The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone by Charity Norman

Author:Charity Norman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2015-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-six

Eilish

You know you’re getting long in the tooth when your hot-shot no-holds-barred solicitor is no older than your son. She suggested we get the divorce underway immediately, and demand an undertaking from Luke, in order to protect the assets. As thunder rolled outside, she took a history from me.

‘I’ve seen this kind of thing before,’ she said.

‘What, married men who turn into women?’

She dropped her voice, as though the walls had ears. ‘You’d be surprised. One of my colleagues had a client who couldn’t understand why her shoes were always too big for her. Even the ones she’d hardly worn. I think you can guess the rest.’

‘Yes,’ I said faintly. ‘Oh, yes. I recognise that.’

I was her last appointment. I left her office and ran through a downpour to my car. Oxford’s traffic was a nightmare. I doubt whether it was safe for me to be driving, because I can remember nothing about the journey except the slap-slap as my wipers tried to cope with teeming rain. I was thinking about the night I went to see Giselle, and lent a handsome man my opera glasses. Seemed like yesterday.

The church clock was striking eight as I splashed my way through East Yalton. The house looked dark and empty. I walked in, flicking on lights. Casino appeared within two seconds and gave me a fishwife-style telling-off, because it was long past his supper time. I emptied a can of food into his bowl and then sat at the kitchen table, feeling poleaxed.

I was dismayed by what I had begun. I’d been to a solicitor. I had knocked over the first domino, and the trail of fallen hopes would lead to the ending of my marriage. Had I really done that?

Casino jumped up and curled on my lap. I didn’t move. I knew Luke. I didn’t know Luke. He was a lover, he was a stranger; he was honourable, he was a conman. I feared for him. I pitied him. I raged at him. I loved him. He’d been my travelling companion all through my adult life; how could he walk away from me like this? It’s you who’s been to the solicitor, said a small voice on the other side of my anger. It’s you who’s done the walking away.

I don’t know how much time had passed before the phone rang. It jerked me back into wakefulness. Perhaps it’s Luke, I thought. Perhaps he’s asking to come home. There’s still time to stop that divorce petition from being posted.

‘Mum,’ said Simon. ‘Something’s happening.’

Simon

He found Carmela lying on the sofa with her feet on a cushion. Nico was all ready for bed, watching One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He jumped up and hugged his father around the waist.

‘You’re wet!’ he declared.

‘Just a bit. I walked in the rain.’

‘We’re watching the dogs. Cruella wants to make them into coats.’

‘Not more dogs! I’ve been looking at dogs all day,’ spluttered Simon with mock horror. He squatted down beside Carmela. ‘All right?’

‘Just those Braxton Hicks contractions,’ she said, rubbing her bump.

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