Nadia Knows Best (23 page)

“Bye,” said Suzette, unable to look at him. “I'm sure you can see yourself out.”

“Relax.” Laurie reached for his car keys and headed for the door. “Easy come, easy go.”

***

Nadia's mobile rang again at nine forty-five.

“Hi, I'm home.”

“And?” said Nadia, gripping the phone so tightly it was a wonder it didn't crack.

“Just like you said. He was the perfect gentleman. We had dinner, we split the bill, he insisted on dropping me home.”

Nadia exhaled slowly. She'd guessed that Laurie would invite Suzette to have dinner with him—that was the kind of spontaneous, innocent thing he would do. But…

“Did he say anything? Do anything, um, you know…?”

“Nothing,” Suzette told her firmly. “Nothing at all. Didn't ask to see me again or try and get my phone number. I didn't even get a peck on the cheek. To be honest, I was almost offended! He's just a genuinely nice person who doesn't play around.”

“Thanks, Suze.” Nadia realized there was a lump in her throat. She hadn't seriously thought that Laurie would do anything like that, but it was a relief to have it confirmed.

“Listen, you won't ever tell him we arranged this, will you?” Suzette imagined the whole sordid truth coming out. Her reputation would be in tatters, nobody at the garden center would ever speak to her again. “I mean, you won't admit it in a fit of gratitude, because I can't see it going down well. Men don't like to think you're checking up on them.”

“God, no,” Nadia exclaimed happily. “I know Laurie's easygoing, but he'd go berserk if he thought we'd set him up.”

“Right. Have I got everything? What's the time? Don't forget, you have to be there by six or they'll close the doors and you won't be able to get in.”

“For heaven's sake,” Miriam rolled her kohl-lined eyes, “will someone give this girl a gin and tonic.”

It was eight o'clock on Tuesday morning and Tilly was all of a jitter. Today was her Big Day. School, followed by final rehearsals, followed by makeup and preparation, followed by The Show Itself.

Tilly had been up since six, pacing the kitchen like a caged leopard, going over and over her lines.

“You'll be brilliant.” Nadia gave her a squeeze. “I can't wait for tonight.”

“You won't be late, will you?” Tilly's eyes were huge in her pale face. Ten hours before curtain up and she was already in the grip of acute stage fright.

“We'll be there.
Early
,” Nadia added, before Tilly could remind her for the hundredth time about the doors.

“All ready?” James came into the kitchen carrying his overnight case. He was dropping Tilly at school before setting off for Sheffield.

“Ready.” Tilly leapt to her feet in anguish. “Oh God, I forgot the flowers for Mum's room! I meant to pick them this morning.”

“I'll do it,” Nadia said firmly, before Tilly had a full-blown panic attack. “I'll pick them now, before I go to work.”

Miriam kissed Tilly. “Off you go, darling. I'm so sorry we're going to miss the show. You'll be a sensation, I just know it.”

“Especially if I forget my lines and fall off the stage.” Tilly hauled her haversack over her shoulder. “Anyway, you and Edward have a great time.”

Miriam hugged her hard, her conscience jabbing at her like a sharp stick. Needing to escape the anxiety of further letters and phone calls was what had prompted her to book the holiday. She had persuaded Edward that a week in Venice would be fun, when in reality all she was doing was running away from the problem, like a child sticking its fingers in its ears and closing its eyes to shut out the world.

“We'll be thinking of you,” she told Tilly.

“Come on, Liza Minnelli,” said James, checking his watch.

Tilly looked perplexed. “Who's that?”

James was pleased with himself. “You might think I'm a hopeless old fogey, but I'm not that out of touch. Liza Minnelli starred in
Grease
.”

***

Nadia's car was booked into the garage in Westbury to fail its Ministry of Transport test. At eight thirty, Miriam was following Nadia to the garage, then giving her a lift into work. At three o'clock, Laurie was driving Miriam and Edward up to Heathrow; thanks to major roadworks on the M4, the journey was set to take three hours. At five o'clock, Nadia would finish work for the day, change into the clothes she had brought with her, make herself generally presentable, then wait for Clare to pick her up at five fifteen and drive her to Tilly's school.

It had all been planned like a military campaign.

Having glugged back her coffee, Nadia ran outside to the garden at twenty past eight and picked armfuls of flowers—as stipulated by Tilly—for the spare bedroom. Preparing for Leonie, Brian, and Tamsin's visit was proving as arduous as hosting an overnight stay for the Queen; Tilly had been fussing over the details all week, intent on making sure everything would be perfect.

Resentfully clipping the stem of a perfect deep-pink peony—such a waste, seeing as Leonie didn't even care much for flowers—Nadia was forced to remind herself that she had been the one to phone and persuade her to come down for the show.

In the kitchen, Miriam was jangling her car keys.

Nadia filled two huge bowls with water and hastily divided up the blooms, jooshing them around to look as if they'd been carefully styled in
au
naturel
fashion rather than plonked in by someone with no arranging skills at all.

The telephone shrilled as she was wiping her hands on a towel. Since Miriam showed no sign of answering it, Nadia snatched up the phone.

“Darling, it's me. Now listen, this show thing of Tilly's. It is tonight, isn't it?”

Exasperated, Nadia gritted her teeth. How absolutely typical of Leonie not to be sure.

“Yes of course it's tonight. The show starts at six and we all have to be there
before
six, otherwise—”

“The thing is, darling, we're not going to be able to make it after all, so could you just let Tilly know and wish her good luck?”

Nadia froze. Was her mother
serious
?

“You can't do that. Tilly's expecting you there. You
have
to come.”

“Oh, stop it, don't go all disapproving on me. We've just been asked to a party and it's really not the kind of invite you turn down! This chap used to be a member of Status Quo, darling, can you imagine? So of course Tamsin's
desperate
to go along. If you explain everything to Tilly I'm sure she'll understand.”

“She won't.” Nadia was discovering the true meaning of the expression “making your blood boil.” “Mum, I'm telling you now, Tilly
won't
understand. You promised to come and see her.”

“And we will! We'll pop up and see her next weekend,” Leonie said gaily. “How about that?”

“You promised to come and see her tonight! In the show! You
have
to be there.” Nadia felt sick, chiefly because she knew Leonie wasn't going to change her mind. She never did.

“Nadia, you're making a big fuss over nothing.” Leonie began to sound irritated. “Let's face it, we're talking about a tin-pot little school production here. It's hardly the London Palladium.”

“You'll break Tilly's heart.” Nadia paused. “Again.”

“Oh please, listen to yourself. Now you're just playing the drama queen.”

“You seriously want me to tell Tilly that you won't be coming to see her in the show because you'd rather go along to some long-haired has-been's party?”

“He isn't a has-been,” Leonie retorted crossly. “He toured Japan
very
successfully last year. And he's an absolutely charming person. But OK, if it'll make you any happier…”

Nadia held her breath.

“…we won't tell Tilly that's where we're going. We'll make up some other excuse instead. I know,” Leonie went on cheerfully, “we'll say the car broke down. Ooh, though she might think we should've caught the train. Right, got it. Stomach upset. We've all gone down with a really nasty bug—that's better, isn't it? Tilly can't argue with that.”

***

“God, what now?” Clare groaned and buried her head further under the pillows, but the hideous shaking wouldn't stop. Rolling over onto her side, trying to pull the duvet with her, she muttered, “Don't do it, please don't—oh, I
hate
you.”

“Listen to me.” Whisking the duvet into the air matador-style, Nadia leapt back to avoid Claire's foot as it kicked out. “And pay attention, because I have to go to work.”

“Hooray,” muttered Clare.

“Leonie isn't coming to the show. Basically, she's had a better offer. So it's just you and me tonight.”

Clare kept her eyes closed. Since Nadia was sounding absolutely livid, it seemed safer.

“OK.”

“I'm serious. It's Tilly's big night and we're all she has. Just make sure you aren't late picking me up from work.”

“I won't be late. Give me back my duvet.”

“You'd better not be. In fact,” Nadia ordered, “be early. Meet me at five.”

***

“Blimey, love, you scrub up a treat.” Bart bumped into Nadia as she emerged from the newly refurbished bathroom with her scruffy work clothes stuffed into a shopping bag. Having fastened up her hair, done her makeup, and changed into a strappy red dress and high heels, she certainly wasn't looking gardener-like anymore.

“Thanks, Bart. You're looking very lovely too.” Nadia grinned because Bart was covered from head to toe in brick dust and was sweating freely through his grubby gray T-shirt.

“Got a hot date then?” As he expertly rolled a cigarette, Bart glanced out of the landing window and broke into a nudge-nudge leer. “Hmm, looks like you have. Better not tell Laurie about this, eh? Don't worry, love, we won't let slip. Mum's the word.”

Mum's the word? What did that mean? If it meant reliable and discreet, thought Nadia, it hardly applied to Leonie.

Peering out of the window, hoping to see Clare, she watched Jay emerging from his car. No Clare yet, but it was only ten past five. Being ten minutes late was Clare's version of early.

“I'm not waiting for Jay. We don't have a hot date. My sister's picking me up.”

Bart looked disappointed. He was partial to a spot of intrigue. “He must be here to check on the fitted wardrobes. I'll show him what we've done, then we're off.
Kevin
,” he bawled up the stairs, “get a move on with 'oovering up that brick dust. The boss is on his way.”

The next second, the Hoover was switched on. Downstairs, the front door banged. Aware that her last contact with Jay had been the note he'd left, informing her that actually he wasn't rubbish in bed, Nadia nipped back into the bathroom. He wouldn't be here long.

At five twenty, the builders trooped off home. Jay was still upstairs. Nadia, by this time in the kitchen drumming her fingers on the worktop, rang home and listened to the phone go unanswered. Well, that was good. It had to mean Clare was on her way.

“What are you doing? I didn't know you were still here.” Jay appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Your car isn't outside.”

Nadia had already rung the garage. Her car needed new brake shoes. She'd told the mechanic that she could do with some new shoes too, but apparently the Renault needed them more.

“It's in the garage, getting an evaluation. Clare's picking me up.”

Except she's
late
.

“Off somewhere nice?”

“School play. Tilly's starring in
Grease
. Excuse me.” Getting seriously twitchy now, Nadia fumbled in her bag for her mobile and pressed redial. At home the phone continued to ring unanswered.

“I can give you a lift,” Jay offered as she punched out the number of Clare's mobile. It was switched to the answering service.

“It's me. Clare, call me back. It's nearly half past.”

“Really, it's no trouble,” said Jay.

“She should be here any moment. I
told
her not to be late.” Nadia began to feel sick; surely Clare wouldn't let Tilly down. “Leonie was meant to be coming as well, but she canceled this morning. Bloody hell,” she burst out, “I told Clare to be here by five o'clock. I can't believe she's doing this.”

By twenty to six there was still no sign of Clare, and no answer from either phone.

“Come on.” Jay ushered Nadia into his car.

“I'm going to kill her.”

“But not until after the show.”

Nadia's hands were shaking so much she could barely fasten her seat belt. She pictured Tilly, peeking through the curtains up on stage, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her family.

“I've got five tickets,” she fumed, “for the front row. And I'm going to be the only one sitting there.”

“Would it help if I offered to go with you?”

Too wound up to care how she sounded, Nadia heaved a sigh and said, “I suppose you're better than nothing.”

The corners of Jay's mouth twitched. “Thanks.”

By ten to six the school hall was buzzing and crammed with people. Clare wasn't there. Nadia decided she'd never forgive her for this. Easing their way to the front row through the crowds, they found their allotted seats with Tilly's name on them. The end one was already occupied by Cal Davis, with whom Tilly had recently become so friendly.

As Nadia greeted him, a hand touched her arm. Swinging round, she saw Annie looking out of breath but triumphant.

“Oh, thank God.” Nadia hugged her. “But how did you get here?”

“Your grandmother phoned James. James rang me. I closed the shop at five thirty and ran all the way. Poor Tilly, I know it's not the same as having her mum here, but at least I can fill an empty seat.”

Annie wasn't supposed to close the shop early. If her boss found out, she'd be sacked on the spot.

“I need to let Tilly know,” said Nadia, realizing that she couldn't allow Tilly to make her entrance on stage expecting to see Leonie and Tamsin and Brian in the audience.

“Hi, Cal!” a chirpy voice sang out, and Nadia turned to see two girls looking delighted to see him. “Exciting, isn't it? Lucky you, in the front row. We're stuck right at the back.”

Something about the girl's heavily mascaraed eyelashes rang a bell in the back of Nadia's mind. Tilly had relayed the story of her and Cal's encounter with her in the park.

“Are you Janet?”

“Janice.” The spidery lashes batted with pride as she indicated her silent friend. “And this is Erica. We're mates of Tilly and Cal.”

“We've got two spare seats. Want to sit with us?”

“Hey, cool!” Brightening, Janice immediately bagged the one next to Cal.

It was five to six.

“I'll be back in two minutes,” Nadia told Annie and Jay as she headed for the stairs at the side of the stage.

***

“What are you doing?” squealed Tilly, who was warming up in the wings. “You'll get me into trouble!”

With no time to break it to her gently, Nadia said, “Tilly, Mum isn't here. She couldn't make it.”

It almost broke her heart to see the look on Tilly's face.

“Or Tamsin? Or Brian?” It came out as a whisper.

Nadia shook her head. “Stomach bug. They've gone down with a really nasty virus. Sorry, darling, they're really upset about missing the show. But the school's videoing it, so we'll be able to send them a DVD.”

“I told everyone my mum was going to be here.” Tilly's bottom lip began to wobble.

“I know, but she can't help being ill.” Nadia hated lying.

“Who's this?” bellowed a teacher, marching across the stage and jabbing a stubby, accusing finger. “Off! Off! Leave the performers alone! Curtain up in one minute.”

Teachers. Why did they always have to be so scary? Nadia raced back down the wooden steps and took her seat between Annie and Jay.

“I think I just made Tilly cry,” Nadia whispered to Annie.

Annie gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “Not you.”

***

Eighty minutes later, the final curtain fell and the audience rose to their feet as one, clapping and cheering and whistling so loudly that the whole hall seemed to vibrate.

The applause carried on. The curtains lifted once more and the cast stepped forward to take their bows. There was a lump in Nadia's throat the size of an egg as Tilly was invited to step forward and the roars of approval rose to a climax. From the stage, Tilly beamed down at Nadia and her fellow guests in the front row. The scary teacher, emerging from the wings, presented her with a huge basket of flowers, causing Tilly to go bright pink. Apart from the opening moments of the show, when her eyes had been red-rimmed and she'd flubbed a couple of lines, she had played the part of Sandy to perfection. The evening had been a triumph.

Nadia, clapping until her hands were sore, briefly fantasized about killing Clare when she got home. She could squeeze her neck until her head exploded.

“I only came along to fill an empty seat.” Next to her, Jay had to raise his voice in order to be heard. “But I'm glad I did. Tilly was brilliant.” He paused, then said, “I feel like a proud father.”

The scary teacher, who had legs like a rugby player beneath her stiff floral skirt, reappeared on stage once everyone had taken their bows, to announce that as soon as
all
the chairs had been stacked
neatly
at the back of the hall, the bar would be open. Within sixty seconds, every chair had been stacked. Parent volunteers began serving warm white wine and an assortment of soft drinks. Nadia was relieved to discover that after being in the hall-cum-gym for over an hour and a half, you became accustomed to the smell of sweat and adolescent trainers.

“You don't have to stay,” she whispered to Jay. “You'll hate this bit. Tilly and I can get a cab home.”

He looked astounded. “You must be joking. This is Tilly's big night. I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

By the time Tilly reappeared, changed back into her own clothes and lugging her basket of flowers, Jay had bought a round of drinks. Much to her disgust, Janice was forced to settle for fruit punch. This hadn't, however, put her off Jay.

“Cheers.” Clicking her plastic cup against his, she beamed up at him like Lolita. “You're all right. How old are you?”

Gravely, Jay said, “Absolutely ancient.”

“You were fantastic,” Nadia swung Tilly round, “the star of the show.”

“I wish Mum could have been here. And Tamsin. What happened to Clare?”

The six-million-dollar question. Nadia couldn't bring herself to tell any more lies. “I don't know, sweetheart. She just didn't turn up.”

Tilly looked worried. “D'you think she's had an accident?”

Not yet.

“You were ace,” Janice said enthusiastically. “Wicked. Wasn't she, Cal?”

“Oh yes.” Cal smiled his quirky smile at Tilly. “Totally wicked.”

“And your teacher certainly thought so,” Annie chimed in, “giving you those gorgeous flowers.”

“Oh, they weren't from
her
.” Tilly pulled a horrified face, then held up the vast basket and said with pride, “They were from my mum.”

“How lovely,” said Annie valiantly.

“I know. Even though she was really ill, she still managed to organize flowers. That was thoughtful of her, wasn't it?”

Don't say a word, don't say a word.

“Terrific.” Knocking back her mouth-shriveling wine, Nadia exchanged a glance with Jay. “I'd love another drink.”

***

“Thanks for the lift,” said Annie, when they dropped her off at the cottage at nine thirty. She smiled at Jay, then at Nadia in the passenger seat. “And for tonight. I loved every minute.”

“I'm just glad you could make it,” said Nadia. “I hope you don't get the sack.”

“Well,” said Jay, when they'd watched Annie disappear into her house. “One down, one to go. Do you want to go somewhere for a drink or get home?”

Nadia had slipped Tilly twenty pounds and left her to celebrate with her new-found friends and fellow cast members over a pizza on the Gloucester Road. Tilly had promised to share a taxi with Cal and be home by eleven.

“I need to see Clare.” And tear her hair out by the roots.

“OK. I didn't ask earlier,” Jay went on easily as he swung the car round in the narrow lane. “Where's Laurie tonight?”

“London. He drove Miriam and Edward to Heathrow, then arranged to meet up with an old friend from the agency. He'll be back later.” Realizing that she hadn't yet apologized for Saturday, Nadia said warily, “Are you still seeing thingy? Andrea?”

“Yes, thanks.” Jay looked amused. “Despite what you told her, it hasn't put her off.”

Shame.

“Sorry. She annoyed me.”

“So I gathered.” He was still smirking.

“She made assumptions I didn't like.” Nadia pleated the red silky material of her dress between her fingers. “And they weren't true either.”

“I hate it when that happens. People making assumptions about me. Especially when they're not true.”

Oh dear. Touché. Feeling her pulse beginning to accelerate, Nadia recalled something else about Saturday. If she wanted to sleep with Jay, she could. She had Laurie's permission to do so. Not that she needed his permission, seeing as she was still officially single and free to sleep with whoever she liked. And if she did decide to go for it, what better time than tonight? They could head on over to Jay's place. Laurie wouldn't be back from London for hours. Best of all, it would drive Andrea insane…

“I need to get home,” Nadia said firmly.

It was true. Some things were more important than annoying somebody else's annoying new girlfriend. She had to beat the living daylights out of Clare.

***

“OK,” Jay announced, ten minutes later.

Nadia surveyed the driveway. Clare's car was there, parked at a different angle than it had been this morning.

“I'd invite you in,” she said, “but…”

“I know. I might not be able to handle the sight of all that blood.”

The ground floor of the house was in darkness but there were a couple of lights on upstairs. As Nadia let herself in, all the rage came flooding back and adrenaline rushed through her veins. If Jay hadn't been around to give her a lift, she might have missed the show herself. Had Clare even bothered to think about how Tilly would have felt if
none
of her family had turned up?

Flinging her shopping bag of gardening clothes into the corner of the hall, Nadia stormed up the stairs.

Clare's room was messy but empty.

The bathroom door was shut.

What if Clare had slipped in the shower and spent the last five hours lying unconscious with a fractured skull?

Dry-mouthed, Nadia tried the handle. The bathroom door was locked.

“Clare? Are you in there?” Stupid question. “CLARE? OPEN THE DOOR.”

Nothing. Oh God. You read about accidents like this in the papers.

Rattling the handle again, as if it might miraculously unlock itself, Nadia bellowed, “CLARE!”

Oh dear God, what if she really was dead?