‘The fight wasn’t really a fight, because Doug doesn’t do raised voices. He just gets distant which hurts even more.’ She pictured his face as he’d told her to have a good trip. As if she’d been his work colleague, not his lover. ‘I’m not sure how much longer I can carry on like this. I was so happy when he finally let me in but since we’ve been together all I seem to be doing is making him miserable again.’
‘Don’t be stupid. I’ve seen the man when you’re around. He’s besotted.’
‘You wouldn’t think that if you’d been a fly on the wall during our last conversation.’ Tears pricked again and she reached for a tissue from the bedside table. ‘Anyway, let’s talk about something else. I phoned to be cheered up, not to continue to pick over my crappy day.’
‘Well, if it won’t make you feel bad, I can gloat over my domestic bliss. Roger is going to help a friend out in a shop on Saturday now so he can earn a bit more money. He says he’s saving up so we can buy a place together.’
Abby’s jaw dropped. ‘That’s fantastic news.’
‘Isn’t it?’ And if she sounded ever so slightly smug, Abby couldn’t blame her. Mandy had been through a lot, she deserved some happiness. ‘Don’t worry though, we won’t be out of your hair for ages. Crumbs pays well, but not that well.’
When Abby finally put the phone down she stared up at the ceiling. Mandy was planning to leave home to start a new life with her son and partner. That was good. Really good.
But where did it leave her?
She spent the next two days having a tiring but fruitful time at the manufacturing site. It was non-stop. She didn’t even get the evening off, as the site manager and a few of his crew insisted she go out for a drink with them after the meeting. A drink soon turned into a few, so obviously they then had to go for a curry to soak up the alcohol. She’d ended up crashing out in her hotel room at one in the morning. Now finally on her way home, she wasn’t just tired, she was hung-over.
Her phone buzzed and she smiled when she answered it. ‘Hey, Geraldine. Is everything okay?’
‘Yes, it’s fine. Are you all right to talk?’
‘Am I ever. I’m kicking my heels at the airport, waiting for the flight home.’
‘How did the site visit go?’
‘Good, thank you. It was great to put names to a few faces and to see how these items we spend so much of our time talking and thinking about actually get made.’
‘Yes, it is a bit crazy when you think how much effort goes into the humble biscuit.’ She paused. ‘I hope you haven’t been dwelling too much on what Charles Faulkner said to you.’
‘I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t. I’m not sure how I can carry on working for a man who hates me that much.’
She heard Geraldine’s intake of breath. ‘Are you thinking of leaving?’
‘Let’s just say I’m considering my options.’
‘That sounds intriguing. Are you sitting on some options, then?’
And for the second time in as many days, Abby talked about the job offer from Robert Langstone.
‘Wow, good on you, girl. Have you told Doug?’
Guilt crashed through her. How had she managed to tell both her sister and even Doug’s ex, but not the man she was sharing a bed with? ‘Not exactly, no.’ She could tell herself she’d not needed to because it hadn’t been an option until the altercation with Faulkner senior. It didn’t help that she’d not told Doug about that yet, either.
‘Okay.’ Geraldine, obviously reading between the lines, tactfully moved the conversation on. ‘Anyway, I called because I’d appreciate your take on the new advertising concepts that have just come in. Are you around tomorrow?’
‘Sure, I’d love to see them.’ Abby hesitated. ‘Do you and Luke ever argue about the amount of time you spend at the office?’
Geraldine laughed. ‘No way. Luke’s pretty tied up with the gallery but even if he wasn’t he’d know better than to get in the way of my work. I told him from the outset I was a workaholic and he had to accept me as he found me because I wasn’t changing. Why, is Doug getting antsy?’
‘A bit.’ It felt awkward slagging him off with his ex, especially as it wasn’t only her job Doug had to put up with but her family, too.
‘If you want my advice, don’t let anyone tell you what to do. You have to stand up for what you want. If what you want is to become a director in Robert’s company, you should go ahead and take it. Chances like that don’t come along too often.’
They were words that resonated with Abby more than she cared to admit. She’d scoffed at Doug for not standing up for what he’d wanted but was she any better, allowing herself to be pulled in different directions by both him and her family?
As she ended the call she noticed an unopened text message. When had that arrived? Hastily she read it.
Goodnight, Abby. Sweet dreams, D xx
Shitty, shitty, shit, shit. He’d obviously sent it after she’d checked her phone that first night. Somehow, during the whole of the following day and evening, she’d managed to miss it. Burying her head in her hands, she tried to swallow back the tears. It was hardly surprising the guy was so annoyed with her. She was pretty annoyed with herself.
After taking a few deep breaths and wiping her eyes, she fired off a hasty reply. Sorry I missed your text. It’s been a hectic few days. Talk soon xx
When Abby arrived back home she was greeted as if she’d been away for a month rather than two nights.
‘I missed you,’ Holly told her, squeezing her tight round her waist.
‘But you had Dad and your other sisters,’ Abby reminded her gently, feeling choked.
‘I know. But I still missed you.’
Ellie wasn’t quite so forthcoming but she did give her a longer goodnight hug than usual. Even Sally decided to open up to her about a boy she didn’t fancy, she really didn’t. Though she did quite like him.
When Abby had said goodnight to them all, and checked in on George who was sleeping soundly while his parents enjoyed a meal out, she wandered back down to find her father watching television.
Well, watching wasn’t quite the right word. His head was slumped forward and though he seemed to be trying to keep awake it was obviously a losing battle. For a moment Abby simply stood and studied him. He’d aged in the last twelve years since he’d lost the love of his life, his face more lined, his hair now grey, but he was still handsome. Would he ever find someone else to love? Her heart clenched as she imagined them all slowly leaving home and her father coming back to an empty house.
God, she hoped not.
She must have made a noise because suddenly his eyes snapped open and he turned to smile at her.
‘Abby.’ He patted the seat next to him. ‘Come and tell me what has you looking so worried.’
‘I’m not worried,’ she protested. ‘I’ve just got a lot to think about.’
‘Then tell me. A problem shared, though probably not halved if it’s shared with me, will at least seem clearer by the time you’ve managed to get it though my thick skull.’
‘You’re hardly thick.’ Abby settled down and snuggled in to his chest. ‘Though this is going to take some working through so listen carefully.’ She sucked in a breath and let the words out in a rush. ‘Charles Faulkner hates me and told me I’ll never get anywhere in his company and that he won’t allow me to sully the Faulkner line. That probably won’t be an issue though because Doug and I had a fight and I think, no scratch that, I know he’s fed up with me. On the plus side, I’ve got an offer of a director job for an up and coming health food company, though it’s based in Manchester. They want me to go up and spend the week there. See for myself. And if I like it, I get to stay and run my own department. Away from Charles bloody Faulkner. But then I’d have to leave you. And if Doug and I don’t even have time to see each other living twenty minutes away, I can’t see how we’d manage living over three hours away. Then again, like I said, that might not be an issue because he’s probably had enough of me
.’
Her father didn’t immediately say anything. Instead he slowly got up and walked over to the kitchen, coming back with a bottle of whisky and two glasses. ‘I think it’s going to be a long night.’ He poured a healthy measure into both glasses and then handed her one. ‘Now, tell me all that again, but at a speed an old man can understand.’
Chapter Thirty-Three
Doug tried Abby’s phone for the third time, got put through to voicemail for the third time and hung up on a despairing sigh. After his boorish display the other day when he’d flounced off in a huff – damn it, yes, a hissy fit – he’d realised Luke was right. He’d lose her if he didn’t shut up and put up.
Still, he was allowed to sigh, surely, because it was now Friday, four days since he’d last seen her. He’d had one text and a hasty phone call. The text had been on Wednesday, an apology for not seeing his original goodnight text. To say he’d been gutted that she hadn’t thought to look at her phone to check it, never mind to send him one, was an understatement. Since then he’d received a phone call in response to a message he’d left asking if she was free Thursday. She was very sorry – and yes he could imagine her face cringing as she’d said the word – but she had to attend Ellie’s parent teacher evening. Before he’d had a chance to ask about Friday she’d had to dash off because Ellie and Holly had been having a blazing row which apparently only Abby could sort out.
That was the trouble with falling in love with Wonder Woman.
The sound of the phone was a pleasant distraction from his tetchy thoughts.
‘Hello, Geraldine. What can I do for you?’
‘Do you know where Abby is? I’ve got a further ad concept I’d like her to see.’
‘She’s at an off-site meeting all day.’ So he’d found out from her diary. ‘Presumably my input isn’t desirable?’
‘Hey, don’t be like that. I used to ask your opinion but I stopped when you couldn’t drum up any enthusiasm for anything I showed you. Abby’s not only interested, she’s insightful.’ He wanted to be offended, but it was hard when he knew she was right. ‘Is Abby okay after that incident with Charles? She keeps saying she’s fine, but it must have shaken her up a bit.’
Doug’s heart seemed to stop beating. ‘What incident?’
He heard a sharp intake of breath. ‘Oops, she didn’t tell you, did she? My big mouth.’
‘I repeat,’ he said tightly, ‘what incident?’ When his request was met with silence, Doug shot to his feet. ‘Geraldine, please. Answer me.’ If he had to beg, he would.
‘There must be a reason why Abby hasn’t mentioned it, Doug. If I tell you I feel like I’m betraying her trust.’
‘Did she ask you not to tell me?’ he demanded, starting to pace up and down.
‘Well, no.’
‘Then bloody tell me.’ He dragged in a deep breath. ‘Please.’
He heard her sigh. ‘Charles was doing his usual bastard of the highest order routine. Words to the effect that he was never going to let a woman like her insinuate herself any further in his family.’
Anger raged through him, shooting hot arrows into his chest and his head. ‘I don’t want the pretty version,’ he said, his voice hardened with the strain of his control. ‘I want the gritty, true, everything you can remember version.’
As he listened to Geraldine quietly recounting exactly what Charles had said to Abby, Doug’s blood started to boil. How the hell could the man possibly think she wasn’t good enough for his dysfunctional family?
‘And?’ he demanded, sensing there was still something Geraldine wasn’t telling him.
‘He told her he’d never let a woman like her get anywhere in his company.’
‘The bastard,’ Doug hissed through his clenched jaw.
‘Exactly,’ agreed Geraldine. ‘It’s not surprising she’s seriously considering Robert’s offer … ah, shit. I’m not sure I’m meant to say anything about that, either.’
Doug shut his eyes. ‘I know Robert’s keen to have her.’ In every bloody sense, he thought bitterly. ‘Has she decided to work for him?’ And oh God, how had it come to him asking his ex-lover what his current girlfriend was thinking?
‘I don’t know. Robert asked her to go up for a week. Sort of a trial run. And if she liked it, to stay. I told her to give it serious thought. Chances like that don’t come along very often for women as young as Abby. And she’s hardly going to get anywhere in Crumbs, is she?’
After Geraldine had murmured her goodbye Doug slowly, and very carefully, ended the call and put down his phone. Then he dropped into his chair, put his head in his hands, screwed his eyes shut and practiced breathing in and out. In and out.
When he felt his anger was back under control, he dialled Abby’s phone again, which predictably went to voicemail. ‘It’s Doug,’ he said, his voice sounding raw. ‘When you get this will you please, please call me back.’
Abby was exhausted. She’d had a morning meeting with the buyer of a large retail chain and then she’d spent the afternoon at home trying to stuff some clothes into a suitcase.
‘Knock, knock.’ Mandy popped her head round the door. ‘How’s the packing going?’
‘Okay. I’m getting used to filling a suitcase now.’
Mandy nodded, moving further inside so she could hug her. ‘Crikey, big sis, I hate seeing you leave. I’m going to miss you.’
‘Oh no.’ Abby shook her head, waving her finger at Mandy. ‘Don’t you go getting soppy on me. It’s not like I’m disappearing off the face of the earth.’
‘Yeah, I know.’ Mandy gripped her shoulders. ‘You’re sure about this? It’s a whopping big step.’ She cast her eyes briefly downwards. ‘Especially for someone with such dainty feet.’
‘I’m sure,’ Abby answered unwaveringly. ‘Even more than that, I’m sure I’m sure. I’ve never been so sure of anything. It’s not a done deal, though. Both parties have to want it. I may be back before you know it.’
‘Like that’s going to happen,’ Mandy scoffed.
‘I hope not.’ She cast her eyes around the place she’d called home for the last twenty-four years. ‘It’s going to feel so strange not living here.’
‘Strange that you won’t hear the sound of George screaming with another teething episode? Ellie yelling that Holly’s pinched her favourite jumper, Sally shouting at them to be quiet because she’s trying to read and Dad … well, Dad just moaning at everyone because—’
‘This house has too much oestrogen!’ they chorused together.
Abby felt her throat tighten. This was much, much harder than she’d thought. Providing things went well it wasn’t like she was moving to the other side of the world, but still. It felt like the end of an era.
Downstairs they heard the clunk of the front door opening.
‘Bagsy I choose what channel we watch.’ Ellie.
‘That’s not fair, you got to pick yesterday. Anyway, we have to do our homework first and I’ve got way less than you so I’ll be watching first.’ Holly.
‘How do you know what homework I’ve got?’ Ellie.
‘I don’t, but I’ve not got any, so beat that!’ Holly.
‘God, you two are so childish.’ Sally.
‘Ooh, listen to you.’ Ellie.
Shrieks. All of them.
‘OMG, that’s disgusting. Why did he do it there?’ Ellie.
‘Pat, you naughty dog. You have to wee outside the house, not inside it.’ Holly.
‘Bagsy not clear it up!’ Ellie and Holly.
Abby looked at Mandy, who started to smirk. Pretty soon they were both convulsed into laughter. ‘Still feeling nostalgic about leaving?’ Mandy gasped between giggles.
‘Yes,’ Abby admitted. ‘Though I won’t miss everything.’
Doug was still at the office, and becoming more and more frantic. He couldn’t get hold of Abby even though he’d found out her meeting had ended at lunchtime. Where was she? Why wasn’t she returning his calls? He tried not to think of what Geraldi
ne had told him, but the more he couldn’t get hold of her, the more it all started to make sense.
She hadn’t told him about the job offer because she was planning on taking it. And she wasn’t picking up her phone because she wanted to give him the I’m ditching you speech face-to-face.
It was now 6.30 p.m. and Doug had to accept that even workaholic Abby was unlikely to come back into the office now. He cast a despairing glance at the alcove where she used to sit, mentally sifting through all the things he should have told her, but had wimped out on. Like I love you, for starters.
Would it have helped, though? She was always destined for greater things than him.
Out of desperation he gave up on her mobile and called her home number.
‘Hello?’
Doug’s stomach dropped. ‘Good evening, Derek. I was looking for Abby and I wondered if she was home yet?’
‘Depends where you’re calling home, I guess.’
He didn’t know how he wrenched the next words out. ‘What do you mean?’
The pause was so long Doug started grinding his teeth. ‘I thought you knew. She left here with a suitcase.’
Doug fingers clenched round the phone as he tried to make sense of the words. When they began to slip into place – Charles’s threats, Robert’s job offer – he sagged against the wall and slid, slowly, all the way to the floor. He didn’t hear Derek shouting out his name, checking if he was still there. All he heard was the sound of his dreams as they crashed and broke into a million tiny fragments.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Abby checked her watch again. It was 7.30 p.m. and she’d been sitting on this door step for half an hour now.
Where on earth was Doug? These days he always left the office early, so he couldn’t be at work. And it wasn’t gym day. Casting a sideways glance at her case, she began to feel sick. For all she knew he was meeting up with someone.
Maybe with no plans to return home tonight.
Biting her lip, she dragged her mobile out of her bag. She’d phone him.
Bugger. The damn thing was flat.
Her head snapped up at the sound of a car engine and her heart began to thud as his sleek sports car scrunched up the drive. Suddenly the door was thrust open and a man lurched out.
Oh Crumbs Page 29