However, the reality of resigning meant that she needed to find a new job. Thank goodness she hadn't burnt all her bridges with the translation company. Boring as it was, translating electronic manuals and property contracts was a steady income. Mark had given her some money from the house sale which, although unexpected, he had insisted upon, and she had been grateful. It took the immediate financial pressure off her, but she was responsible for paying her own rent now and she needed to be careful.
Anna closed up the work box. Her phone charger wasn't in there. Where on earth had she put the blasted thing? She'd charged her phone Friday night, leaving it in the sitting room of her new flat, but couldn't remember seeing it since. She was beginning to think it must have been scooped up with the rubbish from unpacking some of the boxes. The rubbish that was now in the communal wheelie bin downstairs. She didn't relish the thought of searching through everyone's thrown out potato peelings, leftover curry and yucky nappies just to find her phone charger.
It was now Monday and her phone had been dead since Saturday night. Anna hadn't needed to make any calls and was working on the principle that if anyone wanted to get hold of her, they would either ring back, hopefully when she'd found her charger, or they'd ring Nathan, to get him to pass on a message. Failing that, they'd come round to the flat. She'd give it until tomorrow and if the charger still hadn't turned up, well, she couldn't face the neighbours' rubbish, so she'd just have to buy a new one.
Wandering into the kitchen, Anna opened the small cardboard box that she had left on the end of the worktop. In it were a few tins and packet sauces, pasta, and a few jars that needed putting away. Luke had packed this box for her, the last-minute clearing of the kitchen cupboards at Coach House Cottages. Without much enthusiasm, she began putting them away. A tin of baked beans, Heinz of course, packet cheese and broccoli pasta, handy in an emergency, a pot noodle, yuk. Throw that out. Luke liked them but no one else did. A tin of tuna, great for baked potatoes, peanut butter, crunchy, a jar of olives. Not just any jar, but the jar of olives that Tex had bought. Two weeks of an olive a day and she had to admit she was actually getting used to the taste. Couldn't say she liked them, not quite, but they weren't making her screw her nose up when she popped one in her mouth any more.
The familiar pang of loss poked its sharp fingers into her heart as a wave of sadness swamped her, the olives taking her back to that wonderful week at the ranch with Tex. Anna's grip on the jar tightened. She paused. Somewhere in the back of her mind a little voice of reason was trying to make itself heard. She ignored it and held the jar to her chest with one hand, the other hand on top of the lid, then closed her eyes and leaned back on the worktop, before sliding down to the floor in a heap, the tears racing each other down her face. This was as close to Tex as she could get. All that she had left of him.
After a few minutes the voice of reason was finally making itself heard. Yes, she must pull herself together. Banish all thoughts of Tex. She needed to look forward, not back. Still, she couldn't help herself kissing the lid of the jar before dropping it into the pedal bin.
Creek Cottage, that in the past had always brought Tex peace and contentment, seemed to have lost its magic. He'd been here since Monday, having caught a flight over straight after what turned out to be lunch with Jamie and Yvonne. Usually, once he was here, any worries or concerns seemed to pale into insignificance, but not this time.
He took his black coffee outside, sitting on the wooden steps that rose to the front door. It was another hot September evening, even though the sun was just starting to dip behind the trees. Tomorrow he'd ring the UK and check everything was running smoothly at both restaurants. He knew the Guildford one was able to operate extremely smoothly without him, but he had always been close on hand to the Arundel restaurant. This would be a real test. Bookings had steadied out now after the initial surge of opening and it was running according to the business projections, so that wasn't a worry for Tex. It was just whether the staff would rise to the challenge of keeping up the high standards. He had faith in his restaurant manager and, to be honest, there was not a lot he could do about it here in Brenham.
His mind turned to other things. Well, one other thing. A person. A person who seemed to be occupying his mind pretty much all the time. Anna. The feeling that he had a lead weight chained to his heart, dragging it down continually, had been with him for so long now he couldn't remember what it felt like to be carefree and happy. Maybe coming to home hadn't been a great idea after all. It just reminded him of the last time he was here with Anna.
‘Halle-bloody-lujah!’ cried Zoe. ‘You're a difficult one to get hold of.’
‘Could say the same about you,’ replied Anna, wedging her mobile between her chin and shoulder as she peeled an orange. ‘How are you feeling? Better?’
‘Better than what I was, but not exactly one hundred per cent. Having said that, a stomach bug does wonders for the old waistline.’
‘Poor you. I called round the other day.’ Anna dropped the peel into the bin and began breaking the orange up into individual segments. ‘You were fast asleep and your mum seemed to have everything under control, so I didn't stay.’
‘She's been an angel. Actually, Nathan has been pretty good too,’ said Zoe appreciatively. ‘I'm convinced it was something I ate at that anniversary party I went to at the weekend.’
‘Well, if there's anything you need, just give me a shout.’ Anna readjusted the phone that was threatening to slip from her shoulder.
‘Actually, I need to speak to you about something. I did try to get hold of you on Sunday but your phone went straight to voicemail.’
‘Oh yeah, I lost my charger. Had to buy a new one in the end,’ explained Anna. ‘It was quite nice in a funny sort of way, not being contactable. It was quite liberating. As soon as it was charged enough, I had Nathan ringing as he hadn't been able to get hold of me, then Mark, then work. All within an hour.’
‘Mark? What did he want?’
‘It's all right, don't sound so alarmed,’ chuckled Anna. ‘He was only seeing how I was.’
‘And Luke, is he okay?’
‘Yeah, he's great. Really enjoying it over there. Still it's early days. I miss him, but I'm pleased that he and Mark are at last having a proper father-son relationship. I think Luke felt a bit sorry for me. He asked me what I was doing, was I going out anywhere and had I seen Tex. A bit odd, but nice to know he's thinking of me.’ Rather awkwardly, with her phone still lodged in place, Anna rinsed the juice from the orange off her fingers. ‘Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about before we got sidetracked?’
‘Any chance you could pop over? I don't feel up to coming out just yet. Besides, there's nothing like your own bathroom when you're feeling rough.’
Good job he was on the end of the phone a few thousand miles away, otherwise Anna wasn't sure she would be responsible for her actions. Only Mark had the power to make her feel violent.
‘Anna, let me explain,’ said Mark.
‘Where have I heard that before? I know exactly what you were doing. How could you blackmail him?’
‘Anna, I’m sorry. I was desperate. Really desperate. I wasn’t thinking straight.’ He was practically pleading. ‘You know I’ve turned things around since then.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me Tex had the photos?’
‘He didn’t want you to know, and I didn’t want him to blab his mouth off about my business. See, me and him, we’re not that different after all.’
‘Never, ever, compare yourself to him.’ She almost spat the words out. ‘And what about the text message you sent?’
‘Message? What message?’
‘The one you sent Tex. That night Luke ended up in hospital. The one telling him I didn't want to see him anymore. Don't pretend you don't know anything about it.’
‘I honestly don't though. I certainly didn't send him a text. I mean, why would I?’
‘Oh, come off it, Mark, it's so your style.’
/> ‘Anna, listen to me.’ Mark sounded calm, not spiteful or vindictive like he usually did when he had been found out. ‘I did not send a text to him, not on your phone, not on my phone, or anyone's phone for that matter. Absolutely, categorically, did NOT send one.’
‘Well, if you didn't, then who did?’ Anna stopped pacing around the coffee table. Mark's calm and convincing voice was making her doubt the accusations she had just levied at him.
‘I don't know but it wasn't me. Promise. Hang on a minute. Luke, I'm just in the middle of a conversation with your mother. Why would I … ?’ Mark stopped and again Anna could hear him speaking to Luke. ‘Can't this wait, mate? I'm just … ’
She could hear Luke's voice in the background but couldn't make out what he was saying. More muffled voices as Mark must have put his hand over the mouthpiece. Then Mark’s voice was clear again. ‘Sorry Anna, Luke’s trying to tell me something. Hang on a sec.’ More indistinct dialect before Mark spoke to her again. ‘Err … Anna, you better speak to Luke.’
‘What? Now?’ Anna began. Couldn't it wait? She was in the middle of a dingdong with Mark and now he was handing her over to Luke.
‘Mum?’
‘Hi, Luke. You okay?’ She tried to sound upbeat.
‘Yeah, err, Mum?’
‘Yes?’ Anna waited but there was silence. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Erm, well, that message … to Tex … Dad didn't send it.’
It was a moment or two before Anna responded, totally thrown by Luke's comment. ‘It's all right Luke, you don't have to back your dad up. It's nothing to do with you,’ she said kindly.
‘But it is,’ mumbled Luke.
‘Ignore us. It's not a major row, honestly.’
‘No, Mum, you don't understand.’ He sounded quite upset. ‘It wasn't Dad who sent that text. It was .… me.’
Anna gulped. Luke? Luke sent the text? How ridiculous! Protecting his dad no doubt. ‘Please, there's no need to cover up for Dad.’
‘Mum! Listen! It was me. I sent it. I told Tex you didn't want to see him anymore.’ Luke's confession came gushing out faster than a split water balloon. ‘I wanted you and Dad to get back together. I thought if you weren't seeing Tex then Dad would stand a chance. You and Dad were arguing about him. I took your phone out of your bag when you went upstairs, and I sent a text to him. I was cross and angry. That's why I got drunk. I'm sorry.’
‘Oh Luke,’ sighed Anna. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Luke had sabotaged her relationship with Tex. Silly, silly boy. Stupid boy. Poor, desperate boy. Argh, she could throttle him!
‘That's not all. I changed Tex's number in your contact list. Just by one digit in the middle.’ Luke sounded suitably contrite. ‘I thought that way, you wouldn't notice the number was different, I mean, no one knows other people's mobile numbers off by heart, you just go by the name in the contact list. So if you sent another text to him, it wouldn't reach him and you'd never know.’
Anna closed her eyes and sunk down onto her sofa. So all her messages to Tex since that Saturday had just gone off to a random number. Tex hadn't received a single one of them. Oh God, what a mess.
‘I'm sorry, Mum. I forgot all about it until the other day when I spoke to you. Trouble was, I didn't know how to tell you. And then when I heard Dad just now, I knew I had to own up. Sorry.’
Anna had to force herself to speak civilly to him. ‘I can't actually believe you thought that was an okay thing to do. I am seriously peed off.’
‘I am sorry.’
Anna took a deep breath, no way could she condone what Luke had done, but she didn't really want to get into a transatlantic argument with him or end the call on a bad note. ‘Apology accepted. Now put your Dad on, I need to speak to him.’
Mark's voice came on the line. ‘Hi again.’
‘Sorry, Mark, I shouldn't have gone off on one like that, well, not about the text message anyway.’
‘Hey, that's okay. I would have assumed it was me too.’ There was a small silence before Mark spoke again. ‘I’m sorry about all the business with the photos. I was in a real bad place, both mentally and financially. I was desperate.’
‘I know that but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you. Yet.’
‘I know that too. Maybe one day you can,’ he said softly. Then, in an upbeat way, he added, ‘Anyway, what are you doing still on the phone? Haven’t you got a cowboy to track down?
Chapter Thirty Six
This was not achieving anything, sitting here moping. Anna's silence was shouting loud and clear. Tex's feeling of despair and helplessness had gradually morphed into anger and frustration over the week. Even his brothers were giving him a wide berth at the moment. Letting him get it out of his system, no doubt. If only it were that easy. He shouldn't have allowed himself to become so involved. Hadn't Jamie said at the start that Anna was complicated? Hadn't Jamie also said that the best way to get over her was to find a replacement? Perhaps that's what he needed: a no strings attached, uncomplicated, one-night stand. Maybe more than one even.
His mind almost instantly turned to Carrie, an old flame from his teenage days, part of their group that hung around high school together. Over the years the group had met up periodically with their girlfriends and boyfriends, who had later turned into their spouses, and then with their babies and children, all of whom were now grown up themselves. It was a nice, uncomplicated group of friends. Carrie had married Henry and, as it turned out, they had recently divorced. On hearing Tex was back in Brenham and alone, Carrie had wasted no time in calling by earlier in the week, making it perfectly clear that a night out, leading to a night in, a night in bed with Tex, which would involve very little sleeping, was something she was up for. And why not? He needed to get Anna out of his system and perhaps Jamie was right. Sex with someone else would be the answer. Who better than an old flame who was actually more his usual type – long brunette hair, tall and slim. Still very attractive for her age.
Yes, Carrie would do nicely.
In anticipation, Carrie had left her number scribbled on a piece of paper in the cottage. A quick call. Great. She was free tomorrow evening. He'd pick her up at seven and go into Brenham for a meal. Wine, dine, bed. Excellent.
Anna knew it would have saved time to just phone Jamie and Yvonne, but she decided that it would be harder for them to fob her off if she was there in person. She could even stage a sit-in in protest until they told her where Tex was. Anna was hoping to appeal to Yvonne, woman to woman. Jamie would be more likely to look out for Tex and not give too much away.
‘Anna!’ exclaimed Yvonne as she opened the door. She smiled. ‘Come on in.’
Anna followed her down the hall to the kitchen, wondering whether Yvonne had been half expecting her. She had sounded more pleased than surprised when greeting her.
‘Coffee? Now, is this a social visit or something to do with work? Did you want Jamie? He's about somewhere.’
‘No, not especially,’ said Anna, sitting down at the breakfast bar. ‘It's Tex I'm after actually.’ Ignoring Yvonne’s raised eyebrows, Anna continued. ‘Look, there's been a mix-up. I really need to find him. He's not in Arundel or Guildford and I don't know where else to try. No one at the restaurants will tell me anything, other than he is away for a few days. They don't know where or for how long.’
‘Have you tried ringing him?’
‘I don't have the right number. My contact list is messed up.’ Another raising of the eyebrows. Anna didn't have the time to explain about Luke's meddling, nor that she would have found out sooner had she bothered to ring back the unknown caller who had messaged her with a Who is this? No doubt whatever number Luke had changed Tex's to belonged to 'unknown caller'. At that moment Jamie came into the room.
‘Oh, Anna.’ He smiled. ‘You want your job back? Only I could really do with you. The clients are missing you.’
‘She's after Tex,’ explained Yvonne. Anna didn't miss the look that passed between husband and wife.
‘Right,’ replied Jamie nonchalantly. ‘Not your job then? Okay. Well, Tex, he's not here.’
‘Do you know where he is?’ asked Anna. She tried to keep the note of impatience out of her voice. ‘Or can you just give me his number?’
‘I can, but it won't do any good.’ Jamie let out a sigh. ‘Look, Anna, I'll be honest with you. Tex thought a lot of you. A heck of a lot. Didn't he, Yvonne?’
Yvonne nodded. ‘He adored you. Never seen him like that over anyone before.’
Jamie continued, as Anna, feeling guilty, fixed her gaze on her cup. ‘He's pretty cut up by everything. All this business with Mark and not divorcing him. One minute you're with Tex, the next with Mark. Or at least, that's how it appears.’
‘It's not like that, honestly. I know it sounds corny but it's all been a big mix-up. Please Jamie.’ She'd get down on her knees and beg if she had to. ‘That's why I need to see him, or at least speak to him so I can explain.’ She looked from Jamie to Yvonne and back again. ‘I love him.’
‘Oh, for God's sake, Jamie, give Anna his number or I will,’ said Yvonne.
‘Like I said, it won't do any good having his number,’ said Jamie. ‘He's not leaving his phone switched on. He's trying to have some time away from it all. He just checks in with work every couple of days and that's it.’
‘Where is he then?’ Christ, Jamie wasn't making this easy for her.
Jamie grinned. ‘Can't you guess?’
The relief that swept over Anna as Jamie finally revealed Tex's whereabouts was almost overwhelming. It was obvious really, if she had thought about it. Of course Tex would go to Moonshadow Meadows. Creek Corner to be exact. His retreat.
The Little Shop of Afternoon Delights Page 95