Page 29 of One Summer Weekend
Chapter Nine
Whether by accident or design, Jack walked on ahead with Midge. I could see from the set of his shoulders, and her frequent frowning glances up at him, that their conversation was not a happy one. Part of me longed to know what they were saying, the other part relished the opportunity to interview Bill.
I started by asking him about his plans for the future,and whether they included a permanent move to the Lakes. From there, it was a simple step to a discussion about work and how he’d met Jack. Like most of my clients, he was eager to talk business with a sympathetic listener.
At first, I felt I was making little headway; we seemed to be mired down in reminiscences from the early years of their relationship. Then, almost as an aside, he said,‘Not that I’d expect anything else, after what happened to his father.’
‘Ye-es,’ I said tentatively, wondering if this was something I would be expected to know.
‘He’ll have told you all about it, of course.’
‘Mmm.’
‘When I heard the Sphinx announcement, I thought he was stark staring mad.’
‘Did you?’
‘Wouldn’tyou?’
‘I’m not sure—’
‘Watch your stephere.’ He paused while we both negotiated a particularly steep incline. ‘I mean – dredging it all up again, trying to right old wrongs.’
‘I suppose so,’ I said, hoping that this was a suitable response. Once again, I sensed that whatever had happened to Jack’s father was significant, although what it had to do with Sphinx I couldn’t imagine.
‘He won’t admit it, but I know that’s whathe’s doing.’
He stopped – and so did I, welcoming the chance to catch my breath as unobtrusively as I could. While he adjusted his rucksack, I stared ahead at Jack. He scaled the rocky path without any apparent effort: a study in strength and stamina, the fluid movements and easy balance of an athlete, pausing only to offer Midge a helping hand. Yet what I’d just learnt suggested even greatervulnerability than I’d detected from our dealings so far …
I sensed, rather than heard, that Bill had asked me a question. ‘Sorry?’
‘I said, don’t you see this all the time in your job? Isn't that why people employ a coach to rectify something in their past?’
‘I prefer to think of it as earning themselves a better future.’
‘Maybe, maybe not. Here, we’d better get moving– those two are nearly at the top.’
I sighed and made a mental note of all he’d told me; writing it down would have to wait. When at last we joined the others, Jack herded me to one side with the excuse of naming more hills. It was also, of course, an opportunity for him to wind his arm around my waist, pull me close and murmur, ‘How was your little talk with Bill?’
‘Very enlightening,’I said, coolly.
‘Oh?’ A less playful tone now.
‘We need to discuss it somewhere else, in case I’m tempted to push you off this mountain.’ I looked up at him with a deceptively loving smile. ‘And how was your little talk with Midge?’
A rueful laugh, as his eyes clashed with mine. ‘Very … belittling. One of her specials – if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought you put her upto it. You both have the same knack of making me feel two feet tall.’
‘What was she belittling you about?’
He paused, then fixed his gaze on the hills opposite. ‘She’s worried that there’s some tension between us, that we’ve still not made up from our tiff yesterday – or, at least, not properly.’ A pause; then he added, ‘And she thinks I’d be a bloody fool to let you get away.’
It was spoken half to himself, as if I wasn’t meant to hear. Which, strangely, made it all the more heartfelt. Pink-cheeked, I said the first thing that came into my head. ‘Sounds like we’ve managed to convince her that this is a real relationship.’
‘Not quite.’ A slow deep breath, his gaze still distant. ‘Which is why we need to put on a bit more of a show.’
Then he turned to me,tightened his grip on my waist and cupped my face with his other hand, his lips blotting out my yelp of protest. A kiss of affection rather than passion, thank God. So why did part of me yearn for something more?
Before my mouth could betray me, he gently brought the kiss to an end. And I … I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. An attitude of contentment, belying the turmoilinside.
