Page 2 of Be More Capybara

‘Since when?’

‘Since the end of November. We merged with another company and, let’s just say, it got complicated, so they paid me off.’

Nancy put a steaming hot mug of tea in front of him. ‘I’ve put two sugars in it. You look like you could do with an energy boost.’

Nigel didn’t argue. He wrapped his hands around the warm mug.

‘Why didn’t you mention your job situation before?’

‘Because I thought I’d find something else. But when it came to it, I enjoyed not being caged in that corner office every day. We’ve got enough money to live well without me doing that, but Madison had other ideas.’

‘She sees it as a drop in status?’

He nodded. Visions of the massive shouting match they’d had on Christmas Eve swam back into his mind. Madison had slammed the kitchen door shut so that the girls wouldn’t hear. ‘I don’t want you under my feet all day.’

‘How can I be under your feet? You’re never in. When you’re not at the gallery, you’re swanning off to some lunch or other.’

He hadn’t realised how often she went out until he’d spent that first week at home. His idea that they’d have lunch together, perhaps play some tennis like they used to do when they first met, had turned out to be a pipe dream.

‘Swanning off? I’ve got the gallery and I’m on a board of charity trustees. That’s hardly swanning off as you call it.’

‘I was talking about your constant lunches with friends or hanging out at the yacht club. I’d like to do that sometimes.’

‘You haven’t got any friends to hang out with.’

‘Because I’ve been working all the hours God sends to give you and the girls a life of luxury.

‘And I don’t work. Is that what you’re saying? You think my gallery is a little hobby to keep me amused?’

‘No. I should hope not given the amount of time and effort I poured into it to help make it a success.’

She huffed. ‘I could have got anyone to do the bookkeeping.’

‘Thanks for dismissing my financial advice as bookkeeping. But that’s not the point. I want an opportunity to socialise with people who aren’t just after a business favour. And I thought you’d appreciate seeing more of me.’

The way Madison glared at him took him straight back to the day the CEO had asked him to leave. His services weren’t wanted any more at Bartons, and Madison didn’t want them either. She hadn’t for years. Deep down, he knew that she’d fallen out of love with him, but he’d been sticking his head in the sand, thinking that when he took early retirement, they’d be ok. You bloody fool, Nigel.

‘I could have had this life on Daddy’s money. I didn’t need yours.’

Had she really just dismissed twenty years of providing for her in two sentences? How had he ended up married to someone so selfish and uncaring?

‘Nigel?’

His mother’s voice brought him back to reality. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.’

‘I asked you if you wanted to skip the party and go to bed instead.’

It was tempting. But he was still on New York time and wide awake.

‘Thanks. But I’ve got to meet all the new family members we seem to have acquired while I’ve been away. It may as well be now.’

Nigel picked up the tray of mini cheesecakes that Nancy had removed from the fridge.

‘Put them on the dining table, darling. Then announce that dessert is served.’

He grinned. She was back to being her usual bossy self. ‘Would Madame like anything else?’

‘You can cut the sarcasm. I’m thrilled you’re home, but that doesn’t mean to say that I’m not expecting you to make yourself useful.’