Deceit of Angels

by Julia Bell

  He took them from her, put them on his desk, then stood up and tucked her hand through his arm. “Never mind about those. Come with me. You too Anna.”

  Slightly bemused, Sharon allowed herself to be led across the hallway and into the kitchen, followed by the equally delighted Anna.

  The room seemed full of people. The table groaned under the weight of an elaborate buffet, Ben stood by the sink pouring out wine, while Mrs Wilby handed round the glasses. Everyone clapped and cheered as Sharon came in, her cheeks tinged scarlet with painful embarrassment at all the attention.

  Jason quickly introduced Anna to the guests. Many of the people from the village she already knew, but it was interesting to meet some of the personnel from the Bristol office. Then she noticed a tall woman with long, dark hair and large, brown eyes, the colour of melting chocolate. And she knew beyond any doubt that she was looking at Kiera Harrington.

  Jason gave a short speech, very much the usual words an employer would say when losing a special and valued employee. Sharon responded with a shy, quick ‘thank you’. It was obvious the whole occasion was too overwhelming for her and as she opened her presents, she wiped tears from her cheeks.

  Eventually, Anna found herself in Sharon’s company and felt the need to add her own sentiments to the occasion.

  “I know we’ll all miss you, especially me. You’ve been so patient this last week and a marvellous teacher. Thanks for everything.”

  “I think you’ve done very well. You’ve certainly picked it up quickly. All you need is more practice. Jason will look after you though. Oh dear! I didn’t realise how much I’d miss everyone.” Tears appeared in her eyes again and Anna squeezed her hand.

  “When are you getting married?”

  “At Christmas and I’m inviting everyone here, including you now you’re a member of the family.”

  Anna turned slightly and could see Jason and Kiera talking together. It was good to see that they were trying to remain friends and now and again Kiera’s warm laughter echoed across the room. But it was obvious that Jason was still hurting and seemed tense standing next to his wife. Suddenly he caught Anna’s eye and smiled. He took Kiera’s arm and guided her in Anna’s direction.

  “Anna, I’d like you to meet Kiera. Kiera this is Anna my new PA.”

  They shook hands.

  “I’ve been hearing a lot about you,” said Kiera giving Anna a friendly smile. Anna smiled too detecting the strong Canadian accent. “But let me give you some advice. Don’t let him bully you and never, never let him take you for granted.”

  “Oh, I don’t think he’d do that,” laughed Anna.

  “Well, not consciously. But he has a way about him and before you know it, you’re under his spell.” Jason gave an embarrassed cough and Kiera cast him an enigmatic smile.

  How sad, thought Anna, in better circumstances we could have been the best of friends.

  An Italian restaurant in Bristol was the venue for that evening and Anna finally met the financial director of Harrington Rhodes Shipping Agents. Graham Rhodes was tall and lean with greying hair and an almost military bearing and asked in a very concerned manner, if Anna was settling in OK. When she answered that she was, he impressed on her that she mustn’t be shy about phoning him if she had any problems when Jason was away. Anna answered him with a smile.

  But the smile faded when he began to question her about her financial plans. Did she own her own house back in Wakefield? Was she considering selling it and buying a house in this area? If so, he certainly knew the contacts that would give her a good deal. Anna began to feel uncomfortable, although she realised he wasn’t being nosy, just acutely interested in all matters financial. She stuttered a reply behind her glass of wine.

  Working for Jason was all Sharon said it would be and Anna found that each day seemed to get better. During her time in the office, she could forget that she was married; that an angry husband was sitting stewing at home. And there was no doubt that he was stewing. Every night she would turn on her phone and there were at least fifteen missed calls and texts waiting for her which she immediately deleted.

  Her sons had received her letter and after a few days, a short text arrived from Martyn saying that they would ring soon. She answered just as briefly, stating the time she would be alone in her room and they could talk in private. And when that call came one sunny evening, Anna had decided how she would deal with her sons. She would be firm but gentle and hope they were mature enough to understand.

  But one thing was certain, she refused to assassinate her husband’s character even though he deserved it. She was acutely aware that her boys loved their father and regarded him highly. His infidelities had been kept from them and Anna didn’t think it her place to tell them unless it was absolutely necessary.

  “You must ask your dad why I left,” she told her elder son. “He knows the reason why.”

  “But why can’t you tell us?” asked Martyn. As was the case on a mobile, he sounded a long way away and Anna’s heart ached that he wasn’t in the room with her.

  “If you don’t get a satisfactory answer from him then I’ll tell you.”

  There was a pause at the end of the line. “You won’t be home when we get back?”

  “No, I won’t. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I really wish I could be, but you’ll be fine. If you have any problems, your grandma is there to help and we’ll meet up when you get your results and go out and celebrate.”

  “It won’t be the same without you there.”

  Guilt tore through Anna. “I know, but I had to do this. And please, Martyn, don’t tell your dad where I am. I don’t want him to find me.”

  “OK. Chris wants to talk to you.”

  It was good to hear from her sons, but after the call, Anna felt slightly sick that she had done this terrible thing to them. Perhaps she should have waited until they had left for university? But this wonderful job had happened along and she had to grab her opportunity when it came. It might have been too late if she had waited until the boys had left home. She wouldn’t hurt them for the world and when she met them again, she would try and make up for it. Although how she would do that, she had no idea, how do you compensate children for breaking up their family? The house filling with noise and laughter interrupted her troubled thoughts. Jason had brought Hollie to stay for the weekend and for the next two days, there would be chaos.

  Hollie was the spitting image of her mother with long dark hair and the most beautiful big brown eyes. It was obvious that everyone doted on her and Anna soon realised why. She was a happy, contented child, but loved playing pranks on those she cared for. Anna found the charming nature of the little girl hard to ignore and was amused and secretly pleased when Hollie included her in her naughty pranks.

  One exceptionally hot Sunday in the middle of July, Anna came into the kitchen to be greeted by Mrs Wilby filling a large wicker hamper with all manner of fare; pies, sandwiches, containers of salad and flasks of coffee. Anna stared in bewilderment.

  “Oh, my dear!” gasped Mrs Wilby, rushing from cupboard to cupboard. “Could you get your own breakfast this morning? I’m so busy preparing for this picnic. Jason’s idea, with it being such a beautiful day. We’re just waiting for him to come back with Hollie then we’ll be on our way. Ben is bringing the car round in twenty minutes.”

  Anna poured herself some coffee. The thought of a picnic pleased her and she smiled as she watched Mrs Wilby scurrying around the kitchen. Jason arrived back with Hollie who bounded into the kitchen excited by the news they were going on a picnic. Within the hour Anna was sitting beside the fidgety little girl and Mrs Wilby in the back of the Mercedes, with Jason up front with Ben.

  “Where are we going?” Anna asked, trying to remember when she had last been on a picnic.

  “Oh, it’s our usual place,” said Hollie with a bright smile. “You’ll really like it. And we can play tennis. Can you play tennis, Anna?” Anna smiled and nodded.

  “It’s just in t
he foothills of the Mendips,” said Mrs Wilby. “Such a wonderful spot to have a day out. We often go there if the weather is fine. It doesn’t seem to matter what the season, the scenery is always so pretty.”

  They parked the car and climbed a small hill. Jason and Ben carried the hamper while Anna clutched a folding chair in one hand and with the other helped Mrs Wilby to puff and pant her way to the top. Hollie ran ahead looking for the best spot. The view was glorious. Spread before them were the meadows and woods of the valley, sparkling in the warm summer sun. Mrs Wilby made herself comfortable in the chair and after shuffling about, pulled out her knitting from a huge canvas bag.

  Hollie unzipped the racquets from their bag and Jason threw her the ball that he had tucked in his pocket.

  “Play tennis with me, Anna,” she said, pulling at Anna’s hand.

  “Hey! What about me?” shouted Jason.

  “No, Daddy! I want Anna to play. You hit the ball too hard and it goes down the hill.”

  Jason gave Anna a resigned smile and lay down on the rug, staring up into the vivid blue sky, his hands behind his head.

  Anna and Hollie started their game and in moments there were squeals of delight as they ran backwards and forwards. After a while, Hollie had had enough and went to join the others on the rug. Anna felt the need for solitude to put her thoughts in perspective. Making her way further along the hill, she finally reached a spot that was absolutely breathtaking. The peace and quiet seemed to ease her mind. Her sons were coming home in a few days and she had made plans to meet them. She hoped Dave would tell them the truth and not leave the terrible burden to her.

  “It’s lovely isn’t it?”

  Anna turned to find Jason standing behind her. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. You’re very lucky to live here.”

  Jason came to her side. “But you’re not far from the Yorkshire Dales or even the Lake District, surely?” he queried, frowning slightly.

  “Oh yes! But we...I mean.... I never seemed to have the time to go anywhere.”

  “I suppose you wouldn’t, with nursing your husband.”

  Anna tried to change the subject. “I’m having a wonderful time. Thank you for suggesting a picnic.”

  “I’m glad you came. All the way from Bristol, Hollie kept asking if you were coming with us. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to so I had to tell her so. She seemed very disappointed with the idea you might not come.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  “She’s very fond of you and that’s good considering the circumstances.”

  Anna paused for a moment before asking, “Is the divorce really definite? You seem so suited when you’re together.”

  Jason glanced away and then looked towards his daughter who was now making a daisy chain and insisting that Ben try it on.

  “Appearances can be deceptive. But we decided to stay amicable for Hollie’s sake. Kiera has settled down with…Well, she’s decided she wants to marry and who am I to stand in her way.”

  “It’s so sad.”

  Jason shrugged indifferently. “No, it’s just life.”

  Hollie called to say it was eating time and they joined her for the picnic.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The letter arrived for Anna two weeks later, when she felt at her happiest. The boys had returned home and she had managed to meet up with them. Elaine had brought them down and they had had a wonderful lunch together at a pizza restaurant in Bristol. They had talked endlessly of their trip to Romania with just a slight hint of worry about their impending exam results. Anna wasn’t surprised when they said they had decided to work for the rest of the summer.

  “Marks and Spencer’s have taken us on,” said Martyn, almost in amazement.

  Chris nodded. “We stack the shelves but I’ve been on check-out and I’m quite brilliant at it.”

  “The trouble is we can’t help spending what we earn. Working in a shopping centre like the Ridings is too tempting,” complained Martyn.

  There was uncomfortable silence until Anna asked, “Have you spoken to your dad?”

  The boys glanced at each other before Martyn replied. “We asked him why you had to move out and he said that there were problems in the past, but you were making a fuss over nothing.”

  Anna felt her blood boiling. “He said what!”

  Elaine reached out and squeezed her hand. “I told them what those problems were.” Anna looked at her in horror. “I felt it only right that they know and since Dave wasn’t going to deliver the goods, someone had to say something. They’re not children.”

  Anna sat back in her chair. “Well, now you know. So, what do you think?”

  Again Martyn answered for them both, his lip curling slightly. “We asked Dad if it was true and he admitted that ages ago he…” He looked at his brother. “We’ve decided to move in with Grandma. She said it would be OK.”

  “Yes, that might be for the best,” breathed Anna with relief. “She’ll look after you.” She gave a bright smile. “When you get your results, then we’ll meet up again to celebrate.”

  She didn’t want to think about her husband and her life in Wakefield so the rest of the meal was spent in telling them about how much she enjoyed her job, the wonderful atmosphere that permeated through the house in Bishop Sutton as the summer wove its magic. She had helped Jason plan the trips to the seaside with Hollie and organise the barbecues that were held in the garden and were presided over by Ben. Anna had watched with delight as he cooked the sausages and burgers over the flames, sporting the rather risqué apron depicting a nude man with a fig leaf over the necessary parts of his anatomy.

  Mrs Wilby was always busy in the kitchen, preparing salads and quiches, the mouth-watering smell of baking sausage rolls, bread and strawberry tarts sending enticing invitations around the house.

  At the end of the visit, Anna walked with her family to the car and after giving them all hugs, she watched with her heart in her mouth, as they drove away. Sadness stayed with her in the taxi back to Bishop Sutton and she was glad to arrive home and join the others for coffee in the kitchen.

  All the talk that afternoon was of their visit to the Grange, which was about ten miles away on the other side of the Mendip Hills. It seemed it was a tradition to spend a week each summer at the Grange with Jason and his mother and this year was very special since it was her seventieth birthday. She intended to hold a celebratory lunch followed by a party and everyone was invited, including Anna, much to her surprise. It was then that Jason remembered a letter had come for her.

  He had dropped it on her desk and after their coffee, both she and Jason went back into the office to finish off for the day.

  He nodded at the envelope. “It’s been re-directed from the main office.”

  She picked it up, immediately recognising Dave’s bold handwriting. A sharp intake of breath took her by surprise as her mind reeled in horror at the thought her husband had found her address. She knew Jason was watching her and she was well aware of why, since she had felt the colour drain from her face. She gave Jason a weak smile and murmured a ‘thank you’.

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” he asked rather bewildered.

  “It’s only from a…friend. It’s probably just full of gossip. I can read it later.”

  She went back to her work, but she could feel him watching her and she was conscious of her neck and face burning. For the first time since meeting him, she began to feel indignant and wished he wasn’t in the room.

  Anna slipped upstairs just before the evening meal. Locking herself in her bedroom, she opened the letter with trembling hands.

  Anna,

  I’m sure you’re going to be surprised as hell to get this letter, since you’ve never bothered to tell me where you are. I found out by accident. You left the info on the computer and I was very surprised to read it. What do you mean you’re a widow? Is that some way of saying you wish me dead?

  I know you’re angry with me, but I do
n’t think I deserve this from you. I don’t know what you’re talking about when you mention a redheaded woman. What redheaded woman? I think it’s just an excuse, as I won’t believe you went down there just for a job. I know there’s another bloke involved and if I ever get my hands on him then he’ll answer to me for his actions.

  Dave

  Anna held the letter in a limp hand as the enormity of its contents sank in. Leaving her CV on the computer wasn’t the problem, it was the changes she had made. She lay back on her bed as tears trickled into her hair, her thoughts and nerves a jangled mess at her husband’s threats. How could he accuse her of having someone else after the affairs he had had? But that would be so typical of him. One rule for him and one for her. Thank goodness she had left him and although she had probably lost her home, she didn’t really care. Her children and family were supporting her and that was all that mattered.

  Eventually, the tears subsided and she pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her memory returned to the day of the picnic. It had been a wonderful day and as her emotions became calmer, she wondered how her future would be. Divorce would be the next step, she supposed. It seemed that she and Jason would be going through similar experiences. Sniffing into a tissue, she remembered that Jason knew nothing of her husband, he still thought of her as a widow. She carried the letter to the wastepaper basket and crushed it into a tight ball before flinging it in. Feeling much better, she went to tidy herself up.

  In the kitchen, Anna ate her evening meal with the others. She guessed her eyes must still be a little red, since she had spent a good part of five minutes crying. But Ben and Mrs Wilby didn’t seem to notice and chatted away throughout the meal.

  Only Jason studied her, his eyes narrowed. “Well, Anna. Have you decided to come to the Grange with us?” he asked, as they finished their coffee.

  “What do you mean!” Mrs Wilby broke in sharply. “Of course she’s coming with us.”