‘How’s your appetite?’ Hilary eyed Jonathan over the rim of her glass.
‘I could manage a bite or two. I only had a BLT at lunchtime.’ He took a drink of his Prosecco and felt himself begin to relax for the first time since Leon had dropped his bombshell.
‘OK, where do you want to go? Any preferences? Fancy or casual?’ Hilary asked.
‘If we want to eat straight away, timing’s not great. It’s between lunch and dinner.’ Jonathan glanced at his watch and drained his glass. ‘So I’d suggest casual.’
‘Anywhere as long as there’s food,’ Millie urged, gobbling some nuts.
‘I remember Colette telling me that she took Jazzy to Sticky Fingers, you know, Bill Wyman’s restaurant, and it’s just up the road. We could give that a bash,’ Hilary suggested. ‘Or there’s that lovely Italian place just off the High Street that you and I went to when we stayed here.’
‘You pick, girls,’ Jonathan said graciously.
‘Sticky Fingers!’ they exclaimed simultaneously and Hilary threw her eyes up to heaven. ‘Tomorrow then it’s posh! I want a proper dressy-up night out!’
‘OK’, they agreed, beginning to retouch their make-up, eager to get going.
‘Come next door to my room, Jonathan. I just want to change my top and I’ll ask housekeeping for a vase for the tulips,’ Hilary suggested lightly. There were some conversations she wouldn’t have with him in front of the girls. ‘He didn’t take money from you or anything like that, did he?’ she asked bluntly the minute they were out on the corridor.
‘No, nothing like that. We had a great trip over, and a fantastic meal in Bibendum – I spared no expense,’ he added drolly. ‘In my head we were going back to the hotel. In his head we were going clubbing, and worse, going clubbing to score other people. He’s obviously come over to London before. He knew all the clubs, where they were. Knew who was DJ-ing. He’s no novice! I’d say he comes once or twice a year, parties, scores, shags a few people and then comes home to be “normal”. He doesn’t want to come out, he’s perfectly happy the way he is. Just my luck to be taken in and fall for him. I was the perfect patsy for him.’
‘Well he’s the loser, big time. You’re better off without him if that’s the case,’ Hilary declared, opening the door of her room. She laid the tulips on the table and rang housekeeping for the vase, while Jonathan meandered over to the window to have a look out.
‘We’re on the same side, I’m on the floor above you,’ he said, watching a personal trainer do press-ups with a client on the grass below.
‘I asked to be close to you when I was booking.’ She pulled her T-shirt over her head.
‘I honestly can’t believe it, Hilary. I was so sure it was different this time.’ Jonathan came and sat on her bed forlornly, while Hilary took a pale aqua top out of her case that was cooler than the one she had travelled in.
‘I don’t know what to say, Jonathan. Platitudes won’t help. It just stinks!’
‘Look, the fact that you and the girls came over helps more than you’ll ever know. I feel such a part of your family, Hil. And I know Millie is supposed to be revising for her Leaving Cert so I really appreciate her travelling.’
‘Well believe me it was no hardship for her to stop revising for a few days. She jumped at the opportunity to come with us,’ Hilary assured him. ‘And don’t forget we think of you as family, always,’ she said, pulling on the aqua top and running her fingers through her hair. ‘And talking of our family, guess what Sue did?’
‘Nothing good, I’d say, knowing The Secretary,’ he said caustically. ‘Don’t tell me she invited Margaret to stay and she’s looking after her while you’re away?’
‘Are you for real?’ Hilary scoffed and proceeded to tell him of her sister-in-law’s latest stunt, knowing it would take his mind off himself for a while.
A young housemaid knocked to deliver the vase and Hilary watched Jonathan artistically arranging the flowers and hoped against hope that he wouldn’t let Leon’s rejection of him lead him into a downward spiral. Life was so strange and cruel sometimes. He’d had his hard times; surely it was time for her beloved pal to get some sort of a break.
‘Hello?’ Colette saw a London number come up on her caller ID but didn’t recognize it.
‘Guess where I am?’ Hilary’s voice came clear as a bell down the line.
‘Well London, obviously. I recognize the prefix number. What are you doing there?’
‘Umm, I’m over with the girls for a little jaunt, and I’m in one of our favourite haunts.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me you were going?’ Colette demanded. ‘I could have taken a few days and flown over.’
‘It was kind of spur of the moment, and that’s what you get for not keeping in touch more often,’ Hilary said acerbically.
‘Oh OK.’ Colette backed down. ‘Where are you?’ she asked wistfully. How she would love to be in London in spring with Hilary.
‘The Royal Garden. I’m looking out over the Palace and the park, it’s a fabulous day here.’
‘Stop! I can’t bear it,’ Colette sighed. ‘Are the trees gorgeous? And are the bluebells out? Is the sun shining on the Pond?’
‘Yeah, I shouldn’t have phoned and made you homesick. I was just remembering some of the giddy times we had here when you came over first,’ Hilary said apologetically.
Colette giggled. ‘Remember the time we went to visit the National Gallery, and the security guard held out his hand to check your bag and you thought he wanted to shake hands?’
‘And then when he opened it, I’d shoved my socks into it because my feet were killing me after all the walking and because it was so warm, and they were pongy to say the least!’
