by Julia Bell
“Now, now, Mrs Wilby. Let’s not jump to any conclusions. Anna is new to the job and she might have made her own plans. After all, she has got family in Wakefield.” He turned to her. “If you want to spend a few days with your sons, then it’s OK by me.”
Jason’s voice had been gentle, almost comforting and as she searched his expression, her mind raced with the thought of telling him about her husband. But then he might react badly when he discovered her lie and would be disgusted with her. He had already gone through so much with Kiera’s betrayal and he surely wouldn’t tolerate an employee’s deceit. Would he sack her? But worse than that, much worse than that, was the humiliation she would feel when his eyes told her he was disappointed and hurt by her deception. She knew he regarded her highly and she couldn’t bear the thought that his respect would disappear with one swift blow.
Anna licked her lips and tried to answer calmly. “I thought I might go back up to Wakefield, to visit my boys when they get their exam results.”
“Well, if that’s what you want to do, then you must do it,” said Jason.
She scrutinised their faces for reassurance and found it. She turned to Jason. “But that’s not until mid-August and there would be no problem seeing your home and meeting your mother before that, if you don’t mind me coming.”
“Great!” said Ben.
Anna tried to read Jason’s expression, but all she saw was his wonderful smile.
“It’ll be lovely us all going there together,” said Mrs Wilby. Turning to Anna she added, “I hope you’ve got a posh frock for the birthday dance!”
Anna almost choked on her coffee. “Birthday dance?”
Jason gave a chuckle. “Remember? The dance my mother is holding at the Grange.”
“Well, I’ve got a few nice evening dresses but they’re back in Wakefield,” said Anna.
“They’re no good there, my dear,” laughed Mrs Wilby.
“I didn’t think to bring anything formal,” said Anna pulling a face.
“Well, it’s the one time we can all get dressed up,” said Mrs Wilby.
“Oh dear, then I suppose my clogs and shawl will be out of the question.”
Jason and Ben exchanged amused glances.
“Not to worry,” said Mrs Wilby. “We’ll go into Bristol tomorrow and spend some time shopping. I do love shopping.”
Back in her room, Anna tipped out the rubbish from the wastepaper basket and found the crumpled letter. She smoothed it out and read it again, anger pouring from her as the words stung her once more. And then she decided to destroy it, after all, she couldn’t let Mrs Thompson find it and burning it would make her feel better. Anna made her way down to the kitchen. There was no one about since Mrs Wilby always took herself off to the lounge to watch telly after their evening meal and Ben was working in the garden.
She stooped down and took an ashtray from the cupboard. Putting the ashtray in the sink, she dropped the letter in the base, collected the matches and set fire to it. As the orange flame consumed each part, she felt purged from all the pain.
Anna smiled as she rinsed the black flaky scraps down the plug-hole.
“Good riddance to you,” she said, grinning. It was then she heard the high pitched wailing noise coming from the left-hand side of the kitchen. At first she looked up in bewilderment at the round, cream coloured box, situated to one side of the cooker and then realisation dawned on her. “Oh, bugger!” she said and looked towards the hallway knowing that Jason would be able to hear the smoke alarm in the office.
Anna dragged a chair across the floor and jumped up onto it, grabbing the folded newspaper from the work surface and using it to cause a draught.
Jason burst in at the door. He glanced around the kitchen and then at Anna. “What are you doing?” he shouted, trying to make himself heard above the din.
Anna suspended her actions and stared down at him. She could barely hear him. “This stupid alarm went off. I’m trying to stop it,” she shouted back.
Suddenly the alarm did stop and a wonderful silence filled the room. Anna stayed up on the chair wondering how she was going to get out of this one. Jason strode across the floor and helped her down.
“And why was the alarm going off?” he said. Anna shrugged her shoulders and pressed her lips together in a non-committal grimace. Jason glanced around the kitchen. “Something has been burning, I can smell it. What on earth have you been doing?”
“It must have been the toast I made myself. Never was any good at cooking.” She began to feel silly.
He narrowed his eyes. “Toast! But we’ve just had dinner.” He moved the chair back to its place and spotted the ashtray in the sink. “What’s this doing here?”
“Mrs Thompson must have left it there until she had time to wash it,” said Anna, her mouth drying somewhat.
“Who would have used one today? No one’s been to the house.”
Anna thought rapidly. “Must be Ben’s.”
“I don’t think so. Ben can only smoke outside or in his room and he has to clean his own ashtrays.”
Anna thought again. “Mr Tyler came yesterday. I remember having to get him one. I must have forgotten to take it out of the office and Mrs Thompson probably found it this morning when she came to clean.” Jason was about to make another comment when Anna said hurriedly, “I think I’ll go for a walk, unless you want me to do anything for you?”
Jason didn’t answer so she decided to make her escape.
As she turned to go, he caught her by the arm and put his hands on her shoulders. “Anna, I hope you regard me as your friend as well as your employer.”
“Of course I do. You’re a very kind and generous man and I’ve enjoyed working for you.”
“Oh! A very kind and generous man. Is that how you think of me?”
“Well, yes. Also considerate and pleasant and...”
“Very nice into the bargain! How boring,” he interrupted her. “Look Anna, I know lying is sometimes necessary, I’ve been in business long enough to know that. But what I want to know is why are you lying about the ashtray?”
Anna felt the colour rush to her face and she gulped down a large lump in her throat. “What do you mean?”
He paused for a few seconds. When he answered he spoke gently, as though he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “You were right, Mr Tyler did come to see me yesterday and he has smoked heavily for years. However, I happen to know he’s under strict instructions from the doctor to give it up. So, yesterday he didn’t smoke for the whole two hours he was with me.” Tears were stinging Anna’s eyes, but she shook them away. Jason pressed home his argument. “What I’m trying to say, is that I know you were burning something and a good guess would be the letter that came this morning. Now I don’t understand why you would want to burn a letter, unless it’s caused you a great deal of pain. As a friend, I’d like you to know that I’m here, if you have a problem you would like to talk about. We think of ourselves as a family, Anna. That means we care for each other.”
“I know. And thanks for the offer, but, honestly, there isn’t anything that needs talking over.” He gave a sigh and dropped his hands from her shoulders. “I’ll go for that walk now, if you don’t mind.”
After she had left, Jason stood in the kitchen for a few minutes longer, deep in thought. He looked up at the smoke detector. “Toast, indeed! But we shall see. We shall see.”
The walk to the village took ten minutes, but for Anna it seemed like a few seconds as her mind spun with her tumbled thoughts. She must be careful in the future, otherwise Jason would become suspicious that she was hiding something. Perhaps he already was? She heard the hooting of a car horn and turned her head to look, surprised and delighted when she saw Kiera sitting in her car on the far side of the road.
She ran across and Kiera opened the passenger door. “Jump in. I’ll give you a lift home.”
“Is everything OK?” asked Anna, sliding into the seat and buckling her belt.
Kiera visited the house on
ly when she came to collect Hollie and Anna had got into the habit of sitting in the kitchen with her while she waited. Hollie always left it to the last moment to collect her things together so there was ample opportunity for a chat. Anna found Kiera a fascinating person and was bowled over by her stories about her childhood in Canada, her education at Berkeley College in California and the year she had backpacked around the world with three friends. In contrast, Anna’s life seemed very domestic.
“I’ve come to see Jason,” said Kiera. “To talk about the divorce.”
Anna glanced at her and noticed her features turn grey, her eyes become even darker. It must be an awful business going through a divorce, thought Anna grimly. She wondered what her experience would be if she and Dave ever divorced. She knew it might be worse, since Dave could be very vindictive when he wanted to. For a terrible brief moment she really wished she were a widow.
But then sanity returned and she dismissed the thought from her mind. “Is Hollie looking forward to visiting tomorrow? Jason is thinking of taking her to the zoo,” said Anna, smiling.
Kiera paused for a brief moment before answering. “Actually, she’s gone there today.” Seeing Anna’s expression she gave a gentle chuckle. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Jason will find somewhere else to take her.”
They had arrived at the front of the house and Kiera parked the car. They decided to walk round the back since Anna knew that Mrs Wilby would have the kitchen door open and it made for a much easier access. As they entered the garden they saw Ben engrossed in putting a coat of creosote on the fence. His expression showed surprise when he saw Kiera, but he waved his arm in a warm welcome.
Mrs Wilby was just putting some maids of honour in the oven in readiness for Hollie’s visit and was equally taken aback as the two women stepped over the threshold.
“Kiera’s here to see Jason,” explained Anna.
“He’s still in the office,” said Mrs Wilby. “Would you both like some coffee? Or there’s cold drinks in the fridge.”
They declined the offer and Kiera followed Anna through the hallway and into the office. Jason was on the phone as they entered and his flow of conversation abruptly stopped at Kiera’s entrance.
Making a polite excuse to the person at the end of the phone, he replaced the receiver. “This is an unexpected visit,” he said dryly.
Anna wasn’t sure if he was pleased or angry, but she didn’t wait to find out. Closing the door behind her, she made her way back to the kitchen.
“Well, I’d like to be a fly on the wall in there,” said Mrs Wilby, laughing.
CHAPTER FOUR
Jason felt irritated. There was no reason for Kiera to visit him like this, their solicitors were in negotiations and everything would be sorted out in due course.
“Would you like to sit down?” he said quietly.
She took a seat opposite him and realised with some amusement that he preferred to stay behind his desk. How typical, she thought, he has to stay in control, as though he was still the boss.
“I’ve come to discuss the divorce settlement and I want to…”
Jason didn’t let her finish. “For goodness sake! Did you have to drive all the way from Bristol to talk about that? We’ve already discussed the terms and I’ve instructed my solicitor. You should hear…”
This time it was Kiera’s turn to interrupt. “You don’t have to jump down my throat! Anyway, I don’t want your damned money!”
He sat forward in surprise. “What on earth are you talking about? What are you going to live on if you don’t accept the settlement?” Suddenly he realised. “Oh, I understand. Peter wants to look after you. Well, good for him! However, I would like to support my own daughter, if you don’t mind.”
Kiera looked down at her hands clenched together on her lap. “Of course you must support Hollie,” she said softly.
Jason let out an exasperated breath. “OK, if that’s the way you want it, I’ll tell my solicitor that the arrangements have changed.” He watched his wife curiously for a few seconds before asking, “I suppose you and Peter will marry as soon as the divorce goes through?”
Kiera looked up and he was stunned to see large tears brim from her eyes and roll slowly down her cheeks.
“Peter’s gone back to his wife,” she said almost in a whisper.
At first Jason felt elation but then realised that that was unworthy of him.
“I see,” he said. He puzzled for a moment. “I don’t understand. Then you’ll need the money. Unless you’re thinking of going back to work full-time?”
He knew that Kiera had found herself a part-time job as an accountant at a building society, but he couldn’t imagine that she was earning enough money to keep herself in the manner she liked.
“No, I’m not thinking of going back full-time. In fact, I’m contemplating giving up work altogether.”
Jason shook his head in bewilderment. “What’s this all about, Kiera? Why have you come to see me? Do you want sympathy for the way Peter has treated you? Well, I am sorry but I can’t do anything about that.”
“Jason, I’m ill and I might die.” Her voice was almost inaudible, but he heard.
It was as if her statement had hit him physically and he jerked back in his chair.
“What…?”
She gave a faint smile. “I’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumour. It’s inoperable, so they’re going to try alternative treatment.”
She said it in such a matter-of-fact way that at first, he found it difficult to speak. After a couple of stunned seconds he rose slowly from his chair. Taking another one from its place by the wall, he dragged it across the carpet and came to sit closer to her.
He leaned forward and took her hands in his. “I’m so very, very sorry,” he said gently.
She looked down at his hands closed round hers. “It’s a long time since you’ve held my hand.”
“Well, I think the occasion demands it.”
She let out a breath. “We need to talk about Hollie. I have to go into hospital on Monday to start treatment. I thought that she could come to stay with you while I’m there? Perhaps she could stay from tomorrow?”
“Of course she can stay,” he said and then added quietly. “Does she know?”
“She knows I’ve been sick, but I thought I’d tell her on a need to know basis. It might be easier for her to understand that way. She’s broken up for the summer holidays but there’s still Brownies and her ballet classes.”
“I can sort that out. What about your parents?”
She gave a bright smile. “They arrived yesterday. They’ve taken her to the zoo today. They wanted to look after her themselves but Dad’s health isn’t brilliant and I don’t think he could cope...with everything.”
“Well, it’ll be no problem for her to stay with me.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t be silly. She’s my daughter.” He squeezed her fingers. “I hope you don’t mind me saying it but I think Peter has picked one hell of a time to leave you.”
She gave an ironic laugh. “It was my illness that drove him away. It frightened him witless.” She glanced down at his hands still gripping hers. “Isn’t it strange, the events that bring out a person’s true nature.”
After Kiera had left, Jason told the others everything that had happened in his office. Anna didn’t take her eyes from his face the entire time, Ben stared down at the table and Mrs Wilby was unable to focus on anything except to dab at the corner of her eyes with a lace hanky. At the conclusion, Jason suggested that they postpone their visit to the Grange until further notice. In the end this didn’t cause a problem since after a brief telephone call, his mother was in complete agreement that her birthday celebrations should be put on hold for the time being.
The following day was very strange. Jason went to collect Hollie as usual and when she arrived, she crashed into the house pulling a small trolley containing her possessions and causing Ben to wince at the chipped paintwork on
the doorframe. She was keen to tell everyone that Granddad and Grandma Macintosh had come to visit all the way from Canada.
“But Mummy has to go into hospital tomorrow,” she added sadly. “She’s very sick and the doctors are going to make her better.”
The adults made no comment.
Anna followed her upstairs to the small room that had once been her nursery and then her bedroom until she had left with her mother. Now it was set aside for her occasional visits. Although the smallest bedroom in the house, it had been decorated in Hollie’s favourite colour, pink and the bed sported a Barbie cover that matched the curtains. Anna helped her unpack and noticed that her Brownie uniform was rather crumpled so she decided to take it to the utility room and run the iron over it.
Leaving Hollie to sort out her things, Anna spent the next ten minutes busily removing the creases from the dress and pressing the collar back into shape, delighting in the tiny garment that seemed to be made for a doll rather than a child. She cherished her boys and wouldn’t change them for anything, but she would have loved a little girl, to dress in pretty clothes, to brush her hair and do all the things a mother could do for a daughter. She sighed sadly. If Dave hadn’t been the way he was, she might have contemplated a second pregnancy, but the way things had gone it was out of the question.
When she reached Hollie’s room, she found father and daughter sitting on the bed, deep in conversation. They both smiled as Anna entered the room. Hollie had unpacked the rest of her things so Anna found a hanger and hung the dress on the door of the cupboard.
“All right, young lady,” said Anna turning to the little girl. “I know you’ve finished school, but if I remember rightly, the teacher often gives homework for the summer.”
Hollie’s expression became doleful. “I suppose.”
“What is it?”
The little girl shuffled about on the bed. “I’ve got to read two pages of my book and write down five things I like about the summer.”
“Well, that sounds easy enough. Shall we do it now?”
“What now!” said Hollie in disgust. “But the holidays have ages to go yet.”