by Sarah Picson
The small, pretty cottage had a blue front door and bright lights blazed from the downstairs windows. A cold wind whipped at Robert’s cheeks, as his legs ate up the front path in a few steps.
It didn’t take long for the door to burst open when he knocked. A man filled the doorway; he was shorter than Robert, with sandy-blond hair and a rash of stubble across his chin. Robert blinked, taken aback by his presence in Ellie’s home.
‘I’m looking for Ellie, is she here?’ Robert asked, his eyes flickering up and down the man. There was something familiar about him.
The man’s face clouded over and his eyes bulged.
‘What is it to you?’
‘Look, is she at home? I need to talk to her. It’s important.’
The man took a step towards him.
‘What do you want with my fiancée?’
Without any warning, the bottom suddenly dropped out of Robert’s world.
‘Fiancée?’ he repeated, his mouth as dry as sandpaper. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘You don’t? Well, let me make everything clear for you. My fiancée, Ellie, is not here right now, so you can’t talk to her.’
The man’s face was as hard as granite, his mouth a taut, grim line.
Robert’s head thumped with an onslaught of questions: was this the man Ellie had been in a serious relationship with? Yet she’d told him it had ended. And now she was engaged to him?
‘You live with Ellie?’ Robert asked.
‘We’ve lived together for years, what’s it to you, Finch?’
At the sound of his name, Robert took a step backwards. A sneer spread across the man’s face. It was a face that Robert was beginning to recognise.
‘I’ve met you before,’ Robert said, his brain racing to make the connection, but the man was faster.
‘Can’t even remember the name of the guy who fixed your boiler? Course you can’t, with your fancy car, big house and perfect life. You think you can do whatever you like, don’t you? Have any woman you want, but not Ellie. She’s mine.’
‘Dominic Moffit,’ Robert whispered, his brain scrambling to make sense of what was happening. ‘Ellie told me you weren’t together any more.’
Dominic let out a mirthless grunt of a laugh.
‘Did she now? That sounds like her! We’ve had a few arguments recently, doesn’t everyone?’ he said, and then his eyes became dark pools of loathing. ‘That doesn’t mean you get to take her to the cinema and stick your tongue down her throat. Who the hell do you think you are?’ A hot flush burned through Robert. ‘You can’t get your own woman, so you’re trying to steal mine. It’s pathetic.’
‘How do you…’ Robert spluttered, but the shock that Dominic knew about his kiss with Ellie rendered him incapable of coherent speech.
‘She’s my fiancée,’ Dominic spat. ‘She’ll be my wife soon and if you ever come anywhere near her again, I’ll knock you out cold, you cheating bastard.’
With a final, icy glare, Dominic slammed the door shut.
Robert couldn’t move his feet for fear of falling over, as his mind twisted and swirled, frantically trying to process the information he’d received: Ellie lived with Dominic, the plumber who’d fixed his boiler and she was engaged to be married to him. His heart crashed down to his knees.
Had Ellie told Dominic about their trip to the cinema? A swell of nausea reared up within him and he leaned forward, gripping his knees. Had Ellie lied to him when she’d told him her relationship with Dominic was over? Robert would never have believed her capable of it, but it appeared he wasn’t the only one good at keeping secrets.
Whatever Robert thought might have been happening between them, it was now becoming apparent that he’d been mistaken. Their brief romance had been magical, but it was obviously something Ellie never had any intention of pursuing, and now it was over almost as quickly as it had begun. Ellie hadn’t chosen him; it was as simple as that.
Pure white specks of snow fell silently from the sky as he stood on the doorstep. Robert wiggled his numb toes and brushed a fine layer of snow from his hair. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing there, but he knew it had been long enough to whisper goodbye to a woman he’d only just realised he’d fallen in love with.
Chapter 29
Peering out of the window, Ellie saw a silvery veil of frost coating everything in sight. She wound a scarf around her neck, pulled on a thick pair of gloves and paused in front of Jenny’s hallway mirror. Without a lick of makeup on, two bruised blotches glared out from beneath her eyes, evidence of her restless sleep, in which she’d spent most of the night staring up at the ceiling, thinking about her forthcoming meeting with Dominic.
Since the first flowers had arrived, she’d received a fresh bunch from Dominic every few days; Jenny’s house now resembled a botanical garden. Ellie knew it was finally time to talk things through with him and tie up their loose ends and with only two days until Thistleby High School broke up for the Christmas holiday, she didn’t have much time left.
Ellie trudged into Thistleby High Street, the bitter wind slapping at her cheeks. Usually, she found it impossible to resist getting caught up with the giddy, infectious excitement of her pupils as Christmas approached, but this year she didn’t feel much of anything.
It had only taken The Teaching Regulation Agency a few days to reach the conclusion that her behaviour did not warrant an investigation. Relief had flooded through her as Ted had broken the news, before leaving her in no doubt that she would have to reconsider her personal circumstances. Ellie had never found Ted as irritating as she had done that day, especially as she knew she’d never see Robert again and the thought of that continued to shatter her heart into a billion pieces. However, watching the surprise leap into Ted’s eyes when he read her letter, had given her some small sense of satisfaction.
As Charlie’s Coffee Room came into view, a daydream drifted unbidden into her mind and a shot of warmth filled her cheeks, as she imagined meeting Robert there instead of Dominic: snuggling up in the corner and talking all morning, their coffees growing cold.
Ellie slowed her pace and shook her head, trying to dislodge the daydream from her head. It would never become a reality, the email cancelling her tuition sessions with Abi had seen to that. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting after she’d sent it, but a small part of her had longed for Robert to respond. When nothing but silence had followed, she understood all she needed to know. The silence was confirmation of his guilt. He was married, he loved his wife and Ellie had been nothing but a bit of fun on the side.
Pushing through the door, Ellie was embraced by the comforting smell and heat of Charlie’s Coffee Room. Cheerful Christmas songs played on a loop from the café’s speakers, the long, wooden counter, displaying its usual pastries and cakes, had been decorated with festive ornaments, and a skinny tree, light on decorations, leaned lopsided in the window.
She spotted Dominic at the back and shuffled past tables of chattering people, to reach him. Dressed in a chunky, chocolate-brown jumper and faded blue jeans, he certainly looked as if he was getting enough sleep.
‘Hi Ellie,’ he said, as she shook off her coat.
Dominic leaned over the table, placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her close, but her bones were thick and heavy and refused to embrace him back.
‘I got you your usual,’ he said.
‘Right,’ she said, blinking down at the coffee. ‘Thanks. And for the flowers. But you should stop sending them now.’
His face creased into a grin.
‘You liked them?’
Ellie swallowed, but she wasn’t going to lie.
‘Yes.’
His smile grew larger. The clinking of cups and cutlery, the hissing steam of the coffee machine and the gentle swish of the sugar packet that Dominic was turning round and round in his fingers, invaded her ears.
‘I’ve missed you, Ellie. Have you missed me?’
Ellie stared down at the pretty swi
rl of froth on her coffee.
‘Oh, Dominic, I don’t think —’
‘I mucked up,’ he said, lowering his head and peering at her so that she was forced to look up. ‘I didn’t take the wedding seriously enough. I see that now.’
He held his hands up like someone who’d been cornered in an alleyway and was trying to talk himself out of the situation.
‘There’s more to it than that,’ she said.
‘Is there? We’re good together, Ellie. We wouldn’t have been together for so long if we weren’t.’
Ellie took a long sip of her coffee before speaking.
‘I don’t think we are that good together, Dominic.’
‘Of course, we are. We just hit a rough patch.’
He looked at her expectantly. Ellie shook her head.
‘I don’t know what you want me to say.’
He slid his hand across the table and laid it over hers so that her hand disappeared completely from view. She flinched and tried to tug it free, but it was tightly cocooned.
‘Can we try again?’
Ellie jerked back in her seat; the heat of his hand burning a hole in hers.
‘What? We’re meeting to sort the cottage out, not get back together, Dominic!’
‘Come back to the cottage, it’s your home. You can’t live with Jenny forever.’
‘I don’t plan to.’
‘Let’s give it another go, Ellie,’ he persisted. ‘I know you want a family and I want to be a dad. Let’s stop mucking around and get on with it!’
She felt a sudden, painful spasm in her heart, as if he’d just reached in and squeezed it, refusing to let go.
‘Don’t joke about that,’ she said, tugging her hand free from his.
‘Do I look like I’m joking?’ Dominic said, gazing at her with such intensity that she felt like the only person in the room.
Ellie could only gape at him.
‘We need to move on, Dominic.’
‘I’m happy to end the tenancy agreement if you’re really sure it’s what you want, Ellie, but I think it would be a mistake. Just think about it, will you? Why throw away what we have when we don’t have to?’
Her throat felt as if thick treacle were being poured down it, as she struggled to find words.
‘Dominic!’
‘That’s all I ask,’ he said, holding his hands up. ‘Let’s not move too quickly on the cottage. Think about what I’ve said. Will you do that for me?’
All Ellie could think about was how stifling the air had suddenly become in the café and how she needed some fresh air.
‘I need to go,’ she said, pushing back her chair and standing up.
Dominic drained the last of his coffee.
‘I’ll walk you back to Jenny’s.’
‘You don’t need to do that.’
‘I’d really like to,’ he said, a boyish grin she recognised from years ago, spreading across his face.
‘Fine,’ she mumbled.
With a sparkle in his eye and swift hands, Dominic pulled Ellie’s coat from the back of her chair and held it out for her. For a deceiving second, Ellie was transported back to one of their first dates when he’d done exactly the same thing, his face confident and smiling and her gaze excited and pliant.
She shivered as they stepped out of the café and onto the pavement. The high street was busy; pedestrians wrapped up in hats, scarfs and gloves, trying to keep the cold at bay. Ellie kept her distance from Dominic as they walked along the high street; he chatted about work and she murmured vague replies.
‘I’m just going to get some ciggies,’ Dominic said, veering off into a shop. ‘Wait here, won’t be a minute.’
As the shop door shut behind him, Ellie felt a swift jab on her shoulder. She spun round. With a long, blue coat, a cascade of snowflakes shimmering in her glossy, black hair and a slash of red across her lips, Scarlette stood before her.
‘Dominic’s in there,’ Ellie said, her voice steely and low.
She nodded towards the shop but Scarlette kept her eyes locked on hers.
‘It’s not Dominic I want to talk to. It’s you.’
Scarlette held her chin high, her mouth puckered into a pout, but there was no mistaking a flash of uncertainty in those dark eyes. Ellie twitched in irritation at the nerve of this woman. This woman who had beckoned Dominic into her house. This woman who had regarded Ellie with mocking scorn when she’d asked her for the truth.
‘What is it?’ Ellie asked.
Scarlette’s eyes dropped to study her gloved hands.
‘Are you and Dominic still getting married?’
Ellie frowned.
‘That’s none of your business.’
‘I’ve been trying to get in contact with Dominic lately, but he’s not been answering my calls and he hasn’t been into the pub much. I need to know where I stand.’
‘Where you stand?’ Ellie said, screwing her face up, wishing she’d go away.
And then Ellie saw it; a knowing superiority shining from Scarlette’s face.
‘You don’t know, do you? I knew it, I knew he wouldn’t have the balls to tell you,’ Scarlette said, rolling the words around on her tongue, as if savouring the moment.
‘Tell me what?’
Scarlette put a hand to her stomach.
‘I’m pregnant. With Dominic’s baby.’
A shudder ripped through Ellie, as if she’d just been dunked in icy, cold water. Dominic had been cheating on her all along. She hadn’t been going crazy. And now he was going to become a dad, just like he’d told her he wanted. A bitter laugh burst from her lips that caused Scarlette to arch an indignant eyebrow.
‘I thought you two were over,’ Scarlette continued. ‘But he’s been avoiding me and I’m almost six months’ pregnant.’
Ellie’s gaze fluttered down to Scarlette’s stomach. She hadn’t seen it before but she could now make out an unmistakable bulge at the front of her coat.
‘Are you two getting married or what?’ Scarlette cried.
‘No!’ Ellie retorted.
An angry shout sliced through the bitter air behind them.
‘What are you doing?’ Dominic snarled at Scarlette, as he approached them.
She physically recoiled back, as if he’d reached out and slapped her.
‘I’ve been calling you,’ Scarlette hissed. ‘Why haven’t you answered?’
‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ Dominic said, looming over her.
Ellie thought she saw a flash of fear in Scarlette’s eyes, but she bravely stuck out her chin.
‘I’m having your baby, Dominic. You need to take responsibility for that.’
Dominic glanced over at Ellie before his glowering gaze rested back upon Scarlette.
‘It isn’t mine,’ he stated.
Scarlette inhaled sharply.
‘Of course, it’s yours! I haven’t been with anyone else since I broke up with my boyfriend.’
Dominic snorted.
‘Yeh, right!’
‘You’re a piece of work,’ Scarlette shrieked, her hands flying to her stomach. ‘You’re just going to leave me in the lurch, are you? And go back to her!’
It was the wakeup call Ellie needed; she’d been watching their exchange in a trance. Dominic. Scarlette. Their baby. She twirled round and strode away. Dominic swore loudly and she heard his footsteps behind her, but she surged on, charging against the cold wind.
‘Wait!’ he shouted.
‘Congratulations,’ Ellie called over her shoulder.
‘What?’
She stopped abruptly so that he had to skid to a halt.
‘You’re going to be a father. Congratulations.’
‘You don’t think it’s mine?’
‘I do, actually,’ Ellie said, clenching her jaw. ’That’s exactly what I think.’
‘Now hang on —’
‘I also think that I’m an idiot for agreeing to meet you here today. I think you’ll never change and I think you lied o
ver and over again to my face. That’s what I think!’
His face twisted up.
‘Oh, and you’re so innocent, are you? All over that rich guy in town, sucking his face off.’
Ellie’s jaw slackened.
‘How do you know -?’
‘I saw you, that’s how! How do you think that made me feel?’
‘It was you! You reported me to Ted. You followed me that night?’ she asked, cold understanding creeping through her.
‘You made a fool of me!’ Dominic’s voice exploded into the air around them. ‘You were behaving like a slut and that stuck-up headteacher lapped up everything I told him about being a concerned parent and how I didn’t want my child being taught by the likes of you.’
‘How dare you!’
‘You think I was going to let you get away with treating me like that?’ he snarled.
‘It was one kiss,’ Ellie said, shaking all over. ‘How long have you been at it with Scarlette? Months? Years? Oh, but I’ll never get a truthful answer out of you, will I?’
‘Here we go again. Never satisfied! Always demanding! You were so sweet when we first met, but now you just want more and more. I proposed to you, but it’s not enough, is it? All the things I’ve done for you. All those bloody flowers, but it’s never good enough.’
Ellie’s breath caught in her throat.
‘You are unbelievable,’ she hissed.
Dominic let out a ragged sigh, his hands curling and uncurling at his side.
‘Come home. We’ll try again. You need me.’
‘You’re wrong,’ Ellie said, shaking her head. ‘There’s nothing I need less in my life.’
Dominic’s face flared up in rage as Ellie darted away from him. She ran as if her life depended on it, her feet pounding the pavement, her chest rising and falling. She dashed across a side road, barely looking out for traffic. Her limbs stretched out before her, arms pumping back and forth like pistons. Ellie didn’t look back. She knew Dominic wasn’t following her, but still she didn’t stop.