The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding (7 page)

Nadia finished her shift at the call centre and hurried out of the overheated office into the chilly evening air, eager to get home. She pulled her coat around her and dashed off towards the Tube. The office was down by The Gherkin and there were very few people around at this time of night. It was one of her weekly late shifts and the rush of commuters had long gone. She hated this part of her journey when it was dark. Her footsteps echoed on the pavement and the wind whipped cruelly, funnelling between the skyscraper buildings. Putting her head down, she hurried on. All she wanted to do was get home now, relieve Autumn of her babysitting duties and get into a hot bath.

She was getting cold feet about her impending trip to the Lake District; it was weighing on her mind. A few times during calls this afternoon, she’d found herself drifting off, letting one irate customer or another shout down the phone at her pointlessly. The sooner she could leave this job the better. The pay was reasonable, but the work was soulless. She needed to get out before she lost her sanity.

Nadia had checked the train times from London to Cumbria and the journey, though long, would be easy enough. They could go direct to Penrith station, where James could come to collect her and Lewis. No need to struggle with luggage as they changed trains or anything, so that wasn’t the issue to hide behind.

She went over it for the hundredth time in her mind as she walked. What she was really scared of was seeing James again. She liked him – a lot. But that wasn’t the issue either. In fact, she wasn’t even sure which way she wanted this to go. What if they didn’t get on when they were together rather than having lovely, long remote telephone conversations? She couldn’t bear it if that ended. It was her late evening lifeline, something she looked forward to every day. What if the relationship they’d developed was nothing more than a delicate illusion?

On the other hand, what if they got on like a house on fire as they had at Christmas? What then? James was rarely able to leave the farm, that much she’d already established. And why would he want to? That was his life. So where did they go from there? How easy would it be to conduct a long distance relationship with three school-age children between them? Nadia sighed to herself. Why couldn’t she have met someone who lived two Tube stations away? That would have made life so much easier.

On the Underground, she dropped into an empty seat. This line was relatively quiet now and she picked up a discarded copy of
Metro
, flicking through it to distract herself from the jumble of thoughts going round her head as the train rumbled and grumbled through the stations.

At the other end of her journey, she walked up the escalator, swiped her Oyster card and swung out into the street. Her heart lifted. Not far now. She strode out as she turned the corner, home almost in sight. The lights would be on; it would be lovely and warm inside. She desperately wanted to know if Autumn had heard any more about a possible meeting with Willow. Maybe she and Autumn could share a cuppa and some chocolate digestives before her friend left. That would be a nice way to end the day.

Then, out of nowhere, she felt someone grab at her handbag from behind. She was wearing the strap across her body and the force caught her off balance and wheeled her round. There was a man, early twenties, in a black hoodie, towering over her. He was wide-eyed and wired. Where had he come from? She hadn’t heard a thing. He snatched viciously at her bag again, agitated, and she stumbled forward to her knees. Before she could do or say anything else, his fist slammed into her face and she felt the taste of blood in her mouth. He aimed a kick which connected with her ribs and doubled her over.

‘Give me the bag,’ he snarled. ‘Give me the fucking bag and you won’t get hurt.’
In her disorientated state, she tried to gather her wits. Her brain struggled to make the connection between what had been happening a moment before and this. Nadia thought about fighting, but what could she do? He already had her at a disadvantage.
‘Give it to me!’ he shouted again.
Hands shaking, she peeled off the bag and handed it up to him.
He spat in her face and shouted ‘Fucking bitch!’ at her before running off down the road.
Nadia tried to get up but the kick had winded her and she stayed on the pavement on all fours, breathing heavily. Her whole body was trembling. Her tights were torn, her knees bloodied and scraped where she’d fallen. Gingerly, she felt her lip and thought that it was split. There was an excruciating pain in the left side of her ribs and she wondered if they were broken. Shaking, she wiped the spittle from her cheek with the back of her hand. It felt as if it was burning like acid and bile rose to her throat. She steadied herself, worried that she’d be sick out here on the pavement.
A young couple walked towards her, but crossed the road when they looked up from their conversation and saw her. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. What sort of place was she living in? She was angry with herself that she’d let her guard down, as she prided herself on being streetwise. Well, not today and it had cost her dearly. She stayed where she was until she’d got her breathing under control and then pushed herself to her feet. She staggered as if drunk. It was a vicious punch and a kick, but nothing more. It could have been so much worse. Yet she felt as if she’d done a dozen rounds in the ring with Ricky Hatton.
Clutching her ribs, she made her way home holding the wall outside the terraced houses for support. This hurt like hell now and was going to be so much worse in the morning. As she got to the door, she went to get her keys from her handbag before she remembered they were gone – like going to switch on the light in a power cut so that you could find a candle. Instead, she rang the bell. She’d have to call the bank, cancel her credit cards and, more importantly, get the locks on the house changed as soon as she could. Somewhere out there was a violent man with a set of her house keys. Nervously, she checked that he hadn’t followed her but, thankfully, there was no one else in the street.
A moment later, Autumn opened the door. ‘Nadia?’
She fell inside, holding onto her friend. Thank goodness she was here. How would she have dealt with this alone?
Autumn was clearly shocked by her appearance. ‘What on earth’s happened?’
‘Some drugged up shithead mugged me,’ Nadia lisped. Her lip was swelling painfully. ‘Just a few houses down. I was nearly home.’
Then she burst into a flood of fresh tears. Autumn held her tightly. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘My ribs,’ she said. ‘And he punched me in the face.’
‘Your lip’s split,’ Autumn said, her own voice shaky. ‘And there’s blood all over your coat.’
Was there? She hadn’t noticed that.
‘Come on,’ Autumn said. ‘Let me help you to take it off. I’ll call the police and then I’ll make you a cup of tea.’
Autumn gently eased the coat from Nadia’s shoulders as she winced in pain. It felt as if all of her body had been assaulted.
‘Do you think you need to go to A and E? I can get Miles to come in the car.’
‘I don’t think so. But I could do with a hot bath.’
‘Are you sure? What did he do?’
‘He just punched and kicked me.’ Nadia cried again. ‘Then he spat at me.’ She wiped her cheek again, longing now to scrub her whole face.
‘Bastard,’ Autumn fumed. ‘I’ll phone this in now. They might have a chance of catching him. Then I’ll run you a bath and you can have a good, long soak.’
‘Is Lewis all right?’
‘He’s fine. Fast asleep for more than an hour.’
‘Good.’ She was glad that her son hadn’t seen her like this; he would only worry. Though how she’d disguise her lip in the morning, goodness only knows. It was starting to sting like hell.
Autumn called the police and Nadia gave them the details of what had happened. They said that someone would come round to see her, though Nadia had little hope that they’d catch her mugger. This went on day in and day out round here and there were very few prosecutions. It had become a part of life. How awful was it to say that?
She thought of James’s farm, the wide open spaces, the glorious hills and thought that there were probably very few muggings there. You were more likely to get trampled by a cow or a sheep. Trying to smile at the image, she felt her lip split wider.
Autumn got a flannel from the bathroom and gently wiped the blood from Nadia’s mouth and chin, then made her tea. While she ran a bath for her, Nadia went in to see Lewis. He was in his own bed, arm thrown back over his head, deep in sleep. Oh, to be so contented, so unaware. Her heart was full of love for her sleeping child. She wanted a better life for him. What about when he was of an age to be out on his own? She’d be sick with worry every time he moved. Stroking his hair, she kissed his warm cheek. He was her life and she had to do all that she could to protect him.
In the bathroom, she sat on the loo seat and sipped her tea through the straw Autumn had found for her as it was too painful to touch the cup to her lip. Autumn swished the bath water, adding some vanilla-scented foam.
‘I’ll sit here,’ Autumn said, her face still etched with concern. ‘I don’t want to leave you alone. I can stay the night too.’
‘I’d like that,’ Nadia said. Physically, she’d probably got off lightly. Emotionally, she felt like a total wreck. It would be good to have Autumn here.
‘I’ll phone Miles in a minute and tell him what’s happened. We can put Lewis in your bed and I’ll climb into his.’
Nadia let out a wavering sigh and tears sprang to her eyes once more. ‘What am I going to do? I need to move away from this place.’
‘It’s no wonder you’re feeling jittery, but don’t do anything hasty.’ Autumn helped her off with her T-shirt, wincing along with her as she lifted it over her head. ‘It will all look better in the morning.’
But would it? Nadia thought. Autumn always looked on the bright side, but the reality of the situation made her feel sick to her stomach. Both the front and the back doors were double locked and bolted, yet she still felt vulnerable. She’d been thinking about selling up for a while; maybe now was the right time.

Chantal flicked through the battered glossy magazine in her hand. There were a couple of dozen other ladies in the hospital waiting room. It was clearly a busy clinic.

If she was honest, she was feeling a bit of a fraud. She’d only had a few twinges, a bit of an ache; she hoped that she wasn’t wasting everyone’s time. Some of these women could be genuinely ill and she was taking up valuable space. Until they separated, she’d always been on Ted’s private health insurance and never had to consider these things. Now she didn’t want to waste valuable NHS resources.

Chantal nodded. ‘Terrified. No one likes hospitals. I hate being poked and prodded about.’
‘Look.’ Lucy nudged her. ‘I’ve got a handbag full of chocolate-chip cookies in case of emergencies. Want one?’
Chantal shook her head. ‘I’m not hungry.’ Despite having had a flippant attitude about the dull ache that had been troubling her over the past few months, she was now feeling anxious about this appointment. She’d never had a breast scan before and was quite surprised when her GP had suggested it. She’d fully expected the doctor to give her a prescription for painkillers and send her on her way.
Lucy put her arm around her. ‘You’ll be all right. I can feel it in my bones.’
‘It’s probably nothing,’ Chantal agreed. ‘I’m convinced there’s a pulled muscle in my ribs somewhere. Lifting Lana up and down all day is like a boot camp workout in itself.’
‘Absolutely,’ Lucy said readily. ‘But still best to get it checked out.’
‘You sound like Jacob.’
Lucy laughed. ‘That’s because he adores you.’
At least that made Chantal smile. ‘I think maybe you’re right.’
‘I’m
so
glad that you two finally got together. You’re made for each other and he’s a total star with Lana. If ever there was a man who should be a father, it’s Jacob.’
‘He’s taken her to Borough market to entertain her, bless him. He
is
good with her. I’m so lucky.’ Jacob had wanted to come with her for this appointment, but she felt happier with one of the girls accompanying her. He was better caring for Lana, so she didn’t have to stress about her. ‘I said I’d text him when I come out.’
‘Hopefully, you’ll be done soon,’ Lucy said. ‘They seem to be moving quite quickly. Though I’d be quite happy to sit and work my way through these biscuits for a bit longer. Sure you don’t want one?’
Chantal shook her head as Lucy helped herself to another one. She’d had no appetite at all recently. ‘Maybe when I’m done.’
‘Has Ted been in touch?’
‘Yes. But I didn’t bother to tell him about this. You know what Ted’s like. He doesn’t do illness. He’d rather not know if there was anything wrong. Other than that, he’s fine. I’m glad that it’s worked out for all of us.’ Chantal sighed. ‘I don’t know how Ted and Stacey are faring behind closed doors, but they seem happy enough.’ Even if they were struggling, she didn’t think Stacey would confide in her now.
‘How’s Elsie?’
‘Thriving, by all accounts. I think Ted and Stacey will be over to visit soon. Ted has work back in London and there are dozens of papers still to sign. Perhaps we can all get together then.’
‘You’re being very civilised about this,’ Lucy noted.
‘We’re trying. We’re all stuck with each other now. I think it would have been a lot harder for me if I hadn’t been able to lean on Jacob.’
‘He makes a very good shoulder to cry on.’
‘I don’t know what I’d do without him.’ They weren’t living in the same house yet, but when they sorted out the property from the divorce, they would move in together. Jacob was planning to keep his own place and rent it out. It was very much a bachelor pad and not suitable as a family home. She couldn’t imagine Lana’s sticky fingers all over his beautifully lacquered kitchen cabinets or her toys over his white oak floor. She smiled to herself. Poor Jacob. He’d have to get used to a few years of standing on unexpected Lego bricks.
‘Not thinking of following me and Crush down the aisle?’
Chantal shook her head. ‘I don’t think there’s any need for us to rush. It’s still early days and we’re just happy as we are. Moving in together is a big enough step for now.’
Lucy sighed. ‘I can’t wait to be Mrs Aiden Holby.’
‘I can’t wait either,’ Chantal said. ‘I sincerely hope nothing goes wrong this time. I’m having sleepless nights for you. And I have
everything
crossed!’
‘
Nothing
,’ Lucy stated emphatically, ‘will stop my wedding this time.’
‘You’re with the right man,’ Chantal said, resting her head on her friend’s shoulder. ‘How lucky are we that we’ve both found such love.’
‘And Autumn’s doing all right, too. Miles is great. They make a lovely couple. We just have to get Nadia fixed up.’
‘I have a good feeling about James the gentleman farmer,’ Chantal said. ‘Let’s keep our fingers crossed.’
‘I don’t know if she’ll go back to the Lakes by herself. I think she’s getting cold feet.’
‘We could all have another road trip.’
Lucy giggled. ‘I don’t know what James would think if we all descended on him. It might put him off her for ever. He takes on Nadia and he gets all four of us into the bargain.’
‘God help any man who takes on the Chocolate Lovers.’
They both laughed at that. It had been a good idea to bring Lucy. You could always count on her to take your mind off your troubles.
While they were still giggling, a nurse came out of a side door and called out, ‘Mrs Chantal Hamilton.’
‘Yes,’ she said. But not for very much longer. Soon she’d be Ms Hamilton, or she might even change back to her maiden name. She turned to Lucy. ‘Wish me luck.’
Her friend squeezed her arm. ‘You’ll be fine.’
Chantal felt a trickle of cold dread in her stomach as she followed the nurse to the door, but fought it down.
‘Good luck,’ Lucy said. ‘I’ll be right here.’
She let out a long, uneasy breath. ‘Don’t eat all the biscuits while I’m gone, Lucy.’