Three

Nigel began to think he had made a grave error in bringing Jackie to the same Eastbourne teashop where he had brought Mary. It was almost six months ago, yet the same plump waitress who had served him then seemed to remember him, behaving in an over-familiar way.

‘Buck rarebit, pot of tea for two and a selection of pastries, is it?’ She smiled, pleased with her memory skills.

Colouring slightly, Nigel studied the menu deeply, then snapped it shut and declared loudly: ‘An excellent recommendation.’ He glanced at Jackie. ‘Does that sound all right to you, darling? Or would you like something a bit more substantial?’

Jackie frowned abstractedly. ‘No, that sounds fine.’

The waitress gave a self-satisfied, knowing nod, as if the order had been a foregone conclusion, before shuffling off to the kitchen. Jackie stared at Nigel, and he guessed what she was about to say.

‘Have you been here before, Nigel?’

‘I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it. I came here on several occasions with my ex-wife.’

‘How long ago was that?’

Nigel made a show of trying to remember. ‘Now let me see...’

‘It must be quite some time ago.’

He tittered nervously. ‘Yes, it must be many moons ago. I have to take my hat off to that waitress, she must have a wonderful memory.’

A note of suspicion crept in Jackie’s voice. ‘Have you been here more recently?’

‘Well, if I’m out this way on business. I often pop in for a cream bun or something. You know me: I have an awfully sweet tooth.’

‘Not only sweet. I’ve never known anyone pick at crisps and peanuts like you do,’ she admonished him with a wag of her finger. ‘Little pickers, bigger knickers!’

Relieved that the conversation had sailed into safer waters, Nigel grinned like a naughty but lovable child. He patted his stomach. ‘I must start an exercise regime soon.’

‘Yes,’ Jackie leaned across the table and whispered, ‘otherwise I’ll be marrying a Mister Tubby Bear.’

‘Not long to go now. Just another couple of weeks. Shame we couldn’t have done it in early September as we first planned. And I thought it was going to be a quiet wedding. Now the guest list seems to be growing. Mainly with your side of the family.’

Jackie sighed. ‘We’ve been through all this Nigel. It’s only a dozen extra guests.’

‘Only!’ Nigel exclaimed forcefully.

Jackie looked round at the other tables. ‘Ssh! Keep your voice down. And there’s something I need to discuss with you ... about the honeymoon.’

Nigel stared at her, almost resentfully, suspecting that he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

‘We’re not exactly ... um ... youngsters,’ she continued falteringly. ‘And as we still haven’t made up our mind where to go on our honeymoon - as you claimed we might get a better deal on that last minute thingee - I thought we might have the honeymoon in November, when we might appreciate going somewhere sunny when it’s gloomy and foggy over here.’

Nigel pouted like a sulky child. ‘But a honeymoon’s supposed to follow a wedding.’

Jackie laughed, and waved a dismissive hand, which irritated him.

‘Yes but we’ve been there and done that - both of us - the first time. So why don’t we treat this as a holiday?’

‘I don’t understand what the problem is of going away immediately after the wedding.’

Jackie shook her head emphatically. ‘Because I can’t go. I won’t be available. I’ll be rehearsing, and then in mid-November I’ll be performing.’

Nigel stared at her, open-mouthed.

‘I’ve joined the Royal Town Players, an amateur dramatic society.’

‘So when did this all come about?’

‘I told you: I auditioned for them the other night. I knew you weren’t listening.’

Nigel fiddled with the salt cellar and scowled at it. ‘Yes I was. Only I didn’t think...’

‘You didn’t think I’d get the part?’

‘Well, no ... I mean ... I hadn’t really thought about it.’

‘I’d have thought you’d have been pleased for me.’

Nigel looked up, giving her a feeble smile. ‘Oh, I am. It’s just that I’m disappointed about the honeymoon, that’s all.’

‘It’s not as if it’s cancelled. Just postponed.’

‘And what about this play you’re in?’

‘What about it?’

‘What sort of thing will you be doing?’

‘Well, it’s a romantic comedy. And I’m one of the leads.’

Nigel tugged thoughtfully at his lower lip. His voice was frosty when he spoke. ‘I see. A romantic comedy. And does this involve kissing other men on stage?’

Jackie laughed. ‘You’re not jealous, are you?’

‘Of course not. It’s just that I’d like to know what I’m supposed to do with my evenings while you’re out practising this play.’

‘We don’t call it practising,’ said Jackie. ‘It’s called rehearsing.’

‘Does it matter what it’s called?’ snapped Nigel. ‘Does it matter?’

***

‘Your guvnor in?’ Tony Rice asked Mandy, Craig’s shop assistant, who stopped shaking the scoop containing a freshly-cooked batch of jumbo sausages in batter and stared blankly at him, trying to decide whether he was friend or foe. He looked like a bailiff, like the one who came round that time her mum and dad were way behind on their council tax.

‘I’ll go and see,’ she answered non-committally before disappearing into the back of the shop. Rice heard some whispered exchanges, then Craig appeared in the open doorway behind the counter, wiping his hands on a J-Cloth. He tried to look pleased to see Rice, but there was no disguising the insincerity of his over-hearty greeting.’

‘Hello, mate! How’s it going?’

A skeleton of a smile played on Rice’s lips. ‘Mustn’t grumble. You got a minute?’

‘Yeah - what can I do for you?’

‘No, I mean...’ Rice inclined his head in Mandy’s direction as she squeezed past Craig and returned to the fish fryer. ‘I’d like a word in private. There’s a boozer round the corner we could...’

Craig shook his head. ‘Sorry. Lunchtime on a Friday can get pretty busy.’

Rice stared at Craig without speaking. Mandy watched with interest this tacit exchange of wills between her employer and this stranger with his quietly threatening demeanour. After what seemed like an uncomfortably long silence, Craig backed down with a false laugh.

‘As it happens, I could fancy a swift beer. I’ll get my jacket. Can you manage for twenty minutes, Mandy?’

‘Yeah. Go ahead,’ said Mandy, while he collected his jacket from the back of the shop. She looked at Rice, who grinned and undressed her with his eyes. She shivered slightly and looked away.