Page 93 of The Night Before Christmas
‘Okay, well, I’m sure that won’t be necessary but, you know, I’ll let you know.’
‘You do that.’ Andrea nodded as she locked the big door.
‘Hey. How’s things with Javier?’
Andrea turned and looked at her then. ‘I can’t believe you remembered his name. I thought you were too wrapped up in your penguin.’
‘Ouch.’
‘I didn’t mean that to sound quite so bitchy.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it.’
‘Javier is a delightfully sexy man, as it goes.’
‘Oh. Great. Um, not sure that’s quite what I meant but okay.’
‘Ha ha, don’t be so squeamish. Old people have sex too, you know.’
‘Oh sweet Lord. Yes, I’m painfully aware of that fact, thanks to you.’
‘Cheeky minx.’ Andrea was smiling from ear to ear.
‘You like him, then?’
‘I think I might keep him. Haven’t decided yet. It depends if he actually gets his act together and gets a divorce.’
‘He’s married?’
Andrea’s shoulders sagged a tiny bit. It was almost imperceptible to the naked eye. But it was there.
‘Separated. It’s not ideal but it’s very complicated. His wife is… well, let’s say I like to think of myself as the light relief.’
‘Far, far too much information now. Thanks!’
Andrea was still smiling as she waved her goodbyes.
As she watched her walk away, bobbly old fleece in place, grey plait swinging from side to side in a jaunty fashion, Felicity had a sudden urge to run up behind her and hug her. Andrea was full of surprises.
That night, Felicity lay in the bath and ran through the whole encounter in her head. Sure, she hadn’t exactly been friendly, but Andrea was right, Erika had been a cow, too. Still, she felt awful for her part in it. Jealousy was an ugly emotion, that was for sure.Was it jealousy? Maybe it was anger? Possibly both. Even though she didn’t really have any right, even though it seemed a bit perverse, she still felt so cross at Erika for walking out on James the way she did, for hurting him so badly. When she was towelled and dried and curled up in her pyjamas on the sofa, she took a deep breath and called him. Engaged tone.Hmmm, okay.
She waited a few minutes and tried again.
Still, engaged.
He must be calling her right now, she thought with horror.
And then another thought whipped in like a dart.
Erika had said, ‘I know all about you.’ But how did she know all about her if James and Erika weren’t in touch? And she knew Erika didn’t have his number, which implied they weren’t in touch. But then, it didn’t make any sense, unless they were in touch. They must be in touch. The question is, how? And how often? And how much touching had gone on, exactly?
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The phone rang.Or at least, started drumming. Vigorously. TheA-Teamringtone was usually a winner, but not when you’ve fallen asleep on the sofa, thought Felicity dully, as her sleep-addled brain scrambled to answer it before the ‘duhhhhh duh duhs’ kicked in.
‘Hello?’
‘Hello, yourself,’ came that lovely deep voice.
