The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton - Catherine Alliott [151]
He blanched in astonishment. Then he squinted, head jutting forward incredulously. ‘What?’
‘I know.’ I gave him another moment.
‘Shit.’ He ran a hand through his hair. Ruffled the back of his head in a dazed fashion. ‘Of what?’
‘Cancer.’
‘Oh.’ He blinked. ‘Right.’
‘And she wants us to bring up her daughter.’
‘Christ alive.’
I shrugged. ‘She's Ant's daughter, too.’
‘Yes, of course she is.’
‘And she's seventeen. Hardly a child.’
‘Right. Blimey. Still – heavy.’
‘Doesn't get much weightier.’
‘And you said?’
‘I said yes. We all said yes.’
A shadow crossed his face. ‘Right.’ He gave me a slightly rueful, lopsided smile. ‘Which gives me a no.’
It was my turn to blanch. Had he really…?
‘No, no,’ he went on quickly, seeing my face, ‘I don't mean that. You're quite right. I always knew it was a no. I shouldn't have said that.’
I didn't know what to say. He smiled, a proper smile this time. Took my hand.
‘I have a theory about you.’
‘Oh?’
‘Actually, it's more about me. Some men find women who pick badly, attractive. I've decided I'm the opposite.’
Pick badly. I didn't understand. Waited for him.
‘I find myself inconveniently drawn to women who pick well. Who love their husbands. Who are in a happy place. It's what I lost, you see.’ He looked at me searchingly, willing me to understand. I did. In an instant.
‘Yes, I do see.’
‘I'm quite aware that I could bag a single young girl, like the ones at Alice's party, but I want… someone who knows how to make a commitment.’
‘Not much of a commitment if I go off with you.’
He laughed shortly. ‘No. Not much of a commitment. But then, at one point, you thought you were losing him. And I'd lost my wife.’
I shook my head sadly. ‘It's too neat, Ludo. Promise me you won't go looking for young widows?’ I caught the tail end of a guilty look. ‘Oh God, don't tell me there's a website…’
‘No!’ He laughed. ‘Well, not that I know of.’
‘Because, it's not a good idea, I swear. Just wait. The right, gorgeous…’ I glanced up, searched the sky for words, ‘joyous – young girl, will come along, unattached and unencumbered, and will make you happy again. You'll see.’
He remained unconvinced. ‘It wasn't just the attachment kick.’ He frowned angrily at the ground and I braced myself for something heavy. His eyes came up full of mischief. ‘I also really fancy you.’
I laughed. Blushed a bit too. ‘Right.’
‘As I said in my note.’
‘What note?’
‘With the flowers.’
‘What flowers?’
‘You didn't get the flowers?’
I shrugged, at a loss.
‘I only sent them for a laugh. I was a bit pissed, actually; thought I'd try a different tack. A rather cheesy, obvious one. And only because I knew your husband wasn't at home.’
It dawned on us collectively.
‘Oh shit.’ He whipped out his phone. ‘Don't worry, I'll call them. They said they wouldn't deliver till this afternoon, anyway.’
I waited anxiously as he walked round in small circles, talking on his mobile. After a moment he snapped it shut. ‘They hadn't gone. They're still in the delivery van and they're ringing the driver to say hold fire.’
‘Oh, thank God.’
He smiled at my relief. ‘Why, what would he have done, punched me?’
‘No, of course not. Ant's a gentle man. But he's quite…’
‘Possessive?’
‘I suppose.’ It surprised me to say it.
‘I don't blame him.’
Still we didn't seem to have moved: a solitary couple facing each other in this teeming milieu of horses and children. He held out his arms and I walked into them.
‘Bye, Evie.’
‘I'll see you in the shop,’ I muttered into his neck.
‘I know. But you know what I mean.’
‘I do. Bye, Ludo.’
We squeezed each other and then, after a long moment, I pulled back. Eyes averted, I walked away. With a bit of a lump in my throat. As I went, I saw Anna tying up Hector again, watching me with her mouth open. It occurred to me to go and explain, and then it occurred to me not to. I put my sunglasses back on, thrust my hands in my pockets, and walked on to the car.