Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
LONDON
The Three Musketeers
August 2006
‘Oh my God, just look at his ickle fingers.’ Mandy’s newborn gripped his tiny little digits around Orla’s. ‘What age is he now?’
‘Six weeks tomorrow.’
‘Aw. And all that hair. He’s the spit of his father,’ Vic added.
‘Poor little mite.’ Mandy laughed. ‘Talking of fathers, have you seen Jake since you found out?’
‘I’m actually going for dinner with him on the boat tonight. Mum thought it was important we speak face to face, without her there.’ Vic took a sip of the tea Mandy had just placed in front of her.
‘Look at Kath, taking charge,’ Mandy said, impressed.
‘I know. Great, isn’t it?’ Vic went over to look in the pram placed at the end of the long kitchen table. ‘So Julian, you say? Has he got a middle name?’
‘Yes, Julian Winkler Taylor. ’
Orla and Victoria were open-mouthed. ‘Mandy Taylor, what haven’t you told us?’ Vic cried.
Mandy laughed. ‘I started at that school twelve years ago, and met Steve two years after that. Don’t think you were the first to feel the headmaster’s cane, Orla O’Malley.’
‘You dark old horse,’ Vic laughed.
‘Less of the “old”, thanks,’ Mandy chipped in.
‘Ew! Not sure I like the idea of sloppy seconds.’ Orla screwed her face up.
‘Just look at your faces. Of course I didn’t. You know me – I was born with a vanilla pod in my mouth,’ Mandy added, carrying on washing up their lunch plates and glasses. Vic and Orla couldn’t stop laughing.
‘Saying that, I really did fancy Mr Winkler. I may have to look him up.’ Orla reached for a biscuit from the tin that was in the middle of the kitchen table. ‘I’ve just set up one of those new Twitter accounts. Maybe he’s on there.’
‘Well, you could do a lot worse, and at least he’s divorced now, I believe,’ Mandy replied sincerely. ‘And for the record, it’s Alexander. Julian Alexander Taylor.’
‘Ooh, I do like that,’ Vic said.
‘Very posh,’ Orla echoed.
‘I know what I meant to ask.’ Mandy wiped her hands on her apron. ‘Was Danny OK about you coming back to stay at your mum’s?’
‘Totally fine. I intended to be in Brighton just for the summer, anyway. I know it’s only mid-August but I had to meet this little one and I felt ready to come home. He’s happy to keep selling my prints, and I insisted he now takes twenty per cent commision on each one. I must start working on some new stuff, but my head hasn’t been in it since I’ve been back.’
‘He’s such a lovely bloke,’ Mandy added. ‘And you’ll get there with your art, when you’re ready.’
‘Thanks, Mand. And about Danny – despite all, I’m happy he’s in my life, and I can relax now he’s got someone in to cover days off and holidays. He would work seven days a week before he met his fella. And he said I can go down whenever I want to. I’m really lucky there.’
‘Good to hear that his relationship is still going strong, too.’ Orla flicked the kettle on.
‘Yes.’ Vic sighed. ‘Just need to sort myself out now.’
‘Yes, what is happening with Nate? I’m slightly confused,’ Orla added.
‘Yes, and what about Jerico, the author guy?’ Mandy added. ‘He sounded lovely.’
Vic groaned. ‘I don’t know what about anything. I’m so confused about relationships and how I should actually act or be. It’s like I don’t know how to feel anymore. It’s been so nice to hang out with Danny and just not even have to think about it for a while. I’ve pushed everything to a vault in the back of my mind. What I do know is that I really like Jerico, but I’m too scared to tell him about my HIV in case he doesn’t deal with it, and I’m not missing Nate as much as he is missing me, but he is still hounding me to go and see him.’
Orla took a sip of tea. ‘Oh, Vic. In my opinion, you should just come out with it to Jerico. At least you’ll know one way or the other.’
‘That sounds so easy in principle.’ Vic blew out a big breath. ‘Nate has given me an ultimatum. Says there’s waiting and then there’s waiting. He’s been so patient with me. He’s invited me to the Lakes this weekend to talk face to face. It’s only fair, I think.’ She looked troubled.
‘Yes.’ Mandy furtively checked in the pram to see if the baby was sleeping. ‘It’s no good on the phone. You do need to see him, Vic.’
Orla nodded her agreement.
‘I really do.’ Vic sighed. ‘Here’s hoping I come away with some kind of closure.’