One Plus One: A Novel by Jojo Moyes Read Free Book Online Page B

he came back with a handful of notes.
    He peeled off some without looking at Jess and handed them over. She was about to say something—something about how he didn’t have to behave like an utter dickhead, about how life went that little bit more smoothly when people treated each other like human beings, something that would no doubt make Nathalie rub half the door handle away with anxiety. But just as she opened her mouthto speak, his phone rang. Without a word, Mr. Nicholls spun away from her and was striding down the hallway to answer it.
    —
    “What’s that in Norman’s basket?”
    “Nothing.”
    Jess was unpacking the groceries, hauling items out of the bags with one eye on the clock. She had a three-hour shift at the Feathers and just over an hour to make tea and get changed. She shoved two cans to the back of the shelves, hiding them behind the cereal packets. She was sick of the supermarket’s cheery “value” label.
    Nicky stooped and tugged at the piece of fabric so that the dog reluctantly got to his feet. “It’s a white towel. Jess, it’s an expensive one. Norman’s got hair all over it. And dribble.” He held it up between two fingers.
    “I’m going to wash it later.” She didn’t look at him.
    “Is it Dad’s?”
    “No, it is not your dad’s.”
    “I don’t understand—”
    “It’s just making me feel better, okay? Can you put that stuff over there in the freezer?”
    He slouched against the kitchen units. “Shona Bryant was teasing Tanzie at the bus stop. Because of her clothes.”
    “What about her clothes?” Jess turned to Nicky, a can of tomatoes in her hand.
    “Because you make them. All the sequins you put on them.”
    “Tanzie likes shiny stuff. Anyway, how does she know I make them?”
    “She asked Tanzie where they came from and Tanzie just told her. You know what she’s like.”
    He took a package of cornflakes from Jess and put it on the shelf. “Shona Bryant’s the one who said our house was weird because we had too many books.”
    “Well Shona Bryant’s an idiot.”
    He leaned down to stroke Norman. “Oh. And we got a reminder from the electric company.”
    Jess let out a small sigh. “How much?”
    He walked over to the pile of papers on the sideboard and flicked through. “Comes to more than two hundred altogether.”
    She took out a packet of cereal. “I’ll sort it out.”
    Nicky opened the fridge door. “You should sell the car.”
    “I can’t sell it. It’s your dad’s only asset.” Sometimes Jess wasn’t entirely sure why she kept defending her husband. “He’ll sort it out when he’s back on his feet. Now, go on upstairs. I’ve got someone coming.” She could see her walking up the back path.
    “We’re buying stuff off Aileen Trent?” Nicky watched her open the gate and close it carefully behind her.
    Jess couldn’t hide the way her cheeks colored. “Just this once.”
    He stared at her. “You said we had no money.”
    “Look, it’s to take Tanzie’s mind off the school thing when I have to tell her.” Jess had made her decision on the way home. The whole idea was ridiculous. They could barely keep their heads above water as it was. There was no point even trying to entertain it.
    He kept staring at her. “But Aileen Trent. You said—”
    “And you’re the one who just told me Tanzie was getting bullied because of her clothes. Sometimes, Nicky . . .” Jess threw her hands into the air. “Sometimes the ends justify the means.”
    Nicky’s look lasted longer than she felt entirely comfortable with. And then he went upstairs.
    —
    “So I’ve brought a lovely selection of things for the discerning young lady. You know they all love their designer labels. And I took the liberty of bringing a few sequinned things, as I know your Tanzie’s a bit of a magpie.”
    Aileen’s “shop” voice was formal, with overly precise diction. It was quite odd, emerging as it did, from someone Jess had seen regularly ejected by force