The Nanny Part 53

"Oh! Great! So, me being here isn't a problem for you?"

He smiled pityingly at her. "Get over yourself." He shook his head.

Jo gave a tight smile. "I didn't think I was under myself."

Josh fixed her with an intense gaze. "Listen," he instructed. She listened. "They wanted you back, you came back. Great. It's got sod all to do with me. I couldn't care less what you do."

She watched him turn and go, her teeth gritting hard. "t.o.s.s.e.r," she muttered halfheartedly-which made her feel a bit better-then joined the tea party.

Within an hour of arriving, Jo felt completely at home. Vanessa and d.i.c.k were bickering amid the s.e.xual tension, the kids were rowing, the cats were unnerving her, and Josh was a dark, oppressive force invading her life. Home sweet home.

Monday midmorning, and Vanessa's hand hovered over the phone. After a moment, she changed her mind and phoned Tom.

He answered after only fifty rings.

"Tom? Vanessa."

"Vanessa! What a delightful surprise! I take it you've seen the rough edit?"

"I have, Tom."

"She has, Tom. Oh yes she has, in that tough yet womanly voice."

"Would you like to know what I think of it?"

"I would like nothing more, Vanessa. My life so far has been a prelude to this moment."

"It looks rougher than a badger's a.r.s.e, Tom."

There was a long silence.

"Ah," said Tom eventually. "Don't tell me. In the post-post-pre-preproduction meeting they said specifically that they didn't want the badger's a.r.s.e look, because of the award-winning Badger's a.r.s.e ad."

Vanessa raised her eyes to heaven. "Something like that, yes, Tom."

"Between you and me, Vanessa, that 'badger's a.r.s.e' look is a complete f.u.c.ker to create."

"Well, you managed it."

"Why, thank you. Credit where credit's due. Was there anything else?"

"Yes, Tom, I'd like to have a quick word with Anthony."

"I bet you would. I'll just put you through."

Vanessa waited, staring at her desk.

"You're a tough woman," came Anthony's soft voice, "but I like it."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Not a good rough edit, I take it?"

"Not if any of us want a decent bonus this year," she said.

"s.h.i.t. We'll get on it. Perhaps we should meet up."

"Mm."

"In a cupboard somewhere."

"I thought perhaps this evening. In Nachos."

"Oh! Great."

"Shall we say seven?"

"Seven it is."

Vanessa put the phone down and counted the hours to the end of her time as a scarlet woman. Only seven to go.

At three minutes past seven, Vanessa watched Anthony make his way toward her through the crowded bar.

"I know what you're going to say," he whispered in her ear as soon as he reached her side.

"Do you?" she asked.

"Yes. And it's not a Silly-Nibble in my pocket, I'm just pleased to see you."

Vanessa turned away.

"I'm just ordering," she said. "What would you like?"

"I'll have a Vanessa Fitzgerald please. On the rocks."

She had to physically move him away with her hand.

"Anthony." Something in her voice caught him short. He waited. "This is really difficult for me to say."

Anthony's features altered fractionally.

"Why? Is it in Greek?" he asked.

Vanessa gave him a look. After a pause, he started nodding and looked down. While he looked like he was resisting the urge to put his fingers in his ears, shut his eyes, and start whistling, Vanessa explained it as it was.

"It's all for the best," she concluded.

He nodded again.

"Come on," she said. "It was a one-off. It was hardly serious."

Another nod.

"We only did some heavy petting," she pressed the point. "Please don't make me feel like I'm finishing an affair."

Anthony looked round the bar. "We only did heavy petting because I'm a gentleman, and we'd only just started."

Vanessa shook her head. "No," she said. "I'm a happily married woman. I've got three children. I love my husband."

Anthony snorted. "You weren't thinking of them in the Silly Nibble cupboard, were you?"

"Actually I was," said Vanessa. "It was more about anger than l.u.s.t."

"Cheers."

Vanessa sighed. "You're not making this very easy."

"Neither are you. Can you at least try to look ugly while you do this or...belch or something?"

"I can't belch to order."

"Typical."

"Look," lied Vanessa, "there are some things in life we'd like to do but can't. It's as simple as that."

"Why?"

"Because we have to be grown-up."

"Why?"

"Because that's what we are. Grown-ups."

"That's what got us into this mess in the first place. Believe me, if you were a child, we wouldn't be in this position."

Vanessa started collecting her coat and bag.

"I'm going to leave now," she said. "Can I...do anything? To make it all a bit easier?"

"Yeah, you could wear longer skirts."

She smiled.

"And keep your jacket on all the time," said Anthony. "And don't smile."

"I was thinking more of not appearing at meetings that aren't absolutely necessary."

"And get a run in your hose once in a while. Everyone else manages."

"I should leave."

Another nod.

Vanessa got up to go, and Anthony stared at the floor while she walked away. As she reached the tube station, he was still staring.

Jo began her first evening back in London sitting on her bed in her room, thinking seriously and maturely about unpacking. To her surprise, one of the cats appeared on her bed, stretched out and graciously allowed her to pet it. Then she lay on her back and fell asleep. She was woken by the sound of her mobile phone doing a samba. It was Pippa. She felt excited at the thought that Pippa was no longer her long-distance friend, and they arranged to meet the next day.

Then Jo told her her latest update.

"As soon as d.i.c.k sells the shop he'll be at home, and I'll be on practically the same salary part-time!"

"Go to the top of the cla.s.s!" cried Pippa. "Part-time nanny on full-time pay! You should give talks."

"I didn't do anything," said Jo. "It's all because of d.i.c.k."

"Hmm. Guilty conscience?"

"Well, I think he may have finished the affair," confided Jo. "I don't think I'll be able to last working with him if he hasn't. I certainly won't be keeping any secrets for him like his son."

Then she explained about Josh coming to Niblet-upon-Avon and dissected the row they'd had.

"I don't believe it!" cried Pippa.

"I know. b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"He came all the way to see you!"

"He called me a p.r.i.c.k-tease."

"He drove all the way to beg you to come back?"

"He called me a p.r.i.c.k-tease."

"How many miles is that?"

"I think you're missing the point."

"Well one of us is."

"He called me a p.r.i.c.k-tease."

"Hmm," said Pippa. "I wonder how he knows?"

"Pippa!"

"Listen, you're going to have to say something to Gerry," said Pippa.

"Oh G.o.d, why?"