Thirty-four
That first summer together was amazing for Beth. James was working hard all day, out in the sunshine, and he soon began to look more like her James again. When she’d first set eyes on him on her doorstep, Lisa had been right, he had been paler and thinner than she’d remembered. He’d seemed like a less dynamic version of himself. But as the summer progressed, and he exposed his bare torso to the sun, he began to tan. The work was physical and exhausting, and he was soon taut. The muscly abs were back, and Beth was delighted. She’d managed to get an apprenticeship at a different salon, and was continuing with her training. It was nothing like Daphne’s, the clients were half the age for a start. But she was enjoying it, and had begun practising hairdressing on several members of her family, with varying degrees of success. Sometimes she thought it might be nice to pop back and see Kath and all the lovely little old ladies at Daphne’s, but the fear of coming face to face with Mario, kept her away.
She spent as many nights as possible at James’s shared house. They both found it less inhibiting to sleep there. They fell into a routine of having dinner with her parents, then popping to the pub for a couple of drinks, thereby ensuring they finished up at his place at the end of the night. He was happy to meet up with Michelle and whichever boyfriend she was currently seeing, and often treated them all to a meal after payday. He was very loving, and Beth adored how he would turn up with gifts for her at unexpected times.
As Beth’s nineteenth birthday approached, James asked her to keep the evening free.
‘Aww, that sounds good. What are we doing?’
‘You’ll see, love. I have great plans.’
‘Would it be OK if I didn’t keep the whole evening free? The girls at the salon wanted me to go for a quick drink after work.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
‘But ‒’
‘Like I say, I have great plans. They don’t involve you getting pissed with that lot, before you’ve even met up with me.’
‘When was the last time I got pissed, James?’ She’d purposely chosen not to drink much since they’d gotten back together, it seemed the easier solution when it came to Lisa and her demands to come out.
‘I don’t know. I’m just saying, I’d rather you kept the whole evening for me. Go out with them another night. Please? Don’t spoil it.’
Beth agreed. It was a small price to pay, given that he’d obviously planned a good night.
He didn’t disappoint. He took her to a fabulous restaurant. The kind of place she’d never been to before. He ordered for her. Choosing dishes he thought she’d enjoy. As they ate their delicious salmon mousse starter, he produced a jewellery box from his pocket and placed it on the table.
‘Another bloody useless watch?’
‘Shush, Lisa. The box is too tiny.’
‘Happy birthday, sweetheart. I hope you like them.’
With great excitement, Beth opened the box, and discovered a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. Admittedly the diamonds themselves weren’t huge, but they were still amazing. ‘Oh, James, they’re gorgeous.’
‘They’re real diamonds too. Plus, the gold is twenty-four carats.’
‘Wow. You shouldn’t have.’
‘Of course I should. You’re my girlfriend. I love you. You know that.’
She grabbed his hand and squeezed. ‘And I love you.’
As their empty starter plates were removed, and their main courses were placed ceremoniously in front of them by the rather grandiose waiter, Beth said, ‘I can wear them tomorrow night. The girls will be dead jealous.’
‘Tomorrow night?’
‘Yeah. I moved the night out. I’m going to the pub with work. Michelle’s going to pop in too. I am so lucky. Two birthday celebrations!’ She let go of his hand, and picked up her knife and fork.
‘I don’t think you should wear them to the pub. They are real, like I said.’
‘I know. I’ll be careful. I just want to show off. Let those girls see what a generous boyfriend I have.’
As James silently sawed at his meat with his steak knife, she thought she could detect a twitch in the corner of his left eye. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I asked if you’re OK.’
‘Yes. Fine. Unlike this steak. It’s flamin’ tough.’
Beth felt a bubble burst. She didn’t want anything to ruin this wonderful night. ‘My chicken’s lovely.’
‘Good.’ His eye gave another slight tic.
‘What are you going to do? Complain?’
He shook his head. ‘No. It doesn’t matter. You’re all that matters tonight, my beautiful Beth.’
She breathed a sigh of relief. James was always generous with his money, but occasionally he’d get a bee in his bonnet about something, and decide to complain. It wasn’t something the Campbell family ever did, and Beth found it a tad embarrassing.
He left most of the steak, choosing not to say anything when the waiter cleared his plate. His purposeful silence and belligerent stare said enough.
Over dessert, Beth chatted about her day at work and made a point of asking him how the new houses were progressing. Gradually, the fact the steak had been tough, moved into the past, and once again Beth felt relaxed and happy.
‘I’ve been thinking. Mind if I join you at the pub tomorrow night?’ James gave one of his dazzling smiles.
‘Um … I guess not. But won’t you be bored? It’s all women, apart from Kevin, and he’s far more likely to want to talk about boy bands with the girls, than football with you.’
‘I don’t mind. You know me, I’ll fit right in anywhere.’
‘OK then.’ Beth tucked into her caramel and pecan ice cream.
‘He’s such a tosser. Why does he have to come to the pub with you?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe he’s worried he’ll miss me.’
‘Bollocks. He doesn’t trust you, more like.’
‘Of course, he trusts me. Look, Lisa, you don’t understand anything about adult relationships. And you don’t know anything about James.’
‘I’ve had sex with him, though, haven’t I?’
‘Yes. By deception! But that was before. Things are different now.’
‘Please yourself. It’s no skin off my nose if you allow that smarmy tosser to gatecrash your night out with the girls. All I’m saying is – watch him.’
‘I intend to. I intend to watch him every day for the rest of my life. I love him.’
‘Yada, yada, yada. I’m with Nanna on this one.’
‘What do you mean? Nanna likes him.’
‘Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. She’s my nanna too and I know what she really thinks.’
Summer became autumn, and Beth couldn’t have been happier. As far as she was concerned, things were going well for her and James.
One night, they were lying in his bed when he asked a question. It was just after he’d reminded her how amazingly talented he was with his tongue, and she was almost asleep.
‘Were there any other men after me?’
‘Huh? James, I was asleep!’
‘Sorry. But you’re not asleep now. So … were there?’
‘Men? You mean, did I have sex with anyone else?’
‘Yes. In Australia?’
‘Um … no.’
‘You hesitated.’
‘Huh?’
‘You hesitated before you said “no”.’
‘I’m tired. I was feeling extremely good and all I wanted was to fall asleep in your arms. Please forgive me if I hesitated.’
‘So …?’
‘No, there were no other men in Australia.’
‘Well then, who’s the fat guy in the photo?’
‘What fat guy?’
‘In your bedroom, next to the photo of us on Christmas night.’
‘Do you mean Charlie?’
‘I don’t know, do I?’
She struggled to stay awake. ‘He’s not fat, he’s … chunky.’
James seemed annoyed. ‘Right. So, there was someone else?’
‘Not like you mean. No.’
‘Who’s the chunky guy?’
‘Lisa chipped in. ‘Tell him it’s none of his business.’
Beth decided to knock the whole thing on the head. ‘Listen, Charlie’s just a friend. We went scuba diving together. We did not shag. OK?’
‘You met him in Australia?’
‘No. I met him in Tennison Avenue. I’ve known him for almost as long as I can remember. I just happened to bump into him on the way to the reef.’
‘Well, you look flamin’ happy in the photo. That’s all I’m saying.’
‘Perhaps I wasn’t being interrogated at the time!’ She tried a little laugh.
‘Sorry. You’re right. I was just … you know?’
‘Being a dick?’ suggested Lisa.
‘It’s all right. Forget it. You should’ve asked me sooner, if you were worried.’ Beth snuggled into him. ‘I have nothing to hide from you.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ He pulled away, on the defensive.
‘It means you can trust me completely.’
‘Does he still live near you? Are you still mates?’
‘No, he moved away after …’ She shook her head. ‘He just moved away. Anyway, he’s in Singapore just now.’
‘But you don’t fancy him. So, I needn’t sweat about it.’
‘Oh no, James my old mate, that’s not what she said. She said she didn’t sleep with him, she most definitely didn’t say she didn’t fancy him.’
‘Shush. He doesn’t need to know that, Lisa.’
‘Night, night, love.’ James held her tight.
‘Night.’ Beth found it annoyingly difficult to drift off the second time.
Life revolved around nights out with James and her friends, and overall it was a happy time. He was funny and warm, and he made Beth feel great. She couldn’t wish for a better boyfriend. She made sure to keep the concerns she’d had about him in Bondi firmly in the back of her mind. Unfortunately, the back of her mind was where Lisa resided, and she had no intention of being so quick to forget.