‘Sing it to me, Grace.’
Gracie, fuelled with champagne and wine, started to recite the lyrics, then pulled away, dancing animatedly from room to room.
Leo followed her to the bathroom where she missed a step, nearly falling headlong into the sunken bath. He caught her and swept her up in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder.
‘You, my little lady, are a little bit drunk.’ He carried her through to the bedroom, laid her gently on the bed and within minutes she was asleep. He kissed her gently on the cheek, got Kingston to bring some extra bedding, put a pillow under her head and looked down at her tenderly.
‘And you, my little lady, I could watch dance like nobody’s watching, forever.’
FIFTY-SEVEN
Noms was giving Jack his breakfast when Gracie arrived home looking the worse for wear.
‘Good night, was it?’ Noms looked her exhausted-looking sister up and down.
‘Nothing happened, if that’s what you mean.’ Gracie poured herself a glass of orange juice and downed it.
‘Yeah, right,’ Noms said with a wry smile.
Jack was engrossed in a cartoon on the TV.
‘No, truthfully. We had an amazing dinner in his hotel room, I got drunk and woke up fully dressed on top of the bed. Bless him, he had slept in the other room. I woke to a breakfast tray and a note saying thanks for a lovely night. It’s so embarrassing. I was dancing around like a madwoman.’
‘Well, as long as you had fun, I’m happy.’ Noms put her hand on her sister’s arm.
‘I felt like I was on a movie set. It’s just a different world. One I don’t fit into.’
‘I honestly don’t mind if you take it further, though, Grace. Our ship sailed long ago.’
‘And what with you being on the path to pussy paradise, now and all that.’
Noms shushed her sister.
‘Can I get down please, Mummy?’ Jack pushed his cereal bowl across the table.
‘Yes, go up and get dressed, darling. Your clothes are on the chair. We’ll take Boris to the common when you’re ready.’
‘Are you coming, Auntie Grace?’
‘Not today, sweet boy.’
‘All right, then.’ He stroked Boris, who was lying patiently in his bed, and scurried upstairs.
‘Did he mention Jack?’
‘Of course he did. He’s adamant he wants to meet him.’
‘I did have a long think about it last night.’
‘And?’
‘I still don’t know what to do.’ Noms looked pained.
‘He suggested that he meet him without you telling him he was his dad. I guess at least then he can get to know him.’
‘And then he’ll be gone off again filming somewhere or other and he won’t see him for months.’
‘But if it’s just a casual meeting, and you announce him as a friend, then Jack will be none the wiser.’
