Chapter 11
‘Tell me, Mr Jones, have you known Jake long?’
‘Aubrey. You can call me Aubrey.’
‘Very well.’
Aubrey was still looking at Marcus. ‘We go back some,’ he said absently.
Marcus coughed into his hand.
‘What?’ said Aubrey indignantly. ‘So I don’t like to discuss the passing of time.’
‘You mean your age,’ Marcus corrected him.
‘Alright, I don’t like to discuss my age; not when ladies are present.’ He glanced at Faye. ‘And pretty ones at that.’
Really , thought Faye, you’re old enough to be my father! Still, it was nice to get a compliment, even if it came from a very good actor. ‘So, how long have you known Jake?’ Faye repeated her question.
Aubrey mumbled something incoherent.
Marcus cupped his hand to his ear. ‘Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.’ Marcus was clearly enjoying himself, making Aubrey squirm.
‘Thirty years – give or take,’ answered Aubrey, throwing his hands in the air in defeat.
‘There. That wasn’t too difficult, was it?’ Marcus said with a smirk.
Faye began, ‘But that’s …’
‘Nearly Jake’s whole life,’ Marcus confirmed. ‘That’s how long they go back – Aubrey’s known us since he was in his thirties.’ Marcus pointed at Aubrey. ‘So you don’t have to be a maths whizz to guess his age – give or take.’
‘Marcus!’ Aubrey was clearly mortified.
Marcus put his bag down by the front door. ‘You say you like to keep up with the times, Aubrey, but nobody lies about their age anymore.’
‘I do,’ he said sullenly. ‘And I’m not lying; it’s simply not a polite topic of conversation.’
Faye felt sorry for him. ‘You don’t look a day over …’ Aubrey looked across at her eagerly. ‘Fifty-five.’
‘Why thank you Ms Ames. I’m inclined to agree.’
‘I bet you are,’ Marcus scoffed.
‘I’m in better shape than some thirty-somethings I know.’ Aubrey inclined his head in Marcus’s direction.
Faye wondered how much he knew about Marcus’s weekend outings to some insalubrious parts of London.
‘I’m thirty-three,’ Marcus retorted. ‘You never remember my age. How come you always remember Jake’s?’
Aubrey shrugged.
‘It’s not that hard,’ Marcus persisted. ‘Remember – Jake comes in the middle. I’m a year older than Jake, and Ellie’s six years younger.’
‘Who’s Ellie?’ Faye asked.
Marcus and Aubrey both turned to look at Faye. The larking around stopped instantly.
Faye suddenly realised that was a stupid question.
‘My sister Eleanor, Jake’s wife,’ said Marcus.
Should she apologise for bringing that up? It wasn’t her fault that Jake didn’t talk about her.
‘Jake doesn’t discuss his personal life with her,’ Marcus said to Aubrey.
‘Apparently not,’ said Aubrey, staring in her direction and making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Faye looked at her watch. Would Jake decide he was up to finishing off the day at work? She didn’t know how he could. She was still wondering how she would explain to the head Jake’s bandaged hands. Faye was anxious to get back to work. She turned to the kitchen door and noticed the round brass doorknob was already turning slowly.
‘Will someone kindly …’ the sound of Jake’s agitated voice came from the other side of the door, ‘open this door?’ He was obviously having some difficulty gripping the smooth brass handle with his bandaged hands.
Faye reached for the door.
‘Wait!’ Marcus startled her. ‘Shall we let him stew a moment longer?’
Stew? Perplexed, Faye turned from the door to find Marcus looking in Aubrey’s direction.
‘I think that’s an excellent idea, Marcus,’ Aubrey replied, ‘considering he led me on a wild goose chase last night. I was stunned when he didn’t come home. I exhausted all the possibilities of where he might have gone.’
Faye looked at Aubrey, sheepishly hoping Marcus did not tell him where exactly Jake had been the previous night.
‘And don’t forget leaving me to sleep on the porch last night; that upset my apple cart, I can tell you.’
Faye turned on Marcus. ‘Upset your apple cart?’ She motioned at the glass on the floor. ‘Look what you did to Jake’s home, to Jake.’
Aubrey put his hands on his hips, looking at the glass, and nodded in agreement, his expression turning serious. ‘You’re right. It’s not a joking matter.’
Marcus ignored them both and added. ‘It might make him think twice the next time he stays out all night without telling anyone his whereabouts.’ Marcus nodded theatrically in Faye’s direction.
‘Ah.’ Aubrey turned his head slowly and settled a knowing gaze on Faye. ‘Now, isn’t this a turn-up for the books?’ He smiled. ‘Lucky fellow.’
Faye shot Aubrey a look. Was he being serious? ‘Look, it’s not what you think.’ Faye caught Marcus mouthing the last three words as she was saying them. ‘Well, it isn’t,’ she glared at him. ‘Besides, I’m too old for Jake.’
‘Says who?’ Aubrey.
‘Me.’
‘How old are you?’ Marcus.
Faye hesitated.
‘Oh, come on, not another one with a problem divulging their age. Besides I told you mine.’ Marcus peered at Faye with a malicious grin.
Yeah, well, it’s a bit different when you’re closer to forty than thirty , thought Faye. Still in this instance, it might prove a point. ‘I am thirty-eight.’
‘Why, you’re still just a baby!’ Aubrey sounded disappointed. ‘For a moment there I thought I was in with a chance. Young fellows have all the luck,’ he said glumly.
‘But don’t you see? I’m six years older than Jake.’
‘So what?’ Aubrey threw up his hands. ‘Besides, Jake’s always been an old soul.’
That was true. Faye had noticed that. When he had applied for the student teaching position, she hadn’t expected to meet such a world-weary thirty-two-year-old. But once she’d found out about his background, and discovered some facts of a more personal nature, she’d put it down to his recent loss. Now Aubrey was about to enlighten her further.
‘I often wondered if losing your parents so young does that to a person.’ Aubrey shook his head solemnly. ‘A kid must get to thinking that the world is not such a friendly place after all.’
‘I can hear voices out there, you know.’ Jake’s tone told Faye he couldn’t hear the details of the conversation.
‘We know,’ said Aubrey and Marcus in unison.
But still, Faye blushed at the thought that Jake might have overheard that snippet about her age, although she had no idea why that should bother her.
‘Is that you, Aubrey?’
Aubrey looked up. ‘Got me, Jake. How are you doing?’
‘Not very—’ He halted. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to pick up Marcus, take him to work.’
Faye looked from Aubrey to Marcus; by the looks on their faces, neither of them seemed at all concerned that Aubrey had just told a barefaced lie.
‘Well, isn’t somebody going to open this door?’
No one made a move.
Faye stepped forward and put her hand on the doorknob.
‘Will you please open the damn …’ Jake’s good-humoured tone had evaporated.
Faye flung it open.
‘… door,’ he breathed into her face. ‘Oh.’
Faye glanced back at her two hallway companions. ‘I think they were having some fun with you.’
Jake looked over her shoulder. Marcus lifted his hand and gave a little wave. Aubrey gave a funny half-salute.
‘No kidding,’ Jake said flatly. ‘And where were you when I wanted out of the kitchen?’ Jake was not amused.
Before Faye could explain that Aubrey and Marcus’s conversation had caught her off-guard, Aubrey spoke. ‘A little bird tells me that Marcus has been causing trouble again.’
Faye shot Aubrey a look. She sincerely hoped that little bird was just a figure of speech and in no way a reference to herself.
‘Yeah, tell me about it,’ said Jake. ‘Have you seen my hallway? I’ve a good mind to …’
Marcus barged passed Faye. ‘You’ve a good mind to what ?’ he said squaring up to Jake. ‘Punch my lights out?’
‘Now that is not a bad idea,’ said Jake, glaring at Marcus.
‘Boys, boys,’ Aubrey was on his feet. ‘Play nice.’ Aubrey placed a hand on Marcus’s shoulder and steered him away from Jake. ‘After all, we are in the presence of a lady.’ He bowed his head in Faye’s direction.
Another compliment! Faye thought, suddenly feeling very self-conscious, with three sets of male eyes focused on her.
‘And this lady ,’ said Faye glancing at Aubrey, ‘has got to get back to work.’ She headed for the door. ‘Jake?’
Jake was heading for the stairs. ‘I need to pee.’
‘You need help with that?’ Marcus sniggered.
‘No, thank you.’
Jake was a considerable time.
Outside, a taxi turned up. ‘That’ll be my ride.’ Marcus grabbed his bag and looked at his watch. ‘This cab driver is not getting a tip, I can tell you.’ He opened the front door. ‘Faye.’
She was still looking up the stairs after Jake. She turned to Marcus.
‘It’s been a pleasure,’ said Marcus.
Faye raised her eyebrows. She couldn’t say the same herself; not at all. Not after the trouble he’d caused. Then it occurred to her that perhaps he was just being sarcastic. She didn’t know him well enough to tell. Maybe if they’d met under different circumstances, they might hit it off. But not today. She scowled at him.
‘Aubrey,’ Marcus nodded in his direction.
‘Remember what I said, Marcus – just give it time.’
The cab driver honked impatiently.
‘Oh, get lost!’ Marcus shouted out of the door. ‘I spent enough time waiting for you!’ Marcus closed the door behind him.
Aubrey stood up with his briefcase in hand. ‘Well, it’s a mass exodus. I’m off.’ He glanced up at the ceiling and whispered, ‘But not very far.’ He winked at Faye and held out his hand. ‘It’s been a pleasure, Ms Ames.’
‘Call me Faye.’
‘I thought you’d never ask. May I?’ He took Faye’s hand and bent down to plant a soft kiss.
Faye glanced furtively over her shoulder to check Jake was not at this moment walking down the stairs. This old guy was actually coming on to her!
He delicately withdrew a small white business card from his left breast pocket. ‘Call me any time.’
Faye took the card.