‘Sure. Very distinguished,’ she replied, wondering why he cared what she thought.
He was wearing a light grey sweater over navy chinos that had a crisp pleat down the front of the leg. He looked relaxed and happy, and for a second, she wished she could see something else, a sense of exhaustion, a tightening of the lips maybe or shadows beneath his eyes, something to make her think he was struggling just a little bit.
But there was none of that. He looked happy.
He leant in to kiss her on each cheek while saying, ‘You look well.’ She breathed him in. He smelled of an unfamiliar sandalwood aftershave. Maddie wondered if he had noticed she was wearing the perfume he had bought her for their last anniversary together.
He took the pudding from her. ‘You angel! You made your famous sticky toffee pud!’
‘Well, you asked so nicely,’ she replied, resting her hand lightly on his arm.
He smiled at her warmly and she could feel her stomach flip. Like an addict, no matter how much he had hurt her, she still couldn’t stop herself from reacting to him.
A chillier voice over her shoulder interrupted the moment. ‘Maddie, how nice to see you.’
She dropped her hand. ‘Hi, Gemma. Thank you so much for having me.’
Gemma’s face was pinched, like she could smell something bad in the air. ‘A pudding. You shouldn’t have. Did Greg not mention our diet? He’s on a healthy eating plan to try and get rid of that lovely little muffin top.’ Greg blushed again. ‘But you weren’t to know, of course. I’m sure you’ve not spoken much this week, have you? Anyway, let’s not stand out here in the cold.’ She turned with a swish of her long hair and stalked away on thin-heeled boots.
All Maddie could think was that those boots would be making a mess of the parquet floor inside.
I really hope she sprains an ankle. Maddie fought the urge to giggle.
‘That’s why I asked you bring it,’ Greg said with a conspiratorial wink. ‘I’m sick of kale smoothies. Come, come. Jemima is having a nap but will be awake soon.’
Maddie followed him inside.
She tried not to notice the changes Gemma had made since she moved in, but her eyes were drawn to each and every one. It was like Gemma had erased Maddie almost completely from the house that she and Greg had bought and renovated together. The antique mirror that used to hang in the hallway, which they’d chosen at an antiques fair in Harrogate, had been replaced by an art deco style mirror that lacked personality in Maddie’s opinion. And there were photo frames everywhere. Maddie was sure Gemma added extra ones every time she knew Maddie was coming. It was like there was a frame strategically placed wherever her eye would fall. All those smiling faces leering at her as she walked through the hallway to the open-plan kitchen and dining room at the back of the house.
Eyes following, watching, judging.
Plotting.
The bi-folding doors to the large garden were closed against the chill, but the garden looked as immaculate as ever through the glass. Peter was still doing a good job. A tiny handprint smudged the glass in the bottom corner. Maddie zoned in on it, momentarily fascinated.
‘Glass of wine or prosecco for you, Mads?’ Greg was saying.
‘Um, prosecco, thanks. I brought a bottle with me – and there’s something small here for Jemima.’
‘Oh, how kind of you. I’ll take it,’ Gemma said, holding out her hand.
‘Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to give it to her myself.’
Gemma’s eyes narrowed, but she spun away, saying, ‘Of course. But she’s sleeping now.’
‘I have this card for you… to say thank you for the flat-warming gifts,’ Maddie said to her back. She laid the card on the kitchen counter as Gemma flashed a cold smile over her shoulder.
‘How are you settling in?’
‘Fine, thank you. I’ve been getting to know the woman who lives upstairs, Jade. She has a son, Ben. He’s three.’ An ill-disguised look passed between Greg and Gemma. ‘The other two in the building I don’t really know yet, but there’s an elderly lady opposite me and a guy who works in computers upstairs who I met briefly. He seemed nice.’
‘And is the flat ok? Do you need anything?’ Greg asked.
Gemma still had her back turned, but Maddie noticed it stiffen. ‘I’m sure Maddie has everything she needs, babe,’ Gemma said.
‘Yes, thanks, Greg. You’ve been a huge help. And thank you for the sunflowers. My favourite – you remembered.’
He froze, his eyes flicking to Gemma.
‘Flowers? What flowers?’ Gemma spun around, her eyes wide and her mouth forming a thin line that was a far cry from a smile.
‘I thought Maddie would like some colour in her flat, you know, to make it more homely as she settles in.’
‘Well, you have been spoilt by both of us, haven’t you?’ This time she showed her teeth, like a dog growling a warning.
‘I have indeed – and it means a lot, so thank you.’
Greg exhaled and waved away her gratitude while handing her a glass of prosecco.
Silence landed heavily between them. Greg busied himself with opening a bottle of beer.
‘Get a glass, Greg. Don’t drink out of the bottle,’ Gemma said. She pulled on a pair of oven gloves. She could make even that look sexy. Maddie looked away.
‘How is Jemima? She must be getting so mobile now,’ Maddie said to Greg.
‘Yes, she’s crawling, so getting into all sorts of places that she shouldn’t.’ Pride puffed out Greg’s chest. ‘She’ll be awake soon and you’ll see for yourself how she’s keeping me on my toes.’
Maddie swigged at the prosecco, feeling the bubbles tickle her nose. ‘Can I help with anything, Gemma?’ She was clattering pans and stirring things briskly.
‘No, no, you sit still. You’re a guest in our home, after all.’
Maddie’s jaw tensed.
‘Yes, and it’s lovely to have you,’ Greg added a little too quickly. ‘We should make this a more regular thing. Maybe every weekend. Cheers!’
