by Shaun Hutson
‘Why did you want him to stop?’ Caroline said finally.
Hailey shrugged.
‘Maybe I wasn’t as mad at Rob as I thought I was,’ she muttered.
‘So where does that leave Adam?’
‘Who cares? I’m just grateful nothing happened. I shouldn’t even have had lunch with him. I suppose I got carried away. I wanted to show him how grateful I was for him finding Becky. It got out of hand.’
‘You can’t blame him, Hailey.’
‘I didn’t ask him to send me flowers – or ring me at work.’
‘You bitch,’ Caroline said, smiling. ‘You led him on and now you just want to drop him.’
‘I thought you would have understood,’ Hailey retorted, snatching up her coat.
‘No, I don’t.’
‘Look, if I sent out the wrong signals, then I’m sorry, but it’s too late now.’
‘Don’t you think you should be telling Adam this, not me?’
Hailey pulled on her coat.
‘I don’t want to speak to him again, Caroline. It’s as simple as that.’
‘You mean, as long as you can’t see him, you can’t be tempted.’
Hailey headed for the sitting room.
Caroline heard her calling to Becky.
‘Just because Rob was stupid doesn’t mean I have to be too,’ Hailey announced.
‘At least have the decency to return his calls, Hailey. Put the poor sod out of his misery. He only wants to speak to you. Where’s the harm in that?’
Hailey didn’t answer.
‘Thanks for picking Becky up,’ she said brusquely, ushering her daughter towards the front door.
‘’Bye, Auntie Caroline,’ Becky called as she left the house, wandering towards the waiting Astra.
‘See you soon, darling,’ Caroline called after her. Then, to Hailey: ‘Speak to him. You owe him that, at least.’
Hailey hesitated a moment, then headed towards the car.
Caroline stood at the door as the Astra pulled away.
52
THE EVENING HAD passed in relative silence since Rob had taken Becky up to bed.
He and Hailey had barely exchanged ten words. Both of them seemed enveloped by a feeling of weariness. As if each was carrying some crushing weight on their very soul. They sat staring blankly at the television, watching a film both of them had seen before, but which neither seemed willing to switch off.
They had exchanged the usual small talk over the dinner table. Anxious to perpetuate in front of Becky the façade that all was still well between them.
As the credits began to roll, Hailey stretched out her legs before her and glanced across at Rob, who was slumped in the chair, almost asleep.
He stirred, aware of her gaze.
‘It wasn’t much good the first time, was it?’ he said, nodding towards the screen.
Hailey smiled and shook her head.
‘Do you fancy a coffee?’ she wanted to know.
‘If you’re making one.’
She got to her feet and headed for the sitting-room door.
Rob caught her hand and held it.
‘Hailey?’
He looked up at her.
‘I sacked Sandy today,’ he said flatly.
Hailey held his gaze.
‘She’s finished at BG Trucks,’ he continued. ‘You were right. I should have done that at the beginning.’
‘Why now?’ she asked, kneeling beside his chair, still holding his hand.
‘I wanted to do it. I didn’t want her around any more.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Does it matter? She’s gone. That’s the most important thing. I thought you’d be pleased.’
‘I am. I just wish you’d done it earlier.’
He nodded. ‘So do I.’
She thought how calm his voice was: no confrontational edge to it. He just seemed so tired.
‘Why did you sack her now if you wouldn’t do it when your affair ended?’ she enquired.
‘She kept on saying she thought there was still a chance for us. She still wanted me.’
The way you wanted Adam Walker?
‘Do you still want her?’
‘I never did. I would never have left you and Becky for her. You know that.’
‘What was it, Rob? Didn’t you want the temptation around any more?’
‘You’ve got what you wanted, Hailey. Can’t you just leave it at that?’
‘I wanted her to go, Rob. But are you sure you did?’
‘Very sure.’
‘What did Frank say about it?’
‘Not much. He understood why she had to go.’
She reached out and touched his cheek. ‘Promise me you’ll never see her again,’ she whispered.
‘Hailey . . .’
‘Promise me.’
He looked directly at her. ‘I’ll never see her again,’ he murmured.
She got to her feet and kissed him gently on the top of the head.
‘I’ll make the coffee,’ she said quietly.
He heard the sitting-room door close behind her.
Feel better for that? Conscience not pricking quite so badly now?
Rob prepared for the weight to lift from his shoulders.
It didn’t.
53
FUCKING BASTARD.
Lousy, gutless, fucking bastard, thought Sandy Bennett.
She wondered what he was doing now. Sitting playing happy families with his wife and kid, no doubt.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
She exhaled deeply and padded through the small flat to the kitchen, where she found a can of Diet Coke. She’d been toying with idea of getting drunk: downing enough vodka to blot out his memory, at least on a temporary basis.
Instead she’d taken a bath, sitting in the warm, soapy water for what seemed like hours. Thinking about her life – about Rob Gibson.
Bastard.
What was she meant to do now? She didn’t care about losing her job. She knew she’d find another without too much trouble. No, it wasn’t that which preyed on her thoughts. It was the way he had discarded her.
She managed a smile as she wondered if his child had a rabbit. Perhaps she should boil it . . . throw acid over his car.
If it was good enough for Glenn Close, then . . .
She laughed out loud. Actually laughed.
No. She wouldn’t do that. Nothing like it. She wouldn’t cut her wrists, then call him. She wouldn’t attack him. She wouldn’t pretend she was pregnant.
Nothing like that.
She did, however, feel that it might be worth pursuing a claim for unfair dismissal. She made a mental note to visit the Citizens’ Advice Bureau the following morning. First there, and then the temping agency which had found her the job at BG Trucks in the first place.
The mortgage on her flat wasn’t exorbitant and she was confident enough of her own ability to secure a new job before a problem with finances even arose.
She wandered back into the living room, switched off the TV and reached for the remote that controlled the small CD system.
She skipped through tracks, avoiding any that were slow and moody.
Sandy wasn’t in the mood for crying. It was anger she felt, not desperation.
She adjusted the volume on the CD and reached for the discarded copy of Elle that lay on the floor beside the sofa. Sipping her Diet Coke straight from the can, she found her page.
At first she didn’t hear the knock on the door.
She looked up and shook her head gently, then continued reading.
Again the knock, more insistent this time.
She frowned and glanced across at the clock on the video: 22.17 p.m.
Sandy sighed.
She hoped it wasn’t that miserable old bastard from the flat below to complain about the music. Christ, it was barely audible.
She got to her feet and headed for the front door.
Rob?
A smile flashed across h
er face. Had he changed his mind?
Had he come to tell her that there was a future for them? That she could have her job back? That he’d been too hasty?
She ran a hand through her hair as she reached for the chain and slipped it into place, before gently easing the door open.
Her smile faded rapidly.
‘My God,’ she whispered, gazing at her visitor. She removed the chain, opening the door, ushering the newcomer inside. ‘Well, you’d better come in,’ she insisted. ‘You can’t stand there all night. What the hell are you doing here?’
‘That’s a nice way to greet your brother,’ said David Layton.
54
THE FLOWERS HAD arrived around two that afternoon. A huge bouquet of mixed blooms.
Hailey hadn’t even needed to look at the card.
He’d phoned four times that day, on each occasion leaving a message with Hailey’s secretary.
Would she please ring him back?
Please?
Hailey got to her feet and wandered across to the window, gazing out.
The sky threatened rain. Large banks of grey cloud were gathering menacingly.
‘Speak to him. You owe him that, at least.’
He’d get the message, surely. A day or two more and the calls would stop.
Wouldn’t they?
She tried to push thoughts of Adam Walker out of her mind. There were more important things to concern her.
She looked across at the bouquet.
She’d give them to Emma. Let her secretary take them home.
‘At least have the decency to return his calls.’
Hailey tried to concentrate on work. Just as she’d been trying to do since arriving at the office.
She’d spoken to someone from Nicholas Barber’s office. It seemed the local MP was looking forward to the charity bash in honour of SuperSounds’ anniversary. The organization for it was coming along well: everything seemed to be falling into place with relative ease. Hailey was glad that she clearly hadn’t lost her touch.
Not your touch – just your nerve perhaps?
What harm could it do to speak to Walker? The next time he rang, just take the call. Tell him that things had got out of control and ask him not to call again. What could be simpler?
She wondered what Rob would say if he ever found out about her liaison with Walker.
About the kissing . . . the sex?
No, it didn’t count. It hadn’t been sex. Not full sex. That made it OK, didn’t it?
She ran a hand through her hair.
What was it if it wasn’t sex? His tongue between your legs. His expert touch bringing you so close to that supreme pleasure.
Hailey turned away from the window, crossed to her desk and snatched up her jacket.
It was time to go. Time to pick up Becky. Time to get home to wait for her husband.
The phone rang.
For interminable seconds she stared at it, the breath frozen in her throat.
If it’s Walker, then speak to him.
Still it rang. Hailey gazed at it as if it were some kind of venomous reptile.
She reached for the receiver, noticing that her hand was quivering slightly.
This is bloody ridiculous.
‘Hello,’ she said, her voice a little stern.
‘Mrs Gibson, I’ve got Trudi on the line, from Water-hole’s press office,’ Emma Grogan told her.
Hailey relaxed.
‘Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow, Emma,’ Hailey said and put down the receiver.
Thank God. Now get out of the office before he does call.
She breezed through the outer office, waving a goodbye to Emma, who was still on the line to Trudi. The secretary smiled and returned her wave. Then she cupped her hand over the mouthpiece.
‘Do you want me to put those flowers in water for you?’ she said, hooking a thumb in the direction of the office.
‘You take them home if you want to,’ Hailey told her.
Emma’s face lit up. ‘Thanks,’ she said happily, and returned to her conversation with Trudi.
Hailey was already on her way to the lift.
55
SHE NEVER NOTICED him.
Only heard his voice at the last minute. Just as he reached out towards her.
Hailey spun round, startled as she heard Adam Walker close by.
‘Hailey,’ he said quietly.
She turned to face him.
He managed a smile. It looked almost apologetic.
‘I had to see you,’ he said. ‘I wanted to speak to you.’
She didn’t answer, merely stood there, the keys to the Astra still in her hand.
‘Did you get my flowers?’ he asked.
She nodded.
Silence.
Awkward, unwieldy silence.
They were like two strangers. Two people who had just met and were struggling for words.
Hailey knew she couldn’t ignore him this time. Not face to face.
‘I’ve tried calling you,’ he said. ‘I left messages with your secretary. I just assumed she hadn’t passed them to you.’
‘I’ve been busy,’ she told him.
‘I know that. I know you’re busy. I just wanted to make sure you got the flowers. I couldn’t call you at home. I wouldn’t want your husband to get the wrong idea.’ He shrugged.
Another silence.
They both began to speak simultaneously.
‘Go on,’ he said, smiling.
‘Adam, I don’t know what to say to you,’ she muttered, every word a struggle.
‘Look . . . what happened at my house the other day. I’m sorry, I—’
She cut him short.
‘Yes, I’m sorry too. I think things got out of hand.’ She was fiddling nervously with her car keys. ‘I should never have got myself into that situation.’
He nodded.
‘We all make mistakes,’ he said, the understanding tone in his voice not helping her.
‘I think it would be best if you didn’t ring me again,’ Hailey said flatly.
He looked bemused.
‘And no more flowers, eh?’ she continued.
‘But I just wanted to say sorry. To check how you were,’ he protested. ‘I didn’t want to embarrass you.’
‘I think you got the wrong message at your place.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘What happened, or nearly happened, between us, it shouldn’t have done.’
‘You said you wanted it.’
‘You picked up the wrong signals.’
‘Do you blame me? You asked me to take you back to my house. I didn’t suggest it.’
‘Let’s just leave it, Adam,’ she snapped, turning towards her car and sliding the key into the door.
‘Hailey, I’m sorry if I’ve done anything wrong.’
‘Don’t call me again, please.’
‘Why are you being so hostile? You were the one who started it.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘You invited me for lunch. You were the one who asked to go back to my house. You led me on.’
‘I asked you to have lunch with me in the first place to say thanks for finding Becky. That was all. The rest of it should never have happened.’
‘Nothing did happen,’ he reminded her.
‘Look, Adam, if I didn’t do the job I did, you wouldn’t want to know me anyway.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘You couldn’t make it as an artist, so you thought I could give you some help. You asked me to show some of your work to Waterhole.’
‘You volunteered to do that. I never asked you.’
‘You didn’t want me,’ she said scathingly. ‘You wanted what I could give you.’
‘That’s not true and you know it.’
‘Do I? I don’t know you, Adam. How do I know you didn’t have some ulterior motive for wanting to get close to me?’
‘I can’t believe you’re saying this. I found your little
girl, and I brought her back to you. I didn’t know what you did for a living that day. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter then, and it doesn’t matter now. That day I saw a little girl who was lost and frightened and in danger, and I helped her. I didn’t expect a reward for finding her and bringing her back to you. I just did what any decent person would have done.’
‘And I thanked you for it.’
‘I appreciate that. You bought me lunch. You didn’t have to – it was very kind. I thought we were becoming friends. And that’s all.’
‘So you’re trying to tell me you never wanted anything else? You didn’t want to sleep with me?’
‘Hailey, you’re a very attractive woman. I’d have to be stupid not to want to sleep with you. But that wasn’t why I wanted to get to know you.’
‘You knew I was married.’
‘And you were the one who told me you were unhappy. You told me your husband had had an affair. You told me all the details of your life, and all I did was listen.’
‘I’ve got to go,’ she said sharply, pulling open the driver’s door.
‘At least take this,’ he said, and she could see that he was holding something fairly large and square in his hand.
It was the portrait of Becky.
‘I can’t,’ she said flatly.
‘Please, Hailey. Take it for Becky. I did it for her.’
She slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
‘Don’t call me again, Adam,’ she snapped.
‘The painting,’ he insisted.
‘You keep it.’
‘What have I done that was so wrong?’ he wanted to know.
He grasped the door, as if to open it.
She glared at him and he withdrew his hand quickly.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘But please take this.’ Again he pushed the painting towards her.
She shook her head.
He smiled thinly. ‘OK, then,’ he said quietly. ‘Say hello to Becky for me, will you?’
No answer.
‘Hailey. I promise I’ll still remember you, even when I’m famous,’ he offered, his smile fading. He swallowed hard.
‘Goodbye, Adam,’ she said, looking at him briefly.
He opened his mouth to respond, but then realized it was pointless. He took a step back as she guided the car away from him.
‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured as it moved further away.
Hailey glanced in her rear-view mirror, and saw him trudging back towards his own car.