had managed to make him forget the time completely. And he, too, was relaxed; it was such a relief to be able to talk to someone who wasn’t even attempting to flirt with him or advance her own cause.
But despite Janey’s apparent conviction that she was less attractive than her younger sister, he didn’t agree. Tonight, wearing virtually no make-up, with her honey-blond hair loosely held up with combs and her violet sweatshirt still slipping off one shoulder, he found her uncontrived beauty infinitely more attractive. Her summer tan showed no signs of fading, her complexion was flawless and those conker-brown eyes, alight with humour, didn’t need shadows and eyeliners to make themspectacular; just as the soft, perfectly shaped mouth had nothing to gain by being plastered with lipstick.
He found himself comparing their manner with the children too, for although Josh and Ella adored Maxine and her slapdash, highly individual ways, her wit was on occasions too acute for comfort, leaving them unsure whether or not she had actually meant it. Maxine could be unpredictable, which in turn made Ella edgy and Josh mildly resentful. Young children appreciated continuity and the security of knowing just where they stood. Berenice, of course, had been stability personified, whilst Maxine was all fun and back-chat, but if he could choose the ideal nanny, Guy realized, it would be someone like Janey, who tempered control with gentle humour. She was also easy on the eye – unlike poor Berenice, he thought with a stab of guilt –
extremely good company and not the least bit interested in shooting off at short notice to star in toilet-roll commercials.
‘Any more news about your father?’ she said suddenly. Guy, who had been pouring out the last of the Beaujolais, gave her a stern look.
‘And there ‘I was, just thinking what a nice person you were.’
‘I’m still a nice person,’ said Janey innocently. ‘I wondered whether there’d been any developments, that’s all.’
‘None. Every time ‘I rang his home number the answering machine was switched on. In the end I stopped trying.’
‘What would you have said, though? If you had spoken to him?’
‘I’d have told him to keep away from my home and my children.’ Guy’s expression was stony, unforgiving. ‘I’d have told him that if he ever tries a stunt like that again I’ll call the police.’
‘But if he apologized,’ she persisted, tucking her bare feet beneath her and leaning forwards to reach for the refilled glass, ‘and begged you to forgive him, do you think you could?’
‘Oh yes.’ His eyes darkened. ‘Highly likely.’
‘I mean it,’ said Janey. ‘Come on, think it through. He might really regret what happened and now all he wants to do is get to know his grandchildren and make up for lost time.’ Her expression was oddly intense.
Guy, however, had made his own mind up long ago. ‘You’ve been watching too much Little House on the Prairie,’ he told her, before she could open her mouth and say more. No, Janey. I never want to see my father again and I don’t want the children to have anything to do with him either, so don’t even try and talk me round. This is one happy family reunion that definitely isn’t going to happen.’
Oh well, thought Janey. Sorry, Oliver. At least you can’t say I didn’t try.
Chapter 35
Every year in the second week of October the travelling fair came to Trezale, setting up its comfortingly familiar pattern of stalls, side-shows, candy-floss stands and mechanical rides along the high street with the dodgems, ghost train and big wheel taking pride of place at the top end.
Everyone went to the fair; it was a landmark event on the social calendar. Josh and Ella, in a frenzy of excitement at the prospect of spending all their money and spinning themselves sick on the waltzers, were practically counting the minutes until Friday night.
Janey was stunned, however, by Guy’s reaction when he called her from his car phone on the M5 on his way back from a fashion shoot in Bath.
‘Josh says you’ve promised they can stay out until midnight,’ she told him. ‘I need a voice of authority here. What time do they have to be home?’
‘What do you mean, they?’ Guy demanded. ‘We go home whenever we like.’
‘You mean you’re coming with us?’
‘Why else would I complete a six-hour shoot in three and a half hours?’ He sounded amused. ‘And skip dinner with Kate Moss. Of course I’m coming with you.’
‘Gosh,’ said Janey. ‘Somehow I hadn’t imagined you as a fairground lover.’
‘No? What kind of lover had you imagined me as?’
‘I meant—’
‘I know what you meant.’ Guy laughed. ‘And it’s OK, you can stop blushing now. Look, I’ll be home by six, so just tell the kids to hang on. Don’t you dare leave without me.’
Josh and Ella had, over the years, grown used to it. Since it was practically the entire reason Maxine had taken the job in the first place, she would have enjoyed every minute. Janey, however, cringed. It was a frosty evening, her nose was probably pink with cold and her hair had been whisked to a frenzy on the Octopus. It was all right for Guy; he was the one taking roll after roll of film with the new camera, but she wasn’t used to finding herself on the receiving end of a lens. As far as she was concerned, it was a distinctly nerve-racking experience.
And he was using up film at a rate of knots.
‘Haven’t you finished yet?’ It sounded ungracious, but she wished he would stop. Being asked to test out the latest Olympus was all very well, but this was downright off-putting. She didn’t know where to look.
‘No need to panic,’ said Guy. ‘It isn’t as if I’m asking you to pose and smile. Just ignore me.’
Janey scowled. ‘How can ‘I ignore you when I know my nose is red?’
‘Don’t be so vain,’ he chided briskly. ‘I’m trying out a new camera, not using you for the cover of Vogue. So relax .. ‘Quick, Daddy!’ Ella, who wasn’t the least bit camera-shy, screamed with delight. ‘Take one of me with candy floss all over my face.’
Janey was eating a toffee apple when a male voice behind her said, ‘Well, hello. Having fun?’
