Page 21 of One Summer Weekend
I stared at her blankly, while she went on, ‘People with motorhomes like to give them names, and the names tend to reflect the nationality of the manufacturer.’
‘And people with motorhomes are usually very fussy about whothey allow to stay in them,’ Jack said, grinning broadly. ‘In fact, Midge and Bill have been known to let their guests stay in the house and move into Hermann themselves.’
She laughed. ‘Nice try, but these days we prefer the comfort of our own bed. And I’m afraid it’ll have to be Hermann for both of you – the spare bedroom’s just not usable. See for yourselves.’ She flung open the door onthe right and led us into a completely empty room – no bed, no furniture of any kind, not even a carpet. I stared at the damp-ravaged ceiling and wall opposite, and tried to believe that this was just a very bad dream. A thud beside me – Jack, letting my suitcase drop to the floorboards, as if equally aghast. Or was this a role play within a role play, and something he’d already factored into hisplans?
Midge gestured at the ceiling. ‘There was a terrific thunderstorm a few nights ago, and the heavy rain made the roof leak. We didn’t realise until we found everything ruined the next morning and –’ She broke off as she noticed my expression. ‘Is there a problem? Jack said – well, I got the feeling you were moving in with each other very soon.’
I slanted a poisonous look at Jack;but he avoided my gaze, evidently transfixed by something in the tree outside the window. My only option was to take matters into my own hands – or try to. I turned to Midge and said brightly, ‘With Jack’s cold, it would probably be best if I found a hotel.’
She frowned. ‘You’ll be lucky to get a room on a Friday night at this time of year.’ Then, as if struck by a new idea, ‘I’ve neverknown Jack have a summer cold – have you two had a tiff?’
‘Yes,’ I replied, just as he said, ‘No.’
A peal of laughter from Midge. ‘Go on, the pair of you! I’m sure you’ll find a way to make up. And please use this bathroom,’ she added, indicating a door at the end of the room. ‘It wasn’t affected by the leak, and it’s a lot less basic than Hermann.’ A knowing glance at each of us inturn. ‘I’ll leave you to sort yourselves out, we’ll be in the garden.’
As soon as she’d gone downstairs, I hissed, ‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?’
‘I didn’t know this room was out of action—’
‘But implying that we’re going to be living together—’
‘What’s wrong with that? If you’re the only woman I’ve ever brought here, that would mean you’re pretty special– and moving in together would be a natural next step.’
I glared at him. ‘It’s a totally hypothetical situation, of course, but I imagine one of us would have to change jobs first.’
‘In the longer term, yes. But we could see each other at weekends even now.’
‘No thanks. The thought of spending my free time in Grimshaw holds no appeal whatsoever.’
‘Pity. To me, it wouldn’tmatter where we were – as long as we were together.’ He picked up my case and made for the stairs, firing a parting shot over his shoulder – ‘I’ll be outside, waiting to show you our little love nest.’
I wrenched open the bathroom door. The compact luxury of what would have been my en suite went some way to restoring my equilibrium. But that ridiculous conversation about seeing each otherevery weekend played on my mind; it was as if we were discussing a real possibility – which didn’t exist, and never would.
When I went downstairs again, Jack was leaning back against the front door as if to prevent my escape. I rattled the handle in annoyance, and he turned round slowly. His face wore an unusually bleak expression, and I suspected that he was still dwelling on my words ofrejection – however theoretical they might be.
He opened the door and stood in the way, so that it was impossible to get past. ‘There’s something else I need to tell you.’
‘Go ahead. It can’t make things any worse than they already are.’
He cleared his throat. ‘It’s about Karina.’
Oh fantastic, just when I think it can’t get any worse … He’s going to confess that they’rehaving an affair behind her boyfriend’s back. And technically behind my back, as his new girlfriend. Not that I care, of course; not in the slightest.
‘You probably realised in the restaurant that she’s my ex,’ he went on. ‘She’s been going out with a guy called Henrik, and now she’s decided to break up with him.’ He paused. ‘To cut a long story short, she wants to be back with me. Troubleis, she’s threatening to come up here this weekend so that we can talk things over.’
‘Fine by me – although it might get a bit crowded in the motorhome,’ I said, acidly.
A tight-lipped smile. ‘Well, it’s not fine by me. But having you as my girlfriend could be handy if she does turn up. With Karina, actions speak louder than words – and I need her to get the message.’
Which message?That he doesn’t want her back – or, more likely, that she’s got competition and she’ll need to up her game?
Something he’d said earlier snagged in my mind, a flaw in his preposterous argument. ‘How will she know where to find you, if you’ve never brought her here?’ I narrowed my eyes. ‘Unless, of course, you’ve given her this address, set it all up—’
‘I have.’
The speed of hisconfession took me aback. ‘You have?’
‘Yes, I gave her Midge and Bill’s address ages ago. She wanted to send them a card when they moved in.’
