Chapter Twenty-Three
They’d had a good day. A good weekend, because against the odds, when Dan had picked Max up on Saturday, Natalie had asked him if he wanted to stay the night with his dad.
Against even greater odds, Max had, albeit hesitantly, agreed.
Dan knew it was still early days, but as he and Max walked from the Tube towards the home of his ex-wife, he could feel his relationship with his son getting back on track.
Back to how they had been a year ago, before he’d stupidly listened to Natalie and cut down his visits.
Hell, Max had even reached for his hand as they’d walked off the Tube.
And was still holding it now. Words couldn’t describe how much the simple gesture, the trusting way his son curled his fingers around Dan’s, meant to him.
‘So the London Transport Museum was a hit?’ he asked, though really he didn’t need to. Max’s wide eyes and constant smiles throughout the morning had pretty much summed it up for him.
‘It was well lit.’
‘And translated for your old dad, that means?’
Max slid him a cheeky smile. ‘It was sick.’
‘Right. That certainly clears it up.’
Max started to giggle, and the sound wound itself tightly round Dan’s heart.
‘It was cool, Dad.’ It wasn’t the amused tolerance in Max’s voice that made Dan’s heart swell, though he loved the fact that Max was feeling comfortable enough to speak to him like that.
It was his use of the word Dad; the first time in months Dan had heard him say it.
‘We need to show Maisie next time they come. She’d like it. ’
Oh crap, now his heart was literally aching.
He’d not spoken to Anna since he’d dropped her back at her house on Wednesday night.
She’d been subdued after the meal and he didn’t know if it was because he’d scared her off saying he wanted to see more of her, or if his own mood — hurt, upset that she clearly wasn’t as into him as he was into her — had rubbed off on her.
Either way, he’d decided to reel himself in to take stock.
Did he really want to see more of her, to fall for her even more, if she had no plans for them to continue to see each other after his ‘time’ at the school was up?
Then again, how was he supposed to convince her that he was worth taking a chance on, if he didn’t spend more time with her?
She was only just getting over the loss of her husband.
It wasn’t surprising she didn’t want to rush into anything serious.
When Natalie opened the door to them, she looked harassed. Max scampered in, and the moment he was out of earshot, Dan found himself on the defensive. ‘I told you we were going to the museum before we headed back.’
She gave him a startled look. ‘I know.’
‘Good.’ He narrowed his eyes, giving his ex-wife a further scrutiny. ‘Then for once something else has got you wound up instead of me.’
Her eyes avoided his. ‘Maybe you’d better come in.’
Now his pulse was starting to race. ‘How about maybe you’d better tell me what’s going on before I have a heart attack worrying?’
That brought a small smile from her. ‘It’s not that serious. Go and sit down. I’ll make us a coffee.’
Dan found Max looking for the TV remote control in the front room; shoes off, bag abandoned in the doorway. ‘I think you’d better unpack first, buddy.’ He dropped his voice to a whisper. ‘Mum’s get a bit cross when they have to hunt through holdalls or sports bags for dirty washing.’
‘Gotcha.’ Picking up his bag, he shouted out. ‘Just going to unpack, Mum.’ Then threw Dan another of those wide grins before darting up the stairs.
Natalie frowned as she came in carrying two mugs. ‘He never unpacks. Did you put him up to that?’
Dan just shrugged innocently. ‘I guess he’s starting to take after his dad.’
Which of course made Natalie roll her eyes, though her face sobered once she’d sat down. ‘Don’t get cross.’
His heart bounced. ‘I really hate conversations that start like this.’
She took in a deep breath, eyes on her coffee. ‘When we split up, I went through a bad period. Frankly, I was a mess.’
‘Divorce was your idea,’ he reminded her.
‘I know.’ She glanced sideways at him. ‘Though you have to admit it was going to happen sooner or later. We’d never have married in the first place if it hadn’t been for Max.’
‘I was willing to make it work. You weren’t willing to be married to a guy whose career pinnacle was acting in a soap.’
‘That’s not true.’ When he said nothing, simply looked at her, she sighed.
‘That’s not the whole truth but okay, yes, I was more ambitious than you.
Ambitious for you, for me, for us. Anyway, I’m only saying this because when we split up, suddenly I wasn’t part of this celebrity double act we had going on.
I had to stand up on my own two feet, and it was hard. ’
Natalie had always been the quieter of them, the more introverted, so he wasn’t surprised by what she said. He was surprised to hear her admit it. ‘Go on,’ he prompted. ‘I’m guessing there’s a point to all this.’
‘I started to worry about everything. My next role, how producers, the public saw me.’ She sucked in a breath.
‘And how Max might see me.’ This time she looked him in the eyes.
‘I was the one responsible for taking away his dad. I was afraid he’d see me as the bad guy, and end up wanting to spend more time with you, maybe live with you.
’ Her hand trembled as she brought the cup to her mouth and took a sip.
‘That’s bonkers, Nat.’ Dan shook his head. ‘You’re his mum, and you’re a great mum. I’ve never said or thought any different.’
‘I know, it wasn’t your fault. It was all on me.’ She inhaled again, her breath shaky. ‘Anyway, that’s the reason I started making excuses and cancelling your visits. I thought the less he saw of you, the more he’d want to stay with me.’
‘It worked.’ Dan didn’t try to hide the bitterness in his voice.
‘I know, and I’m sorry.’ She dipped her head, staring down at the floor. ‘It gets worse, too, because about six months ago, just before things started to turn around for me, I did this interview with a journalist friend of mine.’
‘That’s where all that crap came out about me not seeing my son,’ Dan interrupted, angry now.
Her eyes were full of apology when she finally met his. ‘Yes, and I’m sorry.’
‘Why tell me all this now?’
She bit into her lip. ‘Because he phoned this morning and said he’s used some of the interview in another piece that will be published tomorrow.
I tried to retract it,’ she added hastily, correctly reading his disgusted expression, ‘but he said it was too late. He was only phoning to let me know it was coming out.’
Dan shot to his feet, his gut churning. Anger, dread, fear for what the next bout of bad PR was about to hurl at him. ‘Is the school mentioned in this gutter press article?’
‘I don’t know. He didn’t say, just that he was using part of our interview again.’ She twisted her hands, rising to her feet. ‘I can phone him back if you like?’
He wanted to snap at her. Tell her of course he bloody wanted to know.
It was sickening to hear he was about to be mixed up in more crap publicity, but if the school had been dragged into it, too.
Christ. He opened his mouth to vent his frustration but when he saw his son hovering in the doorway, looking at them with a confused expression, the words he’d been about to hurl died on Dan’s tongue.
He did the only thing he could in this situation. He acted his socks off.
Smiling at his ex-wife, he told her if she could find out more he’d really appreciate it, if it wasn’t too much trouble. Then he bent to scoop Max into his arms. ‘Guess this is goodbye until next week, buddy.’
As his son gave Dan an exuberant high-five, Dan consoled himself with the fact that whatever the press decided to throw at him tomorrow, at least this time he knew it was lies.
His relationship with his son was back on track.
* * *
Monday, 10 December
Anna picked up the newspaper Hayley had left on her desk, read the headline of the ringed article, and winced.
Axed actor uses old school to try to resurrect his career.
The further she read, the more painful it became.
The article went on to highlight that in a cynical move to try and prove to the public he’s really a good guy, Daniel Ramsey was now helping his old school put on a Christmas production.
There were quotes from his ex-wife, which looked remarkably similar to those she’d read when she’d first met Dan back in October.
Much of the article seemed to centre around why he was choosing to spend his time with children he didn’t know, instead of his own son.
The piece ended with the question:
Is this Daniel Ramsey doing his bit to give back, or is this Daniel Ramsey taking advantage of his old school to try and prove to us all he’s a decent guy, and not a womaniser who can’t be bothered to be a dad to his son?
It was breathtakingly brutal.
Instinctively she reached for the phone, but then hesitated. Would he want to talk to her? He’d told her he was crazy about her on Wednesday, that seeing her two days a week wasn’t enough, yet she’d not heard from him since.
Then again, could she blame him when she’d given him nothing back? She’d spent so much time convincing herself this would be over after the play, it had been a shock to hear him suggest otherwise. That he was crazy about her.
But being crazy about her and wanting to try and make a long-distance relationship work were very different things. Plus there was Maisie to think of. She couldn’t run headlong into something that might end with Maisie being upset, or worse, hurt.
Nor could she ignore her heart though. And right now it ached for the man who’d been so kind to both of them. A man who bore no resemblance to the Daniel Ramsey in this article.
Summoning her courage, Anna dialled Dan’s number.
It went straight into voicemail. Totally unprepared, she garbled out a feeble ‘It’s Anna, please call me back’, and sat back with a loud huff of frustration.
Hayley popped her head around the door. ‘It’s bad, isn’t it?’
‘Yep. Not just bad, it’s wrong. How can Dan be taking advantage of the school when he’s written us a play that the children can’t wait to perform?’
‘Speaking of the play, Bridget says she should have the scenery and costumes done by Wednesday, so Dan can do a full rehearsal a week before the actual performance.’ She winked. ‘That should impress him.’
‘That’s great.’ Anna smiled weakly. It was hard to believe Dan would be here on Wednesday. Or ever again. Why would he, when the sole reason for helping them put on the play had been to help his public image. And the whole thing had now blown up in his face?
There was at least one thing she could do to help. ‘Hayley, would you mind getting me the number of the newspaper editor? He should at least hear the view of the school Mr Ramsey has apparently taken advantage of.’
Hayley grinned and gave her a thumbs up. ‘Fighting talk, I like it.’
* * *
Anna’s day didn’t get much better. During art class one of the children in year two decided to use the scissors to cut her friend’s hair.
Then a boy in reception was sick. Finally, to round off the day nicely, a scuffle broke out in the reception hall with a group of lads from year ten which ended with the Christmas tree falling over and several of the baubles smashing.
Anna told Hayley to make sure they only used plastic baubles from now on, though she had no doubt she’d find them being kicked along the corridor next week.
It was with a great deal of relief that Anna said goodbye to the parents of the last remaining child at the school gate and walked back inside to find Maisie. As the reception area came into view, she came to an abrupt halt.
It wasn’t right that her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of Dan sitting next to her daughter, just as they had all those weeks ago.
It wasn’t right that the butterflies in her stomach began a demented swarm when he looked up and caught her eye.
If ever there was a man too blindingly handsome for her, it had to be him. Those incredible blue eyes, the full, kissable lips. His smile, whether it was the full beam one that lit up his face, or the softer, more uncertain one he gave her now.
‘Hi.’
Her throat felt so tight she couldn’t reply. Thankfully her daughter had no problem filling the silence. ‘Dan’s come a day early. Isn’t that wicked? I asked him if he wanted to have tea with us but he said we had to check with you first. You don’t mind, do you, Mum?’
God, children. Sometimes so sensitive, yet at other times oblivious to the subtle vibes going on between adults. ‘Of course he’s welcome.’
Maisie gave Dan a nudge. ‘See, I told you she’d be okay.’
So many things she needed to say to him, yet she’d have to wait until they were alone. ‘Do you want to come now?’
He rose to his feet, and Anna realised she’d forgotten how tall he was. How physically imposing, with a body as perfect as his face. ‘Thanks, but I don’t want to get in the way. I’ll check into the hotel and come back.’
‘Okay.’ Anna cleared her throat. ‘Maisie, would you mind going to fetch my coat and briefcase from my office?’
They both watched her go.
‘I’m sorry, I don’t want to—’
‘Don’t feel you have to—’
As they both started talking at once, Dan let out a low laugh. ‘Ladies first.’
‘Please don’t feel you have to come. I know Maisie is hard to say no to.’
Dan frowned, his eyes searching hers. ‘Do you want me there?’
It wasn’t a hard question to answer, even if she wasn’t sure where it might take them. ‘Yes.’
His eyes softened, the sparkling blue of the Caribbean. ‘Thank God for that. I’ll see you around six.’ Gently clasping the top of her arms, he pulled her towards him for a brief, tantalising kiss. ‘Until later then.’
‘Yes.’ Arousal, mixed with a deeper emotion she didn’t want to speculate on, turned her voice husky.
Maisie bounded back, and they walked to the car park together, Anna both excited, and a little afraid, of where the evening might take them.