‘Oh, shoot!’ Archie put his hands on his hips.
‘Let me guess. A work thing, golf with the lads, tickets to the Grand Prix, washing your hair?’
‘Don’t be like that!’ He looked a little hurt and instantly she felt guilty. ‘The German partner’s still here and I’ve been lumbered with organising entertainment. Until we get this merger done, they are keen to keep them sweet.’
‘What are you thinking for entertainment, juggling for him or magic tricks?’
‘You’re in a funny mood.’ He held her eyeline.
‘I’m sorry’ – she rubbed her forehead – ‘it’s been areallyshitty day, actually. Guy’s angry with me about the Hartington house but making out he’s not, and that’s made me angry with him.’
‘Has Gigi got his knickers in a twist? Do I need to come to the office and bump your heads together?’
‘Ha, no, but do you think he’s changed since he married Ada?’
Archie held his drink midway towards his mouth and narrowed his eyes. ‘Is it a trick question? Try and find me a man who is not changed the moment he puts a ring on it and waltzes up the aisle!’
‘In a good way though, right? Changed in a good way?’ Staring at him, she swallowed the small bite of fear that he might not be happy, might want out, because he’d sussed she was no more than a front. Her bottom lip trembled, and she turned away to get a grip.
‘Of course, my sweet!’ His sarcasm made her laugh; he had always been able to do this, shift her mood, butter her up, lighten her worries.
‘Seriously though, Archie, I feel like Guy is a bit more judgey now, as if some of Ada’s uptight quirks are rubbing off on him.’
‘Ada? Uptight? I’d not noticed.’ There it was again, that sarcasm.
‘Something he said has bothered me a bit.’
‘What was it?’ He took a seat at the island and rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt. She liked the contrast of his lingering summer tan against the pale cotton, remembering how chuffed she had been to introduce her yachtie boyfriend to her sister. Archie had been sweet and patient during that dark, dark time, when she had felt so helpless, living far away while Tony recuperated in hospital and Remy was waiting for her face to heal, her bones to repair and for her faith in human nature to be restored. Jamie, the bozo, had been a placeholder, but it was Midge who had done that, good old Midge.
Ashleigh studied her man, who was still, in her eyes, devastatingly good-looking.
‘You know we’ve been toying with the idea of expanding, opening a rental department, poaching Letitia from JB Fox and Sons?’
‘Yep.’
‘Right, well, we haven’t discussed it for a while. The market is a bit unpredictable, and today, out of the blue, he said that he andAdathink it’s the wrong time to borrow more money.’
‘He’s probably right.’
‘That’s not the point.’ She leaned against the countertop. ‘It’s the fact that he andAdahave discussed it.’
‘We’re discussing it, and she is his wife.’
‘No.’ She felt the rise of frustration; she needed to clarify. ‘It was the way he said,Ada and I think ...I mean, what does Ada know about anything? Apart from making jam and being overly in love with that bloody sausage dog!’
‘Hey, leave Ben out of this. He’s a great dog!’
‘I would have to agree, Ben is a great dog, but you know what I’m saying. I’d never say,Archie and I... wouldn’t need to throw your name in to add weight to anything.’
‘None taken!’ He took another drink.
She took a beat. ‘Am I being mean?’ It wouldn’t be the first time that day. Her stomach bunched as she recalled the way Mr blue-and-red striped beanie had dismissed her.
‘Little bit, maybe.’
‘I just ...’ She found it hard to voice.
‘It’s understandable, Ash. You’ve been Gigi’s go-to since we left uni, and now he’s going to Ada instead, and that must be hard.’
