The Colour of Mermaids

by Catherine Curzon

  “And a double one with us!” Lyndsey clapped again. “When?”

  “Oh, Lynds, I can’t…” Eva picked up the menu, even though she already knew what she wanted to order. “I don’t think Mr Sunglasses has gone on a date in his whole life. I can’t spring a double date including my ex on him!”

  “It’ll happen one day! Where is he taking you?”

  “Maybe—hopefully before your wedding!” Eva laughed. “He wants me to decide, but I’m really stuck. I know the sort of place that I’d like to go to, but he’s used to all those glitzy, sophisticated occasions, so I’m not sure. I’m more tagine in a Moroccan-themed café—he might want crisp white tablecloths and silver service.”

  “What about lovely pastels and cake stands?” Pure Lyndsey, in other words. “Choux buns?”

  Eva tried to imagine Daniel sat there in his sunglasses and black suit. The picture in her head made her chuckle. “Hmm…not too sure. It needs to be a dinner date, really. An evening occasion. Can you think of anywhere?”

  “Oodles of places really. It’s all down to what sort of lovely nosh floats the boat.” She took a sip of tea. “Black tie?”

  Boat.

  “Seafood,” Eva said. “There’s loads of speciality seafood restaurants in Brighton. I can just see him cracking his way through a lobster.” And he’d make it look damn seductive, too.

  “A chippy tea!” Lyndsey clapped and hooted with laughter.

  “Mushy peas in a polystyrene pot in the rain! Not quite what I was thinking of.” Eva widened her eyes and licked her lips. Maybe one day, for nostalgia’s sake, but it didn’t seem quite right for their first date. “A bit of glamour, that’s what we need.”

  “What’s the place—” She frowned and tapped her finger on the table. “Really chic, seafood. Oscar’s? Maybe that?”

  “Oh, yes, that’d be perfect!” Eva grinned as she took her phone out of her bag. “Thanks, Lyndsey, you’re a lifesaver. I’d better ring now and book. You don’t mind? I won’t be a second.”

  “You won’t get in without a ton of notice, but Miles knows the manager so I can do it for you? When do you want it for?”

  “Even if I book it for the mighty Daniel Scott?” Eva had gone off calling him bad boy and enfant terrible. And neither was she going to dwell on the fact that during her relationship with Miles, he hadn’t once taken her to Oscar’s. “Well, if you could see if he’d squeeze us in, that’d be amazing. Table for two, tomorrow. It really is short notice, isn’t it! Seven o’clock?”

  Lyndsey lifted her bag onto the table and took out her mobile, flipping open its pink cover. “I’ll ask Miles to give his chum a buzz. Consider it done!”

  Her nails tapped over the screen before she put the phone down on the table between them, the cover open. Lyndsey and Miles beamed at Eva in close-up from the screen, a selfie on a sunny British beach. They looked like a couple, in a way that she and Miles never had. They fit together in that special way, just like she did with Daniel.

  “So, if you’re virtually moved in already, when is the official moving-in happening? Oh my God, Eva, should I buy a lovely new hat?”

  “We’re artists, darling,” Eva deadpanned. “We don’t do anything officially. Besides, I’d have to decide what to do with my little house. Rent it out, maybe, for holidays? Artists’ retreats, perhaps, or…” She saw the mugshot of Lee Carswell again. “Subsidised holidays for kids who need a hand.”

  “I bet your neighbours would love living next to a crack den!” Lyndsey widened her eyes. “Or a knocking shop!”

  “Lyndsey!” Eva rolled her eyes. Her friend would never understand, and she could never, ever know, of course, why Daniel was driven to help the children whose start in life had been like his. “Shall we order lunch?”

  “I’m having an eclair today, to celebrate—” The phone buzzed and she peered at it. “Table confirmed!”

  Eva clapped. “Oh, thank you, Lynds! And I think I might join you in an eclair…”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Eva hovered in the restaurant’s bar, her eye on the door. Daniel should arrive at any moment. The taxi for his mystery tour had been booked to collect him from his house fifteen minutes earlier. Their first date. Slightly the wrong way round, but what a place to have it. And at short notice, thanks to the intercession of her best friend and her ex.

  Her heart started racing as soon as she saw the car pull up, its orange hire light extinguished. As Eva watched, Daniel emerged from the rear seat. He was clad in black, sunglasses over his eyes, and he approached the restaurant with the same arrogant swagger that had carried him over the gallery floor to her on that first night. The maître d’ hurried to open the polished glass door and a few words were exchanged before Daniel was shown with much polite ceremony to where Eva waited.

  “Ms Catesby,” the maître d’ said to Daniel, as though there might be some doubt. “Enjoy your evening, sir, madam.”

  As he strode away, Daniel dropped the sunglasses down his nose just a touch and whispered, “Did you book company for the evening, Ms Catesby?”

  Eva put her drink down on the bar as she went to encircle her arm around his waist. “Company?” She had no idea what he meant, and kissed him on the lips as a hello.

  “They’ve got us down as a four.” Daniel shrugged after they had exchanged a long kiss. “I let them know we’re just a two. A happy, in love, two,”

  “We have Lyndsey to thank, she helped get the booking. This is a very exclusive place, Mr Scott!” Eva would have kissed him again, but knew that snogging in the restaurant bar might be frowned on. “I wonder… Maybe we’ve been booked in as a four as a bigger table is more private? We won’t be squashed up like sardines with other diners.”

  “Shall we have a drink before we go over, or are you ready to eat?” He slipped his arm around her.

  “You could top up my wine for me.” Eva held up her glass to him, grinning. “White, of course, to go with fish. Although I suppose you’ll choose red?”

  “Always.” Daniel gestured to the barman and asked, “Another white, please, and whatever the best red you have is.”

  Then he kissed Eva’s cheek and whispered, “The hotel’s booked, so consider this a holiday.”

  “I packed my bag.” Eva indicated her handbag, which could fit a toothbrush at most. She slid a menu across the bar towards them. “So what do you think of this as a venue for our first date? Do you like it?”

  “I think it’s perfect for two artists like us. Beats the pictures and a burger by a long way.” He thanked the barman with a smile as the drinks appeared before them. “And tonight we have another magnificent bath, a bed with views over the sea, and the receptionist seemed to think I’d be interested in the fact that our shower is big enough for two.”

  “I’m rather interested by that too, Mr Scott. Do tell me more!” Eva chuckled saucily. “What do you fancy? The specials are up on that board, by the way.”

  “I don’t even need to look. I’m thinking lobster.” He raised his glass. “To art!”

  “To art!” Eva clinked her glass against his. “And lobster.”

  “And another night without sleep, for the very best of reasons,” Daniel added in a heated whisper.

  A shot of desire burst through Eva and she brought her mouth to his again, but broke away from his tantalising lips. “I’m so tempted to go to the hotel now, but we really must have our date. Shall we order?”

  Yet Daniel’s attention was on the door, his face darkened by a frown. Then he asked, “Isn’t that—”

  “Surprise!” Lyndsey waved from the doorway as she glanced back at Miles as he strode along in her wake. She ignored the maître d’ and headed for Eva. “Hello, lovely!”

  “Erm… Yes, this is a surprise.” Eva air-kissed Lyndsey, but struggled to smile.

  A table for four? Oh, she hasn’t…

  She has.

  “When I told Miles that you were eating here tonight, all we could think about was the sea bass!” She
turned her dazzling smile on Daniel, receiving a faint quirk of the lips in reply. “But they couldn’t fit us in unless we squeezed up with you and we didn’t think you’d mind. Miles, come and meet the famous Daniel Scott!”

  Miles, in his red and white striped shirt, which was supposed to be casual but worn by him looked like it should be under a suit, came forward and held out his hand to shake Daniel’s. There was a nervous look on his face, and Eva wasn’t sure if it was because he was meeting a celebrity or because he was meeting his ex’s new man.

  “Hi there, Daniel Scott. Miles Sutherland. Great to meet you. And… Eva, hope you’re well.” He glanced at Lyndsey, and an awkward smile came to his lips as he turned back to Daniel. “Heard a lot about you and your exhibition!”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Daniel shook his hand. “Can I get anyone a drink?”

  “G and T!” Lyndsey beamed. “Miles, lovely?”

  Miles had been staring at the specials board. Distracted, he nodded to Daniel. “I’ll have the same, thanks.”

  The barman swung into action, not needing any further instruction this time.

  Her first date with Daniel and she would have to endure Miles being awkward.

  Fantastic.

  Eva brushed her lips over Daniel’s ear and whispered, “Sorry.”

  “I hear you’ve been keeping well, Miles.” Eva rearranged her wrap. She was showing far too much cleavage to be at dinner with her ex and his girlfriend. “It’s very sweet that you and Lyndsey are a couple now. You make a lovely pair.”

  Miles nodded, and looked to Lyndsey as if he were an actor who’d forgotten his lines.

  “He’s starstruck,” Lyndsey explained, blinking at her own reflection in the sunglasses. “He’s not used to famous gents.”

  “What do you do, Miles?” Daniel asked, perhaps taking pity on him. “You’re not in the arts, right?”

  Miles breathed out, like a punctured balloon. “No…no, I’m a surveyor. I go about with my binoculars, looking at the state of people’s chimneys before they put an offer in on a house. Not quite as exciting as your line of work, but…” Miles laughed. Quite at what, Eva wasn’t sure. “Hear you’ve bought a nice place?”

  “My next project,” Daniel said with a nod, squeezing Eva’s waist. Their project.

  “It’s a gorgeous house,” Eva told the gatecrashers.

  “A little more spacious than your old place, eh?” Miles laughed. “But structurally sound, I’ll give it that, Eva. Nice conversion job on those mews houses. By the way, Daniel, you’ll want to keep an eye on those flat roofs on your property. Keep the gutters in good nick, too, as the last thing you want is a leak—1930s houses are a sod for that.”

  How excruciating. When Eva had first gone out with Miles, he had been fun. But one day he had changed, just as suddenly as if someone had flicked a switch.

  “I’ll keep one eye on that,” Daniel deadpanned. “We’re focusing on the interior right now, though. Making it a place for us.”

  “We’re going to paint murals on the walls. It’ll be amazing. The kids from outreach are going to join in,” Eva told them.

  Miles pressed his lips into a thin smile and laughed, a reedy sound that went straight through Eva like nails down a chalkboard. “You trust them in your house, Daniel? You’re a braver man than I!”

  “Richer too,” Lyndsey laughed, nudging her boyfriend. “So when they steal the TV, Daniel can buy ten more anyway!”

  Miles went on laughing, the reedy sound evolving into a snort.

  That broken nose he got playing rugby at university isn’t getting any better, even after the last surgery.

  Lyndsey grimaced and said, “I’ve told you, that needs breaking and rebuilding. You need a full Michael Jackson. I’m not having you snorting and sniffing down the aisle when the time comes!”

  Eva pasted on a smile. “It’s good to give these kids a chance. Daniel’s really got behind outreach, haven’t you?”

  Miles’ laugh spluttered to a stop, his glance fixed on Daniel. “Hope they don’t run off with your sunglasses! What d’you do then?”

  Daniel lifted his sunglasses up into his hair and looked at Miles, unanswering. As Daniel parted his lips, the barman put down two glasses in front of the newly arrived couple. Lyndsey picked one up and exclaimed, “Big happy cheers, everyone!”

  “Cheers!” Eva chimed in. She linked her hand with Daniel’s where his rested on her waist.

  “Your good health!” Miles nodded and held his glass up to Eva and Daniel. His glance stayed on Daniel again, as if he was surprised that under those sunglasses the man had eyes.

  “How lucky are we, Eva?” Lyndsey took a sip. “Out with two boys!”

  Unfortunately. Eva smiled politely. “Are you two ready to order? I’m absolutely famished!”

  “Starters and mains and pudding.” Her friend laughed. “A lovely big salad then my lovely sea bass. Miles wants soup and sea bass, don’t you, darls?”

  “Oh yes. The soup here is excellent.” Miles put his arm around Lyndsey’s shoulders. “They make their own bread, would you believe? Goes so well with the food. Really is good.”

  “Let’s get our lovely nosh ordered and sit down, then,” Lyndsey decided, resting her head on Eva’s shoulder for a moment. It seemed to break whatever was brewing between Miles and Daniel, and he lowered the sunglasses over his eyes again. Now, though, Eva didn’t wonder what he was trying to hide, because she recognised a change in her lover, a playfulness that they would never notice. He was playing at being the affected artist, playing at being a star, and when they were alone they would laugh at this despite the unexpected companions on their date.

  Their orders taken, the two couples were led through the restaurant to a table that looked out over the prom. Eva laughed, pointing to a boat far out at the darkening sea. “Look, there’s our dinner, it’s on its way now!”

  “Pinchy lobsters!” Lyndsey made claws of her hands and pinched at Miles, who batted her away with a smile. “Snap, snap!”

  He leaned sideways in his chair, one arm over its back, apparently relaxed. “That leaves you and me, Daniel, as the only grown-ups!”

  “Not me,” Daniel replied. “I paint pictures for a living—that’s not a proper grown-up job, thank God.”

  Miles turned rather pink and stared outside. As if he’d seen something outside to prompt him, he said to Daniel, “Been to see your show. Very interesting work, I must say. I’m not a particularly arty type—I’d say everything I know about art I’ve learnt from these two lovely ladies. But bloody good work. Modern stuff leaves me cold, but yours is very interesting.”

  Daniel relaxed just a little at her side. He leaned forward and picked up his glass.

  “Coming from someone who doesn’t care about modern art, I’m really pleased that my work touched you,” he said. “We can only send it into the world. Once it’s there, it’s up to you.”

  Miles’ cheeks turned a shade deeper. “It’s not that I don’t care about it—I struggle to get my head round most modern art. But yours, I understand… I think.”

  Quite an accolade from the man who had dismissed Eva’s career as scrawling. She smiled at him, still wondering why he had changed. What had it been—the sudden advance of middle age?

  “Too dark for me, not enough unicorns.” Lyndsey laughed. “What do you see when you look at Mr Scott—Daniel’s work, darling?”

  Miles cleared his throat and fidgeted on his chair as if he wished he’d never brought it up. “Colours. I see colours. And the way the colours move.” He tapped the side of his nose as if imparting a great secret. “Got to be visual in my job, you see. But in a very practical sort of way. So I probably look at paintings differently from how you all would. Anyway, I like them.”

  “Thank you.” Daniel pushed his sunglasses up into his hair. “For seeing the colours.”

  Miles looked at Daniel, a little startled now that Daniel had lifted his sunglasses again. As Eva watched him, she knew that even if Mil
es had felt anything on seeing Daniel’s paintings, he would never have admitted to it.

  “Ah, look, here comes my soup!” Miles glanced away from Daniel at last.

  Eva stroked the top of Daniel’s thigh. This really wasn’t how she had envisaged their first date. He caught her hand and squeezed it, only releasing her when their own food was set down before them. She could feel that he was relaxed though, caught that same mischievous smile as he dropped the sunglasses back into place.

  Perhaps it wouldn’t be a washout after all.

  Their conversation wended its way to easier subjects. The different wines served in the restaurant, the bread and the fish. They chatted about favourite places to eat in Brighton, which could have been awkward when Miles mentioned a restaurant that he and Eva had gone to often while they were a couple, but she realised they had both moved on enough for it not to be difficult in the least. Miles brought up the topic of cars, while Eva showed Lyndsey her new handbag. They were, strangely, behaving not far off the way that couples on a double date would do.

  “Handbag.” Lyndsey said the word thoughtfully, her brow furrowing. She tapped her fork on her plate, then her eyes grew saucer-wide. “Oh. My. God.”

  Laughing, Eva set her handbag back down on the floor by her chair. What mini-drama was Lyndsey about to relate? “What’s up? Have you just been cast as Lady Bracknell?”

  “I was cleaning out my bag”—she began miming with her hands, taking invisible items from an invisible bag and putting them down on the table—“at work, whilst Rupe was bending my ear and— I had your keys, Eva, and I said, oh heck, look at all the bits and bobs I’m toting around, I’ve even got Eva’s keys!”

  Eva felt Daniel tense beside her, lifting his sunglasses. At the same moment Lyndsey looked at Eva.

  “And I tipped the whole bag up and the man from The Times came and I had to whizz off and sort him out with his pass. You’ve still got mine, Mr Scott. When I came back, I don’t remember seeing your keys again, Eva.”