‘This should be interesting,’ says Graham, venturing out into the reception area.
‘You must be Nadine. We’ve talked many times on the phone.’ Her voice is strong and confident with a warm tone.
‘Graham. We met briefly at Jeremy’s party. I’m the one Ward hates.’
‘Pay no attention to him, Marina,’ Nadine chuckles. ‘Is Ward expecting you?’
‘You know what he’s like, probably forgot to mention it.’ She laughs. ‘Can I go on up?’
I tiptoe to the edge of the door, catch a glimpse of her wearing a stylish black coat that shows off her slim waist, her natural fair hair glossy and straight, as if it’s just been ironed. When Graham returns to the office I pretend to be engrossed in my brochure.
‘Stunning. She could be a model,’ he says.
‘Really?’ Acting uninterested, I turn another page.
‘But she’s almosttooperfect if you know what I mean.’
I don’t. If I were going to take up smoking now would be a good time, I think, heading outside with Spud for some fresh air, which wouldn’t be quite so fresh if I did smoke. Oh, January, calm down and breathe.
I pace up and down the road, almost tempted to go into that expensive shoe shop, or I could nip into Jigsaw and buy something for my date tonight. Sod work. I touch my locket, thinking I may be more like my mother than I’d realised. ‘Oh, Mum,’ I whisper, ‘I wish I’d had the chance to get to know you.’
Half an hour later I emerge from Jigsaw, clutching a brown carrier bag with an emerald-green top and a pair of skinny jeans inside, trying not to feel guilty that I have overdone it on the credit card. I stop when I see Marina walking towards me. I pretend to concentrate on the shop window. Graham is right. She is breathtakingly beautiful. She is the kind of woman who would never have to rummage in her handbag for keys or trip over in public or ladder her tights. She walks on by and I catch a wave of citrus scent. Without thinking I turn, and just as I do, she glances over her shoulder, as if aware she’s being watched. She must be used to being admired. She’s now heading towards me. Soon she’s right by my side. ‘You’re January, right?’ She stares into my eyes.
‘Hi, Marina! How are you? Just been out shopping.Naughty of me.’ Shut up, January.
‘I don’t know how to say this,’ she says.
Don’t say it then. Please don’t.
She rubs her lips together. ‘You spend a lot of time with my husband.’
I nod, gingerly. There is a deep sadness haunting her eyes. I want to tell her how sorry I am, that I wasn’t thinking and that the last thing in the world I want to do is come between them. I’m a nice person, honest I am.
‘I’m just going to have to come out and say this.’
Please don’t. It was a terrible mistake.
‘Is Ward having an affair with Lucie?’
When I return to Sherwoods I sit down in a crumpled heap at my desk, hearing myself saying to Marina, ‘No! Lucie? No! Why, I mean what would make you think that?’
‘I know this is awkward, but I’m asking you, woman to woman,’ she’d said, making me feel even worse. ‘He’s been working late in the office and—’
‘I promise you nothing is going on. Lucie has a serious boyfriend.’ I felt wretched, like I was lying to her.
She turned and walked away. I don’t think she believed a word I’d just said.
I hesitate whether or not to show Ward the Uley Lodge brochure. I look at my cluttered in-tray, work I don’t want to do. I need to sort out Ward’s pitch in Marlborough tomorrow. What time was it? I’ll confirm it all later. Restless, I get up and talk to Nadine. ‘Wasn’t she amazing?’ Nadine coos from behind her desk. ‘Some people are just born in another league, aren’t they, Jan? I bet their kids are going to be right old stunners,’ she whispers before the telephone rings. ‘Hello, Sherwoods, Nadine speaking, how can Ihelpyou?’
I go to sit down at my desk again and check the messages on my mobile. Oh good, there’s a text message from Ralph. I’m determined to let my hair down tonight, enjoy myself and take advantage of Ruki babysitting. ‘Going to have to take a rain check this eve, something at work has come up?. Can we rearrange?’
It’s late afternoon. I’m outside Ward’s door, debating whether I should interrupt the meeting with Spencer. All I need to do is go over Ward’s travel arrangements for tomorrow. I could leave them with Nadine…
‘It’s cutting-edge style, Ward,’ I overhear Spencer say. ‘I’m amazed you haven’t been able to sell this pad.’
‘Not everyone wants an indoor infinity pool, heated by solar panels, and a cinema room with a screen as large as a football pitch, Spencer.’
‘Why the fuck not? It’s state of the art. Tell you what, Jan can redo the brochure with better photos, we’ll do the advertising.’
