by Carol Wyer
‘You already made arrangements?’ Her words are feeble, weak like her.
‘I was going to talk to you about it tonight. You beat me to it.’
‘I don’t understand. Why didn’t you talk to me about how you felt? I’d have tried harder.’
‘There’d have been no point. You can’t change who you are.’
His words grind her heart to dust. William has been her rock, the one person who comprehended the difficulties she faced in daily life, and who’d stood by her because he loved her. She still loves him. Why has everything suddenly changed? The answer is Lilly. Lilly has entered his life and shown him how it could be. He’s been lured away.
‘You can stay here, although we’ll need to sell the house. Once we pay off the mortgage, we’ll share the proceeds.’
‘I can’t…’
‘Well, stay here until you find somewhere else and then I’ll arrange the sale.’
She stares at the steak, cooked exactly as he likes it. She’s wearing the black dress he likes so much, although now she sees it’s so tight her stomach falls in rolls, even held by the tight Spanx underwear. She won’t cry. She won’t let him see how much he’s hurt her. She nods. ‘You’d better go then. Lilly will be waiting for you.’
The memories of what had happened rushed by in an instant and evaporated as she was brought back to the present by his concerned voice.
‘Chloe?’
‘Yes. I’m here. I don’t know what you expect me to say.’ William had calmly told her that they no longer had a future and had chosen Lilly over her. He’d even initiated divorce proceedings and now, only four months after he’d walked out of their home and out of her life, he was telling her he regretted his decision.
‘Appletree doctors’ surgery,’ she said suddenly. William was rarely ill. ‘Why were you at the surgery?’
He sighed again. ‘I needed sleeping pills. I’ve been in such a bad way I haven’t been able to sleep. I miss you, Chloe.’
‘Oh.’
‘Okay. I’ve said my piece. I wanted to make it clear that I was wrong. That’s all I wanted to say. I won’t ring you again. I only wanted you to know how I felt.’
‘Right.’ She was stumped for an appropriate response. She couldn’t suddenly switch the love she had for William back on. It had slipped away, little by little, along with tears and sorrow. Before she could say another word, he whispered a goodbye and ended the call.
* * *
Faith was aghast when she heard the news. ‘Has he had a personality transplant or something? The William I know was pig-headed and rarely said sorry about anything.’
‘I know. He seemed so… forlorn. It was weird.’
‘How do you feel about it?’
‘I don’t know. Confused. Taken aback. Sad that we went through all that heartache for what?’
‘You’re surely not thinking about getting back together with him again, are you?’
Chloe chewed on her bottom lip. It was the question she’d been asking herself before she rang Faith. ‘I have no idea. My feelings are all jumbled up. I’ve only just managed to shut him out of my life. I buried all the hurt and anguish and have been getting on with being me. I feel differently about life and about myself now. How do I know making up with William won’t send me spiralling back to where I was before?’
‘For what it’s worth, my advice is to not encourage anything. Leopards don’t change their spots. He was controlling and put you down at every opportunity. I wouldn’t trust him. At least, not until he’s given you very good reason to. I don’t mean to sound negative but I love the new you. You’re beginning to sparkle. I’ve known you for a long time, Chloe, and I’ve never seen you so independent and decisive. You’re a different person. Don’t let him turn you back into the old one.’
Chloe took on board her friend’s concerns. It was true she’d begun to feel more confident but five years of marriage was a significant time to throw away and she said so.
‘Hun, you didn’t throw them away. He did. And Lilly wasn’t the only woman he slept with. Tread carefully.’
Faith was right. After he’d moved out, she learned he’d slept with a work colleague too. He might be full of regret at the moment, but he’d been the one to break her trust and hurt her. He’d left their marriage, not her. She’d heed Faith’s advice.
She ended her phone call and collected Ronnie’s lead from a hook by the back door. He bounded to her feet. ‘You don’t miss William, do you?’
Ronnie looked at her with his tongue out, oblivious to her words.
‘No, I didn’t think you did.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Saturday, 10th February
Chloe studied the innocuous legal document again. Such an unexceptional piece of paper that would alter the direction of her life. Stamped with a red seal, the decree nisi sent from the local court was the first step to no longer being married to William Blakeney. She was almost single.
She wasn’t as upset as she’d expected to be. She’d reverted to her maiden name soon after he left, and the exhausting three months she’d spent alone in their home in Appletree had drained any emotion she had felt about her marriage break-up out of her. William might be experiencing something similar now, but it would be nothing compared to the all-consuming heartbreak she’d endured from the beginning of October, when Faith had feared for her friend’s sanity and stayed over with her for several nights while Chloe cried and cried until she’d ran out of tears.
For a brief moment she considered ringing William to see how he felt about the decree nisi arriving, but she stopped herself: not only had William cheated on her with Lilly and others, he’d admitted he felt imprisoned by her behaviour and condition. This was what was right for both of them. There could be no going back.
She slid the piece of paper back into the envelope and put it into the kitchen drawer and made herself some toast. Nothing had changed. William was feeling remorseful and Chloe was Chloe. She couldn’t change enough for William and even if she did, she couldn’t trust him again.
‘You never liked being called Ronnie Blakeney anyway, did you? You’ve always been a Piper.’
Ronnie barked for a piece of toast and was rewarded.
* * *
‘How did it go?’ Chloe asked Sean whose wide grin stretched across his face.
‘Fantastic!’ came the reply. Sean had been out with Jacqueline for the first time the night before. Chloe was thrilled for him. They’d been to an open mic comedy night in Derby. ‘The comedians were really funny. I mean belly-laughingly funny. We saw four of them and they were all as good as each other. What a great way to get to know somebody. We were so relaxed after the acts we just chatted over drinks like two old friends.’
‘Is there a second date on the cards?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘Sure is. She pulled out the chocolate-making date out of the jar so we’re going to try that next.’
‘I’m so happy for you.’ Chloe meant it. Sean looked different – more confident. He’d changed his hairstyle slightly and was wearing new chinos. She wondered if Suzy had advised him on his new image.
‘Thank you. I feel great. First date in years and it couldn’t have gone better.’ The familiar rumble of the Ducati’s engine became evident. Sean craned his neck towards the car park entrance to welcome her then thought better of it. ‘She’ll think I’m over keen.’
‘That’s right. Play it cool,’ said Alex, who’d been party to the conversation.
Sean rubbed his palms against the tops of his thighs. ‘Don’t want to scare her off. Suzy said much the same. Told me to be chill. Can’t believe my teenage daughter is giving me advice on how to handle women.’
They were gathered outside a farm offering bed and breakfast and afternoon tea, and no one could guess the activity. Although William had arrived ahead of them, he was deep in conversation with Tim and had only acknowledged Chloe with a wave.
Jacqueline was swiftly followed by Danielle and Neat
s arriving together in Danielle’s car. Ed brought up the rear in cycling garb with a backpack over his shoulders containing shoes and suitable outfit for the event. Chloe was thrilled with the plan Ed had shown her for the garden, and he’d also arranged for the farmer at Marsh Farm to cut her fields for silage, so she no longer had to worry about looking after so many acres. Ed was going to order all the plants and shrubs and together they were going to plant her entire garden in early March. Another weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Although she was chatting to Kaisha, Eleanor kept glancing across the car park as if expecting someone. Chloe wondered if it was a new member or a journalist. She knew Eleanor had tried again to garner interest in the club by sending press releases to the local papers. Chloe looked for signs of any arriving vehicles but there was nothing. The road was silent. Although she’d spoken to Eleanor on a couple of occasions, neither had mentioned the failing singleton club and Chloe hoped she and Fairfax had come up with some new ideas to keep the business afloat. They’d certainly been out a great deal over the last couple of weeks.
Rob arrived, dressed in a collarless jacket and shirt that sent Jacqueline into paroxysms of giggles. She sidled up to Chloe and whispered, ‘He looks like Donald Pleasance as Ernst Blofeld in James Bond. He only needs a monocle and a scar and he’d be the spitting image.’
Chloe bit back a laugh. It was true. How Rob managed to carry off being a pantomime dame was beyond her. Jacqueline whispered again. ‘I think Neats is keen on our Bond villain. She’s only going to take her grandchildren to the panto to watch him again. Said he was fab. Love is in the air.’
‘Really?’
‘Too early to say. I have hopes. Fancy a bet on it? I reckon they’ll be in a formal couple before March.’
‘I’m no good at spotting the signs,’ Chloe replied.
‘Well, you certainly have a few good ideas for dates. Sean confessed you’d helped to get me interested in him.’
Chloe cringed. She didn’t want Jacqueline to assume she’d played any great part in Sean’s plan. ‘Whatever he told you, it was all his idea and plan. He came up with the jar idea. I merely gave him some suggestions for interesting dates. I imagined you want to do more than go out for a drink.’
‘You were right. I might not have been so swayed if he’d come up with the usual ideas. You know me pretty well. Thanks for whatever part you played.’ She gave Chloe a warm smile.
‘Merely an advisor.’ The fact was, she didn’t know Jacqueline at all, but having heard about her adventures in Mexico and from what little she knew about her, she’d drawn her own conclusions. Also, she begun to model her character Laila more on her new friend, Jacqueline, who was the same age as Laila and just as feisty. Jacqueline’s quick wit and devil-may-care attitude was evident in the character. Chloe had been reworking her novel and the unattainable but desirable ambassador bore more than a familiar resemblance to Alex and, if truth be told, every one of the singletons featured in the script one way or another, from nervous, cardigan button-twisting Danielle, to Ed ‘Cilla’ Black, everyone, that was, with the exception of William.
By now, all the members had arrived and were awaiting instructions. Fairfax said something to his wife who gave a quick shake of her head, checked her watch then clapped her hands together for attention.
‘You might be wondering what we’re all doing in this car park. This is Happy Valley Farm which not only serves excellent cream teas and has some top-rate accommodation but offers two very entertaining activities. Today, ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to be duck herding. Medals will be awarded for the best duck herder. Enjoy yourselves!’
They trundled across the car park and to the rear of the farmhouse which opened onto a field. There they met the farmer, Bob, who was ready to show them how to instruct a sheep dog. To one side stood a pen inside which a group of lively white ducks flapped their wings and called out loudly at the arrival of the unwitting herders. A black and tan border collie, with alert eyes that never left his master’s face, waited beside the pen, oblivious to the quacking beside him. The farmer held a shepherd’s crook in his hand and in a quiet voice with a Welsh lilt explained the commands they’d need to get the dog called Koby Jones to round up the twelve ducks.
‘These ducks are a breed known as Indian Runners. In a short while you’ll find out why that name is appropriate. You need the following commands to help round them up. “By” means clockwise so the dog will go to the right on that command. The opposite direction is “Away” and he’ll go anti-clockwise if he hears you say that. To stop the dog, you say “Stand”. “Walk”, means walk forwards and “Steady” means slow down. When you finish you tell him “That’ll do”, and he’ll return to you.’
‘I’ll never remember all of that,’ said Danielle, gnawing her bottom lip. ‘I barely can tell my left from my right under pressure, let alone remember a whole new word for it.
‘Work with the dog. Koby Jones is your best friend and will do whatever you tell him so it’s important you give him clear commands. What you have to watch out for is the duck that always tries to break free from the group. You need to keep your eyes open and your wits about you. I’ll demonstrate how it’s done,’ said the farmer. He released the ducks who, pursued by the border collie, set off at a fair pace, waddling at speed, beaks open as they sensed freedom. They didn’t get far before Koby Jones was instructed to guide them through a small polythene tunnel. Whilst the others eagerly headed towards the mini tunnel, the largest of the gang lifted his head at the sight of the dog, turned back and attempted to make a run for it.
‘By.’ Koby Jones circled from the left, halting the bird’s progress and turning it around to join the flock. A few more commands and the birds were fenced inside the far pen.
‘See? Easy,’ Farmer Bob said, rubbing his hands. ‘This is my son.’ He motioned towards a young man in his late teens sitting on the ground with his arms around another border collie. ‘He’s brought his dog, Poppy, to help out if things go awry. Right! Who’s going first?’
He wielded his stick in the direction of Rob who took a step backwards.
‘Probably allergic to dogs. Can only handle white cats.’ Jacqueline hissed in Chloe’s ear with a stifled snort.
Sean was about to put up his hand when William volunteered with a cheerful, ‘I’ll have a go’, and as the ducks were sent waddling back to the starting point, he tried a few practice commands with Koby Jones and swung his shepherd’s crook in preparation.
‘You ready?’ Bob asked, lifting a stopwatch.
‘As I’ll ever be. Release the ducks.’
‘Ready, steady, go!’
The pen was opened but by the time William managed to shout ‘Away!’ and swung his crook at the gang of ducks heading rapidly in his direction, three had broken free and with heads held high were racing across the field. ‘Get them!’ he shouted to Koby Jones, sending everyone into hysterics. Koby Jones, with tongue out, waited for instructions he could comprehend, and was first sent spiralling left then right and left again until he managed to round up the escapees. William ran around in front of the birds, waving his arms and his stick, yelling every command he’d been taught. Ten ducks ran in a huddle of white feathers towards the tunnel, but two new breakaways scarpered across the field, quacking in triumph much to everyone’s delight. Their joy was short-lived when Poppy was sent in. She smoothly rounded up the runaways and drove them back to their group. Once the fence was shut and the ducks imprisoned, Bob looked at his stopwatch and read out the time quietly to Eleanor who marked it down on a sheet.
‘It’s much tougher than I imagined,’ said William, scowling at some mud on his shoes.
Jacqueline laughed. ‘Never mind. You gave a good performance. I swear those ducks were laughing as they ran off. You were brave to go first. Now we all know what we’re up against. Ducking and diving ducks.’ William smiled at her comment and shot a glance at Chloe who said nothing. It was best if she kept conversations with him to
a minimum. She turned her attention to Sean who was stroking Koby Jones’s head.
‘Ah, good tactics. Going for the dog whisperer approach,’ Jacqueline called out, earning a grin from Sean. The ducks, having almost tasted freedom, seemed even feistier and flapped wings as they waited to be released once more. She lifted a thumb for Sean, to wish him luck. The ducks quacked in unison. Heaven help her when it was her turn.
* * *
Danielle lifted the china cup to her lips, sipped the tea and made an appreciative noise before saying, ‘That poor dog! He must be wondering which way to walk home now. We all drove him bonkers. He was so patient with everyone and so gentle. Where is he?’
‘Probably had to go to a canine therapist for treatment.’ Jacqueline popped a piece of scone into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
Sean spoke up. ‘I think I’ll strike off shepherding from my list of jobs I might like to take up. I blame my accent. Koby Jones couldn’t understand a single word I was saying.’
‘That’s an excuse and you know it.’ Jacqueline replied, winking at him.
Ed raised a china cup of tea in Chloe’s direction. ‘Well done. You were by far the best.’
She blushed fiercely. She hadn’t expected to win the medal. ‘It was probably because I’m used to shouting instructions at Ronnie, although he’s nowhere near as well behaved as Koby Jones. I wonder if I could train him up.’
William snorted. She threw him a hurt look. His eyebrows lifted in apology. Alex shook his head. ‘No. Ronnie has his own talents. He’s an excellent sniffer dog for one.’
Chloe acknowledged the comment with a small smile and fondled the medal, fingers sliding over its shiny surface and the tiny raised lettering which read ‘Winner’. Despite her literary success, she’d never won a trophy or medal before and the feeling of achievement was a new experience. She’d not only herded all the ducks into the pen in the fastest time but Koby Jones had taken to her and remained fast by her side while she received her medal. Alex had told her it was because the dog trusted her and that felt good to know.
