You Got It Wrong - Part Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Mansell looked better than the last time she’d seen him, but nowhere near the man she’d come to call a friend over the years. He was sleeping and looked peaceful. So Nina decided to let him rest, give him some time and space to recover. As she tiptoed out of his room he spoke, his voice a weak croak.

                “I’m not asleep, just resting my eyes. Easier than trying to focus on things all the time. Is that you Nina? I can tell by the smell.”

She chuckled, “lucky I’m not some strapping twenty year old male; I’d be offended if I was.”

Laughing he opened his eyes slowly then smiled at her, “great to see you Nina. You look well.”

                “Dare I say better than you?”

Again he laughed, “I knew you’d be the only one not the pussyfooting around subject.”

Nina lowered herself into a seat beside him, “it’s happened, got to be realistic.”

                “Wish everyone was, Daniel and Theo, they don’t know what to say, so they say nothing at all. It’s strange.”

She flinched at the mention of Theo’s name, and that led to Mansell lifting his eyebrow and staring at her.

                “We were at the same wedding on Saturday...he’s not my biggest fan, let’s just say that.”

Mansell tilted his head still watching her, “I don’t believe that, not for a minute, he’s always dropping your name into conversations.”

Nina leaned back in her chair and sighed, “don’t think you can make us friends Mansell.”

                “I’m tired Daddy, please can we stop.”

Theo glanced at the tired little girl holding his hand and immediately slowed down. He wanted to visit Mansell as early as possible so that he could get Melody home in time for bed. But he’d had a glitch in work, which meant that he was late picking her up from her day care. It was close to six and they’d only just arrived. Who knew what time he’d get them back to London.

But that wasn’t her fault, and it wasn’t dragging her along, her feet barely touching the floor. Scooping her up in his arms, he kissed her cheek, “I’m sorry darling. I just want us to get home as soon as possible. So we can relax, have fun...”

She grinned, “and watch Frozen?”

That made him groan, he was word perfect on the bloody film already.

                “We’ll see.”

With her pulling at his ears and laughing, he marched the remainder of the journey through the hospital to his grandfather’s room. But he froze a little way along the corridor, aware that he was gawping, but sat beside the old man, making him laugh was Nina, back to her usual self, all spiky hair and outlandish clothes. Well, more like thrift store stuff, mismatched socks, worn denim shorts. She was so unfashionable it was almost ubercool. Either way it was refreshing to see someone not conform like the lemmings that a lot of women were.

Almost sensing his presence she looked up and the smile disappeared from her face until Melody looked at her, then she burst into a huge smile.

                “Hey Melody, how are you?”

Melody wriggled out of her father’s arms and ran up to Nina, “Hi Nina, can we go to the glittery shop again?”

Nina looked at Mansell apologetically, “I took her to an accessory shop last time she was here, hair bands, jewellery, all VERY sparkly, and VERY appropriate for a young lady.”

As Mansell smiled, Theo spoke, “and big girls I imagine.”

She turned to glare at him, “cos I SO look like I shop there.”

                “You did Saturday!”

The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end for a lot of reasons, mainly contempt she tried to assure herself, instead of the memory of how it felt to dance with Theo, wrapped up in his strong arms, his body pulsing with his lust for her. That was the cold shower, because his words to his brother a few moments later proved that he wasn’t seeing her as anything more than a roll in the hay, and that was not her.

                “Hmmm. Not sure about that.” She turned to Mansell and smiled, “as I told you, posh wedding plus Nina equals grotesquely uncomfortable.”

Mansell chuckled, “I reckon you’d rock it in a posh frock.”

She stared at him, “you sound like the voice on the street.”

That made him laugh.

Nina looked up at Theo, “Do you want me to take Melody away for an hour...as I suggested?”

                “I didn’t think you’d still want to...”

Any further response was disrupted by Melody, “can I Daddy? Please?”

He groaned, “if it’s ok with Nina.” He looked back up at her, “I’ll collect her?”

The thought of him invading her home was an instant concern, “pick us up near the Lanes. Half past six?”

He smiled gratefully, “thanks.”

Nina nodded, “see you CAN be nice.”

With that the two girls flounced off hand in hand, and he was entranced by the sight until Mansell coughed beside him and offered, “now this is a story I want to hear.”

Rolling his eyes, Theo sat down next to him with a groan, “I don’t think so.”

Nina loved Melody. She was so much fun. And Lilah loved her too. They were sat in their kitchen, the little girl, under instruction of Lilah applying make up to a much reluctant Nina’s face.

                “You think red lipstick? ME too.” Lilah giggled as Melody’s eyes lit up as she extended the red creamy stick.

Nina rolled her eyes, but couldn’t deny how much fun the three of them had had. Suddenly her phone buzzed beside her and she looked down to see Theo’s number, she recognised the last three digits of 881, but she’d refused to store his number when he’d called her earlier.

Picking up the phone she groaned at his voice, “you’re not here?”

                “Shit is THAT the time?” She looked at the kitchen clock. “Damn, you’ll have to come collect her.” She gave directions to her home and grimaced at his comment.

                “Have to remember this address!”

 Earlier in the evening they’d all gone to the supermarket, Melody had seen a pair of Frozen pyjamas and had literally swooned at them. Neither of the older women could resist her, so as they gathered her things together, the tied the matching dressing gown around her waist, and slippers. She had her bag filled with her clothes as the doorbell rang.

She skipped through the hallway then as she pulled at the door she jumped in her father’s direction with a “ta-da!” in the nature of a magician’s reveal.

He eyed her up appreciatively, “wow darling, you look A-mazing!”

                “Nina and Lilah bought them from me.”

                “For you,” he corrected, “did you thank her?”

Nina had watched the tender scene from a few metres away finally spoke, “of course she did.”

Theo looked up at the sound of her voice then froze, “ahhh.”

It wasn’t a good ‘ahhh’, and it was only as she glanced to her left to the mirror that dominated the hallway and groaned, “Oh!” that she realised what had caused such a reaction. She had gaudy eye shadow and blusher that wasn’t in any of the appropriate places, then there was the scarlet lipstick. For a moment, Nina wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Mortification wasn’t the word. But Melody had seen the direction of her father’s eyes and squealed.

                “Isn’t she beautiful Daddy? I did that.”

His eyes were fixed on the mesmerising sight of Nina as he nodded, “she does look beautiful.” He fought the grin when she scowled at him, then his eyes dropped to Melody, “I think you could be a makeup artist when you grow up!”

Melody beamed, her eyes flicking between the two oblivious to the obvious tension.

                “Thanks for her pyjamas.” It was a weak comment, but he had to say or do something to ease the pressure between them.

She shrugged, “she fell in love, and they are adorable.” Handing him the bag with her clothes in, she added, “and if she falls asleep on the way home you can put her straight to bed.”

He nodded, “you’re the best.”

That made her laugh out loud, but not a happy laugh, a dry sarcastic one, “yep, for five minutes.”

He grimaced at that reference, “I was cornered, defensive...”

                “You think that I care Theo, I don’t. I told you I’d help with Melody when you visit Mansell, he deserves to see you, so this is all for her and your grandfather. Don’t forget that.”

He sighed, he really had hurt her this time, and “I won’t forget this.”

With a decisive nod, she led them to the door, “call me next time you’re in town Melody, ok?”

The little girl nodded as she skipped along beside him, pausing to wave as he lifted her into her car seat, but other than that Nina wouldn’t look at him, and the harsh reality was, that as beautiful as she’d looked Saturday night, now, stood there in butchered by makeup courtesy of his daughter, she’d never looked more desirable, and he had to fight the desire to storm across the road and plant his lips on hers. It wouldn’t happen, not in front of his daughter, and she’d probably hit him before he had chance.

With a groan he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, but as he pulled right at the end of her street, Nina was still on the doorstep watching them retreat. 

                “Would you have Melody tomorrow at all? It’s just that they’re all coming over from France - the family, to see Mansell, I want to be there.”

Nina hated that her heart started to race at the sound of Theo’s voice. Five days had passed since he’d collected Melody from her, and they hadn’t spoken, other than the message she’d sent him to thank him for the beautiful flowers that had arrived the day after. He’d sent her a brief reply back, but other than that, they’d not spoken.

                “I’m not doing anything tomorrow, that’s fine. We’ll find something fun to do.”

She could hear him sigh, “thanks, I really appreciate it.”

                “You finding it hard?”

He sighed again,” work, child...barely enough time to breathe. You have NO idea how grateful I am.”

                “She’s a darling, it’s no hardship.”

The next afternoon at just after two there was a knock at the door, a quiet knock, and when she opened it, she was greeted by the smiling face of Melody.

                “Well hello little lady, you ok?”

She nodded, “hi NeeNaw.” At some point her name had morphed into a siren wail and she loved it.

                “We need to make a cake for Lilah, you ready to help?”

The little girl stared up at her father who’d appeared beside her for approval, when he smiled she turned back to Nina and nodded enthusiastically, “I love baking!”

Theo was smiling at her, “thanks for this, Mansell is a bag of nerves again.”

She nodded, “I know I saw him yesterday. Look after him, ok?”

Giving a quick nod, he turned and jogged down the steps that led to her door, then made for his car, only pausing to give them a wave.

Theo couldn’t quite believe that Nina was being so reliable, so helpful. She had no reason to be. He’d hardly made things up to her in any way shape or form from the many disasters he’d created and caused since he’d first met her. He’d intended to call her, after her babysitting the earlier in the week, but Sadie had come out of hospital, her family were rallying around, and she wanted to see Melody.

It was impossible, social services and child protection were involved, there was no way they’d let her see Melody, not at the moment, but it would come. Melody missed her, asked about her all the time, and he tried to be honest, he told her that her mother was ill. The bright button had then asked why could they visit his grandfather, but not her mother. That had silenced him.

He had barely been at work the last few weeks, and there were some huge work issues that he HAD to deal with soon. Groaning, he hit the highway and got to the hospital as quickly as he could. Sadie, Melody, Mansell...there didn’t seem to be enough of him to go around. Now Helene and her family had descended on to the already loaded equation and he was starting to lose the pressure of the ground under his feet.