Changing Places (36 page)

‘I’ll be fine,’ Anna assured her. ‘I should be back in an hour or so.’

‘Call me when you’re on your way,’ Val urged.

‘I will.’

Anna hurried out to her car and drove the short distance to the new estate by the sea. The property for sale was in a busy road, littered with bikes, prams and skateboards, and there were two
mums having a chat at a gate nearby. Anna started to relax. It was a total contrast to the afternoon at Beech Wood and she felt her confidence returning. She wouldn’t let that animal stop her
doing the job she loved. She glanced up as a red Opel Corsa rounded the corner and pulled up across the road. A young girl got out from behind the wheel and waved to her before going to help an
older woman from the passenger seat.

‘Anna?’ she asked as they crossed the road.

Anna held out her hand and smiled. ‘That’s right. You must be Delia Cross?’

Delia nodded. ‘Yes, and this is my mum, Celia. Tommy couldn’t come so I roped Mum in instead.’

Anna suppressed a smile as she shook the other woman’s hand. Celia and Delia! ‘Let’s go in.’

Delia fell in love with the property almost immediately, and though Celia was more cautious, she agreed that the house had a lot of promise. ‘You’d need to change the bathroom
suite,’ she told her daughter.

‘And the kitchen,’ Delia said. ‘But this house is way under our budget so we could afford to.’

Anna led them out into the back garden. ‘If you wanted to extend at any stage, planning permission shouldn’t be a problem.’ She pointed at two other houses further down that
had extensions. ‘They’ve set a precedent so it should be easy for you to do the same.’

‘Oh, we could have a conservatory.’ Delia rubbed her hands together, her eyes twinkling.

Celia rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t get too carried away, love. We still have some other properties to look at.’ She directed this at Anna.

‘No problem,’ Anna assured her.

‘Could I bring Tommy back to see it over the weekend?’ Delia asked, ignoring her mother’s disapproving look.

‘I’d have to check with the vendors but we could probably set something up for tomorrow. I would have to give them some notice,’ she warned.

‘I’ll talk to Tommy this afternoon and call you then.’

‘That’s fine.’ Anna led them back outside and locked the hall door.

‘It’s a lovely area, isn’t it, Mum?’

‘Very nice,’ Celia agreed, ‘but I still think you should see the other properties.’

‘Okay, Mum, come on. But I’m telling you this is the one. I’ll call you later, Anna.’

Anna smiled at them both. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

Back in her car, she heaved a sigh of relief. The viewing couldn’t have gone better. As soon as she’d got into her spiel, she’d felt fine. She called Val and told her the good
news.

‘Oh, I’m so glad, Anna. I was worried about you.’

‘No need, and as I’m ahead of schedule and it’s such a nice day, I’m going to drop over to the property on Redfern Road and take the outside photos.’

‘Shall I call them and let them know you’re coming? If they’re in, you could get the measurements done at the same time?’

‘Good idea.’

‘Right, I’ll call you back in a minute.’

Anna drove out of the estate, down through the village and out the other side. She was only a minute’s drive from Redfern Road and Val hadn’t called back. Glancing at the fuel gauge,
Anna decided to get petrol while she was waiting. She was just twisting the petrol cap back on when her mobile rang. Without looking at the display, she pressed the button and jammed it against her
ear. ‘Hi, Val,’ she said as she went inside to pay.

‘It’s not Val.’

She closed her eyes as she recognized Charlie’s voice. ‘I’m afraid I’m in a meeting, Charlie, can I get back to you?’

‘No, you’re not. You’re getting petrol and I’m sitting across the road watching you.’

Anna whirled around and saw Charlie sitting on his motorbike. ‘Meet me down at the entrance to the park,’ he told her.

‘I can’t, I’m on my way to a client,’ she hissed, as she went into the shop and shoved a 50 Euro note at the attendant.

‘I won’t keep you long,’ Charlie promised. ‘It’s your choice. You can meet me or I can follow you back to the office and come in. I think Mark would be very
surprised that you didn’t want to talk to your knight in shining armour.’

Anna sighed as she took her change and came back out to the car. ‘Five minutes, Charlie,’ she said, meeting his eyes as she got into her car.

‘Great.’ Charlie roared off down the road and Anna followed him more slowly.

When she pulled in beside him, Charlie had already removed his helmet and was climbing off his bike. She got out of the car, realizing that it would be a mistake to let him get in beside
her.

Charlie grinned knowingly. ‘What’s the matter, Anna, don’t you trust yourself?’

Before she could answer, Anna’s mobile rang. This time it was Val.

‘I’m afraid you can’t take those photos after all, love,’ she told Anna. ‘They have a skip in the driveway today, they’re doing a good clear-out. It should be
collected before noon tomorrow so you can do it then or leave it until Monday.’

‘Oh, right. Thanks, Val.’

‘No problem. See you later.’

‘I have to go,’ Anna told Charlie, when she’d rung off.

‘Liar.’ He settled back against the bonnet of her car. ‘Val has a very loud voice. It sounds to me like you have plenty of time.’

‘I’ve a mountain of work waiting for me back at the office.’

‘Then the sooner you talk to me, the sooner you can get back to it.’

Anna tossed her phone back into the car and went to perch on the low wall nearby. ‘What do you want, Charlie?’

‘You know what I want,’ he murmured.

‘That night was a mistake. I was upset and I was drunk . . .’

‘And you wanted me,’ he finished.

‘So, what if I did? That’s just sex, Charlie. It doesn’t mean anything.’

‘You’re lying again.’

‘Please,’ she begged. ‘Just leave me alone.’ She looked around nervously as a car drove past. ‘I can’t stay here – anyone might see me.’

‘We’re not doing anything,’ he said, crossing his arms. ‘Yet.’

‘Oh, and what did you have in mind? A roll in the grass?’

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘I’m game if you are, but after that rain last night, it might be a bit damp.’

Anna had to smile.

‘That’s better,’ he murmured. ‘Now – how are you?’

She nodded. ‘I’m fine.’

‘That’s great. How’s your mother-in-law?’

‘Okay.’

‘And your husband?’

Anna looked away. ‘He was waiting for me when I got home that night.’

‘What? But I thought he was staying with his mother.’

‘He was – he is – but he’d called over to see me. He’d been waiting ages.’ Anna closed her eyes as she remembered the expression on Liam’s face.

‘What did you tell him?’

‘The truth – well, some of it. I told him about the attack and that you’d discovered me in the filling station and brought me for a pizza.’

‘And?’

She shrugged. ‘He was upset about the attack and that I hadn’t called him.’

‘So, it’s okay then.’

‘You mean we got away with it?’

‘We didn’t do a whole lot,’ he reminded her.

Anna studied her hands. She wasn’t going to admit to him that she was guilty as hell in her head. They may not have gone the whole way, but she’d wanted to. Just then, he came to sit
beside her, very close but not actually touching. Anna could feel his breath on her cheek and smell his cologne. Desire rose up in her and she had to steel herself not to turn her head and kiss
him.

‘You want me as much as I want you,’ he said, his mouth close to her ear.

‘I’m married,’ Anna said, moving away.

‘Not happily.’

‘What would you know?’ she retorted.

‘Don’t deny it, Anna.’

‘We’re going through a bad patch,’ she admitted, ‘but we’ll be okay.’

‘Really?’ Charlie tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear and she shuddered at his touch.

‘Really.’ Anna stood up and went back to her car. ‘Please leave me alone, Charlie. My marriage won’t have a chance if you don’t.’

‘Maybe it’s already over,’ he suggested. ‘Maybe it’s time you both moved on.’

‘How can you say that? You don’t know anything about us!’

‘I know that you’re here with me.’

‘Yes, but now I’m leaving.’ And before he could say another word, Anna slid behind the wheel, shut her door and drove away.

When she got back into the office Anna threw herself into her work, making it clear to Val that she had no time to chat. Val, to her credit, left her alone, but put a strong
cup of coffee and two chocolate biscuits by her elbow and patted her shoulder. Anna smiled her thanks and went back to work. She was in the middle of trying to write some creative prose about a
particularly nondescript house when Jill phoned. Unlike Rachel, Jill knew all about the attack. She also knew that Anna was showing a property today.

‘How did it go?’ she asked.

For a moment, Anna thought she meant her meeting with Charlie and then realized what her cousin was talking about. ‘No problem, Jill.’

‘Great, I’m glad. Listen, I won’t keep you, I know you’re busy but I wanted to organize a night out with you and Rachel. I have some news.’

‘Well, I’m going over to Rachel’s for tea tomorrow. Why don’t you come too and we could go for a pint after Alex goes to bed?’

‘That’s perfect. I’ve a few things to do tomorrow but I should be with you by about seven. Byee!’

‘Aren’t you going to tell me—’ Anna asked, but Jill had already hung up. She’d just have to wait until tomorrow to find out Jill’s news. Maybe there was a new
man in her life or, better still, maybe Andy was back on the scene. Anna felt relieved that the spotlight would be on Jill and not her. She didn’t want to talk about Liam and she certainly
didn’t want Jill asking any awkward questions about Charlie.

Anna had told Jill that Charlie had taken her out on Monday, just in case it ever came up in a future conversation with Liam. Jill hadn’t said much but she’d given Anna a funny look.
Anna had prattled on about the attack and Jill had let it go. Anna didn’t want to revisit the subject. Jill was too sharp and Anna was way too vulnerable. She’d have to sip mineral
water tomorrow night. A few glasses of wine and she would probably spill the beans. She could just imagine her sister’s face.

‘Anna? A word please?’

She jumped as Mark stuck his head out of his office. ‘Coming.’

The sound of Alex chattering excitedly down in the kitchen woke Rachel early the following morning. She opened one eye and groaned as she saw it was only eight o’clock.
She had been awake half the night, as usual, and was hoping that she could at least have a lie-in. Still, now that she was awake she might as well go down for a cup of tea. When she walked into the
kitchen, Gary was making a pile of sandwiches and Alex was stuffing toys into his schoolbag. ‘Hi, Mum. We’re going camping!’

‘You are?’ Rachel looked from her son to his father.

‘We’re going up to Cavan fishing with Gus and his little lad. They have a cabin up there so we’ll probably stay the night.’

Alex hopped around the kitchen, his eyes shining. ‘It’s going to be a real adventure!’

‘When was this decided?’ Rachel said, her mouth turning down in disapproval. Alex will catch his death sleeping in some damp, draughty cabin.’

‘He’ll be fine,’ Gary assured her. ‘Gus called last night and asked us did we want to come along, Rache. I thought you’d be glad of the break.’

‘Oh.’

‘Alex is looking forward to it, aren’t you, buddy?’

‘Yeah. Oh please, Mum, say I can go. Pleaaaase?’ He wound himself around her leg, and stared up at her.

Rachel smiled. ‘Well, okay then, but I want you to bring a change of clothes.’

‘Already packed.’ Gary nodded towards the holdall by the door. ‘I was just going to make a flask of soup and then we’re ready to go.’

‘I’ll do it.’ Rachel reached into a cupboard and pulled out two Thermos. ‘How about I make some coffee for you?’

‘Thanks.’ Gary smiled at her and Rachel smiled back.

‘I had asked Anna over for tea this evening.’

‘Well, she can still come, can’t she? You two can have a nice girls’ night in.’

‘Mmnn, I suppose. When will you be back?’

‘Lunchtime tomorrow, I should think. Is that okay?’

‘Fine.’

Gary finished the sandwiches, parcelled them up in tinfoil and put them in the holdall. Rachel filled the flasks and gave them to him and then went to make up a first-aid pack. He stood
patiently while she put Band-Aids, antiseptic cream, Paracetamol capsules and Calpol sachets into a bag.

‘I don’t think I’ve got anything for diarrhoea or constipation,’ Rachel murmured.

‘We’re only going for one night, Rache!’

‘Still, you never know. What about pyjamas? And extra socks, have you got extra socks for Alex?’

‘Muuuum!’ Alex protested. ‘We’ve got to go.’

‘You get your coats on and I’ll finish packing your bag,’ she told them.

‘Yes, Mum.’

‘Come on, Alex.’ Gary steered his son out of the kitchen. ‘We’ll get the fishing gear sorted.’

When she was alone, Rachel pulled the bag apart and sighed at the clothes Gary had packed. And he’d forgotten Alex’s toothbrush! Going upstairs she pulled out vests, socks and heavy
sweaters for both her husband and her son. Then she gathered together the basic toiletries that they’d need and hurried back down to cram the much larger bundle into the bag. She zipped it up
with difficulty and could imagine Gary’s reaction when he picked it up. ‘All ready,’ she said as they came back in.

‘Yes!’ Alex punched the air.

‘Give your mother a hug,’ Gary told him, ‘and let’s hit the road.’ As the boy ran to his mother, Gary lifted the bag and groaned. ‘What the hell’s in
here, the kitchen sink?’

‘Just a few necessities,’ Rachel said as she held her son. ‘You’ll thank me for them when you’re shivering in your little cabin tonight.’

Gary kissed her cheek and put an arm around her in a brief hug. ‘I’ll have the mobile. Call if you need me.’