Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (15 page)

The phone rang and she saw it was Jess. She left Lily playing and went downstairs, knowing Jess would want details of last night which she didn’t want Lily to hear.

‘We couldn’t wait any longer,’ Jess said, ‘I’m at Susie’s shop and we’ve got you on speaker. What happened last night? I saw his car was there this morning until about ten forty-five so it’s obviously very good news. Did I see him carrying Lily today? Is she home?’

‘Yes, to both. He stayed, we had the best sex EVER and I do mean EVER and this morning, he took me to get Lily and what’s more, I’ve told him everything, I’m not really sure how, he just seems to be so easy to talk to. He says he may be able to help me with the banks and he’s taken the papers to read. Wouldn’t that be great? Hello? Are you still there?’

‘We’re here,’ they said in unison.

‘That’s amazing. I told you he was perfect for you didn’t I?’ Susie said.

‘And we both told you, you needed a man. I haven’t heard you sound this happy since ... well, since Lily was born.’

‘I know. I must admit you were both right and I was wrong. Of course, it’ll all end in tears but even so, I won’t regret it. These have been the best two days of my life so far, apart from Lily, of course.’

‘So, he knows about Jeremy, the debts, the suicide?’

‘Everything. He even knows about my rift with the Coopers and my mum and dad’s accident. I can’t believe how much I’ve told him. Oh and Jess, he told me the reason for his divorce. Connie got the wrong end of the stick. It was Max who had the affair, although he did regret it and spent two years trying to get his wife back – but, that’s not for general consumption so if anyone asks, please say you don’t know.’

‘We will. So, he had an affair? Does that worry you?’

‘Why should it? It was a long time ago and he clearly realises it was a very big mistake. Anyway, it won’t affect me. We’re not likely to last very long.’

‘Why do you say that? He must like you a lot to go and get Lily with you and to take on the banks, this could be it Becky, your new start and a chance for real happiness.’

‘It could be, but I doubt it. Max Bedford can have – and admits he has had – a great many women, can you honestly see him wanting to stick around here for very long with a woman who has a child? I’m just a novelty. He’s rich, he’s gorgeous, he’s great company, caring, thoughtful and, you’re so right about him Susie; he is a demigod. I can’t even begin to describe the things he did to me last night and this morning and ... let’s just say ... I’ve had sex more times in the last twenty four hours than I had on my two week honeymoon! And not just sex but heart stopping, head pounding, thinking you might just die from pleasure sex!’

The line went dead.

A few minutes later, they called back. ‘Um, you know we had you on speaker, well, because we were listening we didn’t notice but the vicar came in and, we hate to tell you this but, he heard the whole of the last few minutes conversation. I don’t know who was more shocked, him or us.’

‘OH MY GOD! Did he know it was me on the line?’

‘Possibly.’

‘What do you mean possibly?’

‘When he left he said, “Tell Becky my lips are sealed but my confessional is always open.”’

Max called fifteen minutes later to ask if he could pop in that evening and Becky told him Lily went to bed at about seven-thirty so anytime after eight would be fine. At five minutes past eight, he pulled up outside.

He had a bottle of wine in one hand and an iPad in the other and as soon as she had closed the door, he put them on the table and pulled her into his arms.

‘I can’t believe how slowly time goes when you’re waiting to go somewhere,’ he said after kissing her. ‘I checked my watch hadn’t stopped, every few minutes, for the last hour.’

‘Do Rolex watches often stop?’ she asked, raising her eyebrows and tilting her head back to look at him.

He grinned, ‘Anything’s possible, as my dad used to say. Oh, by the way, I popped into the Stores on the way here and the vicar said to give you his regards when I saw you next.’

Becky flushed crimson and buried her head in his chest. ‘Dear God.’

‘Is something wrong?’

‘Um. I know I shouldn’t have and please don’t be cross but Jess and Susie called to ask about last night and they had me on speaker. I didn’t tell them everything honestly but I ... I mentioned that I had sex last night and ... as everyone saw us together ... it was obviously with you. The vicar dropped into Susie’s and heard me say it.’ She finally looked up at him. ‘I’m so sorry Max. Are you cross?’

He burst out laughing. ‘Did you just say sex or did you say good sex?’

‘Um. I actually said heart stopping, head pounding, thinking you might just die from pleasure, sex.’

His eyes held hers and his smile lingered. ‘And the vicar heard that?’

She nodded. ‘Every word.’

‘Well, that’s okay then. If you’d said it was dire, I would have been a little put out but heart stopping etc is good, so I don’t mind in the least.’ He tilted her head back with his fingers. ‘Did you really think you might die from pleasure?’ His eyes were like green sparklers.

‘Several times.’

‘Me too,’ he said, his voice crackling with desire and he kissed her so passionately that they both forgot they were in her sitting room and her daughter was asleep upstairs.

They tore off their clothes as if they were on fire and fell in a naked tangle of arms and legs onto the sofa, desperate to join their bodies, both giving and taking pleasure at the same time and both reaching climax simultaneously.

‘It’s a good thing the vicar didn’t see or hear that,’ Max said after a few minutes, ‘he’d excommunicate us both.’

‘It’s a good thing Lily didn’t see it,’ Becky said, hastily remembering her sleeping child and grabbing her clothes. ‘Even you would have trouble explaining that.’

Max threw on his clothes. ‘I’m sure I’d think of something.’

‘I’m sure you would. Does anything bother you?’

He thought for a minute ‘Not much and certainly not what people think of me, unless it’s someone I care about of course.’

‘I wish I could be more like you. I seem to worry about everything. I’ve been worried about you finding out what the vicar heard ever since he told Jess and Susie that I could go to confession.’

Max sniggered. ‘I’d like to be a fly on the wall at that. I didn’t know you were catholic.’

‘I’m not. Actually, I’m not really religious at all but that doesn’t stop him trying. He’s not catholic either, by the way. Are you – religious I mean?’

‘No. Did you really think I’d be cross? I knew you’d tell Jess and Susie – I just hoped you’d say something nice.’

‘Jeremy would have gone mad if the vicar had heard about our sex life – not that there was much to hear on that score. He was more interested in gambling than he was in me, I realise that now.’

Max lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her on the nose. ‘I know it isn’t going to be easy for you Becky and I understand completely why you would but I’m not Jeremy and I think you should try not to compare us.’

‘I know and I’m sorry. Believe me; you are absolutely nothing like him.’

‘No need to be sorry and I’ll take that as a compliment but I’m not perfect by any means. I have faults, all I’m saying is, you’ve spent the last couple of hours worrying about something unnecessarily. Anyway, talking of worrying, I may have some good news for you on the financial front. Let’s open this wine and I’ll tell you what I’ve done so far.’

He opened the bottle and they sat down then he turned on his iPad and showed her a list of her creditors with the full amounts; the reduced amounts; the amounts she’d paid off so far, and what was left to pay, if the agreement remained valid, listed next to each one.

‘I managed to speak to the creditor disputing the agreement; as it happens, I know the Managing Director personally. Obviously they can’t discuss your finances with me unless they have your written permission but I’ve explained the situation, told them I’m now involved and we’re instructing solicitors to contest your liability. There are problems with this for several reasons, some of the loans you are jointly and severally liable for, some of them have a forged signature but you know you did sign some things so proving that’s a problem and, you’ve accepted liability, but we could try to argue duress on some. The best thing is to try to renegotiate and, if you are happy for my solicitor to do this, we can get the ball rolling tomorrow. The ones I know personally, will accept, including the main one I spoke to today; my solicitor can get the rest. I’m fairly confident they’ll all agree.’

Becky couldn’t believe what he was saying. ‘Are you saying that I can get the agreement re-instated or perhaps, just pay a little bit more?’

‘No. I’m saying we should be able to get it reduced so that you have to pay less. Banks are always prepared to negotiate. They don’t want to drag a widow and her young child through the courts, especially not for the relatively small sums involved. I know they don’t seem small to you but the debts are distributed between a lot of banks and institutions and you’ve been paying them regularly for the last five years. I don’t know how you managed it.’

‘So, I may not lose everything then? Oh Max, thank you so much! Is ... is your solicitor very expensive?’

‘Not very – and don’t worry about his bill, I said I’ll take care of that.’

‘No Max. I couldn’t let you do that.’

‘Oh couldn’t you? You didn’t ask me to get involved, I offered and I offered my solicitor. I’m paying his bill and I’m not going to have an argument about it so you may as well forget it and just let us do what we can. We may not succeed but I’m pretty sure we will.’

And although she didn’t know why, Becky thought so too and she couldn’t stop the tears of sheer relief from rolling down her cheeks.

Max put his arm around her and pulled her close, tenderly kissing her head and stroking her hair. She hadn’t realised how tired she was and ten minutes later, she was asleep in his arms.

Becky awoke and for a moment, she wondered where she was. She’d been having a wonderful dream about Max and she stretched her legs and arms, like a contented cat that had most definitely, got the cream.

Then she remembered and sat bolt upright. She was in bed, under the duvet, fully clothed. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the sofa in Max’s arms. It was still dark and she peered at the clock. It was ten fifteen. She switched on the light and saw a note, in Max’s hand writing.  It read, “Goodnight and pleasant dreams. I’ll call you tomorrow. Max xx. P.S. Here’s my phone number if you want to call me. xx”

She grabbed the phone and dialled; he answered after the second ring.

‘Hello sleepyhead,’ he said.

‘Oh Max I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Thank you for carrying me upstairs.’

He laughed. ‘Don’t apologise Becky, neither of us got much sleep last night. I’m going to bed soon too. And it’s no wonder you are shattered, what with everything else going on in your life at the moment. I didn’t mind, honestly.’

‘But you read all those papers, made those calls, came round to tell me about it and I’m asleep within half an hour!’

‘Not quite half an hour – and you did make me very welcome – and very happy.’

Becky blushed just thinking about it. ‘You made me very happy too. You ... you could have stayed. As long as you left before Lily woke up.’

‘I did consider staying but you know as well as I do, neither of us would have got any sleep if I had and I’m heading up to town first thing, so I need some. I won’t be back until Saturday. I’ve got some things to do. Now, get some sleep and I’ll call you in the morning.’

‘Oh!’ She couldn’t hide the disappointment or the surprise, in her voice.

‘Any chance you’re free on Saturday evening. Perhaps the three of us could go out for an early dinner or something?’

‘The three of us?’ She couldn’t think clearly. ‘Oh! You mean you, me and Lily?’

‘No. I meant you, me and the vicar. Of course, you, me and Lily. Nothing fancy. I’ve no idea what five year olds like to eat so I’ll let you choose the venue. Unless ... you’d rather Lily didn’t spend time with me until we know whether this is headed somewhere.’

‘Um.’

‘That’s okay. I completely understand. Children can get attached and you don’t want her to get used to having me around and then, one day, find I’ve gone. How about I come round later then? After she’s gone to bed, around eightish? I can bring a take-away, if you want.’

‘Max I ... may I think about it and let you know tomorrow? You’re right in thinking I’m worried about her getting attached. She’s already renamed two of her dolls, Max and Mummy and I don’t want her to get hurt. Do you really understand?’

‘Of course I do. Is my doll good-looking?’

Becky smiled. He didn’t sound annoyed and that was a relief. She didn’t want to upset either of them. ‘Yes. In a plastic, sort of way. He drinks a lot of tea and spends a lot of time kissing Mummy doll.’

‘Ah! A life-like model then. That’s good. Goodnight sweetheart. I’ll call you tomorrow.’

‘Goodnight Max.’ She hung up and collapsed back onto her bed. All she could think of was the fact that he’d just called her sweetheart.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Max did better than call; he arranged for “Stephanie’s Stems” to deliver a huge bouquet of flowers at eight-thirty on Thursday morning, which was pretty amazing for two reasons: first, because the shop didn’t open until nine and second, because Stephanie delivered it personally.

‘Wow! When did he order these?’ Becky asked, truly stunned but knowing immediately, they were from Max.

Stephanie smiled. She was in her fifties and had known Becky for over twenty years. ‘This morning. I’d been to a flower market and was unloading the pickup; he was on his way to the station. He stopped and helped me; even though he was wearing the most expensive suit I’ve ever seen then asked if I would deliver these to you first thing. He chose the blooms himself. I’m so pleased for you Becky. He’s such a nice man and he seems really smitten. I saw you at the Valentine’s Dance; he couldn’t take his eyes off you.’