Accounting for Love

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘I suppose that’s something I’ve missed out on. An only child and my mother lives abroad. Look, why don’t I drive you back? Give me a chance to chat to your father?’

  ‘I’m sure you have better things to do here. I’ll be fine on the train. Oh, I’d better call home and tell them I’ll be back. Excuse me. I’ll go and call them now.’

  ‘Use the phone. And don’t worry. I won’t listen.’

  ‘I’m not worried that you will. But thanks anyway.’ She dialled her mother’s number at home. ‘Hi Mum. Only me. I’m coming home today. Any chance you could pick me up at the station?’

  ‘Course I will. But why are you coming so suddenly?’

  ‘I’ve done the report for Dad. There’s nothing to keep me here.’ She looked at Adam as she spoke. He frowned and began to tidy up the kitchen area. ‘I’m catching the ten o’clock train. It should be in Norminster at about eleven thirty. I’ll call you from the train. Tell Dad I’m coming. Is all well with you?’

  ‘Yes dear. We’ll be pleased to have you home again. Is everything all right?’

  ‘Fine thanks. I’ll see you later.’ She put the phone down and imagined her mum rushing round to clean her room and telling her dad the latest news. She felt a whole flood of love and care for them, and almost began to cry again.

  Adam was busying himself wiping the counters and picking things up and putting them down again. Wisely, he said nothing. It was almost nine o’clock.

  ‘Why don’t we leave now?’ she asked him. ‘I won’t mind waiting on the station and it will make sure I’m there in time.’

  ‘Okay. If you’re ready and I really can’t persuade you to stay?’

  ‘I’m quite ready, thank you.’

  There was the usual traffic jam out in the main road and she murmured something about hoping they weren’t going to miss the train.

  ‘It’s all right. I know one or two short cuts,’ he said as he swung out of the queue. Dodging in and out of parked cars and other traffic, he made up some lost time. They pulled into the station and found somewhere to park for a few moments.

  ‘When do you think you’ll be back?’ he asked.

  ‘No idea. It depends on my dad really.’

  ‘We’ll need you to put your ideas for the patchwork shop into practice. In fact, there are lots of your ideas that really need you around to make them work properly.’

  ‘I know. I’ll be in touch soon. I’ll go and get my ticket.’

  ‘I’ll get it. You can’t have much money left and no cards.’ She blanched. She hadn’t even thought of that.

  ‘Oh wow. Thanks very much. I’d forgotten about the card. She wheeled her case after him and listened to his request for a first class ticket. ‘Ordinary will do,’ she hissed.

  ‘Nonsense. If you insist on going by train, I want you to be comfortable at least.’

  ‘Well, thanks. You’ve been an excellent host. I’ll say goodbye now. Be in touch soon.’

  ‘I’m sorry you’re going.’ He reached for her and pulled her close. He kissed her with a fervour she had never known before. She closed her eyes and surrendered to him. Then she remembered Melissa’s lipstick mark on his shirt and the fact that he looked distinctly crumpled when he came back and drew in her breath.

  ‘I’m going now. Sorry, Adam. Go back to Melissa and all her delights.’

  She turned and ran down the platform towards her train. He stood watching her, his mouth open. What on earth did she mean? Melissa had no delights for him. She was a pain in the backside to him. After their row yesterday, the next time he saw her would be much too soon. The woman had actually punched him, and then flung herself at him. He shuddered at the memory. Perhaps he should have told Fiona about it, but he’d wanted to forget all about the encounter. When she’d knocked at the door yesterday, they’d been in the middle of a hectic argument. He remembered suggesting she should see who was there, but she said this was more important. Whatever Fiona had thought was going on, he had no idea. She must have known how he felt about that woman. Surely she didn’t think they were having some sort of relationship? He laughed at the very thought as he drove back home.

  As she sat on the train, Fiona’s thoughts were bouncing round like crazy. What was she going to tell her mother and father? And Paula? They’d all want to know exactly what had happened. At least she had escaped with a few kisses and nothing worse. She considered she had been very lucky. Obviously Adam was a player in the fast lane and he’d do anything to get what he wanted out of life. Maybe she should meet up with Patrick again. At least he was safe. Safe. Boring. Available. Or was he? After her treatment of him in London, she doubted he’d be in the least bit interested in her again. No, it was definitely the celibate life for her from now on.

  They were approaching the next station to Norminster so she dialled her mother’s mobile.

  ‘Hi Mum. Be there in about ten minutes.’ It was voicemail, so she hoped her mother would see it and be there waiting for her. She breathed slowly and deeply, trying to calm herself down before she had to face everyone. It was not easy, but she had to produce her ‘settled face’ with everything under control. As the train stopped, she rose and collected her case. On the platform, her mother was waiting, looking excited.

  ‘Hallo, darling. You look well. I take it you’ve had a marvellous time? Come on then. The car’s outside. Tell me all about it.’

  ‘Whoa. Slow down, Mum.’

  ‘Do you want to go to the shop first or come home?’

  ‘Home, I think. Then I can dump my case and maybe go to the shop later. I assume everyone is there? At the shop, I mean?’

  ‘Yes they are. Fridays are usually rather busy. I know your father is anxious to see what you’ve discovered. I’ll drive you there after you’ve been home.’

  ‘Thanks Mum.’ She sat back and tried hard to relax. It seemed hours ago she had been at Adam’s apartment. Here, she felt wrapped in a cocoon of familiarity and family. ‘How are the kids?’

  ‘They’re fine. Or at least they were last Sunday. But I told you that at the time. James is anxious to hear how you got on too.’

  ‘All okay. I can’t see any problems with the company. Especially now we got rid of Melissa. At least ...’ She stopped. ‘Yes, all is well.’

  ‘Oh good. So this means the company is sound and the deal can go through. Your father will be delighted. Now, do you want something to eat, or will you get something when you’re with the rest of them?’

  ‘I’m fine. I’ll dump my case in my room and then we’ll go. I need the loo first, inevitably.’

  Her room looked as familiar as it always had. It actually looked a bit smaller than it had done. It must be after Adam’s place, she thought. She needed to pick on a few things to tell her mother or she’d be suspicious. As they drove to the shop, she told her mother about the wonderful coffee machine.

  ‘But you don’t like coffee all that much,’ she said.

  ‘Oh I’m hooked now. Haven’t had more than one cup of tea since I went away.’

  ‘Good heavens. It must be some machine.’

  ‘I was thinking you might like one. I can buy it for you, if you would.’

  ‘I’ll stick to my instant, thanks very much. Right. Here we are.’

  ‘Where’s my car?’ she asked suspiciously.

  ‘Ah, Yes, your car. Well, it’s at the garage. I’m afraid Paula had an altercation with the gate post.’

  ‘Oh no. What’s the damage?’

  ‘It’s getting fixed. Don’t worry. It won’t cost you anything.’

  ‘Wait till I get hold of her.’

  ‘Don’t be like that. She was devastated.’

  ‘So she should have been.’

  The shop was quite busy, and her brother and sister were both serving as she went inside. They acknowledged her and she went through to the office, where her father was busy working. It all seemed so familiar to her, and she felt her emotion rising.

  ‘Fiona. How are you?’ he greeted he
r with a kiss on the cheek.

  ‘I’m fine thanks. Looks busy today.’

  ‘Not bad. Now, what have you found out?’

  ‘Let me get in first,’ she said with a laugh.

  ‘Anything I should know about?’

  ‘Apparently the most important thing is the wonderful coffee machine at Adam’s flat,’ her mother told him.

  ‘I didn’t know she even liked coffee very much.’

  ‘I’ve written a full report on the business as I see it.’ She handed him her laptop when it booted up. ‘It’s in the section on the shop.’

  ‘There’s nothing here,’ he said.

  ‘What? Give it back to me.’ She clicked and searched. Despite having backed it up several times, the file had disappeared. ‘Damn it. What’s going on? I don’t understand it. There are pages of stuff that have disappeared.’

  ‘Could it have been hacked? I know you mentioned it before.’

  ‘Damn it. I know I saved it carefully. Well of course I did. How can I have lost all that work?’ She burst into tears. ‘Sorry,’ she murmured. ‘It’s the shock.’

  ‘Perhaps someone can get it back. It’s beyond my abilities and I doubt James could do it. I know. I’ll call Patrick. He’s a bit of whizz on computers.’

  ‘Patrick? He knows about computers?’

  ‘Course he does. He’s the company’s mainstay.’

  Fiona watched somewhat detached as her father phoned Patrick. She listened to his words and wondered. She’d been very cool with him when he’d been in London. She doubted he’d want to do anything to help.

  ‘He’ll be round after lunch. Anyway, talk me through some of it.’

  She’d barely started when James came into the office.

  ‘Hi, sis. Welcome back. You’ve surprised us all. Anything wrong?’

  ‘Course not. I thought I’d deliver my report in person. But it looks as if I’ve been hacked again. The whole computer is empty. Damned thing. And where’s Paula? She has some explaining to do.’

  ‘Ah yes. The gatepost that leapt into your car.’

  ‘That’s one way of putting it. Anyway, I’m starving. Anyone want a sandwich? If so, you’ll have to pay. My card’s useless and my cash is non-existent.’

  ‘No change there then,’ James teased her as he reached into his pocket for some money.

  Patrick arrived at two-thirty. He seemed polite as ever and asked what the problem was.

  ‘Can you leave me alone to look at it?’ he asked. ‘I need to concentrate, and, if you’re all watching me, I’ll never do it.’

  ‘Sure,’ her father said. ‘We’re very grateful to you. I hope you weren’t too busy?’

  ‘Not when it’s for you.’ He smiled at him and looked at Fiona with a strange expression on his face. ‘So you came back?’ he commented when the others had left.

  ‘Obviously.’

  ‘Going a bit too hot for you?’

  ‘I came back to make my report,’ she said for the umpteenth time.

  ‘I gather the lovely Melissa is no longer part of the company?’

  ‘No. Adam got rid of her. Or rather ... well her own father helped.’

  ‘And you left that wonderful apartment to return to Norminster. We should be proud of your self-sacrifice.’

  ‘How do you know about the apartment?’

  ‘You’d be surprised. Now, if you want your material to be returned, you need to leave me alone.’

  She left him in the office. She was thoughtful. Patrick intimated he knew about Melissa, and also the apartment. As far as she knew, the woman’s name had not been mentioned. And nor did he know, from her at least, that she was staying with Adam. She stood behind some rolls of fabric and watched him working. She saw him put in a memory stick and then sit back, presumably waiting, as it downloaded the contents of her laptop. Damn the man. He’d hacked her computer, she felt sure, and now he was downloading it all again. She went into the office.

  ‘What are you doing with that memory stick?’ she demanded.

  ‘It contains a programme to restore lost information. Once the programme is in there, I should be able to get your stuff back. Why did you ask?’

  ‘I was just wondering. Maybe I should get the programme myself. It sounds wonderful.’

  ‘Oh it is. Now go and leave me alone or I won’t get it back for you.’ He looked threatening and she left him. She went to look for her father.

  ‘Dad, how much do you trust Patrick?’ she challenged him.

  ‘He’s our accountant. Of course I trust him. Why?’

  ‘I suspect it’s him who’s been hacking my computer. And Adam’s too. He’s got a memory stick he’s loading into my machine. I actually think he’s just re-loading everything he took from it before.’

  ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. No, you’re wrong. Don’t get obsessed by this.’

  ‘He knows rather a lot about the company. Melissa and all.’

  ‘Who on earth is Melissa?’

  ‘Adams ex-partner. And he knows I was staying in Adam’s apartment. I certainly never told him. Did you?’

  ‘I haven’t seen him. Not since ... well, your birthday I suppose.’

  ‘And have you spoken to him?’

  ‘No, not at all.’

  ‘Did you know he came to London? We went out with him?’

  ‘No. I didn’t know anything about what he’s been doing.’

  ‘Then I think we know definitely who hacked the computer. The man who is busy restoring it right now. I need to call Adam.’

  ‘You’ll have to wait till Patrick’s finished if you want to use the phone.’ She smiled and patted her pocket. She took out her mobile and dialled his number.

  ‘Adam?’

  ‘Are you safely home?’

  ‘Yes thanks. Look the reason I’m calling. I suspect the hacker’s been uncovered.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I think Patrick is our mystery hacker. He’s currently restoring the stuff he took off my computer at some time between me leaving you and getting back here. He seems to know all about Melissa, and that I was staying at your apartment. I was careful not to say anything to him, and Dad didn’t even know who Melissa was anyway.’

  ‘Seems plausible. Do you think he’s actually been to her place?’ She was so carried away by her idea, she quite forgot his relationship with the woman.

  ‘I’m not sure, but I think so. He seems sort of ... I don’t know. Sort of threatening in a way.’

  ‘Take care, love. Don’t say anything to give yourself away. If she was less fierce, I may even go and tackle Melissa. It’s difficult. After yesterday ... oh well, I needn’t bother you with that.’

  ‘Bother me how?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t really want to talk about it.’

  ‘Adam? What are you saying to me?’

  ‘Nothing. Just be careful. I certainly will be careful with my computer from now on. Mind you, he’s tried to hack me again and couldn’t get past my latest passwords. You must put some on your machine. And warn your father. Take care, and, Fiona, please come back and stay with me. Bye now.’

  She switched her phone off and was thoughtful. Could it be she’d been wrong about him and Melissa? She wanted to think so, but ...

  ‘There you are. All done.’ Patrick came out of the office and smiled at her.

  ‘You’ve got it all back? Gosh, you’re very clever.’

  ‘I’m not sure everything’s back, but the report you mentioned is there. Plus lots of other stuff. You should be careful of leaving it active. Anyone can hack it with a small amount of knowledge.’

  ‘I see. I must be more careful then. I’ll tell Dad you’ve done it. Thank you very much, Patrick.’ She knew she was being sarcastic to him, but she really didn’t care. Nothing she had said could make him suspicious, or so she hoped.

  ‘Maybe we could have a drink one night?’ he asked.

  ‘Maybe we could.’

  ‘I’ll call you.’

  ‘Do that. N
ow, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to work.’

  ‘I must get back to my office too. Bye now.’

  ‘Goodbye Patrick. And thanks again.’

  Her father came over.

  ‘Patrick gone?’

  ‘He has. It’s all there now, if you want to read it. I’ll leave you with it, if that’s okay.’

  ‘Course it is. Where are you going?’

  ‘Home. I’ll walk there. I want to think. It’ll clear my head. Switch the laptop off when you’re done, and please, bring it home with you.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Fiona walked through the familiar town. Several people said hallo, and she responded automatically. She looked at the various shops, most of which were kept by local people who had known her since she was a child. It was all so comfortable and cosy. And definitely not for her.

  She thought about the past few days in her life. Living in London had been magical, but she had to realise, living with Adam the way she had, well it wasn’t entirely normal. As he’d pointed out, they had just been alone most of the time with no friends dropping in or coming for meals. She’d been cosseted and treated as something special. She had almost fallen in love with a fantasy, a good-looking guy who was trying to impress her. She had suffered a dose of reality yesterday, when he had come back from seeing the woman who had been his partner for a long time. No, she told herself, she’d had a near escape. She went into the house, calling out to her mother as she did, so she didn’t scare her.

  They enjoyed a family meal together that evening. She even forgave Paula for damaging her car, especially when her father said he was paying for the repairs. They laughed and joked the way they always had. Towards the end of the meal, her father asked them all to raise a toast.

  ‘To Fiona, who has produced a fine report, and who is going to lead our enterprise into the streets of London.’

  ‘Fiona,’ they said together, raising their glasses.

  ‘Thank you. All of you. I’m not too sure where I’m going to live but I expect to get a flat somewhere. I may go and take a look round soon, but, for now, it’s good to be home.’

  ‘And we’re delighted to have you home.’ Her Mum looked slightly teary. ‘I won’t say I’m pleased to be losing you, but it’s nice to know you’re going to do something I know you want to do.’