by Rhoda Baxter
Jane almost ran to the Ladies. She needed a moment of privacy to sort her thoughts. Susan's last comment had taken her by surprise. Had she said to believe Marsh and not Keith?
The only thing that pointed to Marsh telling the press was her assumption that no one else knew where they were going for dinner. What if that assumption was wrong?
Locking herself into a cubicle, she sat down on the closed lid and buried her face in her hands. Right now she didn't want to talk to anyone. The only person she really wanted to see was Marsh.
The intensity with which she missed him surprised her. It wasn't just that she missed his touch, she missed having him to talk to. In the few weeks she'd known him, she had been more comfortable than she'd thought possible. He had been more than just her lover. She had genuinely felt as though she'd met her soul mate.
Tears escaped and ran onto her fingers. She wanted to believe that Marsh was the man she'd fallen in love with, not the conniving weasel that Keith suggested. But did she want it badly enough to be made a fool of all over again?
She rubbed the tears away and took a deep breath. She couldn't fall apart at work. Standing, she dabbed away the last of her tears and straightened her jacket.
Jane had to pass Jim Edwards' office on the way to hers. Jim and Marsh were old friends. Had Marsh told Jim where he was taking her? Could Jim have inadvertently told the press?
Hope rose inside her chest. She backtracked a few steps.
Jim looked up when she entered. He didn't look surprised to see her. "How can I help you?"
Relieved that she didn't have to explain why she was there, Jane said, "Did Marsh tell you where we were going for dinner?"
"Yes, but I didn't tell the press, if that's what you mean."
He had a friendly, open face. She believed him. "I didn't think you would have."
"Are you okay? Do you...want to talk about it?"
For a moment, the genuine concern in his voice nearly undid Jane. There was something reassuring about Jim. Just as there had been with Marsh. Right now, she would like nothing better than to sink into a chair and let someone look after her. But this wasn't the time. She shook her head.
"Probably just as well," said Jim. "I couldn't have promised you confidentiality anyway. My wife would have tortured the information out of me."
Jane forced a smile. "She's a good friend of Marsh's, isn't she? He mentioned her."
"She's very protective of him," he said. "We both are. Listen, I won't tell you what to think about Marsh. If you didn't believe him, you won't believe me either. But I will tell you that you're wrong about Keith. You might want to talk to Val, or any of the other ladies in the office, about him and his past exploits."
Not knowing how to answer, Jane said, "Oh."
"And please believe that Marsh's feelings for you were genuine. He's as upset about the photo as you are."
"It didn't look like it on the night," said Jane. "He couldn't wait to leave the flat."
"That'll be because Stevie had been trying to call him all night to tell him that she'd split up with the boyfriend and was coming home. His phone was off, so she kept leaving messages." As though reading scepticism in her expression, he added, "I know, because she phoned us in the middle of the night too."
Stevie again. His sister seemed to be Marsh's alibi for everything.
Jim seemed to sense that there was nothing more to say. "Anyway, I'm sure you've got things to think about. If you do want to talk about it, or just hide, consider my office yours."
"Thanks." Jane took a step backwards. "I should go..."
On the way back to her office, Jane wondered whether she believed Jim. He was Marsh's best friend and could just be telling her what Marsh wanted her to hear. On the other hand, she found it hard to believe he would do that. She had liked him instinctively when she'd first met him. Just like she'd liked Marsh.
She felt a surge of sadness as she thought about her first meeting with Marsh, that tiny spark of interest had been the first sign that she was recovering from her experience with Ashby. Even in that brief conversation, when he was just a jogger who'd bumped into her, she'd liked him.
How could something that felt so right go so horribly wrong?
She thought back to her first impression of Keith. He had made her uneasy. She'd thought he was a shark. But over time his interactions with her had disarmed her and she had grown to like him. Maybe her first impression been the more accurate?
She paused outside Marsh's office. In the adjacent bay, Val had her headphones on and was typing up dictation notes. When she looked up, Jane turned to move on.
Suddenly, the image of Keith looking at something on Marsh's desk flashed into her mind. He had shut the desk diary as Jane walked in.
Marsh wrote everything down. He'd said so.
She practically ran into the office, which was in semi-darkness. The diary lay on the table where it always did. Jane went to it and started flicking through.
Someone switched on the lights. Jane looked up to see Val standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.
"Are you looking for something?" she said. "I have a pretty good idea of Marsh's filing methods, I can probably tell you where to look."
Jane ignored her. She had found the page. In neat letters, Marsh had written the time, the name of the restaurant, the phone number, "dinner with J" and "booked in the name of Winfield". If Keith had seen the page, he would have known exactly where they were going and when. "Keith knew."
"Knew what?" Val said. "That you were going out with Marsh? I hate to break it to you, but everyone knew that."
Ordinarily, the comment would have made Jane blush, but she was too excited to even notice at that moment. "No, he knew we'd be at the restaurant at that time." Her thoughts were tumbling over each other in their haste to be first. "So, he could have told the magazine. But why? Why would he do that?"
"Ah," said Val. "I think I might be able to help you with that. You... might want to sit down."
Jane lowered herself into Marsh's chair. It seemed strange to think that he sat in it day after day. The seat was uneven, as though it was moulded to fit his body. She waited expectantly.
Val appeared uncomfortable, but she quickly outlined the details of Keith's old bets with Eric and what she knew of the new bet. When she came to the end, she said "Are you okay? You've gone pale."
For the second time in forty-eight hours, Jane felt her world spin. Emotions wrestled each other and fury won. How dare Keith treat her like that?
Her first instincts about him had been right. He had engineered all the rest to fit his aim of bedding her before Marsh did. When he failed at that, he set about trying to sabotage their relationship, just to get at Marsh.
And it had worked. Not only had Jane done exactly what Keith expected her to do, but Marsh had responded by confronting Keith and got himself suspended from work, ruining his chances of becoming a partner.
"Poor Marsh. I was so awful to him. I'll call him. I must apologise."
"I think that would be a good idea," Val said, relief evident in her voice.
Jane got the impression that Val was rather protective of Marsh too.
Back in her office, Jane sank into her chair. Absent mindedly, she opened her email. That spam message was still there. She highlighted it and hit delete.
As the message disappeared, Jane's brain suddenly made a connection. Stevie. That was Marshall's sister's name. After a flash of panic, she retrieved it from her deleted items folder.
What she read made her cry.
Chapter 29
It took a few minutes for Jane to compose herself enough to phone Marsh. After all, what could she say to him? Sorry didn't even begin to cover how she felt. Her unfair accusation must have hurt him deeply. Polly was right. She was still hung up on what Ashby had done and was using it to sabotage her relationship with Marsh.
She ducked into an empty meeting room, took a deep breath and punched in Marsh's number. The call immediately went
to answer phone. "You've reached Marshall Winfield's mobile. Please leave your name and number and I'll call you back."
She stared at the phone for a moment. Just hearing his voice, even in the form of a recorded message, brought home to her the enormity of what she'd thrown away. Tears prickled at her eyes. She had to see him. As soon as possible.
Jane hurried back to his office, not quite running. "Val, do you have Marsh's number at the flat?"
"Sure." Val opened her drawer and pulled out a black notebook. "But he's not there."
"Where is he then?"
"He and Stevie have gone to Wales to see their Aunt," said Val. "Do you still want the number for the flat?"
"Um... Do you have a number for his aunt's place?"
"No, I'm afraid I don't. Have you tried his mobile?"
"It's off."
"You could see if Jim knows."
Jim was in a meeting, so Jane spent an agonising hour in her office, half-heartedly ordering papers for Susan and getting up every so often to see if Jim was back. Every moment of delay felt like an eternity. The longer Marsh went on believing that she didn't trust him, the worse things got. When she'd finally ordered the last paper, she emailed Polly.
* * * *
From: Jane Porter
To: Polly
I've really blown it this time!
I've figured out how Keith knew where we were going for dinner on Wednesday. You know how I said I couldn't think of a single motive for him to talk to the press. Well I was wrong. It turns out that he had some sort of bet with Eric in the regional office that he would sleep with me.
How sickening is that? I'm glad he's not here. I feel dirty just thinking about being in the same building as him. It's disgusting.
The really sickening thing is that, in a world full of unreliable, despicable men, I found one that was nice and I let him slip through my fingers. I'm such an idiot Pol. I wish I were dead.
##
From: Polly
To: Jane Porter
I told you Marsh seemed like a good guy!
So, you made a mistake. You were distraught and made a rash judgement. It happens. Why don't you call him and apologise. I'm sure he'll come round.
Hugs
Polly
##
From: Jane Porter
To: Polly
I tried to call him, but his mobile's off. Apparently, he's gone to visit his aunt in Wales. I'm hoping Jim will have contact details for the aunt, but he's been in a meeting for the last hour.
I'm going mad with impatience.
Jane
* * * *
The instant Jim was back in his office, Jane rushed over. "Do you have the phone number for Marsh's aunt's place?"
"Does this mean you've decided to believe him?"
"Yes, I want to apologise," said Jane, impatient to get on with it. "Val says he's gone to visit his aunt and you might have the number."
"I'm afraid I don't know it off hand. But I can ask my wife." He held up a finger. "Just a sec." He picked up the phone and started tapping in the number but then paused, frowned and put the receiver back. "I've just remembered she's on a school trip with the twins. Her phone's switched off. They must be inside the museum."
Her feelings must have shown on her face because Jim said, "I'm sorry. I'll try and think of any other information that might be useful. His aunt owns a B&B on a working farm. I can't remember what it was called but my wife..." He stopped, looked at his watch. "Oh, shit."
"What?"
"I'm supposed to be looking after my daughter this afternoon." He started shoving papers into his briefcase. "I'm sorry Jane, I've got to go. I promise I'll call if Lou or I think of anything, okay?"
"Okay." She turned to leave, her heart now sunk into her shoes.
"You could email him. He checks his email every night."
"Thanks. Have fun with your daughter." She couldn't wait until the evening to speak to Marsh.
* * * *
From: James Edwards
To: Louise Edwards
Do you have Marsh's aunty's phone number?
##
From: Louise Edwards
To: James Edwards
Why the hell would I have Marsh's aunt's phone number?
More importantly, DO YOU HAVE MOLLY?
##
From: James Edwards
To: Louise Edwards
Of course I have Molly. We're turning a cardboard box into a boat at the moment.
As if I'd forget to pick up my daughter. Lou, you wound me.
##
From: Louise Edwards
To: James Edwards
I'm sorry Jim. I should have more faith in you.
Marsh's aunt's B&B is somewhere near Abergavenny. Her name's Caroline, his name's Frank. The place probably has a website. Try Google.
Gotta go. I left the kids with a teacher while I popped to the loo. Best get back. They're having a great time, by the way. The dinosaur is a hit.
Lou
X X X
* * * *
From: Terence Wattley
To: The Senior Partners
In the light of Susan and Alison's investigation, it is recommended that both Marshall and Keith be allowed back to work with a warning. As it appears Keith has been reprimanded for something similar before, and considering he caused enough provocation to precipitate Marshall's actions, I suggest he is made to account for his actions before the partners' committee. I believe a written warning may be called for, at the very least.
As this matter is currently part of the company gossip, it is probably inadvisable to make Marshall a partner yet. I suggest we wait until the furore has died down and promote him following the next meeting.
We have decided to leave the decision on what to do about the trainee, Jane Porter, up to her supervisor--who, in this case, is Susan.
On a personal note, I just hope no one brings the company name up in the newspapers.
Terry
* * * *
Even though Jane did her best to concentrate on her work, she kept thinking about Marsh all afternoon. The memory of the hurt on his face just before he left her flat kept coming back to her. How could she have been so wrong?
It was late when Jim finally called. "Bad news, I'm afraid. We don't have a number for Marsh's aunt. All we know is that the B&B is near Abergavenny."
Jane scribbled down everything he said. "Do you know their surname?"
"No, sorry." There was a scream in the background. Jim said, "Just a minute sweetheart, Daddy's on the phone. I'm sorry we can't be more help. Like I said, you can always email him and ask him to call you."
"I'll see what I can find," said Jane. "Thanks for all your help."
"Glad to help. I hope you catch him." There was renewed screaming in the background. "I'd better go. Good luck."
The internet gave Jane three possible B&Bs in the right area, but she couldn't narrow it down any further. She wrote down the numbers for all of them and tapped the end of her pen on her notepad.
"You could try phoning the local tourist information office," suggested Ruth.
"They're not likely to know, are they? I don't have a surname for Caroline and Frank."
"How about just phone up and say 'Is Caroline there?' They'll say if it's a wrong number," said Val, who had come in with some files and was hovering.
Jane looked up, her mood suddenly lighter. "That's doable. I'll use the phone in Marsh's office, if that's okay. I need to concentrate."
Val had clearly been hoping to help. "Yes," she said, sounding disappointed. "I guess you'd want some privacy.
"
The first number she tried rang for ages, but no one answered. A woman answered her next call almost immediately.
"Is Caroline or Frank there please?" Jane crossed her fingers.
"I think you've got the wrong B&B, love."
"Oh, sorry to have bothered you." Jane hung up quickly and crossed the number off her list. She dialled the last one.
The phone rang and rang. Jane frowned. Honestly, you'd think they'd at least have an answerphone. Something simple like 'this is Caroline, leave a message' would have sufficed. She was about to hang up when someone picked up mid ring.
A man cleared his throat. "Hello...er...White Cottage B&B."
The sound of Marsh's voice struck Jane like a physical blow. She hadn't been expecting to hear it and suddenly, she found herself unable to speak.
"Hello?" said Marsh again. He gave a sigh. "They hung up," he said to someone in the background. A second later there was a click and he was gone.
Jane stared at the receiver in her hand. She was shaking. Slowly she cradled it and sank into the chair. Hearing Marsh's voice had driven home to her how much she wanted to see him.
All she had to do was dial the number again and talk to him, but somehow talking to him wasn't enough. She couldn't possibly apologise over the phone for the massive injustice she'd done him.
She had to see him. She wanted to see his face and gauge his mood. Her fingers curled round the armrest of his chair.
She needed to be able to touch him.
Chapter 30
It started to rain shortly before the train reached Jane's stop. By the time she got off, the water was being whipped sideways by the wind and running in ribbons off the station roof. Suddenly the journey seemed less like a good idea. The night was dark and cold, and she hadn't reserved anywhere to stay.
What if Marsh's aunt didn't have room in her B&B? Besides, if things didn't go well with Marsh, she wouldn't want to stay there anyway. Wouldn't it have been more sensible to phone up and talk to Marsh beforehand? Instead, she'd rushed headlong into the journey, without thinking about the consequences. Of course, if she'd followed her heart in the first place, she wouldn't be in this mess.