Page 59 of Always Beth
Despite the back and forth between them and all the frostiness, all I can feel is love. It’s evident they’d do anything for each other. James turns to me and his face softens as he holds my stare. ‘Lauren, please tell Beth why you called him Richard.’
‘Well, funny story,’ she says slowly.
‘It isn’t.’
Oh god, these two, I love them.
Forcing a smile, Lauren leans back in her chair. ‘As I was saying, I had Victoria, well, she went over the rainbow bridge at five as she had a spine problem, then I had Charles, I had to re-home him because my job was too demanding, and it wasn’t fair on him. Well, then I moved here to Mum and Dad’s old place and got Richard. All dachshunds.’
‘All dachshunds?’ I question
‘All dachshunds,’ she repeats.
‘Richard?’
‘The third.’ James rolls his eyes.
My mouth falls open as I emit a tiny laugh. ‘That’s so cool, I love it.’
‘Oh please, Beth, don’t encourage her. All those thousands of pounds wasted on a history degree and the best we get from her is naming her dog after Richard of York.’
Lauren tips her head and smirks as she finishes the contents of her wine glass. ‘About as wasteful as applying to become a KC after recommendation from the Lord Chancellor and then taking a career break.’
‘It’s called taking silk,’ James grinds out.
‘Taking the piss more like.’ Lauren snorts.
‘Well, I have a first in politics and I’m selling wax melts from my kitchen.’ I laugh nervously.
I glance between them. They’re serious. Furious with one another.Shut up, Beth.
James balls his fists at his sides and tips his head back against the door frame. The atmosphere in the room turns decidedly frosty, there’s more going on here than I first thought.
‘Maybe I’ll get going.’ I stand, swinging my bag over my shoulder.
‘Yes, good idea,’ James says firmly.
‘Sit down, Beth,’ Lauren snaps.
I sink back into my chair. Oh god, what am I in the middle of?
‘You know why I took a year off,’ he hisses in her direction.
Lauren’s eyes glaze as she looks out of the window. ‘I know,’ she whispers.
‘Not that you seem to want to spend any time with me. Lucky Beth turned up, otherwise I would have had fuck all to do.’
I stand, completely outraged. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I didn’t mean it like that.’
I pull my jacket over my shoulders and grab my bag from the floor. This was a mistake.
‘Sit down, Beth,’ his voice thunders as he points back towards the chair.
Oh hell, if it’s not one, it’s the other. I’m totally transfixed, mesmerised by them both.
‘I’m glad she’s here. I want you to be happy,’ she whispers.
