Changing Places

by Colette Caddle

  ‘I wouldn’t have, if I’d known you’d be so difficult to please,’ Mark complained. ‘How many houses have you shown him, Anna?’

  ‘Seven.’

  ‘Seven! Seven of the best properties on this side of Dublin and they’re not good enough for you.’

  Charlie shrugged. ‘I just haven’t seen anything that suits.’

  ‘Charlie’s changing his mind about what he wants,’ Anna told her boss.

  ‘I am?’ said Charlie.

  She nodded. ‘Yes, for a start I think big houses scare you off. What you really want is something warm and homely. That cottage would have been perfect.’

  ‘Too small.’

  ‘There was plenty of room to extend,’ she pointed out.

  ‘It just wasn’t right,’ he told her. ‘And what about the animal?’

  ‘Animal?’ Jill asked.

  ‘My daughter has a pony,’ he explained.

  Mark turned to Anna, his eyes speculative. ‘What about the Brennans’ place?’

  She nodded thoughtfully. ‘You know, that might well fit the bill. I’ll set up an appointment, Charlie. When would suit you?’

  He shrugged. ‘Whenever, sweetheart. You know I’m always available for you.’

  Anna giggled. ‘I bet you say that to all the girls.’

  Jill groaned inwardly. The fourth glass of wine was obviously beginning to take effect. She’d better get Anna out of here before she got silly. There was way too much flirting going on for her liking.

  ‘So, Jill, how are things? I haven’t seen you in a long time.’ Mark leaned closer. ‘Any man on the scene?’

  ‘Several.’ Jill sat back on her stool.

  ‘Excellent. A girl like you should play the field.’

  ‘A girl like me?’

  ‘You know – successful, sexy, mature.’

  ‘You were doing fine until you said mature,’ she said dryly.

  ‘Hey, that was a compliment. You’re in your prime.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Jill replied, trying to listen in on what Charlie and Anna were talking about.

  ‘Any man would be glad to have a woman like you,’ Mark continued, licking his lips.

  ‘You have a very interesting way with words, Mark, you know that?’ She finished her drink and shot her cousin a meaningful look. ‘Hey, Anna, let’s get going.’

  ‘But it’s early,’ Anna protested.

  ‘It’s a work day tomorrow,’ Jill reminded her.

  ‘But I’m with my boss,’ Anna beamed, waving her glass precariously. ‘You won’t mind if I’m a teensy bit late tomorrow, Mark, will you?’

  ‘I suppose we could call this business,’ he agreed with a knowing wink at Charlie.

  ‘Come on, Anna, I’m tired and we’re sharing a taxi, remember?’

  ‘I could drop her home,’ Charlie interrupted. ‘I’ve only had one pint.’

  ‘There you go.’ Anna smiled at her cousin. ‘Problem solved. You go on home, Jill, I’ll call you tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh well, maybe I’ll stay for a bit longer,’ Jill said, loath to leave her cousin alone with Charlie and Mark.

  ‘That’s more like it,’ Mark said, squeezing her knee. ‘Have another drink. The night is young.’

  Chapter 18

  ‘Did you have a good night?’ Liam asked, as Anna wandered into the kitchen the next morning looking pasty and red-eyed.

  ‘Yeah, not bad.’

  ‘I didn’t know you were planning such a late one.’

  ‘We weren’t.’

  ‘Where did you end up?’

  Anna poured herself a cup of stewed tea from the pot and wondered if a slice of toast would help or finish her off altogether. ‘Tamango’s.’

  ‘Just you and Jill?’

  Liam’s voice sounded normal enough but Anna knew he was annoyed. ‘No. Mark and one of his friends were with us.’

  ‘I see.’

  Anna groaned inwardly as Liam’s mouth set in a grim line. ‘We were just having a laugh, Liam, no big deal.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘I’d better get a move on or I’ll be late.’ Suddenly neither the tea nor the toast held any appeal and Anna knew if she didn’t get out quick, there’d be another row.

  ‘Well, the boss won’t mind, will he? You and he are obviously close.’

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake, Liam. I just bumped into him! Stop being so ridiculous.’

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t think I was being ridiculous, just curious. Any man would be if his wife didn’t get in until three in the morning.’

  Anna winced. She didn’t think he’d heard her coming in but then she probably hadn’t been as quiet as she’d thought. ‘It was just a bit of fun. Remember what that is, Liam?’ Guilt made Anna’s tone sharper than she’d intended.

  ‘Vaguely.’ Liam’s voice was calm but his eyes were cold. ‘But then I haven’t had much of it lately,’ he said and brushed past her.

  ‘Liam, wait a minute—’ But he was already on the stairs and moments later, Anna heard the door of the bedroom slam behind him. ‘Shit.’

  ‘That was a good night, eh?’ Mark winked at her when he breezed in the door at half past ten.

  ‘I don’t know, was it?’ Anna managed a weak smile.

  ‘Indeed it was. Where did you and Charlie get to? One minute you were dancing beside us and the next you were gone.’

  Anna felt her face grow hot as Val eyed her curiously. ‘Oh, you know me, Mark. I got a bit wobbly and Charlie offered to drop me home.’

  ‘Wobbly? You were plastered!’ Mark’s grin broadened as he sat down on the corner of her desk. ‘Bring him in for coffee, did you?’

  ‘No, I did not.’ Anna buried her head in a file and prayed that he would go away or the phone would ring or the ceiling would fall in.

  ‘Probably just as well. Liam wouldn’t have been impressed.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Liam wouldn’t mind. He’d be delighted that someone had seen me home safe and sound.’

  ‘Ha!’ Mark laughed as he stood up and went into his office. ‘Of course he would.’

  ‘I need a cup of coffee,’ Anna said and hurried out of the room before Val could say anything.

  ‘Jill’s on hold,’ Val told her when she returned.

  Anna set down the coffee with an unsteady hand and picked up the phone. ‘Jill?’

  ‘Hi, Anna. How are you?’

  ‘Lousy. You?’

  ‘Fine. You got home okay, then?’

  ‘Yeah, sorry about that. I’m afraid I forgot all about you. Bloody wine, I really should give up the stuff.’

  ‘Maybe you should.’ Jill sounded very unimpressed. ‘I take it you were with Charlie?’

  Anna glanced at Val. ‘I can’t really talk right now, Jill.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose you can. Meet me for lunch at one.’

  Anna groaned as she put the phone down.

  ‘Problem?’ Val asked.

  ‘I think Jill’s annoyed with me. We were supposed to share a taxi home but I forgot.’

  Val’s eyes narrowed. ‘Forgot?’

  ‘Yes, Val, I forgot! What are you trying to say?’

  Val held up her hands. ‘Nothing! Sorry I spoke.’

  ‘No, I’m sorry, Val. It’s just my head is hopping and I do feel awful about last night. I should never have left Jill and I should never have accepted a lift from Charlie. Mark’s right, Liam would go mad if he knew. He was furious as it was because I was home so late.’

  ‘But you only got a lift, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes! Oh, we had a laugh and a dance but it was all very innocent. And maybe it’s a crime, Val, but I enjoyed myself.’ Anna rested her head in her hands. ‘It was nice to have a bit of fun for a change.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, dear, and I’d love to hear all about it sometime but,’ Val glanced at the clock, ‘if you don’t get moving you’re going to be late for your first viewing.’

  Anna sprang to her feet and then clutched her head. ‘Shit, damn, I c
ompletely forgot. Oh God, I really shouldn’t drink midweek. I really shouldn’t drink full stop,’ she corrected herself as she picked up her bag and keys and headed for the door.

  ‘Don’t forget you’re meeting Jill for lunch,’ Val called after her.

  ‘I hope you’re feeling as bad as you look,’ Jill remarked later when Anna slumped into the seat beside her.

  ‘My stomach’s sick, my head’s throbbing and I’ve spent the last hour with a woman who has a voice like a pneumatic drill.’

  ‘Have some soup,’ Jill suggested. They quickly gave their order and then Jill turned questioning eyes on her cousin.

  ‘Nothing happened,’ Anna told her, sipping iced water.

  Jill arched an eyebrow. ‘You sound almost disappointed.’

  Anna glared at her. ‘Don’t be silly, of course I’m not. Charlie’s a nice guy, we were having a laugh. Oh, come on, Jill, you know what I’m like when I have a few drinks.’

  ‘I’ve seen you make an eejit of yourself plenty of times,’ Jill agreed, ‘but I’ve never seen you leave with a man before.’

  ‘It wasn’t as if I picked him up,’ Anna protested. ‘He’s a friend.’

  ‘I thought he was a client.’

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake, stop trying to trip me up. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of – except forgetting about you, of course.’

  ‘Did you really forget me?’ Jill shot her a look of pure disbelief.

  ‘Yeah, sorry,’ Anna said, not quite meeting her eyes. ‘Oh, good, here’s my soup.’ She turned her attention to her lunch while Jill picked at her roast chicken. ‘I thought you were on a diet?’

  ‘I am. No chips, just chicken.’

  Anna decided she was in enough trouble with her cousin without pointing out that you probably weren’t supposed to have your chicken soaked in fat and breadcrumbs. ‘So how’s your head?’

  ‘Fine. I had a glass of water between each round.’

  Anna made a face. ‘Aren’t you the sensible one? You and Mark seemed to be getting on well.’

  ‘Please.’ Jill rolled her eyes. ‘That man’s unbelievable. His hands were everywhere and his eyes were practically glued to my chest!’

  Anna giggled. ‘He does seem to like you.’

  ‘Lucky old me. So, what did Liam say?’

  ‘He had a go at me for getting home so late.’

  ‘Did he see Charlie?’

  ‘No.’ Anna hesitated. ‘At least I don’t think he did.’

  Jill watched her cousin as she ate her soup. ‘Are you sure that Charlie is just a friend? Are you sure that that’s all you want him to be? You did seem very close.’

  Anna paused, the spoon halfway to her mouth. ‘Jill, you know I love Liam,’ she said very quietly.

  ‘That doesn’t stop you fancying someone else, though, does it? It happens all the time.’

  ‘Not to me,’ Anna told her, putting down her spoon and pushing away her soup. ‘I would never cheat on Liam.’

  ‘Hey, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to upset you.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. Look, would you mind very much if I headed off now? If I’m quick I could go by the house and make my peace with him. I’m fed up with all of this bickering, it’s such a waste of time.’

  Jill smiled. ‘You go for it, cuz. Good luck.’

  As Anna drove, she felt guilt eating her up inside as she thought about what Jill had said. As usual, her cousin was spot on. She was attracted to Charlie, and when he’d bent his head to kiss her last night she’d very nearly let him. ‘But I didn’t,’ she reminded herself. She’d been aware of Charlie’s interest in her and enjoyed the attention and the flattery, but she wasn’t prepared to take it any further. She’d never do that to Liam.

  As she turned the car into her estate, she promised herself that she’d be a more tolerant and understanding wife. It wasn’t Liam’s fault that he was grumpy, it was only natural given what he was going through. This was the first real crisis they’d had to face as a married couple and she should be handling it a lot better than this. That’s what marriage was about, wasn’t it, for better, for worse, in good times and in bad?

  As she parked, she noticed Liam’s bike leaning against the wall. Good, he was home. She hurried up the path and opened the door with her key. ‘Liam? Liam, where are you?’ She poked her head into the sitting room but it was empty and the TV was off. ‘Liam?’ She carried on into the kitchen, stopping dead at the sight of Tara Brady lounging against the counter, the kettle in her hand.

  ‘Oh hi, Anna. He’s in the shower. Would you like some tea while you’re waiting?’

  Anna dashed the tears from her eyes as she drove back to the office, still not able to believe the evidence of her own eyes. She had been standing staring at Liam’s ex-girlfriend when he’d appeared at her side – in a towel.

  ‘Anna! I didn’t know you were coming home for lunch.’

  ‘That’s pretty obvious,’ she’d replied, looking him up and down in disgust. Ignoring his protests, she turned on her heel, went out to the car and pulled away from the kerb, the engine roaring.

  God, how could he? And in their own home, their own bed! She shook her head, as if by doing so, it would banish the image of Tara standing in her kitchen. And here she was, feeling guilty about a kiss that hadn’t even happened! Liam and Tara! Suddenly, Anna understood her husband’s odd behaviour over the last few weeks. She, naively, had put it down to the redundancy but it was obvious now that the reason was Tara Brady. The woman had been after him for years and it looked as if he’d finally capitulated. Anna let out an involuntary sob. But why now? Had she driven him away? Had he turned to Tara because she had been more understanding?

  Anna drove round and round the village looking for a parking spot. ‘Damn, shit, damn,’ she cursed as she got caught in the yellow box and a bus driver blasted her out of it. ‘Okay, okay.’ She nudged the car up as far as she could, but she was still blocking the road. Tears ran down her cheeks as she waited for the lights to change, and when she finally rounded the corner and a car pulled out of a parking spot, the relief unleashed another flood of tears.

  Anna finally managed to park without crashing into anything, and after taking a few deep breaths, she wiped her face on her sleeve and got out of the car. As she was attempting to lock it with shaking fingers she became aware of someone watching her. Looking up, she saw Charlie standing across the road. Oh no, that’s all she needed. She tried to smile but felt the tears welling up again. Turning her back to him, Anna quickly buried her face in a tissue.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Charlie had crossed and was standing at her side now, his eyes concerned.

  ‘I’ve got something in my eye,’ Anna told him, aware that her voice was wobbly.

  Charlie steered her towards the pub.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Anna asked shakily. ‘I’ve got to get back to work.’

  ‘In that state? I don’t think so.’

  Anna let him lead her inside and went to sit at a table in a dark corner while Charlie walked up to the bar.

  ‘I wasn’t sure what to get you.’

  Anna looked up to see him balancing tea, water and brandy. She laughed. ‘Looks like you covered all eventualities.’

  ‘It’s my Boy Scout training.’

  Anna was tempted to drink the brandy but settled for the tea instead. After she’d taken a couple of sips she looked up at Charlie and managed a smile. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Want to tell me what’s wrong?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Is it my fault?’

  Anna frowned. ‘No, of course not, why would you say that?’

  ‘I thought maybe you got into trouble over last night.’

  ‘Oh no, nothing like that.’

  ‘Oh right, that puts me in my place.’

  ‘Look, Charlie, I didn’t mean—’

  He chuckled. ‘It’s okay, Anna.’

  She finished her tea. ‘I’d better go.’

  He stood up. ‘You sure yo
u’re up to it?’

  ‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks.’

  ‘Not a problem.’

  ‘I was going to call you this afternoon actually,’ she said as they went outside.

  ‘Oh, yes?’

  ‘Yes. I can show you the Brennan house tomorrow evening if you’re free.’

  ‘Right. I’ll call you and let you know. See you, Anna.’

  She watched as he strode away, wondering why he’d suddenly become so abrupt. But as she turned to walk towards her office, thoughts of Charlie Coleman were quickly replaced by images of Tara in her kitchen and Liam in a towel. How in God’s name was her marriage supposed to recover from this? And suddenly it occurred to Anna that maybe Liam didn’t want it to. Maybe he’d wanted her to find him and Tara together. Maybe after all these years he’d decided that his first love was, in fact, the deepest.

  Chapter 19

  ‘Anna, love, what’s wrong?’ Val asked when a puffy-eyed Anna sat down at her desk.

  ‘Nothing, I’m fine.’

  ‘Liam called.’ When Anna didn’t answer, Val sighed, shook her head and went back to her typing. Moments later, the phone rang again. ‘Donnelly’s Real Estate, can I help you? Oh, hello again, Liam.’ She listened, then said: ‘Could you hold on for a moment? Thanks.’

  ‘Please, Val, I don’t want to talk to him,’ Anna mumbled.

  Val hesitated but when Anna’s eyes filled up, she quickly nodded. ‘Liam? Sorry about that. I’m on my own here so it’s a bit mad. I’m afraid Anna’s in a meeting. Well, yes, of course but I expect she’ll be tied up for the afternoon. Right, so, Liam. Bye now.’ She hung up and looked at Anna.

  ‘Thanks, Val.’

  ‘No problem, love, but you can’t avoid him for ever.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘If you’ve had a row it’s best to sort it.’

  Anna’s grip tightened on her pen and she forced a smile. ‘I will, but it’s better to do it face to face when I get home, don’t you think?’

  ‘Well, yes,’ Val admitted. ‘Not a good idea to bring your personal problems to work.’

  ‘Exactly – and I’ve got such a lot to do.’ Anna bent her head over a file and was relieved when Val left it at that.

  The phones hopped all afternoon and Anna didn’t have a chance to dwell on her problems. She buried herself in her work, returning calls that she’d been putting off and writing up flowery prose about houses that were dull or downright ugly. Heartache was obviously good for productivity, she mused. Mark would certainly get his money’s worth out of her if her marriage fell apart. She gasped at the thought and quickly disguised it as a cough when Val’s head jerked up. Life without Liam was something she’d never considered. Life without Liam was unimaginable. She quickly ducked out to the loo, splashing cold water on her face in an effort to avoid more tears. She had a meeting with Mark in half an hour and he would be very unimpressed if she started to cry. She couldn’t expect him to tolerate yet more of her marital problems. If she kept arriving into his office in tears, he’d begin to ask himself what he was employing her for and he’d be right. Anna patted her face dry, took a few deep breaths and returned to her desk.