Chapter 23
At last, I had the table to myself. While Ted turned out to be better company than I’d anticipated, our conversation had still been stilted, which meant I’d had to do most of the work.
To be fair to Ted, he’d shared snippets of his life. Like the fact that he was Little Leatherington born and bred and that his wife had sadly passed away some years ago. I smiled, recalling how his eyes had lit up and his voice softened when he talked about her. The man clearly still loved and missed his wife, making me think he wasn’t the complete ogre he portrayed himself as. I sipped on my drink and I mulled over Jules’s comment about how loneliness sucks the joy out of people. What I now knew about Ted could’ve certainly explained his attitude.
Checking my watch, I supposed Frank and I should probably have been getting back to Number 3.
“Mind if I join you?” a man’s voice said.
I froze. Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t seen Oliver approach. The man had to be kidding; I wished he’d go away. In contrast, Frank jumped to his feet and wagged his tail to welcome Oliver.
Traitor,I silently said. Although when it came to the prospect of getting attention, I had to admit the dog had never had a problem shifting his allegiance.
“Hello, boy.” Oliver crouched down to Frank’s level and ruffled his fur. “How’ve you been?”
Responding in his usual way, the dog flung himself down on his back in anticipation of a belly rub, clearly more than happy to lie there with his tongue dangling out the side of his mouth, while Oliver did his bidding.
Attractive,I thought, wishing the dog would get back on all fours so we could leave.
At last, Oliver straightened himself up, at the same time indicating Ted’s empty chair. “Do you mind?” he asked.
The man’s presence wasn’t just unwanted, it was surprising considering the number of times he’d frowned at me that evening. But gone was Oliver’s seriousness; his smile couldn’t have been bigger. My eyes narrowed as I questioned what he thought he was playing at. Not that it mattered. Whatever his game, I had no intention of joining in. “And if I say no?” I replied.
He sat down anyway. “It’s great to see you,” he said.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“I would’ve come over sooner.”
I didn’t believe that for one second.
“But you were busy chatting.” He smiled. “I don’t know what you were talking about, but that grumpy old man hasn’t laughed publicly in years.”
“He hardly laughed,” I replied.
“Believe me, in Ted Sharples’s world, he did.”
I looked at Oliver, wondering whatthat grumpy old manhad ever done to him. “I’d prefer it if you could be a little more respectful,” I said. “Ted has been through a lot, what with losing his wife.”
Oliver looked back at me with a twinkle in his eye. He clearly found my request amusing. He nodded to my glass. “Can I get you a drink? Another glass of wine?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine, thank you.” My stern response seemed to confuse Oliver, but I didn’t care. As far as I was concerned, the man had only joined me because the group he’d been with had left and talking to the mad cow mountain woman was better than talking to himself. I glanced over to where he’d been sitting to see his friends still there. Suddenly, Oliver wasn’t the only one feeling bewildered. I was too.
“Is everything all right?” Oliver asked, following my gaze.
My attention went from his friends to him. If looks could kill he’d have hit the floor. “You really have to ask?” I said.
Concern swept across his face. “Antonia, have I done something to offend you?”
My eyes widened at the man’s gall and as he continued to feign innocence, my annoyance levels rose. “Unless you’re going to tell me you have a medical condition, then yes, you have.”
“A medical condition?”
“One that affects your facial muscles?”
He leaned forward and put his arms on the table, continuing his charade. “Antonia, you’ve lost me.”
“Look, I get that you think I overreacted the other night. That I should have known the difference between a cow and an actual person. I get that I’m not outdoorsy and can’t climb your precious mountain. I can even accept that you’ll be dining out on the back of both those things for years to come. But that doesn’t give you the right to make me feel uncomfortable.”
