To the Moon and Back

Chapter 39




Was this wrong? Should he have done it? Zack only knew that having Ellie stay here in this house made him feel complete. He’d canceled a couple of meetings this afternoon without even hesitating. He simply didn’t care. For so long he’d put all his efforts into the business, had practically devoted his life to it. But it no longer seemed important.

No, that wasn’t true. Work was still important. It just wasn’t his number one priority.

He knocked at the door and said, ‘OK to come in?’

Ellie was sitting up in bed, wearing a clean white T-shirt. Her face was pale and there were violet shadows beneath her eyes but to him she still looked lovely.

‘Hi. Thanks.’ She reached for the mug of tomato soup he’d brought up to her. ‘I can’t believe I woke up wanting soup.’ She smiled and took a sip. ‘That tastes fantastic. I must be over the worst.’

Which was good news, of course it was. But a small, selfish part of Zack didn’t want her to be over the worst. Until this evening Ellie had been so unwell it had made absolute sense to insist she come to stay. But as soon as she was better, she would return to her own flat. And Todd would be back from his conference in Glasgow. He hadn’t said so to Ellie, but personally he thought Todd could have made more of an effort; his girlfriend was ill and he wasn’t exactly inundating her with phone calls. I mean, did he not care how she was? Was he not even bothered? Would it kill him to send her some flowers?

Then again, maybe this was a hopeful sign, a hint that their relationship might not be going such great guns after all. He leaned over to clear empty water glasses from the bedside table and said casually, ‘Heard from Todd today?’

‘Oh yes. He called earlier.’ Ellie nodded and looked defensive. ‘And he’s been texting me.’ She indicated her mobile, lying face down on the duvet. ‘I’ve had loads of texts from him.’

Was she embarrassed by the lack of attention he’d been paying her? Excellent. ‘And he’s OK about you staying here?’

She nodded. ‘Absolutely. He’s grateful to you for looking after me.’

‘No problem. You can repay me when you’re better.’ Zack smiled briefly. ‘I’ve got another favor to ask you.’

‘Oh? Go on then, fire away.’ Ellie was definitely on the mend; she was drinking her soup with relish.

‘I’ve just had an email from Steph.’

‘Your sister, the one who lives in St Austell,’ said Ellie. ‘Twin girls.’

He felt absurdly touched that she’d remembered. ‘That’s the one. Well, Steph and Gareth have been together for seven years but they’ve just decided to get married.’ He paused. ‘In September.’

‘This September? Wow.’

‘That’s Steph all over. No patience. Once she decides to do something, that’s it. Basically they heard that a wedding had been canceled at the village church and grabbed the chance while it was there.’

‘Like Lastminute.com,’ said Ellie. ‘Why not?’

‘And they’re having the reception at Mum and Dad’s. A hundred guests.’

‘Crikey.’

‘It’ll be fine. Mum’s in her element. They had Claire’s wedding at home too; it was a triumph.’

Ellie finished her mug of soup. ‘So where do I come in? You want me to help in some way? Oh, is it the invitations, d’you need me to—?’

‘Not that kind of help. Actually, it’s more personal.’ Zack sat on the end of the bed. ‘The thing is, Steph’s asked her friend Mya to be one of her bridesmaids. I used to go out with Mya, years ago. Now, she’s nothing like Louisa,’ he added hastily. ‘Mya’s more like a Labrador, all bouncy and enthusiastic. According to Steph, she’s already getting overexcited about me being there. If I go on my own I’m just going to be fending her off the whole time. It’ll be awkward. She’s a nice girl and I don’t want to hurt her feelings.’ He hesitated. ‘So what would really help would be if I was to take someone else along with me. Then she’d understand and leave me alone. No more hassle.’ This wasn’t some story he’d made up; it was all true. But he was the one ruthlessly taking advantage of the situation and using it for his own purposes. With a bit of luck. ‘So, up to you. I know it’s a big ask, but you’d be really helping me out. And it’ll be a good do.’ Another pause. ‘If you think Todd wouldn’t mind.’

Zack McLaren, you have a nerve.

Ellie’s eyes were bright and a flash of color had returned to her cheeks. For a couple of seconds she thought it through. Finally she swallowed and said, ‘I’ll explain it to him. I’m sure he won’t mind.’

‘OK, good. Thanks.’ His heart was actually thumping against his ribs. Ellie had just agreed to come down to Cornwall with him to attend his sister’s wedding.

Result.

***

Lovely though it had been to be looked after by Zack, Ellie was aware she had imposed for long enough. It was now Sunday, she’d been here for three days, and no longer qualified as an invalid. The aching, the shivers, the raging temperature had all subsided. Her appetite was back, she no longer looked like a bit of old road kill, and the utter exhaustion had receded too. She felt human again, albeit a bit on the fragile side.

‘Now are you sure you’ll be OK?’ Zack had insisted on driving her the few hundred yards home. ‘What time’s Todd getting back?’

‘Very soon.’ Ellie climbed out of the car; it was three o’clock in the afternoon. ‘Any minute now. Thanks for looking after me.’ She kept a firm hold of her overnight case as he moved to take it. ‘Don’t worry, I can manage. And just… well, thanks for everything. I’ll be back at work as soon as I’m up to it. Wednesday or Thursday.’ He’d done so much for her, she didn’t know how to express her gratitude. At least being riddled with flu germs meant a polite kiss on the cheek was out of the question.

And anyway, he was her boss. She was his employee. It would be wrong.

Instead Ellie said, ‘Bye,’ and did an awkward little wave before fitting her key into the lock and letting herself into the house.

***

‘Why didn’t you let me know you were ill? I’d have come straight back! I could have looked after you!’

Oh dear, Roo was offended.

‘You were visiting your mum,’ Ellie pointed out. ‘Anyway, you wouldn’t have been so happy if you’d caught my bugs.’

Roo visibly bristled at the slur. ‘I’d still have done it. I owe you, remember? How am I ever going to make things up to you if you won’t let me do stuff?’

‘You don’t owe me, I’ve told you a million times. You did me a favor.’ Ellie sighed; Roo was still sticking obstinately to her newfound vow of saintliness. No caffeine, no alcohol, no makeup, endless do-goodery, and a stubborn refusal to answer Todd’s calls and messages. It was getting a bit wearing, to be honest; she wished the old fun-loving irreverent Roo would make a comeback.

‘Right, let’s do a list.’ Roo whipped a notebook from her bag. ‘Tell me what you need and I’ll go out and get it. Food, toiletries… anything you want.’

‘OK. Thanks.’ Ellie watched her perch, pen poised, on the arm of the sofa. ‘I’ve nearly run out of deodorant, so you could get me a can of spray.’

‘What make?’

‘Anything, it doesn’t matter.’

This clearly wasn’t good enough. ‘But which one would you like most?’

‘OK, Dove.’

Roo wrote it down. ‘What else?’

‘Apple juice. And some more bread. White, medium sliced.’

The pen flew over the paper. ‘Got it. Next?’

‘Call Todd.’

The pen abruptly stopped. ‘And say what?’

‘Tell him you’d like to see him. Just put him out of his misery. All you’re doing is cutting off your nose to spite your face.’

Roo jutted her chin. ‘Maybe my nose deserves to be cut off.’

‘You said you’d do anything I want.’ This flu had weakened her; Ellie knew her powers of persuasion weren’t on top form. ‘This is what I want, for you and Todd to get together.’

‘Not going to happen.’

‘But you’re making me feel guilty. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be a couple by now. So it’s all my fault!’

‘Nice try,’ said Roo. ‘But the answer’s still no. Your hair’s looking a bit manky, by the way.’ She changed the subject. ‘How about if I call my hairdresser and get her over here to give you a nice cut and blow-dry?’

Always good to know your hair was manky. ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ Her whole life, Ellie had never once emerged from a salon comfortable with the blow-dry she’d had inflicted on her; they always made her feel like a Stepford wife.

‘How about a manicure, then?’

‘No.’

‘Massage?’

‘Really, no.’

‘Fake tan?’

‘No.’

Roo narrowed her eyes in frustration. ‘Stubborn.’

‘Pot. Kettle,’ said Ellie.

‘But I’m trying to help you!’

‘Same here!’

‘Ooh, you’re so annoying,’ cried Roo.

Ellie kept a straight face. ‘Ditto.’

***

Roo returned with the shopping then headed off to Ormond Road for her shift at the charity shop. Ellie lay on the sofa and dozed. She woke up with a start an hour later, to the sound of laughter in the street below.

It was Jamie’s laugh. There was no mistaking it. Ellie listened, stunned. It was him… oh God, he was back… she leapt off the sofa and stumbled to the window, her skin prickling with joy and disbelief. Jamie, I’m here…

Lack of blood caused her head to spin. The man outside on the pavement was burly and shiny-bald, in his forties, and displaying an impressive paunch as he climbed into his car and carried on chatting on his mobile to whoever had just made him laugh in that spookily Jamie-like way.

Don’t be so stupid, how could you even think it would really be him?

The car sped off and Ellie slumped back on to the sofa. Being momentarily fooled always made the crashing-back-to-reality bit harder to bear. She reached for her mobile and pressed the familiar series of buttons.

‘Hi, I can’t speak to you at the moment.’ This time it was the real Jamie saying it.

‘Well, try a bit harder,’ said Ellie.

‘…But just leave a message after the beep and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Bye!’

Ellie waited for the beep, then said, ‘Hi, Jamie, is that a promise? Because I keep leaving messages… I’ve left loads and loads of messages and I’m still waiting for you to call me back.’ She’d told him this before too. She swallowed hard, annoyance giving way to guilt as it invariably did. Poor Jamie, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t call her back. ‘Sorry. Just wanted to hear your voice. I love you, OK? Miss you. Bye.’

She hung up and had a cry, using her sleeve to wipe her wet face rather than get up and find a tissue. Because there was no need; no one to see her and no appearances to keep up.

‘Eurgh.’ Jamie wandered into the living room as she was wiping her nose. ‘That’s not very ladylike.’

‘Guess what? I don’t care.’

‘Oh, sweetheart. I thought you were feeling better.’

Ellie hauled herself off the sofa and went to fetch the tissue box. Flu-wise she might be feeling better. Jamie-wise her defenses were down, her emotions muddled, and she was riddled with guilt. ‘I wanted you to look after me. You weren’t here.’

‘Sorry. But Zack came to the rescue. He did a pretty good job, didn’t he?’

‘I suppose. But he wasn’t you. He’s my boss.’ Noisily she blew her nose and lay back down. Jamie’s hair was longer today; it needed a cut. And he was wearing sand-colored Havaianas with his jeans and Ramones T-shirt.

‘You like him though. Is that what’s making you feel guilty?’

Ellie lobbed the balled-up tissue at the bin. It missed. ‘I don’t know. Maybe. Yes.’

‘And in a few weeks you’ll be going down to Cornwall with him for his sister’s wedding. I expect you’re feeling a bit funny about that too.’

‘No.’

‘Sure?’ Jamie looked mildly surprised. ‘You won’t find it weird, putting on a show and essentially pretending to be his girlfriend, when all the time you do actually have a bit of a secret crush on him and wish it could be happening for real?’

‘Oh…’ Ellie closed her eyes; what was the point of trying to hide something from Jamie when he was already inside her head? ‘Fine, yes, it’ll be weird. But I have to do it and I can’t back down. All Zack wants is a stooge, a stand-in to get him out of an awkward situation. So long as he doesn’t know how I feel about him, it’ll be fine.’