Chapter Twenty-Three
As a new week began at Boomerville, James arrived early to prepare for his class.
He busied about, placing notes on the table in the centre of the room.
The morning’s session would cover what James considered to be the first essential steps to writing.
How to get into the proper mindset and the secrets of staying focused.
If only he could find the proper mindset to deal with his ex-wife! James knew that he needed to be completely absorbed in his work, anything to take his thoughts away from the events at the weekend.
For Helen had been out of control.
She’d been drinking all afternoon on her journey to Westmarland and James learnt later, from his local taxi driver, that she’d staggered off a train and into a vehicle at Marland station.
Finding no one at James’ house, she’d let herself in.
James cursed himself for never changing the locks and imagined her searching around.
She’d discovered a telephone number that he’d jotted on a note by the phone.
It read, ‘Table for three at eight’, and it wasn’t rocket science for her to work out where James was.
Taking the same taxi again, as well as a good quantity of his whisky, she’d arrived at the restaurant, hell-bent on making a scene.
Thank God it had been dealt with swiftly but the damage had been done.
Jack took one look at his mother, as she was being manhandled away, and left with Desiree. James followed later when he’d calmed Helen down and Jo kindly offered a spare room for Helen to sleep it off.
The following morning they’d spoken on the phone.
James told Helen that Jack didn’t want to see her. Jack wanted her to sober up and accept the fact that he was going to get married. When James told Helen that there was a baby on the way, she’d been silent.
Eventually she spoke.
‘I’m going back to France,’ Helen said. ‘Tell Jack that I love him and hope that he’ll bring Desiree to meet me.’ James was confused. One moment she was against the relationship and the next she’d accepted it. Perhaps it was the booze causing her erratic behaviour.
James drove the young couple to the station and in the car park as they unloaded their bags, Jack held Desiree’s hand and turned to his father.
‘Mum needs to sort herself out,’ Jack said. ‘Don’t worry, Dad, it will work out fine.’
James watched them walk away and as they turned to wave, he felt immensely proud as he stared at his son and future daughter-in-law.
The optimism of youth, he thought, as he placed the last of the notes on the table.
The door of the studio opened and Kate appeared. ‘Morning,’ she said. ‘How are you today?’
‘Where do I begin to apologise for my ex-wife’s behaviour?’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that.’ Kate took her coat off and hung it on a peg. ‘I’m early. Is it all right if I make a coffee?’
‘Help yourself.’
‘You look like you could do with one too.’
‘It would be most welcome.’ James moved around the table and flicked a lamp on. He tossed a couple of logs in the stove and pushed a stack of books to one side. ‘Let me help you,’ he said, reaching out to take their coffees as Kate flopped down onto the sofa.
‘God, I’m tired,’ Kate said and yawned. ‘I don’t know what’s got into me.’
‘Late night?’
‘No, not really.’
‘Perhaps things are catching up with you?’
‘What things? I feel better than I’ve felt in years but for some reason all I’ve wanted to do in the last twenty-four hours is sleep.’
‘Maybe you’ve been working too hard on your novel.’ James was concerned that her eyes were puffy and she seemed lethargic.
‘Hardly, the writing brings me alive and I thrive when I lose myself in my words.’ She sat up. ‘I’m sorry, you must have had a wretched weekend and all I can talk about is me.’ She turned and put a hand on his arm. ‘How are you?’
‘Oh, I’m all right, but I felt badly for my son.’
‘I take it Helen and Jack didn’t talk?’
‘No, I’m afraid not.’
‘Well, you did your best.’
‘I hope so. Helen has gone back to France but she seems to have accepted the fact that Jack is settling down and I told her there’s a baby on the way.’
‘Well, that’s a positive.’ Kate picked up the coffee and handed James a mug.
‘I wish she’d stop drinking.’
James could smell Kate’s perfume. Her body was inches away and he yearned to put his arm around her shoulders and pull her close.
‘Some drinkers tend to drink to cover up unhappiness. How do you know that she’s happy? Is her relationship working?’ Kate asked.
‘I’ve no idea but she chose her life and I can’t mend her. I have to protect our sons.’
‘Did she always drink?’
‘Yes, sometimes too much, but I never considered it to be a problem. She was an artist, she mixed in bohemian circles, she loved life but was frustrated by the confines of a family and routine.’ James drained his mug and placed it on the table.
‘How are the young couple?’
‘Jack is going to finish university and get his degree. Obviously, that won’t be possible for Desiree.’
‘Where will she go?’
‘She has family in London. I hope they’re understanding. She wants to resume her studies when the baby is born.’
‘And then?’
‘Jack will get a job and support his family.’
‘Will they get married?’
‘They want to but it’s an added expense now that there’s a baby on the way, but I’ll help them.’
‘It’ll work out.’ Kate put her mug down and took his hand. ‘You’re a great dad. If Jack’s anything like you, he’ll be fine.’
James felt comforted and the warmth from her fingers reassured him. He looked into her eyes and suddenly felt that he was whole again, a man who could cope with anything as long as this woman was by his side. He placed a hand on top of Kate’s.
‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘You seem to know all the right things to say.’ With his free arm, James pulled Kate towards him and felt her body give. Her lips were inches away. ‘Kate . . .’ he whispered.
She pulled back, snatching her hand away, twisting out of his embrace.
‘Oh God, I’m so sorry!’ James stood up. He was mortified. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’ His brain raced, what the hell had he done? She was a student, for heaven’s sake!
‘It’s all right, really.’ Kate grabbed her bag. ‘It’s not your fault.’
‘It was unforgiveable.’ James wound his hands together, agonised by his action.
‘Class is about to begin.’ Kate glanced at the clock above the stove.
‘Yes, of course, we must get on.’ James paced the room and then stopped. ‘Kate, what can I say?’
‘You’re upset, you had a crazy weekend, it’s understandable. You don’t have to apologise, please.’ She reached out.
The door burst open and crashed against the wall.
Kate flinched and James turned to see who’d come into the room.
‘Good morning.’ Andy stepped forward. ‘I thought I might join you today.’ He looked from one to the other. ‘Not disturbing anything, I hope?’
‘Not at all.’ James pulled out a chair. ‘Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get you a coffee.’ He glared at Andy.
‘White with one sugar.’ Andy ignored the chair and walked over to the fire where two mugs sat side-by-side on a low table. ‘Very cosy,’ he said and, throwing himself onto the sofa, tapped the seat beside him. ‘Come over here, beautiful, I want you next to me.’
Kate slowly crossed the room. She sat a little distance from Andy and stared at his face. The fire cast shadows over his dark features and for a moment she saw a menacing look in his eyes.
‘Get closer, my darling. Let’s show lover boy where your heart really lies.’
Andy reached out and pulled Kate into his arms. He traced a finger along her neck and across her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
James came in with the coffee and looked at the couple by the fire.
Locked in an embrace, with their heads resting together, they stared into the stove, where flames danced behind the smoky glass.
What a fool he was.
Any hope of Kate having feelings for him had been dashed and the cameo image before him, of a couple very much in love, was a testament to his own stupidity.
James sighed. He would never get it right.
* * *
Hattie tried to keep up with Jo. She wrapped her duffel coat around her body and pulled on the toggles, twisting them into the leather fasteners as she jogged across the lawn.
‘Crikey, Jo, can you slow down!’
‘Sorry, I didn’t realise,’ Jo said. ‘I am amazed to see you out in the fresh air.’ She stopped and waited for Hattie to catch up.
‘Fresh air is good for the complexion,’ Hattie said and thrust her hands into her pockets as she slipped into place beside Jo.
‘I’m glad to have your company. Pete was up early. He’s gone to look at an old tractor in Kendal.’
‘Boys’ toys.’ Hattie was dismissive.
‘So, to what do I owe the honour of your company?’
‘I thought it would be good to have a few minutes on our own.’
‘What have you done?’
‘Nothing. Why are you always so suspicious?’
‘Because you’re always up to something.’
They walked up the steps by the pond and Jo waved at Alf who stood in the greenhouse.
He held a hammer in one hand and looked puzzled as he picked up a nail and examined a wooden bench.
They watched him bring the hammer down, missing the nail and landing sharply on his thumb. Both winced as Alf let out a curse.
‘And you worry about me,’ Hattie said.
‘I worry about all of you.’ Jo grimaced as Alf’s expletives got louder.
Bunty scurried along the grass, her nose glued to the ground as a baby rabbit ran out, crossing her line of vision.
‘I think James went over the top with his apologies to Lucinda,’ Hattie said. ‘He can’t help his ex-wife’s behaviour.’
‘I thought it was a very nice gesture.’
‘Flowers, chocolates and a fancy new hair-do.’
‘James is one of life’s good guys.’
‘Unlike Helen, she’s as mad as a box of frogs.’ Hattie shuffled her wellingtons along the gravel path. They’d reached the gate and Jo undid the latch.