Francesca, p.49
Francesca, page 49
‘Now, that is what I call commitment. Who would want to walk a dog in this wind?’ Joe had his camera in his hand as always. Since he’d become a professional photographer, it had become part of his body. He was altering the lens and looking through it, checking everything was in working order. He always carried it. You never knew when the opportunity would arise to take photos of some celebrities and make some money.
The Christmas tree was up and decorated, and Bobby had made two stars, one for our tree and the other one for Elle’s. She hadn’t said much, but it was apparent that Albert would be coming for Christmas dinner. She was making a special effort, and we all knew it.
Julie had brought little Diana to visit us. Elle had already been to the hospital to see Diana. Now she was getting hands-on experience. Julie let her change nappies and feed her. Although Diana had a nanny, Julie never brought her with her. She was more than happy to let Elle take over, whether she wanted to or not.
‘Julie seems back to normal,’ said Elle. ‘Motherhood suits her.’
Indeed it did, but I could tell there was something wrong. I had asked her if she was okay and if everything was okay with Ralph and Josh, but she seemed reluctant to say anything. I wondered if she was getting postnatal depression or something. In the end, I told her to tell me what was wrong.
‘All right, Fran. Everything is not all right. I’m fed up.’ Julie put her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. ‘I’m sick of living in that old mansion of ours. They say we can’t move into the house until after Christmas. It just doesn’t feel like our house anymore, Fran.’ She let out a big sigh. Yes, this was definitely a sign of the baby blues.
Elle and her advice were always on hand, and this time she was right. ‘Why don’t you move into the c cottage while you’re waiting?’ she suggested. ‘It’s all finished, and it looks great. Why not move in there. Your old house is sold, isn’t it, apart from the moving date.’ Now Elle had dropped a bombshell.
Ralph and Julie’s house had sold immediately, to some American millionaire who lived away. He like the idea that the place had belonged to some notorious gangster and it was famous. Plus, the house itself was stunning.
I saw the spark come back to Julie’s eyes. A big smile spread across her face. ‘Oh, Elle. That’s a fantastic idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. Yes,’ she announced, ‘we’re going to move into the cottage.’ She was beaming, but I wasn’t sure whether she was joking or not.
She had to be joking. There was no way Julie Gold was going to move into a three-bedroom cottage. It wasn’t her style.
‘You got me there, Julie,’ I said, laughing at her. ‘You almost sounded believable. You in a three-bedroom cottage? Your wardrobes are bigger than that cottage,’ I carried on, laughing—until I saw her face and realised she was deadly serious.
‘What so funny? It’s only for a short while. What is your problem, Fran? Turning snobby now you own the big house, are you?’ she snapped.
I was taken aback. I hadn’t meant to mock her. ‘No, of course not, Julie. I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s a beautiful cottage, but it’s not what you’re used to, is it? Stay here if you want to. Sorry, Julie. No offence meant’.
‘Forget it. Exactly, and it would only be for a couple of months. I would be closer to you and Elle.’
Elle gave me a sly look out of the corner of her eye. We both knew what Julie meant. Elle and I could look after Diana. Julie had a nanny. I didn’t know what the problem was there either, and she must have only changed one nappy.
‘Anyway,’ Julie carried on, ‘I have decided to move Josh to a school nearby. I don’t want him in a boarding school anymore. I know it will be an upheaval, but I don’t want him feeling left out because of Diana. Anyway, he will be closer to Bobby, and he joined in with your brothers’ okay. It will do him good. Thanks, Elle. Good idea.’ Julie always liked to drop a bombshell.
‘You’re bringing Josh home?’ Elle and I said in unison.
This was a surprise, but then I could see the point. Josh was starting to develop some social skill, and she wanted him to get used to having Diana in the family.
‘Yes, if need be, I will sort out one of those teaching assistants. I will pay for one. But I don’t see why he would need one. With time, he’ll settle in. This could be the best thing that ever happened to him and us.’ Julie was really excited.
She picked up her bag and Diana, who was now fast asleep, since Elle had fed and burped her. She walked to the waiting car. Once Diana was safely strapped in her seat, she blew us a kiss and left. Julie never let the grass grow under her feet.
Elle put down a fresh cup of coffee. ‘Well, that’s a real turn-up for the books, isn’t it?’
We were both amazed. I don’t think even Elle had thought Julie would ever agree to living in the cottage.
‘What do you think Ralph will say?’ I said. ‘When was the last time Ralph Gold lived in a three-bedroom house, Elle, if ever?’ I smiled at Elle and tried to console her. She obviously wished she hadn’t blurted out the idea. ‘All Ralph lives for, Elle, is to make Julie happy, and if that is what she wants, he will go along with it. Personally, I am more concerned about the nanny. She thought she was going to live in the Gold mansion, and she has ended up living in a vicar’s cottage.’
We both burst out laughing. That was going to be one hell of a surprise. ‘I’m going to walk the dog, Elle, before it gets too dark.’ I picked up Susie’s lead and watched her run around the kitchen wagging her tail, knowing it was time for her walk.
It was windy, and if the wind had died down a little it could have been a warm day. There was hardly anyone around as I walked along the beach. The sand was damp, and the tide was coming in. Suddenly I thought I heard my name.
‘Francesca! Francesca, up here.’
Looking around, I couldn’t see anyone. Then I looked up at the metal bars that separated the beach from the seafront. It was Tony.
‘Francesca,’ he shouted again.
I was rooted to the spot, and my heart skipped a beat. He looked like his old self again. I raised my hand and waved at him to acknowledge that I’d heard him.
I felt my body tingle with excitement. I had missed him, and there he was standing as large as life in his grey suit, pink shirt, and long camel overcoat. He started to walk down the steps leading down to the beach. He stood there and looked at me. Then he opened his arms wide and shouted my name again.
As much as I had agonised, night after night, wondering who he was with and what he was doing when he had so coldly cut me off after leaving the hospital, my heart was now ruling my head.
I didn’t want to think about any of that anymore. There he stood in front of me, his arms wide open and smiling that charming smile of his.
‘Tony, oh Tony.’ I ran towards him, and he walked faster towards me.
I fell into his arms and felt them envelop me and pull me closer. His mouth met mine, and we kissed. It was explosive.
‘Joe, Joe, mate, get that bloody camera of yours clicking. There is a Father Christmas, and bloody hell, he’s on the beach. This is payday. Do not stop taking photos of those two.’ He pointed towards the couple on the beach.
Joe turned his head and followed his friend’s stare. He held up his camera, but he didn’t know what he was looking at. All he could see was that the woman they’d seen earlier was in the arms of a man kissing him as though her life depended on it. He could barely see the man. The woman was shielding his face with her arms around his neck.
‘Look again, you prat,’ shouted his friend in a panic. ‘That is Tony Lambrianu, and better still, that’s his ex-wife. Don’t stop taking photos. For God’s sake, don’t stop taking photos!’
Now looking through the lens of his camera, Joe could see that unmistakable blonde hair blowing in the wind. His mate was right. That was Tony Lambrianu, and these photos could be priceless!
Tony didn’t stop kissing me. He kissed my neck, my face, and my mouth. His hands were underneath my coat and were roaming over my body. At last, when we did part, I saw him looking around. Then he took my hand and started to walk towards the little caves at the side of the beach. These were popular for when people wanted to change out of their clothes and into their swimwear.
There were large rocks on the beach that had been hollowed out and worn away by time. Tony led me in and was taking his coat off. I knew what he had in mind.
It was dark in the cave, just a little daylight coming in from the opening we had just walked through. He threw his coat down on the floor. Then he held my face and started to kiss me again with a wild abandoned passion, pulling me down on the sand and using his coat as a carpet.
He was lying on top of me, pulling off his jacket and throwing it aside. I put my hands through his hair and pulled him closer. I wanted him. I had missed him, and it was pretty obvious that he wanted me too.
My leggings were being pulled down, and he undid his belt. Suddenly, he was on top of me again, but this time it was flesh against flesh. I gasped, but Tony seemed to be in a world of his own. He was saying my name over and over again. It was fast and furious. He was panting, and with every stroke of his body, he felt my ardent response. Then suddenly he slumped on top of me and was trying to catch his breath.
‘I’m sorry, Francesca. Oh, God, I’m sorry.’ He kept apologising. ‘I needed you, and I wanted you so much.’ He was apologising for climaxing so quickly. It was all over in a flash. ‘I will make it up to you. I haven’t been that quick since I was fifteen.’ He was kneeling up now and buckling up his belt. Then he looked down at me and gave a warm deep laugh and pushed his hand through his hair. We held each other.
‘Come on, Antonias, my love. Let’s go home.’ I got dressed and held his hand as we walked out of the cave. I adjusted my clothing and brushed the sand off me. Tony did likewise and put his sandy overcoat over his arm.
Susie was waiting outside the cave for us to come out and wagged her tail. Tony put his arm around my waist, and we walked along the beach to the steps that would take us up to the seafront. Tony’s driver was patiently waiting and drove up to meet us.
The journalist and the photographer looked at each other and smiled. Then they exchanged a high five.
‘Please tell me, Joe, that you got all of that with that speed lens of yours.’ He put his hands together as though praying. Joe handed the camera over to show the photos he had taken. ‘Thank you, God,’ he said to the journalist. ‘Look at Lambrianu with his shirt still hanging out of the back of his trousers. Bloody quick though. Now let me think of a headline to go with it.’
They were both laughing and looking through the photos Joe had taken. The camera had captured every part of the meeting, from Lambrianu standing there with his arms open to the couple disappearing into the cave and out again looking dishevelled and happy.
It was unmistakable who it was without having to say so. The photos of the couple and the dog getting to the car were the biggest giveaway, considering the number plate read, ‘LAMB 1.’
Joe handed his friend his notebook. ‘What do you think of that for a headline?’ he said, all excited and breathless.
Joe looked down and read it. The smile on his face said it all. ‘Fantastic, mate, absolutely great.’
I opened the front door, and Susie ran directly towards the kitchen, knowing that Elle would have left some treats for her. Tony pulled me towards him. He held the back of my head and pulled me closer to him, kissing me again. He threw his coat on the bottom of the stairs, and those hypnotising blue eyes looked deep into mine. That velvety voice that sent chills down my spine filled my ears while he was nuzzling my neck.
‘Come on, Francesca.’ He took my hand and led me up the staircase. ‘I said I would make it up to you, and now I intend to.’
We walked up the stairs into the bedroom and shut the door.
Elle was in the kitchen. She had seen Susie wagging her tail and looking in her food bowl, but Fran hadn’t come through yet. Elle looked down the hallway, waiting. Fran had to be there. How else would Susie have come through the front door? Looking towards the doorway, Elle saw Tony’s coat at the bottom of the stairs. There was a trail of his shoes and his shirt.
Elle stood at the bottom of the stairs looking at all the discarded clothing. She could hear muffled sounds and talking. She didn’t need to know anymore. It was pretty obvious what was happening up there. She crept back down the hallway, wrote a quick note for Fran, and left it on the worktop. Then she left, quietly closing the door behind her.
My whole body felt as though little electric shocks were shooting through it. Our passion and hunger for each other were at last free to express themselves. I felt like putty in Tony’s hands as he teased my nipples with the tip of his tongue. I arched my back, pulling him closer towards me. It was heaven. He manipulated and positioned my body underneath him until I felt my body tense and tighten, making my head swim.
Wrapping my legs tightly around him, I welcomed him between my thighs. With every thrust and stroke, my body trembled and yearned for more, until I felt a slow explosive release for us both. Each time Tony reached out for me again, it felt more exciting and arousing than the last time. At last, we both collapsed in exhaustion on the bed and fell into a contented sleep in each other’s arms.
I woke up later that afternoon. I looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly three. Oh no. I had to pick up Bobby.
I jumped out of bed, leaving Tony still sleeping soundly, and pulled on my jeans and T-shirt. I ran downstairs and out towards the kitchen where the garages were. Then I noticed a piece of paper on the worktop in Elle’s handwriting. It read, ‘I will pick up Bobby. Me and Albert are going to take him to see the Christmas lights in Oxford Street and have dinner out. Elle x’
I breathed a sigh of relief. How could I have fallen asleep and nearly forgotten to pick up my son?! Thank goodness Elle was on hand. In my moment of illicit passion, I had let myself be swept along by it all. What kind of person did that make me? When it came to Tony I was selfish. I had put myself before my son, and what must Elle have thought of me when she realised I was upstairs with Tony. Now I was embarrassed.
I switched on the kettle and made two cups of coffee and took them upstairs. Tony was awake and lying in bed with his arms around the back of his head. The smile on his face said it all.
‘What’s wrong, Francesca?’ Tony looked at me, frowning. The smile dropped from his face.
‘I nearly forgot to pick up Bobby from school,’ I said. I sat on the edge of the bed at his side and handed him his coffee, filling him in.
‘Elle’s not stupid, Francesca, and you’re not a bad mother. You were on your way and look.’ He pointed at the clock. ‘You would have made it by now, just in time.’
Tony put down his coffee cup on the bedside table and reached out his hand and stroked my arm. ‘Now then,’ he said, the smile slowly appearing back on his face. ‘Did you say Bobby is with Elle and Albert having a great time seeing the lights and having a burger somewhere? Then come here. I need you again.’ Tony pulled back the duvet for me to get in, and I did willingly. Crisis over.
It was just after seven when Elle got back. Bobby was bouncing with excitement. Tony had been right. He’d had a great time. They had sung Christmas carols with the Salvation Army and looked at all of the shops. Bobby had a bag with him containing a new box of Legos, which he was desperate to open.
I looked at Elle. She didn’t seem angry or anything, but I felt I should apologise anyway. ‘I’m sorry, Elle,’ I said. ‘I shouldn’t have put you in that position. I was on my way to pick up Bobby when I saw your note.’ I could feel my face growing red with embarrassment.
Elle ignored my comments and put on the kettle. ‘It’s getting cold out there, Fran. I will make us a drink. Is Tony coming down or has he gone already? Don’t be silly, Fran,’ she added, smiling at me. ‘You always put everyone else first. But if you remember, Bobby was staying late anyway to practice his play. Don’t worry about it.’
I breathed a sigh of relief. Of course Bobby was staying late. I had totally forgotten. ‘Tony, well, he,’ I began. I didn’t know what to say. Yet again I felt my face flush, like a schoolgirl.
Then Tony walked through.
‘Tony is here,’ he said, wearing a bathrobe and sitting himself at the breakfast bar. I will have one of those, Elle,’ was all he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I froze. I wished he had left or I had told him to go before they all got home, like a teenager sneaking her boyfriend in. I had gotten into the shower and stood in the warm water letting it fall over my head and down my body. When the shower door opened and Tony had walked in behind me, we had made love again.
‘Are you coming to see me in the Christmas play, Tony?’ Bobby asked. Although he had been out for his dinner, he was now eating his way through Elle’s apple pie she always baked.
Taking the cup of coffee Elle poured him, Tony smiled at Bobby. ‘Of course I am, Bobby. I have to see my superstar in action.’ He reached his hand out and ruffled Bobby’s hair.
Bobby was telling him that he had two lines in the play and was a shepherd.
‘That’s if Tony’s not too busy,’ I interrupted. I didn’t want him making promises he couldn’t keep. I looked at Tony.
He ignored me and spoke to Bobby. ‘I will be there, Bobby, no matter what. I am never too busy for you.’ Bobby grinned at Elle, and I could see by the look on both of their faces Tony had said the right thing.
Tony listened to Bobby while Elle and I made something to eat. He seemed a natural with children, considering he didn’t have any. They both opened the box of Legos and started to build the model. Strangely enough, it didn’t seem odd at all sitting around the table with Tony having dinner like a family. It felt normal and comfortable. Elle cleared away while I took Bobby up for his bath and story.
When I came down, Tony was sitting in the lounge watching the news on the television and talking to Elle. Was I dreaming?
