Brand New Friend (26 page)

It was a quarter to nine on the day after the engagement party and Rob had just woken from a deep Sunday-morning sleep. Ashley was standing in the doorway with a smile on her face as if she knew something that Rob didn’t.

‘What’s up?’ said Rob, from the bed.

‘Nothing, really,’ said Ashley, who was wearing her early Sunday-morning attire of a long-sleeved white T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms. ‘I don’t think we should put two and two together just for the sake of it . . . because we’ll only end up with five, but I’ve just been downstairs to see if the boys are okay and make them some tea and Phil wasn’t there.’

‘He’s probably gone to the loo,’ said Rob.

‘Nope,’ said Ashley. ‘No one’s seen him since last night.’

‘I can barely remember last night,’ said Rob, rubbing his head. ‘Are you sure he wasn’t there?’

‘Well,’ said Ashley, ‘this is the thing. Darren saw him getting into his car just after eleven . . . with Jo.’

Rob sat up. ‘Darren saw Jo getting into Phil’s car?’

‘Now, like I said, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions,’ said Ashley, ‘but reports are that they were getting on
very
well last night.’

‘Were they? I asked Phil to look after Jo for me and make sure that she didn’t feel left out . . .’

‘Well,’ Ashley grinned, ‘it looks like he gave her his full personal attention.’

‘You don’t really think that Phil and Jo—’

Ashley shrugged. ‘Well, he
is
good-looking, and you know what a smooth talker he can be, and Jo’s very pretty. I suppose anything’s possible. But if you’re that curious why don’t you call him? He knows we’re all meeting for lunch today so you’ve got a good excuse.’

‘Can you do it?’ asked Rob. ‘I don’t want him to think I’m checking up on him – them.’

Ashley laughed. ‘But you are.’

‘Yeah, but he doesn’t need to know that, does he? Look, just call him and tell him what we’re doing for lunch.’

‘And what are we doing for lunch?’

‘We’ll go to the Lead Station,’ said Rob. ‘That’ll do, won’t it?’

‘Fine,’ replied Ashley, and picked up the cordless phone that was lying on top of the chest of drawers near the door and handed it to Rob. ‘You dial his number and I’ll speak to him.’ His fingers tapped in the number and he handed it back to her as Phil answered.

‘Hi. It’s Ashley,’ she said. ‘I didn’t wake you, did I?’ She laughed, and moved on to the landing, chatting to Phil so quietly that Rob couldn’t hear what she was saying. After a few moments, however, she was winding up the call in a louder voice. ‘Right,’ she said. ‘We’ll see the two of you at the Lead Station about midday.

‘Well, that’s interesting,’ she said, as she came back into the bedroom and sat down on the bed next to Rob.

‘What is?’ asked Rob.

‘Well, he said that he and Jo had talked until late and they didn’t get much sleep.’

‘They didn’t get much sleep? What does that mean? Why not? Did he sound tired?’

‘Doesn’t everyone sound tired on a Sunday morning? And what does it matter if they’ve got together? You’re always telling me that Phil usually goes out with completely unsuitable women – and isn’t it about time Jo was seeing someone? Her ex went months ago?’

‘She was supposed to be going out with some guy at work,’ replied Rob, ‘but she hasn’t mentioned him much lately.’

‘They’re both adults, Rob. Let them get on with whatever they’re doing.’

Rob kissed her. ‘You’re right,’ he said, and pulled her into his arms. ‘I should leave them alone.’ But even as the words left his lips, he knew that he had just made the most empty of promises.

Rob, Ashley and the boys had been sitting round a large table in the café for half an hour when a sheepish-looking Jo and Phil came in.

‘Morning, all,’ said Phil, cheerfully, as he sat down in one of the two empty chairs between Woodsy and Kevin. ‘How are we today?’

‘Morning, everyone,’ mumbled Jo, taking the chair next to Phil. ‘Did you all sleep well?’

With the exception of Rob, who stared blankly at Phil, everyone responded in the affirmative to her question.

‘What are you all having to eat?’ said Jo, indicating Rob’s menu.

‘I’m not sure,’ said Rob, drily. ‘Here,’ he said, handing it to her. ‘Take this. I’m nipping next door to Londis for a paper. Anyone else want anything?’

‘I’ll come with you,’ said Phil, standing up. ‘I never know which paper I fancy until I see the headlines.’

In the shop Rob picked up a
Sunday Times
, an
Observer
and a
Sunday Telegraph
, took all three to the till, paid for them and left the shop without a word to Phil.

‘Why don’t you just come out and say it?’ asked Phil following him.

‘Say what?’

‘Whatever you think you have the right to say to me.’

‘Well, as you’ve just tacitly pointed out, it would appear that you’re of the opinion that I don’t have the right to say anything – so what’s the point?’

‘This is pathetic, Rob. Can’t we just talk about it?’

‘I’m all ears, mate.’

‘I take it this is about Jo?’

‘And?’

‘Well, you’re being like this because I stayed at her house last night.’

‘It’s none of my business,’ said Rob, firmly. ‘Why should I care what you two are up to?’

‘Well, it would appear that you do,’ replied Phil. ‘Perhaps rather too much, considering you’ve just got engaged.’

‘You’re entitled to your opinions, no matter how off course they may be,’ said Rob, ‘but, just so that we’re straight, let me tell you this has nothing to do with me liking Jo or any other daft idea you might be harbouring.’

‘So what
is
it about?’ asked Phil. ‘I don’t want to fall out with you, mate – we’re better than that. If you want to know what happened between me and Jo last night—’

‘Stop right there,’ said Rob. ‘I’m not the slightest bit interested because she’s all yours. Whatever the two of you want to get up to is fine by me, as long as I’m well out of it. Okay?’

‘The only time you ever act like an idiot is when a woman’s involved,’ said Phil. ‘Did you know that?’

Rob thrust the
Sunday Times
into Phil’s hands and headed back into the café. For the rest of the afternoon, until the boys climbed into their cars for the journey home, he barely said a word to Jo, and he said nothing at all to Phil.

‘I thought you’d be here,’ said Jo. ‘Can I sit down?’

It was ten past ten the following Sunday, and Rob was in the Lazy Fox sipping a pint and trying to make headway with a crossword when Jo interrupted him. He hadn’t spoken to her since they were all at the Lead Station. Though she had phoned, sent text messages and emails he hadn’t responded to her at all. He told himself it wasn’t that he didn’t want to see her any more, it was more that he needed a break from her and to be alone with his thoughts. During the week that had elapsed he had concentrated on his work, stayed in and watched TV, read a few books and spent some quality time with Ashley.

‘I just want you to know that you’ve been a real idiot about all of this,’ said Jo, sitting down opposite him.

‘I know—’

‘No, you don’t,’ interrupted Jo. ‘You don’t know anything because if you did it wouldn’t have taken me getting a cab from Levenshulme to Chorlton every single night this week in the hope of finding you in here.’

Rob swallowed hard. ‘Every night?’

‘There’s no need to sound so surprised. I did it because we’re mates and I don’t want to lose you over something stupid like this – that’s how much I value what we’ve got. Even so, Rob, how dare you try to tell me who I can and can’t spend time with. And I’m outraged that you thought you could get away with trying to control me like that.’

‘You’re right,’ said Rob. ‘I was well out of order.’

‘Too right you were,’ said Jo. ‘You were acting like a spoilt child.’

Rob sighed heavily. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

‘Do you know what?’ said Jo, as they stared blankly at the drinks Rob had bought as a peace offering. ‘Phil thinks the world of you. We listened to some music, we talked – mainly about you – and, yes, we kissed briefly, but it didn’t feel right. He was your friend. I was your friend. It was all too confusing. When the kiss was over I went to bed and Phil slept on the sofa. That was all that happened.’

‘Why didn’t he just say that?’

‘Probably because it’s none of your business. Why should Phil have to tell you anything about me and him? Why should
I
have tell you anything about me and Phil? You don’t tell me things about you and Ashley, do you?’

‘No,’ mumbled Rob.

‘And why not? Come on, Rob, if you feel like you have the right to get stroppy about me and Phil, shouldn’t I have the same right about you and Ashley?’

‘It’s different,’ said Rob. ‘I’m not defending the way I acted . . . It’s just . . . It’s not like I don’t want you to be happy or have a boyfriend. It’s more like I feel responsible for your welfare. In a way, as much as I don’t like Sean, I sometimes wish you were still with him because then I wouldn’t feel like I had to protect you.’

‘
Protect me
?’ said Jo, surprised. ‘From what?’

‘From anything and everything that might hurt you,’ Rob told her. ‘I can’t help it. I know there’s no logical reason why I should feel like this.’ He laughed. ‘You’re a grown woman – what can I teach you about avoiding crap men that you haven’t learned from experience? But I still want to save you from getting hurt by guys like Phil or David or anyone else who isn’t good enough for you.’

Jo smiled and put her hand on his. ‘I’ve always known that if Ryan had been alive he would’ve hated me going out with Sean, even though they were such good friends. He was protective of me too. But, Rob, I don’t need another brother to watch out for me. I’ve got one, even though he might not be here. What I do need though is a good friend.’

‘Okay,’ nodded Rob. ‘I’ll be the best friend possible. Starting now. What are your plans for Christmas?’

‘I’ve avoided thinking about it – for the last couple I was at home with Sean. I can’t see myself spending the big day doing the blended-families thing with either of my parents . . . Maybe Kerry and Gary will invite me round if they’re not going to her mum’s in Devon.’

‘Well, feel free to say no but I’d love it if you’d come to us.’

‘That’s sweet of you, Rob, but shouldn’t you clear it with Ashley first? After all, this is going to be your first Christmas together since you moved in with her.’

‘Of course I should, but I’m sure when I explain that you’ll be on your own she’ll be fine with it. After all, you’re practically an orphan. And I’m pretty sure that it says in the rules that you have to be nice to orphans at Christmas. And you wouldn’t be spoiling anything. Ash and I are going away on Boxing Day – she’s booked us a few days at a resort in Gran Canaria so we’ll have plenty of time to be alone then . . . and, anyway, I’m sure if one of her mates was contemplating spending Christmas Day alone she’d have them round to ours in a flash. And I wouldn’t mind – even if it was Lauren and her annoying laugh – because I know how much her mates mean to her. But I’ll run it past her first.’

‘Okay, you’re on,’ said Jo, and kissed his cheek. ‘Thanks, Rob. I have to admit I was getting a bit worried about being on my own over Christmas.’ She paused. ‘Can I ask a favour? It’s just occurred to me that if I visit my mum on New Year’s Day and go on to my dad’s for a few days I’ll be away for over a week. When you get back from Gran Canaria could you pop over to mine and water my plants? I’ll leave you a set of keys.’

‘No problem,’ said Rob. ‘Plus I’ll keep an eye on the place. Watch out for burglars and that.’

‘You’re a real life-saver, do you know that?’

‘It’s nothing,’ said Rob. ‘It’s what good friends do.’

When Rob got home that night all the lights were off. For a second or two he wished with his whole heart that at least one had been on, and that Ashley was in. It was just after eleven thirty and he wasn’t tired. He turned on the TV and surfed the cable channels, then turned it off with a disgruntled snort, picked up the telephone and dialled Ashley’s mobile. He needed to talk to her – now.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, babe, it’s me,’ he said.

‘I was thinking about you. How was your evening?’

‘Cool,’ said Rob. ‘I met up with Jo for a quick pint in the Lazy Fox.’

‘How is she?’ asked Ashley.

‘Good, I think. Nothing much to report. How’s your night been so far?’

‘Pretty busy. Drunks in need of patching up and a few victims of random violence – the usual pre-Christmas cheer. I can’t wait until we go away. Talking of which, I know you’re going to hate me for doing this without talking it over with you first – and I know I’ve been hinting that I wanted our first Christmas together to be just the two of us – but I’ve had to invite my family for Christmas Day, Mum, Dad, Grandma and Granddad, Michelle and her husband. I’m really sorry.’

‘Look,’ began Rob, ‘about Christmas—’

‘If you’re angry, Rob, I wish you’d just say so rather than putting on that irritating voice. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I’ve invited my family for Christmas without telling you. Now, can we move on?’

Rob laughed. ‘There’s no need to be so defensive, babe. All I was going to say was that it’s fine.’

‘Oh, that’s brilliant! I’m sorry for being so mean.’

‘It’s okay,’ said Rob, ‘but I haven’t finished what I was saying. It’s just that Jo’s going to be on her own at Christmas. Her parents are divorced and both remarried and, well, Christmas at either of theirs would be a nightmare, apparently, so I’ve invited her round for Christmas Day too.’

‘So we’ve got my parents
and
Jo coming?’ Ashley burst out laughing.