Page 99 of Don't Believe A Word

‘That’ll sort everything once and for all,’ she commented dryly, and after assuring him she’d be happy to fly back to Guernsey with David on Monday, if necessary – provided all went well between them this evening, of course – she sped up along Cumberland Road, daring to hope that he really was there.

It seemed unbelievable in a way, and yet he really had rung this morning to tell her he was on his way and if she didn’t want to see him he’d wait until she did. How was that for assertive? And how could she resist when she wanted to see him more than anything? Given how insistent he was being she was ready to believe that she might, somehow, have got it wrong about him and Juliette.

Just please don’t let me be fooling myself and he’s about to tell me, in person, why we can’t continue seeing one another.

That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he want to do that when we’ve already stopped seeing one another?

So there’s nothing wrong with hoping this evening is going to turn out well.

Cristy was ready to believe that right up until the moment she pulled into the leafy courtyard outside her building to find Matthew’s car in her parking space. What the hell was he doing here? She was expecting Aiden to be inside the flat; he’d agreed to come and let David in, so she could only presume that some other pressing engagement had arisen for her son and he’d asked his father to step in for him.

She was going to brain the boy, she really was, but before that she had to work out how the heck she was going to get rid of Matthew. What if he decided to stay and screw things up for her while making an ass of himself?

As her neighbour was in Manchester tonight, she backed into his space, somehow resisting the urge to kick Matthew’s car as she passed. God only knew what was going on inside the flat by now, she just hoped David didn’t think she’d set this up, or worse that she was making some sort of childish point along the lines of: if you’re still involved with Juliette, don’t forget Matthew is very keen to get back with me …

For God’s sake, Cristy. Pull yourself together.

‘Hey, Mum!’ Aiden shouted, as she closed the front door. ‘We’re in here.’

Wondering where the hell else they’d be other than the sitting room, while relieved to know that her son hadn’t completely let her down, she shrugged off her coat and scarf and kicked off her shoes. Were those David’s loafers sitting comfortably between Matthew’s Timberlands and Aiden’s Nikes? Christ, this was starting to feel like some bizarre kind of alt-world where all the footwear got along while the owners – didn’t.

‘There you are,’ Aiden said, coming out of the sitting room to greet her. ‘Wasn’t my idea,’ he muttered under his breath. ‘Tried to stop him, but you know what he’s like …’

‘Don’t keep us waiting,’ Matthew called out. ‘There’s a lovely white Rioja here, and we’re keen to open it.’

Wondering if there was such a thing as ex-mariticide – or was that just plain murder? – Cristy braced herself and followed Aiden into the sitting room. There she found Matthew ensconced on one sofa, as if he actually lived here, while David was in one of the armchairs, appearing perfectly relaxed and highly amused by the unexpected welcome he’d received.

‘Hello, darling,’ Matthew gushed, not bothering to get up. (Just as well or she might have knocked him down again.) ‘David and I have been having a lovely chat about deep sea fishing and how it’s a bit of a hobby of mine. I get the impression he’s way more experienced than I am, but too modest to admit it … Here, come and sit down,’ he said, patting the sofa cushion next to his own.

Suspecting he’d manoeuvred things to make sure she couldn’t sit with David, Cristy pulled out a dining chair and plonked herself on it. She was aware she hadn’t actually spoken to David yet, but she couldn’t think what to say with Matthew earwigging from three feet away. ‘Good flight?’ she managed in the end.

‘Easy,’ he assured her. ‘Everything on time, and Aiden was waiting outside when I got here.’

‘Dad drove me,’ Aiden confessed. ‘He was supposed to drop me off, but … here he is.’

Matthew laughed. ‘Here I am,’ he agreed, cheerily, ‘in the bosom of my family, and I must say, it’s a great pleasure to meet you, David. Sorry, repeating myself, but I’ve heard so much about you from Hayley and Aiden and what a wonderful time you gave them at Christmas …’

‘While you were in LA getting arrested,’ Aiden reminded him.

Matthew grimaced good-naturedly. ‘That happenedafterChristmas,’ he said, ‘but I admit it was an unfortunate incident for which I was entirely to blame. I haven’t been quite myself since Cristy and I …’

‘Are you going to pour the wine?’ Cristy cut in, noticing that Aiden was starting to see the funny side of this.

‘Of course, of course,’ Matthew declared, sitting forward.

‘And then you can go,’ Cristy told him.

He gave a hearty laugh as if she’d just cracked the most hilarious joke. ‘Don’t worry, no offence taken,’ he assured her, as if she’d apologized for it.

Deciding he’d lost his mind, she said to David, ‘I’ve made dinner reservations …’

‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ Matthew interrupted. ‘I’ve managed to secure us a table at Casa and you know how hard it is to get in there. My treat. I’d be at a loose end otherwise.’

‘What a shame,’ Cristy retorted, sarcastically.

‘I think we should accept Matthew’s invitation,’ David told her, and she felt she might like to kick him too, given the unmistakable laughter in his eyes.

‘Yeah, I think you should,’ Aiden agreed, clearly lapping it up.