?God no, nothing. We met for a couple of drinks, that?s all. Actually, we didn?t have much to say to each other.?
?Thanks.?
?Okay, look, I?ve got to go now. I?ll talk to you soon, okay?? I hang up, take the phone off the hook, and lie back down on the sofa. Poor stupid Candy. And poor stupid me.
I want to speak to David. I want some reassuring words about how everything is going to be fine. I want him to tell me about the whole Mike fiasco so we can laugh about it and put it behind us. I want to bury my head in his shoulder.
I dial his office number and he picks up immediately.
?David Bradley.?
?Hi darling, it?s me. Still at work at this time??
?Oh, Georgie, hi.? He sounds strained.
?Why didn?t you tell me about Mike and Candy??
David sighs audibly. ?How did you find out??
?Candy just told me. I can?t believe you didn?t tell me.?
?I thought you?d be upset,? he says in a low voice. ?I didn?t think you were still in touch with Candy, so I thought it didn?t matter.?
?Did you know that Candy?s father invested in Mike?s company?? As I say the words I realize how stupid I?m being; of course David will know. He probably knows everything about Mike?s company.
?He?s not the only one. Mike convinced half of our old schoolmasters to invest their pensions in his stupid company,? he says bitterly. ?Look, I?m sorry Georgie, but I?m going to have to call you back, okay??
?Okay, but I still can?t believe you didn?t tell me about Candy and M??
?Georgie,? David interrupts. ?I?m in the middle of something here.? His voice sounds strangled. ?I?m sorry, I?ve got to go. Look, I need to talk to you, but not now. Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow? Langhan?s at one??
I agree and he puts the phone down. David sounded terrible.
Usually he?s so calm and collected. I wonder what could have got him so rattled. He has never spoken so sharply to me; it?s as if he?s cross with me or something. Which is silly?I mean, why would he be? Unless . . . oh God, he must have just found out about me and Mike. Why else would he be so short with me? He probably thought it was a complete coincidence that I was in Rome when he was, and now Mike must have told him after all. Probably because I sent the disk instead of taking it round. My heart pounding, I turn on the television, scan a few channels, and then turn it off again. I need to concentrate. I pour myself a large glass of wine and try to focus. Somehow I?ve got to figure out what to say to David before oneP.M. tomorrow to make everything okay again. But how can I explain away a trip to Rome? How can I admit I?ve been lying to him?
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The menu is in front of David, but his eyes are darting around unable to focus on any one thing. I take his hand. I look around the packed West End restaurant, which is full of men in pin-striped suits talking loudly.
?Is everything okay??
David looks at me, distracted. I am waiting for him to tell me that he knows all about Rome, all about my flirtation with Mike. I am waiting for him to ask why, so that I can answer and tell him how stupid I was and that I?ll never do it again, ever.
But instead we?re just sitting here in silence, his eyes darting around the room like he thinks he?s being followed or something. I want to reassure him, but what can I say?
?David, look, about the whole Candy and Mike thing. It?s really not a big deal. I know why you didn?t tell me: you were trying to protect me. But I?m so over Mike . . .?
David is looking at me as if I?m completely mad.
?Right, right, of course.?
Is he trying to make me suffer?
?David, what?s the matter?? I?ve never seen him like this. He walks everywhere purposefully, knows exactly what he thinks about everything. He doesn?t do stress or anxiety; he?s always the one who tells other people that everything will be okay.
He focuses on the menu for a minute, as if he?s trying to collect his thoughts, then looks up at me.
?I think I?m about to lose my job,? he says flatly. I?m filled with relief. So that?s all! David doesn?t know about me and Mike; it?s just a work thing. Maybe they?ve found out about the Mike saga being made up. Which is also bad, but not as bad as him finding out about Mike and me. I mean, there are other jobs.
I try to look concerned and surprised. ?David, I?m sure it?s not that bad, is it??
His eyes are darting around again.
?Georgie, if I tell you something, will you promise, and I mean really promise, not to tell another living soul??
I nod. This is going to be great. David will confide in me, I can be all understanding and supportive and we?ll get through it together. It?ll just make us stronger as a couple. And one day we?ll look back and laugh at how serious it all seemed at the time.
