For The Sake Of His Child

Joey sat on the stairs watching her. Laughing, she gave him a twirl and he made the sign for ‘pretty’.

‘Thank you, kind sir,’ she said, curtseying before him.

‘What did he say?’ Carson was standing in the doorway, watching them. His eyes made her feel self-conscious. That happened often now, ever since the night he’d told her about Brenda, or before, when he’d turned to her in his anguish at the hospital. But then he’d turned away again.

‘Oh-he likes it,’ she said vaguely.

Joey signed the word again.

‘Spell it for me,’ Carson told him. Joey did so. ‘Pretty? Right? Yes, Gina is very pretty.’ Joey spelled vigorously. ‘Very, very pretty,’ Carson amended. ‘Yes, she is. I think so too.’

He made a circular motion with his hand, and she twirled again. ‘My son has good judgement,’ he observed, his eyes on her. ‘Very, very, very pretty.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, smiling and agitated together. Now she knew why she’d bought this flattering creation.

The truth was there as she regarded the vision in the mirror. And vision was the word. The elegant hair, the beautifully applied make-up. That had never been done for Dan and his spark plugs. In fact, Dan never noticed what she was wearing. But Carson noticed. She felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her.

The doorbell made her jump. Please don’t let it be Dan, she thought. She needed time to come to terms with her feelings.

But it was Dan. There was only a moment to pull herself together, but she did her best. Of course Carson had become important to her, she reasoned. She shared his roof, was involved with his life and his saddest secrets. A few hours in the fresh air of Dan’s company would dispel the illusion that it was anything more.

Dan’s eyes widened as he saw the lovely gown. And for once, she thought with relief, he’d noticed how she was dressed. He was even moved to comment.

‘I say, you’ve glammed up a bit, haven’t you? We’re only going dog-racing, you know.’

‘Dog-racing?’ Carson enquired innocently.

‘I thought we were having dinner,’ Gina said in dismay.

‘There’s a restaurant overlooking the track where we can get a bite.’

‘I’ll go and change,’ she said at once.

‘No, don’t do that. Time’s running on and I don’t want to miss the first race. You’ll do as you are. Get your coat.’

As he closed the door behind them Carson looked at Joey. The boy might not be able to hear, but his father could tell that he’d picked up the atmosphere.

Their eyes met in a moment of pure masculine communication, for which no words or signs were needed.

What on earth does she see in him?

‘You’re doing a great job, I’ll give you that,’ Dan conceded generously. ‘Have some more of this pie and peas. It’s great.’

Gina adjusted a floaty end of chiffon so that it was out of danger. Pie and peas.

They’d found a place at the restaurant high over the track, with a window on one side, through which they could watch the races. Dan had bet on every race, won two, lost one, and was in good spirits.

‘How do you know I’m doing a great job?’ Gina asked. ‘You barely saw Joey.’

‘I meant with his father. Got him where you want him. He doubled his order with my firm today.’

‘Did he, indeed?’ she mused.

‘Look, I know what you’re thinking.’

‘Bet you don’t,’ she said with an unconscious return to their childhood camaraderie.

‘Bet I do. You’re thinking he’s only keeping me sweet to keep you doing his bidding.’

This was so exactly what she thought that she was reduced to silence. Dan was in a perceptive mood tonight. But then, Dan was always perceptive where spark plugs were concerned.

‘They’re good plugs, Gina. All I ask is the chance to prove it, and that’s what you’re giving me. I appreciate it. It can’t be easy working as his unpaid nursemaid.’

‘Not unpaid. He pays me on top of my salary from the firm. How do you think I could afford this dress?’

Down below, a race was about to start. Dan managed to tear his attention away long enough to study the beautiful garment.

‘Hmm, yes. I can see it cost a packet. Pity to waste money, though. You could have-look, they’re ready to start!’

‘Dan-’

‘Hang on, darling! I’ve got a bet on Silver Lad.’

For the next few minutes he was lost to her. And when Silver Lad had romped home it was hard to get him to talk about anything but his winnings. By the time she’d brought him back to the matter in hand the dogs were being led out for the next race.

‘It’s my lucky night. I’ve got a bet on Slyboots, the black dog on the far side. He’s the favourite and the odds are only four to five, but never mind.’

‘Yes, let’s forget Slyboots. We have other things to think about. Dan, you’re really extraordinary.’

‘Am I, darling? That’s very nice of you.’

‘I mean, anyone else would kick up a fuss about my sharing a house with another man, but you don’t turn a hair.’

‘Well, there’s nothing in it, is there?’

‘No, there isn’t,’ she said with a little constraint. ‘But why are you so sure?’

‘Because I know you. You’d never even think of him in that way. You’re doing this for us, and we make a fabulous team. They’re dead pleased with me at work for landing such a big fish. I’m in line for a bonus, so maybe it’s time we started planning the future.’

‘The future?’

‘Our future. Pipe and slippers, all that. Hey, they’re off!’

She stared at him. ‘Dan, is that a proposal?’

‘What?’

She shouted to get his attention. ‘Is that a proposal?’

Above the din she had to lip-read his answer. ‘If you like.’

I don’t like, she thought crossly. I don’t want to be proposed to over pie and peas, by a man who’s giving half his attention to whether the favourite is going to come in at four to five.

But this was Dan, who hadn’t changed since she’d known him. He was still the same well-meaning, emotionally dense dinosaur he’d always been. It was she who had changed. What had been enough once wasn’t enough now.

He drove her home in a state of euphoria at having had four winners. He didn’t seem to notice that she hadn’t answered his proposal-such as it was. Perhaps he thought no answer was needed.

As they drew up outside the house Gina braced herself to say what she must. For this was where Dan would kiss her goodnight, and she knew that she couldn’t let him do it. She didn’t want Dan’s lips on hers, or any man’s, except-

‘The lights are on. He’s still up,’ he said. ‘Let’s get in quickly, then you slip away and make us some coffee so that I get a real chance to talk to him.’

As she let them both into the house she could just see Carson through the open door of his office. The sound of the door made him look up, and he came out into the hall. Amid the conventional remarks about a pleasant evening, Gina noticed Joey peering through the banisters at her.

‘That’s the fifth time he’s been down to see if you’re back,’ Carson said.

‘Why don’t you go and put him back to bed, darling?’ Dan said promptly.

And give Dan his chance, she thought. But there was no resisting the delight in Joey’s face, so she mounted the stairs, smiling, to receive his ecstatic, relieved welcome.

Left alone with a determined Dan, Carson bowed to the inevitable and shepherded him into the kitchen for coffee.

‘So, you had a good evening?’

‘Great time. Won a packet.’