Page 35 of The Plot Twist

Martin ran a hand down his face. ‘We’ve been trying to fix the problem that is Gigi for years. To be honest, I think it’s high time I accepted what Angie has been saying about her for a long while, she needs to get on with her life and stop expecting us to mend her mistakes.’

‘So, you should tell Angie that,’ Allie said insistently, ‘tell her you’ve realised she was right. We all like to be told we’re right!’

Martin smiled wanly. ‘Yes, I’ve noticed that. The trouble is, if we start discussing Gigi, and all that entails, I will have to come clean about the money I’ve given her.’ Martin rubbed his face again.

Allie pulled a face. ‘I feel like we need to be in an establishment that serves alcohol to deal with this.’

‘Yes, that sounds like the story of parenting Gigi. They do those little bottles of wine here?’ Martin looked hopeful.

‘I was thinking we needed something stronger.’

They sat in silence for a moment.

‘I’ve got an idea.’ Martin paused for a second. ‘I actually don’t know why I didn’t suggest we meet there.’ Allie could feel her mouth twitch into a smile, sensing the note of excitement that had crept into Martin’s voice. ‘How long have you got?’ he asked.

‘Honestly?’ said Allie, ‘I have nothing else on for the rest of the day, other than to go home and probably not write. I’m in your hands, especially if they’re going to lead me to something I can use in my book.’

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Allie found herself gawping at the beautiful central courtyard of the Wallace Collection.

‘I can’t believe you’ve never been here before.’ Martin was staring at her as if she had sprouted an extra head. ‘How long have you lived in London?’

‘Long enough to know far more rooftop bars than I bet you’ve ever been in.’

‘I doubt it. Remember, I was going to publishing parties when you were still in nappies. Back in the days when they had the budget to spend on them.’

‘Fair point, best I’ve ever had is warm wine in a bookshop. Oh, apart from the summer party of course.’

‘Of course. Good food at the last one, wasn’t it?’ Martin gave her a curious look and Allie wondered whether he had noticed the vibe between her and Will during their brief conversation in the alley behind the museum.

‘It was OK,’ she said noncommittally. ‘But this?’ She pointed to her gin julep, which she was dangerously close to finishing already. ‘This is just delicious.’

‘I’m glad you like it.’ Martin looked pleased with himself. ‘But I still can’t believe you’ve never been here before, you heathen.’

Allie grinned at him. Strangely she didn’t mind being insulted by Martin, it was a whole lot better than him being buttoned up and morose. He’d relaxed, his whole being seemed completely different to the miserable, tense creature he had arrived as that afternoon. And she liked the transformation, she even liked the way he was teasing her. It was a strange sort of friendship they had begun to create.

‘OK,’ she leaned back in her chair, reluctantly putting her drink down, ‘tell me what this place makes you think of?’ To Allie it made her think of Brideshead, of dances and cocktail parties, the likes of which she would never be invited to.

‘Meeting Angie here, before we had kids? She would sneak off for an extra long lunch break, and I wasn’t yet published, so I’d be at home trying to write. I’d find her in one of the galleries, staring at one of her favourite paintings. And then we’d spend a glorious hour together, giggling at the nudes, making up stories about the painters, feeling superior to everyone else in only the way that the young and in love can. You know that point when you still believe that no one else has ever felt this way before, that it will last forever and that you’re the luckiest couple in the world to have found each other? It was all the inspiration I needed to go home and then write something amazingly grisly for the afternoon.’ He grinned at Allie. ‘Hang on, what are you doing?’

Allie’s eyes had misted over at Martin’s words and she had leaned forward and grabbed her laptop from out of her bag. ‘Do you mind? I thought I’d take some notes.’

Martin looked confused, thrown off his stride. ‘I guess not. Are you actually going to use some of this?’

‘I’m not sure yet. But honestly, Martin, it’s amazing listening to you talk about Angie. I love the history you share, the memories.’

Martin smiled and looked around the courtyard. To Allie he immediately looked as if he had been transported back three decades and was sat waiting for Angie to appear, to inspire and delight him.

‘You should bring her here, you know.’

‘I know I should.’ He took his glasses off and put them down on the table. ‘It’s hard though. When you haven’t done something like that in so long. I worry she’ll think I’m being soppy.’ He looked away from Allie, down at his hands, ‘I worry that she’ll say no.’ He paused and then looked up. ‘I worry about what she’ll say when I tell her about the money.’

Allie puffed her cheeks out and exhaled. ‘Ugh. I feel for you, Martin. At least I don’t have anyone else to worry about in this whole mess. But you know it will be worse if you don’t tell her? She’s going to find out eventually.’

‘Not if we get these books written!’

Allie fixed him with a stare. ‘Martin, stuff like thisalwayscomes out. You have to tell her. It’s best she hears from you and not from Gigi or anyone else. Hang on, does anyone else know?’ Martin shook his head. ‘Not your son?’

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