The Final Seduction(23)

Shelley waited until Jennie had gone to chat to Jamie and give him a  pack of sandwiches before she wandered over to speak to Gerald.

'Jamie seems to like boats,' she observed.

Gerald shot her a shrewd look. 'You an investor these days, then?'

She looked at him in surprise. 'No. Why d'you ask?'

He squinted his rheumy old eyes. 'He needs one, that's why. Wants to buy the Misty Morn, and she won't wait for ever.'

'But is he any good?' Shelley found herself asking.

'Hardest-working lad I've ever known,' said Gerald, shrugging.

So Drew was simply being stubborn about the money, was he? Shelley  screwed up her nose in disgust, before reminding herself that it was  none of her business. None.

She took the car to the large cathedral town of Southchester further up  the coast, and bought tins of bright paints and brushes with a definite  air of excitement. Giving the house a brand-new look would not only  cheer her up in the short term, it should prove useful if she did decide  to sell up.

She came back loaded with bags of shopping, including a pair of regular  blue denims and a few cotton slouch sweaters which she'd actually bought  in colours, having decided that maybe it was the time to stop wearing  only neutrals. Here, against the sea-fresh atmosphere of Milmouth, the  greys and blacks she had worn in Italy now seemed dull and  self-limiting! And she had forgotten just how much she loved wearing  blue!

She was out in her front garden planting spring bulbs in a large  terracotta tub one morning, when Jennie came out of her front door and  leaned over the fence.

'I haven't seen you all week!' she accused.

'Well, I've been here.'

'Why didn't you pop in?'

Shelley shook her head, and pulled a face. 'I'd hate you to think that I  was the neighbour from hell-looming up on the doorstep every time you  wanted a quiet five minutes!'

'Oh, come on! You know very well I wouldn't mind.' Jennie gave her a searching look. 'Is it because of Drew?'

Shelley's heart blipped. 'Is what because of Drew?'

'Is that why you won't come round? Because the two of you can't seem to  make your minds up whether you want to kill one another or kiss one  another.'

'But Drew doesn't live there, does he?' Shelley brushed some compost off her nose with the tip of her thumb.

'No, he doesn't! And please don't forget that!' Jennie seemed about to  say something else, but looked down at the bulbs instead. 'They'll look  lovely in spring.'

'I hope so.' She wondered whether she would be here to see them flower,  or whether the reality of seeing Drew living his life without her would  be too much to tolerate. 'My mother loved these tiny daffodils.'

Jennie nodded. 'I know she did. Um, Shelley-'

'Mmm?'

'You know you said you'd babysit for me some time?'

Shelley smiled. 'When do you want me?'

'Is tonight too short notice?'

'I've not exactly been snowed under with offers of dates! I'd be happy to. Where are you going-somewhere special?'

Jennie ran her hand through untidy hair which was badly in need of a  wash. 'Jamie wants to take me out dancing-and we haven't done that since  the baby was born!'                       
       
           



       

'Mmm! Sounds promising. What time?'

'He's coming round about eight.'

'Well, why don't I come over earlier-say about seven? Then I can help get the baby to bed, while you glam yourself up.'

Jennie started blinking rapidly. 'I don't know how to thank you.'

'Hey! It's nothing-honestly.' Shelley's voice was soft. 'You're just at the mercy of those wretched hormones again, aren't you?'

When she arrived at Jennie's, the place was in chaos- Ellie was  screaming and there was a strong smell of burning-while Jennie herself  was looking red-faced and panicky.

'I left a pot of banana custard in the saucepan and forgot to turn it  off! It would happen tonight-of all nights! And Ellie won't stop  crying!' she moaned. 'I can't possibly leave her!'

'Nonsense; of course you can!' said Shelley smoothly, and gave the baby a  delicate little sniff. 'She needs changing, for starters, so I'll do  that first. Has she eaten?'

'Just. Well, I tried-but she wouldn't take much.'

'Right.' She looked Jennie up and down with an appraising eye. 'Have you had a bath yet?'

'No.' Jennie shook her head. 'And I don't know if there's going to be enough time-'

'Oh, yes there is!' interrupted Shelley firmly, not meaning to be overly  critical, but thinking that this was what friends were for. And only  Jennie's worst enemy would let her go out without washing her hair!  'Listen, I'll clean Ellie up and then bath her in the kitchen sink,  while you have a shower. And make sure you wash your hair. Spend as long  as you like getting ready-I can look after Ellie.'

'You're very confident around babies,' Jennie observed, stooping to pick up a rattle.

'Well, Marco had a lot of nephews and nieces and we often went to visit  them,' explained Shelley, realising that Jennie was longing to ask her  more. 'Go on! Leave that!' she grinned. 'Go and make yourself beautiful  for him!'

Jamie was late. Not very-just by ten minutes-but Shelley was irritated.  Lateness was a power thing, especially if the occasion was  important-Marco had told her that.

When she'd seen him down at the boatyard, he had been showing off his  body in a pair of jeans and a singlet, but tonight he was dressed up to  go out. And he really was spectacularly good-looking, she thought.

He had been attractive as a schoolboy, but now he had blossomed into a  real head-turner, with an over-long tumble of blond curls and tanned  skin-and teeth which were so perfect that they could have been a set of  dentures!

He was also an incorrigible flirt and his baby-blue eyes widened like a cat's when Shelley opened the door to him.

Then he made a great show of rubbing his fists against his eyes before  looking at her again. 'Have I died and gone to heaven?' he said.

'The first part can easily be arranged!' she retorted. 'Though I wouldn't count on heaven as your destination!'

He laughed. 'You're so pretty.'

'No, I'm Shelley!'

He followed her inside. 'I didn't get a chance to speak to you when you  came down to the yard. But I know who you are-your reputation goes  before you.'

She turned around. 'Oh? From school, you mean?'

'No. As the only woman who has ever walked away from dearest Drew.' He  said the name as though he didn't like the owner of it very much. 'And I  can't think of anyone more deserving!'

She didn't want to talk about Drew with anyone-least of all with Jamie.  'Do you want to go and see Ellie?' she suggested. 'I can tell Jennie  you're here.'

'I can tell her myself,' he said easily. 'Is she in the bedroom?'

Shelley had learnt many things in Italy-and one of them was that a woman  should always maintain a certain air of mystery. Which roughly  translated meant that it would be better for a woman to run naked in the  streets than shave her armpits in front of the man she loved! She also  suspected, from the slightly decadent look on Jamie's face, that he  would take great pleasure in going upstairs to make love to Jennie,  knowing that someone might be downstairs, listening.

'Don't worry. I'll tell her you're here,' she asserted firmly.

Jenny was sitting in front of the mirror, about to apply a coat of livid crimson lipstick, when Shelley walked into the room.

'Don't!' she yelled.

'Don't what?' Jennie paused. 'What is it?'                       
       
           



       

Shelley snatched the lipstick out of her fingers and substituted it with  a subtle pink sheen she had seen on the dressing table. 'Try this  instead,' she suggested. 'It'll go with your dress and it's more subtle.  Oh, and Jamie's here-'

Jennie sprang to her feet. 'Great!'

'Make him wait,' said Shelley, sitting her back down again, thinking it  ironic that she knew exactly how to keep a man interested. And yet  wouldn't dare try any of these ruses on Drew …  'While I blow-dry your  hair for you.'

Jamie looked suitably impressed when Jennie swung into the room in a  cloud of scent, her hair all glossy and neat and providing a perfect  contrast to the short black dress she wore, with a sugar-pink cardigan.

She smiled shyly at Jamie, then turned to Shelley. 'There are phone  numbers in the book,' she said. 'The doctor and Drew-both helpfully  filed under "D"-but God forbid you need the former!'

Or the latter, thought Shelley, but didn't say anything.

'You look great, babe!' Jamie murmured in Jennie's ear as Shelley closed the door behind them.

And, while Shelley felt delighted at the glowy-eyed looks the two of  them were sending to each other, a sense of her own loneliness hit her  very hard.

She went upstairs to settle Ellie and found her tossing restlessly in  her cot. She seemed a little hotter than she had done earlier. Mind you,  the room was quite warm. But that was one good thing about these little  houses-they had brilliant insulation!

Shelley took the blanket out of the cot, turned on the musical mobile,  and, leaving the door open, she slipped out of the room and went  downstairs to make some coffee.