by Karen Klyne
Reece bent down and breathed in the fragrance. “Oh, smell that, it has a lovely scent.” She clicked her fingers. “Do you know, the name won’t come to me. It’s on the tip of my tongue.”
“Oakleaf hydrangeas.” Alex knelt and held one of the bundles close to her nose. She breathed in. “Umm. Honey.”
“What?” Reece laughed. “Since when did you know anything about flowers?”
“I love flowers. That’s something my mum and I had in common. Not much else though.”
Reece stared at her, then looked around, and took in the scenery. “What a beautiful garden. They do a really good job here.”
“Yeah. I might join the gardening club.”
Reece seemed to ignore her sarcasm. “Shall we go and sit on that bench over there?”
Alex followed her and tried to remind herself to be nicer.
Reece’s face seemed to light up. “I have some wonderful news for you.”
“They’re letting me out?”
“I spoke to your mum and dad last night.”
Alex clutched her chest, her eyes widened, and she nearly leapt off her seat. Then it hit her. It wasn’t her mum and dad. Her own mum had disappeared, and her dad had died years ago. She slumped back onto the bench and lowered her head. What a cruel aspect of this nightmare.
“They’re flying in from Malaga tonight. It’s a late flight, so they’ll be staying at the Travelodge at the airport. I’m picking them up tomorrow morning, and they’ll be visiting you in the afternoon.”
It occurred to her that they were Gemma’s parents, so maybe they’d have some ideas. Perhaps they’d get her out of here and take her back to Spain. Then again, did she really want to live in Spain? And after all, she didn’t even know them. Perhaps she could go back and live with Reece and the children, but she didn’t know them either, and they may not want her back. She wasn’t exactly a bundle of joy. Whatever, the prospect of an escape from this place cheered her and gave her fresh hope. For the first time since she’d been in this place, she felt a sense of calm. “Thanks.”
Reece seemed to be happy with that. Perhaps it would take the pressure off her. After all, it couldn’t be easy. The poor woman thought she had a wife and a mother for their children…and that had gone to blazes. She hadn’t given much thought as to how she was coping. She seemed caring, and perhaps she thought she was doing the right thing to get their life back on track. If she really had been Gemma, she’d have commended her…but she wasn’t. She was another person entirely.
Chapter Six
Reece was tired down to her bones, and it wasn’t from working. It was from the stress of it all. Life had turned into a hell of torture. To think, she’d put her own wife into a psychiatric hospital. She’d condemned her to a life of fear, uncertainty, and God knows what else. It wasn’t a life that she knew. But what choice did she have? She had to give it a go and see if anyone could help Gemma. She knew it was over between them, but surely, she should help her and get her back on track, even if they weren’t going to stay together.
Mental health issues weren’t a subject Reece understood. She tried. She spent hours researching. She knew the symptoms were a medical condition, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. They weren’t simply the result of negative thoughts or a bad attitude. When Gemma was acting sad, angry, anxious, or just plain unpleasant, it was difficult to remember that she wouldn’t like how she was feeling or acting any better than Reece did.
At the moment though, Reece wanted to emotionally disconnect. She wanted to safeguard herself and her children from the trauma. The problem was, somewhere, underneath all those vexing symptoms was the person she married, and she couldn’t forget that.
If it weren’t for Callum and Mattie, she wasn’t sure how she’d struggle on. They were such a tonic. It was strange how resilient children were. They loved Gemma, but although they called her their mummy, she was more like a nanny to them. It was hard to explain, because she looked after their needs to the best of her ability, but it was in a dispassionate way. She was distant not only with the children, but with Reece too, and it had been that way for a long time. Reece couldn’t help but feel like she should have done something long ago, but it was easier to coast along pretending things would be okay. And that had led them here.
Her mum bounded through the door and interrupted her thoughts. She walked over to where Reece was sitting and ruffled her hair just like she used to when she was a child. Christ, she was thirty-eight, and yet she still needed her mum and dad in this time of crisis. She looked up and smiled at her mum. “Where’s Dad?”
“Just tucking them in and reading them a story.” She chuckled. “I say reading, but it’s one he made up about a rat who ran away from home.”
“God. Mattie’s scared stiff of rats.”
“We know. That’s why he made up a funny story. Mind you, he’s made a rod for his own back, because every night they ask him what happens next. Last night when I went up to bed, he was lying there with a notebook in his hand, writing down ideas.”
Her mum and Reece laughed together. What would she do without them? They were her rock. And now they were devoting their lives to looking after her children. Reece was by no means poor, but all the hours they put in would cost her a fortune if she had to hire someone. She wouldn’t want to do that anyway. She didn’t want a stranger looking after Callum and Mattie. Her mum and dad seemed to thrive on it and gave more than the extra mile. How long could this go on for though? Was this it? Was this going to be her life? Get up, go to work, come home and change, visit Gemma, go back home again, and eat dinner with her parents? Still, at least she spent nearly every weekend with the children, and she had to admit there was a sense of peace in the house with Gemma gone that there hadn’t been for a long time. Even the kids seemed more relaxed. Reece dug deep to find some sense of optimism. Things would get better in time, and there was nothing she could do about a future cloaked in uncertainty. She set about cleaning up the house and preparing dinner whilst her mum and dad put the children to bed.
The following evening, she leaned on the countertop and stared out of the window into the back garden. There’d been a lot of rain followed by a hot spell, and temperatures had risen into the high twenties. Her mum and dad had filled the paddling pool with water and were sitting on their deck chairs watching over their little chicks. She smiled as a barefoot Mattie chased Callum around the garden. She had a water pistol in her hand and screamed with delight every time she sprayed him. He was good with Mattie, always kind and patient. She wondered what she’d done to be blessed with two such wonderful children.
Her mum and dad came in through the back door and her mum swept her up into a big hug. “How was your visit today?”
“Strangely enough, it was better than normal. We walked in the garden together and even talked a little bit. It’s really pleasant out there. It was odd, though...”
“What was odd?”
“Well, I couldn’t remember the name of a particular flower. Immediately, Gemma told me they were hydrangeas.”
“And?”
“Mum, she knows zilch about flowers. But she even told me the variety.”
Her dad snorted. “Gemma’s clever like that. She’s had plenty of practice. Don’t let her pull the wool over your eyes, Reece.”
She shrugged. “Maybe.” Her dad was possibly right. Gemma had become quite adept at deceit, especially when she wanted to gain an advantage. But it had been instant and seemed genuine, not at all put on.
Her dad clinked some glasses together. “Come on, you two. It’s wine time. I think we could all do with one, and then you can tell us more.” He poured white wine into three glasses and took them over to the table.
Reece took a big swallow. “I think she’s improving, but she still looks unkempt and doesn’t seem to care. Her hair’s all over the place, and she’s lost weight.”
Her dad put an arm around her shoulder. “You shouldn’t go so often. It’s not doing you any go
od, seeing her like that.”
“I can’t leave her on her own. Anyway, I’m away most of next week, and I won’t see her tomorrow because Barry and Lulu are over.”
Her dad raised his eyebrows. “Maybe they’ll take her back to Spain with them. Listen, love, you need a break, even if it is work. What are you lecturing on this time?”
“Maxillofacial trauma.” She laughed when her dad scratched his temple. “Direct trauma to the facial bones, teeth, and nerves causing facial disfigurements. I’m discussing the merits of dental implants to patients who’ve been effected.”
“Sounds fascinating. You know you could earn a hell of a lot more money if you did more private work.”
“I know. I chose to work for the NHS because I think everyone deserves treatment regardless of money, but I do some private work too.” She punched him on the shoulder. “Hey, wasn’t it you who gave me a social conscience? And didn’t you drum into me how good our NHS service was? You said what a crying shame it was that so many dentists were going private, and what about the poor guy on the street?”
He sighed dramatically. “So, I take it I’ll never get my Maserati, then?”
“Dad, you’d never get in it, let alone drive it.”
“I’d give it a good go… Anyway, as we’re getting a bit personal here, can we have a serious discussion?”
Her mum chirped in. “Weren’t you supposed to be lighting the barbeque?”
“Already done, and it needs a while to heat up. Tell me, Reece, what’s going to happen when Gemma comes out of hospital? Have you given it any thought?”
“Of course I have. I have a duty to support her until she recovers.”
“Then what? Will you get a divorce?”
She bowed her head at the thought. “If nothing has changed, then yes, we’ll get a divorce.”
“Good. Wise. This isn’t helping the kids, you know. They won’t know whether they’re coming or going. Best thing to do is split and pay her off. No point in prolonging the agony.” He nodded like the point was made and everything was settled.
“Yes, Dad.” Reece downed her drink and got up. She refilled her glass and took another long, hard swallow. “Don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving.”
Her dad got up. “Burgers and sausages are ready to go.” He went to the fridge, collected the food, and left the kitchen.
Her mum put her hand on her arm. “He’s right, Reece. We only want what’s best for you and the children.”
Reece nodded. “I know. But it’s difficult.”
Her parents had never thought Gemma was right for her and there was no love lost between them. The good times were distant memories, and it was time to let go. If only it was that easy.
Chapter Seven
Gemma found the safe in the stationary cupboard and when she opened it, there were the passwords, just as her mother had told her. There were lots of envelopes, so she took them out and put them all on the desk. The first one contained her passport and a wad of cash. She counted it. Christ, there was fifteen hundred pounds, enough to keep her going for quite some time. Then there was a wallet that contained all her credit cards. The next were bank statements that were up to date. This Alex woman had shitloads of money. It had taken her months to pilfer some money in her past life, where she’d scraped together seven hundred and fifty pounds toward her “running away” fund. She’d put it in an envelope and hid it in a pair of old socks. That was the sum total of her old life. If the woman who’d swapped lives with her found it, she’d be very disappointed. Or would she have Gemma’s memories and think she’d been the one to put the money away? She shook her head and let go of the questions. Now was now, and she was a hell of a lot better off than with the money in her sock.
She got into the PC, and there were files galore. She couldn’t absorb it all. She’d have to take it step by step. When she keyed in the code for the mobile, it came to life. There were a few missed calls from someone called Chloe and dozens from Derrick. At the side of his name, it said “work.”
She plucked up the courage and pressed his number.
He answered immediately. “Hi, boss. Where are you?”
Boss seemed to be a key word. She cleared her throat. “At home.”
“Home? You were supposed to be here an hour ago. We had a meeting.”
“Sorry. I had an accident. I banged my head, and I’ve got concussion.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry. What do you want us to do?”
“I have some memory loss. Why did we have a meeting?”
“To tell us whether we knock the walls down and make it open plan or leave it as separate rooms.”
“Oh.” She tapped her fingers on the desk. She liked open plan. “Knock the walls down.”
“Okay, will do. When will you be back? We miss you giving us hell.”
She didn’t even know where she was supposed to be, let alone when she’d be back. “I feel awful. My vision’s blurred, and my head’s thumping. I need a few weeks rest. Doctor’s orders.”
“A few weeks? Fuck, that’s a long time. We’ll have this done in a couple of days. Then what?”
“Tell you what, Derrick…you decide.”
He laughed. “Derrick? You must be bad.”
“Why, what do I usually call you?”
“Dez or fucktard.”
She shuddered. She’d never use that language. She always had to be so careful in front of the children. Reece gave her hell if she said bloody. “Okay, Dez. When you’ve finished that, move upstairs.”
He roared. “It’s a fucking bungalow. How hard did you hit your fucking head?”
She felt the heat rising from her neck. What an idiot. She’d got carried away. “So do a loft conversion.” This wasn’t exactly a good introduction.
“Yes!”
She moved the phone away from her ear before she ended up with tinnitus.
“I knew you’d come around to my way of thinking. Sometimes I wonder why you give me such a hard time.”
She leaned back and put her feet on the desk. “Because I’m your boss. Anyway, I’m off now. I need to rest.”
“Okay, boss. I’d like to see that.” He hung up.
That part had been easy. Perhaps she could conduct all her business from home. No, nothing was ever that simple. She’d have to face these people one day. Still, it had given her some breathing space, and enough time to do some research. Apparently, she was in some kind of renovation business, which might be interesting. She thought about the different shows she’d watched and what little she knew about it, and then the door opened. The dog walked in and stared at her. Hell. She’d forgotten all about Jasper. His tail hadn’t been wagging, and he hadn’t looked happy to see her, as though he sensed that something wasn’t right. All the same, she had an obligation. She took him down to the beach, but no matter how many times she threw his ball, he wouldn’t fetch it. She guessed it would take time.
For the next few days, she beavered away in her office, trying to understand the nature of what Alex did and how. She was exhausted. It appeared that Alex was a workaholic. Did she ever have any downtime? Heck, she thought she’d had a busy life, but this was on another level. She’d have to step it up if she wanted to pull this off and given the money the business turned over, she definitely wanted to make it work.
And then there was the call from Chloe.
Chloe let out a heavy sigh when Gemma answered. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Absolutely fine.” Who the hell was she?
“What happened?”
Gemma winced. “With what, exactly?”
“We had a date. On Tuesday the 27th.”
That was the day she’d arrived. “Jeez, I’m so sorry. Mum wasn’t well.”
“Oh, right. Did it ever cross your mind to call me? I thought we had something good.”
So it was that sort of date. Alex was involved with a woman. Gemma didn’t want any complex relationships. “I’m sorry. I just don’t have time right now,
Chloe.”
“You shit.” Chloe hung up.
It was better to get rid of any expectations in that department since she wasn’t about to even attempt to fit that kind of thing into this new life, not yet. In the meantime, Alex’s mum and her were getting on fine. She seemed overjoyed that Gemma was working from home, even though she hardly saw her apart from having dinner together. She supposed it was the knowledge that someone else was around that gave her a sense of security. That’s how she felt too.
Laurel phoned her at the end of the week and Gemma told her she was feeling a lot better. After all, she needed some first-hand information, not just the info on the PC, but personal stuff.
On the Saturday night she splashed out on a taxi. She had all that cash, and it was burning a hole in her pocket. In her old life that would have been an extravagance. Now, it felt pretty normal.
She couldn’t really recall what Laurel looked like. Luckily, when she walked through the door, a woman jumped up from her seat, and waved her over.
Laurel went to the bar and returned with two large glasses of white wine. “Phew. I didn’t know they served five hundred mil glasses.”
“No, it’s only a two fifty, but I know the barman. He’s my cousin so he kept pouring.” Laurel laughed.
Gemma thought she’d already had a few. Why not? She doubted if Laurel got out much these days. Two boys and a husband. Thank God they liked fishing so she didn’t have to deal with the whole family. She raised her glass. “Cheers. Here’s to many more.”
Laurel clinked. “I hope so. You’ve always turned me down in the past.”
Gemma grinned. “Not anymore. New me.” She was beginning to like Laurel.
“So, how’s the property business?” She laughed. “How many houses have you got now? Your mum tells me you’ve just bought a new one.”
Gemma nodded, recalling the relevant paperwork. “Yes. It’s in need of some renovations. As for how many, I’m not sure. I still have a memory problem. I hope it comes back soon.”