The Nanny (17 page)

“Josh knows something about Daddy that Daddy doesn't want new wifey to know. And in return for keeping the secret, Josh has wheedled free rent and food from Daddy.”

Jo stopped folding Zak's track suit bottoms.

“You think Dick's having an affair?”

Shaun shrugged. “Or had one in the past. He had one when he was married to Josh's mum, didn't he?”

“That's a horrid thought,” murmured Jo. She gasped. “Mind you, Vanessa did say she thought something was going on. And he does come home very late. Bloody hell.”

“I dunno,” said Shaun. “I just think there's more to Joshua than meets the eye. How old was he when Daddy left?”

“Fourteen. Vanessa told me it was an awful marriage. They were rowing all the time.” Shaun shook his head and sucked in his breath again. “Bad age. Bad age for your dad to leave.”

Jo decided not to tell Shaun that's exactly what Josh had confided to her. Anyway, it was beginning to strike her that maybe Vanessa was right about Josh. He seemed able to switch the charm on and off like a light.

“Bet you never get over that.” Shaun was still talking. “And it was rarer then, wasn't it? Bet he was teased at school. Poor bastard. Must be really fucked up. Watching Daddy with his new kids all the time. It's sick.”

Jo sat down on Zak's bed. “Yeah, suppose it is.”

“So,” continued Shaun, “he can't exactly like his stepmum much can he? Or his stepbrothers and-sisters?”

“He said…he mentioned briefly that he did.”

“Well of course he's going to say that, isn't he?” said Shaun.

“Yes. S'pose so.”

“And yet he's chosen to live with them instead of finding his own place.”

They stared at each other.

“Maybe…” said Shaun, “he's spying for his mum?”

Jo shuddered. “She's a bitch. Big-time.”

“Ah!” said Shaun. “But I bet Josh loves her.”

“Of course he does.”

“Well there you go! She's got Josh to sponge off the dad who left him, while spying for her at he same time.”

Jo sat motionless on the bed. Maybe, just maybe, that would explain why he was so friendly to her so quickly. Come to think of it, he'd plied her with drink and then he'd started confiding in her the first night they met—maybe he was trying to ingratiate himself with her so that she could help him spy on Vanessa? She thought back to that first conversation. How he'd been so insistent to know what she thought of them all. And how he'd given away so much about himself. She thought back to Dick telling her that Josh was a ladies' man and Vanessa warning her not to fall for the famous Josh Fitzgerald charm.

After a moment, she shook her head, utterly confused and feeling increasingly depressed.

“I don't think so—”

Shaun shrugged. “I dunno. I'm probably just imagining it all.

“We shouldn't be talking like this,” said Jo suddenly. “They probably have a video cam up the cyberdog's nose.”

Shaun laughed. “How does he smell?” he asked.

“He doesn't,” replied Jo, scanning the tidy room. “He's not real. Follow me.”

“Haven't you finished yet?”

“No. And the quicker I do it the sooner we can go out.” She walked back downstairs and started tidying the kitchen.

“You have to admit the boy's good-looking,” said Shaun.

“Who?”

“Josh.”

“Are you still going on about him?”

“I'm not going on about him, I'm just saying you have to admit he's good-looking.”

Jo let out a wry laugh. “I don't have to admit anything,” she said, filling the dishwasher. “I want my lawyer.”

“Oh come on,” said Shaun. “You must have noticed. If you like the poncey, public school type.”

“Never occurred to me.”

“Oh come on.”

“Alright,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “He's good-looking.”

Shaun didn't answer.

“Perhaps you could actually help instead of just pestering me,” she said.

“Right,” said Shaun, joining her in loading the dishwasher while reminding himself to quit while he was ahead next time.

 

Jo knew exactly where to take Shaun on Friday night. Saturday night the girls were taking them both up to a great nightclub in town, so tonight she wanted to keep it local. She'd spotted a tiny French restaurant on Highgate High Street, which looked adorably cute. Shaun loved French food, and she'd booked ahead.

“We've only got two hours there,” she told Shaun as they walked up the hill.

“What do you mean?” he asked. “They chuck you out?”

“Not exactly, but they use the table twice in one evening. You can't book it for the whole evening.”

“Bloody hell.”

“It's a tiny restaurant.”

“And that's
our
problem?”

“No, it's just—look, it's special.”

“What, as in ‘special needs'?”

She linked her arm with his.

“Come on,” she coaxed. “Don't spoil it, we've only got one night alone.”

Shaun unlinked their arms and put his arm round her shoulder, squeezing her tight as they continued up the hill. He stopped at every estate agent they passed, which took considerable time as there were more estate agents than newsagents on Highgate Hill.

“Jesus Christ!” he exclaimed. “Look at the prices!” He started laughing. “And Londoners think they're better than us!”

“No they don't.”

“Look at that one! And it's only a two-bed flat. We could get a mansion for that at home.”

“Yes,” but you wouldn't be in London.”

“I know!” he cried. “Brilliant!”

When they finally reached the restaurant, Jo led Shaun to the tiny window and made him peer in.

He smiled down at her, and she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “Very nice,” he said. They walked down the narrow covered pathway to the side entrance and were led to the one table in the restaurant window. The waitress handed them their menus.

“Jesus Christ!” whispered Shaun. “Look at the prices!”

“
Shaun!”
hissed Jo, flushing.

“No wonder the Fitzgeralds pay you so much.”

“Shaun,” asked Jo. “Why are you spoiling this?”

Shaun looked up at her. He held her hand over the table. “Am I? I didn't realize,” he said. “Sorry. It's all just a bit new to me, that's all.”

“I suppose I've got used to some things.”

Shaun gave a twitch of his eyebrows, which Jo pretended not to see.

When the waitress came over, Jo was about to order, when to her amazement, Shaun ordered for them both.

“What are you doing?” she interrupted.

“I'm ordering. What do you think I'm doing?”

“How do you know what I want?”

Shaun frowned. “You like it when I order for you.”

“I do not.”

“Yes you do, you always say you can't make up your mind.”

“Well,” said Jo uncomfortably, “I can now.”

The waitress stopped writing. “Shall I come back?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Shaun.

“No,” said Jo. “We both know what we want, thanks.”

When Jo made her order, she looked straight at the waitress. Shaun ordered his usual, French onion soup and rack of lamb. When the waitress left them alone again, they looked at each other.

“So, since when did you like gravlax?” asked Shaun.

“Since I tried it.”

“What is it when it's at home?”

“Dry-cured salmon marinated in herbs.”

Shaun tutted and shook his head.

When their food was brought to them, Shaun eyed Jo's suspiciously. “Looks like leather.”

Jo gave him a look, and he shut up. They ate the rest of their meal in silence, occasionally interrupted by Shaun remarking how tasty the food was.

When they walked back, Jo started to tell him about the new friends she'd met and ignored the lack of enthusiasm in his responses. She supposed it was a bit unsubtle, telling him how happy she was, so she stopped. Instead, she began to describe the kids. When he started sighing at her tales of how much work she was expected to do and told her to have a word with her boss, she stopped. She was relieved when they got home.

Dick and Vanessa were in the lounge with the door shut, so they were able to tiptoe unnoticed into Jo's room.

Half an hour later, Shaun rolled away from her and fell asleep. She lay in bed wondering if Josh had heard anything.

Saturday morning, Jo woke early. She listened intently for any noises coming from Josh's bedroom. If he was in bed, they would have to be quiet. If he wasn't, it meant he'd seen them in bed together on his way through her room. This was beginning to feel intolerable. Then she heard a very loud yawn and knew that Josh was still in bed. Worse, he was letting them know he was in bed. Even worse, if she could hear him yawning, he would have heard last night's noises.

She got out and went into the bathroom for her shower and took her clothes in with her to change. She'd hoped Shaun would have woken up by the time she returned, but he was absolutely fast asleep. She knew Josh would want to get dressed, but was trapped until he knew they were both finished. She shook Shaun. He grunted. She shook him again. He grunted again. She whispered his name in his ear. He smiled. She whispered it again. He grabbed her round the waist and pulled her onto the duvet. When he realized she was serious and not coming back into bed, he opened his eyes. “Crikey, you're dressed,” he said. “What time is it?”

Jo looked over at Mickey Mouse, whose grin seemed frustratingly knowing. “Eight.”

Shaun moaned. “You mean we don't get a lie in?”

“We can't.”

“Why?”

“Because he can hear everything.”

“Who?”

Jo pointed her head at Josh's door. “Josh.”

“His room's there?”

She nodded.

“Bloody hell.”

“He'll hear everything.”

“Good,” he said, and tried to grab her again.

“No, Shaun.”

He started tickling her and despite herself, she started giggling. Shaun always knew exactly where to get her.

“Stop it!” she shouted eventually. “Leave me alone!”

Shaun stopped it and left her alone.”

“I'm going to put on some coffee,” she whispered. “Get in that shower immediately or I'm going out without you.”

Shaun grinned up at her. Anything you say, sexy,” he said at full volume.

“Shhhhh.”

As soon as Jo shut the door behind her, Shaun yawned very loudly and started whistling the theme tune to
The Italian Job
.

Jo opened the door and shushed him again, nodding toward Josh's room again. Shaun stopped.

“
Oh yeah!
” he hissed loudly enough to be heard in Niblet. “
Sorry.”

 

They spent the afternoon wandering round Covent Garden, watching the buskers and eating ice cream. The weather was idyllic—it was turning out to be a beautiful spring—and it reminded Jo of their first few months together all those years ago. And yet, she couldn't seem to get rid of a nasty feeling of guilt. As she watched a juggler while Shaun made a work call on his mobile, she retraced her steps, waiting for the guilt to reappear. She pinpointed the feeling back to her bedroom, but Shaun was the only person who'd been in her bedroom, and she didn't think she'd said anything to hurt him. Or had she? He didn't look hurt, he looked very busy behind his shades, eating his ice cream and chatting on the phone. Good.

Later that evening, they made their way to the nightclub where they were to meet Pippa, Gabriella, and Rachel. Jo found them already in the queue.

“Hiya!” she called out. “This is Shaun.” She held him forward on her arm and basked in their appreciative gazes.

“We've heard so much about you!” greeted Rachel.

“Lovely to meet you,” added Gabriella, taking his hand in hers.

Jo was extremely grateful to her friends.

Pippa stretched out her hand. “Hi.” She grinned. “I'm Pippa. Really glad to meet you. Jo talks about you all the time.”

Once they were inside, Pippa came up beside her.

“You're a dark horse, aren't you?” She grinned.

“Am I?”

“Yes, he's gorgeous!”

Jo smiled. “Mm.”

“How's it going?”

Jo nodded slowly quite a few times before answering.

“Fine thanks,” she said. “Yeah. Fine.”

Then she spotted Shaun chatting to Gabriella and stopped nodding.

“Come on,” said Pippa. “Looks like someone needs saving.”

“Yeah,” said Jo. “But which one?”

When they got there, Shaun gave them both a great big grin.

“Hello there!” he said. “Gabriella was just telling me all about being a nanny.”

Gabriella gave a little smile. “Aiy was telling 'eem all abowt Joshua,” she said, “and 'ow mush wee all luff about 'eem.”

Pippa gave Jo a sympathetic glance.

“Oh yeah, that might have come up,” said Shaun, eyes on the dance floor. “Wanna dance?”

When they got home, he collapsed into bed. “God I'm knackered,” he said loudly into his pillow.

Jo sat down on the bed and looked at him. Was she a terrible woman? She wanted to say something, but she couldn't think of anything, so she went to sleep instead.

 

Sunday was a lazy day. Jo and Shaun woke to the smell of brewing coffee and warm brioche.

“Blimey,” mumbled Shaun, rubbing his stubble against her neck. “How the other half lives, eh?”

Josh wasn't up yet either, so Jo spent another morning shushing Shaun, who seemed unable to lower his voice. Unsurprisingly, Josh appeared in the kitchen half an hour after they did. Jo was unable to meet his eye.

She was determined that Shaun meet all the Fitzgeralds, because she felt it was the right thing to do. Toby was there for the weekend as usual, so after Shaun had finished his calls, he was treated to Sunday lunch with the family.

“What's wrong with normal tomatoes?” He smiled at Vanessa when he'd found sun-blushed ones in his salad.

“Nothing at all,” replied Vanessa. “We're just rather addicted to sun-blushed ones.”

“Addicted?” he smiled. “Gosh, that sounds serious.”

“What do you mean?” asked Tallulah, giving him an intense stare from across the table.

“I'm just joking with your mummy.” Shaun winked.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because, sweetheart,” said Josh, “he's trying to be funny and superior at the same time.”

“Now now,” said Dick. “Shaun's a guest.”

“He's not a guest of ours,” said Toby. “He's a guest of Jo's. Because he's having sex with her. Josh heard them last night.”

“Oy, mate,” rushed Josh. “That was a secret.”

“You said Shaun sounded like a car with a flat battery,” snorted Toby.

Jo stopped eating.

“I like your goldfish,” Shaun said.

“What's a flat battery?” asked Tallulah.

“He's called Homer,” Cassandra told Shaun.

“What shape should a battery be?” asked Tallulah.

“After the writer of
The Odyssey
,” added Jo quickly.

Shaun looked at her. “Thanks.”

“So,” said Dick. “Back at work tomorrow eh, Josh?”

“Mm,” said Josh. “Can't wait.”

“Ready to brave the tube then?”

“Mm. Well, I'll have to see. I'll walk to the bus stop and if it hurts too much doing that, I'll take the bus all the way in instead of getting it to the tube. It will take much longer, but it won't cause complete agony.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” said Vanessa. “Jo will give you a lift to the station and pick you up when you come home. She drives past it all day long with the kids in tow.”

“No need,” said Josh. “It's fine.”

“Jo,” said Vanessa. “That will be okay, won't it?”

Jo glanced at Shaun, who stuffed some brioche into his mouth while watching her.

“Of course,” she said dully.

“No need,” repeated Josh.

“Don't be a martyr, Josh,” said Vanessa. “It doesn't suit you.”

There was a pause.

“Okay,” Josh agreed. “Cheers.”

“Jo, will you be able to take him until his ankle's completely better?” asked Dick.

“Mm,” said Jo.

“Won't be long now,” mumbled Josh into his brioche.

“No problem,” whispered Jo, who concentrated on her breakfast.

And then the children got very excited about the thought of Josh joining them on the school run, and any sense of decorum they might have enjoyed up until then was abandoned.

Shaun and Jo weren't alone again until she was driving him back to Highgate Station that evening.

“So,” he said.

“So.”

“Scrounger boy gets driven to school by nanny, just like his baby brother and sisters.”

Jo grunted. “Does seem a bit rich, doesn't it?”

“What the hell's wrong with him taking the bus? Anyone would think he was still in short trousers.”

“At least Vanessa made it so that I don't have to go too much out of my way or leave earlier. And I suppose it was all my fault.”

“How d'you figure that?”

“Well it's because of me that he got so battered and bruised.”

“And it's because of him that you got scared out of your wits!” exclaimed Shaun.

“What the hell did he think he was doing, breaking in like that? What he did was moronic.”

There was a pause.

“That's not what you said when I first told you. You told me off.”

“Yeah, well, I've had time to think. And I've met him.”

“It never even occurred to me to be annoyed with him for scaring me so much.”

“Well it should have. Dick and Vanessa have shown you that they think you were right, and he was wrong. And he's a tosser for giving you the cold shoulder for giving his ego a knock.”

She looked down at her hands. “Yeah. Maybe you're right.”

“You know I'm right.”

“Thanks.” She smiled. “You protect me.”

“Course I do,” said Shaun. “I'm your man.”

Jo smiled as she parked at the station. Shaun turned to her.

“Well.”

“Well.”

“It's been a gorgeous weekend, gorgeous.”

“It has, hasn't it?”

He kissed her, and she gave him a hug. “I'm going to try and come home the weekend after next,” she told him.

“Try?”

“I'm just so tired by the weekend I haven't got the energy to travel.”

“Right.”

As she hugged him, he whispered in her ear, “Don't let the buggers get you down,” and they hugged a bit tighter.

Then Jo watched him walk toward the station. When he reached the top of the stairs, he turned round and gave her a wave. She waved back, suddenly feeling lower than she had since she'd first arrived in London.