Chapter 5

Silence. Kelly had said the one thing that Matt least expected.

'Husband?'

Kelly nodded.

'How long have you... ?' He couldn't bring himself to say the words.

'Almost seven years.'

'Seven? Kids?'

She bit her lip and shook her head.

'So why? I mean, last night, where was he?'

'He didn't come. He doesn't believe in looking back. As far as he is concerned, reunions are a stupid idea.'

'But if you're married, why?'

'Why sleep with you? I don't make a habit of cheating on my husband if that's what you mean. But you and me. I don't know. I really don't'

Matt shook his head and stared down at the bed.

'So now you know why I have to be at Milton Keynes train station on time. Or as on time as the trains allow.'

'MK? You live in MK? But that's where I live.'

'I know. I found out after joining the organising committee. I wanted to contact you but... '

Matt's brain had taken a while to get over the shock of Kelly's initial revelation, but it had finally caught up and was quickly working out how to use this latest information to his advantage.

'Okay, ' he said. 'Where were you supposed to stay last night?'

'Laura's.'

'Damn, I was hoping it was a hotel. That would have been easy. Never mind. Okay, here's what we do.' He paused and ran his hand back and forth through his hair. 'First, you stay and have breakfast, right? Then, I'll drive you back to Laura's. Then we get her to call ... what's his name?'

'Roy.'

'Call Roy and tell him that you drank a bit too much. No. Wait. You ate something that made you ill, that way it's not your fault. She tells him that she wouldn't let you on the train alone in case you got ill again. Instead, she called me, knowing I live in MK too, and asked me to drive you back. How does that sound?'

'Plausible.'

'And d'you think that Laura will do that?'

'Sure she will. She's still my best mate, even after... '

'After what?'

Kelly shook her head. 'Nothing. It's nothing.'

Matt showered before breakfast arrived, then he and Kelly ate at the table by the window. After breakfast, he packed his overnight bag and checked out of the hotel. She accompanied him to the hotel's car park.

'I hope you don't have much luggage, ' he said, 'because the boot in this thing isn't very big.'

He clicked the remote key and the indicators flashed on the silver roadster in the corner of the lot.

'That's yours?' Kelly asked.

'All mine. I brought it as a present to myself when I qualified. Actually, I've been thinking of changing it. I'd love an Aston Martin.'

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up outside Laura's house.

'I might be a while. You'll come in with me?'

'Of course.'

'Good. I'll need you to explain the plan to Laura.' Kelly smiled.

'Somehow I thought that might fall to me.'

Matt reached out to ring the doorbell, but stopped when Kelly held up a key.

'She gave it me yesterday, before the reunion. In case I stayed out late.'

They went inside to find Laura standing in the hallway waiting for them.

'It's about time. You better hurry or you'll miss your train.'

'I'm not getting the train. Matt'll explain. I have to pack.' Kelly disappeared up the stairs, leaving Matt and Laura alone.

Laura grinned. 'Cup of tea? Kettle's just this minute boiled.'

Matt nodded. 'Good idea.'

'Go sit down in the living room. I'll bring it through.'

Matt wandered into the tasteful lounge and sat down. He thumbed through the Sunday newspaper that had been on the coffee table and listened to Laura bustle about in the kitchen. He put the paper down when she joined him on the sofa and handed him a freshly brewed mug of tea.

'So how was it?'

'Laura!'

'Oh, come on. I don't want details. Just, how it was. I mean you've been waiting so long... '

Matt shrugged. 'You know how when you wait for something for so long, you build it up and up, until when it happens it's all a bit of a let-down?'

'Hmm. Yes?'

'Well I gave up on ever being with Kelly a long time ago, so I never really built it up.'

'You're not answering the question, Matt. I thought that's what politicians did, not lawyers.'

Matt smiled and sipped of his tea.

'Okay, so what is it you want me to do?'

Matt explained his plan.

'She told you about Roy then. I wondered if she would.'

'You will do it, won't you?'

'Of course I will. Matt, I wouldn't normally help someone cheat on their husband; I know how it hurt my mum, but in this case... '

'You make it sound as if you're pleased with what we did.'

'I suppose I am. Kelly deserves a bit of happiness after putting up with that prat for all this time.' She smiled and sipped her tea.

'What's he like? Her husband.'

'He hasn't changed that much, still the same old Roy.'

'Changed since when?'

'Since school, stupid.'

'Oh my god. Lakeland. Kelly married Roy Lakeland.'

'I thought you knew.'

'I knew he was called Roy, but ... I never even made the connection. I mean ... Roy Lakeland?'

'Surely you knew he fancied her as much as you did?'

'Everyone knew. But how many times did he ask her out? And she always turned him down.'

'She turned him down '—cause she was waiting for you, dummy. When you went away and never called her ... I guess she got tired of waiting and figured what the hell. They started going out about six months after you left. He proposed a year later, and they married six months after that. Of course, they had to rush things.'

'Why?'

'I don't know if I should tell you. It's not really my place.'

'Go on, ' Matt said.

Before Laura could answer, Kelly walked in.

'I'm all packed. Shall we go?'

There was a comfortable silence between them as they raced down the motorway towards Milton Keynes. Sunday afternoon love songs played on the radio. Once or twice, as he pulled out to overtake, Kelly put her hand on Matt's knee and he pushed down a little harder on the accelerator. The traffic was surprisingly light, and they pulled off at their junction earlier than he'd expected. She gave him directions to her house but had him pull up around the corner.

'Why are we stopping here?'

'I wanted to say good-bye properly.' She leaned over and kissed Matt tenderly. 'I don't think Roy would appreciate my doing that outside the house.'

'I understand.' He paused. 'Kelly. Am I going to see you again?'

'I hope so. We might only be able to be friends, but... '

'That's better than nothing.'

Kelly smiled the saddest smile he'd ever seen. She looked down at the floor. 'I suppose so.'

Roy was out of the front door almost as soon as Matt had turned off the engine. He raced to Kelly's side as she got out of the car.

'Kelly! My god, are you okay? Laura said you were really bad.'

'I'm fine, Roy. Honestly. You know how she exaggerates.'

'Matt, thanks for bringing her home.'

'No problem. You're looking good, by the way.'

'Liar. I'm carrying more than an extra few pounds. Unlike you. I had no idea you lived down here. I thought you'd be off in London or something.'

'Been there, got the T-shirt. It's not all it's cracked up to be.'

'You're a lawyer, right?'

'Solicitor.'

'D'you mind if I give you a call sometime. I've been thinking about ditching my guys. They're expensive and useless. One of those I can live with, but not both.'

'Sure. Here.' Matt handed Roy a business card. 'Corporate law's not really my thing, but I can introduce you to Jerry McTaggart. Best company lawyer I know.'

'Cheers. I'll see you around sometime. Game of golf maybe?' Roy shook Matt's hand and led his wife back into the house.

Matt waited until they were inside, then got back in his car and drove home.

The next morning at work, Matt related the weekend's events to Jerry.

'Seems to me like fate is taking the piss, Matt. She hands you the girl on a plate, and then snatches her away from you. Then she tops it off by dangling her in front of you, just out of reach. It's a bummer.'

'Your powers of analysis never cease astound me, Jerry.'

'Thanks. And you know her husband?'

'Roy Lakeland. We were at school together.'

'I've heard that name before. Can't remember where.'

'You know that website '" Top Ten of Everything?'

'Yeah, I know that. It's good fun. All the lists are wrong, but it's good fun.'

'Roy was one of the founders. The company floated a couple of years back, it was all over the media. God, Kelly must think I'm a right idiot, flashing my money everywhere, lording it over everyone, when all the time she's married to a millionaire.'

That day, Matt received a flood of e-mails from his ex-classmates. Many of them were just wishing him well; some expressed interest in making new wills, and two said that they wanted him to act for them in their house move later that year.

One of the well-wishers was Laura.

From: laura1151@hotmail

To: mattmarsden@smithandjones.co.uk

Subject: Thanks!

Hey Matt.

Just wanted to thank you again for coming. I hope we're going to see a bit more of you now that you know we're not as bad as all that.

One other thing. It's good you live close to Kelly. She needs a friend. I'm too far away to look after her the way I'd like to, so I expect you to do it for me from now on.

You only know half the story, Matt. Kelly needs you, so don't give up on her.

L

Matt reread the e-mail several times, and then he e-mailed her back, asking what she meant. Jerry burst in seconds after Matt had hit Send. He handed Matt some papers.

'I knew I'd heard that name recently.'