Page 26 of Don't Believe A Word

‘OK, well, this probably isn’t the right time, but as I was nearby I thought … I’ve been wanting to talk to you since the other night when we … Well, you know, you were there.’ He laughed uneasily.

She eyed him stonily, having no idea what he was building up to, and not at all keen to find out.

‘I just wanted to ask how serious it is between you and this … David,’ he blurted, looking so unsure of himself, and so like their son during his rare moments of uncertainty, that it took the fire out of her anger surge.

Sounding more long-suffering than impatient, she said, ‘It really isn’t any of your business, Matthew, and frankly, I resent you asking.’

He swallowed. ‘OK, I deserved that, but after we … spent that time together the other night …’

‘It’s sounding to me as though you’re reading far too much into that …’

‘No. No, I’m not, I was just afraid you might and … Well, it’s not that I don’t want us to get back together, you know I do …’

‘This conversation’s over …’

‘No, wait,’ he cried, as she made for the door.

She turned back, eyes blazing. ‘If you seriously think I have spent a single minute thinking about the other night and the fact that for some deranged reason I let yousleepin my bed, then you are beyond delusional. For God’s sake, Matthew! You start off by asking how serious I am about David, now you seem to think I’ve got designs on you …’

‘I just wish you did,’ he cried helplessly, ‘and that everything could go back to the way it was. And you can hardly blame me for trying to find out how the land lies with Mr Guernsey …’

‘I’ve already told you, it’s none of your business, so if that’s all you’re here for …’

‘Actually, I wanted to see you,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t know why, but the world, everything, feels better when I’m with you …’

‘But you’re notwithme. You have a different wife now and a child. Have you been in touch with them? What’s happening over there?’

Pushing a hand through his hair, he said, miserably, ‘Apparently Bear is missing me, although how that’s possible when I’ve only held him once for about three seconds, God only knows.’

She blinked. A long moment passed before he said, ‘Please don’t laugh.’

‘I wasn’t going to,’ she lied. Then, ‘You do realize that’s Marley sayingshemisses you, don’t you?’

He shrugged. ‘I guessed you’d have a clearer understanding of it than I do.’

Unable to believe how dense he could be, Cristy said, ‘So you’re here for me to tell you what to do next?’

‘I’m just not sure how to play it,’ he confessed. ‘One minuteshe doesn’t want me anywhere near her, or the baby, the next they’re missing me … I can’t just fly over there. I’ve got a job and a son here to think about and if she’s determined to carry on living there … Well, how’s that going to work for anyone?’

‘I’ve no idea, Matthew, but as it isn’t my problem I’m not going to spend any more time on it. Now, if you don’t mind …’

‘Willhebe there for Aiden’s gig tomorrow night?’ he asked, as she opened the door.

Realizing he meant David, she stopped, gave herself a moment and said, ‘No, he won’t, but before you start reading anything intothatplease let me tell you again … We, you and I, do not have a future together outside of being parents to our children,’ and before he could say any more she walked back into the production office and slammed the door.

‘Oh dear, is this a bad time?’

Cristy looked up to find a short, plump woman with a playful pink bob and flashy red glasses staring at her sympathetically.

‘Isabelle Penny,’ she said, holding out a hand to shake. ‘But please call me Iz.’

*

‘Holy shit,’ Meena murmured later, when Cristy finished telling her all about Matthew and David. They were at the Mud Dock Café with a bottle of wine between them on the table and a couple of menus they’d yet to look at. ‘Your personal life is all kinds of weird right now,’ she stated, ‘and frankly I don’t know what to tell you. Apart from the fact that youknowyour ex is a cheating bastard. I’m not sure I’d be able to trust him again if I were you …’

‘It’s not even in my head to try,’ Cristy broke in heatedly.

Still seeming dubious, Meena refilled their glasses and, after they’d selected a few small plates to share, she said, ‘What about David? Do you really think he’s back withLa Française? What’s she like, by the way?’