Having met him in college, he was her first love and she had assumed she would love him forever, although the excitement seemed to have gone out of the relationship in recent times.
They had been best friends long before they became lovers. She had always been the smart one, lending him her notes and letting him copy her work. At one time she was even accused of copying his, but eventually the truth came out when Tony couldn’t help revealing his lack of application and he was politely advised to leave. Even then, Chrissie remained loyal, doing her best to ‘stand by her man’ while he made a new beginning in the hospitality industry. This suited him better as he had the knack of charming people to do things for him all the time.
If Chrissie was wearing her reading glasses when he wanted to kiss her, he used to take them off and say she was beautiful. She had believed him, too, and was thrilled when he asked her to marry him although other people – mostly girls – said he was unreliable as well as being a serious gambler, too. He had been seen playing poker not just at the casino but at some of the less well-regulated clubs. Chrissie dismissed these rumours as founded in jealousy, although she did know about his gambling and had sometimes helped out, paying his debts. He always promised it wouldn’t happen again – until the next time.
After the wedding, they were planning an extended trip to London and Paris. There weren’t many girls who could boast of a honeymoon in Paris, the city of romance. But now, because ofthe news about Robert, these plans were all up in the air. And, even if Val hired a full-time nurse, Chrissie knew she couldn’t leave her mother to cope alone with a man who was sure to be the most overbearing and demanding of patients.
Chrissie had arranged to meet Tony for lunch at the hotel where he worked on probation as an assistant manager. It was one of the newer ones at the top end of town, patronized by politicians and show-business celebrities.
She knew something was wrong as soon as she saw him coming towards her. He was handsome as ever, well groomed and his blond hair gleaming, but he seemed to have lost weight since she last saw him and his smile was strained, a small muscle twitching beneath his eye. As a rule, Tony sailed through life on a golden cloud, never letting anything trouble him. He was the prince of charm and took it for granted that everyone loved him. He could have the grumpiest of hotel guests eating out of his hand in moments.
She moved into his arms and raised her lips for his kiss but he pushed her away with a brief peck on the cheek before steering her towards the dining room and the private alcove where they were to dine. She tipped her head to one side, considering him.
‘Come on, Tony, I know that look,’ she said. ‘What is it this time? Not losing at poker again, I hope?’
‘Oh, Chrissie.’ He glanced aside, looking mildly irritated. ‘You know very well I’ve given that up.’ And he hid his expression by picking up the menu, giving his full attention to that instead.
‘What will you have?’ he said from behind it. ‘The chef’s doing fresh crayfish today and I hear that it’s good.’
While pretending to study the menu herself, Chrissie felt someone’s stare and looked up to catch the eye of a slender blonde who was serving behind the bar. She had that smooth, heavy hair that fell forward on either side of her face; the kind of hairstyle that looks simple but can take half an hour to prepare. She looked away as soon as she realized Chrissie had seen her, a faint blush staining her cheeks.
‘Crayfish would be great,’ Chrissie said, snapping the menu shut. ‘But first things first. I wanted to ask if you’ve given your notice yet?’
‘Actually, I haven’t.’ Tony bit his lip, once more failing to meet her gaze.
‘Good,’ she said, making him blink in surprise. Briefly, she gave him an outline of what had happened to Robert and
They had been best friends long before they became lovers. She had always been the smart one, lending him her notes and letting him copy her work. At one time she was even accused of copying his, but eventually the truth came out when Tony couldn’t help revealing his lack of application and he was politely advised to leave. Even then, Chrissie remained loyal, doing her best to ‘stand by her man’ while he made a new beginning in the hospitality industry. This suited him better as he had the knack of charming people to do things for him all the time.
If Chrissie was wearing her reading glasses when he wanted to kiss her, he used to take them off and say she was beautiful. She had believed him, too, and was thrilled when he asked her to marry him although other people – mostly girls – said he was unreliable as well as being a serious gambler, too. He had been seen playing poker not just at the casino but at some of the less well-regulated clubs. Chrissie dismissed these rumours as founded in jealousy, although she did know about his gambling and had sometimes helped out, paying his debts. He always promised it wouldn’t happen again – until the next time.
After the wedding, they were planning an extended trip to London and Paris. There weren’t many girls who could boast of a honeymoon in Paris, the city of romance. But now, because ofthe news about Robert, these plans were all up in the air. And, even if Val hired a full-time nurse, Chrissie knew she couldn’t leave her mother to cope alone with a man who was sure to be the most overbearing and demanding of patients.
Chrissie had arranged to meet Tony for lunch at the hotel where he worked on probation as an assistant manager. It was one of the newer ones at the top end of town, patronized by politicians and show-business celebrities.
She knew something was wrong as soon as she saw him coming towards her. He was handsome as ever, well groomed and his blond hair gleaming, but he seemed to have lost weight since she last saw him and his smile was strained, a small muscle twitching beneath his eye. As a rule, Tony sailed through life on a golden cloud, never letting anything trouble him. He was the prince of charm and took it for granted that everyone loved him. He could have the grumpiest of hotel guests eating out of his hand in moments.
She moved into his arms and raised her lips for his kiss but he pushed her away with a brief peck on the cheek before steering her towards the dining room and the private alcove where they were to dine. She tipped her head to one side, considering him.
‘Come on, Tony, I know that look,’ she said. ‘What is it this time? Not losing at poker again, I hope?’
‘Oh, Chrissie.’ He glanced aside, looking mildly irritated. ‘You know very well I’ve given that up.’ And he hid his expression by picking up the menu, giving his full attention to that instead.
‘What will you have?’ he said from behind it. ‘The chef’s doing fresh crayfish today and I hear that it’s good.’
While pretending to study the menu herself, Chrissie felt someone’s stare and looked up to catch the eye of a slender blonde who was serving behind the bar. She had that smooth, heavy hair that fell forward on either side of her face; the kind of hairstyle that looks simple but can take half an hour to prepare. She looked away as soon as she realized Chrissie had seen her, a faint blush staining her cheeks.
‘Crayfish would be great,’ Chrissie said, snapping the menu shut. ‘But first things first. I wanted to ask if you’ve given your notice yet?’
‘Actually, I haven’t.’ Tony bit his lip, once more failing to meet her gaze.
‘Good,’ she said, making him blink in surprise. Briefly, she gave him an outline of what had happened to Robert and
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