Annabelle just managed not to jump at the shock. He was sprawled in one of the deep leather couches, feet up on the armrest, shoes off, an old, very fat paperback science fiction novel in his hand.
She pursed her lips as her heart calmed. “Why, thank you, Mr. Baker. What’s your next line? I’d look even better out of it?”
“I wasn’t going to say that,” he protested. “If Sue taught me anything about clothes, it was that
“From what I’ve heard, you’re not wanting for anything at all right now.”
Jeff gave a mock bow. “Ouch. Cruel lady.”
“Nothing you don’t deserve.”
“True.” He nodded at the patio outside. “So how’s it going?”
“Great. I’ve got through most of today’s studying.”
The answer made him frown. “Right. And with Tim?”
“Equally fine, thanks.”
“I hope he appreciates how lucky he is.”
“I think he does.” Annabelle was very conscious of how Jeff was looking at her—after all, it was a small bikini. Although his face was so spookily similar to Tim’s, he had none of his son’s worshipful uncertainty when he spoke to her. Jeff was infinitely more confident and urbane, which made his flirtatiousness fun rather than awkward. And Sophie’s insidious little phrase
TIM PRODDED HIS SUNGLASSES up as she approached the sunloungers. “You all right?”
“So much okay.”
“I thought you were scowling at me.”
Annabelle stood above his sunlounger, looking down at him, a glass in each hand. Back out here, with Tim, it was hard work not to feel guilty. “No, I wouldn’t do that. I’m not unhappy with you.”
Tim managed a nervous smile. “Good.”
“It’s too hot for me out here. I’m going up to your room to cool off.” She put the drinks down on the small table. One eyebrow rose slightly in query. “Are you coming with me?”
29. TIM IN LOVE
AND AFTER ALL THAT, all the crap in his life, his mother leaving him, his friends that weren’t quite, the constant nervous anxiety of wondering if he’d done and said the right thing to her, the rickety flight that was his life had suddenly leveled out. No, actually, it had done more than that, it had become perfect. His finals were so easy he just sailed through them. The weather was warm and sunny. Dad actually stopped bringing the girls down to breakfast.
And there was Annabelle.
Annabelle, who came around to the manor most afternoons. They really did spend a couple of hours studying; swimming and sunbathing, too. But each time, they wound up in his room, naked, and having sex. There was a whole great summer holiday coming up ahead of them as well. Over eight long weeks, when neither of them had anything to do. That would mean she could come around every day. Really, how could anything possibly get better?
He began to wonder about after the holiday. She’d probably be going to a different university. At night he made calls, finding out if he could switch from Oxford and Cambridge so they could remain together. He didn’t tell her that; it would be his surprise present later on. Just thinking about what she’d do to thank him made him break out in a sweat of excitement. She was as eager as him to try things in bed.
HIS FATHER SEEMED HAPPY with the arrangement. Tim kept on saying how happy he was, how wonderful Annabelle was. Jeff would smile, and grip him by the arm, and say: “That’s great, Tim, I’m so pleased. She’s a lovely looking girl.”
He didn’t even have a beer. Which just proved he could act in a restrained manner, despite what everyone said. It also pleased Annabelle. He hadn’t realized before how much she disapproved of him getting blasted. Quitting was just another example of how in tune they were now.
“Dad,” he asked one morning, “how old were you and Tracy when you got married?”
“I was early thirties, she was late twenties. Why?”
“Nothing. Mum was twenty, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah.” Jeff ordered the kitchen’s wall screen to switch off, and the news stream vanished. “You thinking of eloping, son?”
Tim shook his head and scooped up another spoonful of cornflakes. “No.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Dad?”
“Oh shit. Yes?”
“Which university do you think I should go to?”
“Ah. Right. Okay, well they’re both pretty good. I went to Oxford, of course, but I’m not insisting you follow. Have you actually decided what you’re taking?”
“General science for my degree. Unless I find something that really grabs me, then I’ll switch to it. I’ll probably go for a physics doctorate.”
Jeff poured a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, giving Tim a smile over the rim. “Doctorate, eh? That’s very focused for you, Tim.”
“Better the qualification, the better the job.”
“I know, but you are only eighteen, you know. I’m just a bit surprised you’re thinking along those lines. If you’d like, you can take a gap year, you know. I never did, and I always regretted it.”
“Are you dead on? I hadn’t thought of that. I’d have to ask Annabelle what she thought about it.”
“Would you?”
Tim colored slightly. “Yeah. If we could do that together, it would be amazing.”
“I’m sure it would. If you could travel, where would you go?”
“America, Australia, Japan. I don’t know. Certainly the Caribbean. Wouldn’t that be something, seeing all the spaceplanes, watching a launch. I might even get to meet Stephanie and Sir Mitch. But that would be so much expensive.”
“I’m not broke, I could probably pay for a ticket. And once you get there, you’d be able to pick up casual work to keep you going.”
“Really? You’d really pay for that?”
“Sure. I’ve been taking a peek at your PSE grades. I think you deserve some kind of reward. Especially as you qualify for a scholarship. You’ve done a hell of a lot of work.”
“Jesus, Dad, that’s…Thanks!” He wasn’t quite sure how he’d got off the subject of going to university with Annabelle, but this more than compensated.
“How’s the planning for the ball going?” Jeff asked.
“Good, I suppose.”
“That’s it? Good? You’ve got three days left, Tim. Have you rented a tux? Because I certainly haven’t seen a bill for a new one materialize on the household account. How are you traveling down there? Where are you picking Annabelle up from? What flowers have you chosen for her?”
“Oh.” Tim was suddenly crestfallen. Mum usually sorted all that kind of thing.
“Better get started then, hadn’t we?”
THE WAY IT WAS EVENTUALLY ARRANGED, Annabelle and Tim went with Rachel and Simon, with all of
