Page 96 of The Good Neighbour

Josh shook his head. They’d returned from the hospital in the early hours so Josh had left it until the morning to try and contact him. The phone had gone to answer machine. Josh had even tried calling the theatre. They wouldn’t give out the details of where Hugh and Michael were rehearsing. Not that he’d really expected them to.

A taxi drew up and Jeannie stepped out.

“There’s your answer,” Alexander said.

“What do you mean?” Josh replied.

“Don’t be dim,” Jeremy said. “If anyone knows where Hugh is, it’s Jeannie.”

Do I have the guts to accost her like that?

They had lived next door to each other for some time but he didn’t regard her as a friend.

“Go on,” Jeremy continued. “My next book relies on this.”

“Only if it works,” Josh replied. “I mean it.”

He certainly did not want this recording for posterity if he made a total dick of himself.

“Of course,” Jeremy said, not entirely convincingly.

“Move,” Alexander said. “She’s going inside.”

With a deep breath, Josh ran across the street.

“Jeannie.”

She was struggling with her huge suitcase.

“Need a hand?”

She straightened up and stared at him.

Is that a scowl or not?

“Josh. I?—”

“Before you say anything, I know that you’ve probably heard an awful story about me.”

“I’m tired. I can’t get into this now.”

“Jeannie. Please. Give me a minute.”

She sighed and nodded.

“My soon to be ex-husband wanted me back only to promote his stupid film, so he came to London to make it happen. He didn’t like that I was with Hugh and came out of that bathroom naked. He certainly did not go in there in that condition. If you want me to beg, I will, but I need to see Hugh.”

The words fell out of him like an explosion. Jeannie considered him for a second.

“Winston always has been a piece of shit,” she replied. “I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to find out.”

“Words I’ve heard a lot over the last few weeks. I am in love with Hugh and I desperately need to tell him. He won’t answer my calls. I don’t know what to do.”

She took a step away. “In love?”

“Yes. Head over heels in love with him. He’s the best person I’ve ever met in my life.”

She seemed lost in thought for a second before that million-dollar smile that companies fought over to advertise their products appeared on her face.