Kate flinched and then blushed. ‘But you fell over,’ she said, in a tone that implied that somehow the two events were quite obviously linked.
‘Which was my own fault, which was why I didn’t ring. Guy and I went out to lunch – it was Taz’s birthday – I don’t think you’ve met Taz. She works in the bookshop with me? Anyway, there’s a great new brasserie opened in the high street. They do the most fantastic food and cocktails and we all got there about twelve and didn’t leave until three and I –’
‘Came back here, pissed as a whippet, tripped over her handbag and fell down the steps round the back. Don’t be taken in by all this poor me stuff,’ Guy said warmly. ‘Besides nursing those bruises she’s also got a stonking great hangover. Do you take sugar?’
Kate hadn’t heard him coming back up the stairs. She looked up into his big brown eyes and wished she hadn’t. Guy was truly gorgeous. Worse still, he loved her mother.
He grinned. ‘Actually you look as if you could do with something a bit stronger. I know it must be a bit of a shock but she’s going to be fine. Do you fancy a drop of brandy, there’s some in the kitchen?’
‘No, thank you. Tea, no sugar, will be fine,’ Kate managed in a clipped tone, realising that she sounded uncannily like Liz.
‘Okay.’ He vanished back downstairs and Kate turned her attention back to her mother.
‘Embarrassing, isn’t it?’ laughed Maggie
She could say that again, thought Kate, except Kate was almost certain that she and Maggie weren’t talking about the same thing.
‘I lay there for God knows how long. Guy had gone back to work. When I finally managed to get my act together I rang him on my mobile.’
‘Liz didn’t say anything about you being drunk.’
Maggie snorted. ‘Good God, you think Guy told her?’
Kate looked Maggie up and down, sitting there in her chemise, hair all mussed up, smoking a roll-up, and suddenly – amongst all the other emotions – was really proud of her.
‘Liz told me she thought it was a very good idea your mum taking me in,’ said Guy, returning with a tray. He sounded mischievous rather than cruel. ‘Someone to keep an eye on her, it put Liz’s mind at rest knowing that your mum wouldn’t be on her own at nights.’
This time Maggie giggled.
It was not the kind of giggle you would naturally associate with your mother.
‘It’s a damned good thing it happened today and not next week,’ Guy was saying. ‘I was supposed to be going to Germany first thing Monday morning.’
‘And you still will be. Stop worrying, I’ll be perfectly all right, I’ve already told you,’ Maggie said. ‘I can manage.’ She couldn’t, it was quite obvious, but that didn’t stop her sounding certain.
Guy looked at her. ‘Sometimes I think that Liz is right, you are such a stubborn cow. I’m going to cancel and that’s final.’
‘Don’t be silly. It’s only for a few days. I can sleep downstairs if you help me make the bed up in the sitting room. It’ll be fine. I can use the loo downstairs and the shower.’
Kate took the mug Guy offered her and tried not to concentrate on their bickering or ogle Guy’s exquisite body as he clambered back into bed, very gently lifting Maggie’s foot as he did so that she could settle back amongst a great heap of pillows. It occurred to Kate that he had probably carried her upstairs too. Damn him.
Guy pulled the duvet up around them both. He had a tattoo, a dark blue Celtic knot that wrapped itself around his suntanned biceps. Kate looked away because her mouth had started to water and because she knew she was staring.
This was not the natural order of things. Watching them in bed together, Kate had the same kind of feeling in her belly as she had had when she’d found a pile of girlie magazines under Danny’s mattress. It had come as a shock to realise her son might be sexually active; to discover her mother was was totally beyond comprehension.
Maggie was still talking. ‘There are clean sheets in the airing cupboard, sweetheart. You can have your old room. Sorry that I’m not more talkative, but I’ve had a lot of painkillers tonight and I feel really spacey.’
Really spacey? Really spacey? What sort of expression was that for your mother to use?
‘It’s all right, you really ought to try and get some sleep,’ Kate said briskly, gathering her things and her thoughts together. ‘I was planning to stay overnight and then come and collect you tomorrow from the hospital. Maybe hang around if you needed help –’ the words were coming out a touch too jauntily. ‘But I can see that you’re in very good hands. No need for me to stay.’
‘Do you want me to help you sort the bed out?’ asked Guy. ‘I’ve put your bag in your room.’ He made as if to get up again.
‘No, no. I’ll be fine, really I – thanks,’ she said waving him back down. ‘I’ll take my tea into the bedroom. Been a long drive –’ Kate yawned theatrically. ‘It was Liz. You know what she’s like. I wouldn’t have come if she hadn’t … I mean, and there’s Guy, I didn’t know about – well, I just thought …’ the words jammed up in her throat.
Maggie smiled. ‘I’m really glad you did come, Kate.’ Spacey or not, her voice was soft and full of love. ‘Can you stay a day or two? It would be so good to catch up. It seems like ages since we’ve talked, I want to hear all your news. How are the boys? How’s work going? And Joe? I’ve missed you, sweet pea.’
Kate looked from one face to the other and felt tears prickling up all hot and raw behind her eyes, which was all the more disturbing because it was the last thing she had expected. And then she nodded, ‘Maybe, probably, possibly.’ As she got to the door Kate realised she’d promised to ring Chrissie. The question was what the hell was she going to say to her?
‘Are you okay?’ said Guy, kissing Maggie gently on the forehead, careful to avoid the bruises and stitches.
She sighed, welcoming his touch. ‘Better now that Kate’s here.’
He stroked her hair back off her face. ‘Good. I’m sorry that she had to find out about us like this.’
Maggie jiggled to try and get herself comfortable. Despite the painkillers, she couldn’t find an easy spot to settle. ‘I’m not ashamed of you, Guy – I love you – and the last thing I want is to hide you away from my kids, but I needed to be sure before I told them.’
He grinned. ‘And you’re not?’
She snorted and shook her head. ‘It’s all academic now, isn’t it? I suppose even though they’re grown up, I’m still protecting them. But honestly, I’m glad Kate knows and I’m sure it’ll be fine. Really. Just give it a bit of time.’
‘Is there anything I can do to make it easier? I’d really like Kate to like me.’
Maggie grinned and settled her head down on his shoulder. ‘I don’t know – the usual stuff. Take her to the park, buy her a pony.’
Kate phoned home because she’d said she would. She rang Chrissie’s house first and when no one answered, she hung up before the machine cut in and rang her house instead.
‘Got there okay, then?’ Joe asked. He had always had a natural talent for stating the obvious.
‘Yep, I’m fine thanks, safely tucked up in bed with a nice mug of tea,’ Kate said with a heartiness she most certainly didn’t feel.
‘Right.