Up Close and Personal (19 page)

‘What – like you might be sick?’

‘No, just peculiar.’

Connor made a face. ‘Can you be more specific?’

Nicole giggled. ‘You know what, I don’t think I can.’ She smacked her lips. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got anything to eat, have you?’

Connor looked at her in surprise. ‘How can you be hungry when you’ve just had afternoon tea?’

‘I just am,
okay
? Have you got anything or not?’

‘No,’ snapped Connor, turning back to the arena, where Lydia had now released a relieved Captain Lundy and was performing a rather ambitious back bend.

Nicole unzipped her changing bag that was stashed beneath the pushchair and pulled out a packet of baby rusks. She popped one in her mouth and began chewing it noisily. When it was gone, she reached for a second rusk, moaning in pleasure as she ate. A third followed in quick succession. ‘These are yummy,’ she said, reaching for a fourth. ‘I can’t believe I’ve never tried them before.’ She held out the packet to her husband. ‘Do you want one?’

‘No thanks,’ Connor said, quivering in disgust.

A few feet away, Juliet was also beginning to feel the effects of the hash brownies. ‘Do you feel okay?’ she whispered to Yasmin, as Lydia and Precious took a bow before leaving the arena.

Yasmin smiled. ‘Never better. Why, don’t you?’

‘I feel a bit spaced out. And everything around me seems so much …’ Juliet blinked hard. ‘I don’t know … brighter somehow.’

‘Perhaps it was something you ate,’ Yasmin said, suppressing a smile.

‘Maybe … My mouth’s really dry too.’

‘Well, it is awfully hot.’ Yasmin handed her a bottle of water. ‘Here, have some of this.’

‘I do hope I’m not coming down with something,’ Juliet said, unscrewing the lid of the bottle.

‘You’ll be fine,’ said Yasmin, smiling lazily as she felt the effects of her own hash brownie kick in. ‘Just relax and go with the flow.’

Juliet eyed her friend suspiciously. ‘Go with the flow? What are you talking about, Yasmin?’

‘Ooh look, the next pet’s coming on,’ said Yasmin in an attempt to distract her friend.

Juliet looked towards the arena, where a goat in a fitted peplum jacket, diamanté collar and sunglasses was being led round the ring by the teenage daughter of a local farmer. Immediately, she exploded into laughter, spraying the woman next to her with a mouthful of water. ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,’ she cried.

‘Oh, things are going to get a lot better,’ Yasmin said softly. ‘Just you wait.’

After four more competitors had taken to the arena, it was finally Dante’s turn.

‘And now, ladies and gentlemen,’ Captain Lundy said, beaming as he saw the name on his clipboard. ‘I’d like you all to give a very big Loxwood welcome to our next competitor. All the way from the US of A … Mr Dante Fisher!’

When she heard his name, Juliet gasped. ‘Oh my God,’ she said, standing on tiptoes for a better view. ‘Dante didn’t tell me he was entering the competition.’

Beside her, Nicole gave a long, contented sigh. ‘I feel all warm and fuzzy,’ she said to no one in particular.

There were butterflies in Dante’s stomach as he heard his name being announced. This was a golden opportunity to make a good impression on the locals. He couldn’t afford to squander it. Stepping out of the contestants’ tent, he made his way towards the arena with Jess walking beside him, her noble head held aloft. The pointer looked so cute in her waistcoat and feather headdress, he knew she’d give the other animals a run for their money, but for Dante the competition wasn’t about winning. He’d already made up his mind that if he bagged first prize – £100 and a meal for two at Gaston’s – he’d hand it to the runner-up. It seemed just the sort of magnanimous gesture Gus might have made.

Like all the contestants before them, pet and owner received an enthusiastic reception as they made their way towards the arena. Dante was grateful for the support and he was feeling surprisingly confident as he began his first turn round the ring. He was so busy concentrating on walking with a swaggering gait, just like a real cowboy, he didn’t notice the applause was faltering. By the time he reached the first bend, it had died away altogether. However, it wasn’t until people stopped talking that Dante realized something was seriously wrong. He stopped and looked about him in confusion. All he saw was row after row of stony faces. Nobody spoke, nobody moved. They all stared at him, their expressions a disquieting mix of shock and loathing. Dante spun round, his eyes scanning the crowd for a friendly face. There was none. Suddenly, he
caught sight of his wife, standing with Yasmin and Nicole. Juliet’s face was ashen and her eyes were blazing.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sound of manic giggling. Yasmin turned towards the culprit. ‘Jesus, Nicole, shut up, can’t you?’ she hissed.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t h-h-help it,’ Nicole hiccupped, sucking in her cheeks in a desperate attempt to stop the next uncontrollable wave of laughter.

Yasmin was laughing now too. Other people were looking at them, glaring accusingly, as if they were gatecrashers at a funeral. Yasmin stuffed her fist in her mouth and looked across at Juliet. Juliet wasn’t laughing. She was white as a sheet.

Nicole, meanwhile, had lost all her inhibitions. With tears rolling down her face, she pointed at Dante. ‘It’s the Lone Ranger,’ she cried. ‘And Tonto!’

‘For God’s sake, pull yourself together, woman,’ Connor muttered.

Dante turned towards them. ‘What is it?’ he pleaded. ‘What have I done?’

‘Your outfits,’ Connor barked. ‘They’re the same ones Gus and Jess wore at the last Best Dressed Pet competition.’

When he heard this, Dante’s face crumpled in horror. Tearing the mask off his face, he turned and ran blindly across the lawn. By the time he arrived back at the house, his chest was heaving and the back of his neck was damp with sweat. After the emotion of the arena, the coolness and tranquillity of the entrance hall came as a welcome relief. He stood in the centre of the room, hands on his head, breathing in the smell of flowers and wax polish. All at once, he had a sense that he was being watched. He looked up
and saw Nathan standing halfway up the staircase. The look on his face was leering, triumphant.

‘Is everything all right?’ the manager enquired calmly.

‘No, it damn well isn’t,’ Dante said. Then he ran up the stairs, pushing past Nathan roughly, desperate to be alone.

13

The fête was long over by the time Dante woke up. At first he didn’t know where he was. Then he realized he was lying on the lumpy mattress in the attic bedroom he’d stumbled across two days earlier. He sat up with a start, wondering what time it was. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep; he just wanted to get away from the omnipresent Nathan and the sea of staring faces at the Best Dressed Pet competition. The last thing he remembered was lying down on the bed and gazing at the opposite wall where a small painting hung. It showed a primitive hunting scene – an impaled deer, eyes wide with fright as blood spilled from its pierced flank. A group of huntsmen stood nearby, their faces triumphant as they watched the wounded animal’s life ebb away. He must have drifted off as he studied that brutal scene, and now here he was, still alone, goodness knows how many hours later.

The small room felt like a sauna. Rubbing his eyes, Dante went to the window and flung it open. It was still light outside and down below he could see dozens of workmen scurrying about the lawn as they dismantled the various stalls and attractions, before piling the component parts onto a series of flatbed trucks. He watched them for a few moments, marvelling at their efficiency, before staggering to the avocado sink in the corner of the room. Gripping the sides of the basin, he stared at his reflection
in the tarnished mirror that hung above it. A shank of hair was glued to his forehead and his right cheek bore the imprint of the pillowcase’s scalloped edge. He splashed his face with cold water and used his wet hands to push back his hair. Then, he decided, it was time to confront Juliet.

He found her in the conservatory. She was standing by the French windows, watching the tea tent coming down, arms wrapped across her chest as if she were cold. Although she must have heard his footsteps on the tiled floor, she didn’t turn round. Thrown by her lack of response, Dante stopped and rested his hand on a button-backed easy chair. ‘Juliet?’ he said tentatively.

She didn’t answer straight away, and when she did speak her voice sounded tired and flat. ‘I was wondering where you’d got to.’

‘I fell asleep in one of the attic rooms,’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you come and find me?’

‘I was going to,’ she replied. ‘Just as soon as I’d got rid of these workmen.’

Dante took a step towards her. ‘I’m so sorry about the competition. All I wanted to do was surprise you.’

Juliet glanced over her shoulder. ‘You certainly did that.’ She turned back to the garden. ‘I just wish you hadn’t run away.’

‘So what happened after I left?’

‘Everyone was pretty stunned. They all seemed to be waiting for me to provide some sort of explanation, but of course I didn’t have one. I just stood there, rooted to the spot like a rabbit caught in headlights, until Captain Lundy, God bless him, came dashing back into the ring
and introduced the next contestant as if nothing had happened.’

‘Who won?’

‘The goat. It was a unanimous decision by the judges.’

Dante hung his head. ‘I had no idea Gus had ever entered the competition, let alone what outfit he wore.’

‘Of course you didn’t know – how could you? It was just a horrible coincidence.’ Juliet put her hand up to the window frame. ‘Although I expect some mean-spirited souls will think you did it deliberately.’

Dante groaned. ‘How could anyone think I’d pull a sick stunt like that on purpose?’

‘I don’t know … to assert your position perhaps. What better way to show you’re every bit as good as Gus than by stepping into his shoes, quite literally?’ Juliet turned to face him. ‘Of course, that’s not
my
opinion, but I’ve lived in Loxwood my whole life; I know how people talk.’

‘But that’s crazy,’ Dante said, feeling the anger welling up inside him. ‘I don’t want to be Gus. Why would I? I didn’t even know the guy.’ He began pacing up and down the room. ‘In any case, how could I ever match up to a guy as goddamn perfect as him?’

Juliet turned round. Her face was pale and stoical. ‘You mustn’t feel insecure, darling,’ she said.

‘It’s hard not to when everyone keeps telling me how awesome Gus was,’ Dante retorted. ‘It seems like he never put a foot wrong.’

‘Gus was no saint, I can assure you of that,’ Juliet said emphatically. ‘But he was a charismatic man – people were drawn to him. He made them feel good about themselves. Everyone was devastated when he passed away. It’s only
natural that they remember the good things, rather than the not-so-good. Don’t try to compete with him. He’s dead, Dante, dead and buried.’

Dante shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter what I do, folks round here are never going to accept me. Everybody was staring at me like I’d murdered someone.’

‘Don’t be silly. They were just in shock, that’s all.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘Where did you find those costumes anyway?’

‘In the attic. Nathan sent me up there.’

Juliet looked at him in surprise. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, in fact he was the one who suggested I enter the competition in the first place.’ Dante frowned. ‘You know, the more I think about it, the more I’m beginning to think he set me up.’

‘What are you talking about?’

Dante stopped pacing and put his hands on his hips. ‘C’mon, Juliet, it’s a bit of a coincidence, don’t you think? First, he encourages me to enter the competition, then he sends me up to the attic, having strategically placed the Lone Ranger and Tonto costumes where I couldn’t help but find them. Hell, he even got out some old film posters – Westerns, every last one of ’em – just to ram the message home.’

Juliet pressed her fingertips into her eye sockets as if she were trying to think. ‘What possible motive could Nathan have for doing something like that?’

‘To make me look like a jerk,’ Dante said. ‘I get the feeling Nathan doesn’t much like having me around.’

‘Now you’re being ridiculous. I know you’re upset, but –’

‘Too right I’m upset,’ Dante snapped. ‘Have you got any
idea how difficult it’s been for me these past few weeks? Coming to a strange country, having to say goodbye to my family and friends – and then, just when I think I’m starting to adjust, I’m ritually humiliated in front of the whole town.’

Juliet sighed. ‘I know it’s hard for you, darling, but I’m doing my best to help you settle in.’

‘Are you?’ Dante said. ‘Only from where I’m standing it looks as if all you care about is this damn house.’ He gave a sour laugh. ‘But then again that’s hardly surprising when everywhere you turn there’s a reminder of the late, great Gus.’

Suddenly, there was a discreet cough from the garden. Juliet wheeled round. Eleanor Ingram was hovering by the French windows, looking curiously overdressed in a Chanel two-piece and a pillbox hat trimmed with marabou.

Juliet forced herself to smile. ‘Eleanor, what a lovely surprise.’

‘I hope I haven’t called at an inconvenient moment,’ Eleanor said as she stepped into the conservatory. ‘I was just passing on my way back from the wedding.’

‘Ah yes,’ Juliet said, belatedly remembering that Eleanor had been attending the nuptials of her best friend’s daughter. ‘How was it?’

‘Perfectly delightful.’ Eleanor fingered the rope of pearls at her neck absent-mindedly. ‘The reception was at Goodhurst House. I’m afraid I got rather emotional – and it wasn’t because of the speeches.’

Juliet’s smile faltered. Goodhurst House was where she and Gus had had their own wedding reception.

‘How was the fête?’ Eleanor asked.

‘It was wonderful,’ Juliet replied quickly. ‘Gus would’ve been very proud.’

Eleanor’s raptor-like gaze settled on Dante. ‘The summer fête was very dear to my son’s heart,’ she informed him. ‘It pained me greatly to miss it.’

Unsure of the correct response, Dante gave a small, sympathetic smile. In return, Eleanor issued a weary look, like a judge scoring a lacklustre performance: one out of five for effort.