The French Gardener(109)
“Can’t he work at home, at least a day or two a week?”
“You know he can’t.”
“Does he know how you feel?”
“We never have time to talk. I’ve changed, too. You know something, Blythe, I don’t think he knows me anymore.”
“Darling, this is so sad. You and David are two of my dearest friends. I thought you had the best marriage in London.” Blythe’s reaction to her troubled marriage dispelled any fears of duplicity; she seemed genuinely saddened. If not, she was playing the role of her life.
“What should I do?” Miranda asked.
“Talk to him. Work it out. I would hate for you two to have to go through what I’m going through. It’s hell. You’d lose this beautiful house for a start. You’re so happy here, I’d hate for it to be washed down the drain in those shitty divorce courts.”
Miranda and Blythe put the children to bed. Gus was sharing his room with Rafael, but they fell asleep immediately, exhausted by their games in the fresh country air. David came out of his bedroom, dressed in a pair of slacks and a clean, open-necked shirt. He saw the women hovering outside Gus’s room and went to join them. “Are they asleep?” he asked.
“Why don’t you go and kiss them good night,” said Miranda. “Even if they’re half asleep, they’ll like it.” David nodded and disappeared into Gus’s room. Blythe gave Miranda an empathetic look. Miranda turned away and began to walk downstairs.
Gus felt his father’s prickly face as he kissed him on his cheek. He opened his eyes.
“I wasn’t really asleep,” he hissed.
“Just pretending?” said his father.
“Yes.”
“Well, be a good boy and go to sleep.”
“Rafael’s asleep.”
“What did you do today?”
“We played pirates. Jean-Paul was the crocodile,” he said with a giggle.
“Was he?” David bristled with jealousy. “Didn’t Captain Hook kill the crocodile?”
“No! I was Captain Hook and the crocodile ate me.”
“You look in pretty good shape for someone who’s been in the belly of a crocodile.”
“I escaped.”
“Clever you!”
“Will you play with us tomorrow?”
“What, be a crocodile?”
“You can be Smee.”
David considered his proposal. “I’ll think of a more exciting game,” he said.
“Okay,” Gus replied. But he knew his father would forget and find something better to do. Gus rolled over and closed his eyes. It didn’t matter if his father didn’t play with him: he had Jean-Paul.
Miranda was carving the chicken when David came in. He had a strange look on his face, as if someone had put a hand in his stomach and twisted his gut. “Are you all right?” Miranda asked.
“I’m fine. Just need a glass of wine. It’s been a bad week.” Miranda handed him his glass.
“Was Gus asleep?”
David grinned and took a swig. “No, the little monkey was just pretending. Clever boy.”
“Like his father,” said Blythe. “Clever, I mean.”
David didn’t react. “Here, let me help you with that,” he said to Miranda. She handed over the knife and fork in surprise. “This looks delicious,” he exclaimed.
“It’s from the farmers’ market. Should taste good.”
“Let’s have a try.” He tore a piece off and popped it in his mouth. The color returned to his cheeks. “It’ll do,” he quipped, feeling better. “So, Blythe, how are things with you?”
“Rattling on. Same as usual. Should soon be a wrap, then I can move on. Find someone else, start again. God, I don’t feel up to it.”
“You won’t feel up to it for a while,” said Miranda. “Just take it a day at a time. Besides, Rafael needs you. He’s been in the thick of it. The last thing he needs is a strange man coming on the scene. He’s your man for the moment.”
“I agree. Anyhow, I don’t think marriage is for me.”
“Don’t rule it out. You’re young and attractive. There’s someone out there who’ll convince you to change your mind,” said Miranda.
“Perhaps,” she said, giving a little sniff.
“Right, Blythe, come and help yourself,” said David. He handed her a plate, then walked up to his wife, put his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her temple. Miranda looked up at him. Perhaps their marriage wasn’t on the rocks after all, she thought, noticing a warmth in his eyes she hadn’t seen in a long time. The mystery engraving at Theo Fennell was probably a horrible misunderstanding. Must not have been David at all. They just needed to spend more time together. Get to know one another again. He worked hard to give them the life they enjoyed. She had been unfair to doubt him. “And how are you, darling?” he asked her.