He put down his keys and wallet. ‘I was worried. Still am. Is everything OK?’
She smiled. ‘Course it is. Like I said, I was just having a bad day. Honestly. Have you seen the pudding?’
Daniel came over to investigate the long, white, sugary, twirled dessert oozing with cream and strawberry compote. He stuck his finger in and made a face of appreciation. ‘That is good.’ Relieved to be off the subject of the night before, Cherry smiled.
‘You have a nice day?’
‘Saw an angioplasty.’
‘Is that where they open up a blocked artery?’
‘He visibly improved right there, in front of my eyes. Blood started flowing better around his body and his skin-tone changed immediately.’
‘Must be amazing to see.’
‘It is.’ He paused. ‘Mum rang me today. Left a message. First time in weeks.’
It was like a knife in her back, but she forced herself to stay casual. Took the couscous out of the packet and tipped it in a bowl.
‘I feel bad. Don’t like falling out. She sounded upset.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Same as the others. That she was sorry. Wanted to make amends.’
Cherry nodded matter-of-factly.
‘It’s difficult for me. You do see that?’
‘I know.’
‘I don’t like you two not getting on,’ he said with a sigh. ‘My fiancée and my mum. You should be on shouting terms at least.’
Cherry smiled at his lame joke.
‘Can’t we try and work something out? And you know, we still haven’t told her about the engagement.’
‘Of course! Nothing would make me happier.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’ She kissed him. ‘It makes me sad we don’t get on and you’re caught in the middle.’ She turned to open the oven and check the tagine, well aware she’d left Daniel taken aback at how easy it had been to persuade her. Men liked a non-confrontational life and she knew what she’d said was only too easy and nothing had actually been resolved. Neither would it be, but by the time he realized that and brought it up again, Laura would hopefully have disappeared.
‘That smells delicious,’ he said, looking at the tagine. He put his arms around her and kissed her on the back of the neck. ‘Thank you, Cherry. You’re amazing. I know she hasn’t made things easy for you and I appreciate you not holding it against her.’
‘Careful – hot!’
‘I feel I should go and see her.’
Cherry turned. ‘What? Tonight?’
‘Only for half an hour or so. After dinner. Is that a problem? She’s been having a rough time. You know, with the divorce and everything.’
A wave of panic crashed over her. The last thing she wanted was Daniel getting the full story of how Laura had been to see Wendy. ‘I . . . just wasn’t feeling that well, that’s all.’
‘What’s up?’
‘It’s not much, just that headache. From last night.’ She rubbed her forehead, trying to think quickly. ‘Can’t seem to shift it.’
He waited a moment and then said, ‘You need to sit down. Go on, I’ll just get a shower then finish the couscous.’ She allowed herself to be led into the living room and onto the lemon sofa. As soon as he left the room and she heard the shower run, she sat up. The tense, nervy feeling escalated. It was like the devil on her back, and no matter how she sat, she was restless, wanted to escape from it. She put some music on to try and blast it away, then lay back down on the sofa and closed her eyes, trying not to think about the fly buzzing around her head.
‘I thought you had a headache?’ Daniel had walked in, clean T-shirt and jeans, hair tousled and wet from the shower. Rufus had followed him and was jumping around, trying to lick his ankles.
She started. ‘I do. I mean, I took a tablet.’
‘They don’t work that fast,’ he said, turning down the volume.
Damn him for being a doctor, she thought, knowing he was right and she couldn’t argue. Instead, she threw the full radiance of her smile at him. ‘You’ve cheered me up. I think the stress of the move has been getting to me.’
‘You’re not happy to be here?’
She looked at him in surprise. ‘I’m extremely happy.’ She wanted to ask, Aren’t you?, but something stopped her. ‘Are you hungry?’
‘Starving.’
‘Shall we eat?’
He followed her into the kitchen. ‘Glass of wine?’
Her face fell. ‘Oh no!’
‘What?’
‘I forgot the wine!’
‘Don’t worry about it.’
‘No, I mean, I wanted everything to be perfect.’ She grabbed her purse. ‘I’ll just go downstairs to Henry’s, get a bottle of Shiraz or something. It’s time for Rufus’s walk, anyway,’ she said, holding his exuberant body still as she clipped on his lead.
‘You don’t have to.’
She was already out the door. ‘Why don’t you hold off on the couscous till I get back? You know what he’s like – doesn’t always perform when you want him to.’
The door slammed behind her and she tried to still her rapid breathing. She didn’t wait for the lift but hurried down the stairs, Rufus all eager pedalling legs behind her. The fresh air helped to calm her and she walked the short distance to the wine shop, then tied Rufus up outside. There were usually a handful of customers discussing wine with the importance of a peace treaty, but she was the only one in the shop and was served quickly. Clutching her bottle in a thick plastic bag, she stood outside. She wasn’t ready to go back to the flat – not enough time had passed for the atmosphere to dissipate – and so she untied Rufus from the post and took him for the walk she’d claimed he needed.
Laura sat flicking through the channels, irritated by the lack of quality television. She did not want to watch another lifestyle show flimsily dressed up as a serious cookery programme. Unsettled as usual on her own, she had spent the day mooching around the house feeling agitated. After her disastrous visit to Wendy, she was at a loss as to what to do next. There was nothing she could do and this frightened her, as if by doing nothing, she was a sitting duck.
Laura considered checking her phone again but already knew that Daniel hadn’t replied. The hollow ache in her chest flared up and she stood quickly, looking for a distraction. She would try and read some of her book.