TAMMY thoroughly enjoyed the last gang luncheon party before Jennifer’s wedding nine months later. As she drove the Lexus home to Blues Point, she smilingly reflected how much fun it had been, chatting and laughing together without the interruption of babies claiming their attention. Jennifer had declared a ban on them since she had arranged for the fitting of their bridesmaids’ dresses after the luncheon and didn’t want her friends distracted from the serious business of decisions on bouquets and other wedding accessories.
Celine had left her darling daughter with her mother for the day. Tony Andretti’s nonna had claimed the right to watch over Lucy’s much adored son. Tammy had had no hesitation over giving the responsibility of looking after John to Fletcher, despite the fact their son was only four months old.
He’d been a hands-on father right from the time they’d brought their baby boy home from the maternity ward. Even before that he’d obsessively devoured information about stages of her pregnancy, attended classes with her, determined on being master of the situation at the birth, and being wonderfully supportive throughout the long, painful hours of labour: sympathetic, caring, encouraging, soothing. She could not have had a better partner in parenthood.
Nor a better partner in bed.
She’d had serious doubts about how long her desirability would last for Fletcher. Amazingly he didn’t seem to notice that her appearance was quite ordinary without the skilful art of a beautician and a hair stylist. Nor had he been put off by the physical changes of pregnancy, showing a fascinated pleasure in her bump and making the sex between them incredibly sensual. Sometimes she’d thought it was the child in her womb that kept her attractive to him, yet he’d been keen to resume intimacy when she’d been ready to after the birth.
For her, the chemistry was still as powerful as ever. And his love for John made him even more attractive. He was certainly capable of love. Though maybe it was only an innocent baby who could draw it from him—a baby who only knew him as the man who was there for him, building a bond that had no bad history to taint any part of it. Occasionally she felt the love overflowed to her, but not really to her as a person, more to her as the mother of his child.
She was not unhappy with Fletcher. In many ways he was a good husband. The big problem was how much he kept to himself, closeting himself in his computer room, cutting her out of anything to do with his work, which he’d set up to operate from home, and declining any invitation to join in the social activities arranged by her friends.
‘I don’t fit in,’ was his inarguable excuse. ‘I’m happy for you to go, Tamalyn. I know how much you enjoy their company.’
She did go, but it always felt wrong to her, not having Fletcher by her side when her friends had their men happily in tow. For the most part she had resigned herself to his antisocial attitude, but his refusal to attend Jennifer’s and Adam’s wedding was like a burr under her skin. She hadn’t yet told Jennifer that he hadn’t accepted the invitation. It was embarrassing, shaming, humiliating.
Having parked the Lexus in the basement garage, she headed for the elevator, thinking she had to tackle this subject again, make Fletcher understand that this was the kind of giving from him she would most appreciate. Their partnership could very well flounder if he persisted in his alien role and made no effort to find some common ground with the people she cared about.
As soon as she entered the apartment, she could hear him in the kitchen, telling John about the ingredients he was assembling for the dinner he intended to cook. It had come as a complete surprise to Tammy that he liked cooking and was very good at it, finding it a relaxing hobby from highly concentrated brain work.
‘I’m home,’ she called out.
‘Come on round,’ he called back. ‘I’m getting dinner ready. I found this great new recipe on the Internet. It’s baked fish—blue-eyed cod—so it won’t be too heavy for you after your lunch out.’
She sighed, not wanting to dampen his ebullient mood by bringing up a bone of contention. Deciding to postpone a confrontation until tomorrow, she walked around to the galley kitchen, which was set against an internal wall with a long work-bench facing the view of the harbour. John’s carry-cot was set on one end of the bench, and she checked him first, smiling over her baby’s absorption in the carrot Fletcher had given him to play with.
Along the living area side of the work bench were stainless steel bar stools with designer moulded seats which turned as directed by whoever was sitting in them. Tammy hitched herself onto one, her back to the view as she watched Fletcher move to the refrigerator, take out a chilled bottle of white wine and pour them both a glass.
Be grateful for all the good things you’ve got with this man, she sternly told herself.
‘Have a nice day?’ he asked as he set the glass of wine down in front of her.
‘Yes, I did, thank you.’
‘Everything on track for the wedding?’
It was the wrong question. Before Tammy could monitor her mouth, a spurt of resentment escaped from it. ‘Everything except you.’
Instantly his eyes were scouring hers. ‘What does that mean?’
Tammy took a deep breath and made her appeal. ‘I want you to be there, Fletcher. You came to the other three gang weddings. It’s like…well, it’s like a personal rejection not to go to Jennifer’s.’
‘That’s absurd!’ he said in arrogant dismissal. ‘I had to go to Celine’s. She’s my sister. As for the other two, I went for you. My being there had nothing to do with your friends.’
Angry heat burned through her and spat off her tongue. ‘So now that you have me tied up with a contract, you don’t have to make any more effort to hold what you won from me. Is that how it is, Fletcher?’
His eyes narrowed into hard glittering slits. ‘Are you saying I could lose you if I don’t go?’
He didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe she’d walk away from what they did have together, putting their child’s secure future at risk. She felt the power of his confidence crushing her will to fight. It took a tremendous effort to steel her own spirit and speak with quiet dignity. ‘I’m asking you, as a favour to me…please…put yourself out for this one occasion.’
‘You don’t need me there, Tamalyn,’ he said straight back at her with terse impatience. ‘You’ll be involved with the wedding party…’