No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin [92]
“Has she said anything?” he asked, recovering.
“No. And I can hardly ask her.”
“I doubt it,” Sam said, and finished his pint. “Just because he hits it doesn’t mean he…” He didn’t finish his sentence.
“You’re right. But if I ever find out he did, I’ll hunt him down and I’ll kill him,” Ivan said, with conviction.
“If you find he did, I’ll be happy to help you,” Sam said.
“You’re a good friend,” Ivan said. “For a junkie!” He laughed at his own wit.
Sam had become used to his past indiscretions being joked about, and he was smart enough to know that, although they teased, those around him would not tolerate his failure to remain clean. This worried him. Each night that passed made it harder, and all the more so now that he was being watched.
They talked a little bit about the aftermath of Penny’s article. The furore hadn’t been as considerable as it might have been. To Ivan and, indeed, most of the townspeople, the fact that Sam had got and stayed clean was a major achievement. The man described in the newspaper was far from the one he and his fellow townspeople had come to know, and when judgement was passed, it favoured their new resident, as Mary had expected it would.
Ivan had been sheepish when he broached the subject of Sam’s famous ex but he couldn’t help himself. “Give me something.”
“Something?” Sam was playing with his new friend.
“Anything at all.”
“OK.” Sam sat back in his chair. Then he put his hand to his chin.
“Oh, come on!”
“It’ll stay between you and me?” Sam asked.
“Absolutely,” Ivan agreed, yet both men knew Ivan couldn’t hold his water.
“Horror movies turn her on.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean horror gets her really hot.” She’d jumped him midway through Scream. “The gorier the better.”
“Really? I love horror films.” Ivan seemed satisfied with the titbit he’d been given. “One last thing.”
“What?”
“Did you ever do J-Lo?”
Ivan seemed lighter and happier since his kids had come home, Sam thought. They had wiped the gloom from his eyes. His smile was warmer and his laugh heartier. Neither mentioned Mary, and Ivan didn’t say anything when he saw a dishevelled Penny sneak into a booth. It’s not the time. God save her!
21. My, oh, Mia
It was one of those days that Ben would have called yellow – bright and sunny enough for summer. Mary had just returned from a shift at the bar and was busy fixing the remote controls in line with the corner of the coffee-table when the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting company. Penny hadn’t spoken to her for more than a week. Sam was giving her the space she had asked for. Ivan was busy with his kids. She answered it, expecting to see no one in particular.
The woman at the door was very beautiful. She also seemed familiar. It only took an instant for everything to click into place. Frigging hell!
“Hi. I’m Mia.” The rock star put out her hand.
“Mary,” she replied, embarrassed by her plain name. She shook the proffered hand.
“I was looking for Sam,” Mia said, having been directed to Sam’s cottage by the helpful hotel manager.
“Oh,” was all Mary managed. “I’m not sure. I think he’s on the water.”
Mia raised her perfectly arched eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“He usually fishes with my cousin on Sundays.”
“Oh,” Mia sighed, “I can’t imagine him fishing.”
“Would you like to come in?” Mary asked tentatively, not wishing to seem pushy.
“Sure, I’d love to,” Mia said, and walked past her.
“Right, then,” Mary said, closing the door and freaking out a little. She turned off Alanis Morissette in case Mia had a problem with competition. Mia didn’t seem to notice. Instead she sat on the kitchen chair Sam had occupied on the many evenings Mary had cooked for him.
Mary made a pot of coffee and placed it on the table between them.
“Nice place,” Mia said, looking around.
“It’s OK,” Mary said.
“So, you and Sam are friends?” Mia asked, studying Mary