A Summer of Secrets (25 page)

‘You can have anything you like.’

Charlie giggled. ‘You can’t really have anything you like on pizza. You can’t have ice cream on it because that would be silly.’

‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ replied Joe. ‘I think an ice-cream pizza with banana and strawberries would be very tasty.’

‘Or a peanut butter pizza with fish fingers and sprinkles,’ added Charlie, snorting with laughter.

‘How about a spaghetti pizza?’ suggested Joe. ‘With lettuce?’

‘Don’t be silly, Joe,’ said Charlie, turning serious. ‘You couldn’t put lettuce on a pizza. Now you are being
really
silly.’

At which point Joe snorted with laugher.

Their hilarity continued during their visit to the park and then at the pizzeria, where Charlie accepted the waitress’s offer of a free pirate colouring-in kit.

‘I can’t wait to show this to Mum,’ he declared, holding up the finished version. ‘Do you think she’ll be home yet?’

Shards of disappointment pierced Joe. For all they were having a brilliant time, the child obviously missed Gina.

‘I know,’ he piped up, a sudden idea occurring to him. ‘How about we pop in to see Mum at the salon? She’ll be busy so we won’t be able to stay, but I’m sure she won’t mind if we just run in and say hello.’

Charlie’s little mouth stretched into a wide smile. ‘You have lots of good ideas, you know, Joe.’

Joe cocked an amused eyebrow. ‘Do I now?’

Charlie nodded. ‘You do. And just so you know, I’m having a lovely time.’

‘Well …’ Joe crouched down to his son. ‘Just so
you
know, so am I.’

Charlie tutted. ‘I already know that, silly. Now, can we please go and see Mum so I can show her my picture.’

Gina’s salon was easy to find. Located in the centre of Harrogate, it formed part of an upmarket chain, all shiny, trendy and minimalist, with a huge, exotic floral arrangement on the reception desk.

‘We’re here to see Gina,’ he informed the glossy girl perched behind said desk.

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she informed him, in a slightly bored tone. ‘But she’s not here. Can anyone else help?’

Joe shook his head. ‘Er, no, not really. Look, sorry to be a pain, but are you absolutely sure she’s not here?’

The girl nodded. ‘She left a couple of hours ago.’

‘With Nat?’ he ventured.

‘Ah ha. I think they were going for a drink.’

Joe’s pizza which, up until that point, had been digesting nicely, suddenly began churning in his stomach.

‘Right,’ he muttered. ‘Well, er, thanks very much.’

‘Where’s Mum?’ asked Charlie as they left the shop.

‘That, little man, is a very good question,’ replied Joe.

Karen appeared equally as unimpressed when he took Charlie home.

‘She didn’t tell me you were picking him up,’ she informed him, as she and Joe sat in the garden watching Charlie on his climbing frame. ‘Let me call her. See where she is.’ She disappeared into the house, returning a few minutes later.

‘She’s out drinking,’ she said, plopping back into her seat. ‘And by the sounds of her, she’s already had a few too many.’

Joe gawped at her. ‘But she told me she had to work late. That somebody had gone home sick, two girls were on holiday and they were short-staffed.’

Karen shook her head. ‘Lies, lies and more lies, I’m afraid. Which is what you’d have to get used to if you want her back in your life.’

Waves of nausea crashed over Joe. ‘I don’t,’ he blurted out. ‘I honestly couldn’t handle it.’ And he couldn’t: not trusting a word she said, being used and put upon. More than anything he wanted to be part of his son’s life. But not like this. Not when it suited Gina. Not so she could manipulate him whenever it suited her social life. No. This ended right now, he decided, his head suddenly clearing. He would not run off to Tenerife, nor would he cower away. He would stay here and fight for his son. This time, things would be done properly, with prearranged access so Charlie, more than anyone, knew where he stood. This time Joe would not roll over and let Gina trample all over him.

This time it would all be very different.

***

The timing of the Stevens’ party to celebrate Alison winning the North’s Businesswoman of the Year Award could not have been better for Joe. He’d had a
very
serious chat with Gina since his epiphany and lain down some ground rules regarding access to Charlie. The child would now be spending every other weekend with Joe and he’d also see him twice during the week. Gina had appeared both bemused and miffed at his new-found assertiveness, but Joe stuck to his guns, helped by his ally, Karen. Hopefully, the matter was now settled, but if Gina started to mess either him or Charlie around, Joe would have no qualms about contacting a solicitor and putting things on an official legal footing. A threat he had made her all too aware of.

So, a deal happier with how he’d handled the situation this time round, Joe couldn’t wait to tell Candi the news and watch her face break out into another of her lovely smiles. The mere thought caused the now-familiar swarming of butterflies in his stomach.

But where was she? Amidst the melee of people crammed into the Stevens’ garden, he’d seen neither hide nor hair of her. Maybe she couldn’t come. Maybe she was sick. Maybe there’d been another drama with Bernice. Maybe she –

‘Hi.’

Joe whipped around to find a gorgeous female at his side, wearing a strapless red dress.

‘I thought you might not recognise me,’ Candi said, grimacing. ‘I told Alison I’d like a bit of a makeover and this is what she came up with.’

Joe gawped at her. ‘God. You look ….’ A million words flooded his mind all at the same time – gorgeous, amazing, incredible, sexy as hell –

‘Ridiculous?’

He shook his head. ‘Just the opposite. You look a million dollars. And your eyes …’

‘Contact lenses. I’m still getting used to them.’

‘But your eyes are exactly the same as your dad’s,’ Joe remarked. ‘I’d never noticed before.’

‘I don’t think anyone had. I’m not sure about the rest of the look, though. These highlights cost more than a fortnight in Barbados. And the make-up …’ She twisted her features. ‘I’m not sure it’s quite me.’

Joe grinned at her. ‘I think you look amazing, but then again, I thought you looked pretty amazing before.’

Her cheeks flushed crimson. ‘Did you? Really?’

Joe nodded, aware of warmth spreading to his own face. ‘I did.’

‘Well, if you’d told me that before, I wouldn’t have bothered with any of this,’ she confessed, smiling at him in the way that made his heart beat just a tad faster.

***

As Rich surveyed the scene at the Old Granary, he couldn’t help but award himself a metaphorical pat on the back. He’d been the proudest man on the planet when Alison had been presented with the North’s Businesswoman of the Year Award in Newcastle two days ago. Even the fact that she’d now been put forward at national level, which would mean yet another round of media intrusion, hadn’t fazed him. Perhaps because someone on the Awards’ Facebook page – who he suspected might be Jemima Blake-Jones – had added the comment:

“Never mind Alison Stevens. I wouldn’t mind sharing a hot tub with her dishy husband.”

The stream of other – quite lewd – comments this had sparked off had resulted in Rich now having a fan club all of his own. A shallow fact that nonetheless made him feel more included in Alison’s new high-profile world.

Alison, needless to say, had handled the issue of Bernice in her usual competent manner. After the drama with his ex and her sidekick at the Old Granary, Bernice had been served with a solicitor’s letter informing her that if she ever did anything like that again, legal action would ensue. Apart from one phone call where she ranted and raved for twenty minutes, the matter appeared to now be closed. A fact for which Candi, more than anyone, seemed eternally grateful. At least now the girl had some stability in her life. And although he was sorry he hadn’t been able to provide it years ago, Rich was thankful for the chance to do so now. She was a great kid, who’d slotted effortlessly into their lives. Bethany absolutely idolised her and, observing the way Joe Massam was looking at her, Rich suspected she wasn’t the only one.

‘Penny for them?’

He whipped around to find his sister, Hilary, at his side. Normally flitting about the world performing at all sorts of amazing concerts, three years had passed since he’d last seen her. She looked older than he remembered but, in a simple cream shift dress, her thick, dark hair swept up in a classic chignon, still resembled the epitome of class. Rich’s earlier feeling of smugness instantly evaporated. Who’d he been kidding? Nothing he’d achieved came anywhere near the lofty standards set by his sister.

‘Great party,’ she remarked.

‘Thanks,’ he replied. ‘I’m pleased you could make it.’

She smiled knowingly. ‘Actually, I might be able to make a lot more of your parties from now on.’

Rich furrowed his brow.

‘I’m retiring.’

The furrows deepened. ‘Retiring? But why? You love your job. And your lifestyle. It’s so –’

‘Exhausting. Highly pressured. Cut-throat.’

Rich’s jaw dropped. ‘But I thought you loved it.’

Hilary shook her head. ‘I’ve never loved it. But, if you recall, I didn’t have any say in my career choice. Mum latched on to the idea of me being a pianist, and forced me into that mould. Of course, I can’t deny it hasn’t been interesting. Or lucrative. But enough is enough.’

Rich scratched his head. ‘But you’re too young to retire. What are you going to do?’

Hilary threw back her head and laughed. ‘You know what I’ve always wanted to do? Since being little?’

Rich did recall. ‘A florist?’

‘Yep. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ve even made enquiries in the village here. The old man who has the florist’s shop is thinking of selling up soon, so I’ve expressed an interest. Plus, a little bird tells me they might be offering music-tuition weeks at Buttersley Manor soon. I thought I might put myself forward for that, too.’

Rich’s jaw dropped. ‘You mean you’re moving to Buttersley?’

She nodded. ‘And I can’t wait. You know, I’ve always secretly envied your life. Your gorgeous house, your amazing family. The way you’ve been able to make your own choices; recognised what you’re good at and made a success of things. I’ve had none of that.’

Rich gawped at her. ‘But all these years, I’ve envied you. You seemed to have it all.’

Hilary shook her head. ‘I’ve been forced into a career I didn’t want, never spent more than two nights in my own bed, and been far too busy to even think about holding down a long-term relationship. So there you go. Appearances can be deceptive.’

‘Evidently,’ said Rich, wondering how many more surprises his family were going to spring upon him as he pulled his sister to him and enveloped her in a huge hug.

Chapter Twenty

‘Hello. Is the Lady of the Manor home?’

At no time more so than in the days following her accident had Portia realised what a fantastic decision it had been to return to Buttersley. She’d moved into the manor. Unlike the gatehouse cottage, it had a downstairs bathroom where, thankfully, the plumbing still worked. The house might otherwise be falling down around her ears, but the village community spirit remained stronger than ever. She had, so the doctor informed her, a badly sprained ankle and minor concussion, the combination of which had left her hobbling and dazed. But of the myriad visitors who called at the house, bringing all manner of offerings – from freesias to flans – there was one she particularly looked forward to seeing. One who visited every day and who, each time he announced his arrival from the hall, made her heart skip a beat. Just as it had now.

‘Through here,’ she called back, smoothing down her hair and running her tongue over her lips.

‘And how are we today?’ asked Jed, appearing in the doorway of the morning room she’d commandeered as her daytime retreat.

Dressed in cream chinos and a yellow polo shirt, he looked, she thought, like a delicious cake – definitely good enough to eat.

‘A lot better, thanks,’ she replied, doing her best to sound normal, even though normal was the last thing she felt. ‘I even managed a hobble around the garden this morning.’

He wandered into the room and plopped down next to her on the sofa, causing her heart rate to increase still further.

‘Wow,’ he exclaimed. ‘This time next week you’ll be running a marathon with Annie.’

Portia giggled. Jed’s visits had coincided with Annie’s a few times over the week, the two of them getting on like a house on fire.

‘I don’t know about that,’ she replied. ‘But I might make it upstairs to bed for a change.’

As she watched his eyes darken, her cheeks flushed crimson. Obviously, mentioning the word “bed” around Jed Carr was not a good move.

‘Anyway,’ she blustered, clumsily changing the subject. ‘I’m sick of talking about me. What’s going on with you?’

Jed’s mouth stretched into a wide smile. ‘I brought you some fudge,’ he said, handing her the paper bag he’d been holding.

Portia’s heart contracted. Every time he visited he brought her a gift. A little something to show he’d been thinking about her. Yesterday it had been a bunch of freesias. The day before, a glossy magazine.

‘Wow,’ she exclaimed, removing the wrapper. ‘It’s from Lily’s Farm. They make the best fudge ever there.’

Jed chuckled. ‘I know. And my experience tells me you women can’t get enough of it’

The moment Jed left the manor, Portia resisted the urge to burst into tears. But she couldn’t. Judith Minter, the village librarian, had appeared the second after Jed mentioned “you women”. And Judith’s immediate launch into what a fabulous venue the manor would be for future meetings of the History Society had completely robbed Portia of the opportunity to enquire about “exactly what women” Jed had been referring to. Not that she’d been relishing the task. How could she have been so naïve as to think a man as good-looking as him wouldn’t have at least one woman in his life? The thought made her want to blub and vomit at the same time. But who was she kidding, anyway? Deep down, she knew the only reason he visited was to butter her up; make her more amenable to selling him the house. She batted back tears and sucked in a fortifying breath. As gorgeous as she found Jed, and as much as she fantasised about being in his arms, she was nobody’s fool. If Jed Carr thought he could crack her with his act of concern, he had another thing coming.