The Diamond Dad

Daydreaming, she left the concert hall without looking where she was going, and collided with someone. 'I'm terribly sorry, I- Kendall!'

'Hello, darling.' He kissed her cheek.

'Where did you appear from?' she asked, smiling.

'I was at the concert. Come and have a drink with me.'

It was a fine evening and they found a pub with tables outside in the garden, and coloured lights hanging from the trees. Kendall bought cider for himself, orange juice for Faye and hot dogs for both of them.

'Fancy you going to a classical concert,' Faye said. 'Where were you sitting?'

After an awkward pause Kendall said, 'All right, I didn't actually go to the concert. I knew you'd be there because I was with you when you bought the ticket, ages ago. I waited outside.'

It was nice to know that he was so eager to see her, but the little lie troubled her. Then she determinedly pushed it out of her head.

'I've missed you,' Kendall said.

'And I you.'

'Well, there's always the television,' he said, speaking apparently lightly but with a significant edge.

'Television?'

'Last night. What did you think?'

With a gasp of dismay she remembered that Kendall had been on a talk show, due to be broadcast the previous evening.

'It's all right,' he said, reading her face. 'I don't suppose you could watch it with him around.'

She wasn't fooled by his easy tone. Kendall had a touch of vanity about his media appearances. Faye had always found this slightly endearing and had fondly made much of him, while he basked in her admiration. She knew she ought to make amends now by inventing a convincing excuse, but suddenly she was too tired for white lies and the truth came out before she could think properly.

'Kendall, I'm sorry, Garth wasn't even in last night. But I've got so much on my mind just now-'

'That you didn't give me a thought. Fair enough.' He spoke with a kind of determined brightness that set her at a distance.

'Kendall, please-'

'Forget it. I'm sure you're having a very difficult time. Is your husband making life hard?'

'Not really. He's behaving well to the children. It's lovely to see him with Cindy. She just basks in his attention. And he's doing better with Adrian, too. But I worry that he's just using them.'

'I suppose he might have honestly seen the light. Perhaps he's afraid of a lonely old age.' Kendall shrugged. 'I should think he's certainly heading for one.'

'Garth's not afraid of anything. He's got too much self-confidence. He's- Oh, I don't how how to say it-'

It was useless trying to define Garth. The more she tried, the more he slipped through her fingers. She could describe his manner and his infuriating behaviour. But there were no words for his sudden grin, full of devilment and charm, or the wild wonderment of his dreams. Once he'd shared those dreams with her and it had been like watching shooting stars. But that was a long time ago.

She gave up, remembering that it irked Kendall to hear too much about Garth. 'Tell me how things are with you,' she said.

'There's not a lot going on in my life at the moment,' he said. 'I work, and I think of you.'

'Have you finished your book yet?'

'I told you I had, at the football match.'

'Oh, yes, you did. Sorry, I forgot. Are you happy with it?'

'I'm never happy with my writing, you know that.'

'Yes, you were always changing things until the last minute.'

She persevered with the theme of his writing, conscientiously asking all the right questions, until the subject was exhausted. She searched for another one then realized, with dismay, what she was doing. She and Kendall had always found plenty to talk about. Yet tonight something was wrong. The air didn't vibrate with excitement as it did when Garth was around.

But she wasn't her usual self at the moment, she remembered with relief. When things returned to normal everything would be well between them again. But try as she might, she couldn't find the elusive spark that would bring her alive in Kendall's company.

'It's very late,' she said at last. 'I should be getting home now.'

'I'll walk you to your car.'

She tucked her hand in his arm and everything was comfortable between them, as it had always been. But it was no longer enough. When they reached the car she said, almost desperately, 'Kiss me goodnight.'

Kendall's embrace was the same as always but his kiss didn't thrill her, and now she wondered if it ever really had.

'Faye…' Kendall said tensely.

'Kiss me again,' she pleaded.

'Better not. Your thoughts were wandering. Like I told you, it has to be all or nothing with me. Goodnight, Faye.'

As she went through the front door Faye could hear Garth's voice from behind his study door, sounding as though he was on the phone. She was glad, as she couldn't bear to talk. She went up the stairs, straight to her own room.

A shower made her feel better. Wrapping a soft towelling dressing gown about her she returned to the bedroom and switched off all the lights except a soft lamp by her dressing table. Her mind was in turmoil.

Something had been different tonight and Kendall had recognized it too. It was all because of Garth. He'd kissed her that first night and her body had responded out of sheer surprise. If she'd been more prepared she might have stilled those treacherous impulses. But she hadn't stilled them and the memories had remained. They had prompted her to reach out to him on the evening after the disastrous press show. But he hadn't wanted her. They'd grown too far apart. There was an ache of desolation in her heart.

She remembered the lithe firmness of Garth's body and how good it felt to hold it. He'd been a generous as well as a skilful lover, warm and tender and eager for her pleasure as well as his own.

She knew it was dangerous to dwell on these memories, but they were part of the happiest time of her life. The fulfilment hadn't just been physical. Garth's love had filled the world, making her feel valued and totally a woman. Without her even knowing it, a smile touched her lips. Then it faded into a sigh.

She was so absorbed in her reverie that she didn't see the door open and Garth enter quietly. He stood watching her, his eyes darkening with anger at the look of tender introspection on her face. She thought she was alone, so it wasn't teasing that made her lips curl in that sweet smile as if she was thinking of something-or someone-who made her blissfully happy.

Suddenly she seemed to become aware of him and turned her head. 'You shouldn't be here,' she said.

'I wanted to talk to you.' He looked like a man under terrible strain, and his eyes were haggard.

'Garth, you can't just walk into my room. We had an agreement-'

'It's not me that's breaking it, Faye. You gave your word that there'd be no dates with Haines-'

'I didn't make a date with him-'

'Don't lie to me! You were with him tonight. I saw you as I drove home.'

'I said I didn't make a date with him, not that I didn't see him. I bumped into Kendall as I came out of the concert and had a drink with him. That's all.'

'Not quite all. You were kissing him.'

'You really studied us, didn't you? Or are you just protecting your investment?'

'I don't like people who don't keep their word.'

'It was an accident.'

'Was kissing him an accident?'

'No, I did that because I wanted to,' she said defiantly.

'And to hell with me?'

'I never gave you a thought,' she said, meeting his eyes. 'What's this all about, Garth? You said yourself there's nothing for us now but to see this through to the end and say goodbye.'

'Perhaps I've changed my mind,' he said, reaching for her determinedly.

'Oh, no!' She put up a hand. 'Our agreement-'

'You broke it, Faye. Now it's my turn. I don't like being overlooked and I'm not going to be any longer.' Before she could protest he covered her mouth with his own, kissing her with fierce, angry intent.