Victoria squirmed in the chair. ‘I’m sure she would’ve done if I’d told her. Mummy and Daddy persuaded me to keep it from her because they were furious with me. They insisted if I’d been what they called “a good wife”, you wouldn’t have left me.’
‘That’s totally unfair.’ Gage couldn’t let her take all the blame. ‘Our lifestyles were poles apart and we didn’t love each other enough to compromise. Anyway, your parents always made it plain I wasn’t good enough for you, so I assumed they were pleased to get rid of me!’
‘Yah, well that’s typical. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their only daughter became a model, she insists on marrying a common soldier and it’s an abject failure.’ Victoria gave a resigned shrug. ‘I’m afraid Grandmama isn’t well and for some reason she keeps asking for you.’
‘Me? Where does she think I’ve been the last two years?’
A flush crept up his ex’s long, thin neck. ‘On assignment in Australia. A secret mission where I wasn’t able to join you.’
‘Australia?’ Gage spluttered.
‘I didn’t know what to say, GG.’ Her eyes turned misty with unshed tears.
Victoria’s love for her grandmother was genuine. Maybe the only real thing about her.
Tamara wasn’t famous, wealthy or classically beautiful, but at least her life was grounded and authentic. He caught her eye this time and as they locked gazes, her thoughts seemed to mirror his own.
‘So.’ He cleared his throat. ‘What do you need me to do, Victoria? No offence, but I’m not marrying you again.’
‘I’m not suggesting we go that far!’ Her shock might’ve been laughable under different circumstances. ‘All I need is for you to come to Kingston upon Thames and visit her with me.’ Her voice wobbled. ‘Just once.’ She shot a worried look Tamara’s way. ‘You wouldn’t mind, would you?’
‘Of course not. Although, Gage doesn’t need my permission for anything because that’s not how we are together.’ She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze.
‘When do you need me?’ He sounded resigned.
‘I don’t suppose you could come tomorrow?’ Victoria shot them another anxious look. ‘It’s about a five-hour drive, so I’m afraid you’ll pretty much have to stay the night. My taxi is coming back for me in about ten minutes to take me to Exeter. I’ll get the quarter-past-ten train tomorrow morning and there are only two changes, so I’ll be at Kingston by about a quarter to two. We could meet at the station.’ Her brow furrowed slightly. ‘I hope that’s all right?’
‘Yeah, that’s fine.’
Tamara did her best to stifle a yawn. ‘I think I’ll make a move. It’s been a long day. I could do with a lie-in, and I can getthat better at my place if you’re going to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. If you’ll be staying the night in Kingston that means you won’t be back to open the shop on Monday morning, so do you want me to do it?’
‘Bloody hell, I hadn’t given it a thought.’ Gage smacked his head. ‘Are you sure that’s okay?’
‘Daft question. Of course it is.’ She slipped her coat on and found her bag. ‘Bye, Tori — I’m sorry, but that name comes more naturally — you don’t mind?’
‘Why should I? It’s who I am these days.’ There was little joy in the statement.
‘I’ll come down and lock the door behind you,’ he said, his eyes locking with Tamara’s.
The twinkle in her eyes relayed that she knew he had in mind much more than a simple good night.
They were both in fits of giggles by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs. He pressed her up against the wall with his mouth crushing hers. There was a wonderful illicitness about sensing each other’s frustration through their clothes.
‘This will be quite a story to spread around book club.’ Gage felt Tamara’s hot blush against his skin. ‘Hey, it’s fine. I’m good with you telling them. It doesn’t need to be a secret.’ He dropped a soft kiss on her mouth.
‘I was proud of you tonight when you didn’t let Victoria needle you.’
He lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug. ‘I’m working at being more laid back. Those of us connected to the forces, or emergency services or the medical profession, deal with making life-or-death decisions all the time. It’s one reason that so many struggle with regular life. We don’t understand when someone makes a fuss over things like their cubicle being smaller than their workplace neighbour.’
‘I need to put things right with Pixie, don’t I? We have to find a way to deal with the situation without ripping apart a decade of incredible friendship.’
‘I wasn’t getting at you. That wasn’t over something trivial. All you tried to do was help an old friend see that she was being made a fool of by an unscrupulous man. I know you held some stuff back, but I’m pretty sure she would’ve been even angrier if you’d told her everything.’
‘Maybe, but us not talking to each other needs to end.’ She eked out a smile. ‘Apart from anything else, the choice of entertainment venues in Penworthal is limited and if I let my quiz team down again this month, Proper Choughedmight start thinking the trophy is permanently theirs.’
‘Maybe I shouldn’t encourage you to hold out an olive branch after all,’ he mused. ‘They might ostracise me if they find out.’
‘All the more reason for me to put on those Bridget Jones panties again. While you’re away I’ll go to the pub and sort this out once and for all.’
