You Got It Wrong - Part Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

 

                “Why do I let you make me drink?”

Nina looked up from the kitchen table and smiled at her crumpled friend. “I seem to recall YOU dragged ME here, so it’s all your fault Miss.”

Lilah groaned, “but I’m dying!”

Nina pushed back her chair and made her a coffee as her friend slumped into a chair. “You are the one who insists on these nights out, I merely tag along.”

Lilah’s head was already on her folded arms on the table, “but we did the interview, so that’s a bonus...I suppose!”

                “Breakfast?”

She deliberately ignored the comment and started making eggs, but Lilah’s groans meant she wasn’t looking forward to it. Amelia hadn’t come home with them but then she’d had a phone call from her beautiful and successful husband. As they’d taxied home, Lilah had laughed at the time, “to be honest, I’d rush off to spend the night with THAT hunk.”

That wasn’t a lie, Amelia’s husband Rob was one of the hottest actors who after a couple of successful movie parts, was now the lead in a new televised drama. Both of them had watched the first episode a few weeks earlier with several bottles of wine and more than a few lewd comments, giggling as they ogled his every move.

                “Did you tell Amelia what we said?”

Lilah gasped, covering her mouth, “what that we think he’s got the best arse on TV? Of course not!”

Nina giggled, “we’d never be welcome to stay here if she knew!”

Nodding Lilah once again closed her eyes, “can you imagine?”

Despite her protests to the contrary, Lilah tugged into the scrambled eggs and toast as they appeared in front of her, sitting opposite her friend.

                “You’re quiet Nina, what you worrying about?”

In truth she’d not been able to get the memory of her confrontation with Theo out of her mind. “Nothing. Just tired I guess.” No matter how close she was to Lilah, she didn’t feel ready to discuss how Theo made her feel; draining her confidence and strength, they flattering her, acting as though it hadn’t happened.

                “We should have a pamper day. Go to the spa, manicure, pedicure...”

Nina rolled her eyes, “when have I EVER wanted a spa day?”

                “Maybe you SHOULD, maybe that would make a difference.”

                “Higher Daddy, higher!” Theo laughed at the exhilaration on his daughter’s face as she swung back and forth through the air, each time he pushed the swing she squealed with excitement.

                “That, young lady, is high enough.” But he could never say no to her, pretty much in the same way he couldn’t say no to her mother when he’d first met her. But then Sadie Mitchell was an amazing woman...or so he’d thought, though now he could see how duped he’d been. Fresh from college, starting out, hanging on his new brother’s coattails, he was living a life through Daniel that he’d never have had alone, and it was at one of the political influenced parties that he’d attended that he’d met his future wife. At twenty one he was free, happy and enjoying life, Sadie had sensed that and thrown herself headlong in his direction. And what red blooded man could resist the fun loving, beautiful and sensual woman? But at that time, he was blinded by that side of her, entranced; he’d have done anything for her, including sweeping her along the aisle to become Mrs Peterson. He’d thought that was what she wanted, but it seemed the lifestyle that Daniel had encouraged him to share, the parties, the premiers, the extravagance, that was what she wanted, and when they married, she wasn’t interested in settling down, couldn’t wait whilst he built his own business empire, she wanted instant gratification, and it was opportunity, fame, and wealth that motivated her, and his small world was not enough.

Melody.

He couldn’t regret the hell of the last eight years, not when he looked at her and all that she meant to him. Her face rippled with pleasure as she swung back and forth, and he was as smitten as the first moment the nurse had placed her in his arms.

Sadie had gone to New York, something to do with an audition. She’d lived her life as a supposed actress, though she’d barely done more than a little PR work. Not that he’d ever minded financing her to do that. But he did mind now that he paid for her to live, and she made little effort to improve things, so he met the shortfalls too, Melody’s clothing, food bills, and also Day Care...despite the fact that Sadie didn’t work.

His hatred of her grew daily and he was desperate to be free of her, he knew that if she put Melody first he’d not be seeking custody as he was, but she didn’t, he now realised that she couldn’t care for anyone as much as she did herself. He pitied that now, she cut a sad figure, desperately trying to cling onto a life that she had never really had.

                “Can we go to the beach again Daddy?”

That grabbed his attention and he looked at her questioningly, “the beach?”

She nodded as he lifted her off the swing, “the beach near Grampy.”

Brighton. He hadn’t seen his grandfather since coming back from France, he should go see him more often, but he’d had to work hard to make up for his unexpected absence, but today was Saturday, he had no other plans for the weekend...and he could fish for more information about Nina, because since bumping into her two days earlier, she’d barely been a moment from his thoughts since she’d waltzed out of the bar, angry and blazing.

The thought of seeing his grandfather, made him smile, but he could also do some digging into the surprisingly elusive world of Nina...He groaned, he didn’t even know her surname.

He’d checked them both into a beach front hotel, Melody as usual slotted into the changes as easily as she did every other situation.

                “Come on then.” They’d dumped their bag, investigated the room, but now he wanted to see Mansell more than anything.

Skipping alongside him, she gave him a constant commentary of the observations of an almost four year old.

They found his grandfather in the garden of the home, on a bench reading the newspaper.

                “Grampy!” His head shot up at the sound of the young voice, and the troubled smile was immediately replaced by a grin.

                “Melody Peterson! My FAVOURITE person!”  The end of his sentence was swamped by his great granddaughter launching into his arms, and as he smiled, he looked up to meet the eyes of his grandson.

                “You ok Granddad?”

Mansell nodded, “I am now. What are you doing here?”

Theo smiled, “a certain little lady couldn’t wait to see you.”

Casting his eyes down to her smiling face Mansell sighed, “and I couldn’t wait to see her either. Shall we take a walk to the toy shop?”

Melody gasped, genuinely surprised, “can we Dad?”

Theo gave a nod, “of course. As long as granddad let’s me buy us all dinner afterwards.”

The older man rolled his eyes, but then gave a nod of acquiescence, and within moments they left the building.

Nina had been squirreled away in her basement workshop for the best part of three days. She’d eaten there, almost slept there, but as she was in the midst of a creative streak, that was not unusual. It was late evening when Lilah finally managed to drag her out of the room.

                “I’ve ordered a takeaway, and there is a huge bottle of vin rouge up here with your name written ALL over it.”

She looked up from her position at the work bench, “but I’m on a ROLL!”

Lilah grinned, “I don’t care Miss Workhorse, you are my best friend and I haven’t seen you in days. Come up?”

Nina knew that she’d not get anything done with her in a mood like this, “ok. Ok. Give me ten minutes.”

Showered and changed into her comfy pyjamas, Nina found Lilah in the lounge, several cartons from their favourite Chinese restaurant on the coffee table in front of her, and two huge glasses of red wine.

                “Lilah...I LOVE you!”

Lilah chuckled, “yup, I know. Just wish I could cook instead of buy in this stuff!”

Nina reached for her glass, “Lilah you are many wonderful things, but you’ll never be a chef, that’s for sure!”

Stomach full, wine having an effect, Nina sat back and folded her arms across her stomach, “that was JUST what I needed.” Lilah grinned but didn’t speak. “You ok?”

Lilah shrugged, “I just thought that after I went on three dates he liked me, but I haven’t heard anything since last Friday...eight days.”

Nina groaned, Lilah was a beautiful woman, inside and out, a real angel, but she seemed to attract...and be attracted to complete bastards. She dreamed of a day when her friend would be truly happy, truly loved as she deserved.

                “If he can’t see how beautiful you are, if he can’t see what he’s missing, then he doesn’t deserve to be as much as in your gaze. Don’t you dare undersell yourself, you hear me?”

Lilah shrugged, avoiding her friend’s eyes, and Nina knew that she was upset, “hey, I hope you’re not letting a man...one who doesn’t deserve to clean your shoes...upset you.”

Again she shrugged, “just not getting any younger...”

Nina wasn’t accepting that. “No way, you’re young, I don’t believe that.”

Lilah got up and marched out of the room returning in a few moments with a new bottle of wine, but tears in her eyes.

                “Hey Lilah, what is it?”

Lilah shook her head, trying to protest that it was nothing, but Nina knew her better than she knew her herself sometimes.

                “Lilah?”

Her friend slumped into a seat and groaned, “I saw Marcus today.”

Nina suddenly felt sick. It was almost a year since Lilah had found her long term boyfriend in bed with another woman. Well bed would have been easier to deal with, instead she’d turned up earlier than expected at Marcus’ apartment and let herself in, only to find him naked and spread on top of a friend in the middle of the lounge floor. She’d been devastated, and that night had confided in Nina that she’d found a velvet ring box in his pocket the day before. She’d been expecting a marriage proposal, and instead had her heart ripped out.

                “Marcus, the bastard.” she rolled her eyes, “was he begging homeless outside a super market?”

Lilah gave an unenthusiastic smile, “I wish. He was coming out of Mothercare...with her...”

Nina gasped, a baby shop, Lilah’s replacement... “she was...”

Lilah nodded, “yep, she was heavily pregnant.”

Taking her hands, Nina sighed, “you were never meant to have a baby with him darling, you are TOO good for him, you hear that? Don’t let this upset you.” Swiping at a stray tear, Lilah tried to appear brave, but she was failing, so Nina jumped up, “this calls for one thing. A trip to the pub, come on, Operation Cheer You Up!”

It was such an ineffective thing for most people, but Lilah was a social butterfly, and the thought of getting out made her smile instantly.

                “It’s a date!”

                “Are you sure about this?” Theo looked at Melody tucked into the spare bed in Mansell’s apartment, “she doesn’t sleep well.”

Mansell patted his arm, “I’m more than sure, in fact this is the happiest I’ve felt in ages...and as for sleep, you have NO idea how poor your sleep becomes as you get older. We’ll have the greatest sleepover ever, won’t be cherub?”

They both looked at the little girl who was grinning and nodding with more enthusiasm than he’d seen in ages.

                “OK, ok, ok. I’ll be back early and I’ll bring breakfast.”

Leaving the home he felt kind of bereft, empty, he hadn’t expected to be going back to the hotel alone. The front in Brighton was busy, but then it was Saturday evening, and people spilled out of bars and restaurants, happy, laughing. He had never felt more out of place.

Taking a deep breath, he turned towards his hotel with a lonely and heavy heart. And it was then that he stopped dead in his tracks. The tall willowy blonde was used to stopping traffic with her graceful figure, elegant clothes and long legs clad in figure hugging denim, striding across the road, a beautiful woman to challenge the glamour and beauty of his ex-wife. But it wasn’t her that had stalled him, taking the wind from his sail, but his self titled pocket rocket beside her. Nina, she was unmistakable in her denim hot pants, luminous vest and black chunky boots. She hadn’t a fashionable bone in her body, but what he knew was a deliberate snipe at the world of fashion meant that she looked unique, and FAR more intriguing than anyone else he’d ever met.

Taking a deep breath, suddenly filled with adrenaline at the thought of a confrontation with her, he rushed across the road in the direction of the pub they’d just entered.