Chapter 39
Liam left after giving Nora a perfunctory kiss on the cheek, saying that he’d call her soon.
They’d come in his car, so she was now relying on Jay to give her a lift home.
Ned and Dixie were chatting but in that way that new couples do: mesmerized by each other, oblivious to everyone and everything else.
They were excitedly discussing the truffle orchard.
Jay had taken Bruce for a walk so that the others could finish their food without being stared down by a salivating German Shepherd.
When they returned, Bruce flopped down on Nora’s feet, pulling her attention away from Dixie and Ned.
Jay got himself a can of Coke from inside the van and sat on the edge of the open doorway next to Nora. She sipped her warmish glass of rosé.
‘Liam seems a bit …’ Jay twisted his lips.
‘You’ve already decided you don’t like him,’ said Nora. The frostiness between them didn’t sit well with her.
‘He was the one who was all why are you here? Not exactly a great introduction.’
‘You weren’t particularly welcoming either.’
‘Me? He called Bruce a brute. That was uncalled for.’ Jay squared his shoulders. Had he been working out? He certainly seemed to be filling his polo shirt better than he had before. She had a sneaky little look at his arms. There were muscles …
She shook herself. ‘He didn’t mean it,’ she said, hoping that was the case.
‘Tell that to Bruce.’
‘I can’t because he’s a dog and he’s only interested in sniffing things and eating sausages. Real relationships are between people.’
Jay pulled his head back. Nora had gone too far and she instantly regretted it but something made her feel she couldn’t retract it without seeming disloyal to Liam. ‘Fine,’ snapped Jay and they fell silent. It broke her heart a little to quarrel with Jay.
After a few minutes Nora’s phone pinged with a message from Liam.
Sorry I had to dash off. Maybe we need some time to ourselves. How about Saturday night here?
Nora clicked the attached link to a hotel in Nottingham. It looked nice. It was a bit close to home, but still. A night away was a positive step.
‘Anything exciting?’ asked Jay.
‘Yes actually. Liam and I are going away on … oh shit. Saturday.’
‘And when is oh-shit-Saturday?’ asked Jay with a cheeky smile. ‘Oh. You mean you’ve double-booked Bruce and Liam.’
‘Liam’s only just suggested it. I’ll tell him I can’t do it,’ said Nora, feeling her shoulders sag.
‘I did ask Renee if she could dog-sit.’ Jay pulled a face. ‘But she’s at a food and wine festival all day.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll tell Liam we’ll go another time.’
As she started to type, another message from Liam popped up.
I’m golfing in the day so that’s why I thought somewhere close would be best. Plus I get a discount ?? Leave about 6.30?
She turned to Jay. ‘Actually, could you see if Renee could have him overnight? And I can do the day shift?’
‘OK. I’ll check with Renee. And then Cinders shall go to the ball,’ said Jay. When Nora didn’t reply he added, ‘Please yourself.’
Three days later and Nora was handing over Bruce to Renee at Jay’s house.
Nora had made a Bruce handover list and went through it with Renee to be sure she’d not missed anything. She looked up and Renee was surveying her with narrowed eyes.
‘Did that all make sense?’
‘Dog has been walked. Food is exactly where it was last time, blah blah blah. But what I want to know is this: what’s up with you?’ Renee’s gaze didn’t falter.
Nora self-consciously pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. ‘Nothing. I’m fine.’
‘No, you’re not,’ said Renee, sitting down on a kitchen stool and waving a hand for Nora to do the same.
Nora pointed towards the hall. ‘I need to—’
‘Sit,’ said Renee forcefully. ‘You can spare two minutes. Something is wrong.’ Nora opened her mouth to repeat that she was fine, but Renee kept talking. ‘Now, do you want to share what it is and unburden yourself? Or would you prefer to let it eat away at you?’ Renee folded her arms.
‘It’s nothing major,’ said Nora, deciding to share just enough to placate Renee. ‘Me, Liam and Jay went to see Dixie and Ned.’
‘Are they going steady?’
Nora pulled her chin into her chest. ‘They’re definitely into each other and they’ve hooked up.’
‘It’s a whole other language. What’s wrong with courting, going steady and getting lucky?’ Renee shook her head. ‘Anyway. Carry on.’
‘Liam and Jay didn’t gel. That was all.’
‘Jay said Liam is a bit of a dick. Is he?’
Nora was instantly cross. ‘No, he’s not! He’s not a dog person and he didn’t know anyone. Plus he needed to leave early.’ Nora was smarting from what Renee had told her. ‘Did Jay really say that?’
‘No, that was what I gleaned. But he did say Liam seemed uninterested.’
Nora felt instant relief. ‘At least that’s better than calling him a dick.’
Renee pushed her bottom lip out in thought. ‘Is it? It strikes me that Jay believes you deserve someone better.’
‘That’s what you get from him saying Liam was uninterested?’ Nora laughed.
‘Yes. Because a man who is uninterested isn’t thinking about you. If they’re not thinking about you and how you feel, then you’re not a priority for them. And if that’s the case, he’ll be looking to jump ship as soon as someone else who does spark his interest bobs along.’
Nora blinked as she took it in. ‘I think you’re reading too much into that.’
‘Maybe,’ said Renee, nodding her head. ‘But I know a man who is interested in you. Who hangs on your every word. Someone who checks that you’re OK and knows instinctively when you’re not.
Who cares about you and would always put you first. And I reckon that’s the sort of partner everyone needs.
I had that with Theo and I lost it. Listen to me, Nora.
Don’t leave things for later. Because there’s no guarantee that there will be a later. ’
Nora’s breathing had quickened. It was like Renee was unlocking a box of emotions Nora was too scared to open.
‘Anyway, Brucey needs a cuddle and I need a G&T. Take care now,’ said Renee, getting off the stool and leaving a bewildered Nora alone in the kitchen.
When Nora got home, she was feeling out of sorts.
She’d heard nothing from Jay since the barbecue, apart from thumbs-up emojis to her updates on Bruce, but then he had been busy with the film.
What Renee had said rumbled around her head.
Did any of it indicate that Jay had feelings for her?
If Renee was right, this was huge. But what, if anything, should Nora do about it?
She pulled her phone out of her pocket. First she needed to resolve their petty squabble.
But if she sent Jay a text and he didn’t reply, that would make things even worse.
She could call him but then she’d miss the little subtleties of body language.
Perhaps she could video-call him. That was the best solution.
She was about to hang up when Jay answered. ‘Can you hold on a minute?’ he asked.
What was this, a call centre?
‘Sure,’ she said with a tight jaw. Not a good start. She wasn’t feeling very forgiving.
‘You look amazing,’ said Jay.
Nora instantly softened and self-consciously ran a hand through her newly blow-dried hair. ‘Thanks, I—’
‘Oh, I was talking to Tasha. She’s had a professional makeover and her dress is on loan from Stella McCartney. Look,’ said Jay, turning the camera on Tasha, who beamed into the camera phone.
What was she meant to say to that? ‘Cool,’ she muttered, willing Jay to flip the phone back to himself.
He did and held it at arm’s length. ‘I, on the other hand, look like I’m on display at Moss Bros,’ he said with a chuckle.
Nora stared at the screen. Jay’s hair had been trimmed and done, he was wearing a white tux and black bow tie. ‘You look perfect,’ she said without thinking.
‘Aww thanks, mate.’
Mate? Why did that feel like a slight on her? ‘You’re welcome.’
‘You OK?’ asked Jay.
‘Fine. You?’
‘Had another weird stalker message, saying they’re going to be at the premiere tonight, but the police are aware and there’s loads of security plus the press are everywhere.
I think they’re keener to spot the stalker than anyone so …
’ He shrugged but she knew him well enough to know he was bothered by it.
‘That’s awful if they’re getting bolder. Maybe you should give it a miss?’
‘Come on, Schmoopy, the car will be here any minute,’ said Tasha off camera.
‘I don’t mean to be rude, but we have some pre-red-carpet thing we need to go to. Drinks and food that’d not feed a budgie, followed by in-your-face interviews. Was there something you needed me for?’ He paused.
‘Er … I just wanted to check we were all good after … you know.’
‘Yeah, of course. Gotta dash. Byee.’ And with that he was gone.
‘OK. Bye,’ she said to a blank screen. Her shoulders sagged. That was that then. He said they were OK so she should be feeling relieved, but she wasn’t.
Nora started putting things in her overnight bag.
Renee had unhelpfully put all kinds of fanciful stuff in her head and she needed to refocus.
This was her first time away with Liam in two years.
There would definitely be sex. She should be as excited as Bruce when the tennis balls came out. But she wasn’t.
Nora took a deep breath – she was being silly. She was just having a wobble, that was all. She put her best underwear in the bag followed by her comfy pyjamas and zipped it up.
Downstairs she had just put her bag by the door when there was a knock. Liam was standing on the doorstep with his hands in his pockets. ‘Ready?’ he asked, looking her up and down but making no comment about her freshly done hair and new shirt.
‘I just need to give Oliver some crickets.’
Liam’s face contorted. ‘That’s disgusting. They’re not alive, are they?’
‘Yes they are, because that’s better for him. I won’t be a minute. Come in.’
She fed Oliver and was telling him where she was going and when she’d be back when Liam snorted a laugh behind her. She spun around.