Secrets (6 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Four Years Later

It had to be the coldest January in the history of Little Cobbleton. Snow had blanketed many parts of the country. Driving conditions were treacherous. Despite most pupils living within walking distance of Little Cobbleton Primary School, parents didn’t want to take their children to school on foot saying conditions were too dangerous. It had yet to snow in the village, but the country lanes were covered in thick ice. There was a lack of pavements and parents worried about cars skidding into both them and their offspring. Only the main road through Little Cobbleton had been gritted. The local Council insisted surrounding lanes – including that of the primary school – were too narrow to send a gritter along. Janey made the decision to officially shut the school for an extra week. Susie, who had got her way and was now a classroom assistant at the primary school, was overjoyed.

‘Wonderful,’ she said to Janey. The two women were on the phone together chatting. ‘A blissful whole week to lie in and eat chocolate.’

‘Honestly, Susie,’ said Janey shaking her head. ‘You are so lazy. You’ve just had the Christmas break.’

‘Actually, add bonking to that previous sentence. Sleep, chocolate and bonking. And not necessarily in that order,’ Susie laughed. ‘Talking of which, I’ve got to go. Sean’s expecting me.’ Sean was Susie’s latest beau. For once she seemed to be going steady with a guy, rather than discarding him like an empty crisp wrapper. Susie lowered her voice conspiratorially. ‘We’re going to do naughty things together with our Christmas confectionary. Have you ever tried a chocolate willie, Janey?’

‘Thanks, Suze, but I prefer it au naturel.’

‘You’re a prude. See ya.’

Janey hung up with a smile. Susie was still the same outrageous, spiky, lazy girl that she’d known all her life. Going into the lounge to check whether more logs might be required for the fire, she saw Jake staring out of the steamed up panes of Rose Cottage. He had a rapt expression on his face.

‘It’s just started to snow,’ he said. ‘Come here, darling.’ He held out a hand. ‘Feast your peepers on this!’

Janey accepted the outstretched hand. Jake pulled her towards him and wound an arm around her waist. She leant into him, inclining her head against his shoulder. The scene outside was like the half-price Christmas cards gracing Little Cobbleton’s corner shop. Beautiful. Deadly, but beautiful.

‘No work for the next week,’ she sighed ruefully.

‘Well, not for me or my music pupils,’ Jake agreed. ‘However, I’ll still be travelling to Manchester at the weekend.’

Janey’s head snapped up from Jake’s shoulder. She stared at him incredulously. ‘Don’t be daft! You can’t possibly drive in these conditions. It would be utter madness.’

‘Needs must, darling.’

‘I don’t agree. Jake, it’s high time you gave up these trips to Manchester. We never get any proper down time together. Every Friday afternoon, as soon as the school bell rings, you’re off like a rocket to the North of England. I don’t see you until Monday morning – usually with red-rimmed eyes because you’ve been driving since dawn. It’s ridiculous.’

Janey could count on two fingers the number of rows she’d had with Jake in their four years together. The first row had been over Susie cold-shouldering Janey when she’d initially moved back to Little Cobbleton. Jake had been angry at Janey going after Susie waving olive branches and, as he’d succinctly put it, “pandering to the cow”. The second row had also been over Susie, when Janey had offered her the job of classroom assistant. However, the title downplayed Susie’s salary which was almost as much as a qualified teacher.

‘I think she’s a dreadful friend,’ Jake had ranted. ‘She constantly treats you like something on the bottom of her shoe. Other people go to uni and get degrees, but not Susie. She expects everything on a plate.’

Janey had then felt obliged to offer Jake a very decently paid job in the role of music and cover teacher, although to be fair Jake did have a degree in his chosen subject. However, the whole Manchester situation was a sore topic for Janey. And now it was looking like she and Jake were about to have their third row.

‘Tell me why you have to go to Manchester?’ Janey demanded. She folded her arms across her chest. Her expression was defiant. She felt thoroughly put out. ‘Commitments to Carbon Vendetta ended long ago. And you certainly don’t need to go all the way up there to earn extra money. You earn well down here. We both do.’

‘Don’t get angry.’ Jake attempted to sooth Janey. ‘I’m working on the situation.’

‘Well I don’t see any evidence of it,’ Janey snapped. Her eyes flashed with anger. ‘Why can’t you wrap up that side of your life?’

‘Look, come here.’ Jake attempted taking one of Janey’s hands. ‘C’mon. Don’t fight me. I have something to tell you.’ Jake reached for Janey’s hand again and this time succeeded. He pulled her towards the sofa. ‘Sit down.’

Janey sat. Now that the whole thorny subject of Manchester was out in the open she felt moody and sulky.

‘As far as Manchester is concerned, I need to keep my work going for a bit longer. I
want
to. You see, a little bird told me–’

Janey groaned. ‘And which little bird was this? Mrs Jones, Mrs Gager or Mrs Fosdyke?’

‘Mrs Jones.’

‘Of course, who else!’ Janey threw her hands up in exasperation. ‘And what exactly has Mrs Jones told you?’

‘That shortly Rose Cottage is going to be for sale.’

Janey’s jaw dropped. For a moment she couldn’t think what to say. ‘What?’ she croaked. ‘That can’t be true. The landlord hasn’t even been in touch.’

‘But he
will
be getting in touch at some point. Mrs Jones knows the cleaner of the landlord who overheard him talking to his wife about it.
Realising their investment
, were the words used according to Mrs Jones.’

‘But I don’t want to move,’ Janey wailed. ‘We’re settled here. I love this place!’

‘That is why I want to keep my Manchester work going for the foreseeable future.’

Janey regarded Jake blankly. ‘Sorry, you’ve lost me. What has Manchester got to do with Rose Cottage?’

‘Because my earnings from the Manchester side of things means we’ll collectively have enough money to put down a deposit on this place. I love it here too, Janey. I don’t want to move either. I’m thinking of us. Our future.’

For a moment Janey was speechless. ‘Oh,’ was all she managed to finally say. Suddenly her eyes began to well. Oh dear. She’d just gone off in the deep end sounding like a fishwife, when all the time Jake’s reasons had been honourable – wanting to buy the cottage.

‘Don’t cry, you silly goose.’ Jake kissed the top of her head. ‘And talking of next steps, I rather think it’s time we sorted out our wedding too.’

Janey swiped the back of one hand across her eyes and sniffed. ‘Are you serious?’ she asked, half laughing, half crying.

‘Definitely. What about February, half-term week?’

Janey looked at her fiancé in astonishment. ‘We’ve been engaged for nearly four years and suddenly you want to get married in four weeks?’

‘Why not?’ Jake laughed.

‘Well I hope you can get a Saturday off!’ Janey quipped.

‘Of course,’ Jake assured. ‘And whilst we’re on the subject, come the long school summer holidays I’d like to switch things round. I’ll be in Manchester during the week and home at the weekend. It means I’ll be able to reimburse the wedding coffers. Is that okay with you?’

‘Oh, Jake! I don’t know what to say. You’re a total workaholic, but you have the best intentions. You really do. Have I told you lately that I love you?’

‘You sound like that slushy song,’ Jake grinned.

‘I like slushy songs.’

‘Me too. I love you, Janey Richardson.’

‘I love you too.’

‘And please,’ Jake pulled a face. ‘Don’t ask Susie to be your bridesmaid.’

‘Of
course
she’s going to be my bridesmaid!’ Janey rolled her eyes.

Jake pretended to give an exasperated sigh. ‘Fine. But just remember it’s
your
wedding. Not hers. Don’t take any nonsense from her. I suppose I’d better ask your brother to be my Best Man. Perhaps we can have Sanjay as an usher. Do you think the gossips of Little Cobbleton are ready for Sanjay and your brother being an item?’

‘There’s only one way to find out,’ Janey laughed. She began to cry again, but this time with joy. She foraged up the sleeve of her sweater for a tissue and noisily blew her nose. She was so happy! She and Jake were going to buy Rose Cottage, and in a few weeks’ time she would be Mrs Miller!

And that was her sixth mistake.

Chapter Fifteen

Four Weeks Later

Janey couldn’t believe how quickly a wedding could be organised when you put your mind to it. Her parents had insisted on paying for the Reception at Little Cobbleton Golf Club.

‘It’s only a small affair, Dad,’ Janey had protested to her father.

‘I don’t care,’ Derek had grinned. ‘It’s not every day a father gives his daughter away.’

The vicar of St Paul’s had assured there was availability for a wedding so long as it wasn’t Valentine’s Day. Janey wasn’t bothered about getting hitched on the most commercially romantic day of the year because it didn’t fall on a Saturday. She wanted to be sure all relatives and friends would be available and free from work commitments, so ended up booking the church for the sixteenth of the month.

Janey had then ruthlessly followed a wedding planner. She’d sourced a swanky photographer, somebody to film the wedding, and a fancy string quartet to play background music throughout the wedding breakfast.

‘What do you want to film the wedding for?’ Susie had jeered. ‘You and Jake aren’t Kate and William.’

‘It’s something to show our children one day,’ Janey had replied evenly.

As usual, Susie had demonstrated quite a bit of green-eye over the impending marriage. She’d accepted the invitation of being Maid of Honour but flatly refused to wear a peach dress saying the colour didn’t suit her. Janey, who’d been picturing peach roses in her bouquet and matching floral arrangements at St Paul’s, was bitterly disappointed.

‘I want to wear black,’ Susie had announced. ‘Then I can wear the dress again.’

Janey had put her foot down over that one – and bottle-green, sludge brown and depressing grey. ‘It’s my big day, and I think you should be willing to wear the colour of my choice.’

They’d finally agreed on violet, although Janey had been unable to source lilac roses and had had to settle for a bouquet with violet ribbons and gems.

‘I can’t wait to help you choose your dress,’ Susie had said.

Janey’d had no intention of Susie ‘helping’ her. She didn’t like to think badly of her best friend, but knew Susie would steer her into the plainest dress. Slipping away to London, Janey spent a very happy day trying on lavish bridal gowns. She’d settled on an ivory number in raw silk. It captured the very essence of what every bride wanted to be – demure, classy, elegant and gorgeous.

When Janey woke up with Jake beside her on Saturday the sixteenth of February, she was beyond excited.

‘I feel like a child on Christmas Day!’ She grinned as she threw back the bed covers. ‘I can’t wait to become Mrs Miller.’

‘Come here, sexy lady,’ Jake grabbed hold of her. ‘Not so fast.’

‘Oh, no you don’t!’ Janey laughed and ducked out of his arms. ‘That can wait until later. I’m going to be virginal and prim.’ She pulled a haughty face. ‘I’m saving myself until tonight.’

Something flickered in Jake’s eyes. ‘No, Janey, it can’t wait. I mean it. Come back here. I want to make love to you one last time.’

‘What do you mean
one last time
? Are you planning on running out on me?’ Janey pretended to pout and thumped Jake on the arm.

‘What I mean,’ said Jake carefully, ‘is one last time as Miss Richardson.’ He lunged for her and caught her wrist. ‘Gotcha!’ Jake tugged her back into bed with him. ‘You are irresistible, do you know that? From the moment I first laid eyes on you, you had me under your spell. You’re hypnotic, Janey. Mesmerising. No other woman has had that effect on me. Ever. You bewitched me from the word go and transported me to a place of insanity.’

‘Wow, I like this talk, my darling,’ Janey giggled throatily. ‘Flattery will get you everywhere.’

‘It’s not flattery. It’s the truth.’

‘Tell me more. I like it,’ Janey whispered and kissed Jake on the lips.

‘I have a better idea,’ Jake murmured. ‘Let me show you exactly how you make me feel.’

It was almost an hour later when Jake finally left for Orchard House to get ready with Joe and Sanjay. When Janey kissed her fiancé good-bye, little did she know it would be for the last time.

Chapter Sixteen

‘As wedding dresses go,’ said Susie as she helped Janey into her gown, ‘this is quite nice.’

Quit
e nice. Only Susie could take two words and try to make Janey doubt her choice of gown. Janey knew Susie was majorly hacked off at being excluded from the trip to London. Janey didn’t expect gushing comments from Susie, but if her friend could muster one decent compliment it would be most welcome. Ah well. Janey mentally shrugged. She didn’t need Susie’s lip service, negative or otherwise, to know she looked a million dollars. Regarding herself in the bedroom’s full length mirror, she encountered a poised and elegant bride gazing back. Her make-up was perfect. Natural with a hint of glam. Her hair fell in soft curls over creamy-white shoulders. The floaty veil, flecked in tiny pearls, gave her an almost ethereal quality.

‘Yeah, not bad.’ Susie nodded her head. It was the closest Janey would get to approval. Susie then spoilt it by adding, ‘Shame the veil is on the short side.’

‘I like it this length,’ Janey said quietly. She glanced at her wrist to see what the time was, but encountered bare skin.

‘Are you looking for your watch?’

‘It’s just habit. I’m not wearing it today. There’s something about watches and bridal gowns that don’t go. I have a pearl bracelet my mother wore on her own wedding day. It’s over there, on the dressing table. Would you pass it to me, please?’

Susie scooped up the pearls. ‘Here,’ she said, and chucked them at Janey.

‘Careful,’ Janey admonished. ‘They’re pretty old.’

‘Like you,’ Susie mocked. ‘You’re not exactly a spring chicken. You know, I think you should have bought a short dress. You’re over thirty now. Long dresses like yours are better on twenty-somethings.’

Janey ignored her. ‘What’s the time, Suze?’

‘Ten past. The car will be here in twenty minutes.’

At that moment the phone rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ said Susie.

She hurried downstairs to take the call while Janey fastened the pearl bracelet around her wrist. Picking up her bouquet, she hitched up the front of the dress and began to carefully make her way out onto the landing towards the staircase. Below, Janey could hear Susie on the telephone.

‘No, Violet. He’s not here. What time were you expecting him?’

Janey’s brow furrowed. Why was her mother on the phone? Making sure her wedding shoes were nowhere near the hem of the gown, Janey kicked a foot out swishing the fabric away from sharp satin heels. Cautiously, she began to descend the narrow staircase. Her concentration fragmented when the doorbell rang. That would be Joe, ready to pick up Susie. Janey would have a few last moments by herself until her own car arrived. It was a vintage roller, firstly collecting her father from Orchard House, then Janey from Rose Cottage, before finally setting off to St Paul’s Church. She hoped her father wouldn’t cry when he saw her. Derek had a tendency to get very emotional, and Janey didn’t want her father’s tears setting her off. At least her make-up was waterproof. She’d spent a fortune on it ensuring it wouldn’t streak or run.

And then two things happened at once. Susie put the phone down and looked anxiously at Janey, while the doorbell gave another clamouring ring.

‘What did Mum want?’ asked Janey, gliding past Susie to the front door.

‘Um…look, I don’t want to panic you,’ said Susie, looking like she was on the verge of panic herself. ‘But Jake didn’t turn up at Orchard House to get ready.’

‘What do you mean
he didn’t turn up
?’ Janey frowned as she reached up to the catch on the front door.

‘Exactly that,’ said Susie, trotting after Janey. ‘Violet didn’t call earlier because she didn’t want to worry you. But there’s no sign of Jake.’

Janey sighed. ‘Please God he’s not been waylaid by Mrs Jones, Mrs Fosdyke or Mrs Gager. I can imagine those three biddies quizzing him about the colour of his buttonhole or the seating arrangements later on. Can you ring his mobile, Suze?’ she said as the catch released. The door swung open. A woman stood on the doorstep. Janey’s heart sank. ‘Look, I’m terribly sorry, but this isn’t a good moment,’ she said to the stranger. ‘I really don’t wish to be a Wannabe Witness, a Born Again Angel, or any other religion you’re flogging. So,’ she smiled politely, ‘thank you, but good-bye.’ She made to shut the door, but the woman stuck a hand out and pushed it back towards Janey.

‘Oi!’ Susie protested. ‘Don’t be so rude. You people need to learn to take no for an answer.’

‘I’m not part of any religious group,’ the woman said. There was something about her tone that brought Janey and Susie up short. ‘I could hear your conversation on the other side of the door. Are you looking for Jake?’

‘What’s it to you?’ Susie demanded.

‘Can I come in?’ asked the woman. ‘In a place like Little Cobbleton, I don’t think the doorstep is the best place to speak privately.’

Janey froze. For a horrible moment, she thought the stranger was going to tell her Jake was dead. Her eyes quickly took in the woman’s clothes. Regular jeans and a belted overcoat. Was she a plain-clothes copper? ‘Who are you?’ Janey whispered.

‘My name’s Marie.’

Janey knew that name. She closed her eyes as her brain flicked back through files of memory. Her features cleared and she relaxed slightly. ‘You’re Todd’s wife.’

‘No,’ said the woman. ‘I’m Jake’s wife.’