Matthew looked at Cristy.
‘A lot of ways,’ she conceded, not really wanting to get into this now, but going with it anyway, ‘which is why we’re taking a look into it again, to see if we can come up with a clearer perspective or even some new information.’
‘The mother, Nicole Ivorson,’ Matthew explained, ‘has just been released on parole, and no one knows where she is right now … I’m guessing you still haven’t tracked her down?’ he said to Cristy.
‘Not yet, but I’m sure we will. Any thoughts on when the archive stuff might be coming our way?’
‘I’ll chase it tomorrow.’ He took a mouthful of food and, after a while, said, ‘It’s likely to be pretty weird seeing yourself as a thirty-year-old when you’re about to be fifty – a proper trip down memory lane to a time when you were fresh and young, kind of radiant … Of course, goes without saying you’re even more beautiful now.’
‘Nice catch, Dad,’ Aiden chuckled. ‘That hole was only getting deeper. Pass the gravy please.’
It wasn’t until later, after Aiden had disappeared into his room to do whatever he did there, and Cristy and Matthew had finished clearing up, that they sat down on the sofas with fresh glasses of wine to accompany their coffee.
‘Am I going to like this surprise you and David are planning?’ she asked, putting her feet up on the coffee table. ‘I mean, if it’s someone I haven’t seen for a while, I guess it’s occurred to you that might be because I don’t want to see them.’
Clearly amused, he said, ‘You’ll be fine with it. Promise.’
Still worried, she had another go. ‘Male or female?’ she prompted.
‘Stop.’ Matthew laughed. ‘No one’s even said it’s a person, but you have my word you’re going to love it. Now, tell me about Andee Lawrence and what she’s doing these days. You two were great friends when we were all still in London. God, that takes me back. Good to know you’re still in touch.’
Cristy sipped her drink and wished she could get his thoughts on Kinsley’s offer and how he saw it playing out for the future. She might not agree with anything he had to say, but she wouldn’t mind hearing it anyway.
‘In the end we just talked about Andee,’ she told David onthe phone later. ‘Then it was time for him to leave – Aiden’s here tonight – and I’m still no closer to knowing what I want to do than I was when the offer was first made.’
‘Will you mention it to Andee next weekend?’ he asked. ‘Maybe Kinsley already has.’
‘I don’t think so, but I’ll check beforehand, and then, well, to be honest, I can’t really see her signing up for it. She might want to – actually, I have no doubt she will – but she’s pretty involved in her local community, Graeme’s business is there, and her mother’s not well. She won’t want to be far from her these days.’
‘Well, I guess that’s for her to decide if and when you finally put it to her. You might find she’ll seize it with both hands and organize a work-from-home system that covers all bases.’
Intrigued by the idea, Cristy said, ‘Maybe I could do that and stay in Bristol?’
‘Maybe, but as the big boss, you’ll have to have a place in London, and it seems likely you’ll be back and forth to the States a lot …’
‘Then how will I ever find time to see you?’
‘A question I’ve been asking myself, but we’ll work it out, and I definitely don’t want you letting it get in the way of things.’
‘That sounds as though you think I should take it.’
‘Does it?’ She could hear the smile in his voice and for no explicable reason it annoyed her.
Forcing herself to get a grip, she tuned back in to what he was saying.
‘What I do know is that plans are heating up for the big party next weekend …’
‘Tell me about the surprise,’ she broke in eagerly, the absurd flash of bad temper gone as quickly as it had come. ‘Are you certain it’s one I’m going to be happy with?’
Laughing, he said, ‘Matthew assures me it’s a perfect idea,and frankly, I trust him on this. Now, that’s all I’m going to say, or it won’t be a surprise. So, maybe tell me how much you’re missing me now.’
Laughing softly, she said, ‘You’re assuming I am.’
‘I can feel it, in all the right places, but before you start, if Aiden’s nearby, you might want to go into the bedroom and close the door.’
CHAPTER SIX
The Mane Collective, a hair salon on the corner of Randall Lane and Holly Drive, smelled as strongly of fresh paint as it did of a pungent mix of lemony shampoo and instant coffee. The place was clearly in the process of being fixed up ready for business, with mirrors, basins and a reception desk already installed, while wires still hung out of walls and plastic sheeting covered the floor.
