Read Online Soon by Charlotte Grimshaw - Free Book Online Page B

he?’
    â€˜That’s the spirit.’
    She said, ‘Claire’s gone back to the city — she’s got a party to go to. She managed not to offend anyone, thank God.’
    â€˜Ah, they can stand a bit of offending.’
    â€˜I dread the thought of her having a go at David. He hasn’t forgiven her for that spiel about “third-world diseases”. Although I don’t think she got far; he just fixed her with his death stare. Anyway, she left this. We’ve been trying it out.’ She showed him a sheet of paper.
    â€˜A Kessler score. Why’d she give you that?’
    â€˜I suppose they’re looking at them at med school. I think she wanted to prove I’m insane. She’s always telling me I am. Anyway, I did the questionnaire and guess what? Not a hint of mental illness. Not a speck of anxiety. Totally normal.’
    â€˜I’m not really surprised, darling.’
    â€˜Aren’t you?’
    â€˜No. You’re as solid as a rock.’
    â€˜Claire was disappointed. Anyway, let’s try it on you.’
    â€˜No, let’s not.’
    But she insisted, following him around with the questionnaire while he showered and got changed and he answered the questions, too tired and distracted to be untruthful.
    She added up his score.
    â€˜Ah,’ she said with delight, ‘you’re mentally ill!’
    â€˜I am not. Give me that.’
    â€˜Look, count it up: “indicates mild mental illness”. It’s the bits about lying awake at night that put you over the limit. And being often restless and unable to rest or keep still. And the one about sometimes feeling nervous.’
    â€˜It’s too extreme. This would make everyone mildly mentally ill.’
    â€˜Not me. Nor Elke. She’s completely sane too. And Juliet, would you believe. Claire says it’s a reliable clinical tool.’
    â€˜Claire. What does she know.’
    Karen laughed. ‘So, mentally ill, eh. My mentally unwell husband.’
    â€˜Oh, bollocks.’
    They got dressed and went to dinner. On the way through the garden Simon urged her, without much hope, not to sulk or show hurt with Ed. Any black looks or pouting or attempts to hit back would be a mistake.
    He would have liked to snub Ed, but he concealed his distaste. Karen made sure she sat next to Elke, and he heard her suggest a trip into town the next day, to which Elke agreed. Simon could tell Ed was watching them. Sly, predatory operator that he was, he must have noticed Karen was slightly embattled. He was programmed to home in on weakness and exploit it. Simon was bothered by the suggestion he’d initially dismissed, that Ed might do her some damage with Roza.
    But Karen was rising to the challenge. She talked about the Kessler test and how she and Elke had proven to be completely sane. She didn’t mention Simon’s score, only looked across at him and grinned.
    The young people finished their dinner and went off, led by Marcus, to watch a movie, and Karen managed to draw David and Roza into a conversation that left Ed out. Then she and Roza and Sharon disappeared upstairs, leaving Juliet with the men. Juliet was disconcerted at being excluded from the party upstairs, and said she was going to her room to read.
    Karen had given no hint she was offended. It was smoothly done and left Simon wondering when his open, straightforward wife had learned to be so guarded.
    Ed wandered over to Simon. David and the Cock had gone onto the lawn to smoke cigars. They were pacing slowly towards the pool, smoke billowing over their shoulders.
    â€˜They’re plotting,’ Simon said.
    â€˜No doubt,’ said Ed.
    â€˜You’re not invited to join in?’
    Ed smiled. ‘My work is done today.’
    â€˜Oh, right. The world of policing’s all in order.’
    â€˜They could be discussing any number of things. Personally, I’ve knocked off for the day. We were discussing social