Doing the Right Thing (29 page)

Ed groaned. “I am desperate for that pizza.”

“Want a beer as well?”

“Beer, pizza and a sexy woman doing the cooking? Is this heaven?”

“This is to show you what you’ll be missing when you go to hell. Get a couple of beers from the fridge.”

Ed’s mouth dropped open when Addie handed him his pizza.

“God it’s enormous. I can’t believe I made this.” He took a huge bite. “Oh, it’s delicious. I am so talented.”

Addie found her appetite had returned. She’d only planned to eat a sandwich.

“So did you come over for food or something else?” she asked.

“I needed cheering up.”

“And you thought of me?”

“I had nowhere else to go.” Ed put on a pitiful voice.

“Well, you’ve spoiled my evening,” Addie said.

He squinted. “Why, what were you doing?”

“I
was
watching football.”

Ed laughed. “Who’s playing?”

“No idea. I just like to ogle their bums. The rugby’s even better because sometimes they get their shorts pulled down.”

He stared at her. “What were you really doing?”

Addie knew her smile had slipped. “Thinking.”

“Good job I came, then.”

Addie nodded. “Yep.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“No wonder women like you. Do you really want to know?”

He nodded.

“Really, Ed?”

“Yes.”

“Why your brother runs hot and cold? Why my life is shit? Why my mother hates me? Nothing very important.” She gave a wry smile.

“Do you still want him?” Ed asked.

Addie pushed her plate away. “It doesn’t matter whether I do or not. He’s made it clear there can’t be anything between us.”

“Fight for him,” Ed said. “Come to the Christmas party tomorrow, come to Shropshire. Vee is not the right woman for Will. He knows that. Tell him how you feel, Addie. Make him understand what he’s losing. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and the way he looks at her. I know it’s you he wants.”

Addie’s heart pounded. Her mouth was dry. “He’s married.”

“You’re not breaking anything up. Their marriage was over a long time ago, but Vee’s a manipulative cow. If she hadn’t just finished with her latest fuck she wouldn’t be here. Every time something goes wrong in her life, she turns to Will to sort it out.

The only reason he’s not with you now is because he doesn’t want you to get hurt. He needs your strength, Addie. If you care about him, help him.”

She couldn’t. “I’m not going to the party, Ed. You think I’m strong and I’m not. In fact, I’m not well. I’ve got bird flu.”

“You’re chickening out?”

“Very quick.”

Ed smiled. “You know, you’re right. You absolutely, definitely, positively shouldn’t go.”

“You’ve already tried that once. It’s still not going to work.”

Addie sat up to her neck in vanilla bubbles. Despite the fact that she’d been determined not to go to the Magelan Christmas party, she’d thought about what a fool she’d look if she didn’t go. Everyone would wonder why she wasn’t there. What was the point crying over something about which she could do nothing? Besides she’d already paid for the ticket and a meal was a meal.

“Addie, how much longer are you going to be?” Lisa called from outside the door.

“Nearly finished.”

“David will be here soon, I need to come in.”

Addie rose to her feet and looked down at the large lumps of foam sticking to her body. She pushed back the memory of another foam bath and molded herself a couple of breasts. Before they slid south, she fashioned a tall hat and a beard to go with them.

“Addie, what are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

Still standing in the bath, Addie opened the window to get rid of some of the steam, and a gust of wind whipped a streak of foam from her arm and sent it sailing into the night sky. She looked down and then scooped up a heap of bubbles and tossed them out of the window. Minutes later the bath was almost clear of froth, the sky full of low flying clouds and Addie felt great.

She emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped round her, to see Lisa in a fit of giggles and David with foam dripping from his head and leather jacket.

“What happened to you?” Addie kept a straight face.

“I’ve no idea.” David fumed. “Some idiot playing games.”

“I’ll wipe it off,” Lisa said.

He followed Lisa into the bathroom and gave a bellow of rage. Addie guessed he’d seen the remains of foam in the tub.

“Sorry,” she yelled and ran for it.

She heard Lisa talking to David and then they both laughed, the bathroom door slammed and Addie knew she was safe.

* * * * *

By the time Addie sat on the bus to Leeds, her newly found confidence had melted to slush. When she’d put on the red tube dress she bought in Keighley, she’d felt defiant. Now she felt an idiot. She’d taken extra care with her hair, straightened and spiked it and put on more makeup than usual. When she’d looked in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself. She even wore the stupid high-heeled shoes and would probably break her ankles before she got there. Yet tempting as it was to catch the next bus home, she wanted Will to see what he’d thrown away.

As Addie teetered across the city to Angel’s, three guys whistled at her. Her confidence shot up like a rocket. She walked taller and straighter. She could do this.

Charlotte the Harlot stood inside the entrance. Addie pulled off her coat before she could change her mind. She felt a shiver of pleasure when she saw Charlotte’s mouth drop open.

“My God, Addie. I didn’t recognize you. What a fabulous dress.”

Addie smiled as if her life depended on it.

Ed stood at the bar trying to get the barman’s attention.

“Where’s your date?” Will asked.

“Applying another coat of plaster.”

“What’s she like?”

“Beautiful, brainless. She’ll serve her purpose.”

“Which is?”

“To keep the Witches of Magelan’s at bay.”

Will laughed. “Most guys would love to have three women chasing them.”

“I only need one.”

“Me too,” Will said.

“Just not the one you’ve brought with you,” Ed threw back.

Will sighed. “What was I supposed to do? She begged and cried and she’s going to be on her own until Wednesday night while we’re in Shropshire.”

“What are you going to do if Addie turns up?”

Will had just caught the barman’s eye, but he turned to face Ed.

“You told me she wasn’t coming.”

“She might change her mind.”

“You said she definitely wouldn’t be here.”

“Hi,” Addie said and two heads swiveled round.

She waved to the bartender. “Gin and tonic, please.”

“You don’t like gin and tonic,” Will said.

“I’ve changed.” Addie paid, picked up her drink and walked away.

Will and Ed watched her go.

“What the fuck is she wearing?” Ed said.

“What the fuck am I going to do?” Will groaned.

Addie took a sip from her glass and grimaced. God, it was awful. Still, it would last her all night, which was the whole point. She spotted Fred in the corner talking to a couple of the other drivers and made her way over, but before she got there, there was a tap on her shoulder. Addie turned and smiled in surprise.

“Hi, Evelyne. What are you doing here?”

“Exactly what I was going to ask you.”

“I only work at the language school two days a week.”

“My husband works for Magelan’s. Will Mansell. You must know him.”

Addie hoped the smile was still on her face because everything inside her was dying. “Will? Of course I do.”

The Evelyne she knew, was Will’s Vee. She worked at Easyspeak with Lisa, helping her with A-level French conversation. Vee was Evelyne.
Shit.

“This is such a coincidence. Let’s go and tell Will.” Vee laughed.

Addie could detect no malice in Evelyne, no sense that she knew about her and Will. Was this the same woman Ed called a manipulative cow? Addie hadn’t seen that.

She was friendly at work, chatted with everyone. Addie followed Vee across the room, keeping her eyes away from Will when the pair of them reached his side.

“You see, Will, I
do
have someone to talk to. Addie works at the same place as me.”

The moment’s silence felt like hours to Addie.

“You’re just assuming she wants to talk to you, Vee,” Ed said. “Addie’s kind to everyone.” He took the drink from her hand and put it down. “Addie, you promised me a dance.”

Addie let him lead her away from the ticking bomb, but as they reached the edge of the dance floor, a woman in a tight black dress appeared in front of them. She glared at Addie.

“Who’s this?” she demanded.

“A friend. We’re going to have a dance.”

“It’s okay, Ed. I’ll go and talk to Fred,” Addie said.

“No, we’re going to dance,” Ed insisted.

“I don’t think so,” the woman said. “You’re here with me.”

“Actually, you’re here with me,” Ed pointed out. “And I’ll dance with who I like. If that’s a problem, feel free to leave.”

He took Addie’s elbow and guided her to the middle of the room. The dance floor was already busy.

He put his mouth next to her ear. “Are you all right?”

“You don’t need to dance with me, Ed.”

“You must be kidding. You’re the only woman here I want to dance with. You look sensational.”

Addie gave a little smile and began to move less self-consciously.

“I keep having to remind myself to put my tongue away,” he said. “Have you been hiding another person inside you? Any more dresses like that?”

“Dance, Ed. Don’t talk.”

By the time they went in for the meal, Addie was calm. She walked along the buffet, selecting from the dishes and then made straight for the table where Fred and his wife sat eating. Addie would eat, then leave. She watched as the woman with Ed steered him in the opposite direction, but her heart fluttered in panic as Vee made straight for her and sat at her side. Will followed.

“Have you come on your own?” Vee asked.

“Yes, my boyfriend, Noah, lives in Manchester.” Addie couldn’t look at Will.

“It’s a pity he couldn’t come tonight.” Vee inspected a piece of cheese and then nibbled it daintily.

“His mother’s sick.”

“Well, you might find someone tonight you like better.” Vee beamed.

“No, I won’t.” Addie made herself smile.

“Noah won’t know if you get lucky.”

When Addie realized Vee was serious, she was shocked. “I wouldn’t do something like that.”

Addie could hear Will talking to Fred, but knew he was listening to their conversation as well.

“So what’s it like working for my gorgeous husband? Is he a slave driver? Does he make you stay late?”

Addie saw straight through Vee’s smile, saw the insecurity, the anxiety. This was a different woman to the confident teacher she’d seen.

“Yes, he’s a slave driver. All bosses are. I don’t work late. I’m not paid enough.

Plus, I’m leaving in two weeks, so I don’t need to impress anyone.”

Addie stuffed her mouth with bread so she didn’t have to speak. She watched as Vee’s eyes scanned the room. Will’s eyes were on Addie. She looked back at her plate.

“You’re not going to Shropshire, then?” Vee asked.

Addie emptied her mouth. “No.”

“Who is going? Point them out.”

“Vee, leave it,” Will said.

Addie escaped by going to get another plate of food she didn’t want and then struck up a conversation with Graham. Now she knew she was desperate.

Will knew he’d made another mistake. Seeing Addie in that red dress made him remember what had started off as one of the best nights of his life and how the woman sitting next to him had ruined it. He’d done the right thing going back to Vee after she’d told him she’d taken an overdose, but why hadn’t he taken Addie with him? Instead, he’d hurt her, and continued to hurt her. He didn’t deserve her. She was sweet and kind and too good for him, but he wanted another chance.

“Come and dance.” Vee pulled at his arm. “I’m not eating this rubbish. You can take me for a meal afterwards.”

“I don’t want to dance and I don’t want to take you for a meal.”

“Just one dance, Will,” Vee wheedled. “Please.”

He let her pull him on to the crowded dance floor, his mind whirling with ways to tell Addie about the baby. Would she understand? He’d have to look after the child, share custody. Could he ask her to accept that? Vee pushed him away in disgust after he failed to make any effort to move. He watched her glancing back at him as she talked to people. He guessed she was trying to find out if anyone knew who he’d been fucking. Will looked for Addie but he was too late. He couldn’t find her.

When Addie was sent to open the door at her mother’s, Will was the last person she expected to see. She froze, as though she’d plunged into water pouring from a melting glacier.

“What are you doing here?” Will demanded.

“Isn’t that my line?” she asked in confusion.

“The coach was supposed to leave an hour ago.”

Now she understood.

“I’m not going on a team-building course. There’s no point.”

“But I want you to come,” Will said. “Please.”

Addie groaned.

“Adelina? What are you doing? Your food’s going cold. Tell them we believe in Christmas and get back to the table.”

“My mother thinks you’re a Jehovah’s Witness.”

“I’ll be anything you like if you come to Shropshire.”

His fingers touched her hand and she drew away.

“You can’t do this, Will. It isn’t fair. You can’t keep picking me up and throwing me away again.”

“Give me one more chance,” Will said in a low voice. “I made a mistake. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I wasn’t. I want—”

“Adelina,” her mother called.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” Will asked.

“No. How did you know where I was?”

“Lisa—”

He straightened up and looked over her shoulder.

“Mrs. Winter, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I needed to speak to Addie.”

“We’re eating.” Her mother furrowed her brow.

“I’m sorry,” Will said.