by Fay Keenan
Blinking in mild disbelief, Anna digested the information. She felt a sudden flip in her stomach and while she tried to put it down to pregnancy jitters she knew it wasn’t quite that. She ran a finger across the entry dated next Friday, willing it, somehow, to change. Of course, it stayed put. There was no question about it; she was going to have to speak to him when he got home.
*
‘Did she go down all right?’ Matthew asked as Anna padded back down the stairs from putting Ellie to bed. Ellie had settled well into Cowslip Barn as her new family home but was still prone to getting up in the night and not knowing where she was. He crossed the kitchen and handed Anna a mug of tea. ‘I’m sorry I was a bit later than planned. I was waiting for Jonathan to come back to me with an update on The Cider Kitchen but it must have slipped his mind.’
‘She was a little restless,’ Anna replied. Her daughter wasn’t handling the heat wave well and would far rather bounce on her bed than sleep in it at the moment. She took the mug from Matthew and headed back to the living room. ‘Are you coming to sit down?’
‘Won’t be a tick,’ Matthew said. ‘I need to give Jonno a quick call and then I’m all yours.’
‘Can that wait a minute?’ Anna asked, turning back towards him.
Matthew clocked his wife’s expression. ‘Of course. What’s wrong?’
Anna drew a deep breath. ‘Why is there an entry on the calendar for the St Jude’s prep school open evening next week?’
Matthew looked surprised. ‘I thought you might like to take Ellie up there to have a look around.’
‘Why?’
Matthew raised a hand to Anna’s elbow. ‘I know you’re having a hard time adjusting to the fact that she’s going to school soon so I thought I’d take the initiative and find out when the open evening was so we could go along and check it out. I bet it’s changed a lot since Meredith started and I thought you might like to see what the facilities are like.’
Anna stepped away from Matthew, trying to gather her thoughts before she spoke again. ‘But… she’s not going to St Jude’s, Matthew. She’s going to the village primary school. I told you that at the start of the year. I did her application back in December.’
Matthew wrinkled his brow. ‘Since when?’
‘Since always!’ Anna’s temper started to rise. ‘I’d never even considered sending her to St Jude’s. She’s going to the village school.’
‘But what about when she gets to secondary age? Don’t you think the transition would be easier to manage if she’s already been there for her first few years? After all, her friends will already be there.’
‘I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing,’ Anna said carefully. ‘Are you actually telling me that you’ve planned my daughter’s entire educational future without even telling me first? What makes you think you have the right?’
‘What?’ The penny was starting to drop for Matthew. ‘No, of course not,’ he said hurriedly. ‘I just assumed that with Meredith already at St Jude’s, and having had such a positive experience, you’d want to send Ellie there as well. Was I wrong?’
Anna shook her head. ‘Yes. Yes, Matthew, you were. Whether or not I was prepared to send her to St Jude’s is one thing, but assuming that you could make decisions for my daughter without even consulting me first… I just don’t know where to start. How could you even think of making that kind of decision on your own?’ She could feel her temper rising further and a part of her dimly realised that this was turning out to be the milestone of their first actual disagreement of any consequence.
Matthew looked aghast. ‘Anna, it’s not that big a deal. Honestly. I just found out a date and wrote it on the calendar. Why are you making such a thing of it?’
‘Do you really not get it?’ Anna retorted. ‘You’re making decisions without talking things through again. You’re assuming that you know best when this was something that we really needed to have a conversation about. Can you not see that?’
‘I see,’ Matthew replied quietly. ‘So, you’re saying that because she’s not biologically my daughter that I have no right to think about her future? At least I know where I stand. Thank you for clarifying that so effectively.’ He held her gaze for a moment longer and then walked past her.
Within moments Anna heard his study door opening and then closing quietly behind him. Letting out a long breath, she sat down with a thump on one of the kitchen chairs. That had escalated more quickly than she could have anticipated and her hands shook. Was this an indication that Matthew wasn’t adapting as well to marriage as she’d thought? Taking the last orange from the split bag that was still on the table, Anna turned it over in her hands. What should she do?
16
Jonathan hadn’t actually forgotten about seeing Matthew that evening but he had decided against updating him about the plans for The Cider Kitchen’s autumn season straight away. He knew Matthew had bigger fish to fry with the additional paperwork that had come through for a potential takeover by Buckthorn, a huge food and drinks conglomerate which had cornered most of the international markets for cider. For once, he’d managed to pre-empt his brother and he’d actually read his copies of the paperwork a couple of days ago. He decided that now might be an opportunity to discuss things with their father. After all, Jack still had a big say in the direction of the company and it was about time they talked about its future. Grabbing his satchel from his office, he shoved his MacBook in it, locked the office door and headed back to Orchard Cottage.
It was a beautiful summer evening and he once again felt grateful to be living back in this part of the world. The sun was just on the wane and its light was reflected in the spotlessly clean shop windows on the High Street. The Little Orchard Tea Shop had closed for the night, as had most of the other businesses, but as he passed the wine shop, which was under new management, he could see Kelli, the owner, hosting one of the gin tastings that had become very popular over the past few months. Passing the large glass windows of the shop, he saw several of the locals immersed in trying some of the many new varieties of craft gin that certainly made a contrast to the mainstream brands. Perhaps spirits were something to consider as a next step for Carter’s? He’d certainly look into it. They’d often considered adding a home produced calvados to their range of drinks; perhaps it was worth further thought.
As Jonathan passed the chip shop he wondered about grabbing some fish and chips for himself and Jack, but he found he wasn’t that hungry. He hoped the bread he’d bought from the bakery yesterday might stretch to a cheese sandwich later, if his father hadn’t had the last of it for lunch.
It had never been his plan to move back in permanently with Jack; when the FastStream deal had been in progress last summer he’d landed in Little Somerby with every intention of making peace with his brother and then flying straight out of Bristol Airport. But something had changed; after ten years of enforced absence, he’d started to feel the stirrings of passion for the heritage and history of the family business. A few weeks had stretched to months and now here he was, nine months later, still in the box room.
As he turned up the driveway to Orchard Cottage, Jonathan’s thoughts drifted once again to Caroline. She was such a puzzle to him; on the one hand she seemed determined to set down roots of her own with the new job in a new location, but on the other hand she seemed so rootless. There was a story behind her dark green eyes, he knew it. Of course, he knew all about the losses she had suffered; her parents had died within six months of each other and then her brother, James, had been killed in a car accident, but Jonathan couldn’t help thinking there was something more. She’d obviously been successful in the events management business and she owned her own property in Farnham, which was an expensive area of the world, so why chuck all that in and come all the way to Somerset, even with Anna and Ellie nearby? He smiled; to be fair he’d done exactly the same thing when he’d moved back to Little Somerby. Perhaps he and Caroline had more in common than he thought.
R
ooting around in his pocket for his house key, Jonathan saw that the front door was slightly ajar. His thoughts immediately moved away from Caroline; Jack had been getting rather absent minded lately and he’d left the door open a few times. Jonathan felt a shard of worry in his heart.
‘Are you home, Dad?’ he called as he walked into the hall, clicking the front door shut firmly behind him.
‘In here,’ Jack’s voice drifted from the conservatory that overlooked the back garden. In his later years, Jack had grown increasingly fond of his garden; he still tended the beloved rose bushes that had been planted by his late wife Cecily, and now they were in full bloom, their scents and colours permeating the early evening air. The conservatory door was open and Jack was sitting in a wicker armchair, a copy of The Telegraph in his hand and a glass of scotch on the small side table nearby.
‘Have you eaten?’ Jonathan asked as he wandered over to the open door of the conservatory.
‘Had a bite to eat while I was out and about earlier,’ Jack replied. In the still strong sunlight, the lines on Jack’s face looked deeply etched, and Jonathan noticed, with a pang, how loose the collar of his smart checked shirt was. Jack had never been the greatest eater, although he was rather fond of a drink, but Jonathan noted with renewed worry the belt buckle done up an extra notch and the slight tremor of his father’s hand as he reached for his crystal tumbler of whiskey.
‘Help yourself to one if you’d like,’ Jack lifted his glass. ‘Plenty in the decanter on the sideboard.’
This was a familiar ritual for the two of them and Jonathan enjoyed the time they spent together this way. He’d missed his father more than he could have imagined possible during his enforced absence from Little Somerby, and although they’d kept in touch regularly by phone, they’d only seen each other face to face a few times over the years when Jack had travelled over to the US on business. Pouring himself a small whiskey, he headed back to the conservatory and sat in the other wicker chair.
‘Good day?’ Jack asked.
‘Busy,’ Jonathan replied. ‘The new equipment was being installed in the keggery, and there were a few bumps on the way. And there’s a problem with one of the associate apple growers in Chew Magna, which needs sorting,’ he shook his head. ‘I’m still getting used to the day to day stuff.’ He paused momentarily. ‘Then there’s the Buckthorn issue, of course.’
Jack shook his head. ‘Not tonight, Jonathan. It’s too lovely an evening to spend it arguing about the business.’
‘We’re going to have to discuss it some time,’ Jonathan said. His tone was light; he knew when not to push things. ‘Even if not tonight.’
‘We will,’ Jack said. ‘But it wouldn’t be fair without your brother round the table too. Let’s just enjoy this evening, shall we?’ He drained his scotch and passed his glass to Jonathan. ‘Another one, son, if you wouldn’t mind.’
Sighing inwardly, Jonathan took both glasses back through to the sideboard in the living room. Jack couldn’t avoid Buckthorn forever, but it seemed he was determined to for tonight at least.
17
After half an hour curled up on the sofa watching mindless television with Sefton’s head in her lap, Anna couldn’t stand the tension any longer. She wandered down the hallway to Matthew’s study and only just stopped herself from knocking on the door. Sometimes, she still had to remind herself that she was no longer a guest in this house; that she was now an equal partner in Matthew’s life.
Matthew sat gazing intently at his laptop. The glass reading lamp to his right cast a dull glow across the leather top of the mahogany desk and Matthew’s eyes were crinkled in concentration as he looked at the screen.
‘You really should be wearing your reading glasses,’ Anna chided gently, motioning to the discarded pair to the left of the desk. ‘You’ll get a headache.’
Matthew looked away from the screen, his expression pensive. ‘You’re right,’ he said softly. ‘I suppose I just don’t want to admit it.’
‘Am I?’ Anna asked. She crossed the carpeted floor of the study and wandered around to the other side of the desk. Then she burst out laughing. There, on Matthew’s screen, was an animation of dancing yellow Minions, all doing the can can with varying measures of success.
Matthew smiled ruefully. ‘I couldn’t concentrate.’ He swivelled his chair to look up at her and, hesitating just for a second, reached out and drew Anna towards him, resting his head against her just emerging baby bump. ‘I’m sorry. You’re right. It was stupid of me.’ His voice was muffled against her and as he pulled back his eyes were full of remorse. ‘I suppose I got so used to making the decisions as a single parent, it’s taking me some time to get used to talking things through with someone else again. But you’re right. I shouldn’t have made enquiries without discussing it with you first. I love Ellie, but she’s your daughter, and it’s your decision.’
Anna shook her head. ‘I over reacted. You were only doing what you thought was best. I should have been able to talk it through rationally with you instead of jumping to conclusions. I’m sorry.’
Matthew rose from his chair and enfolded his wife in his arms. ‘I made an assumption. But, for what it’s worth, I genuinely thought you’d be pleased that I’d thought about St Jude’s for Ellie. It is a great school and Merry’s been very happy there.’
Anna relaxed into Matthew’s embrace, luxuriating in his warmth and closeness and feeling weak with relief. ‘I know she has. And it’s not that I have any great issue with private education. It’s just that I thought it would be nice to send her to the village school where Evan and her friends from nursery will be. Not to mention that the fees for St Jude’s are the equivalent of a mortgage for the next thirteen or so years, especially now the school leaving age has gone up.’
Matthew shook his head. ‘It’s not like we can’t afford it.’
‘I know,’ Anna replied. ‘And believe me, when I married you I absolutely knew you would be the perfect stepfather for Ellie but it still freaks me out, the prospect of you shelling out all of that money for her education. Especially when there’s an Ofsted outstanding primary school right on the doorstep.’
‘Now who’s been doing her homework?’ Matthew grinned briefly.
‘Not exactly,’ Anna admitted. ‘Charlotte’s been keeping an eye on the place for a while, and she thinks it’s fine.’
‘Fair enough,’ Matthew said. ‘But if the money’s the only thing you’re worrying about, then stop. I know you didn’t marry me for my money and if you wanted to send Ellie to a private school, I’d happily pay for it.’
Anna smiled. ‘Thank you. But let’s just think about it for a while, shall we? Perhaps we can take a look at St Jude’s in our own time. And there’s always later, if she chooses to; I mean, the comprehensive school in Churchill is pretty good too, but if she really wants to make that choice later, then she can.’
‘Agreed,’ Matthew said. He sighed. ‘I think it’s going to take me a while to adjust to marriage again.’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Anna said softly. ‘I think you’re doing pretty well, really.’
‘Really?’
Anna leaned down and planted a lingering kiss on Matthew’s lips. ‘Definitely.’
As they broke free once more, Matthew’s eyes were dark with desire. ‘Is Ellie still asleep?’ he asked huskily.
Anna nodded. ‘Out like a light. And Meredith’s in her room reading one of her set texts for September.’ She’d checked on her step daughter about ten minutes previously, and from the level of the sound emanating from Meredith’s headphones, she wasn’t going to be easily disturbed. If, by chance, Anna did hear movement from upstairs, she and Matthew had both perfected the art of parental nonchalance over the years. Having children tended to make you a master of stealth.
Matthew smiled and slid his hands from his wife’s back down over her hips and further, dipping his head at the same time to kiss the side of her neck just underneath her ear. ‘That’s very good news.’<
br />
Anna felt herself responding to his warm hands and even warmer mouth, and shivered as his breath caressed her neck and his feather light kisses enflamed her senses. She sighed. ‘You are very, very good at that.’
‘So, are you sure you forgive me?’ Matthew murmured against the curve of her shoulder, nibbling gently at her collar bone before raising his head to brush her lips with his own once more.
‘I think so,’ Anna whispered. ‘Especially if you keep doing that.’ Matthew lifted her up and sat her on his desk, standing between her thighs and continuing to kiss her. His hands wandered to her shoulders and slipped down the sleeves of her cardigan, the spaghetti straps of her vest top and her bra straps. Dropping his mouth once again to her shoulders, he moved down to her breasts, larger now from her pregnancy, giving them the most gentle of caresses. Fingertips were shortly followed by a probing tongue and a warm, gentle mouth.
‘What do you reckon our chances are of not disturbing them?’ Matthew murmured between kisses and licks.
‘Keep doing that and I won’t care,’ Anna said, arching her back to allow him further access to her body.
‘You are so sexy, Mrs Carter,’ Matthew’s husky voice had a seductive West Country burr that sent a shiver down Anna’s spine. ‘Now let me get inside you and show you what you do to me.’
Anna wriggled out of her knickers and hitched up her denim skirt and Matthew slipped inside her. He began to move, lazy, long thrusts that reminded her exactly why she could never go too long without thinking about him. The exquisite sensation aroused her senses even further, until she was on the brink of a tingling, throbbing orgasm which broke with a warmth and a pulse that made her already weak knees turn to water. Gripping him tightly, she felt him lose himself and for several moments afterwards, they stayed joined.