Horse Face

Twelve

'How did it go?' I ask Philip when he gets home. I am laying on the sofa contemplating dinner.

'It was cancelled' he said flatly.

'Oh. Why?

'The manager couldn't make it, he had an emergency.' says Philip undoing his tie and moving my feet so he can sit down.

What on earth constitutes an emergency in environmental health? Ooh, perhaps someone stored a dead body in a freezer at a local restaurant. That would be an emergency and also not very hygienic.

'How was your day? 'It must be hard being so famous.' He grins. 'I almost came home early to get Rosa in case you got lynch mobbed at school.'

'You're not far off,' I say drily putting my feet up on him. 'Mrs Simms.' I add by way of explanation.

'What about her?'

'She said my check is back already so its game on for the trip to the marshes' I tell him glumly.

'I wonder if you'll be recognised?' he said.

'At the marshes?'

'Why not'

'Nobody knows what I Iook like' I say. 'Anyway, Marc with a C will probably put a picture of his own weasley face next to it. Do you know he said he knew all about it before it was published?'

'Well, it's not his fault, he doesn't know talent when he sees it. I know though' he says leaning over and giving me a kiss.

'What do you want?' I say laughing.

'I am probably going to Bren's tonight to discuss everything' says Philip. 'Will you be super cross?'

'You can do it here you know, I can go upstairs out the way, and Rosa will be in bed.'

I don't want Philip to feel like I'm not being supportive. I can make tea and coffee and point to things on flip chart paper, so everyone knows what they need to be looking at. I have images of an easel and a dining room full of men in suits with pens in their breast pocket and important documents in front of them and me standing at the front nodding, pointing and writing peoples answers, like Carol Vorderman on countdown. Or, you know. I could just stay out of the way.

'Bren suggested his house because he likes to be available in case the baby plays up. He's a bit of a screamer by all accounts' says Philip.

I remember those days well. Cam was an absolute nightmare of a baby, and I couldn't get on with a single thing. Like Bren's wife, I also had another child at home to look after and it wasn't easy. I was lucky to have Philip though, so I suppose I do understand.

I really wanted tonight to be the night though. Not that sort of night. I wanted to unburden my conscience and tell Philip about Rosa and Rebecca and OnlyFans.

'Do you think you'll be late?' I say innocently. I can always talk to him when he gets back.

'I don't know, not too late though.' he says.

'Not having an affair are you?' I say smiling. He does seem to be out a lot at the moment. I'm joking when I say it, but there's something. A feeling. No don't be ridiculous Genevieve, I think.

'Don't be silly' he says getting up and making a move towards the door. 'Shall I put the oven on?'

After dinner, Rebecca comes home, and she seems to be in a surprisingly good mood. She is bathing Rosa and I can hear them giggling about what she is going to wear to Valentina's party. Rebecca has said she will do her makeup which makes Rosa squeal and splash water everywhere.