by Sue Fortin
‘You have had too much to drink,’ said Tex, ignoring the reference to Christine.
‘Well, now you come to mention it,’ began Anna, her head lolling to one side, her eyelids heavy.
Andy looked up at Tex. ‘Me and Anna are enjoying a drink together and you know what they say, three's a crowd.’
Tex returned the glare. ‘Party’s over. I am taking her home.’ He reached over and took the drink from Anna's hand that she was trying to line up, rather unsuccessfully, with her mouth.
‘Oh, you spoilsport,’ Anna giggled as, swaying again, she nearly fell off her chair. Andy, putting his arm around her shoulder, pulled her back in towards him.
‘I don't think she wants to go home with you,’ said Andy.
‘Too bad. You think I am going to leave her with a shit like you?’ Tex's voice was low, each word considered and menacing.
‘Oooh, he's being all masterful and in charge. Aren't you, Chef? You are Masterchef. Ha-ha. Get it? No. Oh dear.’ Anna's words were in danger of rolling into each other as she concentrated on speaking, trying to sound sober, but failing as only someone drunk can. She sat upright for a second before flopping back against Andy, her eyes half closed.
‘Perhaps we should let the lady decide who she wants to be with?’ said Andy confidently. ‘Anna. Anna! Don't go to sleep. Listen. Do you want to stay here with me or go with him? Anna, what do you want to do?’
Anna sat up again, blurry eyed. ‘Well, I am having a nice time here, I must admit … ’
‘There's your answer,’ said Andy smugly.
‘But,’ carried on Anna, elbow on the table, hand raised, forefinger pointed, ‘I think maybe I should go. I don't feel too good.’ She rested her head on her arms over the table.
Tex didn't waste any time, he was immediately at Anna's side, lifting her up under her arm, making her stand. ‘Let's go.’
Anna swayed and leaned into Tex's chest. She put her arms around his neck, locking her fingers together, and looked dreamy-eyed up at him. ‘What have you done with Cruella de Vil? She'll be in a stew. Ha-ha! Get it? In a stew? Stew, you know, all worked up and stew, cooking stew, you being a chef. Get it?’
Tex looked down at her and shook his head. She really had had far too much to drink. Seems he got here just in time.
‘Charming. All that money wasted on wine,’ complained Andy.
Tex looked at him with disdain, fished around in his pocket and then chucked a twenty pound note on the table. ‘That should cover your expenses.’
Holding Anna upright, he managed to get her out of the pub in a dignified manner. Once out in the fresh air, he could feel Anna slumping, so he simply scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the street. She was so light, waiflike, Tex could feel her ribs through her t-shirt. She must have lost weight, there was nothing to her.
Anna put her arms around his neck, a contented smile on her face, eyes closed, head tucked into his shoulder. ‘Richard,’ she murmured.
‘What?’ Tex stopped and looked at her. Who the hell was Richard?
‘Richard,’ repeated Anna not opening her eyes. ‘Richard Gere. Officer and a Gentleman. You're my Richard Gere.’
Tex decided it was easier to carry her into his apartment; walking seemed to be a particular problem for Anna. He put her down on the sofa, arranging the cushions round her to try and keep her upright. No sooner had he finished when Anna staggered up.
‘I think I'm going to be sick,’ she announced, stumbling towards the balcony window.
‘Oh no you don't.’ Tex grabbed her arm and whisked her down to the bathroom. He held her shoulders as she knelt down on the floor, head hanging in the toilet bowl. ‘Okay?’ Perhaps she wasn't going to be sick after all. He spoke too soon!
‘I'm sorry,’ whimpered Anna afterwards as she sat on the edge of the bath. Tex wiped her face with a wet flannel. Tears began to fall silently down her face, rinsing her mascara, black trickles streaking her skin.
‘Oh Anna,’ comforted Tex softly as he wiped the tears away. ‘Don't cry.’ He tipped her chin with his hand and looked under her eyelashes, black smudges of make-up gathering underneath.
‘I'm sorry,’ mumbled Anna, sniffing. ‘I've made such a mess of everything.’
‘Shhh. It's all right.’ Tex was crouched down. She swayed slightly one way and then the other. Tex held onto her to steady her. The earlier drunken high of jokes and laughter now replaced by the drunken low of tears and apologies. She really was a sorry sight. Not for the first time was he so glad that he had got to the pub when he did, any later and Andy would probably have whisked her off. He shook his head to rid the thought of what might have happened to her, he actually couldn't bear to imagine it.
Tex rinsed the flannel out and tenderly wiped her forehead, pushing her hair back off her face.
‘Here, have a sip of water.’ He held the glass to her lips as she took a small sip. ‘Now, here's a drop of mouthwash. That's it. Spit it out, don't swallow it.’
He helped Anna back through to the living room and again made her comfortable on the sofa, before making some coffee. By the time he had come back though, Anna was half asleep, slumped over sideways on a cushion. Tex wondered whether he should just put a blanket over her, but decided it would be better to get her undressed and into bed. He lifted her with ease from the sofa and took her into the main bedroom, sitting her on the edge of the bed. He knelt down and slipped her shoes from her feet. Anna leaned forward and rested her hands on his shoulders, her head on his. Tex moved his head up slowly, letting out a deep sigh. He couldn't help it, his mouth found hers, familiar feelings stirring within him instantly. He wondered if she felt the same. She wouldn't know what she felt in her current state. With more reluctance than he thought possible, Tex pulled away.
‘Richard Gere wouldn't have done that,’ Anna grumbled, before falling back onto the bed and passing out.
Tex slipped her jeans off, then noticing that her t-shirt had a suspicious looking stain on it, took that off too. Seeing her in just her underwear, he was even more convinced she had lost weight. She was painfully thin. She obviously hadn't been looking after herself properly these past few weeks.
He lifted her into bed, putting her on her side and pulling the duvet over her bare shoulders. How tempting was it to climb in next to her and hold her, feeling her skin next to his? He had missed her so much and had wanted her back in his bed so often, yet now he had the opportunity, he knew he couldn't. For a start, he didn't know if he would be able to resist her after all this time and secondly, he didn't want her to wake up and assume something had happened. That wouldn't be a good move.
Instead, Tex took the quilt from the spare room and made himself as comfortable as possible on the bedroom chair next to her. He didn't want to leave her in case she was sick again.
When Anna awoke the following morning, she wasn't entirely sure where she was or what had happened. Her head was killing her. She shielded her eyes from the light that was streaming in through the double doors, dappled by the muslin. Funny, it looked like Tex's window in his apartment. She closed her eyes. Then almost instantly her eyes snapped open, her senses bursting into life, suddenly very aware of where she was.
She was in Tex's bedroom. His bed, no less. She looked to her left, half expecting to see him next to her, as she so often had. It was empty. She slid her hand across, feeling the smooth, cold sheet, no sign of a crease where a body might have been. No indentation in the pillow either.
Anna took a sip of water from the glass on the bedside table. It was cold and fresh, obviously recently put there. A blister pack of two paracetamols was also there, alongside a little packet of biscuits. The kind you get complimentary with your coffee in a restaurant. The kind that Tex kept in his cupboard.
Gingerly, Anna sat up, swallowed the tablets and nibbled on one of the biscuits. What time was it? She didn’t have her watch on. Had she lost it last night somehow? She tried to recall what had happened last night.
It was
starting to come back, and although she had a vague recollection of Tex coming into the pub and, oh no, being sick and Tex wiping her face, she couldn't remember much else of what happened in the apartment. Did he kiss her or was that a dream? Had he undressed her? It didn't appear that he'd slept in the same bed so she assumed that nothing had happened.
Then Anna noticed the duvet and pillow bundled on the chair in the corner of the room. That confirmed her thoughts then. Tex must have slept on the chair. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that. Should she feel pleased that he didn't take advantage of her, or should she feel miffed that he had resisted her?
Then again, why would he want her when he had Christine now? Tall, glamorous, sophisticated Cruella. Anna didn't stand a chance. She lay back on the pillow. She could hear the gentle tones of a radio playing. Tex always had music on in the background. He was probably sitting on the other side of the door, reading, creating new menus, working on the laptop or going through his paperwork. Things she had seen him do so many times before. She could picture him in his jeans, crisp white t-shirt, bare feet, hair towel-dried, smiling up at her as she approached him. He would then push the papers aside, or drop them on the floor, reaching out for her, kissing her tummy, pulling her onto his lap for more kissing. Sometimes he would cuddle her for a bit and as she got up, he'd playfully smack her behind before returning to his work. Other times he would simply carry on kissing her, ease her on to the sofa, kissing, touching, loving her.
The tears pricked her eyes. Anna couldn't face him yet. She'd wait until he went out and then take her chance to leave. That way she wouldn't have to torture herself just by seeing him, being in the same room as him but not being able to have him, not being wanted.
There was a gentle knock at the door. Anna quickly pulled the duvet up, snuggled down and closed her eyes. She heard the door open and Tex walk into the room over to the edge of the bed. She lay perfectly still, willing him to leave. She heard him pick up the empty tablet pack and then drop it back down again. Her heart was beating faster and faster. She could just tell he was kneeling down beside her. He stroked her hair.
‘You can't pretend to be asleep forever,’ he said. Anna could hear the amusement in his voice. ‘I can see your eyes fluttering.’ Anna opened her eyes. ‘Hey. How are you feeling?’ He smiled a soft, loving smile. One she had seen a hundred times before, one that melted her every time she saw it. She stuck her hand out from the duvet and gave the 'thumbs down' sign.
‘I'm not surprised. I don't think I have ever seen you that drunk.’ Again he stroked her hair. ‘Why don't you have a shower? It will make you feel better. I'll make you a nice cup of tea.’
‘I borrowed one of your t-shirts,’ said Anna as she came into the living room after her shower. ‘Hope you don't mind, but I couldn't find mine.’ She felt uncomfortable and embarrassed.
‘Your t-shirt’s in the dryer. You got something down it last night and your watch is here by the sink. It needed a clean’ Tex didn't elaborate and Anna didn't ask. She didn't want to know. ‘Sit down. I've made you a cup of tea. There's some toast. Try and have some.’
‘Thanks.’ Anna was grateful for the tea and although she wasn't keen on eating anything, did so, pleased to find that it did actually settle her stomach a bit.
‘Mark phoned you last night. He kept ringing your mobile so in the end I sent a message, just to say you wouldn’t be home last night.
‘You should have just ignored him.’
‘I did think about that but then I wondered whether it may be urgent.’
‘Yes, of course. Thank you.’ Great. Now she'd had Mark chasing her up like she needed to explain herself to him. Get his permission to stay out. Christ it was like being a teenager with overprotective parents. Mind you, she had behaved like an irresponsible teenager. Getting so drunk she had to be taken home and looked after. ‘About last night, Tex. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any problems for you.’
‘Actually, it's me who should be apologising to you.’ Tex sat down next to her on the sofa, putting his cup on the coffee table. Resting his elbows on his knees, he put his hands together as if in prayer, raising them to his mouth briefly. He took a deep breath. ‘When you came to the restaurant last night, I wasn't entirely honest with you.’
‘Oh?’
‘I let you think there was something going on between myself and Christine.’
Anna shot him a sideways look. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to make you come back to me. I hated the thought of you being with Mark and I wanted you to know what it felt like.’ He rubbed his stubble with the palm of his hand. ‘When you assumed I was with Christine, I didn't deny it on purpose.’
Anna fixed her gaze on her cup. Her heart had done a double flip when she realised what he was saying. She took her time before responding.
‘That was a bit of a shitty thing to do,’ she said at last.
‘I know and I am truly sorry.’ He touched her arm lightly. The surge of excitement that zinged through her, made Anna flinch involuntarily. Tex took his hand away. ‘There's something I wanna say to you. Something important I wanna tell you. I don't want you to say anything. Not today. Maybe you could have a think about what I'm about to say, and we could meet tomorrow when you’re feeling better.’
Anna looked quizzically at him. ‘Okay,’ she said, putting her cup down. This sounded serious.
Chapter Thirty Two
So he loved her. He adored her and everything about her. Said he had never felt like this about anyone. She had been on his mind all the time, wondering where she was, what she was doing. He had missed her more than he thought was possible.
There was one thing he had said he needed to ask, about Mark. Had she slept with him? Anna had shaken her head. No, she hadn't slept with him and no, she didn't want to. The look of relief on Tex's face had been apparent, but almost immediately followed by a clouded look. Whatever it was that was holding her back, and he knew it was something to do with Mark, if only she could tell him, he was sure they could work things out. He said he could make her happy. They could be happy together.
He hadn't wanted to discuss it that morning. Said she was too hung-over and he needed to get to work. He wanted to meet her tomorrow, when she felt better and had had time to think things over. Really think about what he had said.
‘All you have to do is trust me,’ Tex had said tenderly. They had gone out onto the balcony for some much needed fresh air. Standing side by side, leaning on the railing, gazing out across the River Arun and the town beyond, he had turned to face her, gently turned her to look at him when he had said, ‘I love you, Anna. Don’t you ever forget that.’
Tex had brought Anna's car back from the restaurant for her, parking it in the underground car park. He popped back up with the keys, telling her to go home and get some sleep. He would see her tomorrow.
Anna had nodded. They had stood, awkwardly looking at each other for a moment. It had felt so wrong not having any physical contact. Spontaneously, Anna had put her arms around Tex's neck and hugged him, closing her eyes, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. Tex had hesitated before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. They had stood there, clinging to each other, neither wanting to let go. It was Tex who had moved away first. He had stroked her face, smiled an almost sad smile, before turning away and heading off to work.
After Tex had left for the restaurant, she had stayed at the apartment for another two hours, dozing on and off, waiting for the worst of her hangover to subside, thinking about what he had said.
Just being with him again confirmed what she really knew all along. She wanted to be with him. Anna knew she had to be honest with Tex. She didn't want to lose him. He had thrown their relationship a lifeline and she wasn't going to let it slip away. She wanted to make things work between them. He had been honest with her. He hadn't stopped loving her. She couldn't ask for anyone more attentive, more considerate, more pa
tient or more caring. She knew he loved her and, yes, she felt she could finally admit it to herself. She loved him. Anna Barnes loved Tex Garcia.
Admitting this, acknowledging this fact alone, made Anna feel as if the blanket of sadness that had swamped her in recent weeks had slipped from her shoulders. Her heart felt as if it would burst, not from pain as it had felt before, but with unconditional love. She was deeply in love and she was deeply loved.
She grinned to herself. ‘Hello me!’ she said out loud. She felt as if she had been re-awakened, kick-started back into life. It almost made her forget how hung-over she still felt.
‘Oh, you decided to come home then.’ Mark’s voice was caustic.
Anna scowled at him, although it was no surprise to her that Mark wasn't particularly impressed with her staying out all night, but she hadn't quite expected him to be so cross.
‘I don't have to answer to you, in case you'd forgotten,’ she said airily. She ignored the surprised look on his face.
‘No, maybe not,’ replied Mark, ‘but when me and Luke get in after being out all day and have no idea where you are, it's perfectly understandable that we may be concerned. Then all we get is a text saying you’d be home in the morning.’
Anna said a silent prayer of thanks that at least Tex had had the foresight to send a message from her phone, to cover for her. ‘You knew I was fine, so what’s the problem?’
‘I expect you were too busy getting laid by lover boy,’ sneered Mark.
‘Don't start all that, Mark.’ Anna went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and hunt out a paracetamol. Her head was beginning to throb again, she could feel herself relapsing back into full hangover territory. She called back into the room, hoping her voice didn't betray her lie, albeit a white one. ‘I wasn't well.’
‘Whatever.’ Mark appeared in the doorway. ‘Don't give me all that. You were getting your knickers off.’