The Open House

by Sam Carrington

  I’m left, sitting in my chair, mouth agape as I hear the front door slam. It’s as though I’ve been in a storm and been left shaken and slightly battered.

  Oh, my God. What have I started?

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Barb

  Carl is in a strange mood today – he seems keen to get away even though I’ve purposely popped into the estate agent’s to see him. I don’t appreciate being fobbed off, and now, as he’s turning his back to me and about to walk out of the office without giving me his time, this is precisely what I tell him. He hesitates as he hears me say it – it’s as though I’ve paused him – he is perfectly still in mid-stride. He slowly rotates and faces me.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs … er …’

  ‘Miller! You know full well what my name is, young man.’ I’m tired of his appalling attitude. Poor Howard would turn in his grave if he could see his son now. Carl does have the decency to blush, at least. Yes. He knows he’s in the wrong. He limps back towards me like a scolded dog.

  ‘Of course, I can’t apologise enough. It’s been a chaotic few days and I’m afraid I’ve dropped the ball, really.’

  I’m intrigued by his admission. Dropped the ball, how? It’s possible he’s referring to the “misplaced” diary. I’m assuming Amber hasn’t found it and returned it yet.

  ‘Well, pick it back up, Mr Anderson. You’ve a lot of people counting on you,’ I say.

  Carl gives a pensive nod. ‘Yes, quite,’ he mumbles. ‘What can I do for you, Mrs Miller?’

  ‘That’s better. And actually, it’s what I might be able to do for you. Can you take five minutes out of your busy schedule to discuss the property at Apple Grove?’

  A dawning spreads across his face. He’s spoken to me on numerous occasions before now but I’m gathering by his expression that he hadn’t put two and two together. Suzanne has been the one to discuss things with me – Carl has always been on the periphery. Now, I feel, it’s time to make my feelings, my intentions, known to him, too.

  ‘You’re Amber Miller’s mother-in law,’ he states, nodding.

  ‘I am,’ I say. ‘And I don’t want her to sell that house.’ I don’t break eye contact with him. He retracts, taking a step back from me.

  ‘Well, okay – but I’m pretty sure you don’t have any say in what Amber does with the house. I’ve received my instructions from her and your son. Everything is signed—’

  ‘I don’t care what has or has not been signed.’ I keep my voice low; I don’t want Suzanne overhearing. I’ve taken a long time to gain her trust and been all nicey-nicey. I don’t want her to hear me being aggressive now. Only Carl need know how serious I am. His face has turned almost puce. It’s good to know that even at my age, I can reduce a grown man to this. ‘Shall we talk in private, Carl?’ I smile.

  Carl does not return the gesture. I’m not sure if I should feel sorry for him for what’s coming. Bless him. He’s not going to know what’s hit him. But I’m confident that after our chat, we’ll both be on the same page; we can be of help to each other. Quid pro quo.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Amber

  I duck inside the closest shopfront as I see her. A rush of blood goes to my head, then plummets downwards so quickly I think I might faint.

  What the hell?

  I gather myself, and peek around the corner of the wall to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

  I wasn’t. It’s definitely her.

  Barb has just walked out of Move Horizon’s office. From this distance I can’t be sure, but it looks like she’s smiling – in fact, I’d say she has a smugness about her that could only mean one thing. She is definitely the one trying to sabotage my chances of selling the house.

  How bloody dare she? I have to control my urge to march right over to her and demand to know what she’s been doing and why she was in the estate agent’s. I’d come off worse, though. She’d undoubtedly have an answer all prepared that makes me out to be unreasonable. I can see the scenario play out in my head. Can hear what she would tell Nick afterwards: “Amber was so aggressive towards me today, Nick. Flinging hurtful accusations at me in the middle of the street, shrieking like a fishwife.” No. I have to wait. This is the type of evidence Davina was referring to earlier. Gather the intel, then, when I’m sure it’s her, go in for the kill. So to speak. I surreptitiously raise my mobile and take a photo of her. I know it’s not showing her coming out of the estate agent’s now – but it does place her in the vicinity. I’ve at least proof she was in town at this time, so, she can’t deny that.

  My head buzzing, I leave my hiding place and carry on walking towards the optician’s shop. I don’t know how well I’ll function this afternoon – having had a stressful, eventful morning and now this. Before I take the left turn to reach the shop, I find myself turning and heading back the way I’ve just come. I’ve still got five minutes before I’m officially due to begin work – enough time to pop in and see Carl. I don’t have any plan for what I’m going to say, or the reason for me dropping in. I just feel the need to show my face.

  ‘Hello, Amber,’ Suzanne greets me as I walk up to her desk. ‘What can I do for you today?’

  ‘I’d like to talk to Carl, please.’

  ‘He’s not in at the moment. He’s gone to a new instruction in Bovey Tracey. Anything I can help with?’

  She always asks this. There never is.

  I hesitate for a moment, then decide to just lay it on the line. ‘Yes, possibly, Suzanne.’ I smile. ‘I see Barbara Miller, my mother-in-law, was here a moment ago. What did she want?’

  Suzanne’s skin flushes pink, the glow rising from her neck to her cheeks. She pushes her long strands of white-blonde hair behind her ears, then shuffles some papers on her desk. This is the type of behaviour I’d categorise as decidedly dodgy.

  ‘I really don’t know, I’m sorry,’ Suzanne says without looking up at me. She’s still busying her hands with paperwork, attempting to look as though she has something purposeful to do right at this minute, rather than what she’s actually doing, which is stalling for time while she thinks up a lie. ‘She spoke with Carl, not me.’

  ‘You didn’t hear what they were talking about?’

  Suzanne shoots me a look of dismay. ‘I don’t listen to conversations I’m not part of,’ she says, her voice clipped.

  Liar. I mean, who doesn’t?

  ‘I wasn’t implying you were deliberately eavesdropping, but it’s not exactly a large space, is it? It’s not as though you could help overhearing?’ I pile on the sickly-sweet tone in an attempt to get her onside.

  She’s having none of it.

  ‘No, it’s not a large space. However, I tend to get on with my work and don’t tune in to other people’s business. I zone out. It’s a gift. Comes from having children.’ Her manner is lighter now, and I feel bad grilling her as though she’s on trial. She may be telling the truth; I do the same thing with Finley and Leo sometimes, so it’s feasible that Suzanne does it too. Although, I can’t even imagine her having children – she seems far too immaculate; unharried.

  ‘Fine. While I’m here, though, I’ll take my key, please.’ Although the locks are changed, I still want it back. I need to know it was at least in his possession.

  ‘Oh,’ Suzanne says, confusion now replacing her earlier look of dismay. ‘That’s strange – he said he’d given it back. Or, maybe I heard him wrong. He might’ve said he has it now ready to give to you at the close of business.’

  I almost laugh.

  ‘Hmm. Well, can you please get Carl to give me a ring as soon as he’s back anyway. I have a horrible feeling he’s trying to avoid me.’ I turn to leave.

  ‘You’re not the only one.’

  Suzanne says it under her breath as I’m walking away, but I catch it.

  I’m uncertain how to take it, but don’t turn around again. Whatever is going on with Barb and Carl, I’m thinking Suzanne isn’t privy to it either.

  Chapter Thirty-Five />
  Amber

  I spent most of the afternoon at work in a fog not knowing if I was coming or going. I was so glad when two thirty rolled around as my mind couldn’t cope with everything rushing around inside it. I’d barely spoken a word to my colleagues, doing the bare minimum for the clients, with little chit-chat. Good job there’s no customer satisfaction survey going on right now. On the drive home I call Richard. I need a nice distraction, so I don’t end up crashing the car. I turn the volume of the phone up and relax when I hear his deep, soothing voice booming from the speaker.

  ‘Hi, babe. I haven’t got long, I’m afraid …’

  ‘That’s okay – neither have I, really. Just on my way to pick the boys up. I only wanted to hear your voice,’ I say, my own thick with the threat of tears.

  ‘What’s happened? Are you all right? You sound like you’re crying.’ His concern is audible, and if I’m honest, brings a certain relief. The fact I’ve not seen him for a few weeks has been getting to me. I’m missing him so much, and with the move taking longer than I’d hoped, I’m fearing my obvious frustration has impacted our relationship negatively.

  I try to keep my tone even; measured. ‘I have had some issues, Richard. There’s so much going on and I feel I’m going through them alone. I miss you.’ I add the last part as I don’t want him to think I’m having a go at him for not being by my side.

  ‘I miss you, too. It’s been torture not seeing you for this long. I’m so sorry things have been difficult for you. Not long now, my love – you’ll be out of it soon.’

  If only I believed that. The time it’s taking to start this new chapter of my life has stretched and stretched. Any more stretching and it’ll become so thin it might tear.

  ‘That’s one of the problems. Nothing is moving this end – in fact, I’d say it’s slowing up to the point of stopping entirely. I’m pretty certain my ex-mother-in-law is somehow sabotaging any hopes of a sale.’

  The line goes quiet. I’m stopped at traffic lights going out of town, and for a moment think I’ve accidentally disconnected the call.

  ‘Richard? You still there?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m here. Look, I know you said she doesn’t want you to leave, but come on … would she really go to those lengths to prevent you from being with me?’

  I consider my response for a beat. ‘Yes, I think she might.’

  ‘You need to keep an eye on her, then,’ Richard says. ‘I’ll try to get down this weekend, I promise.’

  ‘Excellent. Will you meet her – have a word? Maybe reassure her—’

  ‘From what you’ve told me about her, I don’t think she’d respond well to that, do you? I’m the person that confirms her son’s marriage is over. It might add fuel to the fire and she’ll make your life even worse.’

  ‘Good point, and I don’t want to put you in an awkward situation.’

  ‘Thanks. She sounds so delightful, I do feel I’m missing out.’ He laughs. ‘God, next you’ll be suggesting I meet Nick too!’

  ‘Hah!’ I laugh. ‘Not yet – although you are going to have to at some point, Richard. He is the father of the boys, and he deserves to meet the man who’s going to be in their lives.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right, of course. When we’ve settled, we’ll invite him up to Kent. I would prefer to meet him in our new home, not his old one.’

  ‘Okay,’ I say. I don’t want to push this now; it’s not the right time. And I get that Richard wants to meet my ex on his own terms, his own territory. ‘Well, I’ll look forward to the weekend – I seriously can’t wait to see you. I’ve been saving up all my love …’ I give him my best smouldering voice, then laugh. My flirting skills are so rusty.

  ‘Cheeky. I can’t wait either. And maybe we should make a back-up plan. I want you out of that house ASAP and if that means we have to reconsider our strategy, then that’s what we’ll have to do.’

  I finish the call and feel immediately lighter – my dark mood, lifted. Richard does still want us to live with him and is even considering other options if neither of our houses sell fast enough. For the moment, I can’t see what the back-up plan could possibly be apart from renting a house in Kent while we wait. But that was one of the options we’d thought of and discarded due to neither of us having the extra money.

  Perhaps Richard has found another way.

  Or, he’s stalling for time too …

  I try not to let this last thought overlay the previous one. I need to feel hope right now.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Amber

  I pop to the shop to buy some sweets for the boys as a treat, then drive straight to the school and park up. I’m greeted with a few nods from other parents as I walk though the school gates and make my way to the playground. I stand under the large, wooden gazebo just outside Leo’s classroom. Finley’s class is situated at the upper end. He usually hangs around near the top of the field for me and Leo to reach him.

  The door opens and children begin filing out, coats on, bags dangling. At the infant end, the teachers always ensure the children have their coats on and all their belongings before they line up to exit the school. I watch a sea of little faces as they pour out. Leo is never first, but not usually quite the last pupil to emerge either. But today it seems he’s going to be last as I think all the children have left now. I walk towards the door just as Miss Emery comes out with Leo at her side. His head hangs, and he scuffs his feet as they make their way to me. I sense I’m about to be confronted with an issue.

  ‘Hey, Leo,’ I say, ruffling his hair. ‘What’s up, love?’ I ask, then direct my attention to Miss Emery.

  ‘Why don’t you go and stand with your brother? He’s over by the field,’ Miss Emery says to him as she gently nudges his shoulder. Leo does as he’s told. Silently. I brace myself. Something is obviously very wrong for her to be sending him away so she can speak with me alone.

  ‘I don’t wish to worry you, Mrs Miller—’

  When someone begins a sentence with those words you know worrying is exactly what you should be doing. ‘Please, just Amber,’ I say.

  Miss Emery gives me a quick glance. ‘You and your husband’s separation – has it caused a lot of upset?’

  I bristle at the suggestion, even the fact the separation has been brought up, but try to keep any irritation from my voice when I respond.

  ‘It’s been a shock to the boys, of course it has. Obviously they’ve been affected in some ways, however hard we’ve attempted to minimise the impact of it. But … caused a lot of upset?’ I say, accentuating her phrase. ‘No, it’s been an amicable split with no arguments.’ I reconsider this statement and add, ‘Not in front of the boys, anyway. There have been some minor disagreements, but they were really nothing the boys would’ve picked up on. I make sure they don’t.’ My face is hot, probably glowing red. I hate feeling the need to explain myself to this twenty-something teacher. My skin tingles under the unspoken accusation that my marital issues have adversely affected my children.

  ‘I only ask because Leo’s behaviour has been of some concern this past week.’

  ‘A whole week? Then why is this the first I’m hearing about it?’

  ‘We try to deal with behavioural problems as they arise, and at first I didn’t link it to anything in particular.’

  ‘But now?’

  ‘He said something today that set an alarm bell off.’

  Oh, God. What has he said?

  My mouth is too dry to speak, so I nod instead.

  ‘A few times, I’ve had to wake Leo up,’ she says. I want to butt in, but hold back. ‘When I asked him why he was so tired, he told me he was having bad dreams. Nightmares, he said.’

  Now I know the issue is merely Leo falling asleep, the saliva in my mouth returns. ‘Yes, he’s suffered from night terrors from very early on. It’s not a new thing …’ I say. Although if it’s got to a stage where he’s falling asleep in class, that is still worrying. But it’s not as bad as the other things flying throu
gh my head when she mentioned alarm bells.

  ‘Hmmm …’ Miss Emery shoots me a concerned glance. Great, now she’ll inform all the teachers that Leo Miller has been experiencing difficulties for ages and their mother hasn’t bothered to inform the school. Social services will be next. She takes a deep breath. I sense more is coming.

  ‘Say what’s on your mind, Miss Emery. Don’t sugar-coat it on my account.’

  ‘Are you in a new relationship, Amber?’

  I’m not sure where this is going, but my instinct tells me to brace myself. ‘Yes, why?’

  ‘It might be unconnected …’

  ‘What might be?’

  ‘Leo said his nightmares are about the man who is in the house. He wouldn’t go into detail, but you can see this has raised a number of concerns?’

  My mind races as quickly as my pulse. What could he mean by that? I calm my thoughts and consider it rationally. As I’m thinking it, I convey my theory to Miss Emery.

  ‘I think I know what this is about. And while I know it might sound alarming and you obviously are concerned about Leo’s wellbeing – I’d be disappointed if you weren’t – this isn’t anything to do with my new relationship, I can assure you. Richard has barely been to our house. This all stems from an unfortunate misunderstanding between myself and my estate agent – the house has been on the market for some time – and after an open house event, I came home and checked the house thoroughly because I’d felt uncomfortable about the whole thing – strangers all walking around my home; it was an odd sensation. Anyway, I didn’t realise but I’d given the boys the impression I thought someone was inside the house. I inadvertently frightened them. Obviously I explained all this, but Leo had a nightmare that night. Until now, I hadn’t been aware the dreams had continued. So, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll be able to deal with it from here.’