Persuading Annie

by Melissa Nathan

  ‘You OK?’ asked Annie.

  Victoria nodded.

  ‘How do I reply?’

  Annie clicked on the reply icon and a space appeared for Victoria to tap her message into. She didn’t mean to pry but she couldn’t help but catch the first few words of Charles’s message.

  My lovely Vicks …

  Victoria sniffed loudly while looking for the D key. She hit the E key instead.

  ‘Shit,’ she muttered. This might take some time, thought Annie.

  ‘Shall I leave you to it?’ she asked.

  Victoria nodded.

  Annie closed the door behind her. Good old Charles, she thought. He’d remembered.

  * * * * *

  Feeling shaken, stirred and swallowed in one, Annie left the apartment and headed for the Russian Tea Rooms to meet Sophie.

  The fondness the two women felt for each other was now exaggerated greatly by the new fact that Sophie was engaged to David.

  ‘Oh Annie,’ Sophie grinned, as soon as they had ordered their food. ‘The poor boy was damaged, that’s the only word there is for it. I don’t like to say this about anyone,’ she said happily, ‘but David’s ex-wife was a complete and utter bitch. He says I’ve restored his faith in women.’

  Annie smiled. How could Jake have compared?

  By the time Annie got to The Frick Museum, her mood was buoyant again. She had told Jake what she should have told him years ago. It was over. She always felt better when surrounded by paintings and sculpture. It was as if heartache and fear didn’t exist in a world of such speechless truths.

  Unlike the other museums in New York, this was just one very wealthy man’s art collection and it had a unique, eclectic feel all its own. Constables overlooked Rodin figures. The soft pastels of Whistler nestled amidst the dark forbidding Rembrandts. Annie was able to forget her chaotic thoughts and absorb herself in another world within moments.

  And then, while staring at a Whistler woman, it suddenly hit her.

  The woman’s body was turned away from Annie, but her gaze was direct and assertive. The woman had purpose, direction, hope. Everything she felt she lacked.

  That was it!

  Standing staring up at the picture, Annie decided she would phone her financial adviser this afternoon and find out exactly what her savings were.

  She could hardly concentrate on the rest of the exhibition. For the first time in her life, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it.

  Today was getting more momentous every second.

  * * * * *

  The next day found Annie in SoHo, map in hand, walking purposefully from gallery to gallery. She knew down to the last cent what she could afford and what was out of her price range. She also knew her art and knew what she loved.

  It took her all day, but finally she found a painting that she loved and wanted to own.

  The brush strokes were large and free, the colours bold and bright. It had light and life and meaning and Annie stared at it, savouring the moment. The painting held an unmistakable message that pierced through the confusion of her life and clarified her world.

  And it had a really nice blue in it.

  She recognised the name of the young artist, and although the painting wasn’t cheap, Annie knew that one day it would be expensive – if not priceless.

  Exhausted but happy, she took the painting straight to her room and placed it on the bed, leaning against the wall.

  She knelt in front of the bed, placing her elbows on it, as if to pray, and stared intently at her new painting; her new beginning.

  * * * * *

  Back in North London, Charles walked quickly into his club, his collar turned up against the bitter winter cold. The gang was there, sitting in prime position by the log fire and he went over to join them.

  ‘You’re late, they’ve already started the counting,’ Edgar said accusingly.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Charles. ‘Couldn’t get a babysitter for the boys.’

  They looked at him in silence.

  He coughed.

  ‘Wife’s in New York with the family,’ he explained.

  They continued to stare.

  ‘It’s not looking too good,’ primed Edgar. ‘There’s far more Trotskies than we thought. If we’re not careful there’ll be chintz curtains in here before you can say Fore. Every vote counts, men.’

  They shared a drink, toasted Tradition and then went into the clubroom to vote.

  Charles could hardly grip his pencil, his hand was sweating so much. He looked behind him and checked that none of the gang was anywhere near.

  He closed his eyes, bit his lip and slowly but surely, put a big black cross in the square.

  After all, what was life without progress?

  24

  ANNIE COULD HARDLY wait until tonight. Now that she’d managed after all these years to get everything off her chest to Jake, a painful chapter in her life had finally closed once and for all. She could really start to enjoy herself for the first time in years and it started now. Edward had decided at the last minute to stay in New York for Christmas – his family were scattered all over the globe and Christmas had never been much of a thing for any of them. Annie’s own family had been only too delighted to welcome him into the heart of their celebrations. And although she had experienced a temporary blip in interest towards him when she’d thought Jake was out of her life, all that had changed now. Edward suddenly seemed the answer to all her prayers. Sane, safe and steady.

  Who knew? She might even beat Jake to the altar after all …

  The only fly in the ointment was that Davina would also be staying for Christmas. Annie had carefully avoided any show of interest in Davina’s plans because she knew that her own feelings would show through too clearly. So she’d been grateful when her father brought the subject up a few weeks earlier.

  ‘Annie, will you be sharing Christmas lunch with us?’

  Annie looked at him in some surprise. As opposed to what? she wondered.

  ‘Of course, Father,’ she said.

  ‘Splendid,’ he murmured. ‘Splendid. I’ll tell the chef.’

  To Annie’s even greater surprise, Davina had turned to her and beamed.

  ‘I’m so pleased you’ll be with us. It wouldn’t be a proper family Christmas without you.’

  Annie stared at her and turned to her father. Beaming proudly, he patted Davina on the hand.

  ‘Davina’s parents are in Switzerland this year. Skiing.’

  ‘I’d rather stay here anyway,’ said Davina, before adding with gentle humility. ‘You’re all family to me now.’

  George beamed.

  Annie marvelled that she wasn’t sick there and then.

  No one else seemed in the least worried that Davina had become a permanent member of the family. In fact, Victoria was in an infuriatingly good mood. The boys were due out within days and she spent every spare moment checking her e-mails for messages from Charles.

  Annie had invited Edward to the apartment for pre-opera family drinks. All were delighted to see him and, apart from Katherine, who kept a condescending distance, they all welcomed him like a long-lost family member. Annie felt as if the jigsaw pieces of her life were finally slotting into place.

  Davina was probably the only person who seemed cautious with Edward, and Annie was pleased to see it. It made Edward’s presence all the more welcoming.

  Annie couldn’t wait to see Cass and Brutus, who had arrived safe and sound in New York that day. Sophie and David and Fi and Tony were also going to be at the opera. The presence of Cass always soothed her and she felt the new couplings of Charles’s sisters would somehow be the Epilogue to the Jake chapter of her life. As the drinks started to drag, she found herself champing at the bit to get to the opera.

  * * * * *

  She wasn’t the only one champing at the bit to get to the opera. Jake squirmed in the corner of the taxi, wishing David and Sophie would stop smooching beside him. He should have arranged to meet them ther
e. This was hardly what he needed on his way to Annie. The howling wind outside didn’t help either. It lashed against the car, making him feel even more vulnerable than he already did. He tightened his jacket around him, but it didn’t keep out the ice in his gut.

  What Annie had said to him in the park – or rather, yelled at him across the park – had taken just long enough for him to walk about four feet away from her before sinking in. Dear God, she’d made an honest miscalculation – a mistake. All those years ago, she really had thought she was pregnant. And she’d come back into her room in halls, shaking and scared after finding out the truth, needing him and he’d … Oh God, it didn’t bear thinking about. All those wasted years … He could see her face now, all uncertain and young. And like a great bellowing idiot, he’d simply yelled at her. When she’d needed him most.

  Why couldn’t this bloody taxi go faster?

  ‘Jake, you all right, mate?’ asked David.

  ‘Yes. Of course I’m all right.’

  ‘Only you’re grinding your teeth. We can hear you above the gale.’

  Jake looked at Dave, unconsciously clapping his hand to the back of his neck.

  ‘I’m fine.’

  * * * * *

  Annie’s taxi journey would have stretched the patience of a saint, so it was hardly surprising that Annie felt tense. For a start, they must have met the only taxi driver who had never heard of the Metropolitan Opera House.

  ‘Ze Mexicaan Owffal whaat?’ he said in an indistinguishable accent.

  ‘Metropolitan Opera House,’ she repeated slowly, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice.

  The taxi driver nodded.

  ‘Ze Mexicaan—’

  ‘No. The Met—’

  Edward interrupted.

  ‘The Lincoln Center please.’

  ‘Aaaah! Ze Nincum Center! Why deen’t yow saay?’ he laughed and promptly got stuck in a jam.

  They all rushed, heads down through the increasingly strong wind, to reach the warm building. No one was looking up in wonder at the stained-glass windows tonight.

  Annie was the first into the theatre foyer and she ran up the red-carpeted staircase where she stood smack bang in the middle, staring down expectantly at all the doors.

  The others moved slowly up to join her and as she watched them approach, she noticed properly for the first time that no one in the entire place – not even Katherine – was as beautiful as Davina. And Davina had really pulled out the stops for tonight. Wearing a silk scarlet ballgown that flowed gracefully round her perfectly curved body, she stood out from the crowd. Was this her future stepmother?

  Susannah, Cass and Brutus arrived first. Someone somehow had opened a valve on Annie’s feelings. She was almost overwhelmed with warmth for Cass and hurtled through the crowd towards her.

  Cass was looking well – and most importantly, the happiest Annie had seen her for a long time.

  ‘Can I touch the bump?’ asked Annie foolishly.

  ‘You want to touch my bottom in public?’

  ‘The bump with the babies in it, stupid.’

  ‘Why of course.’

  As they all went to find their seats, Annie suddenly caught sight of the others. As she ran towards them, she ignored the presence of a large shadow in the background. Good feelings were on a winning streak tonight.

  Then over David’s welcoming shoulder, she came face to face with the shadow and couldn’t help but notice that it was in the unmistakable form of Jake’s body. Topped by his face.

  She froze.

  What the hell was he doing here? And what the hell was her body doing freezing?

  Chapter closed, chapter closed …

  And then, to top it all, while she was greeting David, Jake smiled at her. If she didn’t know him better, she’d even have said that the smile had a hint of nervousness to it.

  Was he spying on her? Spoiling her evening with Edward on purpose? Deliberately trying to confuse her? Still in love with Sophie? Keen on opera?

  She turned abruptly away.

  It didn’t work.

  ‘Look who I managed to persuade to come,’ insisted David.

  Jake stepped forward towards Annie. He could do this. He would do this. He would talk openly to her for the first time in years with no misunderstandings. No bitterness, no bile. Just sweet conversation. And he’d start with a subject that had made Britain what it was; a subject that meant nothing and glossed over everything. He would talk about the weather. He grinned hopefully.

  ‘Windy tonight!’ he exclaimed, rather louder than he’d hoped.

  ‘Are you?’ replied Annie, unimpressed.

  ‘No I meant—’

  Bugger.

  ‘Isn’t this a big surprise?’ laughed David.

  ‘That’s one word for it,’ said Annie dryly, amazed at how fast anger could resurface.

  ‘Did you even know he was in New York?’

  Jake kept his voice low. He was worried it might tremble otherwise. Instead it came out like Wenceslas snow – all soft and even. ‘Actually we met up in the park this morning.’

  ‘Oh!’ exclaimed David. ‘There goes the surprise then.’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that,’ said Annie, straight at Jake. ‘I’m amazed Jake’s here.’

  Jake spoke earnestly and his eyes held Annie to the spot. ‘I thought we could – maybe, should – start where we left off—’

  Did she hear that right?

  If Annie hadn’t felt Edward’s comforting arm round her shoulder just then, she might have been unable to stay upright. She leant into Edward’s body for support. Thank God for Edward. Oh dear, she was so confused.

  ‘Jake!’ greeted Edward loudly, stretching out his hand. ‘Delighted! You must be following us.’

  Jake smiled politely, but didn’t take his eyes off Annie as he shook Edward’s hand.

  ‘That’s right,’ he said.

  There was an uncomfortable pause. Jake held Annie’s gaze. Edward held her shoulder. Annie held her breath.

  She had no idea how the situation would have ended, if it hadn’t been for an interruption from an unexpected quarter.

  ‘Hi there Jake,’ said a delighted Davina, over Annie’s right shoulder. ‘We met in London, just before I came out to work here with George.’

  And Jake was as struck dumb as Annie by the delectable Davina openly flirting with him. She was playing no games. The message was clear. She wanted him and she wanted him bad. Annie turned away to stop herself from launching her body at Davina’s throat.

  As Edward guided Annie towards their seats, Annie cursed the fates. Just when she thought she was getting over Jake, Davina had to prove her wrong.

  So many reasons to hate one person.

  But what about Jake? Had she just heard him right? Did he really want to start where they’d left off? Was he talking about the park this morning, or …

  She didn’t dare think it. But why else would he be here?

  She turned round and caught him chatting to Davina. Davina burst into girlish laughter. When Jake’s eyes caught hers over Davina’s head, she looked abruptly away and grimaced. Oh no. Not again.

  Thankfully, Jake hadn’t managed to get seats in one of the family boxes or with the others who had seats in the stalls, but Annie heard them all arrange to find each other in the bar during the interval.

  At that instant, the bell rang telling them that the opera was about to begin.

  As Annie took her seat next to Edward, she scanned the auditorium frantically for where Jake was sitting. She couldn’t find him anywhere. Was Davina molesting him somewhere? Was no woman safe with that man?

  Annie and Edward were sharing a box with Cass and Brutus, to the left of the auditorium. Edward edged towards Annie, who had moved her chair to the end of the box in a failed attempt to give herself more space. He kept whispering sly observations about the audience into her neck and then laughing conspiratorially. She had no choice but to respond with a polite smile. The smaller response he got
, the larger his movements became.

  She could hear Davina’s affected laugh piercing the hub of pre-opera gossip. She was determined not to look to where the laughter was coming from. She wouldn’t give her – or Jake – the satisfaction. Instead, every time Davina laughed, she edged closer to Edward. If she could, she’d have sat on his lap.

  Just as the orchestra started tuning up, she couldn’t help but look out at the auditorium once more. Then just as the crystal chandeliers started floating majestically upwards and the lights to dim, she locked eyes with Jake. He was sitting practically opposite them, his eyes fixed darkly on her and Edward.

  Flustered by such an honest look, she looked down at the electronic titles in front of her, for want of anything else to look at.

  Her hand shaking slightly, she pressed the button on the titles. Orange electronic lettering shone out. Otello. Act One.

  Edward had decided to share Annie’s screen with her, which meant sitting very snug so as to be able to see them.

  The curtains went up. There appeared to be about 300 people – 300 rather large people – on the vast stage. They burst forth into an explosion of sound that was even louder than the sound effects of a storm around them. They seemed to sing a whole song in one long breath. Annie looked at the titles to see what they were singing about.

  Thunder!

  Edward inched closer.

  Their position at the side of the auditorium meant they missed much of the action. The turmoil going on inside Annie’s head meant she missed the rest. She had to get to Jake. Find out what he really meant. She just had to be with him.

  After the slowest forty-five minutes of Annie’s life, the curtains whisked down. Annie wanted to speed away from Edward, through the heaving throng.

  But the opera singers were taking their interval bow. She couldn’t summon up the energy to clap. The audience gave them an ovation and Annie could almost feel Jake standing up, amid the crowd in front of her.

  As soon as the stars of the show vanished behind the thick curtain, Annie sped off, leaving Edward stuck behind a mass of people.

  Jake was waiting at the bar, with David, Sophie, Tony and Fi. Annie quickened her pace.