Changing Lara

by Anna Jacobs

  He’d have to do the job quickly, though. Who knew when the car would return.

  He flung off his jacket and closed the boot. He was dressed as a jogger now – well, more or less – with a knapsack on his back.

  He started running round the lake. Unfortunately he had to slow down when he started to puff and pant.

  ‘Got to pace yourself,’ another jogger called out cheerfully as he loomed out of the darkness under one of the lamps along the path and carried on past.

  ‘Yes. I’m finding that out.’

  The man continued to jog round the lake, but Gil stopped for a moment, chest heaving. Damn! He hadn’t been able to jog with his hood up, because it would have looked wrong. The fellow might remember his face, though.

  To his relief, Gil managed to find a place among the heaps of building materials near the unfinished new-build house to check the situation out. He was delighted to see that there were no lights on in the end house now, except the one in the kitchen. He circled round to the rear patio carefully, able to see through the window and check that there was actually no one in the kitchen.

  Taking care to make very little noise, he fiddled with the lock on the back door, cursing when he realised the sods had put bolts in place. Well, that wasn’t going to stop him. He used his cutting tool to get access via the smaller window next to the door, and a fiddly job it was too.

  He was just climbing into the house when noise burst out around him, nearly deafening him, it was screeching so loudly.

  An alarm system. Damn them!

  He tried to get out again quickly but his sleeve got caught on a piece of glass and the sharp edge slashed his arm. Blood poured out and he felt sick, couldn’t move for a moment or two.

  When Ross set up the alarm system, he needed Lara’s help to finish the job, since the instructions which came with it were rather confusing. He watched ruefully as she quickly solved the problem. ‘Not the best person at electronic stuff, am I? I think you’re far more skilful than I am.’

  ‘I’ve had to be. I’ve been on my own for a while. Though there’s not as much fixing needed in rented accommodation so I have only patchy skills.’

  Then there was a problem with the website which further delayed them and it was getting dark by the time Lara had sorted it out.

  They had been thinking of going up to the hotel for tea but didn’t like to leave the houses unguarded.

  ‘How about I phone them and ask if they could do us a takeaway?’ she suggested. ‘I still don’t have enough food stocks to cater easily for guests.’

  ‘And I’ve not bothered to buy much in. I was going to do it today but it seemed more important to get an alarm set up.’

  The hotel was as obliging as ever, so she said she’d take the car in order to get the food back while he was clearing up his tools. ‘You can set the table when you’ve finished.’

  Ross was about to get out the plates when he thought he heard something next door, so he switched off the radio and listened carefully.

  There it was again. He had heard something! It could have been a small animal or that prowler returning. Only, if he switched the lights on at the back to get a better look, he’d warn the fellow.

  He ran up the stairs and peered out of the back bedroom window. There was enough light to see the silhouette of a man. Oh hell, the prowler had come back and was breaking into Lara’s house.

  Ross hesitated, not sure what to do. He’d never been good at fighting and doubted he’d be able to capture the burglar on his own.

  Then he saw that the man was having difficulty getting in through the kitchen window. That settled it. With a bit of luck, the new alarm would do its job and he could catch the man half in, half out.

  Ross ran downstairs and carefully unlocked the patio doors of his own house. At that moment the alarm went off next door. It made a hell of a noise and the burglar let out a loud yell.

  He ran along to Lara’s as the man was trying to wriggle back out of the window. But it looked like he’d caught one sleeve on some jagged glass. No, not just his sleeve, the fleshy part of his forearm.

  By the time Ross got to him, blood was pouring out of the cut. Ugh. It looked like black oil in the semi-darkness.

  He grabbed the man, who began to struggle. The arm was slippery with blood and it was hard to keep hold.

  Then someone grabbed the man’s other arm and he found himself sharing the task of capturing the intruder with Cindy.

  And still the alarm was screeching loudly into the night.

  Suddenly other people were yelling too. The hotel’s security man pounded along the back patios and grabbed the intruder, who didn’t seem to be offering much resistance now.

  ‘I’ve got him. Stay still, you!’

  The second security man, who was rather plump, puffed along to join them and Cindy stepped back.

  Then she saw the blood on Ross’s hands in the light from the houses. ‘Where are you hurt, Ross?’

  ‘What?’ He looked down to see that he was covered in blood. It was everywhere. ‘No, it’s his blood not mine. He must have lost a lot.’

  Even as he spoke the man sagged, looking as if he was about to faint.

  ‘We don’t want him bleeding to death. I’ve done some first aid.’ She tore her fancy silk scarf from round her neck and used it to put a tourniquet on the burglar’s arm.

  The fellow didn’t attempt to resist, but he groaned and whimpered a lot.

  By that time Lara had driven back from the hotel and come running through her house to join them. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Ross caught an intruder,’ Cindy said.

  He gave a shaky laugh. ‘The intruder caught himself on the glass and if Cindy hadn’t joined me, I’d not have been able to hold on to him. Then these gentlemen took over.’

  ‘Thank goodness. And you’re all right?’

  ‘Yes, love. I’m fine.’

  An hour or more had passed by the time one set of police had taken the burglar away for medical attention and another set had taken preliminary statements from Lara, Cindy, Ross and the security men.

  Then a handyman came from the hotel to fix a piece of wood across the broken window.

  By the time the last of the various outsiders had left, the food was cold and had congealed into an unattractive mess.

  Ross looked at himself in disgust. There was something revolting about being covered in another person’s blood. ‘I need to shower and change.’

  ‘Put the bloodstained clothes to soak in cold water in the bath or you’ll not get the stains out,’ Cindy said at once.

  ‘While he does that, why don’t you join me for a drink, Cindy,’ Lara said.

  ‘Good idea.’ She winked as Ross went next door to his own house. ‘I’ll leave you two in peace once he comes back.’

  Lara could feel herself flushing. ‘There’s no need for that.’

  ‘Oh, I think there is. I’ve noticed the way he looks at you, and you at him.’

  ‘Is it that obvious?’

  ‘Yep. And why not? You’re both free of entanglements, aren’t you? Go for it, honey. Life’s too short to waste a minute.’

  By the time Ross had showered and come down to join them, Cindy was pouring Lara a second glass of wine and the two women were chuckling about something.

  ‘Here are some potato crisps to keep you going till I can be bothered to reheat the food.’ Lara tossed him a small packet.

  ‘I’ll go once I’ve finished my drink,’ Cindy said.

  That made both women giggle.

  Ross took a welcome sip of the glass of wine Lara passed him. ‘You look surprisingly relaxed for someone who’s just helped catch a burglar, Cindy. He didn’t hurt you?’

  ‘No. Who’d have thought it, eh, me helping to catch a criminal? And you’re quite the hero of the hour.’

  ‘He’d have got away but for you, Cindy. I couldn’t have held him on my own.’

  ‘I’ll drink to my two heroes, then!’ Lara raised her glass.r />
  After their neighbour had finished her wine, Ross escorted her home and came back to find Lara smiling lazily at him.

  He grinned at her. ‘I’d say you’re nicely relaxed now.’

  ‘I can’t deny it. I’m a cheap drunk.’

  She looked so flushed and pretty, he bent down to kiss her. Before he knew it, she had stood up and moved into his arms. The world blurred around them in the most enjoyable way and suddenly she began pulling him towards the stairs.

  ‘It’s time,’ she said as they kissed their way into her bedroom.

  ‘I agree with that. As long as you don’t regret it in the morning. You’re not exactly sober.’

  ‘No. But we’ve been working towards this for a while, don’t you think?’

  He held back for a moment, needing to say it first, not wanting this to seem merely a physical encounter. ‘I love you, Lara. I haven’t dared say it before.’

  She stopped and her look said it before she spoke the words back to him. ‘I love you too, Ross.’ Then she laughed. ‘I swore I’d never love anyone again.’

  ‘So did I.’

  ‘Just goes to show how little attention fate pays to what we say or do.’

  ‘Thank goodness.’

  After that they didn’t speak for a long time.

  In the morning, they lay in bed chatting for a while. ‘Can you put up with a guy who has ME?’ he asked suddenly.

  ‘I’d be happier about it if you’d try other approaches to getting better. I know your specialist put you off them but I got the name of her doctor from my friend. She recovered, though it was a slow process.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Surely it can’t hurt to try some of the more sensible alternatives? This isn’t the lunatic fringe; it’s a group of doctors with different views about how to treat it.’

  He looked at her. ‘I hardly dare believe anyone can help.’

  ‘It isn’t guaranteed, but if you do nothing, then you’re guaranteed not to get much better.’

  ‘Very well.’

  She stopped with the mug halfway to her mouth. ‘You mean that?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Can I ask why? Last time you told me in no uncertain terms that you weren’t going down any other paths.’

  ‘It’s because of you. I was going to look around for further help without telling you, see what I could find out, but if your friend has already tried this approach, we can start there.’

  She dumped the mug hastily on the bedside table, then flung her arms round him.

  He held her close. ‘The ME just didn’t seem to matter after the Nonie Jayne fiasco. I felt such an idiot for falling for her. I was depressed and angry at myself. Meeting you seems to have woken up the old me.’

  ‘You must have started getting better already to think like that.’

  He stared at her in a frozen moment of surprise. ‘You know, I never thought of that.’

  ‘Think of it now and cling on to hope. You’re still on the right side of the grass, after all.’

  He smiled at her small joke. ‘You’re so good for me. Nonie Jayne was very bad for me. I don’t think she was a bad person, but we made chalk and cheese look like twins! I wonder where she is now?’

  ‘Do you care?’

  ‘Not about her, no, not at all, but about what she’s doing, yes. I’m hoping desperately that she’s not going to appeal against the finalisation of our finances so that I can get my decree absolute. Surely I’d have heard by now if she’d done that?’

  ‘I should think so. Now, stop talking about your ex and let’s grab something to eat.’

  After breakfast Lara said suddenly, ‘I’ll have hardly any money, you know, but I can get a job.’

  ‘No need. I suggest that when they’ve finished filming we move back into my family home and start culling the ornaments there. It’s one thing to save family treasures, quite another to overload yourself with them.’ He pulled her closer. ‘The money doesn’t matter at all, Lara.’

  ‘I’m still annoyed to have been cheated but you’re right. The money isn’t the important thing in my life now; you are.’

  She laughed and danced round the room, waving her arms about. ‘I feel freed, somehow.’

  ‘Good.’ He looked out of the window. ‘Oh, oh! Your ex has just drawn up outside.’

  She groaned. ‘Not again. Ross, can we tell him about us?’

  ‘That we’re engaged, you mean?’

  ‘You’re sure it’s that formal.’

  ‘Hell yes! You’re not wriggling out of it now.’

  ‘I don’t want to.’

  She went to answer the door and Ross came to stand behind her.

  Guy looked from one to the other. ‘I was going to suggest we take Minnie for a walk this afternoon but I think I’m interrupting something.’

  ‘You can play with Minnie on your own today. And yes, you are interrupting rather an important moment. You see, Ross has just proposed to me.’

  ‘Oh. Congratulations.’ He gave her a rueful smile. ‘I’d better warn you, then, that I’ve signed on to have a house built here at Penny Lake, but I’ll try not to get under your feet.’

  ‘Goodness. I thought you were settled in that huge flat.’

  ‘It was a lonely place to live.’

  ‘Well, I’m sure you’ll find it friendly here. Cindy seems to be managing the neighbourhood social life and I guarantee that she won’t leave you to sit your own all the time. We shan’t be living here long-term, anyway. Ross has a house a few miles away.’

  ‘I see. Well, I’m sure you’ll be happy. You already look … together.’

  ‘Yes. I think we will.’

  She leant against Ross and they watched Guy walk away. ‘He looks lonely. I feel sorry for him.’

  ‘Well, ask Cindy to find him a wife. She’ll sort out his love life if anyone can. I think that woman could sort anything out.’

  Lara gurgled with sudden laughter. ‘He won’t know what’s hit him. He’s more used to calling the shots, but she’s like a steamroller, isn’t she, gentle but inexorable?’

  The following day, Lara and Ross got up late, then lingered over a full English breakfast at the hotel before deciding to get back to work.

  As they were walking out, a luxury car drew up and Ross clutched Lara’s arm in shock. ‘It’s my ex. What the hell does she want now?’

  ‘I think we’re about to find out.’

  The car door was flung open and an elderly man got out, beckoning to them imperatively. ‘Ms Perryman, have you got a minute?’

  The man turned to help Nonie Jayne out of the car and to Ross’s astonishment she linked her arm in the stranger’s, clinging tightly and looking on edge. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her look so nervous. How strange.

  ‘I’m Edward Charsley. I have some news for Ms Perryman. It’s good news, don’t worry.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Look, do you think we could share a coffee in the hotel so that we can talk about it in comfort? Nonie Jayne and I have just driven down from London and we’ve some other calls to make today.’

  Ross was scowling at his ex. ‘If you’re here with a new lawyer, I don’t see why he needs to speak to Ms Perryman. And I’m not paying you anything else.’

  ‘I’m not asking for anything else, Ross. I’ve moved on. Edward isn’t my lawyer.’

  ‘Ah. Found another old fool to marry. Well, good luck to you both.’

  Lara put her hand over his mouth and before he could jerk away, she said firmly, ‘Let’s go inside and find out what’s going on. You’re jumping to conclusions, Ross.’

  Edward had his arm round Nonie Jayne. ‘He certainly is. I don’t consider myself a fool and I’m glad to see you’re a woman of sense, Ms Perryman. Shall we?’ He gestured to the hotel.

  Lara grabbed Ross’s hand and tugged. ‘Come on, you. Let’s find out what’s going on before we dive into action.’

  He muttered something under his breath but went along with her.


  When they were seated at a corner table in the bar, Edward took charge. ‘Nonie Jayne owes you an apology, Ross. She was greedy about money, but I don’t think she’ll be bothering you again, so can we let the matter drop? She’s here today only as my companion. And my business is with Ms Perryman, not you – though from the looks of you two, it’s probably as well you’re here with her to hear what I have to say.’

  Lara kept hold of Ross’s hand. ‘You seem to have summed up the situation nicely. Call me Lara, please.’

  ‘Lara it is. And I’m Edward.’

  The waiter came up to take their order and when he’d left them, Edward said abruptly, ‘I’m here with news of John Crichton. He was a friend of mine and I was very sorry when he stole the money from you and other people, Lara.’

  ‘So was I.’

  ‘He’s dead now, a heart attack. But before he died, he found out he’d been duped by Sandra and arranged for most of the money he’d stolen to be returned.’

  Lara stared at him open-mouthed. ‘Returned?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How much of it?’

  ‘Nearly all. Probably about ninety per cent.’

  She tugged a handkerchief out and blew her nose but couldn’t stop tears of utter relief flowing for a moment or two.

  Ross put his arm round her and everyone waited till she’d calmed down again.

  ‘I’m sorry. I don’t usually – give way to my emotions.’

  ‘Well, it’s rather an important piece of news, isn’t it? I’m afraid you won’t get the money for a while. The police will have to ensure that it’s all dealt with properly. If you need help till then, I can lend you some.’

  She shook her head. ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘That’s good.’ He explained how John Crichton had been set up and exploited in his loneliness and how his second wife was now ‘helping’ the police.

  Lara looked at him in puzzlement. ‘Why did you come to tell me in person?’

  ‘John asked me to. He wanted me to check that people were coping and help them if necessary until the legalities were sorted out. He also wanted me to tender his apologies. He was very sorry in the end for what he’d done.’