Anna stopped with the mug at her lips. ‘We think you fell asleep on the loo after having a wee and then sort of slumped to the floor.’
‘We?’ said Sophie in a very small voice as Maurice landed on the bed with a thump.
‘Me, Sim, Hudson and Roberta.’ Anna didn’t look up as she rushed the names out.
‘OhMyGod! How on earth do I show my face at work?’
‘Don’t worry, it’ll be fine … it wasn’t your face they were looking at.’
Sophie put down her coffee and slumped back on the bed. ‘Kill me now.’ She sighed heavily. ‘I could actually go back to sleep right now. I am so tired I might fall asleep walking home.’
Anna threw a pillow at her face and laughed. ‘Don’t be dramatic.’ Maurice walked over Sophie as if she weren’t there and flopped down next to her, lifted a leg and proceeded to wash his bum.
‘If you dare make a comparison between me and him, I’ll thump you,’ said Sophie, pointing at the cat.
‘My lips are sealed,’ said Anna and she tried hard to hide her grin.
Anna’s phone beeped with a message from Connor.
Hi, Anna, I love the texting thing we have going on and I wondered if you fancy meeting sometime? C.
Anna blinked at the screen. A frisson of excitement rippled through her at the thought of meeting her mystery man. She passed the phone to Sophie and she sat up. ‘Are you going to meet him?’ Sophie’s eyes were wide.
‘I don’t think I should. He could be a nutter.’
‘Or he could be totally gorgeous. What is this? Is it destiny knocking and you can’t be bothered to open the door?’
‘I would like to know who he is. He seems nice from his texts.’
‘This could be the best fairy tale ever. A texting error leads to your HEA.’
‘HEA?’ queried Anna, taking back her phone.
‘Happily Ever After,’ explained Sophie. ‘You read this sort of thing in magazines. It does happen you know. People meet the love of their life by pure chance. I think you should at least check it out.’
‘I don’t know.’ Anna ran her bottom lip through her teeth. She’d reply later when she’d made a firm decision and thought up a suitable response.
‘I would. Don’t have any regrets, Anna. There’s loads I wish I’d done before I settled down. Don’t be like me.’ Anna wanted to question her further. ‘Anyway, hark at me going on. I need to get back to the rabble. I’ll leave you in peace. Are you still on for a pub lunch?’
Anna had almost forgotten. ‘Yes, I’ll take my car because I’ll pop over to see Mum and Dad afterwards.’ As if on cue her phone sprang to life. ‘It’s them,’ she said, pointing at the screen.
‘Okay. See you later,’ said Sophie and she disappeared.
‘Hi Anna,’ said her mother. ‘How are things?’
‘Good, thanks. How about you and Dad?’
‘We’re fine. Your father has finished boarding the loft. How’s it going with Liam?’
Anna pushed herself up straight. ‘How do you mean?’ She could tell there was something in her mother’s voice.
‘I just wondered, what with you working together …’
‘Mum?’ said Anna. She knew there was more to the conversation than a casual enquiry.
Her mother sighed. ‘I had a coffee with Liam’s mother this week and she said he’s split up with his girlfriend and …’
‘Tabitha?’
‘Yes, I think that was her name. And she said he was loving working with you.’
Anna screwed up her face. ‘I’ve barely seen him.’
‘Oh.’ She sounded genuinely surprised. ‘She seemed to think you and Liam might be …’ She left the sentence open.
‘She’s got it wrong. There’s no me and Liam on any level.’ Anna was shaking her head. Maurice opened one eye as if to question her actions and she stopped.
‘I’m glad I checked.’ Her mother’s tone had changed to perfunctory but Anna sensed some disappointment hidden there. Anna wondered how she, herself, was feeling. Did this change things? Liam was single again and she couldn’t help wonder if it had anything to do with her, then she gave herself a shake for being immodest.
The conversation drifted off to general updates and talk of her mother’s plans for their pearl wedding anniversary, which was in December. As they had gone on a holiday for their twenty-fifth anniversary they’d decided they wanted a big party for their thirtieth. When Anna ended the call she felt a bit wrong-footed by what her mother had said. She knew she meant well and that she worried about her being on her own. So Anna picked up her phone and replied to Connor.
Yes. Let’s meet.
She typed and pressed send before she started to think too much about it.
Sophie was mulling over the previous night as she walked up her front steps. She’d really enjoyed herself, and it had felt like a lifetime since she’d been to a party that didn’t involve a ball-pit. It had been fun and it almost saddened her to think she had no idea how long it would be before she felt like that again. She rubbed her bump and sighed as she turned her key in the door. The house was eerily quiet.
‘Hiya,’ she called.
‘Hi,’ said Dave, from the living room. ‘Did you find out what you wanted to know?’
Sophie went through and flopped onto the sofa. ‘My bum will be headline gossip in the office tomorrow, for sure.’
Dave tittered. ‘Oh well.’ Something exploded on the screen and Dave jerked his head back in frustration.
Sophie wasn’t sure whether to be pleased that he wasn’t bothered about her exposing herself or offended. She glanced about and listened. ‘Dave, where are the kids?’
‘Huh? Playing upstairs I expect.’
‘You expect?’ Sophie was already on her feet. ‘Arlo,’ she called as she took the stairs two at a time and then her body reminded her she was pregnant and she went back to one at a time, as fast as she could. ‘Arlo!’ She scanned each bedroom and the bathroom but there was no sign of them. ‘Wholly crab.’
‘Dave! The kids aren’t upstairs.’ She wished she could move quicker. She was already panting as she reached the bottom of the stairs. ‘Dave!’ It came out as a screech.
‘Okay,’ he said, sounding frustrated. ‘I’ll help you find them. They’re probably playing hide-and-seek.’
Sophie was close to whacking him but she couldn’t spare the moment’s delay. She had to find her children right this second. Dave set about checking cupboards and Sophie ran out into the garden. ‘Ar-looooooo!’
She waited and listened. Nothing. Only the sounds of people in the park behind. She ran down the garden, struggled with the bolt on the gate in her haste and when it finally opened she flung herself into the park beyond. She tried to remember what the children were wearing. She came to a halt and scanned the park. It had never looked this huge before and she couldn’t see all of it from her vantage point, not to mention all the nooks and crannies it had. The wildflower meadows were in full swing and offered heaps of hiding places. She stared at the lake and a sick sensation washed over her. She couldn’t see them but began running again anyway. Her mind was like a pinball. Arlo liked climbing trees; maybe he was in one of the many large oaks. Petal loved chasing the ducks; perhaps she had gone towards the pond. A sob caught in her throat and she realised she was crying. She blinked the tears away and tried to focus.
‘Sophie!’ shouted Dave. Sophie turned around so fast she almost fell over. He was standing at their gate waving. A big smile on his face and Petal in his arms. He beckoned her back but she no longer had the energy. Her legs crumpled and she flopped onto the spongy grass and cried with relief.
When things were a little calmer and the children were occupied with Play-Doh Sophie took Dave by the arm and marched him into the utility room. ‘What the fuzz did you think you were doing leaving our kids on their own?’
‘Calm down, Sophe. They were playing in a wardrobe, that’s all.’
‘But you didn’t know that
, Dave. They could have been anywhere.’
‘I knew they were in the house.’ His tone was chilled and it irritated her beyond reason.
‘Don’t lie. You had no idea where they were!’ She knew she was shouting but she wanted a reaction from Dave. Something other than his easy-going, no worries approach.
He straightened his back. ‘I knew they couldn’t get out of the garden. You are blowing this up out of proportion like you always do.’
Sophie’s eyes pinged wide. ‘Because I’m always stunned by how plugging useless you are.’
‘If I’m so useless, find someone else who’ll put up with your shit!’
Sophie was shocked. Dave rarely lost his cool. ‘Don’t swear, the kids might hear you. And what sh …’ She couldn’t bring herself to say it. ‘What do you mean exactly?’ She was boiling mad that he’d turned this back on her when he was so clearly in the wrong.
‘Nothing’s ever good enough. You’re out all the time—’
‘What?’ Sophie could barely believe her ears. ‘Last night is the first time in months I’ve been out.’
‘Err, what about the team jolly? It’s fine to leave the kids with me then isn’t it?’
‘You need the practice.’
Dave’s expression changed. ‘Have you got someone else?’
You could have knocked Sophie over with a paperclip. ‘What?’ She couldn’t stop a squeak of a laugh escaping. As if she had time for someone else.
Dave was frowning hard, his eyes boring into hers. ‘You heard. Have you got someone else? Is that what this is all about? Are you building up to leaving me and want an excuse to take the kids?’
Sophie shook her head. She wasn’t going to have this stupid conversation. ‘You are an idiot, Dave.’ She opened the utility room door and stormed out.
Chapter Nineteen
It was rare for Anna to not be at home for Sunday lunch. Anna wasn’t even sure how she had slipped into the Sunday lunch at her parents’ routine. However, this week she had arranged to meet up with Dave and Sophie at a local pub to celebrate Dave’s upcoming birthday.
It was a beautiful summer’s day: the sun high in the sky, not a cloud to be seen and hot enough to anticipate the headlines of the next day’s newspapers. Anna parked up, made her way through the crowded bar and into the sunshine-filled garden at the back where she spotted Arlo digging a hole in a flower bed with his hands. Dave and Sophie appeared to be deep in conversation and shut up as soon as she approached.
‘Happy birthday eve, eve,’ she said, handing over a card, Dave gave her a kiss in return and she joined them at a picnic table.
A mud-covered Arlo appeared. ‘Daddy can’t open any cards or presents until his birthday,’ said Arlo before running off towards the children’s play area. Petal jabbed her stumpy fingers at her father’s iPhone.
‘How was last night?’ asked Dave, looking at Anna.
‘I enjoyed myself,’ said Anna, almost surprised by her admission.
‘I told you, the party was fabulous. They’ve got a very trendy place, and they know how to enjoy themselves. Anyway, happy birthday, Dave,’ said Sophie, clinking glasses. Arlo promptly knocked over his orange juice.
After a nice meal Dave went to get another round of drinks, whilst Sophie settled Petal down for a nap in her buggy. Arlo was playing Vikings in the play area, which seemed to consist of him running around wildly shouting at other children and declaring a victory if he made any of them cry.
‘Dave got cross earlier. I’ve not seen him like it before.’
‘It’s school holidays – they’re always stressful.’
‘It’s more than that. He accused me of having an affair.’ She chewed on the inside of her mouth.
Arlo charged over brandishing Petal’s teddy, which he’d pillaged, and Anna had to raise her voice to be heard. ‘Do you not think you should explain to Dave why you have feelings for another man?’
‘But I don’t know why I have them.’ Sophie’s eyes brimmed with tears. Sophie turned to Arlo. ‘Give it back to her!’
‘But I’m a Viking!’
‘Then swap it for your sword,’ suggested Sophie, her jaw tense. Arlo thrust the teddy back at Petal and proceeded to run around the picnic bench squealing.
Sophie turned back to Anna. ‘I think about Hudson all the time.’ She was almost at shouting volume to be heard over the kids. ‘It’s messing with my head.’
Anna took her hand. ‘I know it is. But I think you need to be honest with Dave.’
‘How can I? He’ll never understand. I don’t even understand it myself. How do I tell him I’m obsessed with Hudson? It’s such a mess.’
Anna squeezed Sophie’s hand. ‘It’ll be okay.’ She wasn’t sure if that was true but she really hoped it was. They watched Arlo herd the other children around the play area for a bit. Sophie’s phone pinged a message and she glanced at the screen.
Sophie frowned as she read the message, then her expression changed. ‘Wholly crab!’ said Sophie, fumbling with her phone. She spun around and frantically scanned the pub garden. She pointed at a tray with drinks appearing to match their order on the table behind them. ‘Dave must have overheard us.’
‘What?’ Anna took the phone from Sophie and read the message – I knew there was someone else. I’m going to sort this out man to man. You stay with the kids. I love you. D x.
‘We need to warn Hudson,’ said Anna, pulling out her own phone. Hudson’s phone went straight to voicemail. ‘Okay. Plan B. Let’s go to Hudson’s apartment.’
‘But we don’t know that’s where Dave is.’ Sophie was gathering up the kids’ stuff at high speed and throwing it all into the pushchair.
‘No, but where would Dave go if he was going after Hudson?’
‘His apartment,’ agreed Sophie.
‘Unless he doesn’t have the address.’ Anna felt a small glimmer of hope.
‘Aerosols.’ Sophie stopped and bit her lip. ‘I gave him the address in case there was a problem with the kids and he needed to come and get me early from the party.’
‘Call Dave and try and stop him,’ said Anna, almost falling over as she extricated herself from the picnic bench. ‘Otherwise we’d better get there before he does.’
As Anna pulled into Hudson’s road they spotted Dave’s car and she moored hers near the kerb where she hoped it wouldn’t incur a fine. They both leaped from the vehicle and ran towards the apartment building, then both suddenly stopped and ran back to the children, who were still in the car. They were both asleep.
‘Can we leave them?’ asked Anna.
Sophie turned around and they watched Dave pull Hudson out of the lobby of the apartments. ‘Yes,’ said Sophie in a strangled voice. ‘We can see them from over there. Come on!’
They raced over to where Dave now had hold of Hudson by his T-shirt and was pinning him against the main door to the apartments.
Hudson had his hands up in self-defence but didn’t appear to be retaliating.
‘Dave!’ shouted Sophie but he didn’t respond.
‘Hey, now calm down, fella,’ said Hudson, looking quite confused by the position he found himself in.
‘I’ll calm down when you leave my wife alone.’ Dave was right in Hudson’s face.
Hudson lifted an eyebrow. ‘What?’ He looked past Dave’s angry face to Sophie who was racing towards them panting like a carthorse.
‘Get off him, Dave.’ Sophie pulled Dave off Hudson. ‘He’s gay, you idiot.’ She was flushing scarlet.
‘Err, no I’m not,’ said Hudson in a small voice. All heads turned quizzically in his direction, including Anna’s.
‘B … but you’re with Sim?’ said Sophie, pushing Dave right out of the way.
Hudson shook his head. ‘Sim’s my lodger.’
‘Karl saw you in a gay bar and you kissed someone,’ said Anna. Was Hudson in denial? He was shaking his head. ‘About a week ago on Hurst Street,’ she added.
Hudson gave a small frown as if trying
to recall the situation. ‘You know Sim got a new job?’ The group shook their heads in unison. ‘Well, anyway. They rang here and left a message. I tried his mobile but the battery is garbage so I went out to find him. That was me telling him. For the record, he kissed me, not the other way around. And it was a theatrical smacker – nothing serious.’
Anna opened her mouth and then closed it again. She had no idea what to say. She may have doubted it at first but she’d got used to him being gay. This was very confusing.
‘But you wear that pink shirt,’ said Sophie, her expression as if she was trying to work out all the numbers of pi. ‘It’s very well fitted.’ She moved her hands in front of her as if smoothing them over his outline.
‘Christmas present from Sim. I did wonder if it was a bit much,’ said Hudson, with a brief twitch at the corners of his mouth.
Hudson turned to Anna and she felt she needed to add a justification for her beliefs too. ‘You’ve Got Mail is your favourite film.’ She raised an eyebrow, but the tone of her voice gave away that she knew it wasn’t the best proof.
Hudson laughed loudly. ‘It’s my mum’s favourite film too. We watched it a lot after Dad left. I mean A LOT. Okay?’
‘Okay,’ said Anna, trying to pull all the evidence to mind.
‘Any other pieces of this puzzle I should know about, or have I done enough to convince you I’m not gay?’ He was facing her square on and embarrassment swept over her.
‘Well, yeah. But in our defence it was mainly because Sim told Roberta you were in a relationship.’
Hudson gave a dramatic eye roll. ‘Oh man. He’s done this before. He thinks he’s being helpful if there’s a lady that, shall we say, takes a liking to me. He said Roberta was giving off those vibes.’
Anna was trying to understand how this changed things. If this changed anything at all. At first she had settled into an uneasy alliance with Hudson but more recently they seemed to really connect with each other. Anna knew she had let down some of her barriers and she felt Hudson had too. But this somehow put a very different lens on their relationship.
Dave was frowning hard with the effort of keeping up with the discussion. He suddenly joined the conversation. ‘So you’re not gay?’ He pointed a finger at Hudson.
A Budding Romance Page 7