The Angel in the Corner - Monica Dickens [60]
When he had gone, Joe stood up. ‘Now listen, Jin,’ he said. ‘This is a bit thick. I can’t have you trailing me all over London.’
‘You won’t any longer. Helen’s just told me we’re leaving by plane the day after tomorrow. I came to – well, I just came to say good-bye.’
Why had she come? It was not to say good-bye. She had run to Joe, because it was the only thing she could think of in her distress and anger.
Joe came round the corner of the table and pulled the cape off her shoulders. ‘My God, that dress,’ he muttered. He stood in front of her, staring at her, gripping her arms painfully. ‘Why should you say good-bye? We never met. It’s finished, forgotten. You don’t look like anyone I know.’
‘You know me better than I know you,’ she said. ‘You know I don’t want to go away. You can pretend to forget me if you like, but I shan’t forget you.’
‘The old girl – your mother, is she rushing you off because of me?’
Virginia nodded.
The thought elated him. ‘Don’t go then,’ he said. ‘Come and live with me. That would give her something to gripe about.’
‘I couldn’t do that. Those things never work. It wouldn’t last, and then I’d be left with nothing. No family, no you, no self-respect, nothing. I’ll have to go with her. Helen’s won this time. I hope she’s satisfied.’
‘Damn her eyes,’ he said. He moved his hands from her arms to the sides of her face. He pushed back her hair and kissed her, bending her back against the edge of the table. Then he suddenly pulled her upright, turned her round, and stood behind her with his cheek on her hair and his hand over her breast.
‘Listen, Jin,’ he said against her ear, ‘you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. God knows I’m not much good now, but if I lose you, I’ll probably end up in the gutter. Let’s get married, then no one but me can tell you what to do.’
Virginia looked down, and saw her heart beating violently under his hand. ‘You don’t want to marry me,’ she said shakily. ‘I thought you said you never wanted to marry.’
‘I did, but I’m not the man I was. Remember the song – You Do Something To Me? Listen, we’ll get married tomorrow. That will spike the old lady’s guns. God, I would like to see her face!’ He chuckled, rubbing his cheek against her hair. ‘Would you do it?’
She turned round and put her hands on his sweater, stroking them across his chest. ‘Yes, I would, but we can’t, Joe. There isn’t time. You can’t get married all at once like that.’
‘I can fix it. I know what to do.’ He laughed. They were both excited now, their eyes shining, intent on each other. ‘I know the dodges,’ he said. ‘I nearly got married in a hurry once before, only luckily I had the sense to send the girl to a doctor, and found out she was lying.’
‘You never told me that.’
‘I never told you a lot of things. I probably never will.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘You will,’ he said. He took her hands and pushed her away from him. ‘Here, put this fur thing on before Midge comes back. No one’s going to see my wife half naked. Go home now and pack some things. Be ready to clear out any time I call you. Your mother will only think you’re packing to go with her. You needn’t tell her anything.’
‘I must. It would be too unkind. I’ll have to leave her a note at least. But where will we go? We can’t stay at your place. She’d find us. She’ll get the police out. You don’t know Helen.’
‘We won’t be there,’ he said. ‘Oh, hullo, Midge. Yes, you can come in. We’re all through with the drama.’
Midge came in, and some men followed him. Outside, the wrestling was over. There was a shuffling, coughing hubbub as the crowd began to leave.
‘Where will we be?’ Virginia asked Joe, moving closer to him as the room filled up.
‘In Glasgow. After last