Page 48 of Crocodile Tears

“Yeah. I can imagine you’ve been fighting them off all your life.” He tightened his grasp around her, feeling suddenly protective.

“So, why did you take croc that day, if you were feeling so happy?” Solange prompted.

“I don’t know.” Alex shrugged. “Why don’t you have any of your own art in your flat?”

“I don’t like anything I draw.” Solange buried her face in his neck. “My work is never as good as I think it’s going to be, in my head.”

“That’s stupid.”

“I know. Why did you take the croc that day, Alex?”

“I told my father I’d give it up.” He gave a half-smile, half-grimace. “I’d been expelled from yet another school for taking croc a couple of months before, and Dad was really angry with me. Then we were kind of thrown together at the Olympics, because Charles and Mum were so busy, and we had a good time together. The night before Charles won his gold medal, Dad had this little talk with me; he was so kind and sweet that I promised I’d give up the croc. I meant it, too.”

“So – why didn’t you?”

Alex glanced absently out of the window. “I did. I hadn’t touched any croc in weeks, ever since I made my promise to him. Then we went out that day, and they were so happy, and we were having so much fun as we drove through the countryside. It was really hot, so I opened the roof of the duck, and it was amazing – everywhere we went, people recognised Charles and stopped what they were doing to wave. He sat behind me, waving back at them like he was Queen Matilda, loving it. I knew how famous Charles was after the Olympics, but I had no idea that people would react that way.” Alex shook his head, still bewildered.

“It was such a great moment,” Solange said. “We’d been so low forso long – as a country, I mean – and then Charles came along and made us feel like winners again.”

“I suppose that’s it, but before that he’d been a nobody, and it felt surreal – one minute nobody cared, and the next they were obsessed with him – with our whole family – and to be honest…” Alex hesitated, because he’d never told anyone this before.

“Go on.” She kissed his cheek.

“It scared me,” Alex admitted. “It’s strange to be recognised by people you don’t know, and to have people attach so much meaning to you because of something your brother has done. I hadn’t changed, but the way people looked at me had – and how can anyone hope to live up to that?”

“Charles seems to manage.” She grinned.

“Yes – if anyone was born to be famous, it’s him.”

“So, what happened next – on that day?”

“Well, Charles said we should go to The Dark Horse, like we used to in the old days, so I drove us there. It’s in a beautiful spot, a quiet village, popular with hikers. As a kid, I was always fascinated by the painted sign hanging above the door of a big black stallion, standing in a storm with a lost zone behind him. I used to try and draw that horse – there was something so beautiful, stubborn, and sad about him.” Alex buried his face in Solange’s cloud of hair and inhaled the sweet scent of her curls.

“So, you stopped at the pub for lunch – then what?”

“Well, of course, the minute we stepped inside everyone was all over Charles. I think that was why he suggested we go there.”

“Did you feel jealous? Is that why you took the croc?”

“Jealous of Charles?” Alex snorted. “Not at all. He loves all the adulation, but I don’t like being the centre of attention.”

“What’s he like?” she asked. “I mean – what’s hereallylike? I know you gave that quote to the press after he won the gold medal saying he’s a genuinely nice guy, but is he?”

“Yes.” Alex smiled. “He is. He’s a great big brother. He’s laid-back, kind, and, well, just plain nice.”

“I never got the impression he was the smartest duck in the water, though,” she said.

Alex laughed. “He’s not academic, if that’s what you mean. I don’t think he’s passed a single exam in his life. He’s more physical – big shoulders and hands, and that great big smile, of course.”

“I’d like to meet him one day.”

Alex sighed. “Everyone always wants to meet Charles. Sometimes people cosy up to me hoping I’ll invite them home so they can shake his hand.”

“You know that’s not what I’m doing, right?” She snuggled in close, grinning up at him.

“You’re playing a long game if it is.” He played with her hair gently, running it through his fingers. “It’s been nearly a year since we met.”

“So, carry on. You got to the pub…”

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