I sneaked a peek at my phone. Two missed calls from Fox. He was home with Bibi and Reggie. I tried to ignore my creeping heart rate. Had The Chameleon come for him? Or did he just want to know where the iPad was?
I walked away from the table, mobile clasped in hand, and rang him back.
He answered on the second ring. He was talking fast. “You need to come meet me. Right now. Problem. Big problem.”
“Where are you?”
“I’ll send you a pin.”
“Are Bibi and Reggie with you?”
“Jenny’s at work. Frank is babysitting them.”
“Why did you have to go out?”
“I’ll explain when you’re here.”
“What is going—”
“Not on the phone, honey.”
He only ever used “honey” when something bad was goingdown and he was overdoing the “I’m a totally normal husband” part.
I hung up and looked at my phone. I had three missed calls from Jenny earlier in the evening, and then one text, saying:
Ignore my calls, babe. Enjoy your evening!!
She only ever used “babe” when something bad was going down and she was overdoing the “I’m a totally normal bestie” part.
And a second text.
Don’t worry, Fox is sorting it!
Clearly, Fox hadnotsorted whatever it was.
I went back to the table.
Sasha was in mid-flow. “…and they never listen and just never get it right.”
Frederica nodded. “Doesn’t matter how many times you tell them.”
I chimed in. “I know, toddlers are the worst.”
Devrika looked up at me. “We’re talking about our husbands.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course. I’m afraid I need to go. The baby isn’t well.”
“And your husband can’t handle it?” huffed Sasha.
“Exactly.”
“So typical. Why is it always down to us? Why can’t we ever just enjoy one evening out?” Devrika downed her glass of prosecco. “I bet you’d never have to ring asking him to come home if a kid was ill. Men are useless.”
Sasha snorted. “God, do you remember that time Andy couldn’t even remember what uniform the kids had to wear, so he rang me in the middle of my big presentation?”
“Dick,” said Devrika.
“Such a dick.” Araminta nodded. “And what about when Seancouldn’t find the ballet stuff, so just sent her in a tracksuit? And when he—”
