White Nights by Cleeves Ann

Author:Cleeves, Ann [Cleeves, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780230714649
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2008-04-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four

Fran was working on a still-life, some pieces of driftwood and a scrap of fishing net she’d found on the beach. It was more as practice than for a picture to sell. She’d become obsessed by the need to improve her drawing. Even at art school, she thought, she hadn’t paid it enough attention.

The phone call came just as she’d taken a break from work and put on the kettle for tea. She thought it would be Perez. He was her lover, the man who had been there at the back of her thoughts for months. But when she heard the English voice at the end of the line, there was a thrill of guilty excitement. She’d looked Wilding up on the internet. He had his own website, which listed the reviews. Perhaps he wasn’t bestseller popular, but he was recognized as an interesting and original author. One of his short stories was in production for a feature film. There was in his celebrity the same glamour that surrounded Roddy and Bella.

‘What are you doing?’ His voice was easy, slightly amused.

‘I’m working.’

‘So I won’t be able to persuade you to meet me for lunch then?’

The invitation reminded her of the spontaneous arrangements that had been part of her city life. A call from a friend. A meeting in a wine bar or over coffee. There’d be gossip and laughter then she’d run back to the office to finish the day’s work. Things weren’t quite so easy here. Perhaps in Lerwick it might be possible, though the choices of venue were limited. Here in Ravenswick, miles from anywhere, it was all much more complicated. Socializing took place in friends’ houses. There was nothing new.

‘I’ve got a hire car,’ he said. ‘I can pick you up. Half an hour.’

‘I’ll have to be back at three to collect my little girl from school.’ As soon as the words were spoken she realized they’d be taken as acceptance of the invitation.

‘No problem. See you soon.’ And the line was dead. It was as easy as that. She felt a pleasurable guilt, as if she’d already been unfaithful.

She went back to work, but couldn’t concentrate. Where would he take her? Of course they would bump into someone she knew. A friend of Perez’s. Or a friend of Duncan’s. She started forming the excuses and explanations in her mind. He wants to commission a piece of art. Of course I had to talk to him. It was just a business lunch. Should she phone Perez now and tell him what was happening? But then that would give the meeting more importance than it warranted. And how should she dress?

He arrived before she was quite ready and she felt flustered. She had to invite him into the house to wait and was aware how small it was, saw the dead houseplant on the windowsill, Cassie’s toys all over the floor, through his eyes. He remained standing while she ran into the bedroom to get her bag. She’d compromised on clothes – jeans with a silk top she’d bought on her last trip south.

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