by Carol Wyer
Chloe had finished cleaning her face and was debating whether she should confront William and find out why he’d joined the singleton club or go straight home and hope he’d never show up again.
‘You spoken to the new guy, William?’ Jacqueline asked as if reading her mind.
Chloe pretended to be checking her handbag for lipstick. She didn’t want everyone to know about her history with William and yet it would be hard for them not to find out. She needed to talk to William and ask him to keep quiet about their relationship and more importantly about her identity as C J Knight.
Danielle interjected and saved her from having to answer. ‘He’s dead sexy. I kept hoping he’d strip to the waist like Nico and Tane. I bet he sports a six-pack.’
Kaisha agreed. ‘He’s drop-dead gorgeous. His last girlfriend was a Swedish model.’
‘Shit! No kidding? A model? I don’t think I’d stand a chance then,’ said Danielle, staring at herself in the mirror and pulling a face.
Chloe sidled off before they could ask her opinion. Alex was waiting outside the toilets for her, face also wiped clean. ‘You want to buzz off straight away?’
‘I do but I also need to speak to William.’
‘Sure. I’ll hang outside by the car and wait for you.’
She thanked him and re-entered the room where William was talking to Tim and Rob about football versus rugby. She steeled herself and crossed over to them. ‘Hi, sorry to interrupt but can I have a word with William?’ She sounded more assertive than she felt. William blinked in surprise, then excused himself and followed her outside.
‘Fancy seeing you here,’ he began.
She shook her head. ‘What’s going on?’
He pulled a face. ‘Don’t know what you mean.’
‘Stop playing games.’
‘Honestly, I’m not,’ he said. He sighed heavily and turned grey eyes full of remorse onto her. ‘You’re right to be pissed off with me but it’s over between me and Lilly. I’ve messed up hugely and I know you won’t have me back but maybe we could become friends at least. I don’t want anyone else in my life but I do want a life. A friend suggested I join this club and it seemed like a good idea. I came along to see what sort of things they offered and that’s when I saw you. Nobody could have been more surprised than I was to see you here. This is so unlike you, Chloe. What happened to shy, timid Chloe? I was so taken aback I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t going to sign up but Eleanor convinced me to come along to this session. I understand if it makes life difficult for you and I won’t come to any more if you don’t want me to.’ He held her gaze, his face softening as he smiled at her. They’d shared many years together and he knew her inside out. She knew him too, or so she had believed until he had cheated on her.
‘I won’t tell a soul here about us, if that helps. I don’t want to upset your chances of finding somebody else,’ he added.
‘No. That’s bullshit.’
‘Chloe, this isn’t like you. Why would I lie to you?’
‘I don’t know, William, maybe because you lied to me so many times before.’ She didn’t know if it was due to the feeling she’d got from dancing or being painted in warrior makeup, or knowing she had a group of friends who liked her, but she wasn’t going to back down. Before the break-up she’d have hung on his every word, but that was then and she’d changed. ‘It would be better if you didn’t come again. I don’t want you to come. Stay away from me.’
His mouth dropped at the corners. ‘Oh Chloe, you don’t mean that. What harm can it do for me to enjoy a few events? It’s hard for a single guy to meet new people and everybody in Appletree knows about Lilly and about you. I can’t show my face in the pubs at the moment and there are precious few other options. You know how social I am. I can’t sit around the house night after night, going over my mistakes. This seemed like a good opportunity to have a little amusement. Looks like you had the same idea.’
‘I was coerced into this. And in fact it’s none of your business how I came to be part of the club.’
‘Well, you have no right to be annoyed with me for wanting the same thing you do: friendship. Eleanor is looking to increase membership and is rolling out a considerable programme of events the year, so we’ll probably not bump into each other very often.’
She opened her mouth to speak again but a babble of noise alerted her to the other women’s presence. Danielle and Neats had left the building and were headed in her direction. She whispered, ‘Just stay away, William.’
‘Ah, there you are, Chloe. You joining us at the pub? You could come too, if you like,’ Danielle said to William.
‘Another time. I have to get off. I made other arrangements,’ he replied with a charming smile.
‘Shame. You coming to the next event?’
‘I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to check my diary. Nice meeting you all.’
He sauntered away in the direction of his car.
‘I have to go too,’ said Chloe.
‘I thought you were coming with us for a drink.’ Danielle looked crestfallen.
‘Love to but I have to drive Alex home,’ she said, glad to have an excuse.
‘Okay. Hopefully there’ll be another opportunity.’
‘Have a good time,’ said Chloe, making a dash for her own car. Alex was leaning against the tailgate and moved to the passenger door when she arrived.
‘Thanks for waiting for me.’
‘He coming back?’
‘No idea. He said he and Lilly have broken up and he felt like joining the singleton club. Part of me believes him and part doesn’t, but for the life of me I can’t see what else he’d hope to gain by joining up. He wants to try something that isn’t connected to Appletree because everyone in the village knows about his broken relationships and he’s finding it difficult to go to his usual haunts. He wants to meet people who don’t know his past or judge him.’
‘Well, maybe it’s no more sinister than that,’ Alex said with a shrug.
‘I don’t think he’ll be coming to any more events,’ she said and hoped she was right. She’d certainly stood up to him and made her feelings clear. They pulled out of the car park and away from the centre. Chloe didn’t want to think about William any more. She was irked he’d appeared again and just being near him had wound her up. She cursed herself for believing she could live a life without him being in it at all. She’d naively assumed he’d remain with Lilly in Appletree and their paths wouldn’t cross. Had it been an innocent belief? Or had part of her wanted to see him again? If she’d truly wanted him completely out of her life, she ought to have moved to a house hundreds of miles away from the village of Appletree and the county of Staffordshire. Had she been kidding herself all along and been hoping deep down for such an opportunity? She slowed down to overtake a cyclist and shoved all thoughts from her mind. She wasn’t ready to consider those possibilities.
Chapter Nineteen
Friday, 26th January
Faith was clear on the matter.
‘Well, if he does turn up, there’s no way you should stop going to the club events. It took courage to go to each different activity, and now you’ve reached a point where you feel comfortable with the other club members and are actually enjoying a proper life. There is no way you’re going to drop out. I remember what it was like trying to cajole you to go out with me. You always made excuses. I understand how hard it is for you to even talk to one person, let alone a group of people, and anyone who can go from that to performing a Haka, well, it’s nothing short of a bloody miracle.’
‘I look at that video clip on the website and can’t believe it.’
‘But you did and you looked scarily ferocious too.’
‘I don’t know, Faith. I don’t want William to worm his way back into my life.’
‘There’s a simple answer to that problem.’
‘Which is?’
‘Don’t let him. You don’t have to bother with him if he has the audacity to come along
to another. They’re group events so you can talk to any of the others instead. It’s not like when you were married.’
Chloe glanced at Ronnie who’d laid his head on her lap. He hadn’t missed William in the slightest.
‘Anyway, you have the gorgeous Alex on your doorstep. He looked pretty darn good in the video too. Nice firm thighs. I paused it to check him out.’
Chloe released a snort. ‘Trust you. He has got nice legs though.’
‘You seen him this week?’
‘No.’
‘How can you live within a few hundred metres of each other and not see each other?’
‘To start with, it’s a few thousand metres and secondly, he’s working on the building the furthest away. I don’t want to pester him when he’s working.’
‘What about after work?’
‘I don’t like to disturb him. He goes to bed early because they start work early.’
‘Oh, you know that, do you?’
Chloe blushed. ‘I noticed the upstairs lights were on when I walked Ronnie a couple of times after dinner.’
‘You need to do something about it, you know?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Honestly, Chloe. You’re not stupid. You know exactly what I’m inferring. You definitely have a thing for Alex. Go and talk to him. Or invite him to race Ronnie around the reservoir or something, please. Every week for a month, I’ve watched your face transform when you talk about him. You have feelings for the man!’
‘I haven’t. He’s leaving once the houses are up, and he’s moving to Spain. And besides, if he’d liked me in that way, he’d have asked me out by now. We haven’t been out just the two of us since we went for lunch on New Year’s Day.’
‘Didn’t he invite you to the pub after work one night?’
‘Oh yes. He was supposed to come here instead for Sunday lunch but got called away before we’d even started it.’
‘Did you invite him over another time? No, of course you didn’t because that’s not in your nature. I bet if you had, he’d have come over in a shot. He was probably hoping you’d invite him again.’
Chloe chewed over her words. ‘But what if you’re wrong and he refused my invite? I don’t know how I’d feel. And I wouldn’t want to make things difficult between us. I nearly messed it up over Jack’s motorbike. We’re getting on well again. I don’t want to spoil that.’
‘You overthink everything, Chloe. Trust your instincts.’ Faith spoke kindly.
Chloe stroked Ronnie’s head. She knew in her heart that Faith was unlikely to succeed in persuading her to do anything about the Alex situation. It was true she really liked him and even wanted to spend more time with him, but there was little point given he’d be departing. It wasn’t to be and that was that. Ronnie’s ears suddenly pricked up and after some scrabbling to get out accompanied by low woofs, he rushed from the room.
‘Don’t need a doorbell when you have a Ronnie,’ said Chloe.
‘Somebody at the door?’
‘It seems so. He’s barking, so the answer is probably yes. Speak soon.’
‘Bye, hun.’
The screen went blank and Chloe hastened to the back door. Eleanor waved at her through the small glass window. ‘Co-ee!’
No sooner had Chloe let her in than she began speaking at speed, simultaneously patting Ronnie. ‘So sorry we left you and Alex in the lurch. We’re growing the business and had to talk to some people about franchising it. We’re keeping the Staffordshire club under our control but gradually rolling out our business model to others who want to take on the events manager role. We can’t be shooting off from one end of the country to the other on a daily basis, and it’s best to organise local events for local people. So, what did you think of the Haka, yesterday?’
Chloe marvelled at the fact Eleanor had managed to say all that without appearing to take a breath.
‘Huge fun. You want a coffee?’
‘That’d be great. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’
‘No. I was chatting to a friend on Skype. We’d finished when you called around.’
‘Ah, the internet! Where would we be without it?’
‘Without food,’ said Chloe, searching for two mugs in her cupboard.
Eleanor slid onto one of the stools. ‘There are such things as supermarkets.’
‘I don’t like pushing trolleys with wonky wheels or navigating aisles and aisles of food,’ said Chloe. She’d practised this answer before, ready for when she’d been challenged by acquaintances and hadn’t wanted to explain the true reason for never going into shops. ‘Quieter and simpler to do it all online.’
‘You have a point, although I like to check out the produce to make sure it’s in date and choose the best-looking fruit and veg. However, if we get much busier, I’ll be shopping online too.’ She gave a breezy smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Chloe noticed the purplish hues – tell-tale signs Eleanor hadn’t been sleeping well.
The kettle boiled and Chloe prepared the drinks, whilst Eleanor talked about the market she used to visit in Derby before they had moved. Chloe cringed. Markets were another no-no for her. She passed Eleanor her drink with a smile and sat opposite her at the breakfast bar. Eleanor continued, voice light.
‘You’re probably wondering why I came around. I wanted to pick your brains.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes, you’re a member of the singleton club. I wanted to know what your thoughts were on the events you’ve attended so far and if you think we’ve got the right number of people going to them. You’re my market research.’ She blew on the coffee and took a sip. Chloe was honest with her answer.
‘I’ve enjoyed all three events and in my opinion there were more than enough people at each. Having a low number of participants makes the gatherings more intimate, and I’ve got to know everyone in a short space of time.’
Eleanor didn’t seem to be really taking in what she was saying, just nodding along. ‘Fairfax thinks we need to increase the number of people attending each event. We’ve got quite a list of new subscribers and I’m trying to work out how best to handle them all. We advertised the website and club at the beginning of the year and I think half of Staffordshire decided they wanted new year challenges. I was considering advertising events and the first ten people to sign up for each will be able to go. That seem fair to you?’
‘Yes but only if the same ten people don’t keep signing up before the others,’ Chloe offered.
‘I hadn’t thought of that. That’s a possibility, isn’t it?’
‘You could offer the same event a few times the same week. That would enable more folk to sign up and have the chance to do it, or even offer it several times in the year.’
‘That’s a good idea. I like that. Thank you.’ Once again, she sipped her coffee and studied Chloe’s face. Chloe had the distinct impression she hadn’t really come around to ask for advice. Eleanor was a businesswoman. She’d have ideas and thoughts that didn’t require any input from Chloe. A familiar prickling began in her scalp and she was suddenly overcome with awkwardness. It could hit her at any time. Even with friends or people she felt comfortable with. She would suddenly think they were judging her.
‘You’ve guessed, haven’t you? The true reason I came around?’ said Eleanor at last.
‘No.’
‘You look like you suspect me of something and you’d be right. I’ll come clean: I spotted you and the new guy, William, talking outside the Arts Centre, and I wondered if there was a little spark between you. I know I shouldn’t interfere and Fairfax told me to butt out, but I think William really likes you. I caught him staring at you at the wrestling before Neats knocked you out, really eyeing you up and down with a look on his face that I can only describe as hungry, and I watched him again yesterday. I couldn’t help but notice the way he kept looking across at you, whilst everyone was learning the Haka. He’s as keen as mustard. It was written all over his face. So, I had to find
out your thoughts. He’s very dishy.’ She gave Chloe a wink.
Chloe swallowed hard. ‘It isn’t ever going to happen.’
‘Why not? He’s the best-looking guy there and totally charming. He’s a regional sales director for a big stationery company and has a great set of teeth.’
She’d have to explain. ‘I don’t want it bandied around but William’s is actually my almost ex-husband.’
Eleanor let out a gasp.
‘He didn’t have a clue I’d be at the Haka event and I didn’t know he was coming. We had words afterwards, so it’s unlikely he’ll attend any future events. If he does turn up, then I’ll drop out. You understand, don’t you?’
‘No, don’t do that! Please don’t leave.’
‘But if you have lots of new members, you don’t need me to come along.’
‘You’re one of the family. You can’t drop out.’
‘I’ve really enjoyed it but I don’t want to keep meeting other people. That’s not who I am. I don’t feel comfortable around new people all the time. I like familiarity.’
‘Chloe, you mustn’t give up.’
Chloe wasn’t going to argue. The fact was that if different people, other than those she was becoming accustomed to seeing, were going to be coming along to events, she’d leave. She only wanted to be with those she’d grown used to.
Eleanor released a sigh and cupped her mug with both hands. She lowered her head. When she next raised it, she had tears in her eyes.
‘I’m in a bit of a pickle. I lied about the new members. That was bullshit. I’m full of shit. Sometimes I almost believe it myself. Fairfax does. I’ve not exactly been completely honest with him either. We only have the ten members in total if we include William.’
Chloe blinked several times. ‘But you gave the impression…’
‘I know. I talk that talk, don’t I? It’s the way I am – loud, gregarious and bold. I give the impression everything is super, even when it’s going badly. I haven’t told anyone – not my folks, not Fairfax, nobody.’ She paused to swipe at a tear.
