Page 62 of Love, Accidentally

‘He will.’

* * *

By the time Sarah has finished with me, I’m on the verge of being late when I pull up outside Jonathan’s house, but I have to admit she’s done a great job. We stuck with the checked shirt, which is tied in a knot at the base, but I’m wearing fitted blue jeans and, having discovered that we have the same shoe size, some brown leather boots that she’s lent me. I have no idea what they cost, but the leather is idiotically soft and comfortable, and I’ve already resolved to try to find a similar pair when I get time. I was initially worried by how much make-up she applied to my face, but the end result is every bit as subtle as she described. My eyes are just a little more defined, without the dark circles underneath that I normally have for a couple of days after night shifts, my lips look a fraction fuller, and my normally slightly sallow skin has a healthy glow. I can’t help taking a look in the rear-view mirror and smiling as I unfasten my seat belt; I have to admit that I do like this version of me. I’ll ask Sarah to show me how to do it myself, I decide as I ring the doorbell.

‘Hiya,’ Will says with a smile as he opens the door, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I feel a little nervous all of a sudden. His expression is giving nothing away as he steps aside to let me in, which doesn’t help. Has he noticed the difference? If he has, does he like what he sees? Why does that suddenly seem to matter to me? I can feel myself going into full-on overthinking mode as Jonathan comes out of the kitchen to greet me.

‘Tilly!’ he booms enthusiastically. ‘You’re just in time. We’re having a simple chicken roast today, is that all right?’

‘More than all right,’ I tell him. ‘How are you?’

‘Good. Did Will tell you about my day at flying club yesterday?’

‘No. He said you’d enjoyed it last week and you were going again.’

‘Bernard’s taken Dad under his wing,’ Will tells me, and I’m relieved to see he seems completely back to his usual relaxed self. ‘Dad’s started practising with a battery-powered helicopter, and rumour has it that the fearsome Audrey might be airborne within the month, weather permitting.’

‘Aren’t all these things battery powered?’ I ask.

‘Oh, no,’ Jonathan explains. ‘Audrey is powered by a miniature jet engine. That’s why I have to be so careful with her and why I want to get lots of practice in before I try to fly her. Mess it up with a small battery-powered helicopter and you learn a valuable lesson. Mess it up with Audrey and it’s both expensive and potentially dangerous.’

‘Thinking of which, have you had any luck tracking down the real Audrey?’ I ask Will once Jonathan has disappeared into the kitchen to put the final touches to lunch.

‘I haven’t tried,’ he replies, looking puzzled. ‘Why?’

‘No reason. I just got the impression, last time she was mentioned, that you were going to look for her, that’s all.’

‘I’m not sure I’d know where to start,’ he admits. ‘That kind of thing isn’t really my area of expertise.’

‘I’d start by googling Audrey Carmichael and see where it takes you.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’

I’m a little surprised by Will’s lack of enthusiasm for a simple task that I’m pretty sure was his idea, but I’m more concerned by the tension that has suddenly reappeared in his face. Whatever’s up with him has evidently not resolved itself after all, and my heart sinks a little. Before I have a chance to dig any deeper though, Jonathan calls us to the table, where his ‘simple’ chicken proves to be anything but. As well as the gravy, crispy roast potatoes and vegetables, there’s bread sauce, stuffing and pigs in blankets.

‘The thing I like about chicken is you can add all the traditional Christmas trimmings at any time of year,’ Jonathan says with a smile as he starts to dish up. ‘Thinking of which, what do you normally do for Christmas, Tilly?’

‘Well, if I’m working, I tend to spend it picking tinsel out of bodily cavities it has no business being in, or dealing with other bizarre festive injuries, but I’m off this year so I’ll be spending it with my parents.’ It takes me a while to explain our blended family set-up, and how both houses are overrun with step-siblings, friends and other hangers-on for pretty much the entire period from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. ‘Tash and I generally go for the day on Christmas Day and Boxing Day if we can, and steer clear for the rest of it,’ I conclude. ‘What about you?’

‘It’ll just be the two of us,’ Will tells me. ‘First year without Mum and all of that.’

‘If you want to escape the mêlée, you’d be more than welcome to pop in at any time,’ Jonathan adds. ‘It’s always a pleasure to see you.’

I glance at Will, but his face is still inscrutable. Something is definitely not right with him and I’m starting to wonder if I’ve read him all wrong.

26

‘Are you OK?’ I ask Will as we’re checking progress in the workshop after lunch. Jonathan disappeared for his nap before I could attempt my charm offensive, so I’ve decided to talk to Will directly and see if I can find anything out that way.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘I don’t know. You don’t seem quite yourself today. Was it the Audrey thing? I didn’t mean to put my foot in it; it’s just you seemed quite enthusiastic about tracking her down the other week.’

He looks at me for a long time, as if trying to make his mind up about something. Just as I’m starting to feel hot and uncomfortable under his gaze, he speaks.

‘You look different today,’ he says. ‘I can’t quite work out what it is.’

‘Different good or different bad?’ I ask, pleased that he’s noticed but definitely squirming under his scrutiny now.

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