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Chapter Sixty-Five
After that, my heart isn’t in it. My guests ooh and aah over my pudding, but there’s a tension in the atmosphere that’s palpable. Only Nina, who is now three sheets to the wind, is oblivious. Gerry, his eye firmly on mine, keeps topping up her glass in a kind of petty defiance. How I’d like to whack that man over the head with a bottle. It’s just a shame that Nina doesn’t feel the same way.
Mike is studying me intently, but I try to breeze through my duties as hostess. It’s midnight when they all go and, frankly, it’s not a moment too soon.
As I wave the last of them away, Mike hangs back. ‘I’ll help you to clear up,’ he says.
‘No need.’ I lay my hand on his arm. ‘I’ve got it covered.’
Dominic is already clattering about, stacking the dishwasher like I’ve shown him.
‘What happened in there?’ He nods towards the kitchen.
‘Gerry was being a complete arse.’ I lower my voice as I confide.
‘Did he make a play for you?’
‘Yeah. Pillock.’ I shake my head. ‘I have no idea why Nina stays with him.’
‘He’d just had too much pop,’ Mike says. ‘Don’t let it worry you.’
It’s not that easy though, is it? It does worry me. I worry that he’s changed my friend over the years and not for the better. She used to be so much fun, now she’s becoming embittered, jealous of anyone else’s happiness and just as opinionated as her damn husband.
Dominic comes to the kitchen door and leans his rangy frame against it.
‘Look, I’ll catch up with you both tomorrow.’ Mike kisses my cheek and then goes to shake Dominic’s hand. My neighbour claps my lover on the back. ‘See you, Dominic.’
‘Thank you, Mike.’
I show him to the door and he gives us a wave as he disappears. It’s freezing out there and it’s starting to spit with rain. Mike hurries to his own cottage.
Closing the door, I lean against it. ‘That was terrible,’ I say with a weary sigh. ‘I’m so sorry for putting you through that.’
Dominic shrugs and I go to him and we wrap our arms around each other. I wanted us all to have great fun together and for everyone to love Dominic. But you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.
‘You and me against the world,’ I say, ‘hey?’
‘And Mike,’ Dominic adds. ‘I think that Mike is on our side.’
‘Yes,’ I agree, ‘he’s a good man.’
I flop down onto the sofa and pull Dominic down with me. We sprawl out together, the warmth from the log burner easing my mood.
Dominic is unusually quiet.
‘Don’t take it to heart,’ I tell him.
He takes a deep breath. ‘For the first time in my life, I am afraid, Janie,’ he admits. ‘Your friends, they do not know who I am and yet they think that I am not a good man. I try to do good in the village and a policeman has to bring me home? I do not know my place in this life, in your life.’
Panic rises in me. ‘Don’t think like that.’ I stroke Dominic’s handsome ebony face. ‘We’ll work it out. You’re different. It will take time for some people to get used to you, to us.’
‘I will take a walk in the village.’
‘It’s cold out there. It was starting to rain when Mike left.’
‘I am Maasai,’ he says softly. ‘I am nothing if my village does not need me.’
He stands up and makes his high-pitched Maasai noise. I do hope it doesn’t wake the neighbours. Archie comes thumping down the stairs.
‘That’s a good party trick,’ I say, trying to add some levity.
‘Come, cat.’ Dominic lifts the adoring Archie onto his shoulders. ‘I will not be long.’
‘Put your coat on,’ I beg. ‘What about your shoes? You’ll freeze.’
‘You forget how much I appreciate the rain, Just Janie. I will be fine.’
‘We’ll be fine,’ I reiterate.
‘Yes.’ There’s a sadness in his voice that breaks my heart. ‘We’ll be fine.’
Barefoot and dressed just in his shuka, Dominic steps out into the night.
Chapter Sixty-Six
I hear the slow horror-film creak of the ancient front door as Dominic lets himself in. Peering at the clock on the mantelpiece, I see that it’s four o’clock in the morning. The wood in the stove has burned away and it’s chilly in the cottage. My bones are aching from falling asleep on the sofa. I hear Archie grumble as he’s lowered to the floor and then Dominic comes to kneel next to me.
‘Hey,’ I say, trying to focus my eyes.
