Page 3 of The Good Neighbour
Winston wrenched his hand free and glared at Josh.
“You didn’t think I would want to know about this…ambush?”
Terror flooded Josh’s system.
Shit.
“Winston. I… What’s the matter?”
“We need to discuss this at home.”
Winston turned on his heel and stormed out of the house, leaving all eyes on Josh.
“Guess we got that one wrong,” Josh said. “I’m sorry. I’d better go.”
He left the shocked faces of his friends behind and followed in Winston’s tracks.
“Josh.”
As he got to the door, he found Madeline hot on his heels.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I need to sort this out.”
She held on to his arm. “I’m here if you need me.”
Josh nodded. He ran across the cobbles after Winston.
When he got inside the house, it was eerily quiet. Not a good sign. That meant Winston had wound himself up to be too angry for a dramatic outburst. The crockery would appreciate it.
“Winston,” he called. “Where are you?”
Predictably, the words were met by silence.
“Fuck, he’s not going to make this easy,” Josh said to himself.
His first stop was the drawing room. It had been the scene of most of their quarrels over the years. Josh supposed Winston liked the floor space to pace angrily up and down in.
Sure enough, Winston sat in the window seat overlooking the gardens which the big white houses of Queens Crescent presided over. The trees were already showing an orange tinge as autumn began to claim the carefree summer days.
“What was that all about?” Josh asked.
He chanced walking closer and stopped in his tracks when Winston faced him. Anyone who knew them would describe themarriage as volatile. That day, the expression of venom took Josh’s breath away.
“It always has to be about you, doesn’t it?” Winston sneered.
Josh couldn’t believe his ears. He took a second to swallow down his anxiety. An argument was not the right course of action right now. Even so, Winston wasn’t making any sense.
“What are you talking about?” Josh stammered. “How can a surprise dinner party to celebrate your health be about me?”
Winston settled in his seat and looked Josh up and down.
“Your fabulous friends doing the right thing by you,” Winston said. “Great for Mercury’s socials too.”
“He did it to give you the footage. I asked him if he would help. It will be a great addition to the film.”
Winston slammed his hand down on the seat, making Josh jump.
“This film is mine,” he said. “For fuck’s sake, Josh. I suppose you’ll be editing it and promoting it as well? Mr fucking Wonderful.”
