Chapter 28
28
‘Take it slowly, there’s no rush. Tell him there’s no rush, Philip,’ Kate said as she and Philip helped Joel out of the car and towards her house.
‘There’s no rush, Joel,’ Philip repeated, feeling he had to.
‘Thanks, Philip,’ Joel replied, taking no notice.
‘Mione, you tell him, he isn’t resting. The doctor said to rest and we’ve got the final in two days,’ Kate exclaimed as Hermione opened the door to them.
‘Come in and sit down on the sofa, Joel. You have at least half an hour before the cakes will be ready for decorating. Want a herbal tea?’ Hermione offered.
‘A coffee would be good.’
‘No, tea is better for you. Have you got some camomile with you?’ Kate asked, rushing to put the kettle on.
‘Look, will you all just stop for a minute,’ Joel ordered.
‘Joel, Joel,’ Bethan spoke, running in from the garden and jumping up onto Joel’s lap.
‘I appreciate all the help and the trouble you’re going to but I’m fine. I can do things for myself; I’m feeling a lot better,’ Joel replied, giving Bethan a hug.
‘Good, then you’ll be able to tell me what Kate’s favourite film is,’ Hermione asked .
‘That would be Pretty Woman ,’ Joel replied confidently.
‘Very impressive and which toothpaste does she use?’
‘Some sort of whitening stuff, probably Asda.’
‘Ooh, you’re scaring me,’ Kate responded.
‘And last one before I make the coffee. Is she a Ladyshave lady or a Bic razor woman?’
‘Bic razor, definitely. Seen those in the bathroom,’ Joel responded.
‘Good lad, three out of three, Kate – can’t do better than that,’ Hermione remarked with a satisfied nod.
‘No, it’s very impressive, seeing as he’s had several blows to the head.’
‘Some things you never forget,’ Joel replied with a smile.
‘Right then, I’ll put the kettle on. I’ve baked some apple tarts,’ Hermione said.
‘Mione’s recorded the last Knowing Me, Knowing You show to DVD and brought it round; I thought we might watch it later for a laugh,’ Kate said.
‘Yeah, OK. Look Kate, you didn’t have to go to all this trouble you know, I wasn’t expecting any of this and?—’
‘Sorry about that – this is how we welcome people out of hospital around here. And I hope you’re hungry because I have two Swedish meatball dinners all ready to microwave.’
‘Please no, the hospital food was positively great compared to that. Don’t you have eggs for omelettes?’
‘Yes, but you’re not cooking and I don’t think my culinary skills are up to making omelettes. I think the meatballs might be the safer option.’
‘You’re probably right.’
‘But we’ve got tarts and wedding cake to eat first so you might not need any more.’
‘Here’s hoping,’ Joel answered .
‘Are you warm enough?’ Kate asked him.
‘Are you turning into my mother? I’m fine; I don’t need a blanket or anything else except a coffee.’
‘Tea.’
‘Come on! One coffee isn’t going to halt my recovery.’
‘One camomile tea and an arnica tablet. It’s excellent, helps with the bruising,’ Hermione said, bringing a cup and pill over to Joel.
‘Thanks,’ Joel replied.
‘Apple tart?’ Hermione offered.
‘Maybe in a bit,’ Joel said.
‘Are we crowding you? Say if we’re crowding you and we can leave the cake decorating for another time, can’t we Mione,’ Kate spoke.
‘It’s fine, everything’s fine, honestly and I’m not an invalid,’ Joel insisted.
‘I’d just suck it up Joel; women never listen to a word you say,’ Philip said, passing Joel an apple tart and sinking his teeth into one.
‘Philip, that isn’t true!’ Hermione exclaimed.
‘Are you too ill for the pub?’ Philip asked him.
‘Yes, he is,’ Kate responded immediately.
‘No, I’m definitely not,’ Joel replied, easing himself off the sofa and standing up.
‘Well then, we’ll leave the ladies to cluck around baking and doing woman things and we’ll go down the pub until the cakes are ready,’ Philip said, putting on his jacket.
‘But Joel, you shouldn’t?—’
‘We won’t be long and I haven’t had a drink in a week,’ Joel replied.
‘Let them go, let them make their little stand,’ Hermione suggested to Kate.
‘We won’t be long, love – just long enough for a couple of pints and a game of dominoes,’ Philip assured .
‘As long as that’s all. No bar snacks – I’ve got stuffed mushrooms ready for tonight,’ Hermione responded.
‘I promise,’ Philip replied.
The two men left as quickly as they could and Kate picked up Bethan and hugged her to her.
‘Are you OK?’ Hermione asked.
‘Yes, why?’
‘Well, do you think it’s a good idea having Joel move in here with you?’
‘It’s only until he gets better. I didn’t want him going back to his flat on his own and having no one there to look after him.’
‘And that’s the only reason?’
Kate didn’t reply, but buried her face in Bethan’s mop of brown hair.
‘Have you made a decision yet?’
‘Yes, I’ve made a decision not to make any decisions at the moment.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘I don’t know. Don’t go on, Mione – I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.’
‘Have you heard anything from Matthew lately?’ Hermione asked.
‘No,’ Kate replied.
‘And how does that make you feel?’
‘I haven’t thought about him; I’ve been too busy going to the hospital to visit Joel and getting things ready here.’
‘You don’t think he had anything to do with Joel’s mugging, do you?’ Hermione enquired.
‘What?’
‘Well, it all sounds a bit suspicious to me – four men attacking him on the way home from work.’
‘They took his wallet, it was a mugging and anyway, Matthew wouldn’t do anything like that. ’
‘I just think the timing’s a little bit suspicious, that’s all.’
‘Has Joel said something to you? Is that what he thinks too?’
‘He hasn’t said anything to me; it was just something that crossed my mind.’
‘Well, he wouldn’t do that. I know he’s capable of a lot of things but not harming someone. I mean, Joel could have been seriously injured,’ Kate said, shaking her head.
‘No, you’re right, stupid thing to say. I’ve been watching too many gangster films,’ Hermione said.
‘I hope they’re not going to be too long; Joel’s not supposed to be doing too much.’
‘Philip will look after him.’
‘That’s what I’m worried about.’
‘We’re not late, are we? Are the cakes ready for decorating?’ Philip called as he and Joel re-entered the house.
‘Shh, Bethan’s in bed,’ Hermione called as the two men came into the living room.
‘Are you feeling OK? Do you want to sit down?’ Kate asked, fussing as Joel took off his coat.
‘Joel is absolutely fine, although his mouth might need a rest. He’s been chatting away to Marina for the last hour,’ Philip informed.
‘Philip, it wasn’t that long,’ Joel protested.
‘I think you’ll find it was. Lovely girl, though – she had very nice opinions,’ Philip replied.
‘Oh yes, well who is she then? The barmaid?’ Hermione wanted to know.
‘Oh no, she wasn’t the barmaid; she’s a model, isn’t she Joel,’ Philip spoke, sitting down on the sofa.
‘It was really bizarre, I worked with her when I first started modelling. She still models for the same agency. She’s got family here apparently and she’s visiting them. I told her all about Knowing Me Knowing You and she’s back in London then so she’s going to try and come along and watch,’ Joel informed.
‘Oh, well that’s nice, isn’t it – more supporters,’ Hermione spoke, looking at Kate.
‘Yes, that’s nice,’ Kate replied.
‘OK, wedding cake. Here it is in all its three-tier glory!’ Hermione announced, producing the cake and carrying it to the coffee table.
‘What a coincidence, though, her being in the pub. She was lovely and she—’ Philip continued.
‘Blonde was she?’ Hermione asked.
‘Oh yes, blonde and tanned too. Just come back from an assignment in Brazil, hadn’t she Joel?’ Philip spoke.
‘Shall we decorate these cakes?’ Kate suggested, not wanting to hear any more.
‘Yes, the cakes. Now, I have it on good authority that you are going to be given three cakes, rolls of icing, a piping bag and the stands to put the cakes on. So you have two minutes to make the cake look as good as possible and there are no Kissing Gates at all if you don’t get the cakes on the stands and complete the three tiers,’ Hermione informed.
‘That’s impossible; they want it to look nice in two minutes? It can’t be done,’ Kate exclaimed.
‘Well, we’re just about to find out. On your marks, get set, GO!’ Hermione screeched and she pressed the stopwatch button.
‘I’ll roll the icing out and put it on the cakes and you can do the decorative bits,’ Joel said, grabbing the rolling pin and trying to roll the icing out as smoothly as possible to fit over the cakes.
‘But I’m not good with decoration. Come on, hurry up, get that layer on the bottom cake or we won’t have any time,’ Kate snapped, grabbing the roll of icing and plonking it on the cake.
‘Well you get decorating that layer and I’ll roll the next bit out.’
‘Aren’t you loving the teamwork here, Philip?’ Hermione said, looking at her stopwatch.
‘I am indeed, very methodical,’ Philip mocked.
‘This piping bag doesn’t work; it won’t come out. Oi! Don’t do that, you’re wrecking the icing,’ Kate exclaimed as Joel nudged her arm.
‘Oh dear, you’d better think about moving on to the next tier. Stick some of those little baubles around the edge and pipe if you have time left,’ Hermione directed.
‘It’s easy for you to say; I haven’t ever decorated a cake before,’ Kate snapped.
‘Running out of time, better start stacking the cakes. I’m going to count down from ten.’
‘It can’t be two minutes already. Joel, what are you doing? Just throw the icing on the last cake and help me stack them up!’
‘Ten, nine, eight…’
‘Oh bugger! Shit!’ Kate exclaimed as she tried to get the cakes onto the stands.
‘Six, five, you need the kissing couple on top, four, three, two, one and STOP!’ Hermione ordered as her countdown ended.
‘Damn it,’ Kate said as her wedding couple toppled off the top of the cake and fell onto the table.
‘Oh dear Philip, what do you think? Doesn’t look very professional, does it? Silver balls aren’t in any sort of pattern and the decorative roses don’t look right to me,’ Hermione said as she surveyed the cake.
‘No but they did get all three tiers stacked up,’ Philip said.
‘Yes we did, come on; it was a decent first effort,’ Joel insisted .
‘But one effort is all you will get on the night and it needs to be better. Right, let’s go again, take the stuff off the cakes and we’ll take it from the top,’ Hermione ordered.
‘Oh God, do we have to?’ Kate asked with a sigh.
‘You want to win, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Then we go again, from the top in five,’ Hermione instructed.
It was almost 9.00p.m. before Hermione and Philip left. The cake decorating had been attempted four times and now it was nothing but a mound of icing and sponge with no clearly definable shape.
‘I don’t think I can bear to eat any of it; I’ve touched it too much,’ Kate remarked, looking at it.
‘Me neither and those silver ball things look like they would catch in your throat for sure,’ Joel replied.
‘Do you want a coffee?’ Kate asked him.
‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’
‘So, do the police have any leads about the gang that attacked you?’ Kate asked.
‘No, I gave as good a description as I could but it was dark and they all had hoodies on,’ Joel replied.
‘Do you think Matthew arranged it?’ Kate asked suddenly.
Joel didn’t reply but he just looked back at her, his expression showing no emotion.
‘He wouldn’t do that, you know,’ Kate stated, reading Joel’s thoughts.
‘You asked the question, Kate.’
‘Only because Mione asked me and I told her it was a stupid suggestion but…’
‘But what?’
‘I’m not sure I know him very well at all any more. ’
He didn’t reply but leant forward to pick up his drink from the table.
‘But I know he isn’t a monster.’
‘He loves you; he wants you back,’ Joel finally spoke.
‘But that isn’t the way; he would know that isn’t the way.’
‘Is there a way?’
‘I’m going to make another coffee. Are you sure you don’t want one?’ Kate offered, getting to her feet and going into the kitchen.
‘I’m meeting Marina for lunch tomorrow,’ Joel called.
‘Oh,’ Kate answered.
‘I just thought I would tell you.’
‘Well, that’s good; it’s nice to catch up with old friends, especially ones you haven’t seen for ages. Where are you going?’
‘Just to Piccolo’s Pizza. She loved pizza when we dated,’ Joel explained.
‘Oh,’ Kate replied, a knot forming in her stomach.
‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No, of course not, don’t be silly,’ Kate said.
‘Good. Well, I might go up to bed; it’s been a tiring day,’ Joel spoke, getting up from the sofa.
‘Yes, OK.’
‘Are you still comfortable with me sharing your bed, because if you’re not, I can sleep on the sofa – or go home,’ Joel asked as he paused at the door to the hallway.
‘It’s fine, I’ve just got some bills to pay online and then I’ll come up. I mean, we’re practically married, aren’t we? And it isn’t like we haven’t shared a bed before,’ Kate joked and then she had to look away.
‘OK, if you’re sure,’ Joel replied and he left the room.
As soon as he had gone, Kate began to bite her nails. She didn’t want him going to lunch with a blonde supermodel he used to date. Who was this woman? And why had she come to town now?
Her eyes caught on the photo of Bethan and Matthew on the dresser. She had loved him so much but he had almost destroyed her. Was there ever going to be a way back from that?
Joel was asleep when she entered the bedroom. His face, chest and arms were still covered in scars from his attack but he looked as hot as ever. She took off her clothes and pulled a nightshirt over her head. She may have shared a bed with him in the romance lodge but it was the first time anyone had been in her bed at home since Matthew. She got in, pulled the covers up around her and turned to face Joel. A multitude of feelings rushed through her as she looked at him. She wanted to touch him but she was afraid to. She desired him more than she had ever desired anyone but it didn’t just stop there. She felt she knew more about him than she had ever known about Matthew. She knew his deepest thoughts, his fears, his hopes and dreams. She reached out to touch his face and his eyes flicked open and he cowered away from her, gasping for breath.
Kate screamed and sat up, pulling the duvet cover to her and clinging to it.
‘Oh Kate, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,’ Joel spoke, quickly moving towards her and reaching out to touch her.
‘No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I—’ Kate began, tears welling up in her eyes before she could stop them.
‘It’s OK, it’s my fault.’
‘No, it isn’t,’ Kate replied, bursting into a sob.
‘Hey, come here, don’t cry. What’s wrong?’ Joel asked, putting his arms around her and bringing her close to him.
‘I’m terrified about the final,’ Kate spoke through her sobs .
‘What? The wedding catwalk and the cake decorating? Come on, we’re going to smash it. Who else will have had someone like Hermione in their corner?’ Joel asked her.
‘It isn’t that. I’m scared of it all being over, because when it’s all over, I’ll have to start thinking about other things in my life, things I’ve been putting off because of the stupid contest,’ Kate explained.
‘Like the solicitor’s exam?’
‘Like you and Matthew and my whole future. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. Sometimes, I can see myself being a solicitor and becoming a partner and drowning in money and status and then other days, I can see myself tending to chickens and eating baguettes and cheese in a small French village called Marchette,’ Kate told him.
‘And which one of those situations makes you feel happiest?’ Joel asked her.
‘Both of them could, in different ways. If I took the exam and made it to partner, Bethan and I would never have to worry about money. But it would be hard work and longer hours and more dedication than I’ve been giving to Randall’s lately. But with the chickens, it would be a simple life; it would be more time with each other, less things but more quality.’
‘OK, well, on Saturday night, you might be standing on stage in London holding a hundred thousand pound cheque. Gut instinct, what would you do with it? Buy into Randall’s or buy a French farm with a garden full of poultry?’
‘I really don’t know,’ Kate answered, her voice trembling.
Joel stroked her hair back away from her face and kissed her softly on the lips.
‘Will you hold me until I fall asleep?’ Kate asked him, burying her head in his chest.
‘Come here,’ he spoke, drawing her into him and enfolding her in his arms.