The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [31]
CHAPTER FIVE
2004
A few weeks later, early one evening, Julia telephoned Liv.
‘Someone phoned last night trying to track you down,’ she said. ‘A man called Matt Greenaway. Does the name ring a bell?’
‘Yes,’ said Liv. She had an instant menial image of a tall man with fair hair so pale it was almost silver and cut very short: a bony, pleasant face and a very disconcerting gaze. ‘Yes, it does. He runs a very successful little hotel in Truro and he owns a couple of restaurants upcountry Actually, I know his one-time partner better. I was at school with her. What does Matt want?’
‘I've no idea. I thought it best not to ask and I didn't know whether you'd want me to give him your number. He's left his number here. Got a pencil?’
‘Yes. No. Hang on. I might come over a bit later and make the call from there, Mum. Is that OK?’
‘Perfectly OK. Would you like some supper?’
‘That'd be great. See you later.’
‘She's coming over for supper,’ Julia reported to Pete. ‘She's asked if she can make the call from here. He sounded rather nice. I wonder what he wants.’
‘He probably wants a receptionist or a chambermaid or a cook,’ said Pete irritably, filling two glasses with wine. ‘Liv spends her life getting people out of problems with their staff.’
‘Well, please don't nag her about it,’ pleaded Julia. ‘At least it might move her on from Penharrow.’
‘I never nag,’ said Pete indignantly.
Frobisher opened an anxious eye. He was acutely aware of tension. Raised voices distressed him, and now he wagged his tail in an effort to distract attention. Julia bent to pat him.
‘It's OK,’ she told him soothingly. ‘We're not arguing.’
Pete rolled his eyes impatiently. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. Ever since that wretched animal arrived I haven't been allowed to speak above a whisper. I just don't know why we can't have normal dogs, like other people do.’
‘Zack was saying much the same thing last lime he was home on leave,’ said Julia. ‘Frobes is fine. He's very good for us. Any-way, this Matt might be nothing to do with work. He might be making a social call.’
‘Well, I have no doubt that you'll wheedle it out of her.’
‘I never wheedle.’ protested Julia. ‘I'm very tactful.’
Pete snorted. ‘Tactful? Are you serious? It's all right, Frobes. Nothing's wrong. Good grief! This dog should apply for a job with Relate.’
‘It's just that he can't cope with any kind of tension. He's settling in very well.’
‘Why do we always have such thick animals?’ asked Pete. ‘We seem to finish up with other people's rejects.’
This was certainly true about Frobes, thought Julia rather guiltily. Kept as a stud dog by his breeder, he'd proved hope-less when he'd grown old enough for action to be demanded of him: bitches in season provoked nothing more in him than horrified alarm.
‘He's useless,’ said his despairing owner. ‘He utterly hates it. Look, Julia, I know you've been thinking of having another dog …’
‘Honestly, Mum,’ Liv had said. ‘You're such a sucker. First there was Bella, a field spaniel who threw a fit if anything went bang, and then we had Baggins, a sheepdog who fainted with terror at the sight of a lamb. But never mind, I think Frobes is an absolute poppet. And, after all, why should he have to perform to order, poor old doggie? Perhaps he's gay.’
Julia sat down on the sofa beneath the window and Frobisher climbed up beside her.
‘Liv thinks Frobes is gay’ she said, smoothing his soft flank and dropping a kiss on his noble brow. ‘If so, I couldn't approve more. He's the least troublesome dog we've ever had …’
‘As long as nobody ever raises his voice above a whisper or makes an unexpected noise,’ finished Pete. ‘He's not gay. He's a wimp.’
‘But he's so handsome,’ said Julia. ‘He has a kind of regal look, doesn't he?’
‘Oh, yes,’ agreed Pete bitterly. ‘Frobes is a true aristocrat: beautiful, elegant, and thick as two short planks.’
‘Is that a car?’ asked Julia, suddenly alert. ‘Is it Liv?’
Pete looked out of the window. ‘Yes, it is.’
He strolled out to greet his daughter and they came in together, Liv's arm linked in Pete's. Julia's heart