by Kaylie Kay
The bed was unmade as always but she didn’t care, quickly showering before climbing into it and pulling the covers around her. They smelt of Tom and she breathed in deeply as she closed her eyes, imagining he was there with her. She had set her alarm for three hours’ time as she wanted to surprise him after work with something special, since she hadn’t been there to celebrate with him properly. She wanted to share in his excitement; after all, it was only right being that she was the most important one in his life, she told herself.
Sorry babe, not gonna b home til late, so much to do :(
Olivia sunk back down on the bed, deflated. She had just booked his favourite restaurant in town and was almost ready. She resisted the urge to be annoyed, it wasn’t her style, but she couldn’t help being disappointed. Perhaps if she’d checked her phone as soon as she had woken up she wouldn’t have gone to any trouble but it was 7pm now, her hair was set in perfect waves and her makeup was applied with precision. She had pulled the tags off of her new Victoria’s Secret underwear that she had bought in LA last month, and she had been so keen to show it to Tom. Tonight had been the perfect occasion. The restaurant was booked, and all that was left to do was choose her outfit. She shouldn’t have presumed anything, but for however hard he was to get hold of when she was away, he was always home at a reasonable hour on landing day. Perhaps this new contract would change things slightly, but she would have to adjust, she guessed, as it was all for their future.
Olivia sat for a moment and collected her thoughts. How to recover the situation? Whilst she would usually have loved to slip back into her cosy pyjamas and catch up on her TV, she had gone to great lengths to look her best and was loath to waste her efforts. The solution was simple, if he couldn’t come to her she would have to go to him.
She picked up her mobile and dialled the number for the restaurant.
‘I’d like to order a takeaway, please.’
As she got ready to leave the house thirty minutes
later she quickly scanned the dresses in her wardrobe. A sly grin crept across her face as she reached for her long red cashmere coat… No dress needed.
The gravel crunched beneath her wheels as Olivia turned her Mercedes into Tom’s yard. It was starting to get dark, and she could see light coming from the windows of the portable cabins that served as his offices. She was so focused on how she would make her entrance that she never noticed the cars parked in the shadows. Tom’s was there of course but so too was a white car that she wouldn’t have recognised even if she had seen it, as she had never seen Sarah’s car before.
She dimmed her lights as she parked, trying to keep the element of surprise. Lifting the takeaway from the passenger seat she peered into the logoed paper bag and admired the small white boxes inside, all individually wrapped with beautiful silk bows. Cutlery, folded in white linen napkins, lay neatly on top. Not the average takeaway, she mused, congratulating herself.
She tiptoed as quietly and carefully as she could across the gravel in her favourite black Louboutin stilettos, and ascended the three steps to the reception office door, opening it stealthily and stepping inside. Tom’s office sat behind this one, she was almost there and he hadn’t heard her yet it seemed. She undid the belt of her coat, letting it drape loosely at her sides, and crept across to the door opposite.
Just as she pushed down on the handle something hit her senses, something that made her stop suddenly. An aroma of food crept up her nose and then she thought she heard two voices.
It was too late.
‘Hello?’
Sarah’s voice cut into her like a knife. She quickly used her free hand to pull her coat around her as the door opened and then she was face to face with her and her big, annoying, and probably fake smile. Her emotions swung from embarrassment to annoyance to wanting to knock Sarah over with the takeaway that she still held in her hand. She stood mute, unable to say a word, trying to control these feelings that threatened her composure.
‘Olivia?’ it was Tom. Sarah stepped backwards, still holding the door handle. Olivia looked at Tom. Firstly she needed to assess the situation; he was sat behind his desk with paper spread out in front of him. An opened pizza box sat at the end, its contents untouched, and she was grateful that she had arrived before he had eaten. Innocent looking, she thought, but of course it was, why wouldn’t it be?
Tom looked at her stood there holding her coat clumsily together in the middle and suddenly realised the situation she was in. Thankfully it seemed the work that had kept them so late was not that important after all and he stood up.
‘Sarah, thanks for your help, I think we’ve reached a good place to stop now though, it’s getting late,’ he said kindly. Olivia was still embarrassed, but had managed to feign a more relaxed image on the outside than she felt inside. She turned to Sarah and reiterated what Tom had said.
‘Yes, thank you Sarah, we really appreciate your hard work but I need to help Tom unwind now. It’s not good for my man to work too hard.’ Tom’s eyes widened at the suggestive content of what Olivia had just said. She wasn’t usually so forward, especially in front of people. Despite feeling slightly out of character she embraced the moment; Sarah needed to know that she was a formidable woman, and that she could never compete with her. She needed to know her place, lest she get any ideas!
Sarah look at Tom as if to disagree, and then glanced back at Olivia. She opened her mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it. She just nodded, as she walked over to where her jacket was draped on her chair in the front office.
‘Goodnight then, you two, see you in the morning Tom.’
‘Oh Sarah,’ Olivia called after her just as she reached the reception door, ‘you may as well take this pizza, I’ve brought Tom something much more special.’ She placed her bag next to the pizza box, picking it up with one hand and holding it out towards her.
‘Oh it’s ok, I’m not really hungry.’ Sarah waved her hand dismissively and turned back to the open the door.
As she heard Sarah’s car start in the car park Olivia finally let go of her coat and stood poised across the desk from Tom. He looked her up and down admiringly, and the approval in his face made her feel like a supermodel.
‘Welcome home, babe. I missed you,’ he said softly, raising his eyebrows slightly. The grin on his face told her he was pleased she had turned up.
‘I should hope so,’ she replied seductively as she let her coat slip to the floor.
Chapter 18
‘It will be good for you,’ pleaded Linda. If only her son would listen to her.
‘I don’t want to, Mum, she will make friends quickly enough. Why does it have to be my job? For heaven’s sake, stop interfering!’
Jez retreated to the bathroom, locking the door behind him. As he looked in the mirror he rubbed his face, barely recognising the man that was looking back at him. It wasn’t the same man that smiled from the happy family photos that were displayed all around the apartment, but that man was with Ness, she had been his happiness. Maybe his mother was right, maybe he did need to move on, but he just didn’t know how.
He composed himself and came back to the sitting room, where Linda sat resignedly, watching the children play with their toys on the floor.
‘Ok Mum, you win,’ he sighed. ‘When is she arriving?’
Linda beamed triumphantly. An old and dear friend had messaged to say her daughter would be coming to Hong Kong on business for a few months, and wondered if Jeremy would be able to show her around, chaperone her. Gabriella and Jez had played together when they were little but hadn’t seen each other since primary school. Linda wasn’t suggesting that they have a date for heaven’s sake, but maybe secretly deep down she hoped there may be a spark. Unfortunately Jez knew his mum too well and had detected the hint of optimism that she couldn’t hide.
‘I will take her out, Mum, as friends, and that is all, ok? Don’t be getting your hopes up, nothing more will come of it.’ Of that he was sure, almost. A few
weeks ago he would have been absolutely sure, but that night in the park, with Olivia, had stirred something inside of him. What he wasn’t sure of though, and had been trying to work out since, was whether it was solely Olivia that had made him feel that way, or if he was slowly getting ready to open up to another suitable woman.
The thought though of being with someone else put his mind into turmoil. He swung between guilt over Ness, feeling that he was being disloyal to her, and overthinking how he could possibly bring anyone into the children’s lives. For a moment on the night of their birthdays he had seen a glimpse of how it could be, how easily they had accepted Olivia, and how naturally she had been a part of their life for a few precious hours. She was gone now though, and he had no way of finding her, not that he had tried, but he wondered whether it was simply because she was someone special that it has seemed so easy, or if there was someone else out there that was equally as perfect for them.
Gabriella though, he mused, vaguely remembering her as a mousey kid who teased him constantly. They had nothing in common, although that was pretty typical of boys and girls, but he just couldn’t imagine her as a woman, and definitely not as one that he would have any feelings other than historical friendship for. He would be a gentleman though, and take her out, show her Hong Kong as he knew it, maybe it would be nice to have a companion, perhaps a friend even. When he was honest with himself he could see that he had been reliant on his family for too long now, and that must have been hard for his mum to carry. He had shied away from his old friends, as they had been Ness’s friends too, and he found their well-meant compassion and sympathy suffocating.
‘Not until the end of next month. Oh, Marion will be so pleased! It will be so good for you to get out too. There is more to life than work and children, my dear son, you have a whole life to live.’
She stood up and reached high to give him a hug. He may have towered over her but he was still her little boy, and she still knew what was best for him.
‘Ok, Mum.’ He hugged her back, pleased that he had made her so happy.
Chapter 19
Tom was up and gone before Olivia woke up the next day. The surprise had gone down wonderfully with Tom, and they had shared a magical evening together, despite the unromantic setting of his office. Although Sarah being there had been a minor hiccup at the beginning, as she reflected on it, it had actually added to the excitement, and she had been given the opportunity to let Sarah know exactly who she was dealing with should she get any ideas about making a move on her man. After all, she didn’t know that Olivia was out of character, for all she knew she was always so confident and empowered!
She was making the drive down to Southampton today to visit her sister; it was little Issy’s sixth birthday and she had to have her favourite aunty there. Her mum would be there too and she was looking forward to having the family together for the day.
The two-hour drive went quickly as she talked to her friends to pass the time. She finally arrived at Shelley’s small terraced house, with its pink balloons hanging over the front door, and parked behind her mum’s ten-year-old Ford. She wrestled the huge teddy bear from the back seat, carrying it in front of her up the path, and pressed the doorbell.
Issy squealed in delight, first to see the bear and secondly to see Olivia.
‘Aunty Livvy!!’ She bounced up into Olivia’s arms and buried her head in her hair. ‘I missed you.’ She leaned back, grinning wildly.
‘Where have your teeth gone, Issy?’ Olivia gasped in mock horror.
‘They came out, but it’s ok, the tooth fairy gave me two pounds.’ She held up two fingers, so pleased with herself!
Olivia kissed her gorgeous rosy cheek and lowered her to the ground, picking up her cuddly companion again. Completely hidden by the bear, she walked into the house.
‘What the hell is that?’ Shelley gasped, half laughing, but trying to fathom where she would put this beast in her already overcrowded house! She did love her little sister but she was not very practical sometimes.
Olivia chuckled, putting the bear down at the bottom of the stairs and giving her sister a hug. ‘Sorry sis, I couldn’t resist it!’ Shelley rolled her eyes, but still smiled. ‘Now where’s my little man?’ She poked her head into the living room and looked for her nephew Luke.
‘Upstairs with Oscar,’ said Shelley.
‘Oscar?’ Olivia asked, thinking he must have a friend over.
‘His gecko.’
‘Oh!’
Olivia crept up the stairs as quietly as she could, wanting to surprise the eight-year-old.
‘Boo!’ she shouted as she burst through the door of his small box room that barely fit his bed and toy shelves in. Luke looked up at her from his bed, beaming.
‘Aunty Livvy! Look at Oscar!’ He held up a small gecko the size of his hand to her. She stepped forward to have a closer look, marvelling at its beady eyes and wide grin as it stared straight back at her. She had only ever seen geckos scuttling across walls in the Caribbean and had never been able to catch one!
‘Wow Luke, he’s so cool, where did you get him?’
‘From the reptile centre, they have the coolest animals in there, I wanted a snake but Mum wouldn’t let me.’ He looked disappointed.
‘But Oscar looks like much more fun than a snake.’ Olivia couldn’t help but agree with her sister on that one as she stroked the little creature’s head.
‘I know.’ He smiled again.
‘What does he eat?’
‘Crickets,’ he pronounced, indicating a small plastic box on his shelf.
‘Oh.’ Olivia didn’t know what to make of that. Whilst she was ok with bugs and spiders, seeing the swarm of crickets climbing over each other in the container did make her slightly squeamish. ‘How lovely,’ she said unconvincingly and Luke laughed at her.
Olivia came back downstairs and headed into the living room where her mum was sitting on the sofa. She stood up and threw her arms around her youngest daughter.
‘It’s so good to see you.’ She squeezed Olivia tightly.
‘You too, Mum.’
‘How are you? How’s Tom?’
‘Really good, just busy with work.’
Tom rarely made the journey south with her, unless it was a really special occasion. He was always polite and friendly to them but didn’t really include himself as part of the family. Hopefully that would change when they were married, but with the distance between them she doubted they would ever all be close. It didn’t matter though, plenty of people didn’t get on with their in-laws so she was just grateful that they did, and he never held her back from seeing them.
‘Luke put Ozzy away now, time to go,’ Shelley called up the stairs. They had just been waiting for Olivia to arrive before they went out to the local play centre to meet a few of Issy’s friends. Shelley didn’t have much money, even though her partner Mike worked long, hard hours, but they were the happiest family she knew and she loved just being with them, hanging out. It was obvious how much they all cared for each other and that they were just content with what they had. Olivia wished everyone was so easily pleased, but it was so hard not to want more when you were constantly surrounded by people making successes of their lives, and whilst she considered herself quite content, Tom was always aiming higher. Hopefully he would get high enough one day to stop climbing, and she would be able to enjoy a little more time with him.
She had to admit too that she had become quite accustomed to her nice lifestyle and wasn’t sure now that she could really go back to living her old life, if she was truly honest with herself, and it dawned on her that she was wholly reliant on Tom to stay where she was. Without marriage or children, if they split up she would have nothing more than before; the house was Tom’s, and whilst her job was great it didn’t pay all that well. The thought unnerved her, and she brushed it away quickly. They weren’t going to split up so she had nothing to worry about, did she?
As she drove home late that night her resolve to s
trengthen their relationship deepened. She had to find the right time soon to talk to Tom, she needed to know they were committed forever, she needed the security. She had always just imagined that one day Tom would get to where he wanted to be and then surprise her when he dropped to one knee with a small box in his hand. She never envisaged that it would be her that would push for it, nor did she have any idea how she would bring the subject up, but she would, and sooner rather than later.
Chapter 20
‘I don’t like the sound of her at all. Be careful, hon, you’re too trusting.’
It was Claire on the phone.
Olivia leaned forward from the sofa and took her glass of red wine from the coffee table, sinking back into the oversized pillows and curling her legs up beside her. She took a sip from the glass and turned it around mindlessly, watching the dark liquid lapping against the sides. She didn’t want to hear what her friend was saying but she couldn’t help listening and wondering if her concerns had any depth.
‘She’s just young and overconfident, it’s just bloody annoying that she is so bloody good at her job,’ Olivia moaned.
‘And that she’s beautiful.’
‘Yes, and that.’
‘Not that you aren’t though, mate.’
‘Thanks!’ she retorted. She had never been unconfident in her own looks, and had always known she scrubbed up ok, but that didn’t mean there weren’t prettier or more attractive people out there.
‘But I trust Tom, I know he only has eyes for me, that he loves me.’