Page 78 of Love Me Till Wednesday

Have you seen this?

She’d included a link to one of the tabloids. Lisa was tempted to ignore it but it would only play on her mind if she did. She clicked the link and began to read.

‘Tired housewife, 56! They haven’t even got my age right.’ Lisa said, outraged.

‘What is it?’ Elise asked.

‘One of the tabloids has run an article about how the pressure of being Nick’s …’ Lisa stopped herself from saying ’mistress’. Sophie was bound to ask what that was. ‘Friend is taking its toll on my health.’ They’d accompanied it with what looked like a still from the video the man on the street had taken yesterday. The combination of no makeup, her old jogging bottoms and the scowl on her face as she yelled at him had made her look awful.

‘This is beyond a joke now. It’s giving me indigestion,’ she added as she got up from the table and headed out of the kitchen towards the downstairs loo as an excuse to get some time on her own.

She heard footsteps. Nick had followed her into the corridor. He shut the door to the kitchen. ‘It will stop soon. As long as you ignore them, they’ll lose interest.’

‘I know you’re right, but it’s hard not to want to defend yourself. How do you cope?’

‘You have to tell yourself it’s about them, not you. The papers and their readers don’t know you. Tabloid journalists exaggerate stories to soap opera-worthy levels to sell more papers. And their readers lap it up because it’s an escape from their routine lives. Making out we’re having some torrid affair is far more interesting than the truth.’

‘And what is the truth?’

He looked thoughtful. ‘That we’re old friends who like spending time together.’

Not former lovers who want to be a couple again. He must have changed his mind. She shouldn’t be surprised. Why would someone with all Nick’s wealth and fame want to hang around with a tired housewife?

Jim was collecting the used dessert bowls. Nick was about to offer to help when Sophie piped up. ‘Grandpa. Will you take me to the zoo tomorrow?’

Jim looked at his daughter. ‘Nanny’s already taking you. You’re having a sleepover here.’

‘Yes, I know.’ Sophie looked at her dad impatiently. ‘But I want Grandpa to come too.’

Nick wanted to say yes, but he wasn’t sure how Lisa would take it. She’d seemed distant ever since she’d read that wretched newspaper article. ‘It depends what Nanny wants.’

‘It’s fine with me,’ Lisa said. ‘Soph and I usually head to the zoo after an early lunch. If you turn up here at about 12.30, that would be perfect.’

‘It’s a date then,’ he said to Sophie. He was sure he saw Lisa flinch. At least he was going to see her again tomorrow. He’d have another chance to win her over then.

His phone buzzed. He checked the message. ‘Brad’s outside. I’ve got another online interview to do. Suki won’t be happy with me if I miss that. It’s been lovely meeting you all.’

As he stood up, Grace blew another raspberry at him from her highchair.

‘I’m glad you’re not a film critic,’ he joked, bending down to kiss her.

Lisa followed him up the steps and into the hallway. ‘I see I’ve got some competition for favourite grandparent.’

‘Sorry. I’m sure the novelty of having me around will wear off soon,’ he said.

‘Will you be around much?’

‘I’d like to be. I’ll be back to look for somewhere to live when filming’s over. It’s time I came home.’

She nodded. She didn’t look very happy at the prospect. Not the reaction he was hoping for. He was going to have to pull out all the stops tomorrow.

He didn’t think a kiss like the one on Friday night would go down too well today. He settled for a goodbye hug.

‘See you tomorrow,’ she said.

‘Yeah, see you.’ He walked to the car. When he looked back as he got into the passenger seat, she was still standing on thedoorstep watching him. She waved as Brad drove off. He waved back, wishing he didn’t have to go.

38

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