Page 41 of The Bordeaux Book Club
‘Not necessarily,’ Leah said. ‘I mean, this husband… our friend’s husband. He’s a good bloke. He’s not the sort of person who does this kind of thing.’
‘Riiight,’ said George.
‘What? He’s not!’
‘It’s just…’ he said, leaning forward rather conspiratorially, ‘no-one is that sort of person… until they are. You know, if he’s met someone. It can change a person.’
It was hard not to react as each word pierced her heart, but she did her best. George was just speculating on a story he’d barely heard. She’d probably have done the same, Leah thought.
‘I was about to say,’ Grace said, ‘I think our friend should do what she can to alleviate her suspicions. Ask him directly. Bite the bullet.’
But George was shaking his head. ‘She can’t do that!’ he said.
‘Whyever not?’ Grace looked affronted at her idea being shot down.
‘Because if he’s not doing anything wrong, he’s going to feel really shit, I mean, awful about that,’ George said. ‘Maybe annoyed that she don’t trust him.’
‘Well,’ said Grace, ‘maybe shedoesn’ttrust him!’
I do!Leah wanted to say.I really do. At least, I think I do.
‘Yeah, but if he knows that… and he’s, like, not doing anything wrong… it could make things worse between them,’ George said. ‘I know that if someone accused me of cheating, I’d wonder what they thought of me.’ He shrugged a shoulder. ‘Mind you, I’ve never done that to anyone, so…’
They were all silent for a moment. Leah felt the truth in George’s words. If she did confront Nathan with her suspicions, it could drive a wedge between them.
‘Well, what should she – our friend – do?’ Leah asked George, who was clearly now fully invested in the situation. ‘Because she’s tried all the more subtle ways – she’s tried to get him to chat about what he’s been up to. But he’s being cagey about it, won’t say anything.’
‘Well,’ he said, ‘what I’d do, if it was my… husband, is find out what he’s up to for myself.’
‘Well, yes,’ said Grace. ‘That was the idea of speaking to him.’ She took a sip of her mint tea.
George leaned forward, as if imparting a secret. ‘Yeah, but I’d do it more subtly. Like, so he won’t know she’s suspicious,’ he said, tapping the side of his nose conspiratorially.
‘Well,’ said Leah, trying to keep the impatience from her voice. ‘How exactly would you achieve that?’
George scratched his chin. ‘Well, do you think she might be up for… following him? Next time he goes out and starts acting suspiciously?’
‘Following him!’ Leah said. ‘No, that would be awful.’
‘But it’s a way of finding out where he’s going at least,’ George said, with a single shoulder shrug. ‘And if she does it well, he won’t ever know. And she’ll know whether to confront him or not.’
Leah looked at Grace, expecting to see her friend’s disbelief at George’s suggestion. But to her surprise, Grace was looking thoughtful. As if she was seriously considering his idea.
‘Anyway, what do I know?’ said George, refitting the lid to his cup and standing up. ‘I’m just a chronically single bloke who’s late for work.’
They smiled. ‘Nothing wrong with being single,’ Grace said. ‘All the best people are, you know!’
George looked at her and grinned. ‘Ah, but not for long, I’ll bet,’ he said. ‘You’re not the type to be left on the shelf.’
‘Nothing wrong with being late, either,’ Leah added. ‘Master of your own time, remember?’
George grinned. ‘Good point.’
‘So, have fun at work.’ Leah said, now eager for him to leave so they could discuss ‘their friend’ more openly.
‘Always. See you at the meet-up,’ he said. ‘Nearly finished the book!’
‘Well, done. And I’ll call you later about the… the gardening thing we were talking about,’ Grace said, stumbling slightly over her words.
