Page 22 of The World Outside My Window

He’d put the tickets to one side and stood to pour us another drink then, and I’d been left with the distinct impression that I’d done something wrong. Was it because I’d booked the tickets as a surprise without checking with him first? But how could I have done that for a birthday gift? Or was there another reason, something I hadn’t thought of, that had made him react the way he had?

He hadn’t said anything else though, and when the day had finally arrived, three months later, he’d seemed happy enough about going. Now, I wondered whether I’d imagined his reaction all along, and was worrying about nothing.

As we approached the Apollo Victoria Theatre he seemed to slow, and I felt his grip tighten around my hand.

‘Are you okay, love?’ I said.

‘What? Yes, totally fine. Why?’

‘You seem tense.’

Jim looked at me, his face unreadable. ‘I’m fine, really. I’m just tired, that’s all. It’s been a tough week at work.’

I nodded. But as we scurried the last few hundred yards to the theatre Jim still seemed on edge, and every now and then I saw him flick his gaze from side to side as though he was searching for something, or someone. I wondered whether it was the crowds that bothered him, although I’d never seen him like this before. Maybe itwaswork. Perhaps I should ask him about it more.

We reached the theatre and Jim yanked me inside so fast I almost tripped over. When we entered the compact foyer he seemed to visibly relax, and as a result so did I. We checked our tickets and were making our way to the stairs leading to the first-floor bar when I heard a shout from behind. I turned to see a man waving wildly at us. I didn’t know who he was but he definitely seemed to know us, so I nudged Jim.

‘Is that a friend of yours?’ I said, indicating the man, who was still smiling and trying to wave us over. Jim flicked his glance over in that direction, then immediately turned away and pulled me up the stairs. When we got to the top I started walking towards the bar, but Jim steered me towards the door into the seated area.

‘Don’t you want a drink?’

‘It’s getting late, we should probably just find our seats,’ he said, checking his watch.

Before I could say anything else he thrust the tickets at the usher on the door and we walked into the almost-empty theatre to locate our seats. As we settled into them, I turned to him.

‘What was that all about?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘All that hurrying. It was as though you were trying to run away from that man.’

‘What man?’

‘The one waving at you.’

‘Oh, no. Sorry, I just didn’t know him. He must have been waving at someone else.’

There hadn’t been anyone else nearby. ‘I thought he called your name though. Are you sure you don’t know him?’

‘What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?’

‘What? No. I just thought it must have been someone you know.’

‘Well, it wasn’t,’ he snapped. ‘You must have been mistaken.’

‘Oh. Okay.’ I turned away from him. I wasn’t sure why the evening had suddenly taken such a sour turn, but I was keen to steer it back on course. Jim clearly didn’t want to talk about it. And maybe he was right, maybe Iwasmistaken. I mean, why would Jim pretend not to know someone?

‘Do you want a drink, then? I’m going to get one.’

He checked his watch. ‘Please. I’ll have a red wine.’

I stood and headed back out to the bar. I had a quick look round to see if I could see the man who I was still certain had been gesticulating at Jim, but there was no sign of him, so I went to order our drinks. When I got back inside, the row was filling up, and by the time I’d shuffled back to our seats Jim seemed in a better mood. I handed him his drink.

‘Thanks, love.’ He pecked me on the lips. ‘Sorry about before. It’s just been a tricky day at work, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.’

‘It’s okay.’

‘But I really didn’t know that man, you know.’ He laughed. ‘Why would I ignore someone if I knew them, you silly sausage?’

---