Sliding Doors

by Karen Klyne

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gemma stared at the email from Mark on her phone.

  Hi, Alex. Sitting in the airport in Perth. Back tomorrow, or is it the next day? Can’t work it out. Will need a couple of days to recover, but how about dinner on Saturday? Could book your favourite restaurant? Love, Mark xxx

  Now she knew he was just a friend, there didn’t seem to be any harm in having dinner with him. She replied: Hi, Mark. Have a safe journey home. Saturday sounds good. Book restaurant. What time? Look forward to seeing you. Alex xx

  Pick you up at 7.15 xxx

  She had a few days to prepare, and hopefully she’d find out from her mum where her favourite restaurant was. Then she could think about what to wear and what to eat.

  Later that evening, she told her mum about the email.

  “That’s lovely. Try and be nice to him for a change.” Her mum raised her eyebrows. “La Petit Pois, eh?”

  Gemma nodded. “Yes. I’ve always liked that restaurant.”

  She sat with her iPad and looked up the restaurant. It was neither posh nor casual but somewhere in between. Not to worry, she had clothes for all occasions.

  The following day, she arranged to meet Laurel for coffee. As she’d predicted, the Little Tots Nursery School had given a month’s notice.

  Gemma waved when she saw Laurel walk through the door. She looked out of breath and sunk down into one of the comfy chairs. “Relax. I’ll go get you a coffee.”

  “Cheers.”

  Gemma returned with the coffees and two slices of cake.

  Laurel tucked in and when she’d finished, she pushed the debris to one side.

  “I can see you mean business. Fire away, what do you want to know?”

  “Like you said, the nursery has given notice,” Gemma said.

  “Well, at least you can sell it on now. It’s a nice property.”

  “I don’t want to sell it. I was thinking of letting it to some other organisation.” Thanks to Laurel, she’d done some research and was sure she could afford to do this.

  Laurel grimaced. “Problem is, nobody’s got the funding right now.”

  “What about rent free? Is there some worthy cause you might know of?”

  Laurel arched her eyebrow. “Are you serious?”

  “Completely.”

  Laurel grinned. She put her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Now you’re talking. Have you heard of an organisation called Drifters?”

  Gemma shook her head.

  “It’s run by volunteers, but they’re all qualified women who give their time for free. They help women who’ve run away for one reason or another, you know; drugs, alcohol, abuse, broken marriages, mental health issues…you name it. They were operating from a house on Brandon Lane. It was a bit ramshackle, but the council let them use it as it was empty. To cut a long story short, it’s being demolished to make way for a new housing estate. And it looks like they’ll have to shut up shop, unless…”

  Women who’ve run away. What could be more fitting? “So, what do they actually do for them?”

  “Group support, counselling sessions, benefits advice, confidence boosting, vocational courses, cooking lessons, and a lot more. They haven’t been able to offer accommodation to many, just the odd few who are desperate, but it was always their intention to have a small hostel. I could introduce you to Marian, the woman who runs it.” Laurel grinned. “God, Alex, it would be such a boost for them. They’d given up hope of finding somewhere.”

  “That’s brilliant. I knew you’d come up with something.” It would be a tax write-off, and as long as she flipped a few more properties, she figured it would make up for the income she lost on it.

  “That’s the best news I’ve had for days. I’ll give her a ring when I get back to the surgery.” Laurel tapped her watch. “Which should be round about now.” They stood and Laurel pulled her into a close hug. “I’ll call you when I hear. This is so exciting.” She held her at arm’s length and studied her. “I don’t know where all these changes have come from, but I really like them. This state of being is good for you.”

  It was for Gemma too. They left the café and went their separate ways.

  She heard from Laurel in the evening. Unfortunately, Marian was away for a few days, but she’d arranged a meeting the following week.

  Saturday came around all too quickly. Should she wear casual trousers and a jacket or a dress? She hardly ever wore dresses, but the wardrobe was full of them…along with high heeled shoes of all descriptions. She decided on black trousers with a white satin camisole and a lightweight black jacket and high heeled boots. She placed them on the bed ready for later. She went into the main bathroom and ran a hot bath. Her en-suite only had a shower, and she fancied a long, hot soak. She picked up a fancy bottle of blood orange and black pepper bubble bath. She took the top off and inhaled deeply. Umm, heaven in a bottle. She poured almost half the contents into the bath, stripped off, stepped in, and slid down under the bubbles. A bubble bath without interruption still felt like an extravagance, but she was getting used to enjoying all she had now.

  She lay there dreaming and had no idea of the time until her mum knocked on the door and informed her that it was five forty-five. She got out, dried off, put her dressing gown on, and took her time getting ready. She ran a hand through her hair and smiled. It looked good and so did the make-up. She chose a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and watch; all from someone else’s collection. Still, it was a night out, something different, and something that conflicted with the life she’d led before.

  She put her clothes on and looked in the mirror. It wasn’t her she saw but a variation on her theme. It was good. It was the new her. She picked up her handbag and went downstairs and into the kitchen.

  Her mum was sitting by the sofa. Jasper was beside her, and she was stroking his head.

  “You look lovely, Alex.”

  Even Jasper seemed to give her an approving look. “Thanks, Mum.” She went to the fridge and pulled out the half bottle of white wine. “Would you like a glass?”

  “Please. Just a small one though.”

  She took out two glasses, half-filled both, and handed one to her mum. “Cheers.”

  Her mum raised her glass. “Is this liquid courage?”

  “A little. It’s been so long, and I can’t even remember what he looks like.”

  Her mum laughed. “I’m sure you’ll have a lovely evening.”

  Gemma nodded, though she wasn’t sure if that were true. What was that saying? Curiosity killed the cat. Well, trouble had always been her middle name.

  The doorbell rang twice. The old film called The Postman Only Rings Twice sprang to her mind. It was something about fate, and you’ll get what’s coming to you. She knew that only too well, but hoped it wasn’t coming for her yet.

  She opened the door and the man, whom she presumed was Mark, stood there smiling. It was dark so she couldn’t see his features. “Hi, Mark. Good to see you after all this time. Come in.”

  Mark walked in. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

  What was she supposed to say? “Me too. Mum’s in the lounge. Do you want to say hello, and then we can shoot off?”

  “Of course. How is she?”

  “She’s doing well.”

  Mark followed her into the lounge. Her mum opened her arms, and Mark almost fell into them. They exchanged pleasantries whilst Gemma watched. Then he turned around. Gemma held the back of the sofa firmly, lest she fell. He was drop dead gorgeous. Normally she didn’t take much notice of anyone’s looks, be it man or woman…but he was handsome to the nth degree. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair, brown eyes, and with that sort of dark shadow around his chin. He had a casual jacket on with an open neck shirt.

  Mark winked. “Shall we go?”

  You bet. “Yes, I’m ready.” She stared for way too long. In the looks department, he was James Bond material, and he had a wonderfully deep suntan. He seemed charming. He
had a lovely smile, and the crow’s feet around his eyes were probably a sign that he laughed a lot. Well, she’d have to find out.

  They talked non-stop in the taxi. They talked incessantly in the restaurant. He told her all about Australia and his sister and how he loved Perth, and she told him all about her mum and how she was going to live with her permanently, and the new house she’d bought, and the big house that would soon become vacant. And then she shared her exciting news about the Little Tots moving out and how she was considering offering it rent free to a voluntary group called Drifters.

  He listened and seemed fascinated. His wide eyes seemed to indicate that he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

  “I’m stunned. Since I’ve been away, you’ve become a different woman. I could really get to like you.” He laughed.

  He was spot on about her being a different woman. Did he not like the other Alex? “Didn’t you like me before?”

  He pondered that question for far too long. “Obviously, I liked you, otherwise we wouldn’t be friends, would we?”

  Gemma was enjoying this little game. “You tell me?”

  “Well, to be honest, I’ve always found it a bit one-sided.”

  Gemma leaned forward and put her elbows on the table. “And do you want our friendship to end?”

  He gave her a slow smile. “No, I’d like more.”

  “Okay, let’s pretend this is a first date.”

  He leaned forward. “Really?”

  She could smell his aftershave. It was knockout, just like him. “And remember, nothing happens on first dates. This is about getting to know each other.”

  “But I already know you. What about second dates?”

  He didn’t know her though. And she found that she wanted him to. “No chance. I won’t rule out fifth or sixth dates, but you’ll certainly have to woo me…or wow me.”

  His eyes burned into hers. He lowered his voice and whispered, “I shall enjoy that.”

  Phew, sexy voice. She was going to enjoy this new game.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was odd moving back into the house. It was familiar…and yet unfamiliar. In spite of that, Alex had slept well. She stretched her arms above her head and rolled over to look at the bedside clock. It was six o’clock on the dot. Still, she’d had seven hours sleep, and that was way more than she was used to. She took a shower and selected some clothes from the wardrobe. She read for a while, because she didn’t want to wake the household. By seven thirty, she was itching to go down. She was parched and needed a cup of tea. She crept downstairs and into the kitchen and pulled the kitchen blind up. She wished she hadn’t bothered. The rain was incessant. She missed working, the thrill of finding the right property, the imagination it took to decide on the right changes, and the banter with her team. What would she do sitting around the house all day? Would Reece think it weird if she tried to start up that kind of business again? Did she want to? There were too many questions and no answers.

  She prepared the kettle, and when it boiled, she filled the teapot with water, gave it a stir, and while she waited for it to brew, she studied the differences in the kitchen, and this time when the memories overlapped, she let them, analysing them instead of forcing them away. When they faded it was less jarring, and she wasn’t as off balance when she poured her tea. There was nothing quite like the taste of that first cup of tea in the morning and she savoured it.

  Alex was conscious of someone watching her. Reece must have crept through the kitchen door, because she hadn’t heard her. Alex tugged her sweatshirt down. It was a little on the tight side. Either it had shrunk in the wash or Gemma had smaller boobs. “Morning,” she said to Reece, who was halfway through a yawn. “I hope I didn’t wake anyone. I’m still on hospital hours.” She poured Reece a mug of tea, and they sat at the table. “I wasn’t sure what to put out. Do you have a cooked breakfast on Saturdays?”

  Reece rubbed her eyes. “Breakfast. Saturdays?” She blinked like she was trying to clear the sleep from her mind. “No, we only have a cooked breakfast on Sunday. Usually I do it.”

  Alex shrugged. “I might as well do it tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll wake up early again.”

  Reece smiled. “That would be nice. I should warn you, it’s more of a brunch. We don’t eat until about eleven o’clock.”

  What was she going to do until then? Maybe fetch herself a cuppa and do some research on Google. Yes, that would suit her fine. “I’ll have to pop to the shops and get some bacon and eggs. I didn’t think of that yesterday.”

  Reece nodded. “We can pick it up later.”

  “Remind me, I do have a car, don’t I?”

  “Of course, it’s a Mazda.”

  Reece looked a bit concerned. Perhaps she thought she’d take off, never to be seen again. However, she wouldn’t insist on going alone today.

  The weekend passed by quickly and as predicted, the rain never let up. Overall, it wasn’t a bad couple of days. The children busied themselves with their hobbies, played board games together, watched a movie, and even took a walk in the park.

  Overall, Alex thought it had been a success. In her old life, she’d hated the weekends that meant she had little to do, until she’d met Chloe, and then they’d taken a turn for the better, though she didn’t quite fulfil her needs. She’d never had time for a relationship, but she’d convinced herself that when the time was right, she’d find the perfect woman and settle down. The idea of kids had been distant but a possible part of the plan. Now, she had a whole family, but she felt like an outsider looking in. And increasingly, she wanted to be on the inside instead of watching.

  Just before they turned in, Reece briefed her on what would happen tomorrow. It wasn’t something she was looking forward to, and when it came around, she’d have liked to have cancelled.

  The troops arrived to supervise their crazy daughter-in-law. Under normal circumstances she’d consider it an insult to her intelligence, but she knew they meant well. After all, they thought they were protecting their grandchildren from the woman who’d lost her mind. She dared say she’d have done the same in their shoes.

  They turned up when she was preparing breakfast. Val and Keith were all forced smiles and stilted politeness. However, Alex was determined to show them both that she could cope. The mere thought of them supervising her every move drove her crazy. Of course, as far as Val and Keith were concerned, she was crazy, and she’d have to prove otherwise.

  Reece had squeezed her arm and kissed her forehead before she left. Alex wanted to say, “Don’t go. Don’t desert me.” But they were Reece’s parents. They’d been acting in loco parentis whilst Alex had been swanning around having a rest in rehab.

  Val crouched down to the children’s level and asked them how their weekend had been, and they told her everything they’d all done together. Somehow, that didn’t seem to be what Val had wanted to hear.

  “Keith and I will run the children to school, and then he’ll drop me back here and we’ll do some chores together.”

  Alex kept her temper in check. “That’s so good of you. I’ll come too, so I know the procedure, and then you can give me a run down on everything later.”

  Keith patted her arm. “Good idea.”

  When they dropped the kids off at the school gate, both Mattie and Callum hugged their nan and pops, and then they ran over to Alex, squeezed her tightly, and planted kisses on her cheeks. It was childish, but Alex wanted to pump her fist. As they left, they both shouted, “Love you, Mummy.” She blinked a tear away and blew a kiss to each of them. She wasn’t sure why their response mattered so much, but it did. Maybe she wanted to show Reece’s parents that she wasn’t such a bad mother after all, not that she’d ever been one.

  Keith dropped them at home, and they started on the laundry. Val showed her where to find everyone’s laundry bags, and then they took them into the laundry room. She emptied it all out on the countertop and sorted it into piles. Christ, where had all this laundry come from? It lo
oked like they’d been saving it up for months. When the first load came out of the dryer, she shook it out, hung the items on hangers, and placed them on the rail. It was well organised, and Alex knew it wouldn’t take long for her to find her own system.

  Val was watching her like a hawk, but she didn’t let it bother her. She set the ironing board up and lucky for her, they had a steam generator to make the chore a lot quicker. She liked ironing. There was something therapeutic about it, although she wasn’t sure how she’d feel after all this lot.

  Val stared at her. “I didn’t think you liked ironing.”

  Alex smiled. “I can’t remember. Maybe the new me will.”

  Val heaved a sigh. “Right. I’ll go and hoover around the house. There’s still lots to do.”

  There was an element of resentment in Val’s tone, but Alex ignored it. Granted, with four people living in the house, it would take a fair amount of looking after, but she was sure she’d come up with her own schedule and have plenty of time to spare for her own activities. Right now, she hadn’t got a clue what those would be, other than research into the spectacular unlikelihood of someone trading lives with you.

  By lunch time nearly all the chores had been accomplished, so Alex made sandwiches for them both, and they sat down together at the table.

  Val tilted her head. “You seem much better than you were.”

  “Thanks. I feel a lot better. Mind you, Reece couldn’t have coped without you and Keith. You’ve been a godsend.”

  “That’s what parents are for. I’m sure you think we’re interfering, you know, coming in and helping out now that you’re back home.”

  Absolutely. “Not at all. I’m grateful for all your help. I’m sure by next week I’ll be able to cope on my own, though.”

  Val half smiled. “We’ll see.”

  “Of course. I’d do exactly the same in your position.”

  The morning passed by without any arguments, and in the afternoon they all picked the children up. When they got home, they changed, had a snack, did their homework, and played a game. In the meantime, Alex prepared dinner. Apparently, until she’d upset the apple cart, they all sat down for dinner together around six. She prepared a casserole with chicken breasts and mixed vegetables and baked some jacket potatoes to serve with it. Reece’s parents pretended to read newspapers or magazines, but she was aware of them watching her every move. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Reece got in. They exchanged pleasantries and left.