Page 81 of The Way We Are Now

Theo smiled. ‘What is a coincidence, I suppose, was that I was down a couple of months ago when your brother and… and… your boyfriend… partner…?’ Theo broke off and it was clear he hadn’t found saying the word easy.

‘How on earth do you know who my brother is? And who my partner is?’ I knew my tone was belligerent, and I bit my lip.

Theo smiled once more. ‘The very talented David Piasecki? Come on, Anna, I read The Guardian.’

‘Bit left wing for you, that, isn’t it?’ I could have bitten my actual tongue off this time.

‘And, as your boyfriend is a member of Her Majesty’s Government, as well as you winning awards and constantly being in the paper together, then of course I knew who they were.’

‘And?’

‘And I heard them planning and discussing this party for you.’

‘Right.’ I glanced back at the door. I needed to get back to the party but found I couldn’t step away from Theo. Couldn’t bear to leave him. ‘So, how were you planning to help me celebrate? You were going to jump out of a cake in there? Wooh, surprise, surprise, Anna! It’s me, your ex who left you devastated almost twenty years ago?’

‘Don’t!’ Theo was pleading. ‘Don’t, Anna, please. I just hoped I might be able to get a glimpse of you. Just to see you again… there’s never been a day I’ve not thought of you.’

‘Theo,’ I interrupted, ‘I wrote, I called; I even found out where you were in New Zealand and wrote to you there. You cut me out of your life. You and your family made sure of that.’ I was suddenly angry, all the hurt and pain of losing this man I’d loved so deeply flooding back. It felt like a physical pain, one I’d managed to file away, but now here it was once more, facing me, taunting me.

‘Anna, I’m so sorry.’

‘I have to go,’ I said.

‘I need to see you. To explain…’

‘Anna?’ A voice from the back of the room called out in my direction. ‘Oh, you’re here. What the hell are you doing? I’ve been sent to look for you.’ Les came forward, a bottle of Carlsberg in his hand, and I could see he was a little the worse for wear. He swayed a bit, frowning while peering at Theo. ‘Hang on, I know you, don’t I?’ He glanced at Theo’s right hand, confirming his question was correct.

Oh, Jesus, don’t say Les was going to throw a few punches.

‘Les.’ I put a warning hand on his arm.

‘What’s he doing here?’ Les moved forward, his eyes slightly closed as he continued to look at Theo.

‘Les!’ I snapped the word this time.

But Les simply stood, and then after a few seconds, put out a hand. ‘Mate, I’ve wanted to say sorry so many times but never had the opportunity. Will you shake my hand? I can only apologise – I was a hot-headed kid on a mission, and I regret every day that I ever… you know… goaded you into coming with me. You saved me.’

Theo stared, and for a moment I thought he was going to refuse my brother’s handshake, but then he put out his right hand and Les grasped the remaining fingers and then, very surprisingly, because Les had never been one to show his true feelings, never adhered to what he’d scoffed was his feminine side, he reached forward and hugged Theo, before he said, somewhat gruffly, ‘Right, that’s done then. Good. Thank you. Good of you. Right, I’d better get Anna back or there’ll be another search party out. Anna…?’

‘What’s this? A breakout party?’ Michael and David were now walking towards us, laughing at some joke they’d obviously just shared. ‘Come on, Queenie,’ Michael said, his Scouse accent to the fore with the amount of alcohol he’d knocked back. ‘Come on, geerrl, everyone’s looking for ye.’ He kissed my cheek and the three men set off back towards the door.

‘Anna, please, I have to see you. I’m here in London all week. Please. I need to explain.’ Theo took a card from his pocket, putting it into my hand. ‘Just so I can explain?’

I nodded, placed the card in my handbag and without another word followed my brother and Michael back to the main event of the evening.

‘So, hang on,’ Gemma said, making herself comfortable on the chair I usually reserved for clients. ‘Theo? The Theo? Lord Theo, the love of your life? He turned up at the party? Well, I never saw him.’

‘Well, no, you don’t know who he is!’

Gemma had the grace to look embarrassed. ‘Oh, I do. When you told me about him, all those years ago, when you poured your heart out and sobbed all over me, I sort of did a bit of research on him. Found his photo… and the rest.’

I stared. ‘Did you? Why?’

‘I wanted to see the man who’d been able to dint that heart of yours. Before it closed up altogether.’

‘Are you saying I’m hard hearted?’ I felt really miffed.

‘Well, you’re no pushover, are you, Anna? I mean, I’ve seen grown men quail before you.’