Thursday morning, Jesse dispatched one of his carpenters to fit Sophie’s bolts, and a representative from the security company called round to quote for an intruder alarm and security cameras to be fitted as an emergency: possibly tomorrow week. From lunchtime, Sophie felt no safer. To lift her from her incipient despondency, Sam insisted that she and Laura came to visit his piles of bricks, shuttering and cement mixers.
Sam’s site was bordered on three sides by woodland, with the emergent foundations being located a good distance from the road. Sophie was staggered at the size of the plot. She checked the pushchair wasn’t about to roll away and tip Laura into a hole. ‘Which way’s north?’ she asked. Sam pointed. She did a slow spin. ‘So, everything is south-facing. That’s perfect. You could plant your apple trees towards the back, over there, and a couple of plums and pears. You don’t want a monospecific orchard. That’s just asking for trouble. And a greenhouse there, with the big vegetables in front, leading up to a kitchen parterre garden. Herbs and salads. I think you should have a rose walk this side of the orchard. And you’ll need a cage for the soft fruits. And… why are you laughing?’
‘I’m just delighted we’ve got all that sorted out. Although I’m going to insist upon dandelions. And baking potatoes. They’re big vegetables, aren’t they?’
She frowned. ‘Who owns the adjacent land?’
‘Jesse’s purchased the eastern plot. He says he might build a multi-storey car park on it and would I mind. And the woodland to the west and the rear belong to Stroud’s Farm. If I win the lottery, I’ll put a bid in for the land at the back.’
‘You’re joking about the car park, right?’
‘Right.’
‘Sometimes I’m not sure. So, how long is it all going to take?’
‘The Project Manager estimates three months for the outside shell and services and the same amount again for most of the internal work. Probably another month to finish and get off site. Can you wait seven months?’
‘Can I wait seven months?’
‘Well, you don’t expect me to move into our house on my own, do you?’
Sophie released the brake and manoeuvred the pushchair round on the uneven ground. ‘Will we still be together in seven months?’
‘I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we are.’ Sophie went to push Laura forward but Sam caught her arm. ‘Soph, I mean that. Tell me you’ll come and live with me and we can plant our garden together.’
She didn’t answer. But she did smile and say. ‘I like dandelions.’
‘Is that a yes?’
‘It’s an extremely possible. Come on, it’s birthday tea time.’
The following afternoon Sophie learned that, although still only intermittently conscious, Jonah had proved himself able to respire without the help of a ventilator. Of course, Sophie’s far greater concern was the evening about to happen, when she and Sam would have to witness another round of Katie’s over-supper conversation. Sam had insisted they should stay over in his attic afterwards, an insistence about which Sophie was silently ecstatic. And, to save any major haulage of baby equipment, Jesse had moved a playpen and cot to the top floor. As they drove over late-afternoon, Sophie fought to disguise her breathless anticipation. Her efforts collapsed when Greenfield’s tall iron gates registered their arrival and began to open, permitting their access into a long, rising, gravel drive, bordered on either side by tall rhododendrons, laurels, euonymus and limes. As they approached the house, its splendid façade could be seen rising out of the greenery.
‘The house was constructed in the nineteen thirties,’ explained Sam, ‘but Jesse’s rebuilt it from the inside out, so it’s really the shell of a pre-war house with an eco-living space on the inside. You’ll like it.’
Sophie chewed her lip in awe. ‘I already like it.’
They pulled up outside the main door where Jesse was waiting to greet them, the gates having informed him of their arrival. He hurried forward to hug Sophie, relieved her of the bags and escorted her into his reception hall. She looked around in amazement. ‘Jesse, this is wonderful! I can’t believe Sam has chosen to come and stay in my tiny three-up-two-down box instead of here.’ She cast her eyes right, through a wide archway into the vast open-plan living area. ‘You must need a staff of thousands to help you.’
‘Just a couple of cleaners and an occasional handyman. It’s large open spaces that are the answer: no walls to stand unnecessary pieces of furniture against. So, no unnecessary things can stand on the unnecessary furniture, collecting spiders and dust.’
‘But what about your books and papers? And DVDs and CDs?’
Jesse pointed to a door on the left. ‘The library-cum-office is through there. So, the books are in there, although Sam prefers to keep his on his floor. And the music and films are all computerised. Centrally organised. Your ex-partner would be impressed. There’s a gym through there as well. And a panic room.’
‘All guests are expected to do twenty minutes on the treadmill before breakfast,’ said Sam. ‘Jesse diverts the energy to heating the water.’
Sophie was suddenly apprehensive. ‘Sam’s joking, right?’
‘Not completely,’ said Jesse. ‘But there are several back-up systems, so the treadmill isn’t compulsory. Do you want to take Laura straight up? Or have you got time for a drink?’
‘We’ll take her up,’ said Sam. ‘But why don’t you come up and have a drink with us? Where are the boys?’
‘They’re with Barbara for the night.’
‘And when’s Katie expected?’ Sophie asked.
Jesse ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Seven thirty for eight.’
An acceptably wide staircase led up to the top floor, which was a relief since all the attics Sophie had ever frequented were reached via some kind of ladder. ‘Is all this stuff Jesse’s?’ she said, surveying Sam’s single large living space: the leather sofas, steel lamps, the rugs, the occasional oriental item, the dining area, the kitchen crammed with appliances that would make Jamie Oliver green with envy. The giant TV.
‘What you mean all this unnecessary furniture? No, it’s mine. The master bedroom’s through there and Laura’s room, otherwise known as the study, is beyond that.’ He put Laura down on the rug and after a moment’s apprehension she crawled over to the long coffee table to tear the magazines.
‘English lecturer salary must be better than I thought, Mr Barnes.’
Katie arrived just as Jesse was transferring a large poached salmon to its platter of cucumber and samphire, so Sam and Sophie hurried through to welcome her. They exchanged kisses and Sam accepted the bottle of Bollinger she was offering. ‘You look nice,’ he said. ‘And surprisingly sophisticated. Jesse likes white. He’s just putting the finishing touches to his culinary masterpiece.’
Katie looked horrified. ‘Oh no, am I early?’
‘No,’ said Sophie. ‘We’ve all been desperate for you to arrive. You look really lovely.’
Katie grabbed on to Sophie’s arm, leaned close and whispered, ‘Is this all Jesse’s?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered back. ‘Amazing, isn’t it?’
Jesse looked up as they approached, strode round and kissed Katie’s cheek, a bristlier kiss than the one she had just received from his brother. ‘Would you like a champagne cocktail?’ he said. ‘I’m afraid Sam and his woman have been drinking ever since they arrived but I’m completely sober and in charge of kitchen equipment.’
‘That sounds great… the cocktail, I mean. Although the kitchen equipment also looks great. But I have to go slow because I’m driving.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,’ said Sam. ‘We can dump you in one of Jesse’s spare rooms. Have you brought your toothbrush with you?’
‘Please excuse my brother,’ said Jesse. ‘He has no idea how to behave. Although there are several guest rooms if you’d like to stay over. I should have mentioned that before.’
Katie said nothing. In fact, Katie continued to say virtually nothing through the canapés and cocktails, speaking only to reply to direct questions. Eventually Sophie had to ask, ‘Katie, why aren’t you insulting people? You’ve hardly said anything.’
‘I’ve decided that the best way of not insulting people is to say nothing.’
Jesse laughed. ‘But the only reason I asked you to supper is because I crave your tactless observations. Surely you’re not going to leave your Übermenschlich host disappointed.’
Katie looked at him and folded her arms. ‘OK, I like your house. It’s very big.’
Jesse raised an eyebrow. ‘And?’
‘I’d prefer an extra wall or two. And you must get lonely here, just you and the boys.’ She grinned. ‘Do you need an au pair? I can make toast.’
For the next three hours, Katie’s critiques fell within the bounds of the almost acceptable, and after thanking Jesse for their marvellous supper, Sophie and Sam made a discreet retreat up to the attic, leaving Katie and Jesse to discuss sleeping arrangements. Sometime later, Sam located The Complete Poems of John Keats and read to Sophie as she drifted into sleep:
And can I ever bid these joys farewell?
Yes, I must pass them for a nobler life,
Where I may find the agonies, the strife
Of human hearts…
The following morning, Sam was investigating the use-by date on a box of eggs, when his phone rang. It was Jesse inviting them all to breakfast. Sam said they’d love to join them then hurried through to help with Laura.
‘Brace yourself, Soph, we’re breakfasting with the golden couple.’
‘Do you think they, you know, spent the night together?’
Sam shrugged. ‘Don’t know. Jesse’s never been averse to casual sex, in fact, after Sandi, it’s the only kind of sex he’s interested in. And I can’t see your best friend turning down the opportunity. So, probably yes. Let’s go see.’
Downstairs, a highchair had been made ready and, wearing an apron over a lush white bathrobe, Katie was helping set out breakfast on the big marble eat station. Jesse glanced up. ‘I’ve made salmon kedgeree with last night’s leftovers but there’s standard English, whatever you prefer. I’d tuck in as fast as you can because the kids will be back any minute.’
‘There’s yoghurt and strawberries for Laura,’ said Katie, pulling out the stool next to Sophie, ‘and watermelon.’
‘Fantastic,’ said Sophie, trying to discern, from outward appearances, whether Katie and Jesse had spent the whole night engaged in rampant sex.
They ate and chatted and indulged Laura until the front door burst open and Grandma Buckley ushered her grandsons inside. Jesse jumped up to introduce his mother-in-law. There followed two pecks on the grandmotherly cheek from Jesse and Sam and some earnest handshaking. Benz and Jake dragged and forced stools between Sophie and Katie. Jesse snapped at them not to be impolite, but Grandma Buckley tapped his arm. ‘Jesse, your sons crave the attention of younger women, who might have the slightest idea about Lego Star Wars and Scooby-Doo.’ She frowned at her grandsons leaning across the table top helping themselves to plates and food. ‘As you can see, Jesse, I have starved them.’
‘Barbara,’ said Sam, ‘will you join us?’
‘No, no, dear. I have an old lady to visit.’ She glanced over at Katie and smiled. ‘Let you all get yourselves sorted out. I’ll see myself out. Bye, boys, and behave yourselves.’
Benz yelled goodbye then turned to Katie and said, ‘Are you Dad’s girlfriend now?’
‘Benz!’ said Jesse, ‘don’t be so rude!’
‘Actually, Sophie and I have been wondering the same thing,’ said Sam.
‘For your information, Sam, I haven’t yet discussed any such arrangements with my supper guest. I was hoping to test the water a little before presuming to seek a commitment.’
Katie took a bite of croissant and spoke with her cheek full. ‘After my night with the Übermensch, I’m hardly likely to refuse.’
Despite the luxuries of penthouse living, Sam and Sophie elected to return to Sophie’s three-up-two-down that afternoon, essentially because they thought it best to let Jesse and Katie negotiate their relationship without the distractions that two other adults might offer.
The following Wednesday morning, DI Blake phoned to tell Sophie that the investigation into Jonah’s business activities was continuing and they needed to keep his phones for the time being. Had she thought of anything that might help their enquiries? She said sorry, no. The phone rang again. It was the hospital informing her that, though sedated, Jonah was now fully conscious for extended periods and that he would be transferred to a normal ward, probably after the weekend. His progress was good, although he was experiencing some confusion, and he seemed also to be suffering severe retrograde memory loss. His psychotherapist wondered if Sophie was contemplating a visit in the near future since a familiar voice might succeed in evoking reactions that would help assess the temporary or permanent nature of this memory aberration. Mrs Perrin was unable to make the journey from Devon any time soon. Sophie ended the call, then sat and stared at the surface of the table. The front door opened and closed and Sam strode into the kitchen, carrying groceries. ‘I’ve got duck eggs and… what’s up?’
‘Jonah’s psychotherapist wants me to go in and speak to him. To help him remember.’
‘What? Tell them you won’t do it. What about Rosemary? Tell them to ask her.’
‘They already have. And she said she’s not available.’
‘Well, neither are you. I’m not letting you do it, Soph. I want that bastard out of our lives.’
‘So do I. But, Sam, I really have to do this. Just to get closure.’
Sam became silent. He just put away the shopping then picked Laura out of her highchair. ‘I’ll take her into the garden and let her smell the lavender. It’s supposed to be good for the nerves. And if you insist upon involving yourself with Robert Perrin, then I’ll drive you over tomorrow afternoon, after I’ve been to the site. I need to check they’re building the walls straight. And remembering to leave holes for the windows.’