Marcus coughed into his hand.
‘What?’ said Aubrey indignantly. ‘So I don’t like to discuss the passing of time.’
‘You mean your age,’ Marcus corrected him.
‘Alright, I don’t like to discuss my age; not when ladies are present.’ He glanced at Faye. ‘And pretty ones at that.’
Really, thought Faye,you’re old enough to be my father!Still, it was nice to get a compliment, even if it came from a very good actor. ‘So, how long have you known Jake?’ Faye repeated her question.
Aubrey mumbled something incoherent.
Marcus cupped his hand to his ear. ‘Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.’ Marcus was clearly enjoying himself, making Aubrey squirm.
‘Thirty years – give or take,’ answered Aubrey, throwing his hands in the air in defeat.
‘There. That wasn’t too difficult, was it?’ Marcus said with a smirk.
Faye began, ‘But that’s …’
‘Nearly Jake’s whole life,’ Marcus confirmed. ‘That’s how long they go back – Aubrey’s known us since he was in his thirties.’ Marcus pointed at Aubrey. ‘So you don’t have to be a maths whizz to guess his age – give or take.’
‘Marcus!’ Aubrey was clearly mortified.
Marcus put his bag down by the front door. ‘You say you like to keep up with the times, Aubrey, but nobody lies about their age anymore.’
‘I do,’ he said sullenly. ‘And I’m not lying; it’s simply not a polite topic of conversation.’
Faye felt sorry for him. ‘You don’t look a day over …’ Aubrey looked across at her eagerly. ‘Fifty-five.’
‘Why thank you Ms Ames. I’m inclined to agree.’
‘I bet you are,’ Marcus scoffed.
‘I’m in better shape than some thirty-somethings I know.’ Aubrey inclined his head in Marcus’s direction.
Faye wondered how much he knew about Marcus’s weekend outings to some insalubrious parts of London.
‘I’m thirty-three,’ Marcus retorted. ‘You never remember my age. How come you always remember Jake’s?’
Aubrey shrugged.
‘It’s not that hard,’ Marcus persisted. ‘Remember – Jake comes in the middle. I’m a year older than Jake, and Ellie’s six years younger.’
‘Who’s Ellie?’ Faye asked.
Marcus and Aubrey both turned to look at Faye. The larking around stopped instantly.
Faye suddenly realised that was a stupid question.
‘My sister Eleanor, Jake’s wife,’ said Marcus.
Should she apologise for bringing that up? It wasn’t her faultthat Jake didn’t talk about her.
‘Jake doesn’t discuss his personal life with her,’ Marcus said to Aubrey.
‘Apparently not,’ said Aubrey, staring in her direction and making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Faye looked at her watch. Would Jake decide he was up to finishing off the day at work? She didn’t know how he could. She was still wondering how she would explain to the head Jake’s bandaged hands. Faye was anxious to get back to work. She turned to the kitchen door and noticed the round brass doorknob was already turning slowly.
