Page 69 of A Good Heart is Hard to Find
I muttered something non-committal, not wanting to bethe straw that broke the camel’s back, but longing to tell him that the magic had not only worn off our relationship but the base metal was beginning to tarnish.
Charles was so right: when the right time came and I could tell Max that I never wanted to see him again itwas going to feel such a release. Guilt had been dragging me like an anchor, and soon I would be able to sail serenely away into the seas of desiccated spinsterhood.
Portsmouth, 19 March
Dear Sis,
Docked. See you soon on way to my duty-visit to Ma and Pa. Pa says Jane’s staying with you, and I’m to take her home with me. No bloody fear! Rather be tied to an alligator than cooped up in a carwith Jane for hours.
Boz and Foxy and me are going poultry-farm hunting after that, but don’t tell Ma and Pa yet.
Love, Jamie
PS. is that yummy blonde friend of yours still single? Give her my best!
Belgravia, 19 March
Dear Jane,
Tried to phone you the other day, but Gerald informs me you are staying with Cassandra and completely incommunicado. I’m surprised you should want to stay withCassandra in her hideously uncomfortable little hovel when you could stay with us, which is why I was calling: Phily’s had a spot of her old trouble, and the court case comes up next week.
Unfortunately I have to be away for several days then, so could you possibly come and keep an eye on Phily and support her, and all that? Her doctor will be giving evidence, of course, so there will be no problem.It isridiculous to put her through this when she cannot help herself, as I know you understand.
Let me know as soon as you can if you will be able to come.
George
‘Do you know what Phily’s “old trouble” is, Eddie?’ I asked, frowning over Jane’s letter. I’d started opening all her mail, since she’d been gone days by then and no word on yurts. No word at all, in fact.
Eddie shook his blonddreadlocks and carried on eating peanut butter with a spoon straight from the jar.
‘Well, whatever it is, she will have to cope on her own, because I don’t know the address of Clint’s yurt in Cornwall. If yurts have addresses?’
‘The peanut butter’s gone,’ he said, smiling vaguely at me as he put the jar down.
Hello, Planet Eddie. Are you receiving me?
‘There are four more jars on the shelfbehind you.’
‘I know Clint Atwood,’ he suddenly announced, to my astonishment. ‘Crap painter, weird bloke. Nice yurt.’
I stared at him, astounded. ‘You never said. And what do you mean, weird?’
I mean, if Eddie thought he was weird, then there was something seriously off-centre about Jane’s lover.
Eddie just shrugged. ‘Dunno.’
‘Do you know the address of this yurt?’
‘No, but I could findit.’
‘Well, that’s a fat lot of good. Eddie, Jamie is calling in sometime on his way home. He thinks Jane is here – everyone thinks Jane is here, not cavorting in Cornwall with her lover.’
‘Well, it’ll be good to see old Jamie again,’ Eddie said amiably, filling the kettle and plugging it in. ‘Have you seen my bong?’
‘No, and you know I won’t let you smoke that stuff in the cottage – it smellsvile.’
‘I know, but I’ve put it down somewhere.’
