Between The Sheets (8 page)

'We've hardly seen him,' Ashling continued, 'socially, that is. When we have he clams up if we even mention your name.'

Dana flinched. 'Where's he staying?'

'Some hotel in town — I don't remember the name. But that in itself is a good sign, don't you think? If it was definitely over he'd have bought a house or flat by now. Has he asked you for an official separation?'

'I haven't heard from him since the night he walked out,' Dana said, feeling close to tears. 'It's so unfair, Ashling. It's bad enough that he's gone but why can't he tell me why?'

Ashling frowned. 'Didn't he give you any reasons at all?'

Dana looked away. 'He went on about our marriage not turning out the way he'd expected, but he wasn't making a lot of sense. I thought it must be a midlife crisis or -' Dana met the other woman's eyes — 'he'd found someone else. Be honest with me, Ashling. Has he?'

'Definitely not. He is not at all happy, Dana. I have no idea why he's left you, but it's obviously tearing him apart.'

'If only I could get him to talk to me. How can we resolve anything if we don't at least meet?'

Ashling looked at her thoughtfully. 'We could arrange for you to meet, accidentally on purpose, at our place.'

Dana shook her head. 'He'd probably just walk out. He'd feel that he was being press-ganged into a situation and he'd resent you and Tom for interfering.'

'You're right. It was a dumb idea.'

'No, it wasn't. You're just being a good friend and I really appreciate it. But I don't think there's anything you or I can do. Gus will come back if and when he's ready. I'm just not sure I'm prepared to wait.' Lies, all lies, but Dana had her pride. Let Ashling go back and tell him that.

She felt the tears welling up inside and decided to bring this meeting to a close before she made a show of herself. She glanced at her watch and shot the other girl an apologetic smile. 'Oh, Lord, I'd no idea it was that time! I'm so sorry but I'm expecting an important call from my editor any minute.'

Ashling stood up immediately. 'No, that's fine. I have to go anyway. How's the book going?'

'Really well.' Dana smiled widely. 'I'm almost finished.'

Ashling shook her head in wonder. 'I don't know how you do it, you're amazing.'

Dana walked her to the door. 'Thanks for coming, Ashling, it was kind of you.'

'No problem. Call me any time if you want to talk.'

Dana laughed. 'I think you're going to have enough on your plate, don't you?'

'Yes,' she agreed, 'but the offer is still there.'

Dana's eyes filled up as they hugged. 'Thanks, Ashling, I appreciate it.'

As she closed the door, Iris emerged from the kitchen.

'She's a nice girl, isn't she?' the woman commented, going into the sitting room to collect the tray.

Dana trailed after her. 'Yes.'

'You need your friends at times like this,' Iris continued.

'Yes,' Dana said again, thinking maybe it was time she called Judy.

'Dana, I'd almost given up on you!'

'Sorry, Judy.'

'That's okay, I'm just happy you called. I've been so worried about you.'

Dana smiled. How could this woman — who never saw her from one end of the year to the other — care so much? 'How are things with you?'

'Too unbelievably boring to talk about,' Judy said breezily. 'Now, tell me about you.'

'Nothing to tell.'

'If there was nothing to tell you wouldn't be calling me,' Judy retorted.

Dana smiled although she felt close to tears. 'Okay, then, I'm falling apart. Will that do?'

'Oh, Dana! Would you like me to come up?'

'No, of course not, silly! You've got the kids to look after.'

'Phil could manage for a few days.'

'No, really, it's okay. I just need to pull myself together and get back to work.'

'You're not writing?'

Dana sighed. 'No. I've tried but I just can't seem to produce anything other than gibberish.'

'Wow. That's a first,' Judy breathed.

Dana closed her eyes and gripped the phone tightly. 'Yes, it is.'

'You know what I think? I think you need to go and see Gus and find out exactly where you stand.'

'I'm not going crawling after him.'

'I'm not suggesting you do anything of the sort. Just ask him to clarify things. If it's definitely over then you need to know. You need to make it official.'

'But I don't want to,' Dana wailed. 'I just want him to come home.'

'And you really don't know why he left?'

Dana stiffened at the incredulity in Judy's voice. 'Not really.'

'Talk to me, Dana,' Judy said firmly.

Dana sighed. 'He said I didn't confide in him. He asked if I'd trusted him with my deepest, darkest secrets.'

'Which of course you hadn't.'

'Judy!'

'Well, it's true.' Her friend was unabashed. 'Did you ever even take him down to Wexford?'

'Of course I haven't. You know that.'

'It's your home!'

'Was,' Dana corrected. 'But that was a very long time ago.'

'Have you really told him nothing?' Judy's voice was barely a whisper.

'Nothing.'

For a moment there was a stunned silence at the other end of the phone. 'But you love him and he loved you.'

Dana closed her eyes briefly at Judy's use of the past tense. 'Judy, you know what it was like at home; can't you understand why I wouldn't want to talk about it?'

'You know I do, but Gus is your husband! He loves you, Dana. Can you imagine how hurt he would be if he heard the truth from anyone else?'

Dana shivered. 'That could never happen.'

'You don't know that.' When Dana didn't reply, Judy continued more gently. 'Go and see him, Dana. Make him talk to you. Even if your marriage is over, you won't be able to move on until you do.'

Dana relented, realizing the truth of Judy's words. 'I suppose that's true.'

'Call him,' Judy instructed.

'Maybe in a few days—'

'No, right now,' Judy insisted. 'Before you get cold feet.'

Dana swallowed hard and nodded even though her friend couldn't see her. 'Okay, then, I will.'

'And let me know what happens, won't you?'

'Promise. And Judy? Sorry I didn't call sooner.'

'Hey, you never have to say sorry to me.'

'Johnson and Cleary, can I help you?'

'Hi, Ann, it's Dana here. Is Gus in?'

'Oh, hi, Dana,' the receptionist said brightly. 'No, I'm sorry, he isn't here today.'

'Oh, okay, I'll try his mobile.'

'You may not get him,' the girl warned. 'He's in meetings all day at a customer's offices and he said he would probably have his mobile switched off. If you like I can put you through to his office and you can leave a message.'

'No, that's okay, I'll get him again.' Dana put down the phone, disappointed. She decided against phoning his mobile; it wouldn't be possible to talk if he was with a customer. It could wait, she decided. In fact, she'd leave it until Monday and spend the weekend making herself look reasonably presentable. If he did agree to meet she didn't want to look like some washed-out mess. Picking up the phone again she called her beauty salon. 'This is Dana De Lacey. Could I make an appointment, please?'

'Wow, are we the only normal people here?' Ashling murmured as she looked around enviously at the tall, willowy beauties who filled the room. Every year this fashion show seemed to get more glamorous. 'I feel enormous among all these double zeros.'

Tom squeezed her hand. 'You look fabulous.'

Ashling had thought she looked quite well too, in her sleeveless silver dress — until she'd walked into the ball-room of the Shelbourne hotel. Everyone here seemed to be famous, rich, gorgeous or, in some cases, all three. 'Where are we sitting?' she asked. Standing for more than fifteen minutes at a time was proving a challenge these days.

'The top table, of course,' Tom said, putting a hand in the small of her back and steering her through the crowds. 'Can you see Gus anywhere?'

Ashling scanned the room. Gus was head and shoulders above most people and usually easy to spot, but he was nowhere in sight. 'No.'

Tom sighed as he pulled out a chair for his wife. 'I'll go and look for him.'

'Don't argue,' Ashling warned.

Tom held up his hands. 'I won't.'

He made slow progress back across the room, stopping to shake hands, exchange hugs and kisses and give the occasional instruction to one of the hotel staff. As he neared the door he spotted Carla in the corridor and made a beeline for her. 'Have you seen Gus?' he asked, without preamble.

Carla shook her head. 'Do you want me to go and look for him?'

'No, I think I can guess where he is,' Tom said grimly. 'If you do see him, though, tell him to get his butt in there.'

As he'd suspected, Gus was sitting at the bar with a whiskey in front of him. With his wife's words ringing in his ears, he made his way to his partner's side and caught the barman's eye. 'Jameson, please.'

Gus looked up at him and grinned. 'Yo, partner, how the hell are ya?'

Tom's eyes widened as he took in Gus's red eyes, his undone tie, and the distinct smell of alcohol on his breath. The barman returned with his drink. 'And a pot of black coffee,' Tom said stiffly. 'Make it strong.' He steered his partner to a quiet table in a far corner of the room and glared at him. 'What the fuck do you think you're playing at?'

'Relax, Tom. I'm just having a quick drink.'

'You've had several by the look of it. How could you, Gus? This place is crawling with our clients, not to mention the press.'

'I'm fine,' Gus told him.

The coffee arrived and Tom poured some, tugged the glass from his partner's hand and replaced it with the cup. 'Drink,' he instructed.

With a sigh Gus obediently raised the cup to his lips. 'I'm fine,' he repeated.

'You look like shit.' Tom looked around nervously. 'The show starts in ten minutes so keep drinking that coffee. And don't even dream of touching another drop of alcohol tonight.'

When Gus didn't reply, Tom shook his head in frustration. 'Why are you behaving like this, Gus? Is it Dana?'

Gus stared sullenly into his coffee.

Tom was about to press the matter when Carla appeared at his side.

'Oh, good, you found him. It's time to take our seats.'

'Damn.' Tom stood up. 'Carla, you stay here and get at least two more cups of coffee into him before you bring him inside.'

Carla's eyes widened as Gus gave her a drunken grin. 'Sure, yeah, you go on.'

'Not another drop tonight,' Tom repeated, before disappearing into the crowd.

'Are you okay?' Carla asked, taking Tom's seat.

'My esteemed partner says not. What do you think?'

Carla smiled apologetically. "You do look a little the worse for wear. Here, let me fix your tie.' Stretching across the table the girl bit her lip in concentration, then sat back to appraise her handiwork. 'There, you're gorgeous!'

'So are you,' Gus murmured, smiling into her eyes.

Carla's smile faltered and she looked away. 'Drink your coffee.'

'If I drink any more of this stuff I'll throw up.'

'How about some water?' she suggested.

'How about we get out of here and go for a real drink?'

'If we do that Tom will kill you, and fire me,' she said lightly. 'Now come on, let's go.' She pulled him to his feet and led him out into reception. 'I know you're not in the mood, Gus, but a couple of hours and you're out of here.'

He sighed. 'Okay, okay, I'll do it for you,' and stopping, he turned, smiled and bent his head to kiss her lightly on the lips. 'Thanks, Carla.'

Blushing, she took his hand and led him into the function room.

'Is he okay?' Ashling murmured to her husband once the lights had gone down.

'He's had a few too many but he should be able to hold it together. Just keep the wine bottle away from him.'

Ashling nodded slightly, turning as Gus slipped into the seat on her other side.

'Don't have a go at me,' he warned. 'I'm not going to make a show of you.'

She smiled. 'I didn't think you were.'

'Sorry.'

'That's okay.' She reached out a hand to squeeze his, then turned her attention back to the show.

Gus looked up at the models strutting their stuff in front of him and let his mind wander. He was glad of the darkness, and the fact that he didn't have to make mind-numbingly boring conversation with the wife of his latest client. Since he'd left Dana, he'd found it harder and harder to put on a show for people he didn't care about. He was able to do his job easily enough. Once he started drawing he got completely lost in his work and managed to forget his troubles. Dana was the same. There were times when he had watched her tapping away on her laptop, completely oblivious to his presence. How much had she used her work to blot out the real world, he wondered. How much did she use her writing as an excuse not to communicate? How much did he really know her at all?

Gus reached for his glass and, realizing it was empty, looked around for a bottle. Ashling passed him the water jug instead. Smiling, he obediently poured himself a glass. She and Tom were being great about all this, he admitted to himself. He might be still able to draw, but Tom was shouldering the lion's share of their responsibilities at the moment.

Gus had always been the one to chat up the clients and convince them that they should be more daring and adventurous in their designs. Now, though, he kept his contact with them to the bare minimum. Tom, who had always been happy to take a back seat, had been forced to step in.

It couldn't continue, of course. Tom would be taking a few weeks off as soon as the baby was born and Gus would have to step up to the plate.

The lights came up again as the presenter announced a break. Immediately Gus was on his feet, drawing a questioning look from his partner. 'I'm just going to the loo, okay?' he murmured as he passed Tom's chair.

'Just make sure you don't go via the bar,' Tom warned.

Gus wove his way between the tables, nodding and smiling as he went. As he pushed open the door, he felt some resistance, and pushed harder.