Making Your Mind Up (12 page)

It was September first and Amber was off to St. Tropez with her friend Mandy. Mario, who had driven over to Tetbury straight from work, sat on the bed in her tiny apartment above the hairdressing salon and watched her pack.

“OK.” Ticking items off on her fingers, Amber said, “Bikinis. Sarongs. Silver flip-flops. Pink sandals. Hair stuff, suntan stuff, insect stuff, white trousers, books, hat.”

“Don't forget the condoms,” said Mario.

“Already packed.”

“They'd better not be.” He reached for Amber's wrist and pulled her onto his lap. “You girls behave yourselves, you hear? No falling for oily French millionaires with bloody big yachts.”

Amber wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Nor you.”

“It's been a while since any bloody big yachts sailed into Hestacombe.”

“You know what I mean. The first time I met you, I knew what you were like.”

“I've changed.” Mario gave her a look of injured innocence. “I haven't been unfaithful to you.”

“Ah, but I want you to carry on not being unfaithful to me. Even when I'm not here. Because if you ever were”—Amber met his gaze and held it—“that would be it for me. All over. I wouldn't want to be with you anymore.”

“I'm not going to do anything,” Mario protested.

“Good.” Dropping a kiss on the tip of his nose, Amber clambered off him. “Lecture over. Now, do you think I've packed enough tops?”

Mario watched her count them, then add a couple more to the case. He trusted Amber implicitly, but he still wished she wasn't going off to France without him. He would miss her. So would Nat and Ruby. Maybe when Amber was back, they should talk about her moving in with him.

He checked his watch. “It's seven fifteen. What time are you leaving?”

“Nine. I said I'd pick up Mandy at quarter past.” Amber had declined his offer of a lift to Bristol Airport, explaining that it was easier to leave her own car in the long-term parking lot, then it would be there for them on their return. “Why, are you hungry? I could pop out and pick us up some takeout.”

Mario slid off the bed and drew her toward him, kissing her again. “You stay here and finish your girlie packing. I'll go pick up the takeout. Then when we've eaten there's just one more thing we have to do.”

“Oh yes?” Amber's silver-and-turquoise earrings swung as she said playfully, “And what would that be? The vacuuming or the washing up?”

She was smart and sparky and he was going to miss her more than she knew. Sliding his hands over the strip of bare midriff between her skirt and orange cropped tank, Mario murmured, “We're going to say good-bye to each other properly. In bed.”

* * *

It was Thursday morning and Lottie was in the office dealing with a mountain of mail when Tyler, back from New York, came through the door.

God, it was fantastic to see him again. In a white polo shirt and Levi's he was looking tanned, handsome, and not remotely jet-lagged. There was no doubt about it: a boss who was this easy on the eyes was a definite bonus. Although maybe she wouldn't mention this to Freddie. Lovely though he was, Freddie had never made her mouth go dry and her heart go
twang.

“Hi there.” Tyler nodded at the pile of mail. “You look busy.”

“You're my new employer,” said Lottie. “It's my job to make you think I'm busy.”

He grinned. “You know what? I've missed you.”

Heavens, how was she supposed to respond to
that
? If he thought she was going to tell him she'd missed him too, he could think again.

“And now you're back,” Lottie said brightly, wondering what was in the glossy dark blue shopping bag at his feet.

“Oh, right.” Following her gaze, Tyler reached down and began to delve into it. “Nearly forgot. Freddie warned me that you don't speak to anyone these days until they've given you a bottle of champagne.”

Honestly, men. Hadn't she already been humiliated enough? Did Freddie genuinely not realize that expecting to be asked out by a gorgeous stranger then
not
being asked out by him was something she'd prefer not to become common knowledge?

Then again, if Tyler was feeling the need to compete, it could only be a good sign. “Really,” Lottie began, “you didn't have to—”

“Sadly he only told me this five minutes ago,” Tyler continued. “So I'm afraid I've had to improvise somewhat.” Straightening, he held up a can of Dr Pepper. “Bit warm, I'm afraid. Will this do instead?”

“Thank you.” Graciously Lottie accepted the can and put it on the desk. “Vintage, I presume.”

“Absolutely. It's been in the glove compartment of my car for the last six days. Should have matured nicely by now.”

“Perfect. I'll save it for a special occasion.”

“I also called into FAO Schwarz while I was over there. Picked up something for Nat, to make up for what happened last week.” Tyler pulled two lavishly gift-wrapped rectangular parcels from the bag. “Then I thought I couldn't bring something for Nat and have Ruby feeling left out, so I got her something too.”

Deeply touched, Lottie said, “Oh, you didn't have to do that. They'll be thrilled.”

“Call it bribery.” He looked amused. “If this is what it takes to get back into their good books, that's fine by me.”

Lottie didn't know about
back
into their good books; he'd never been within a hundred miles of them in the first place. But maybe this would be the turning point they all needed.

“Well, it's really nice of you to do it anyway.” Reaching out a hand for the bag, she said, “Shall I give them to them tonight?”

“Actually, I wondered if you were free this evening. Maybe we could go out for that dinner we missed last week. Then when I call around to pick you up, I could give Nat and Ruby their presents myself.”

Lottie thought for a nanosecond then nodded. “That'd be great.” In fact, it was doubly great, because if Mario was looking after the kids, he couldn't be out getting up to mischief elsewhere, which could only be a good thing.

“We'll do that then.” Tyler looked pleased. “Say, seven thirty?”

Experiencing a warm glow in her stomach, Lottie realized she was glad meeting Seb had turned out to be such a nonevent. When a man liked you, he asked you out to dinner and fixed a time and date. And it seemed that Tyler Klein really did like her, because he was wasting no time at all.

Which was excellent news, seeing as she really liked him too.

* * *

“Mum, I hate that man. Don't go out with him,” begged Nat when he discovered who Lottie was seeing that evening.

“Sweetheart, I told you, he's really very nice.” Lottie was juggling mascara, lipstick, powder, and scent in one hand as she concentrated on doing her face in the bathroom mirror.

“He isn't nice; he's
cruel
.”

“OK.” Lottie sighed. “I wasn't going to tell you this, but Tyler's bought you a present. Does that make you like him a bit more?”

Mercenary? Her son?

Nat's whole face lit up. “What kind of present?”

“I don't know; he's bringing it over tonight. But if you hate him, maybe you shouldn't—”

“So Nat's getting a present from that man?” Ruby had been sitting on the edge of the bath experimenting with Lottie's violet eye shadow without the benefit of a mirror. Outraged by the unfairness of this revelation she said indignantly, “But we're the ones who've had to put up with Nat crying all the time like a
baby
.”

“And Tyler knows that.” Lottie deftly reclaimed her eye shadow while there was still some left in the pot. “Which is why he's bought something for you too.”

Mercenary? Her daughter?

“
Has
he?” Overjoyed, Ruby almost toppled backward into the bath. “What's he gotten me?”

“No idea. He just told me he'd been to this place in New York called Schwarz and—”

“Schwarz? FAO Schwarz?” Ruby leaped up, her eyes wide with delight.

She turned to look at Nat, who gasped, “FAO Schwarz on
Fifth
Avenue
?”

Bemused, Lottie said, “How do you know that?”

“Mum! It's like the best toy shop in the whole world
ever
,” Nat gabbled. “We saw a program about it on CBBC. It's
amazing
.”

“Better than Disneyland,” Ruby chimed in, “and you can buy anything you want. It's bigger than Buckingham Palace, and they sell
everything…
”

Stars were practically coming out of their eyes. Aware that they were envisaging Tyler pulling up outside the cottage in some kind of ribbon-strewn articulated truck loaded to the roof with extravagant gifts, Lottie said hastily, “Listen, you're getting one present each. Although like I said before, if you think Tyler's so horrible, I wonder if you deserve them.”

“If he's brought them for us all the way from New York, I think we should let him give them to us,” said Ruby. “Otherwise his feelings might be hurt.”

“And if he bought them at FAO Schwarz,” Nat added seriously, “they'll be really brilliant presents that cost loads of money.”

Mercenary? Her children?

“So I'm allowed to go out to dinner with him?” said Lottie.

“I think you should.” Ruby nodded and Nat joined in.

“Well, hooray for that. And remember,” Lottie warned them, “manners. Whatever he's bought you, make sure that you look really pleased and—”

Rolling their eyes, Nat and Ruby chorused, “Say thank you.”

The mercenaries were hanging out of Nat's bedroom window when Tyler pulled up outside the cottage. At the front door he murmured to Lottie, “I think we've turned the corner. Nat and Ruby just waved to me. Didn't boo or throw stones or anything.”

Lottie's stomach muscles were taut with longing; she so wanted her children to overcome their antipathy toward Tyler. They had gotten off to an unfortunate start, but with luck that was behind them now. That the three of them could get to know and like each other mattered a lot.

With luck the presents would do the trick.

“Hey, you two.” Tyler greeted them easily as Nat and Ruby, looking suitably angelic, appeared at the top of the staircase. “How are you doing?”

“OK.” Nat was wide-eyed, making a huge effort not to gaze at the gift-wrapped presents Tyler was holding.

“Very well, thank you.” Ruby was being ultra polite. “Did you have a nice time in America?”

Evidently relieved by the transformation, Tyler said, “I had a great time, but it's even better to be back. And guess what? I brought you a little something.”

Lottie hid a smile as Nat and Ruby pretended to spot the shiny, extravagantly wrapped parcels for the first time.

“This one's for you.” Tyler held the parcel in his right hand toward Ruby. “And this one's for you.” He extended the other toward Nat.

Together they came clattering down the stairs, took their parcels, and said courteously, “Thank you, Mr. Klein.”

“My pleasure.” Tyler looked as delighted as if he'd just won an Oscar. “And please, call me Tyler.”

Lottie led them all into the living room and crossed her fingers behind her back as Ruby and Nat began tearing into the wrappings. This was all going so much better than she could have imagined a week ago; it was going to make so much of a difference to—

Oh no.

Oh God.

“Of course I had no idea what to get for you,” Tyler was telling Ruby, “but there was this really helpful saleswoman and she said this would be just perfect.”

Act
, Lottie silently begged.
Act like
you've never acted before
. She willed her thoughts to be transmitted to Ruby as her daughter gazed, seemingly frozen, at the Perspex case containing a rosy-cheeked china doll in ornate Victorian clothes.

Some nine-year-old girls adored dolls, maybe some even liked the kind you kept in a Perspex case and couldn't actually play with. The only dolls Ruby had ever shown the remotest interest in were the voodoo kind.

“It's lovely,” Ruby said bravely, her chin wobbling with the effort of concealing her disappointment. “Look, her eyes open and close when you tip her up. Thank you, Mr. Klein.”

“Tyler,” said Tyler, blithely unaware that he couldn't have chosen a worse present if he'd tried. “I'm glad you like it.”

“She's beautiful,” Lottie blurted out before an awkward silence had a chance to develop. “Look at her hair! And her shoes! Ruby, aren't you lucky? Now, how's Nat getting along?” Turning to her son who had been having more trouble with the expertly taped-down wrappings, she said brightly, “What have you got in there?”

The last layer of paper tore open at last and Lottie's heart plummeted into her boots.

“Warhammer,” said Nat, his tone expressionless. “Thank you, Mr. Klein.”

Warhammer. Oh God. Requiring superhoned concentration skills, nimble fingers, and endless patience—qualities poor Nat simply didn't possess.

“The saleswoman told me they sell truckloads of this stuff every week. All the kids are just wild about it,” Tyler announced with pride. “They spend hours gluing the little models together and painting them. She reckons that'll keep you busy for weeks.”

Nat really looked as if he might cry. Hurriedly Lottie said, “Isn't that fantastic? You'll
love
making all those little models, won't you!”

Nat nodded, stroking the lid of the box to demonstrate how much he loved it. In a small wavering voice he said, “Yes.”

“Hi, I'm here.” The front door swung open and Mario announced his arrival. “Sorry I'm a bit late—Amber just rang. She's having a great time and sends her love. Hey, what's going on here?” In the doorway he halted at the sight of Nat and Ruby miserably clutching their presents. “I didn't know it was Christmas.”

“It's not.” Abandoning her present, Ruby ran into his arms. “Daddy, can we climb trees tonight?”

“And hunt for snakes?” begged Nat.

“Right, we'll be off.” Eager to get away while the going was good, Lottie grabbed and kissed each of them in turn. “Have a great time.”

“You too,” Mario said with a wink. “Don't be late.”

Terrified that he might add, “And if you can't be good, be careful,” or something equally crass, Lottie rushed Tyler out of the house.

* * *

It was a great evening. The smart restaurant in Painswick had been an inspired choice. Over dinner, Lottie got to know Tyler better and was liking him more and more. Considering how shamefully out of practice she was on the dating front, she hadn't even felt nervous once.

By eleven o'clock they were heading back into Hestacombe. Nat and Ruby would be fast asleep, Mario could leave, and she could invite Tyler in for coffee.

Just coffee, nothing else. He was her new boss, and she didn't want him to think she was slutty. Well, maybe a kiss wouldn't hurt, but definitely no more than that.

Then the front door burst open, spilling light and children into the yard, and that was the end of that idea. Just as well she hadn't been planning anything slutty, Lottie thought with a rueful smile. If it was a natural contraceptive you were after, you couldn't do better than Ruby and Nat.

She glanced apologetically at Tyler. “They're supposed to be asleep.”

“No problem. They're looking pretty pleased with themselves,” he observed indulgently. “Maybe they've been painting the Warhammer models and want to show me what they've done.”

Hmm, and maybe their new favorite food was mustard and sprouts.

Jumping out of the car, Lottie said, “It's late! Why aren't you two in bed?”

“Dad said we didn't have to because we don't go back to school until next week. We had the best time tonight,” Nat gabbled, throwing his arms around her waist and kangarooing up and down in his excitement. “Mum, guess what happened? You'll never guess!”

Lottie loved it so much when he was overcome with enthusiasm that she couldn't be cross with Mario for letting them stay up. “You'd better tell me then.”

“No,
guess
!”

“You brushed your teeth without being asked?”

Nat looked incredulous. “No!”

“OK, I give up.” As Nat attempted to drag her into the cottage—it was like being hauled along by a small determined tractor—Lottie called over her shoulder to Tyler, “Coming in for a bit?” Oops, that didn't sound quite right. “I mean, for a coffee?”

“Just try to stop me.” He locked the car and followed them up the path. “I want to know what's happened.”

“
Two
things,” Ruby joyfully cut in, squeezing Lottie's other arm. “Two things happened tonight!”

“My God, could life get any more exciting?” Bundling both children ahead of her into the cottage, Lottie whispered, “Sorry about this.”

“Don't be sorry.” Tyler's dark eyes met hers. “I'm enjoying myself. I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

“Right,” Nat announced importantly when they were in the living room. “The phone rang and Daddy picked it up and they said it was an overseas call from America.”

“Heavens.” Lottie looked at Mario on the sofa.

“And then Daddy gave the phone to me and said someone special wanted to speak to me, so I took the phone and said hello and this man said, ‘Hi there, little fella, am I speaking to Nat Carlyle?' and his voice was quite funny, like not really proper English, and I said, ‘Yes, what do you want?'”

Lottie raised her eyebrows at Mario, who shrugged.

“And then he said, ‘Do you know who I am, little fella?' and I said, ‘You sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger.'” Almost bursting with exultation Nat exclaimed, “And he said, ‘Ho ho ho, well, that is very lucky because I
am
Arnold Schwarzenegger.' And it
was
him!” Barely able to contain his glee, Nat had gone quite pink. “And I said, ‘How did you know my phone number?' and he said, ‘Well, Nat, I had an email passed on to me by my personal private secretary, from someone who wrote to tell me about how you lost your blankie and saying how upset you were, and that maybe a call from me might cheer you up and make you feel a bit better.'”

“Wow, that's…
unbelievable
.” Lottie checked Mario again for giveaway signs. Mario shook his head.

“And it really was him”—Ruby nodded vigorously—“because I listened as well. It was definitely his voice, just exactly like in his films!”

Who else had been aware of the fib she'd told Nat about Arnold Schwarzenegger? In disbelief, Lottie turned her gaze on Tyler, beside her. Had he persuaded a soundalike to give Nat a call? Or—OK, she knew this was unthinkable—had he really arranged for Arnold to do it, as a way of making up for causing all the upset in the first place?

There was a hint of a smile around Tyler's mouth. Good grief, he'd just come back from America, he moved in well-connected circles—did he actually
know
Arnold Schwarzenegger? When you came to think about it, he was just the kind of person who would.

“Did you organize this?” gasped Lottie, overcome with admiration and gratitude.

“Shhh, don't interrupt.” Refusing to look at her, Tyler nodded at Nat. “He hasn't finished yet. Carry on, Nat. What did he say next?”

Nat took another deep breath, ready to start again. Ask him to learn his four times table and you'd still be there at Christmas, but when it came to remembering something relevant it was a different matter; along with endless episodes of
The
Simpsons
, Nat was able to recall every word of the phone conversation verbatim.

Proudly he announced, “He said he knew just how I felt because when he was a boy he had a blankie, and when he was seven a cruel man threw it away and that was it—he never saw his blankie again. He said, ‘Oh, Nat, if you knew how much it hurt me. I loved my blankie so much. I cried every night, wondering where my blankie was. Then one day I thought no, I must be a brave boy, strong and powerful like Superman, and I must learn to live without my blankie, and I must grow big and build up my muscles so that nobody can ever take anything away from me again.'” His eyes shining, Nat said, “Then he told me that I had to be brave and strong too and made me promise I would and not cry anymore either. So I promised him, and then he said he was very busy and had to go, and then he said good-bye and put the phone down.”

“Well.” Flabbergasted and impressed—whether Tyler had arranged for Arnie himself or a talented soundalike to make the call scarcely mattered—Lottie swung Nat up into her arms and showered him with kisses. “That is fantastic. You are such a lucky boy, do you realize that? Fancy getting a phone call from Arnold Schwarzenegger!”

“I know,” Nat said ecstatically. “And he knows my name!”

Over the top of Nat's tousled head, Lottie looked at Tyler and silently conveyed her gratitude. What a thoughtful thing to have done. They exchanged a secret smile, and she felt her heart expand like a balloon. This was the kind of man she could fall in—

“Mum, that's not the only thing that happened!” Ruby was tugging at her arm now, demanding her share of the attention. “There's something else!”