him from this, but until then he had been unwilling to broach the subject with him directly. Yet it could not be put off forever.
Used they not to say in marriage ceremonies:
They sat down together while Big Lou prepared the coffee.
322
She had smiled at Matthew’s father and shaken his hand, and Gordon had responded warmly. “Nice woman, that,” he had whispered to Matthew. “Lots of hard work in her.”
“Yes,” said Matthew. “Lou has certainly worked hard.”
“There’s nothing like hard work,” said Gordon thoughtfully.
“That’s what makes money, you know, Matthew. Hard work.”
Matthew pursed his lips. There was censure in his father’s words, but he resisted the temptation to respond in kind. If they had an argument, then he would be unable to raise the issue of Janis. Of course, now that Gordon had mentioned money it gave him his opportunity.
“Yes,” said Matthew. “You’ve worked hard for your money.
Everybody knows that. I do.” He paused, watching his father.
Gordon sat impassively. Of course he had worked hard for his money, and he did not need his son to point that out to him.
“And that’s why I wouldn’t like to see anybody take it away from you,” Matthew went on. He spoke hurriedly, rushing to get the words out.
Gordon frowned. “Naturally,” he said. “But why do you think anybody would try to get my money away from me?”
Matthew’s heart was thumping wildly within him. It was too late to stop now; he would have to complete what he had to say.
“Well,” he said. “There are some people who try to marry others for their money. Gold-diggers, you know.”
Gordon’s eyes narrowed as Matthew finished. “I take it that you are referring to Janis,” he said icily. “Am I correct? Are you?”
Matthew lowered his eyes. He had always found it difficult to hold his father’s gaze, and now it was impossible. And of course he knew that this made his father consider him shifty and elusive, which was not the case. But he could not look into those eyes and see the reproach which had just always seemed to be there.
“Look, Dad,” he began. “All I’m saying is that when a younger woman gets in tow with a . . . with a slightly older man, then one has to be a bit careful if the older man happens to have a lot of smackers. Which, I’m afraid, rather applies to you, doesn’t
323
it? You’re not exactly on the bread line, are you? And the problem is that there have been one or two things in the press about how much you’re worth. Eleven million, isn’t it? Something like that?
Janis can read.”
Gordon was about to reply, but was interrupted by Big Lou bringing their coffee to the table.
“Here you are, boys,” she said breezily. “One double espresso.
One South American roast with double low-fat milk.”
Gordon reached for his coffee, thanking Big Lou politely.
“Does my son here patronise your business regularly?” he asked.
“Every day,” she said. “He comes in every morning.
Sometimes stays for hours.”
Matthew tried to catch Big Lou’s eye, but the damage was done.
“Oh yes?” exclaimed Gordon, glancing at Matthew. “Sits here for hours, does he?”
Big Lou realised her tactlessness and looked apologetically at Matthew. “Not really,” she laughed. “That’s wishful thinking on my part. I’d like him to sit here for hours, but he doesn’t really.
Just a little joke.”
Big Lou now went back to her counter, leaving the two men seated opposite one another, one glaring at the other.
“Let me get this straight,” hissed Gordon. “Are you calling Janis a gold-digger? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes,” said Matthew. “I am.”
Now I’ve done it, thought Matthew. I’ve very specifically accused my father’s girlfriend of being after his money, and the accusa-tion has gone down more or less as I thought it would.
And in that, Matthew was right. Gordon’s face had coloured with anger.
“Tell me exactly why you have this low opinion of my friend,”
324
