The Age of Misadventure. Judy Leigh

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СКАЧАТЬ always on the phone to him.’

      I sigh. ‘All the time. She’s going to see him later tonight. Perhaps it’ll cheer her up.’

      ‘Where’s she off to?’

      ‘Brighton. He lives in a little village by the coast. She’ll be on the three o’clock train. Then she’s going to London to watch him play in a game tomorrow. She’s not back until Monday night. I’ve had to move all of her appointments.’

      Amanda shakes her head. ‘Let’s hope he’s good-looking and loaded.’

      ‘Let’s hope he doesn’t let her down.’ I fold my arms. ‘Or he’ll have me to deal with, Spanish superstar or not.’

      ‘He’s called Luis, Mum.’

      Amanda and I turn round together and our faces flush like two red lollipops. My daughter’s leaning against the doorpost. I wait for hell to break out and mutter, ‘Sorry, Jade – I didn’t—’

      But she’s all smiles. ‘You’ll have to meet him. He’s lovely. I know you’ll adore him. His English isn’t so bad and he’s so cute and funny.’

      ‘As long as you don’t get hurt, Jade.’

      ‘I’m fine, Mum. I told you. He’s the one.’

      Amanda chips in. ‘Your mum’s only saying – it’s all been a bit quick.’

      Jade throws her head back, laughs out loud. ‘And this from the woman who’s had how many husbands and affairs?’

      Amanda waggles her head. ‘When you’re a mum, you’ll understand.’

      ‘I thought you didn’t have any kids, Amanda.’ Jade’s as sharp as glass this afternoon.

      I make the peace by hugging my daughter. ‘You have a lovely time this weekend.’

      ‘I’ll do my best. I have to travel from Brighton to London in a special car tomorrow. Luis’s on the team coach. I won’t see much of him all day. But we’ll make up for it tomorrow night.’

      I stare at her and think about calling her a brazen hussy but I clamp my lips together and try to remember what it was like to be in love. I certainly don’t remember being so open about my sex life. I say, ‘That’s nice, love.’

      Jade’s beaming. ‘Right. I’m going to get ready. I’ll take a taxi to the station. Luis’ll meet me at the other end. We’re going somewhere glamorous over the weekend so I’ll need clothes.’

      She whirls away and Amanda rolls her eyes and murmurs, ‘Fair play. You can’t blame her for it. What a dazzling lifestyle.’

      I nod. ‘What are you up to this weekend?’

      She purses her lips. ‘Rhys and I are invited to an anniversary party in Blackpool tomorrow night, so I’ll need to shop for a new dress.’

      I contemplate the weekend that I’ll spend by myself, a visit to Nanny Basham tonight and on Sunday, and I wonder what Bonnie’s up to, if she’s back from the spa hotel and if she’s happy. I push my salad sandwich away untouched and Amanda looks at me eagerly. I slide it onto her plate.

      It’s Saturday morning, clean-up-the-house time, and I’m hoovering four floors for all I’m worth. I push the nozzle in all corners, my arms extended as if I’m part of the machine: I am Hoover Woman. I have the radio turned up loud, my hair knotted into a floppy scarf, and I’m wearing a baggy T-shirt, leggings and no shoes, singing at the top of my voice. I climb to the top floor and hoover the three bedrooms, then I clean the hallway and the kitchen on the second floor, as well as the living room overlooking the raised garden.

      I work my way down to the salon at ground level, the three little treatment rooms, the tanning booth, the reception area with the soft sofas, the gurgling pebble fountain and the stone Buddha. Finally, I’m in the basement, in Jade’s gym with music playing through speakers. Cobwebs have gathered in the corners and the main area smells of fetid sweat, testosterone and men’s underpants: a stench that I know hasn’t come from Jade. I resolve to spray some sweet pea room fragrance in the air later; although Jade’ll sniff it out when she’s back and tell me it’s highly inappropriate. Most of her one-to-one sessions are either undersized or ridiculously muscly middle-aged men.

      I’m hoovering under the gym machinery and I notice a spider or two beneath the benches. They’ve expired and become crusty and dry, many legs in the air, so I bend down, nozzle arched, to commit them to dust. My back is flexible and it’s not hard to reach the corners. I view it as good exercise. My favourite band strikes up the opening chords on the music player. I lift the nozzle as a microphone, wiggle my backside and sing along, bawling at the top of my voice, ‘Walk this way.’

      Suddenly I freeze. I don’t know why. Then I turn round and he’s standing there with his arms folded, smiling. Dark hair parted at the side, separated in two thick quiff-shaped tufts, navy jacket, roll-neck sweater, navy trousers. He’s pale, shaven so clean his face reminds me of a cricket ball. He’s staring at me. I jump and almost scream. I’m so glad I don’t.

      ‘How the hell did you get in?’

      He smirks. ‘The front door was open.’

      I glare at him. ‘Well? What can I do for you, Adie?’

      He looks me up and down and his mouth is half-snarl, half-smile.

      ‘Bonnie sent me over.’

      I can hardly imagine that. I lean against the hoover pipe, nozzle in the air, and stare at him like I’m Joan of Arc with my flexible lance.

      ‘Did she?’

      He smirks. ‘She wants you to come over to lunch. I thought I’d come and pick you up.’ He surveys my headscarf, my bare feet, everything in between. ‘You look as if you need taking out of here to somewhere civilised. A light lunch, a chat, two sisters together.’

      I wonder why she didn’t ring or text. Perhaps I missed it. I close my eyes and think for a moment.

      ‘I can take my own car.’

      He shakes his head. ‘Bonnie insisted. Have a glass of wine with her. I’ll do the taxi-ing. Anyway, I’m here now.’ He frowns at the leggings. ‘You’ll need to get changed.’

      I want to see Bonnie. I’ll put up with the bloodsucker husband from here to Frodsham. Half an hour’s drive.

      I nod. ‘You can wait in the car, then. I’ll be five minutes.’

      He sits down on one of the benches, adjusts the back flap of his jacket, makes himself comfortable.

      ‘I’ll be all right here.’ He sniffs the air around me. ‘Make it ten minutes, Georgie. Have a shower.’

      Standing outside the oak front door, Bonnie looks pallid and slender in a filmy dress and heels; her hair is glossy, curled in soft ringlets. She smiles and puts her arms round my neck.

      ‘Thanks for coming, Georgie. Adie and I had such a great time at the spa. I was so looking forward to chatting to you about it.’

      She СКАЧАТЬ