Maggie could see at this rate they’d be there until midnight and no further ahead. Succinctly she rattled off all the things Emily accused him of and asked if he’d done each one. He quickly said yes to the first two, but then went quiet.
‘Hey, pal, get it over with, you’re not helping yourself here,’ Chad interjected.
‘I wasn’t unfaithful to Emily. I couldn’t be. It would kill me,’ Jonathan protested.
‘But you told me you did,’ Emily said calmly. ‘Why did you lie?’
* * *
‘Because it was the worst thing he could think of.’ Chad took a chance and spoke up. ‘We men are idiots sometimes. Take pity on him, kid, and listen to what he’sreallysaying.’ He caught Maggie’s sharp intake of breath and knew she was waiting for her sister to go into tantrum mode again.
Emily sat up very straight. ‘Jonathan, we need to talk on our own.’ She glanced over at them. ‘No offence, you two.’
‘None taken,’ Chad said and slipped his arm around Maggie’s shoulder. ‘How about you and I go for a walk?’
‘A walk? But . . .’
‘They’ll be fine.’ He stared deep into her worried eyes, trying to convey his belief that it was time to let Emily deal with herown problems. ‘Do you want to change into something more comfortable? We can stop by the pub for me to do the same on the way.’
‘I suppose we could.’ Maggie’s reluctance couldn’t have been more obvious if she’d spelled it out in flashing neon lights. ‘Are you absolutely sure?’ She asked Emily.
‘Yes. I promise not to yell, hit Jonathan or burst into tears. Okay?’
Maggie sighed and nodded. Without saying any more she left the room and disappeared upstairs.
Chad considered going outside to wait, not wanting to make things more awkward than they already were.
‘Thanks, mate.’ Jonathan pulled out the chair next to Emily and sat down. ‘I bet you’re good at your job.’ He gave Chad a wry smile.
‘Most of the time.’
‘If you mess my sister around you’ll have me to deal with,’ Emily threatened before giving in to a tight smile. ‘You’ve witnessed me when I’m angry so that should be your warning.’
‘It certainly is,’ he jokingly agreed.
Maggie reappeared in the kitchen door and stared around at them all laughing, obviously convinced they were completely mad.
‘Everything’s fine. Off we go.’ Without giving her a chance to argue he seized her hand and whisked her outside. He had her settled in his car before she had a chance to protest.
‘You’re very domineering sometimes,’ Maggie groused without any real venom.
‘I prefer to call it decisive.’
‘Hmm. You would.’
He grinned and started up the engine, putting the car in gear and driving away before Maggie could change her mind and insist they go back inside to referee. ‘I love your hair loose.’ She’dleft it undone today and the dark brown waves rippled around her face.
‘It’s a mess, but I have to tie it back for cooking so I usually don’t bother when I’m free from work.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m envious of yours.’
‘Mine?’
She nodded and stared down at her knees.
Chad tried not to give in to a satisfied smile. ‘We’ll discuss this when I’m not trying to concentrate on staying on the right side of the road — or rather the left.’
A few minutes later they were back at the Black Prince where things were quieter now the lunch-time rush was over. He pulled into a parking spot close to the front door. ‘How about you go and sit in the public lounge while I throw on some jeans?’
‘I’d prefer to wait for you in the garden if you don’t mind. It’s too pretty a day to be inside.’ Maggie insisted and left before he could argue.
