Tati remembered the night in Ronnie Scott’s, when she’d made a surprise appearance to hear Jason play. George Wilkes had seemed horrified to see her there, completely thrown off stride. Now she knew why. Perhaps it should have been obvious, but she’d only ever known George as half of George and Maddie. She’d missed the signs completely. Apparently so had poor Maddie.
‘Maddie’s beside herself,’ she told Jason. ‘Her messages are hysterical. She’s threatened to go to the papers.’
Jason blanched. ‘Do you really think she will? Poor George.’
‘Poor everyone. I doubt she’ll go through with it,’ said Tati. ‘It would hurt her children more than anyone if she did. But she’s not very rational at the moment and I can’t say I blame her. You and George both need to be prepared for anything. Unfortunately the fact that I’m in the public eye means it will be a story. “Wholesome Hamilton Hall Husband Revealed As Gay Homewrecker”.’
‘Oh God, don’t.’ Jason put his head in his hands and groaned. ‘But we don’t even own Hamilton Hall any more.’
‘No,’ Tati said bitterly. ‘Your father does.’
Jason’s eyes widened. ‘What?’
‘It’s a long story,’ Tati sighed. ‘But it seems your father was the brains behind the takeover bid. He founded the company specifically to acquire us.’
‘But … why?’
‘So he could strip the assets and close the schools. To hurt me, basically. That’s where I was today. I went to his offices to confront him.’
Jason digested this in silence. Since his parents had reconciled, and particularly with their upcoming move to America, he’d begun to think that Brett’s obsession with Tatiana and fury over their ‘secret’ marriage had finally begun to fade. Clearly he was wrong.
‘There’s something else.’ Tati bit her lower lip nervously. ‘I’m so sorry, Jason, but we got into an argument and I … I told him you were gay.’
‘Ah.’ Jason sat back, winded. ‘I see.’
‘I truly didn’t mean to,’ said Tati. ‘It just slipped out. He was attacking our marriage and moralizing and I just saw red.’
Jason took her hand. ‘It’s fine. I understand. After what I did today, I’m hardly in a position to throw stones. How did he take it?’ he added as an afterthought.
‘I don’t really know,’ said Tati. ‘I sort of dropped the bomb and left. And then I got in the cab and heard Maddie’s messages. Brett’s reactions didn’t seem so important after that.’
For a few moments they both sat quietly, each trying to process their emotions. Then Tati said, ‘I think you should tell your mother. And Logan. They should hear it from you, not Brett. Or even worse, read it in the Daily Mail.’
She was right, of course. But the thought terrified him. Coming out to Tati had been so easy and comfortable. Jason realized now that the two of them had been living in a cocoon of false security ever since, both of them happy to postpone their inevitable parting and the seismic life changes that would have to come. After today, there could be no more hiding, no more pretence. Maddie knew. Brett knew. The dam had broken.
‘I think I’m going to throw up.’
‘No you’re not,’ said Tati. ‘You’ll be fine.’ She suddenly felt a wave of nausea herself. Excusing herself to go to the bathroom, she left Jason sitting there, desolate. He tried George’s mobile again.
‘You’ve reached George Wilkes …’
No I haven’t, thought Jason, and hung up.
When Tati returned, she looked white-faced and ill again.
‘I have to go out,’ she told Jason. ‘I should be back in time for dinner. We can talk more then. Will you be all right?’
‘Yes,’ lied Jason. ‘But are you sure you should go out? I think you ought to go back to bed, Tati. You don’t look well.’
‘I’m sure,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I need some air. I’ll see you later, OK?’
She was gone before he could answer.
Jason paced around the room a few times, staring at his phone, willing George to call him. George was always so calm and certain. Like Tatiana, he never seemed to be at a loss what to do. Jason was the neurotic one, the bag of nerves who needed to be steadied and soothed. But now it was his turn to be strong, his turn to take decisive action as George’s life and family imploded around him. Tati would support him as far as she could, but in the end this was Jason’s crisis to solve. He felt frozen with fear.
Not knowing what else to do, he decided to go upstairs to the bedroom and pack. If George called, they might need to go away somewhere together quickly. Especially if Maddie fulfilled her threat to go to the press. He had to be ready.