘Wouldn’t I?’
‘No. You value my financial skills too much.’
‘There is that. But luckily I think Rula’s only after your body, and not your mind. I, on the other hand, need the latter. Perhaps she and I could work out some sort of deal.’
‘You realise you’re saying all this out loud, don’t you?’
‘Of course.’
‘You’re making me feel so cheap.’ He put an inflection into his tone that made me giggle, and then laugh, and then cough.
‘Are you deliberately trying to kill me?’ I asked when I’d got my breath back. ‘You promised you wouldn’t make me laugh.’
‘You started it.’
‘Actually, I think we can trace it back to your original comments about my voice.’
‘OK. Point taken. Apologies.’
‘So, how’s the trip anyway?’
‘It’s fine. Meetings, a bit of schmoozing, that sort of thing.’
‘I can’t imagine you schmoozing.’
‘No, it’s not really my thing, I have to admit. But Lenny’s with me, and he’s excellent at it. So, it’s all working out.’
‘Did you say you had ordered room service?’
‘I did.’
‘Not having dinner with Lenny?’
‘No. He… he had other plans.’
‘He hooked up, is that what you’re saying?’
‘Yes. One of the women from the mixer thing last night. They hit it off.’
‘Didn’t you hit it off with anyone?’
‘You know me, Libs. I’m not great at stuff like that.’
‘Charlie, you’re beefy and gorgeous and intelligent. I don’t think you actually have to be great at doing anything. Just stand there and wait for them to trample you.’
He laughed. ‘Thanks for the pep talk, but, like I said, I’m good.’
‘Maybe you should tell them that too.’
‘Libby Cartright, did you just make an insinuation about my sex life?’
‘No, I made an insinuation that maybe you should get one.’
‘My sex life is just fine, thank you.’
‘Is it?’
Was it?
‘Yes. But thank you for the suggestion. Although I imagine saying one is good is probably seen as a bit pushy.’
I raised my eyebrows in thought, even though he couldn’t see. ‘I don’t know. Depends how you say it. If you went, “Hey, I’m great in bed,” then yeah, big turn-off and setting yourself up for failure anyway—’
‘Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.’
‘I’m just saying. But a teasing “I’m good”? I think you could probably get away with that.’
‘I’ll bear it in mind, thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘How on Earth did we get down this rabbit hole?’
‘I’m not entirely sure. Want to climb out?’
‘Most definitely.’
‘OK. So, when are you back?’
‘Few days. Tilly sent me a message to ask when it was good for them to come over and discuss their wedding pictures.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I suggested Sunday. Hopefully I’ll be awake enough. Prod me if I look like I’m going to nod off during it.’
‘Me?�
�
‘Aren’t you coming?’
‘I hadn’t planned to.’
‘Oh. I thought you were. I mean, I…’
‘You know Tilly and Sam. You don’t need me there for that, do you?’
‘No. It’s not that. I guess, I thought because you offered to be my assistant for the day that you’d be there. But it’s fine. I know things are nuts for you. I’ve got a few things on my mind at the moment and wasn’t really thinking.’
‘Would you prefer me to be there?’
‘If I say yes will it make me look like a complete loser and wimp?’
‘No. Of course not. Why would you think that?’
‘Because I’m a grown man and handle information and deals worth mind-boggling amounts but the thought of dealing with this wedding is giving me the sweats.’
‘Well, there are worse things it could be giving you, so, in view of that, it’s fine. Of course I’ll be there. I can always make some notes whilst you’re all discussing things so that we don’t forget anything.’
‘You’re great, you know that, don’t you?’
‘I don’t mind hearing it again from time to time though.’
Charlie laughed. ‘You’re totally great! A superstar.’
‘OK. Now you’re just taking the mickey.’
‘Never.’
‘Yeah, right. Hurry up and come back to Blighty. I owe you dinner for looking after me last week.’
‘You don’t owe me anything.’
‘All right then, truth is I have a business question and I’m not sure what to do.’
‘That sounds more like it. What’s the problem?’
‘It’s OK. No rush. I’ll just ask you when I see you.’
Charlie paused. ‘OK.’
‘Charlie?’
‘Yes?’
‘You don’t mind me asking you stuff, do you? I mean, using you as an information tap?’
‘Of course not!’
‘It’s just that you’re here – I mean, when you are here – and whenever I ask you something, you don’t make me feel like an idiot.’
‘That’s because you’re not an idiot.’
‘I know… but some people aren’t like that. They feel that they have this power over you because they have knowledge that you don’t.’
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