Page 50 of The Only Way Is Up

Tom shot Justin a glance that he hoped communicated a full morse code distress signal; Justin caught it and shook himself into action. ‘Right, let’s get you some coffee,’ he said, leading the way into the kitchen. ‘Eggs and bacon on the way. Stella’s made some bread which I’m not allowed to eat, so I’m banking on you letting me watch you enjoy every mouthful. With moans.’

Tom smiled and leaned against the kitchen worktop, rubbing his face with his hands.

‘You all right?’ said Justin quietly, glancing over Tom’s shoulder to check Stella and Miriam weren’t earwigging. They were chatting away on the sofa; Tom heard the words ‘church fete’ and relaxed a little.

‘Yeah,’ Tom shrugged then at Justin’s narrow-eyed look. ‘Actually, no.’

‘Wanna talk about it?’

‘Not really.’

Justin sighed as he picked up a spatula, gave the eggs a poke. ‘It’s just tabloid gossip, mate. It’s your own fault for being so fucking handsome.’

‘Tom, come and hear our plans for the fete,’ shouted Miriam from the lounge.

‘Uh-oh.’ Justin winked. He slathered a quarter of an inch of butter on a slice of bread the size of a Russian novel, then gasped with longing as Tom picked it up and chewed off half of it.

‘Stop watching me eat, you weirdo,’ Tom muttered as Justin practically drooled. ‘How many weeks left?’

Justin groaned. ‘Ten.’

Gerald and Tom sat in Gerald’s car outside the sweeping crescent of Regency townhouses in Cheltenham, waiting for the estate agent to arrive. Tom still wasn’t entirely clear why he was here, but Gerald had seemed stressed and anxious enough for Tom to simply agree to go with him, then wait patiently for Gerald to offload.

‘My cleaner showed me the news story about Daisy Crawford this morning,’ Gerald drawled. ‘I’m so sorry you’ve got dragged into it all.’

‘Thanks,’ Tom said. ‘It’s all a bit bewildering.’

‘I must say Melanie never mentioned that Daisy’s fiancé was joining them on holiday.’

‘No,’ Tom said, catching the edge in Gerald’s voice. Clearly Gerald had been imagining his wife partying with Daisy and Christian and a whole host of other unknown celebrity friends, and didn’t like it one bit.

‘Gerald,’ Tom asked gently. ‘I still don’t know why we’re here.’

‘Of course, I’m so sorry.’ Gerald looked out of the car window at the elegant terrace, then took a deep breath. ‘My mother left me this house along with the rectory, and since her passing I’ve been renting it out to students.’

‘Right,’ said Tom, none the wiser.

‘The monthly income has kept the rectory standing and covered Will’s school fees.’

‘We’re very glad to have him. He’s an exceptional student.’

Gerald nodded in acknowledgement of the compliment. ‘I also inherited some land, a dozen or so acres near Burford. My sisters have already sold their share to a property developer who has reached out to my solicitor with a very encouraging first offer.’

‘That’s all good. Melanie must be pleased.’ He’d got the impression that money was tight. Then he saw Gerald’s face. ‘Wait. Does Melanie actually know about any of this?’

Gerald shook his head, looking a bit sick. ‘I confess I’ve hidden it from her, just in case I decided to move on to pastures new. I’m not proud of myself,’ he added.

‘No,’ said Tom. ‘I should think not.’

‘I’ve spent the weekend doing some thinking, much of which has been rather painful.’ He turned to look at Tom, his face bleak. ‘I think I may have been a bit of a bastard.’

Tom stayed silent. It was something of an understatement, but he was a bit at a loss as to why Gerald had chosen him as a confidante and therapist. Didn’t he have enough to deal with?

‘Things were very difficult after I retired from office,’ continued Gerald.

Got fired for screwing an intern, you mean.

‘I’m ashamed to say I rather took that out on Melanie. I’d lost my career, my professional identity, my hairline.’ He gave a hollow laugh. ‘If she doesn’t come home from Austria, I shall only have myself to blame.’