There’s a pause on the other end. ‘Poetry? Jesus.’
‘I know, right?’
‘Hmmm.’ I hear her long nails tapping against the phone. ‘He never mentioned poetry to me when we were seeing each other. He tried to get you into bed, of course?’
‘Um, no. Ew. But I have been putting out the “not that kind of girl” vibes like Grandma’s guides tell me to.’
‘Gosh … He must be trying out a new move. It has to be that. Leo is a shark whose only goal where women are concerned is to get them into the sack and then to heartlessly dump them when he’s feeling bored or tied down. Maybe he’s changing up his M.O. . . . How curious. Keep your wits about you, sweet, naive Jessica. It’s you who must hold on to the upper hand. Stick to Matilda’s tips and remember who you’re dealing with. Keep me updated, OK? I have to go back to lunch now, but let’s speak soon, and Jessica, remember … Leo Frost is not to be trusted.’
She speaks as if I’m going off into battle. Wow. Poor Valentina. He really did pull a number on her.
I say bye and press the ‘end call’ button.
Leo Frost. Artist. Thinker. Man. Not to be trusted.
So it’s all an act? He’s being what he thinks I want, just to get me into bed? Kind of like what I’m doing to him …
I picture Leo gently taking my scarf from around my neck, holding back my hair. The whole kind and sensitive act. How he told me to close my eyes and ‘let it flow’ when I got on stage.And I blummin’ did.
Oh, he’s good. He’s really fucking good.
* * *
At about five p.m., there’s been little improvement in my condition and, according to her texts, it’s the same for Peach. Grandma is dashing from my room to Peach’s and back again to bring us fresh water and soothing platitudes. I’m watchingYou’ve Been Framedon the iPhone in-between trips to the loo and feeling incredibly sorry for myself.
When there’s another knock at the door I expect it to be Grandma bringing more dehydration sachets, but it’s not. It’s Jamie. He trails in, followed by a small boy in a Leeds United football kit and clutching a football under one arm. Dashing in behind the pair of them comes Grandma, who hurries over to feel my forehead for the gazillionth time.
‘Jessica, dear, the doctor’s surgery isn’t open on a Saturday so I took the liberty of telephoning Dr Qureshi downstairs. Unfortunately he wasn’t there, so young Doctor Abernathy here − ’ she says his name with a wrinkle of the nose; to be fair she has seen his balls − ‘has agreed to take a look at you and Peach in order to check that nothing more serious is occurring here. I shall, ahem, leave you to it, Doctor Abernathy.’
Her chin wobbles for a moment and then she bustles out of the room.
Jeez.
‘Um … hey?’ I say with a sigh. ‘I’m all right, really. Sorry she rang you, we just ate a shifty kebab the other night is all. She’s a bit of a worrier.’
The young boy darts over to the balcony door and gazes out onto the big park opposite Bonham Square. ‘Woah, I can see for ages up here!’ he yells with glee.
‘This is Charlie, my nephew.’ Jamie grins proudly.
Ah, yes. He did say his kid nephew was coming to visit this weekend.
‘I was showing him around the clinic when Old Lady – um, Mrs Beam called to say you were unwell. Say hello to Jess, Charlie.’
‘Hello, Jess,’ Charlie says shyly, wandering back over from the balcony to get a good look at me in all my pukey glory. ‘What team do you support?’
‘Oh, um. Well, I don’t know … ’ I eye his top. ‘Leeds United?’
Right answer. Charlie’s punches the air and Jamie laughs at my quick thinking.
‘Aw, cool, a cat!’ Charlie skips over to the tub chair where Mr Belding is stretched out beside Felicity the doll. He kneels down on the carpet and gently takes Mr Belding’s paw into his own little hands.
‘You play nicely with the cat, Charlie,’ Jamie says in a soft burr. ‘I’m just going to examine Jessica here so we can make her all better.’
Charlie nods solemnly.
‘I’m fine, honestly.’ I roll my eyes. ‘There’s no need for you to—’
Jamie shuts me up by sitting down on the side of the bed and shoving a temperature stick in my mouth. He pulls a stethoscope from around his neck, slipping the cold metal up the back of my nightie. This is weird.
