I leave the group quickly and head inside, I do my bathroom business and take a moment to calm myself down. I don't look in the mirror, I don't want the reflection of a jealous bitch looking back at me. As I leave the bathroom and head down the corridor I hear hushed whispers and I can't resist homing in on the conversation.
"Daddy, I'm trying, but it's just not that simple."
"Get it together Polly, I'm depending on you, if you can't pull this together things are going to get ugly for all of us and I'm trying to stop that happening."
“I need more time," answers Polly.
“I don't have an indefinite amount of time to give you Polly. You've got until the information comes in to convince me you can make this happen or you're out of here. It’s too risky otherwise," Henry Vans says sharply.
"But Daddy..."
“I'm giving you as long as I have. These people don't have endless patience, so pull it together."
“OK Daddy," she concedes on a sigh. The conversation is over and they both leave to go their separate ways. I wait a few minutes and then dart out from the dark doorway I was hiding in. As I do I run smack into the chest of a man I've got no desire to be this close to.
Chris.
"Neely, baby, what're you doing out here?"
"Nothing, just using the bathroom and I'm not your baby," I snap. A flicker of annoyance sparks in his eyes. I've avoided him for so long and this is one of only a handful of times we’ve been alone together since that night.
"Neely, listen, we should..."
"No. No we shouldn't. Whatever you're about to say, the answer is no. It's done. I'm done. I don't want to do anything and that includes talk about it, ever." I've tried my best to be convincing, but admittedly this would work if I could actually look him in the eye when I said everything.
"Neels, I really think..." he tries again and moves in front of me to stop me escaping.
"Chris! Where are you?" shouts Polly, it's like that girl has got him fitted with a GPS tracker. She appears around the corner and stops when she sees Chris attempting to block me in the hall. Her eyes flair in annoyance and she's not happy, she also doesn’t attempt to hide how pissed off she is with our evident closeness.
"What is it Polly?"
“I just thought it would be a good time for the start of the season speeches we spoke about?" The batting of her eyelids is pathetic, what the hell is she up to?
“I'll come and talk to my guests when I'm ready," he replies in a disinterested manner.
Nice touch. They're even making fucking speeches together.
"But..." and before she can finish Ross joins the awkward hallway party.
"Hey Neely, there you are. I was wondering whether you wanted to grab a beer? But I can see you're busy."
"No, a drink would be good. Time to get to know my neighbor," I say, ignoring Chris and stepping round him and Polly, leading Ross away.
Chris doesn’t look pleased with my escape, but I don't care about that and I have no desire to remain there chit chatting to him and his…whatever she is. Ross and I make our way back to the beer table and I grab a couple of fresh bottles and hand one over to him.
"Sorry, did I interrupt something then? Things looked intense," he enquires.
"No. Nothing doing. Just saying hello to the host and his girl," I tell him. He laughs at me and clearly finds something funny, but I don't know what.
"Cool, OK. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on anyone’s toes."
"Nope. No toes to step on apart from mine."
"Great," he replies with a smile that shows me perfect white teeth and eye lines that wrinkle and crease because his smile is genuine.
The rest of the night passes uneventfully. Both Ross and I separate and make small talk with other groups and I end up back with my soul sisters who don’t question where I've been. For this I am thankful, I don't want to get into a deep conversation about my odd behavior now, or probably ever.
I realize that Chris never made a grand speech on his return to the yard, he didn't in the past either but Polly persists in standing at his side just in case he decides to.
The other thing I notice is that Chris's eyes follow me like a hawk, all night and even more so when I get within touching distance of Ross.
*****
Chris
This Neely situation has gone on way too long. I know I’ve fucked things up and made them worse by not trying to speak to her, but I want us to move past what happened.
That disastrous night a year ago is still burned in a guilty part of my brain. I got things wrong and have ruined a friendship and maybe more because of it. The way she’s punishing me is nowhere near as bad as how I want to punish myself.
Polly is still hanging around and needs to fuck off because her attempts to become part of my ranch, business and life are pissing me off. If it wasn’t for the family friendship and working relationship being on the line, I’d have burned her for good months ago.
Ross though, he isn’t someone I’m arsed about, at all. He might be Henry’s new foreman but I don’t give a fuck, he doesn’t work for me. He looks like a player and needs to stay well away from Neely. There’s something about him and come to think of it, what was the guy doing wandering round my house?
Definitely dodgy.
Chapter Four
“Neely, how’s our new case coming along?”
“Slowly Steven, It’s only been a few days. I’ve applied for the land history paper work from the district office and I’ve just received the land purchase deeds from the Hales’ mortgage lender. I’ll review them all thoroughly when they come in.”
“OK,” he replies and goes to return to his office when he spins back and says, “Have you found anything else out?”
“About?” I leave my question open ended, I want him to ask and be specific about it, if he’s definitely asking me to snoop and spill the beans about my friendship with Chris then I want to hear it loud and clear.
“Have you come across any information, not located in the legal documents that could help us?”
“No.”
“Not even at the joint ranch BBQ the other night?”
“No. Not even there.” I reply on a sigh trying to hint I’m done with this conversation.
“OK. Carry on then,” he says to me and this time he does disappear into his office.
“I was going to,” I mumble under my breath.
The more I think about all this, the more I know something fishy is going on here, I can’t put my finger on it, but even Steven is acting weird. For the first time in my career I’m considering telling a few white lies, just to give me some time to poke around and see what’s really behind all this shit.
There was nothing odd going on with Chris himself at the BBQ, he was his usual handsome self and if I hadn’t have overheard the conversation between Polly and her father I’d be none the wiser.
I hate this feeling of uncertainty, like I’m missing something. The best thing I can think to do right now is call the people who will give me a sense of reason and perspective.
My parents.
“Hey Mom, how are you?”
“Good sweetie, what’s new with you?”
“Oh nothing really, I’ve just picked up a case that’s vexing me. Fancy making me lunch?” I ask.
“I do, I’ll force your dad to take a break too, he’s very involved in whatever he is painting at the moment, you being here will force him to rest.”
“OK. See you at lunch time. Bye.” I hang up the phone receiver and feel calmer. I’ll be able to garner advice from my folks without details and specifics. My mom will no doubt tell me to go with my moral compass and do what feels right, but my dad, his opinion will be interesting. He’s always been my biggest supporter and lived the city life before he let my mom drag him to a more rural life style. Dad was a city banker who was going places, he worked long hours and his stress was extreme. He met my mom at a club in the city and was taken by her exotic beauty an
d that she was totally different to the women he was used to. Women he usually picked up were in it for the life style, they wanted a man with money who could keep them in pretty things without having to work to earn them.
Dad says she was so sure of herself that she didn’t need to chase any man and the disinterested vibe she had was what made her interesting. He told me that after a few drinks at the bar she’d said she was bored and was going for pancakes, he liked that this woman was different and not living it up, so decided to follow her. Mom was visiting the city with friends from college and not enjoying it at all because she’s a country girl at heart and knew where she belonged. After enjoying pancakes they made arrangements to meet the following day and do tourist stuff but ended up sitting in a park on a blanket, just talking. My dad says it was the most relaxing day he’d ever had.
When she left they kept in touch and after a few months he went out to visit her at home. She lived in a remote town where her folks farmed the land and worked at the local ranch. Life was simple but meaningful and it was a far cry from what he was used to. He continued to visit her over the next few years and after each visit he became more restless about the forced pace of his life. It was also becoming harder to leave my mom behind.
On a whim he started looking for employment closer to her and found a job at the local bank. When he took his next trip to see her he told her about the job, as mom is a big a believer in fate she convinced him that he should take it so they could be together.
That was the start of my favorite fairy tale; it was a love story that I made my folks tell me about constantly as I was growing up. Every girl dreams that they find their one true love and can live happily ever after and in reality, I am no different.
A few years later they got married and I came along. Shortly after, dad was given the opportunity to go back into investments, but not on a ‘city scale’. My mom convinced him that fate had presented them with another chance and that they should take it, he was good at it and they had a family to provide for. So along with me and all their belongings we relocated to Hawkstown where they purchased a modest farm house on the outskirts of town. This was when I joined the school and met my soul sister Dolly, together with Flo and Lottie and we’ve been inseparable since.
Mom now bakes cakes and makes condiments and sauces on a scale big enough to sell to local businesses and dad works as an investment banker. He also paints during his spare time, he sees the beauty in doing something less stressful and having a hobby not related to his work life. I love my parents fiercely and I tell them often, I’m proud of our small family unit. If my life was to work out the best way possible for me it would be live my dad’s version of city life whilst being part of the community and embracing it like my mom.
When I arrive at the farm house I can hear music coming through the art studio windows and today dad is listening to some classic sixties British music. I can hear him singing which is a clear sign that he is engrossed in whatever he’s doing, so I decide to leave him be, he’ll venture over to the house for lunch shortly anyway.
“Hey Mom, what’re you making?”
“Rocky road squares for Jo, she’s increased her order, says they’re popular.”
“Of course they are, they’re amazing,” I snaffle up a rogue handful of off cuts from one of the batches that is cooling on the side.
“I see you still can’t avoid chocolate then, just like your dad.”
“Yeah and if I keep eating it like him, there is a fair chance I will end up with an ass that looks like his too.”
“Neely, don't talk with your mouth full and there is nothing wrong with your tush. I’ve told you, you’re a mystery beauty, all allure with lots of depth. You get that from me.”
“Yeah yeah”
Mom starts to put the last tray in the huge kitchen oven and pack the stuff on the side into industrial sized Tupperware boxes. When she’s done that, she gets our lunch stuff out of the refrigerator and starts to prepare our food.
“I’m waiting,” she says, “Why the need for the visit? I can sense when something is on your mind.”
“I’ve just got this case at work, there is a kind of personal conflict and I’m not sure whether to ignore it, use it or delve deeper to help me make the decision.”
“Ignore it,” is her instant answer without even hearing the details.
“What? You don’t even want to know the reason or circumstances?”
“What reason or circumstances?” my dad asks, as he enters the kitchen wearing a pair of old cut off jeans and a paint covered shirt.
“Neely’s got a case and it sounds like she could use some advice.” Mom says to him, as he gives her a quick but affectionate lip kiss and then goes to the sink to wash his hands.
“OK, let’s hear it,” he gestures for me to start, always choosing to weigh up the facts. He’s a pro’s and con’s kind of thinker, whereas my mom is all about gut feel and instinct. It’s times like these when I’m reminded that they are total opposites.
“I’m investigating a proposed deal where I’m being asked to keep the details from someone close but at the same time being asked if I ‘know any information that could help’. The case involves someone I’m close to. Which way do I jump?”
“Neither. Have you found out anything that concerns you yet?” He asks.
“Not officially, I’m picking up things that make this feel a bit off. I’m worried because of the people involved and secretive nature which is being mandated. It feels dodgy rather than professional confidentiality. In fact it feels underhand.”
“OK. You go first Maiara, we’re bound to differ so I’ll let your gut take the stand before I hit it with my glory,” dad sweeps his arm out, offering her the metaphorical floor.
“If what you’re doing compromises your friendship and your integrity as a member of our community then you should walk away. If you have a real conflict of interest you should be able to do that no questions asked and no one should argue.”
“Thanks Mom. Dad, shoot.” I turn and face him, I got the answer I expected from her, so I’m wondering which way he’ll jump.
“My view is to sit tight for a while and find out more. If no one is in danger of getting hurt, including you, then ride it out for now. However, morally your Mom is right, if you compromise your personal standards you’re also advertising that your professional standards are up for debate. That is not a good place to be in. It’ll put your career down a path that is hard to renegotiate.”
“Apart from the fact that I think you pair are actually agreeing, which surprises me, I like what you’ve both said.” I interrupt him.
“Hang on. I haven’t finished. A job isn’t your life, it’s something you do to enable you to have a decent standard of living. Your family, your home, your friends, they are your life and if you think one of them is about to get screwed over then you need to be the person we raised and find out all you can to keep those you love safe and happy.”
“Mark! Seriously, you’re telling her to go rooting around in something that she has a bad feeling about? Aneelia Prince you’ll do no such thing,” my mom snaps.
“Neely honey, don’t do anything silly. I’m saying keep your eyes open and ears to the ground. Don't be stupid and if you need anything, I’m here. We both are.”
Mom is banging plates around now, which means dad is in for it when I’m gone and they’re in for a volatile afternoon until he can calm her down. We enjoy a lunch together and the conversation is filled with stories and updates on the people we love and goings on in the town. I leave with hugs and kisses and my dad acting like nothing is wrong. I promise them I’ve listened to the advice and will be the dutiful daughter, my mom however, knows me a little better. She knows I’m about to get busy poking around in some questionable business because the people I care about matter to me, enough that I’ll do it.
Even though Chris makes me mad, sad and regretful I’m not about to watch him be taken for a ride.
So
the decision is made.
Get involved and by any means necessary, the job needs doing quickly so I can manage Steven’s expectations too.
I think it’s time to get all neighborly and make friends with the Van’s new foreman Ross.
Chapter Five
I returned to work with a new sense of purpose and a spring in my step.
My previous indecision is gone and I felt more comfortable now I had a way forward. The only problem was that the spring in my step was noticeable and being picked up by Steven. He was finding every excuse under the sun to come and talk to me. The guy was convinced I was progressing in the research and he was dying to asking what was going on because my mood had lightened considerably.
As I was used to his games, I never gave him the chance to ask and that made me chuckle, but him, not so much. All that said I needed to delay things a little bit so I could figure out what was behind all this nonsense from Henry Vans. Normally I’d be able to use Sonny’s mom, our legal secretary and receptionist, as a researcher, but I’d been told not to because of the sensitive nature of the work. For that reason alone, I used the amount of research as my delay tactic and excuse. So I became what he expected, bitchy Neely. I glared at him, whined about having to do the stuff on my own and slapped papers around my desk. After a while it was enough to keep him in his office because moody Neely equals unapproachable Neely.
During the afternoon Dolly rang and told me that the gang were all heading to Purps later on. Barbara and Harrison were forcing them out so they could have some time with A and B. It was also a Friday night, so there would be a chance to let loose a bit. My devious mind hatched a plan and this was how I found myself standing in the breezeway, outside Ross’s door debating whether to knock and invite him.
Should I? Is this an action that will put my morals in question? Am I using him?
I knock before my brain can come up with the answer.
Forgiving Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 2) Page 3