by Sarah Picson
Ellie’s head spun at his cruel words but then her heart made its presence felt and it told her one simple thing.
‘I don’t want to marry you, Dominic.’
‘Is this some sick joke?’ he said, his pupils like icy shards. ‘You’re the one that wanted to get married so badly. It’s what you wanted.’
‘That’s true, but not any more.’
‘You love me,’ Dominic said, a statement, not a question. ‘We’re going to get married.’
She shook her head, her short hair whipping against her cheeks.
‘No.’
Her heart thumped as her hand groped for the banister. There was a dangerous stillness about him.
The sound of the doorbell made them both flinch. Dominic gritted his teeth, but then he took a deep breath that settled his features into their usual indifferent expression.
‘That’s Murphy. He’s come to watch the football. We can talk about this later,’ he said, as if ending a perfectly normal conversation.
When he turned, Ellie took the opportunity to sprint upstairs. She slunk into the spare room and pulled a suitcase from beneath the bed. With Dominic and Murphy’s low murmuring downstairs, she darted back and forth across the landing, gathering up her clothes and toiletries. Then slipping her laptop into her shoulder bag, she made her way downstairs, making no attempt to hide the thud of the suitcase as it hit the floor of the hallway.
From the armchair, Dominic’s gaze slid in her direction as he emptied the remains of a packet of crisps into his mouth. Ellie took her time pulling her coat on, not caring that Dominic was staring at her suitcase as if it were a bomb.
‘Going somewhere?’ he asked.
She heard Murphy make a noise from behind the living room door.
‘Yes.’ She slung her bag over her shoulder, gripped the handle of the suitcase and met his stare. ‘Goodbye.’
His face twitched and she held her breath; he looked as though he might leap up from the chair and pounce on her.
‘Got another beer, mate?’ Murphy asked.
Dominic’s head swung away; his features relaxing.
‘Sure, no problem,’ he said, pushing himself to his feet.
Ellie did not waste another second, and hurtled out of the cottage.
~
Jenny nodded at Ellie’s suitcase sitting on her doorstep.
‘I got your text.’
Ellie examined her friend more closely once she was inside. Dark, heavy bags had set up camp beneath Jenny’s eyes, her normally sleek hair was messy and wild and Ellie couldn’t help but wonder if she’d applied her makeup while bouncing on a trampoline.
‘What’s wrong with you?’
‘Urghh.’
Jenny lurched into her small kitchen at the back of the house and threw her head in the sink. Ellie hovered in the doorway. There were a couple of seconds of expectant silence, followed by mournful groaning.
‘False alarm,’ Jenny said, lifting her head from the sink.
‘Are you sick?’
‘No.’
Ellie raised an eyebrow.
‘Hungover?’ All Jenny could manage was a sorrowful nod. Ellie went over and rubbed her back. ‘Not cocktails again?’
‘Wine this time.’
‘Really? Do tell.’
‘I went on a date last night.’
Jenny attempted a smile, but it seemed to hurt too much, so she stopped trying.
‘Ooh, who?’
‘A dad I’ve been flirting with for ages at Bea’s nursery. Anyway, he finally got himself together and asked me out.’
‘Is this Warren? I think you told me about him. Tall, beard, no hair?’
‘Follicly-challenged men can be very sexy, I’ll have you know,’ Jenny said.
‘So, how was the date?’
‘Fabulous! We got through three bottles of wine and a little bit of spaghetti. I even got a snog when he walked me home. I can report he has a very tickly beard.’
Ellie giggled.
‘Well worth the hangover, was it?’
Jenny screwed her face up.
‘No, actually, it wasn’t.’
‘What do you mean?’
Jenny rubbed one of her eyes so that her eyeliner was smudged even further across her face.
‘Bea was at Aaron’s yesterday, so I asked my mum to be at home when he dropped her off last night because I knew I might be late back. When he dropped Bea off, he demanded to know where I was. Mum didn’t say anything, of course, but he waited in his car until I’d got home. Then mid-snog with Warren he came storming over, yelling at me. Warren legged it and Aaron just stood there shouting at me on my doorstep, telling me I was an irresponsible mother and a drunk who was bringing strange men to the house where his daughter lived.’
Jenny broke off with a sob. A fat tear rolled down her cheek.
‘Oh, Jenny.’
‘I’m not an irresponsible mother, am I?’ she whispered, a look of fear filling her eyes that Ellie had never seen before.
‘You’re a wonderful mother,’ Ellie said, taking Jenny’s quivering fingers. ‘Ignore Aaron. This is none of his business.’
‘Maybe I should stop going out for a while.’
‘You’re not going to see Warren again then?’
‘The way he ran off at the first sign of trouble, no way!’
Jenny tilted her head to one side and peered at her.
‘Have you cut your hair?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘I didn’t think you’d ever cut your hair.’
Ellie shrugged.
‘It was spontaneous. The new me.’
Jenny managed a sorrowful smile and sniffed loudly.
‘I like it. Anyway, how was your week away?’
‘It gave me lots of time to think. It made me determined to get things sorted out with Dominic.’
‘The suitcase is a giveaway!’
‘I just broke up with him.’
‘You did?’
Ellie nodded.
‘I can’t marry him, Jen. I just can’t.’
Jenny sat down at the table and gestured for Ellie to take the seat opposite her.
‘Wow! That’s a big decision. If it counts for anything, I think you’re doing the right thing.’
Ellie gave her friend a wry grin.
‘I thought you might.’
‘How did he take it?’
‘Not well. He wasn’t expecting it.’
‘So, you found out he was cheating with Scarlette?’
‘No.’
‘Oh, right,’ Jenny said, narrowing her eyes in confusion.
‘I’ve been doing so much thinking lately. It’s all I seem to have been doing and I’ve realised that there are a million reasons why I shouldn’t marry Dominic. Whether he’s been cheating with her or not, seeing him go into her house sparked off some kind of chain reaction in my brain and —’
‘Kaboom!’ Jenny said.
‘Something like that, yeh.’
‘That’s good, if you’re definitely sure? I mean you were going to marry the guy; it was serious.’
‘I know but I’ve been so intent on getting married and having children that I think I clung to the hope that if I stayed with Dominic he might change, or maybe because we’d come this far, we might as well carry on. I’ve been so stupid.’
‘Oh, Ellie,’ whispered Jenny.
‘You know what finally sealed it for me?’
‘What?’
‘My mum and dad.’
‘Really? I don’t understand.’
‘My dad’s amazing. He’s kind and funny and my mum, well, we haven’t always got on, but I know she cares for me in her own way. Anyway, watching them together and the way my dad lets her walk all over him, I found myself getting so annoyed. I love my dad but I don’t want to live like him. I’m fed up with tiptoeing round Dominic and trying to please him all the time. I don’t want to do it any more!’
As Jenny’s eyebrows shot up her forehead, Ellie
realised she’d been close to shouting these last words.
‘You deserve better, I get it,’ said Jenny. ‘So, what next? You’re our new house mate, obviously. Bea will be over the moon.’
‘I won’t be in your hair for long, I promise. I’m going to start looking for a place of my own.’
‘Stay as long as you like.’
‘Thanks, Jen.’
‘We just need to find a pair of handsome, eligible bachelors in Thistleby to double date when you’ve got over Dominic!’ Jenny said, her face lighting up. ‘How fun would that be? Oh, that reminds me, I saw your hot dad in the supermarket the other day. He didn’t recognise me, maybe I should throw a cocktail at him next time I see him, he might remember that.’
Ellie smoothed her trousers down and avoided Jenny’s eye.
‘Who?’
‘You know who. Abi’s dad. You’re still tutoring her right?’
‘Yes.’
‘How’s that going?’
‘Good. We’re making progress.’
‘That’s a very boring answer, Ellie,’ Jenny said. ‘Now tell me if you’ve seen hot dad wandering about the house in his underwear yet?’
Ellie made a face of mock horror.
‘Jen! For God’s sake!’
‘You’re blushing!’ Jenny screeched.
‘I am not!’
‘You really are.’
‘I did have a glass of wine with him before half-term, actually,’ Ellie admitted, a smile teasing her lips.
Jenny’s mouth dropped open.
‘What? You didn’t tell me this!’
‘I’m telling you now.’
‘What? How? Where? I want to know all the details.’
They heard a creak on the stairs, followed by singing.
‘It’s Bea,’ Jenny said. ‘Quick, give me the short version, but don’t leave out any juicy bits.’
‘It was just a glass of wine, that’s all.’
Jenny’s eyes burned into hers.
‘He asked you out?’
‘No, no,’ said Ellie. ‘Nothing like that. It was at his house, we just chatted for a while.’
‘Then why have you gone bright red? Did you get a snog?’
‘I have not! And no, I didn’t!’
Jenny sighed, a smile spreading across her face.
‘Oh, you’ve really cheered me up, Ellie,’ she said, just as Bea clattered into the kitchen.
‘Auntie Ellie!’
Chapter 22
Robert knocked on Carl’s office door but there was no answer. He knocked again and then poked his head inside, scowling to find it empty. He paced the corridor with restless feet; Carl had set up a meeting at the very end of the day, but it was Thursday and he didn’t want to be late home.
Robert patted his shirt pocket, for what must have been the tenth time that day and was on the verge of marching back to his desk when he heard a voice calling from the other end of the corridor.
‘Coming, Robert.’
Carl strolled up and gave Robert a hearty clap on the shoulder before ushering him into his office. It wasn’t large, but it had a square window overlooking the high street that let in a generous amount of light. Despite Carl’s relaxed manner, his desk revealed an organised man with a methodical approach to his work.
‘Take a seat,’ Carl said. Robert perched on the edge of the chair across the desk from him. ‘Well, it’s been…where are we now? The middle of November? Why it’s been almost three months since you joined us, Robert, how are you finding it?’
‘I’ve been enjoying it,’ Robert replied. ‘The work is varied and there’s very little of the office politics that I had to navigate in my last company, which can only be a good thing.’
‘I’m pleased to hear that,’ Carl said, sitting back in his chair and folding his hands across his stomach. ‘I wanted to talk to you about the Websters project.’
Robert knew a little bit about the project: a huge housing development being built on the edge of a nearby town with seven thousand new houses, two new schools, a GP surgery and numerous shops. Carl had spent the last few months drawing up plans and proposals in the bidding process to win a large portion of the work. He was due to find out next week whether or not they had been successful.
‘You’ve proved yourself since you’ve been with us, Robert,’ Carl continued. ‘Not only are you meticulous and professional, but the rest of the team respect you and you work damn hard.’
Robert allowed himself a small smile.
‘Thanks, Carl.’
‘Now, I’ve heard a little whisper that it’s between us and Mark Atkinson’s practice in Ambleton to win the Websters Project. We’re in with a shot.’
‘That’s great.’
‘It is, although, I’ll admit, these last four months have been tiring. This is a young man’s game, Robert, chasing contracts and networking.’
‘I can imagine,’ said Robert, with a grin. Carl made no secret of the fact that he’d prefer to spend his time on the golf course these days.
‘If we get the project, I want you to head it up,’ Carl announced. ‘You think you’re up to it? It will be the biggest project my company has ever undertaken if we get it. I’ll give you total autonomy and step back completely.’
‘I mean I expected to be involved, but to head it up is a big challenge,’ Robert said, pulling off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.
‘Might be a few late nights and lots of site visits, but then you’re not shy of hard work, are you?’
‘No, I guess not,’ muttered Robert.
‘It will also be a good opportunity for me to assess how you cope with a project of this size.’
‘It will?’
‘Well, I’m not going to be running this company forever, Robert. I need to think to the future and my replacement.’
‘I’m not sure I understand.’
‘Don’t look so spooked, you would be perfect.’
‘I’ve got no experience of running a company, Carl.’
‘But you’ve got the skill and the work ethic. Look I’m not leaving tomorrow, but I’m thinking forward to a couple of years’ time.’ Robert shoved his glasses back on and tapped out a frenetic rhythm on the arm of the chair with his fingers. ‘So, what I want from you is an honest opinion on how you’re finding it here in Thistleby? And whether you plan to stick around?’ Robert sat back in the chair, his eyes darting around the office that might one day be his. ‘Don’t keep me hanging here, Robert. What do you think? Any plans to run back to where you came from?’
‘No,’ said Robert. ‘I like it here in Thistleby.’
‘What about your daughter, is she settled?’
‘She seems to be. She’s getting on well enough at school and she’s made friends.’
Carl looked him up and down.
‘So, if we get the Websters project, are you up for the challenge?’
‘I need to know more about it before I make a decision, Carl.’
Time slipped by in the office. The sun faded, darkness drew in and the streetlights outside flickered to life as the two men talked into the early evening.
~
A few hours later, Robert swerved his car into the driveway and strained his eyes to see if Ellie’s car was still there. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it tucked away in the corner. He jogged to the front door and it opened up before him, a long shard of light flooding out into the darkness. Ellie came down the steps with Moira behind her, wishing her goodnight.
‘Hi,’ Robert said.
‘Hi,’ Ellie replied, with a dazzling smile.
A delightful shiver tickled him up and down his spine.
‘Sorry I wasn’t about tonight, I was called into a late meeting.’
He wasn’t sure why he was apologising, it just felt like the right thing to do.
‘That’s fine. Moira looked after me.’
Robert caught Moira’s brief, inquisitive gaze, before she pushed the door to and disappeared into the house.
> ‘How did it go tonight?’ he asked.
‘Great. Abi did very well, although she seemed a little distracted. Perhaps she’s tired.’
‘Really? It was only half-term last week and I’m pretty sure she slept through most of that.’
Ellie hoisted her bag up onto her shoulder and he noticed her doing up the buttons on her coat.
‘It’s got colder this week, hasn’t it?’ Robert commented.
‘Yes, I think we’re in for a chilly winter,’ she said, as they danced around each other with polite conversation.
Robert’s hand moved towards his shirt pocket, but then stopped, his fingers flexing in midair. Was this appropriate? He’d been waiting all day for this moment, to see the look on her face, but now he questioned his judgement.
‘Is everything okay?’ Ellie asked.
‘Yes,’ he said and refusing to analyse the situation any further, he pulled two tickets from his pocket. ‘You mentioned that the cinema in town played old films on a Tuesday. So, I wondered whether you’d like to go and see a film with me next week? Casablanca.’
He held the tickets up and scanned her face. At first, surprise sparkled in her eyes and she didn’t say anything, but then her face lit up.
‘What a lovely idea,’ she said.
Robert clamped his teeth together as he waited for her answer. Should he make it clear it wasn’t a date? Was it a date? He wasn’t sure.
‘It’s on a school night, but I thought you might be able to bend the rules,’ he said. ‘You’ve been great with Abi; her results are beyond what I could have hoped for so I wanted to say thank you.’
‘I’d really like to bend the rules,’ she said, smiling shyly. ‘Thank you.’
He swallowed with relief. Unaware his shoulders had been hunched up under his ears, he allowed them to drop.
‘Tuesday then?’
‘Tuesday.’
Robert waved as she pulled out of the driveway, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling that sat like a rock in the pit of his stomach, demanding to know what on earth he was doing.
Moira was bustling about the kitchen in a whirlwind of efficiency, but she became quite still when Robert entered.
‘What is it?’ he said, finally, as the weight of her stare refused to abate.
‘Oh nothing, nothing at all. Good day at work?’