Carrington’s at Christmas: The Complete Collection: Cupcakes at Carrington’s, Me and Mr Carrington, Christmas at Carrington’s, Ice Creams at Carrington’s. Alexandra Brown
with armfuls of presents for her in the run-up to the Christmas holidays. I even heard him on the phone one evening, outside the big Wetherspoon’s in the centre of town, when we all went out after work to celebrate Debbie in Haberdashery’s fiftieth. His voice was all soft and interested.
‘Well, don’t you think your wife might mind?’ I reply, crossly, wondering if he was this forward with Maxine.
‘Soon to be ex-wife.’ There’s a long silence, and then it registers. I stare at him and see a puzzled look on his face.
‘What did you say?’ My pulse quickens.
‘Oh right. You don’t know, do you?’ James clutches his head in his hands.
‘Know what?’
‘I’m getting divorced. I just presumed you knew,’ he says, peeping through his fingers. He shakes his head, his voice filled with concern. ‘Georgie, I’m so sorry, what must you think of me? No wonder you couldn’t wait to escape from the bar that night.’ I sit in silence, trying to process this information. Poor James.
‘James, I didn’t know.’
‘It figures,’ he says, shaking his head again. ‘Yes, Rebecca decided she preferred my best man to me. Apparently he’s more ambitious than I am, oh and better in bed, I think she also mentioned, when I wouldn’t agree to let her have the cat. So, under the circumstances, I agreed to a divorce,’ he finishes, with a wry smile.
‘I’m sorry. Truly I am. But why didn’t you tell me before now? I thought we were friends.’ I can’t believe it. So he’s not a two-timing flirtatious rat after all. My mind races.
‘We are. But you know how it is in work. There just never seemed like an appropriate moment. I guess I just presumed you knew. Eddie knows, and I thought with you and him being such good friends, he would have told you.’ I think of Eddie – lovely loyal Eddie, even if he is a massive moaner; it’s not his style to break a confidence, never has been.
‘James, I feel dreadful now. With the uncertainty at work and everything else going on,’ I say, thinking his wife must be completely insane to let him slip through her fingers. I notice the tightness in his shoulders, and for the first time I really see him. He has the look of a man who’s been through the wringer.
‘Well, now we’ve cleared that up, will you please come out for a drink with me?’ He grins.
‘I’d love to,’ I reply, and all of my doubts about him instantly evaporate. I can’t wait to call Sam, she’s going to well and truly freak out over this.
18
After several large glasses of Pinot, and lots of talking and laughing, it’s nearly closing time. James, who is sitting opposite me in the red leather banquette booth, leans over the narrow table towards me.
‘Shall we do this again?’ he says, staring straight into my eyes.
‘Depends what “this” is,’ I tease.
‘A date, of course, unless you’re in the habit of frequenting intimate bars with all of your colleagues.’ He smiles and takes my hand in his, giving it a little squeeze.
‘In that case, yes, why not?’ I smile, thinking it might be fun, but then wondering if it’s such a good idea when we’re going to be competing at work, and he has just been dumped by his wife. Hmm, guess there’s no harm in seeing how it goes.
‘Great. But let’s just keep this to ourselves – neither of us needs the wagging tongues at the moment,’ he says, stroking the back of my hand. ‘And the last thing I want is for you to be cited in the divorce. No, I want it to go as smoothly as possible.’
‘I agree, as long as you’re not just saying so in case a particular person called Maxine finds out?’ I say before I can stop myself.
His face drops and I immediately know I should have kept my mouth shut. I scan his eyes for clues as to whether he still has a thing for her.
‘You know about that then?’ he says, staring intently at his empty wine glass. He pulls his hand away.
‘Yes, you know how news travels in Carrington’s.’
‘It was well and truly over years ago,’ he says, taking my hand again.
‘So, did you two work together or something?’ I say, trying to sound uninterested. I’m curious, no more, and I don’t want him thinking I’m some kind of mad bunny boiler.
‘Not exactly. I met her on a training course. It didn’t last long though. It was around the same time I met Rebecca.’
‘So I imagine Maxine was pretty pissed off at being dumped for another woman,’ I say, feeling my way for fear of probing too much.
‘Just a bit, but then can you blame her? I did mess her around.’ I decide not to push it any further but then he says, ‘Like I told her in the meeting, it was a long time ago and we have to be professional about it, given our work situation.’ So they discussed it then.
‘But won’t it be difficult, with her overseeing things? She is the boss now, after all.’
‘Sure. But it doesn’t have to affect things between us, and I promise I won’t betray you. Believe me … I know what it feels like.’
‘Of course,’ I say, squeezing his hand, but wondering how Maxine really feels.
‘So we’re agreed then? This will be our secret? I really don’t want you getting dragged into the divorce proceedings … Rebecca is desperate to try and pin something on me, and as she refuses to move out until the house is sold … well, it’s complicated.’ He drops his eyes.
‘Oh James, of course that’s fine,’ I agree, thinking it’s probably better this way until I see where it’s going.
We leave the bar, stumbling and giggling our way up the narrow basement steps, the fresh evening air exhilarating as we reach the pavement, where James grabs hold of my hand. For a moment it feels strange as his warm fingers entwine mine. I can’t believe what’s happened this evening. Only a few hours ago he was off-limits.
‘You OK?’ he says, heading towards the taxi rank, which is deserted.
‘I’m great. Never better.’
At the end of the road a taxi with its light off performs a swift U-turn and grinds to a halt alongside us.
‘I’m on my way home, going east, so if you’re heading in my direction?’ James turns to me, and as he lives the opposite way I presume the evening is over. He puts a finger on my lips and leans down to whisper into my ear.
‘I’m so glad we’ve finally got together,’ he says, softly. I tiptoe up, intending to kiss him on the cheek, but he gently turns my face towards his and kisses me tenderly, his lips soft on mine, his hand around my waist, pulling me in close. My stomach flips and my right foot actually pops up like it always does for the heroine in those soppy films.
‘Sorry to break up the party.’ It’s the taxi driver, and he’s tapping the meter. We instantly break away. James looks into my eyes and I just know he wants to continue things. In an instant I realise that I do too. I forget all my reservations and decide to go for it.
‘It’s Mercer Street,’ James says to the taxi driver as he pulls open the door for me. I step inside and reach my hand out to his.
‘Are you sure?’ he asks, and I block out the doubts, focusing on the moment instead.
‘Yes,’ I smile. James gets in beside me and puts his arm around my shoulders. I cuddle into him and savour the feeling of anticipation at what the rest of the evening will be like. And then I remember, I still haven’t managed to tell him about the extra commission coming through from Malikov. He’ll be so chuffed. Perhaps we’ll even go on that holiday after all. But I don’t want to