Page 148 of Don't Believe A Word

By five the following afternoon the so-called grand-finale was more or less ready for release – just a few sound edits to smooth over and the closing dialogue between Cristy and Connor toadd. Although no one was experiencing the high that generally whooshed them to the end of a series, they were all agreed that listening to Sadie’s reading of the journals again had straightened a few things out in their minds and allowed them to pack a bigger punch to their closing than most would be expecting.

With some time to spare while the techies took over, Cristy nipped out to meet Matthew at the Harbourside Kitchen. He’d texted earlier practically begging to see her before he left for Heathrow later – he was flying to LA early in the morning. It was a meeting she could do without, knowing he was probably going to try to persuade her to go with him, but she didn’t quite have the heart to let him go with no more than a curtBon voyageon the phone when she knew how much he was dreading the trip.

‘Thanks for coming,’ he said, as she joined him at a window table. ‘I know this is a busy time for you, especially with it being the last episode … Everything good with it? Happy with the way it’s ending?’

‘Sort of,’ she replied, unfastening her coat, but keeping it on. ‘Is this the coffee I ordered?’

Matthew nodded and pushed it towards her, and then managed to look sad, probably because he was.

As she watched him she could feel the scrutiny of those on neighbouring tables who’d probably recognized him, possibly her as well, but she deliberately avoided eye contact. Instead, she found herself seeing him as the man she’d always loved, the father of her children, the husband she’d always trusted and respected and had fully believed she’d spend the rest of her life with, until he’d become the bastard who’d cheated on her and broken her heart. It might all be in the past now, but she couldn’t deny that it still had the power to hurt her. Just as his angst could move her, the way it was now, proving, as if she didn’t already know, that there was still a connection between them, and probably always would be.

Clearing his throat, and making an attempt to sound cheerful, he said, ‘I’ve already spoken with a nannying agency, so someone should be in place by the time I get back with Bear.’

Feeling for how worried he was about trying to cope on his own, she said, ‘That’s good. You’re going to need someone to help out while you’re at work.’ She could say more, so very muchmore, but she was afraid she might end up offering herself as a back-up. ‘How much time are you taking off?’ she asked.

‘Two weeks is all I could manage, having been in LA over Christmas. Hayley’s said she’ll try to come down for a few days mid-March, and Aiden’s obviously going to be around. Not that I’ll be expecting him to babysit with his exams coming up, and I didn’t get into it being good practice for him. He keeps telling me we’ll cope, which kind of suggests he’s not planning to decamp on me and come to you full time.’

Moved by the children’s efforts to support their father, and feeling guilty for not doing the same, Cristy found herself saying, ‘I’m sure I’ll come to visit too.’

He looked at her in surprise and with so much hope that she immediately wished she could take the words back. ‘Will you?’ he said. ‘You’re welcome, any time, you know that.’

‘I just hope there aren’t going to be two babies by May,’ she said, ‘or whenever Pearl’s is due …’

‘I’m sure that one will live with her and her parents,’ Matthew put in quickly.

Suspecting he was right, she said, ‘Shame they’re standing by their daughter’s decision to put off a DNA test until after the birth. You’d think they’d want to know themselves who the father is.’

‘I’m starting to get the impression that young Pearl calls most of the shots in that family.’

Thinking of what an awful girl she sounded, and how bloody unfortunate it was going to be if she, thanks to a few quick shags with Aiden, ended up being permanently in their lives, Cristy said, ‘Let’s talk about it some more when you’re back. Maybe by then the other boys will have told their parents so we can join forces to put the pressure on …’ She broke off and groaned aloud.Stop with the intimidation.

Matthew put a hand over hers as he said, ‘Whatever happens we’ll work it out,’ and she was reminded of how much comfort she used to take from this very gesture, and those very words, for he always had seemed to find the answers one way or another. He was a different man now though, thanks to his own schizoid aberrations, so much as she might want to lean on him, or at least trust him, she knew she couldn’t.

Instead of taking her hand away, she turned it in his and linked their fingers. ‘You know you’ll always mean the world to me, don’t you?’ she said, meaning it. ‘Apart from all the times I want to brain you, of course, but I need you to understand that even if I weren’t with David now, there really is no going back for us.’

He swallowed as he nodded, and his voice was unsteady as he said, ‘He’s a lucky bloke, I just hope he knows it.’ He removed his hand and picked up his coffee. ‘So, I won’t ask you to come with me tomorrow,’ he said, as if only coming to the decision now, ‘but if you and David would like to join me out there before I come back … OK, de-lulu, as Aiden calls it.’

Breaking into a laugh, she said, ‘Do you honestly think David would even want to?’

He shrugged. ‘I thought we got along pretty well when we met.’

‘Which is good, I’m glad you did, but it doesn’t mean he wants to be your best buddy, or go on holiday with you.’

‘His loss.’ He thought about that. ‘Actually it’s mine, but hey, as long as you and I stay friends and you understand that I’m ready to take you back any—’

‘You’re married,’ she interrupted, ‘and now would be a good time to remember that. I take it Marley will still be in LA when you get there? She hasn’t gone to Santa Fe yet?’

‘Not as far as I know. Well, someone has to be taking care of Bear, and last time we spoke it was her.’ He sighed heavily. ‘And soon it’s going to be me. Do you think I might be able to rename him before I give him back?’

‘You can always try,’ she smiled, checking the time. ‘I’m sorry, but I have to go, we’ll be uploading soon and then, I guess, it won’t be long before we find out what the public at large thinks of the series finale.’

‘Any surprises in store?’ he asked, dropping a twenty on the table as they stood up.

‘One or two.’

As they left together Cristy was aware that they were still being watched, and once outside, probably because she knew it would mean something to him, she kissed him on both cheeks.

‘Have a good flight,’ she said, ‘and message to let me know when to expect you back.’

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