The Dinner Guest by B Walter (best short books to read txt) 📕

‘Flirting with your niece, I think,’ I said, and Rupert laughed. ‘Your sister had better watch out or she’ll have Titus for a son-in-law in a few years.’

‘I’m going to get some more drinks,’ Matthew said, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. ‘Can I get you one, Rupert?’

Rupert waved one of his large hands. ‘I’m fine, thank you.’

Matthew didn’t wait for me to say anything; he just walked away towards the house, leaving me and Rupert standing in the shade by the trees. Rupert turned and motioned to a nearby bench. ‘Care to sit?’

I nodded, and we settled ourselves down on the varnished wood, warm from the evening summer sun.

‘Takes me back. You and me on a bench.’ Rupert flashed me a wicked grin.

‘Behave,’ I said, but smiled too.

‘He still doesn’t like me, does he?’

I didn’t need to ask who Rupert was talking about. ‘Matthew doesn’t dislike you.’

He let out a short laugh, showing he didn’t believe me. ‘But he doesn’t approve of us remaining friends.’

I didn’t really have an answer to this, because essentially he was right. I decided to move the conversation on. ‘So, have you cured global warming with your electric cars yet?’

He nodded. ‘Oh yeah, didn’t you hear? The planet’s now saved. I’m collecting my Nobel prize next week.’ I noticed a mischievous glint in his eye that went beyond his playful words. ‘No, it’s just a question of backing the right developers and technology they’ve chosen. We’ve had some pretty exciting projects the San Diego offices are managing.’

I nodded. ‘And are you still seeing … what’s his name? The Canadian guy.’ Rupert had told me he had started dating someone who used to work at a competing company – probably an attempt to advance both his sex life and business in one stroke. To my surprise he looked sad, and his gaze went a bit distant for a moment or two. We sat in silence for a bit – long enough for me to wonder if I’d upset him.

‘No,’ he said eventually. ‘It didn’t work. It never does with me, really, does it? Maybe I’m still pining for my first love.’ He turned and looked at me after that and I felt a frisson of energy ripple over the back of my neck.

‘I surely wasn’t your first love?’ I cast an anxious look towards the house, but there was no sign of Matthew returning with drinks. I was both intrigued as to where this was going with Rupert, but at the same time I wanted to avoid dangerous territory.

‘Weren’t you?’ he asked, turning to me. ‘And wasn’t I yours?’ He asked it as if it were a genuine question. As if he really expected an answer. I wasn’t used to this. For years, we’d been able to socialise very happily without ever really digging into the past.

‘I … well, because you were older, and more experienced, I just presumed … I don’t know what I presumed. You seemed so close to your little group of friends. When I was fourteen I even saw you kissing Ernest Kellman around near the stables.’

His face looked pained at the mention of the name. ‘I’d prefer not to talk about him, or any of that. I’m just saying that I think you underestimated what an important part of my life you’ve been. And I’m always here. If ever you need me.’

Now I felt irritated. ‘Well, I’m flattered, but what use is that information to me now? I’m married; I have a son. I’m happy.’

He noticed the pause before the last word. The slight hesitation in my voice. He sighed, then took in a deep breath, as if building up to saying something. ‘There are things I’ve been wanting to talk to you about. Things I’ve been wrestling with. But I don’t know how much you know already. Or how much you’ve suspected…’

I twisted round to face him properly. ‘What? What do you mean?’

Rupert avoided my gaze and looked at the floor. ‘I … I should have told you something. I’ve known it for a little while now. Something that happened…’

He broke off, his eyes now staring in the direction of the house. I followed his gaze and saw Matthew strolling purposefully over the lawn. He wasn’t carrying any drinks. In fact, as he came closer, I was alarmed at his appearance. His previously crisp, neat shirt was now crumpled and askew, partially untucked, and a button had come undone at the top, causing it to flap in the wind. The colour had drained from his face. He looked ill, as if he may faint at any moment.

Had he seen us together? Had he been watching, listening to me and Rupert? I dismissed the thought immediately. He couldn’t have heard anything from so far away, and all he could have seen was us talking quite normally.

As he drew up, he barked four words in my direction. ‘We need to go.’

It was an instruction, not a request. I felt both embarrassed and confused. ‘What do you mean, “go”? We’ve only just arrived.’

He bent down and practically dragged me off the bench by my arm. ‘Come on. It’s really important we leave. Right now.’

Chapter Thirty Rachel

Less than a week to go

I looked at the guests as I passed them. Nobody made an effort to talk to me. Maybe they could sense how different I was, how I was from another world, another life, one that involved scavenging through the reduced section of the local Morrisons or trawling through company comparison websites to find train tickets at prices that didn’t cause me to faint. Things these people had probably never done and probably never would.

Eventually, I ended up walking round to the south side of the garden, following a little path along a stone wall that snaked round and opened out on a little square. It was dotted with benches on each side, walled in by the perfectly manicured hedges. An ornately carved fountain tinkled