'He's in his playpen, he's safe, and it's not about you going out for the day.'

'Oh no?' She didn't believe that last bit.

'No. It's about something Will said.'

'Will?' Had she said something indiscreet about Seb to Caro which had been pa.s.sed on to Will? Something Seb might take offence at? Sure she'd b.i.t.c.hed about his endless rowing, but it was hardly likely to be that. So what the f.u.c.k was it?

'Yes, he told me Caro's planning on getting Jenna along to the Wives' Club to do a hairdressing demo.'

Maddy rolled her eyes and shrugged in utter incomprehension. 'What?'

'You heard.'

'So? Do you want an invite, is that it?'

'Don't be flippant.'

'Seb, I'm not, but I honestly haven't got a clue what the h.e.l.l you're on about.'

'He said that Caro says you're going to be there.'

Maddy shrugged again. 'Well, yes, maybe. I'm a wife, I go to the Wives' Club. Is that so wrong? It's hardly like I'm standing around on street corners, touting for trade, is it?' She glared at Seb, daring him to accuse her of being flippant again.

'I don't want you to go.'

She'd just known this talk was going to be trouble. What she hadn't expected was for Seb to forbid her to attend like he was some sort of Stasi official, bringing a dissident into line. Well, she wasn't having that! She wasn't in the army, he couldn't order her about. 'What? What on earth has it got to do with you?'

'Everything.'

'Come off it. All the wives are going to be there or most of them will be.'

'But they don't know it'll be Jenna doing the demo. You do.'

So that was it. It was about being forewarned. It was about her turning up to the demo, knowing in advance that Jenna was going to be there. Oh, for f.u.c.k's sake! How petty could you get? 'And I'm going to pretend that I don't,' she snapped.

'And supposing Caro tells other people that you did? After all, she told Will.'

'For G.o.d's sake, Seb, she won't, she's a mate. s.h.i.t, if it means that much to you, let's get her to sign the official f.u.c.king secrets act!'

Seb stared at her angrily. 'You just don't get it, do you? Jenna is trouble. Jenna has been told to cease trading-'

'Yes, she has. But doing a demo at the Wives' Club is hardly trading. I just don't get what your problem is.'

'The CO knows what she's been up to, and her husband is in my platoon. If this woman causes real problems, then it might reflect on my next confidential report. If I want to make it to Staff College, it isn't just a question of pa.s.sing the exams I need the recommendations too. That woman could really screw up my career and I don't need you giving her a helping hand.'

'So that's it. You're giving me the gypsy's warning that I'm not to step out of line, not one inch.'

'Not exactly.'

'It's what it looks like from here.'

'It's just...'

'"It's just" what?'

'Caro and Will don't care. He's not ambitious like me. He joined the army for the sport and the adventurous training and all sorts of reasons, but I don't think making it to the top was one of them.'

No Caro had pretty much admitted that to Maddy herself. 'So?'

'Well I do care. And I thought you did too.'

Maddy took a deep breath. 'I do, really I do. Seb, I know that whatever you do you like to try to win. s.h.i.t, I know how cut up you were about not making the Olympic squad or rowing in the Blue Boat and I'll support you where I can to get any other goals you want. But I've got to be allowed to have my own life too, as much as I can. I've pretty much given up on the idea of having a proper career the best I can hope for is a succession of jobs. I've got to get used to the idea of moving all the time and worst of all, if we do that, I've got to accept that Nate, and any brothers or sisters he might have, will have to go away to boarding school, but Seb, I am not going to have you tell me who I may or may not be friends with, or who I can see or what I can do with my free time. Understand?'

Seb glared at her. 'Only too well.'

Maddy heard him clatter downstairs, and then the front door slammed.

25.

'Cheer up, Perky,' said Johnny. 'It might never happen.'

'I think it already has.' Lee was staring at the picture of Jenna which he kept in his wallet.

Johnny Flint hunkered down next to Lee, his back against the mud wall of the compound in the only slice of shade. The worst of the winter weather seemed to have cleared away while Lee was in the field hospital and now the sun was gaining in strength again. It was almost hot and without sun protection it was easy to get burnt something to be avoided, because sunburn was cla.s.sed as a self-inflicted injury.

'So what's the matter, buddy?' asked Johnny. 'You haven't got no f.u.c.king reason to be in the dumps you've just been back to Bastion. All those Gucci facilities to enjoy, plus women, you jammy sod.'

'I'm married.'

Johnny pulled the photo from Lee's fingers and looked at it. 'Your missus?'

Lee nodded.

'I can see why you wouldn't be interested in anyone else.' He whistled. 'How did an ugly git like you pull a bit of top-totty like that?'

Lee took the picture back. 'You know, I have no f.u.c.king idea.'

'She a soldier too?'

'Civvy. Local girl, works in the garrison hairdresser's.'

'So did you meet her there?' Johnny ruffled Lee's number two buzz cut. 'You big ponce.'

'Nah. Her car broke down in the barracks, I sorted it out, we went on a date and then the next thing I knew we were getting hitched.'

Johnny shook his head. 'Prat.'

'It seemed the right thing at the time. She's got a good job, she's a beautiful woman, like, her mam lives local...'

'But?' said Johnny.

Lee sighed.

'But?' prompted Johnny again.

'But, maybe I should have got to know her a bit better, before I said "I do".' Lee picked up a tiny stone and threw it at the toe of his boot. He missed, and it plinked into the dust to one side.

Johnny stared at his comrade. 'So what's wrong? Want to talk about it?'

Lee sighed. Did he?

'Hey, you know what else they say, don't you?' cajoled Johnny. 'A friend in need...'

'Is a pain in the a.r.s.e?' finished Lee.

Johnny grinned. 'Too f.u.c.king right. However, I don't mind listening if you want to get it off your chest.'

Lee considered the offer. He knew what his mate presumed. 'She's not playing away, if that's what you think.'

'So what's your problem?'

'It's the bank account. I Skyped a call when I was at Bastion and I could see there was all this new stuff in the house. So I went online and had a look at my bank account. She's rinsed the lot, Johnny. In fact, more than the lot; she's two grand overdrawn. I reckon she's got through eight grand in about six weeks. I mean, I know there's a risk the Taliban might do my legs physically, but I didn't expect Jenna to do them financially. Eight grand, Johnny!'

Johnny whistled. 'f.u.c.king h.e.l.l, Lee. Have you asked her what she's spent it on? The crown jewels?'

'I tried but she didn't pick up her mobile. I reckon she was blanking me.'

'That doesn't sound good.'

'And I daren't ask for compa.s.sionate leave to go back and sort it.'

Johnny shook his head. 'They wouldn't give it to you for that, anyway. It's got to be something really serious life-threatening.'

'The way I feel right now, it might be life-threatening, all right. Honestly, Johnny, I could kill her. How could she? I mean, I know she's got to have money to live, but eight grand?'

's.h.i.t, Lee, I don't know what to say.'

'Yeah. What is there to say? Total b.u.mmer, isn't it?' Lee got up and shrugged. 'But thanks for listening.'

'It's what pals do,' said Johnny.

And pals don't rob you blind as soon as your back is turned, thought Lee. Unlike your wife.

Jenna twisted her gla.s.s and watched the bubbles rise in her drink while she waited for Immi to arrive. Tommy's Bar was quiet, even for a Monday evening.

'Penny for them,' said Immi, sitting down beside her and putting her own drink down on the table. She pulled a heavy bag from off her shoulder and dumped it on the bench seat beside her.

'Hi, Immi,' said Jenna. 'And thanks, I could do with the money.'

'How so?'

Jenna turned to face her friend. 'Because the b.a.s.t.a.r.d army has put the skids under my business.'

Immi bit back the urge to say 'I told you so' or 'What did you expect?' and instead said, 'b.a.s.t.a.r.ds indeed.' She thought for a moment and said, 'But they can't stop you doing hairdressing in peoples' own homes.'

'No, but the wives have to ask me to do it in the first place.'

'And they don't?'

Jenna shook her head. 'Not one. The officers' patch has blackballed me and the soldiers' wives don't like me.'

Immi looked taken aback. 'What? None of them?'

'Not really. I fell out with my next-door neighbour on day one, and I went to one of the coffee mornings and all they could talk about was kids and getting marks out of carpets.' She sighed. 'Honest, Immi, none of them seem to have lives.' She took a swig of her drink. 'And is it a crime not to like kids? I had a basinful of babies when I was growing up, Mum was always making me look after my brothers and sisters, and I don't need any more right now and certainly not other people's.'

'You'll still do my hair for me? I'll pay, obviously,' Immi added, quickly. 'And not mates' rates, the proper deal. You've got to be businesslike.'

Jenna snorted. 'Businesslike. Ha, ain't that the joke, when I've got no sodding business. But thanks, babe. It's going to be a drop in the ocean, though, the debts I've got.'

'Poor you.' Immi decided to change the subject. 'How's Lee?' she asked brightly.

'OK, I suppose.'

'You suppose?'

'Haven't spoken to him for a bit. You know how it is.'

Immi nodded. You couldn't ring the guys out there, as no one was allowed mobiles, so you had to wait for them to ring you on the satphones, which was frustrating. But you could send blueys airmail letters as often as you wanted, and anything else for that matter. Which reminded her... Immi hauled the bag she'd put beside her up onto the table. 'I nicked these from the medical centre, when I went for my annual check-up. Well, that's not strictly true, they were about to chuck them out, so I nabbed them.' She opened the bag to reveal a dozen glossy lads' mags.

'Not my sort of thing, babe,' said Jenna, tapping a copy of GQ with a beautiful red nail.

Immi laughed. 'Not for you. For Lee. I though you could send them out there to him.'

Jenna's shoulders slumped and she turned to look at her friend. 'Listen, hon, I can barely afford to keep myself fed at the mo, what with not having any business, having a monster overdraft and having to pay the instalments on the furniture. I can't afford to spend a fortune on posting a few second-hand mags out to Afghan as well.'

'But... but...' Immi was at a loss for words.

'No buts, Immi, these'll cost a mint to send.'

'But care packages to Afghan go for free. Surely you know that?'