‘What? That they’ve made love? Yes, I think they most probably have.’
Max looked as if he was about to implode.
‘Well thank God he has gone. She can’t go getting involved with a freaking Mafia boss, is she crazy? And what about the age gap?’
‘The age gap’s about eighteen years. And our age gap is about eleven, which isn’t so very different.’
Max had a horrible thought. ‘You don’t think he’s knocked her up, do you?’
‘Oh God,’ sighed Annie, leaning back on the pillows.
‘What? What? Well he could have. Couldn’t he? That does happen.’
‘I doubt that she’s pregnant.’ And if she was, she’d give you a grandchild you’d dote on forever, thought Annie. Would that be so terrible?
‘Thank Christ for that.’
‘I think Alberto would have been careful.’
‘Don’t! Don’t even go there.’ Max was furious.
‘Max.’ She caught his hand.
‘What?’ he snapped.
‘Please – don’t have a go at her. She’s heartbroken as it is. She was already in bits over losing her friend, Precious. She’s had enough. Don’t hurt her any more.’
And there’s Layla downstairs, wondering if her mother loves her, he thought.
His little girl, Layla. Now she was a woman. And she had chosen Alberto, but he’d run out on her. Annie was right. Layla would need them both to be strong for her.
He leaned over and kissed his ex-wife briefly on the lips. ‘Just rest now,’ he said, and went to the door on to the landing. When he opened it, Layla was standing there.
‘Can I see her?’ she asked her father.
Max glanced back at Annie, who was smiling.
‘Don’t tire her out, that’s all,’ he warned, kissing Layla’s cheek and going off downstairs.
Annie opened her arms. Layla hesitated, then ran across the room and flung herself on to the bed, hugging her mother fiercely.
‘I love you, Mum,’ she said, and started to cry.
‘Hey, don’t. Don’t! What’s all this for?’ said Annie, feeling tearful too. She kissed Layla, gathered her into her arms. ‘Shh, don’t cry.’
‘I thought I’d lost you!’ Layla sobbed. ‘I’ve been such a complete cow to you ever since you split with Dad, and I thought I’d lost you, that it was too late, that it would never be all right between us.’
‘It is all right between us.’ Annie pushed Layla back a little. ‘Look. I’m here and I’m fine. See?’
Layla wiped shakily at her eyes. Her face was soaked with tears.
‘I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life,’ she said, shivering as she thought of it all. ‘I don’t know how you got through it, I really don’t.’
‘Well, I did. And so did you,’ said Annie, smoothing back her daughter’s hair with loving hands and smiling into her eyes. ‘I like your hair down like this, it suits you. And that lipstick’s nice, what shade is that?’