by Sharon Booth
'Where did you tell him you were?' He'd asked the question, then wished he hadn't, as thoughts of James briefly pervaded their bubble of bliss.
She'd avoided his gaze. 'I said Eliot and Eden were shopping for wedding things and had decided they'd like to stay out for dinner, so had asked me to babysit for them, and that, as they were going to be back late I may as well stay over.'
'And he was okay with that?'
'I've done it before,' she said. 'I stayed at Fleetsthorpe overnight when they went to your sister's wedding.' She shrugged. 'Anyway, he's hardly likely to go to the farm to check up on me, is he? It's the one place in the world I know he'll never go.'
'You think he's suspicious?'
'Not at all.' For a moment, a note of bitterness crept into her voice. 'I'm the good wife. The dutiful woman who never lets her husband down, no matter what.' She shook her head. 'Can we stop talking about him now, please?'
It was the only sour note in the whole day, and he was happy to drop the subject. He'd soon put the smile back on her face, and she'd made him forget everything — all the troubles of his past, the fact that she had a husband at home, that whatever they had it couldn't continue this way forever. At some point, soon, Beth would have to make a choice. He wanted to believe she would choose him, but deep down he wasn't so sure. She was a loyal person who took her marriage vows seriously. How could he compete with the guy who had put the ring on her finger, even if he was a prize jerk? Not only that, but they had the Harlands to consider now. Keeping James in the dark was imperative if he wasn't going to try to get George back.
Jed glanced at the clock. Only eight o'clock! They hadn't even had dinner yet. They should go downstairs, get something to eat. Or maybe they should order room service? He grinned to himself. Yeah, that would be much better. Dinner in bed, with the best kind of dessert to follow. He wondered if he should risk waking Beth, or should he order while she slept?
The sudden buzzing from her cell phone on the bedside table came as a shock, bursting the bubble as the outside world rudely intruded. She'd put the phone on silent but hadn't turned off the vibrate setting. Now the phone shuddered on the table, almost accusingly.
'Beth? Beth, honey.' He shook her slightly, anxious that it might be James. The last thing they needed was for him to start worrying about where she was.
Beth's eyes fluttered open and she stared at him, looking confused. 'What? Oh!' She smiled at him, and he smiled back. 'Hey. Sorry to wake you, but your phone's ringing. Well,' he corrected himself, 'it's vibrating like crazy anyway.'
'Oh.' She lunged for the phone. 'It's Eliot,' she said, sounding worried. 'God, I hope James hasn't rung up asking for me.'
'Would he do that?' But she'd already answered the call and he saw her frown as Eliot's voice blasted from the phone, so loud that Jed could hear every word.
'Eliot, calm down! I don't understand —' She fell silent, listening intently to what he was trying to tell her. Jed listened too, his demeanour changing as he recognised that trouble was afoot. 'Of course I didn't know! He mentioned that he was thinking of asking for access to George, but I told him that if he did that our marriage would be over. No, of course not! He said he understood and that he'd back off. No, he's never mentioned it again.'
She glanced at Jed, her forehead creased with anxiety. 'I only told Eden because I thought she should be aware and I didn't want to worry you unless it was absolutely necessary. If I'd thought he meant it I would have warned you, of course I would! How can you even ask me that?' She bit her lip, her eyes growing large. 'Are you serious? Custody? He never mentioned custody. He said he wanted to see George but — of course I'm sure! Eliot, I'm sorry, really I am. Yes, yes, I'll speak to him about it. Yes, tonight. Of course I will. I promise. I —' She held out the phone and stared at it in anguish. 'He hung up on me,' she murmured. 'Eliot hung up on me.'
'He's scared,' Jed said, reassuringly. 'He only got mad out of fear. When he calms down he'll realise it's not your fault.' And he'd better damn well apologise for talking to you like that. 'What you gonna do? I mean, you said you'd talk to James tonight.'
'And I must,' she said. She flashed him an apologetic look. 'I'm so sorry. This isn't how it was supposed to be, but I have to talk to him, find out what on earth he's thinking.'
'You told him if he persisted in this, your marriage was over,' Jed reminded her. Did it make him a total heel that he was finding hope in all this mess? Maybe Fuller had done the hard work for him. Beth would never forgive the guy for this, surely? 'Seems to me some things matter more to him.'
She stared at him and he cursed himself for being so crass. Now was not the time for point-scoring. 'I'm sorry. What are you going to do? I mean, how can you ask James about this when you're supposed to be babysitting for Eliot?'
She shrugged, gazing at her phone while she tried to work something out. 'I'll say they got back early and found the letter. That they've just opened it.'
'He'll expect you to come home to talk about it.' Jed felt sick with disappointment and sick at himself for being so selfish. It was their one chance to spend the night together and now it was over. He would have to drive her home.
But Beth shook her head. 'I'll tell him I don't want to see him, which is quite true. He'll know how angry I am anyway, so he won't be surprised if I decide to stay out. I'm not going home tonight.'
'Beth,' he hated himself for asking but couldn't help it. 'Where does this leave us? After what he promised ...'
She took a deep breath. 'Why don't you go downstairs and get us a table for dinner? I'll make the call while you're out.'
Jed knew he was dismissed and she was trying to be as polite as possible about it. He couldn't blame her. She had enough on her mind without catering to his insecurities and needs.
Ten minutes later, he entered the restaurant, where a friendly waiter showed him to a table and handed him a menu. Jed scoured it without taking anything in. What was it with him anyway? Why did he always end up being the one sounding needy and demanding? Why did the women he fell in love with always turn out to be the ones calling the shots? He put down the menu, angry at himself. Beth was nothing like JoJo, and this wasn't her fault. He'd known she was married when he started all this, and it hadn't prevented him from kissing her. From arranging this evening together. From falling in love with her.
He stared out of the window, seeing people hurrying by on their way to who knew where. Couples, arm in arm, out in the open, unafraid of being seen together. Would he and Beth ever be like that? Would they ever be free to love? Because he did love her, and he knew she loved him, too. She wasn't the type for a quick fling, a casual affair. He knew by the look in her eyes that she had feelings for him. The question was, how strong were those feelings? And did she still have feelings — other than loyalty — for her husband?
'Hey.'
He smiled to himself upon hearing her greeting. She was picking up his speech patterns, mimicking his own regular greeting to her. She'd better watch that, he supposed. 'Hey yourself. How did it go?'
Beth sank into the chair opposite him and gave him a tight smile. 'Not great.'
'You got through to James then?'
'Eventually.' She frowned. 'It was odd. I rang him at home, but it turned out he wasn't there.' She gave an involuntary shudder. 'Deborah answered. She said he'd gone out for the night and she had no idea where or who with, so I called his mobile. He was in a foul mood, right from the off. I don't know what was wrong with him, but it wasn't about George, I'm sure of that. When I mentioned it, he sounded like he'd forgotten all about it.'
She broke off as a waiter returned to enquire if they were ready to order. Since neither had even looked at the menu, they ordered a glass of wine and promised the waiter they'd make a decision very soon. He gave them a gracious nod and headed off to fetch their wine.
'Anyway,' Beth lifted the menu and held it open without even glancing at it, 'he said he'd had business in Leeds and was on his way home. He wasn't happy th
at I called him about the letter, I can tell you that much. Demanded to know whose side I was on.'
'Whew! That guy has some front. He knows whose side you're on about this. You made it very clear.'
'I know, as I reminded him. He got quite huffy. Said it wasn't his idea and he hadn't charged in like a bull in a china shop. It's not even his solicitor.'
'Then whose —'
'Deborah's.' Beth wrinkled her nose. 'He told Deborah, and she's decided they have to fight for custody. James is quite upset about the whole thing. He says he tried to persuade her to drop the matter, but then Deborah got quite emotional and said George was her only grandchild, and likely to remain her only grandchild, and she had a right to get to know him.' She swallowed, and Jed placed his hand over hers, squeezing it sympathetically. 'James is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He said he didn't want to upset me or back out on our agreement, but then his mother cried, and he's never seen her cry, and he felt he had no option but to go along with her wishes.'
Jed raised an eyebrow. 'You're not buying that?'
Beth looked helpless. 'I don't know. I can't imagine he'd do this after all this time unless there was someone else pushing him, and Deborah can be very determined when she wants something.' She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. 'I couldn't believe he would see a solicitor after ignoring George for four years. I thought there had to be something — someone — in the background, stirring all this up. It would be Deborah. Of course it would.'
'So, you're gonna let him get away with this?' Jed tried to keep the incredulity from his voice. She was clearly blind to Fuller's deviousness.
'I can see why he felt he had no choice,' she said. 'When your own mother is in tears of course you're going to want to do something to help. And I can understand Deborah wanting to see her grandson. But the custody thing is a whole different matter, and I told him so.'
'And what did he say to that?'
'He got very angry and said he was sick of me taking Eliot's side over his and I should get my priorities straight. He asked me to come home, so we could discuss the matter properly.'
'And?' Jed waited for her reply, praying she'd held out against him.
'I told him no way did I want to discuss the matter while we were both so angry, and I would see him tomorrow. He got quite insistent and said if I didn't come home, maybe he'd go to Fleetsthorpe and drag me back.'
'He said what?' Jed was incensed. 'Who the hell does he think he is?'
'He didn't mean it,' she said. 'He was sounding off. He does that when he's in the wrong. He gets all defensive. I called his bluff anyway. I told him by all means to go the farm. I said Eliot was in exactly the right mood to meet him.' She gave a wry smile. 'That changed his mind. He said he'd see me tomorrow and hung up.'
'Did you call Eliot back?'
She took a deep breath. 'Indeed I did.'
'I'm guessing it didn't go well?'
'You could say that. I tried to explain it was Deborah pulling the strings, but I think he was past listening. He's in a real state. He told me he'd thought I was a friend, but clearly he'd been wrong about that, and to stay away from Fleetsthorpe.' Her lip trembled. 'He hung up on me again.'
'He did what?' Jed quivered with rage. 'Wait 'til I get my hands on him! Who does he think he's talking to! He's got no right —'
'He's in pain, Jed,' Beth said, 'and he's scared. You have no idea how long he's dreaded this day, or how much George means to him. I understand how he's feeling, really I do.'
Jed shook his head. 'You're a kind soul, Beth. I'm not sure I'd be so forgiving.'
'You would if you knew him like I know him. We've been friends a long time. I know what he's been through, remember? This will be killing him. Poor Eliot.'
The waiter returned with their wine. 'Are you ready to order now?'
Jed glanced at Beth. 'We can go up to our room if you're not hungry. Or if you want to go home —'
She gave him a determined smile. 'Not at all. This is our night and we're going to enjoy it. Let's have a look at this menu.'
****
Emerald pushed open the farmyard gate, surprised to see the lamplight shining from the living room window. At that time of night — eleven o'clock — the Harlands were usually fast asleep in bed, and she knew Jed was out.
She grinned to herself, wondering how his night of passion with Beth was going. He'd confided his plans to her and had seemed so excited. She hoped things would work out for them. Her smile faded, and she frowned. She shouldn't really wish for that, given Beth was James's wife, but then again, he'd made it quite clear, that evening, that they were hardly happily married. If they were he wouldn't have made his feelings toward Emerald so patently obvious.
She shivered as she approached the farmhouse door, remembering the dreadful awkwardness of the evening. She'd played dumb when James told her that Beth was babysitting for the Harlands and asked her why they hadn't approached her to mind their children, given that she was living with them.
'Heavens,' she'd trilled, 'as if they'd ever trust me with their precious offspring! And, really, do you imagine I'd have said yes to a whole day and evening alone with the little — darlings?'
He'd had to admit he couldn't really see her as the babysitting type. 'So, what will you do while Beth's caring for the kids?'
'I don't know,' she admitted. ' I shall find something else to occupy me. I may go into Richmond or something. See a film perhaps.'
'And what about your brother? Doesn't he qualify as a babysitter either?'
Emerald had thought fast. 'He's going to Harrogate that day. He's meeting up with some of his musical contacts. They're discussing the possibility of working together at some point, so he won't be back until the following day.'
It had been a stroke of genius, in her opinion, and she'd passed the suggestion for an alibi onto Jed, who had used it on Eliot and Eden. So, James was pacified and had come up with a suggestion of his own. 'Since Beth's going to be away all night, why don't we take the chance to get away from here? Have some fun. We could still see a film, if that's what you want, and get some dinner.'
Emerald thought that sounded like a wonderful plan. For one thing, she'd relish the chance of going somewhere different, for another it would give her the chance to keep James occupied, so he didn't bother Beth while she was away with Jed. 'Excellent idea! I'd enjoy that. Where did you have in mind?'
'What about Leeds? We could make a whole day of it. Do some shopping, have lunch. What do you think?'
Emerald thought. She could see no reason not to make a day of it, and Leeds did have a huge variety of shops, after all. Surely, there'd be something to interest her? There was one thing worrying her, though. 'As friends, you mean?'
He'd widened his eyes, looking astonished. 'Of course as friends. I wouldn't dream of suggesting anything else.'
She'd nodded. 'Oh, well, in that case. Yes, why not? It will be fun.'
And it had been, she thought, rummaging in her bag for her key. They'd had a wonderful day in Leeds, and James had been surprisingly accommodating while she dragged him around various shops with weird and wonderful names that had quite obviously bemused him. The heavy smell of incense that pervaded each one of them had apparently given him a headache, but he stoically waited while she sniffed oils and candles, flicked through books, and admired various items of jewellery, bearing symbols and motifs that clearly mystified him.
'What on earth are you doing now?' he demanded, as she closed her eyes, hand hovering over a shelf packed with boxes of stones.
'Waiting for a crystal to choose me,' she explained.
She'd heard him tut, but he hadn't said a word as her hand finally closed over a stone and she opened her eyes, smiling as she realised she was holding a chunk of yellow citrine. 'Perfect,' she told him. 'It releases negativity, attracts abundance, and helps with manifesting a goal. Just what I need.'
James rolled his eyes. 'If you say so,' he said. 'Now, would you like to go somewhere no
rmal? Like Harvey Nichols or somewhere like that?'
Emerald wondered if he had any soul at all. He'd offered to buy her some Louboutin shoes, but she'd refused, politely but firmly. She hardly thought that was appropriate. Besides, she preferred the lump of citrine, bought for less than the price of a coffee, but infinitely more interesting than shoes.
They'd had a light lunch, then caught a movie which had been surprisingly funny and had made them both laugh out loud. They'd left the cinema in a very good mood and headed to the restaurant in a rather expensive hotel, where James had made reservations.
It was during dinner that he'd got a bit odd, and his whole attitude seemed to change. They hadn't even been served the main course when James informed her, in what she imagined he thought was a seductive tone, that he'd ordered room service for them the following morning, so they wouldn't have to leave their room for breakfast.
'Our room? Don't you mean your room? Or my room, even, but certainly not our room.'
He'd smiled at her and said, 'Oh, come on, Emerald. We're both grown-ups. We know what's going on here, don't we?'
Emerald was appalled. 'I thought we were here as friends?'
'As friends?' James had gaped at her, clearly astonished that she'd believed his line. 'You were serious?'
'Of course I was bloody serious! You're a married man, for God's sake!' Emerald pushed the thought of Beth and Jed away for a moment and clung to her new-found morality. It was far more comfortable than accepting the main reason she couldn't possibly think of sleeping with James Fuller — that she simply didn't fancy him, and she only had eyes for Eliot.
No matter how pleasant or charming James might be, he wasn't in the same league as the dark and deeply masculine farmer, and never could be. Why Eliot was so appealing to her, she couldn't say. He certainly wasn't her usual type, and he was hardly big on flattery, or even conversation, but there was something irresistible about a tall, rugged, man's man, with a heart of gold and a streak of genuine kindness in him. Eliot might not say much, but he was always sympathetic to her and seemed to truly understand how she felt.