Ella, sensing salvation, ran over and gave her a hug. ‘Hooray, you’re back. If you cook me some beefburgers you can have my steak. Janey went home after the fair last night. She called Daddy a bastard and jumped out of the car because she wanted to see her husband. Actually, I’d rather have fish fingers than beefburgers but not burnt like the chips. Daddy’s a terrible cook.
I’m really hungry,’ she added boastfully, ‘because I’ve been up in a helicopter to Manchester.’
Where convoluted storytelling was concerned, thought Maxine, Ella could give Ronnie Corbett a run for his money. Thoroughly confused, she turned to Guy. ‘I think I need a translator.
So what really happened last night?
You and Janey had an argument and she stormed off in a huff?’
Guy threw the frying pan into the sink, which was already overflowing with washing-up.
‘Her husband came back.’
‘What!’ Maxine gazed at him in disbelief. ‘You mean Alan? Are you sure?’
‘I already said that,’ Ella complained. Having rifled the freezer, she now shoved three icy fish fingers into Maxine’s unsuspecting hands. ‘Why didn’t you listen to me? Shall I tell you all about the helicopter while you cook my tea?’
‘He’s back,’ continued Guy evenly. ‘I don’t know any more than that. We were driving past the shop and he was waiting outside.’
Still stunned, Maxine said, ‘So what did you argue about?’
‘I told her to be careful, to find out why he’d turned up after all this time.’ He shrugged.
‘Maybe I wasn’t very subtle. It didn’t go down well.’
‘I still can’t believe it.’ Maxine sank into the nearest chair. ‘My God, that man has a nerve!
Poor Janey.’
‘Quite. I was going to phone her this evening, but I’m not exactly flavour of the month.’
Guy picked up an overdone chip, gazed at it for a second and put it down again. ‘Maybe you should do the honours. Make sure everything’s all right.’
‘How can it be all right?’ Maxine, who had never had much time for Alan Sinclair, looked gloomy. ‘He’s back, isn’t he? It’s bad news all round, if you ask me.’
But she found herself faced with a moral dilemma. As the news gradually sank in, it became more and more obvious that since Alan had returned, telling Janey about herself and Bruno was going to be an awful lot easier if Janey was happy. Telling Janey that in her opinion Alan was a no-good, selfish sonofabitch who deserved a boot up the bum, on the other hand, wasn’t going to make her very happy at all.
‘Haven’t you phoned her yet?’ Guy, coming into the kitchen at ten-thirty, found her half-heartedly tackling the mountain of washing-up.
‘I tried,’ fibbed Maxine, who had been putting it off as long as she could. ‘No answer. She must be out.’
‘Out of her mind.’ Guy picked up a Day-Glo pink fluffy rabbit – one of Ella’s trophies from last night’s trip to the fair – and placed it on the dresser next to a cross-eyed furry pig. ‘My God, hasn’t he done enough damage already?’
‘All this concern,’ she said in lightly mocking tones, ‘when you don’t even know him.’
‘I’ve heard enough. And you aren’t exactly his greatest fan yourself.’ He gave her a sharp look. ‘You were the one who told me what a bastard he was in the first place.’
‘I know, but I’ve been thinking.’ Maxine concentrated on the washing-up, scrubbing furiously at Josh’s cornflake-encrusted breakfast bowl. ‘You know how stubborn Janey can be. If you ask me, the more critical we are of Alan, the more likely she is to dig her heels in and take his side. I really think the best thing we can do is pretend to be pleased he’s back. That way, she canmake up her own mind, in her own time, without sacrificing her pride.’
Guy nodded in grudging agreement. ‘Maybe you’re right.’
‘Of course I’m right.’ That had gone well. Maxine, pleased with herself, said, ‘I always am.’
‘And it makes things so much easier for you,’ he continued smoothly. ‘What a happy coincidence.’
Damn. She raised her eyebrows. ‘A happy coincidence? Sorry, I’m not with you.’
‘I know you aren’t,’ said Guy. ‘You’re with Bruno Parry-Brent.’
‘Oh.’ Maxine gave up. So he had recognized Bruno’s car when he’d dropped her off earlier, after all.
No more deceit, Bruno had told her. No need for denials. We’re going public. Well, here goes. She raised her chin in defiance. ‘Yes, I’m with Bruno. I wasn’t before, when you thought I was. But I am now.’
‘Dear God.’
‘Is that a problem?’
Guy looked amused. ‘I expect so, but at least it isn’t mine. One thing I will say, about you and Janey.’
‘What?’ Maxine bristled, aware of the fact that it wasn’t going to be flattering.
He grinned. ‘You really do have the most extraordinary taste in men.’
Chapter 41
In the event, Janey rang the house first.
‘Oh, hi. It’s me,’ she said hesitantly when Guy picked up the phone. ‘Look, I know it’s late but I wanted to apologise for last night. I said some horrible things and I’m really sorry.’
‘No problem.’ Guy couldn’t help smiling to himself because Janey’s idea of horrible things was on a par with
