Page 92 of The Way We Are Now

‘Anna, I’m not hiding under the bed or in the wardrobe.’

‘It’s an office. Look, Theo, when I told Michael the truth last night, he was more than angry.’

‘I don’t blame him,’ Theo said somewhat mildly. ‘As both you and I would be in his place.’

‘I just don’t want any fighting.’

‘Fighting?’ Theo pulled his own scary face. ‘Look, we need to talk about this together, the three of us.’

‘Not on your life! And then Michael goes back to the Commons, gets into conversation with someone – even your brother-in-law – and the next thing it’s all over the front page of the Express? I don’t think so! Theo, I defend women who’ve been in abusive relationships. The press would have a field day if there’s carryings on here in my own office, given my relationship with Michael.’ I glanced nervously at the office door.

‘Carryings on?’ Theo gave a little smile at that. ‘Very Yorkshire.’

‘Yes, well, if you’d forgotten, I am from Yorkshire.’

‘As am I, and proud of it.’ Theo took me in his arms, and it was utter heaven to be there. ‘Listen, Anna, Angus is so much better, totally out of danger now, thank goodness. Honor is still with him and then we’re taking him back home once the hospital say it’s OK. I’ll be at the Holland Park house this evening and then going back to the hospital to fetch him and Honor and driving them home.’

‘You see – home!’ I air-quoted the words. ‘You’re taking Angus home where he belongs. With the pair of you. It’s your home, Theo. Your family.’

‘And you’re having my baby, Anna.’

‘Not necessarily.’

He flinched at that and I moved over to him where he took my hand, unwilling to let it go. ‘Please go,’ I said. ‘You can leave through the other door here.’ I returned to my desk, rifled through the drawer and went to unlock the door which led out onto the tiny scrubby patch of garden and exit on to the road. ‘Just… please… I need to sort it…’

‘Anna, we need to sort it. I love you. You know that.’

‘I know.’

Theo kissed my forehead and left.

29

I spent the next fifteen minutes with Michael. He looked awful and I felt dreadful: guilty and ashamed that I’d been the cause of such hurt.

‘Paternity test,’ he said, the minute he sat down opposite me. I could smell alcohol on his breath and sat back in my chair.

‘And how do we go about that?’

‘I was talking to someone last night after you’d left the flat.’

‘Someone?’ I interrupted. ‘Who? Listen, Michael, I really don’t want all this being out in the open. People gossiping and stories being leaked to the papers. You know how the press will find any opportunity for a man in your position…’

‘My ex-wife actually.’

‘Right. OK.’

‘I drank probably more than was wise – especially after I was so knackered – and had to get a taxi home.’

‘I’m glad you’re able to be friends with her.’

‘Anna, we only split up because of my work commitments. Neither of us had affairs with anyone else, slept with anyone else, if that’s what you were thinking.’ He looked at me meaningfully.

‘Thanks, I deserved that.’

‘And what I deserve, Anna, as does this child, is to know just who we belong to.’

‘I keep telling you, Michael, this is my baby.’