the brightest tool in the box-had asked his advice on the best way to manage the extra activities with which he supplemented the income he earned from his ‘antiques’ shop.
Only when it was too late did he remember that Jack was on the other side of the fence, so to speak. I saw him gulp as realisation hit, and I saw Jack grin at him, then put his finger over his lips.
‘You’re a fraud,’ I told him softly. ‘You’re making them think you’re one of them.’
‘Why shouldn’t I be-in spirit, anyway? Della, tell me something. Do any of your family indulge in rough stuff- knocking people about, that sort of thing?’
‘Certainly not,’ I said, offended. ‘They’ve
He nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. Hetta, come and have a drink with me.’
By that time there was music playing, and when they’d drunk champagne he swept her into the dance.
She was only allowed to keep him for one dance. All the pretty young girls were queuing up to be his partner, but he made them wait, asking the older women first.
I still wonder what alchemy made him invite Lil to dance to pop music. How did he know that hidden in that heavy body was the girl who’d wowed them at the disco twenty years ago? It took only a few brash chords to lure her out again, and then she and Jack were flinging themselves all over the place. Everyone cheered and clapped, and with the last chord Jack drew her back into a theatrical simulation of an embrace.
Alex didn’t like that, I was happy to see. He didn’t like it at all.
I remembered the dances on
Ken drifted by while Jack was dancing with Penny.
‘You’ve landed on your feet,’ he murmured to me.
Ken has always been crude.
‘It’s not like that,’ I said.
‘Go on. I know what these apartments cost. I investigated them last year for a client, and if Jack can afford this, then, like I say, you’ve landed on your feet.’
‘I haven’t landed anywhere. There’s nothing between us.’
‘So why’s he giving you a party and meeting your family? I don’t see any other guests here.’
I couldn’t answer that.
‘Well, if you don’t want him there’s plenty who do. Look at Penny, for instance.’
‘I should think everyone’s looking at Penny,’ I said, trying not to sound as grouchy as I felt.
‘Very nice-looking girl. She’s recently been doing some glamour modelling. Big success. She’s got a gift for it, if you know what I mean.’
I knew exactly what he meant.
Ken moved off and Grandad took his place, saying to me, ‘Don’t let them see you mind, luv.’
‘I do not mind,’ I said, a tad sharply.
‘Then why are you looking as if you’ve swallowed a lemon?’
‘I’m not.’
‘You are.’
‘Well, I’m a wallflower, aren’t I?’ I complained. ‘Who can I dance with?’
‘You can dance with me.’
‘Right, I will.’
We took the floor together, but I didn’t get to keep him long. Lil, still alight from her moment of glory, claimed him, and they kicked up their heels together. Alec didn’t like that either, but there was nothing he could say without looking ridiculous, Grandad being so old.
I got one dance with Jack, at the end of the evening, but it was a very sedate affair. The feel of his hands through the dress’s thin material, his warm breath on my shoulders, destroyed all my good resolutions to keep my distance.
Jack, on the other hand, seemed well able to resist the temptation to draw me close. It was almost worse than not dancing with him at all.
The evening ended in a riot of good cheer. Everyone but me seemed to know what it had all been about. They’d sized him up, he’d sized them up, they all knew where they stood with each other and seemed happy with the result.
Just one big happy family, in fact.
If there’s one thing my folks know how to do, it’s enjoy themselves. When they had gone, and the caterers had departed, the place looked as though a bomb had hit it.
Grandad and I did a bit of half-hearted tidying, but Jack said to leave the rest, because the cleaners would come in the morning.
He was on the sofa, leaning back, staring at the ceiling, a look of seraphic happiness on his face.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked him.
‘Yes, thank you. It was a very satisfactory evening.’
‘I guess it was. When you weren’t being swarmed over by women I saw all the men sizing you up.’
‘Uh-huh!’ He laughed. ‘But I don’t think they’ll do it again.’
I began to get the picture. Or at least some of it.
‘I saw you talking to Harry,’ I mused.
‘Which one was Harry?’
‘The respectable one-the lawyer.’
‘Ah, yes! Oddly enough, he’s the only one who actually looks like a crook. He kept telling me that his firm was looking to branch out into corporate law, providing a top-quality service for a very select clientele.’
‘Jack, no! Even Harry doesn’t suffer from that much self-delusion.’
‘Now, there you’re wrong. There is no limit to his self-delusion. He was the only one I disliked. The others are all honest rogues.’ He laughed suddenly. ‘Why was Alec sporting a black eye? Gang warfare?’
‘Only the kind that goes on in his home every day. Lil caught him grazing in forbidden pastures. She tends to get physical when she’s provoked. Come to think of it, she was getting very physical with you on the dance floor.’
‘She’s a good dancer, but I don’t think she’s had much chance recently. I’m sure Alex doesn’t take her out.’
‘I think he might now,’ I said, chuckling.
‘Who’s the one with jet black hair?’
‘David’s wife, Angie.’
‘She lectured me about how all men need keeping in their place. She says she’s tried to pass her theories on to you.’
He regarded me quizzically, but I refused to be drawn.
‘I don’t take second-hand theories,’ I said loftily. ‘I prefer to invent my own.’
A smile came into his eyes. ‘That’s my girl. Ah, well, I’m sorry it’s over. I really enjoyed it.’
‘Yes, I saw you enjoying it with Penny,’ I said coolly. ‘She was the one in the see-through dress, in case you didn’t catch the name. I hope you got a good look at everything.’
‘If I didn’t it’s no fault of hers. Hetta wants me to back her in a modelling career. Or becoming a pop star. I don’t think it matters as long as I come across with the necessary.’
‘Are you going to?’
‘Not a chance. I’ve brought saying ‘Uh-huh!’ in a non-committal voice to a fine art. Mind you, I’ve had years of practice with Grace.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘It was fun. I’d forgotten about fun.’
His eyes were shining. I smiled back, loving to see him like that.
‘Goodnight, Jack,’ I said.
‘Goodnight, Della.’
He rose from the sofa and half turned away, then swung around and grasped hold of me without warning, pulled me against him and kissed me hard.
His arms were very tight around me, so that I couldn’t clasp him back even if I’d been able to think clearly. I had nothing to do but stand there and be kissed, very thoroughly.
Now I knew how much I’d wanted to be kissed. His lips felt so good on mine. I’d missed him so much.
