by Anne Mather
After paying for the drinks she stepped outside again, shivering as a gust of wind blew her hair across her face. Scooping it back, she hurried across the road to where she’d left the Renault, and then stopped short when she saw the man beside her car.
It was Joel.
So what’s new? she thought irritably. Although it was over a week since she’d seen him, she couldn’t deny she’d thought about him. A lot. And Sean, she defended herself, noticing that her father didn’t seem to have any objections to the visitor. His door was open and Joel was standing with one arm draped across the roof of the vehicle and one foot propped on the sill.
Joel straightened at her approach, though she observed the smile he’d been giving her father was distinctly thinner when it was directed at her. In tight jeans and a black T-shirt, a leather jacket left open, he didn’t seem to feel the cold. ‘Liv,’ he said, and she didn’t know whether to get into the car or stand and face him. ‘Linda said I’d find you here.’
Olivia frowned. ‘You went to the farm?’
‘No.’ Joel spoke levelly. ‘I tried your mobile—’
‘How did you know my number?’
Olivia spoke impulsively, but Joel merely said, ‘My phone records all calls.’ He paused. ‘Anyway, as you probably know, I could only get voicemail. That was when I called the farm.’
‘Oh.’ Olivia remembered rather guiltily that she’d turned her phone off. But she’d reasoned that no one was likely to call her here. ‘So you spoke to Linda?’
‘Right.’ Joel was patient. ‘She said you’d taken your father to the coast, so I guessed you’d come here.’
‘Did you?’ Olivia’s lips twisted.
‘Yes.’ His grey eyes were penetrating. ‘I knew it was a favourite haunt of yours.’
‘Of yours, too, if I remember correctly,’ she replied tartly. Then, as his eyes darkened, ‘Why did you want to speak to me?’
Joel sighed. ‘I’ve got a problem.’
‘What kind of a problem?’
‘Why don’t the two of you go for a walk along the beach and he can tell you?’ suggested her father, mopping his mouth. ‘I’ll just sit here and enjoy my beer in peace.’ He held out his good hand. ‘Joel, will you just unscrew the cap for me?’
Olivia was forced to hand the bottle to Joel and she watched somewhat resentfully as he opened it and put it into Ben Foley’s hand. There was a gentleness about him as he dealt with her father that she hated to acknowledge. But it was there just the same: an understanding of the old man’s dignity that she couldn’t ignore.
‘I don’t have a coat,’ she said now, wrapping her arms about herself.
‘Here, you wear this,’ said Joel, taking off his leather jacket. ‘I’ve got a duffel in the boot.’
‘No, it’s all right,’ she began, but he’d already shed the coat and wrapped its folds around her.
‘Just give me a second,’ he said, and sprinted off across the road to where the Lexus was parked.
‘I didn’t say the wrong thing, did I?’ her father asked anxiously and Olivia was obliged to reassure him.
‘No—’
‘I mean, he picked you up from the airport, didn’t he? And Linda tells me you gave his son a lift to Millford the other day.’
‘It’s OK, Dad.’ Olivia forced a smile. ‘Now, are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?’
‘I’m not a baby, Liv,’ he said, the unparalysed side of his face twisting in resignation. ‘Besides, it’ll be good for the two of you to catch up.’
To catch up!
Olivia gritted her teeth and thrust her arms into the sleeves of the soft leather jacket. As if she and Joel needed to catch up. It would be truer to say they knew too much about one another as it was.
Even so, she couldn’t deny the jacket protected her from the wind. It was redolent with his distinctive maleness, still warm from the heat of his body, and she wrapped it closely about her. And refused to accept that her rising temperature was caused by anything more than the quality of the leather.
Joel came loping back wearing a hooded duffel. Once again the coat was unfastened, but his hands in the pockets kept the two sides together. ‘All set?’ he asked, with a quick smile for her father.
‘As I’ll ever be,’ said Olivia ungraciously, but he had to understand this was at his instigation not hers. She’d half expected him to avoid the farm so long as she was around.
They left the car and walked down the path that led through the dunes and onto the beach. The wind was considerably stronger here, and Olivia sucked in a breath as it tried to drag the jacket sides away. ‘Let me,’ said Joel, and, brushing her hands away, he swiftly attached the zip and pulled it up to her chin. ‘Now put your hands in the pockets,’ he instructed. ‘That should work.’
Olivia did as he said because her fingers were already tingling with the cold. And it was true, now that the jacket was fastened, it had no chance to billow in the wind.
‘Thanks,’ she said offhandedly, and Joel cast her an ironic look.
‘Yeah, right,’ he said, and then cursed as the soft sand spilled into his loafers. Emptying them out, he walked barefoot onto the firmer sand.
Admiring his fortitude, Olivia hurried after him, grateful that her own boots prevented the sand from invading her feet. Not that Joel appeared to notice that the firmer sand was damp and chilly. With his gaze fixed on the horizon, he seemed indifferent to his surroundings. And to her.
‘You wanted to talk to me?’ she prompted, not happy at being ignored when he’d come here expressly to find her. She glanced up at his unsmiling face. ‘How’s Sean?’
Joel’s jaw compressed. ‘Do you care?’
Olivia caught her breath. ‘You know I do.’
‘Do I?’
Olivia sighed. ‘Is this going to be another pointless argument? Of course I care about Sean.’ She paused, her eyes widening. ‘Don’t tell me he’s run away again.’
‘No.’ Joel blew out a breath. ‘As a matter of fact, Louise and I have come to an agreement. She’s letting Sean stay with me for the next two weeks.’
‘That’s great!’
Olivia was genuinely pleased for him, but Joel’s expression didn’t change. ‘It’s not great as it goes,’ he told her flatly. ‘I told her I’d be available, but now I won’t.’
Olivia frowned. ‘Why not?’
‘Because the tutor who was going to cover my absence has broken his hip.’ Joel grimaced. ‘Hell, I feel sorry for the guy, but it couldn’t have happened at a worse time as far as I’m concerned.’
Olivia’s brows ascended. ‘So—what now?’
Joel bent his head, aware that when she’d left his house in Millford a week ago he’d determined that, whatever Sean said, they weren’t going to be seeing Olivia again. Yet here he was, telling her his troubles, hoping, he acknowledged ruefully, that she’d be able to help him out. Again.
‘When are you leaving?’ he asked suddenly, and Olivia pulled a hand out of the pocket of the jacket and pressed it to her throat.
‘Well, that’s pointed enough,’ she remarked, despising herself for feeling hurt by it. ‘What’s it to you? You’re not going to tell me you’ll miss me. That would be totally out of character.’
‘Can’t you stop trying to score points, Liv?’ Joel sounded weary. ‘I only asked when you were leaving because I was hoping you might be agreeable to working for me for a couple of weeks.’
‘Working for you?’ Olivia stared at him. Then comprehension dawned. ‘You want me to look after Sean?’
‘Yeah.’ Joel bent and picked up a pebble and sent it skittering across the waves. ‘I know it’s presumptuous and you’re probably going to blow me out, but I do think you’re the only person I could ask.’
Olivia shook her head. ‘And what would I have to do?’
‘Not a lot.’ Joel looked at her. ‘Just take him to school in the mornings and pick him up again at half-past three. Then stay with him until I get home. He can wait and ha
ve his supper with me. I can’t give you my actual schedule. It can change from day to day. But unless I have any evening tutorials, most days I’m home about six.’
Olivia’s breathing quickened. ‘And while Sean’s at school?’
‘Your time’s your own, of course.’
‘I’d sleep at the farm.’
Joel looked away. ‘Of course.’
Olivia considered. ‘Well—OK. I’ll do it.’ She paused. ‘But I don’t need any payment. I’ll do it for Sean.’
Joel exhaled heavily. ‘I don’t need charity, Liv.’
‘Nor do I,’ Olivia retorted shortly. She glanced back along the beach to where she’d left the car. ‘If that’s settled, I presume we can go back.’
CHAPTER NINE
ON MONDAY morning Olivia was up at half-past six.
Hurrying into the bathroom, she washed her face and cleaned her teeth, and then, because it felt chilly, she dressed in warm woollen trousers and a purple sweater. She didn’t bother with much make-up, just a trace of eyeliner, mascara and a smear of lip gloss. Then, with her leather coat over her arm, she went downstairs.
Linda wasn’t about, but someone—Martin, possibly—had made a pot of tea and left toast crumbs all over the drainer. Olivia wasn’t hungry, but she poured herself a cup of lukewarm tea and drank it on the move.
She still had to tell the rest of the family what she was doing, and as she swept the crumbs away and washed both her cup and Martin’s she hoped they would approve.
Her father knew, naturally. She hadn’t been able to hide what Joel had wanted from him, and he’d looked at her a little oddly when he heard that she and Joel were planning to share responsibility for the boy.
‘Are you sure about this, Liv?’ he’d asked as they drove back to the farm. ‘I mean, giving the kid a lift is one thing. Committing yourself to two weeks of driving back and forth to Millford, just so Sean can spend a few days with his father, does seem quite a chore.’
‘You can’t say two weeks on the one hand and then imply it’s only for a few days on the other,’ Olivia had pointed out evenly. And then, because she’d known her father was only thinking of her, ‘Well—I couldn’t refuse, could I?’
‘Why not?’ Ben Foley had been indignant. ‘OK, you and Joel have got history. No one can deny that. But he got over you soon enough and married the Webster girl. What does she think about you looking after her son?’
‘I doubt if she knows.’ Olivia had been terse, stung by her father’s assessment of Joel’s behaviour. Was that what he’d done? she’d wondered. It had been galling to think that that was what everyone in Bridgeford thought.
Thankfully, the old man hadn’t questioned how well she knew Sean. He’d probably assumed the boy had accompanied Joel when he’d picked her up at the airport. But Linda had still to be told and she could only hope it wouldn’t become a bone of contention, before she told her what she was doing.
Joel had said Sean had to leave for school at a quarter-past eight, but Olivia realised it was only a quarter-to when she reached Millford. She was far too early and, not wanting to look too eager, she parked some distance from the house and got out of the car.
Millford was smaller than Bridgeford, but just as picturesque. Pulling her coat out of the back of the car, she put it on and strolled across to the church.
Evidently there’d been an early-morning service and the vicar was standing at the door, saying goodbye to the few stalwarts who’d braved the uncertain weather. Olivia halted by the lych-gate, feeling an odd sense of familiarity when she looked at the man. But that was silly, she thought impatiently. She’d never been to this church before.
She was about to turn away when he hailed her. ‘Liv! Olivia,’ he called, striding towards her. ‘My goodness, it is you. What are you doing in Millford?’
Olivia watched the man as he approached, realising why he’d seemed so familiar. Despite the fact that his angular frame was disguised by the flapping folds of his surplice and he’d lost most of his hair, she recognised him at once.
‘Brian!’ she exclaimed. ‘My Go—I mean, Brian Webster!’ She paused. ‘You’re a vicar!’
‘For my sins,’ he said drily. ‘And Olivia Foley.’ He said her name again. ‘I heard you were in the States.’
‘I was.’ Olivia shook her head. ‘And I thought you were in the army.’
‘For almost eight years.’ He nodded. ‘I thought it was what I wanted to do, but after Kosovo—’ He blew out a harsh breath. ‘I knew I had to get out.’
‘But a vicar!’ Olivia could see that he was still emotionally disturbed by his memories and tried to lighten the mood. ‘Who’d have thought it? Brian Webster! Mrs Sawyer’s personal nemesis. I don’t think she ever got over you putting that frog in her desk.’
Brian laughed. ‘Innocent times,’ he said ruefully. ‘Today it would probably be a tarantula or something equally terrifying.’
Olivia smiled. ‘So how long have you been—living here?’
‘How long have I been a vicar, do you mean?’ He turned briefly to acknowledge one of his parishioners. ‘About five years, give or take. How about you? Are you staying with your dad?’
‘At present,’ said Olivia, remembering that time was passing and she really ought to go. But with that thought came another: Brian Webster was Louise’s cousin. If Joel hadn’t informed his ex-wife of the arrangements he’d made, she was soon going to find out.
‘So what are you doing in Millford?’ Brian frowned, detecting she was uncomfortable with that question. ‘Don’t tell me you’re looking for Joel Armstrong! I thought that was all over between you two long ago.’
‘It was. It is.’ Olivia glanced away across the green to where Joel’s house was situated. ‘I—well, his son’s staying with him at the moment and I’ve promised to give Sean a lift to school.’
Brian regarded her curiously. ‘You?’ he said blankly. ‘Why can’t Joel take him himself?’
‘Because I said I’d do it,’ replied Olivia, not wanting to discuss Joel’s schedule or her own. ‘And I’d better get going. They’re expecting me.’
Brian stepped back, spreading his arms dramatically. ‘Well, don’t let me hold you up,’ he said, though she sensed he didn’t approve. ‘Perhaps I’ll see you again—when you’re visiting Millford,’ he added pointedly. ‘Give Joel my best, won’t you? Tell him it’s too long since he graced the doors of my church.’
‘I will.’
Olivia smiled as she turned away, but she doubted Joel would appreciate the sentiment. He and Brian had never liked one another, due in no small part to the fact that Brian had been in her year at school. They had just been friends, but Brian had loved to rub Joel’s nose in it, exaggerating their closeness and chiding him about baby-snatching when Olivia and Joel got together.
She was tempted to leave the car where it was, but that would have looked foolish, so she slipped behind the wheel and drove the few yards to Joel’s house. However, as she shifted into neutral, Joel came out of the door and down the path, and she knew at once that he’d seen her talking to the other man.
‘At last,’ he said harshly, pulling her door open. ‘I was beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten why you were here.’
‘And good morning to you, too,’ retorted Olivia, swinging her legs out of the car and getting to her feet. ‘It’s only five-past eight, Joel. I’ve got plenty of time.’
She met his brooding gaze with a defiance she was far from feeling, but for once Joel was the first to look away. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘Perhaps that was unjustified. But before I go, I want to give you some—some information.’
‘Don’t you mean instructions?’ Olivia taunted. ‘Come on, Joel. I have looked after kids before. One of Bruce’s business colleagues had twins and they didn’t come to any harm when their parents left them with me.’
Joel sighed, allowing her to precede him into the house. ‘If I’ve offended you, I’m sorry,’ he said heavily, and she actually thought he meant it
. ‘But this situation is new to me, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.’
‘Like Louise finding out?’ suggested Olivia, waiting for him to close the door and then following him across the hall and into the kitchen. ‘Well, I’m sorry about that, but you should have warned me that Brian Webster was the vicar of All Saints Church.’
Joel grimaced. ‘The vicar of All Saints,’ he echoed. ‘Why does that make me want to laugh?’
‘You did see us, then?’
‘Oh, yeah.’ Joel heaved a sigh. ‘I wasn’t spying on you,’ he added. ‘I was in Sean’s bedroom, trying to persuade him to get dressed, and I happened to look out of the window.’ He shook his head. ‘Brian Webster, preaching the good word to the people. After the things he said to me when you and I split up.’
Olivia wanted to ask him what Brian had said, but something else Joel had mentioned was more important. ‘You were trying to persuade Sean to get dressed?’ she asked, confused. ‘Don’t he and I have to leave in about ten minutes?’
‘You do.’ Joel was resigned. ‘Oh, don’t worry, he’s had his breakfast. But he’s decided that, as you’re coming, he doesn’t want to go to school.’
Olivia stared at him. ‘But doesn’t he know I’ll be picking him up from school this afternoon?’
‘Well, that won’t be necessary today, actually,’ said Joel apologetically. ‘I’m free from two-thirty, so I can pick him up myself.’
Ridiculously, Olivia was disappointed. But what had she expected? That Joel would want her in his house any more often than was absolutely necessary? ‘I see,’ she said, trying not to let her feelings show. ‘Well, you’ve got my number if you need it.’
‘Yeah, right.’
Joel regarded her through narrowed eyes for a moment and now she was forced to look away. ‘Was that all you wanted to tell me?’ she asked, much too aware of how easily he could get under her skin. ‘As you’re picking him up—’
‘These are for you,’ Joel interrupted her, holding out a bunch of keys. ‘You might as well have them. You’ll need them tomorrow afternoon, anyway.’