Free Jigsaw by Anthea Fraser Page B

expected.’
    â€˜Then it should have been. I’ve made it perfectly clear from the start.’
    â€˜What you’ve made clear, my love, is that every time we meet, you can’t wait to tear my clothes off.’
    â€˜It works well as it is,’ she said, humbled by the truth of his words. ‘Why change it?’
    He snorted. ‘If you imagine I’m going to settle for a Rona–Max solution, you’re very much mistaken. We belong together, Lindsey. You know it as well as I do, so what’s the point in fighting it?’
    â€˜I don’t want to live with you,’ she said stubbornly, hearing her voice tremble.
    â€˜You’ll get used to it.’
    â€˜No, Hugh, I won’t. This is my flat, and I don’t want you here. Not permanently.’
    â€˜And what the hell would I tell the firm? Here I’ve been, moving heaven and earth to come back to my loving ex-wife, and now she refuses to have me.’
    She sat up, clutching the sheet to her breast. ‘I think you’d better go.’
    â€˜At one in the morning? Don’t be bloody ridiculous.’
    â€˜To the guest room, at least; the bed’s made up.’
    â€˜I’m not going to any bloody guest room,’ he said furiously.
    â€˜Then I will.’ She slid her feet to the floor and stood up. ‘I’m sorry, Hugh. I did tell you, you know I did.’
    â€˜That was in the early days. Anyway, I’ve changed.’ He stretched out a hand and she took a step backwards, out of his reach. ‘I know I have a temper, it goes with my red hair, but it doesn’t mean anything. Being away from you made me realize how much I miss and want you, and you might as well admit it, you want me, too.’
    â€˜Not permanently,’ she repeated weakly. Since he was making no move to get up, she added, ‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ and, catching up her robe, hurried out of the room. A shaft of moonlight lit her way as she ran across the landing, half-expecting to hear him coming after her. She reached the guest room, closed the door, and stood listening, heart thumping. There was no sound, and after a moment she moved woodenly to the bed, pulled back the covers, and crept between the cold sheets. What in the name of goodness was she going to do now?
    The doorbell rang at ten o’clock the next morning, while Max and Rona were having a lazy breakfast in their dressing gowns.
    â€˜Who the hell can that be?’ he grumbled. ‘The post’s been, hasn’t it?’
    Rona nodded. ‘You go; you’re more respectable than I am.’
    He got up and with bad grace went barefoot up the basement stairs. Rona heard voices in the hall and a minute later Max called, ‘Rona? I think you’d better come up.’
    Rona frowned, put down the paper and followed him upstairs, to find Lindsey in the hall.
    â€˜What are you doing here?’ she asked in surprise. ‘I thought Hugh was coming up?’
    Lindsey burst into tears. Rona looked helplessly at Max, who shrugged his shoulders, said, ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ and thankfully disappeared back down the stairs.
    â€˜I’m sorry to spoil your Saturday,’ Lindsey sobbed, ‘but I’m frantic, Ro. I don’t know what to do.’
    Rona took her arm and led her into the sitting room, where the curtains were still drawn and last night’s coffee cups on the table.
    She pulled back the curtains, motioned Lindsey to the sofa, and sat down beside her. ‘Now, tell me what’s happened.’
    â€˜Hugh’s transfer’s come through. He’s coming back to Marsborough.’ Lindsey looked at her tragically with swimming eyes.
    â€˜Oh God,’ Rona said flatly. ‘And I suppose you never got round to telling him in so many words that you didn’t want him back?’
    Lindsey shook her head. ‘We had the most awful row last night. I – I slept in the