by Jacqui Penn
Angela had knocked on Sophia’s door and asked to have a quick word.
‘I don’t know what game he’s playing. We had a discussion about another dog only two nights ago and both agreed it would be too much. I can’t understand him lately. He must be going through an early menopause or something.’ She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead before straightening a picture on the wall. ‘I’m sorry you got dragged into it. I know you would have done your best to talk him out of it. The hair they lose is ridiculous. We’re going to have to get a cleaner.’
‘I didn’t know anything about it until today.’
‘A rash decision and now I’m left to deal with it.’ Angela sighed and disappeared back downstairs. She seemed happy she’d put her point across and that Sophia agreed Ru had acted irresponsibly.
It was more of a statement than a discussion so Sophia didn’t feel the need to answer or say anything. Somehow, through no fault of her own, she had again been drawn into a disagreement between a husband and wife.
She snuggled up to the puppy and felt its warmth. Ru had been right. Something else to love. She liked the feeling of contentment and peace.
The following Saturday, Sophia found it hard to concentrate on her driving lesson. She’d spent hours trying to choose the right outfit to meet Tristan’s parents. Lady Ashley already sounded daunting.
‘Keep your attention on the task, old girl,’ Tristen said. ‘You nearly hit the curb.’
‘Sorry.’ She focused on the road and felt relieved when the lesson was finally over and she pulled into Tristan’s parking spot. Her relief was short-lived when she realised the dreaded meeting with the parents was drawing closer.
Tristan lifted her overnight bag out of the car boot. He feigned dropping it. ‘We’re only going for one night, you know.’
‘I like to be prepared for all eventualities,’ she said haughtily, feeling inwardly proud that she had, at last, built up a wardrobe to be proud of, in stark contrast to the meagre clothing she had when she’d first gone to work for the Staples.
Tristan held the door of the Mercedes open, and Sophia lowered herself into the passenger seat. Tristan looked at his watch. ‘We should get there in time for lunch. I’ll ring and let them know we’re coming.’
Sophie’s face dropped. ‘They don’t know we’re coming? Isn’t that a bit rude to just turn up with me?’
Tristan laughed and put his phone to his ear. ‘Hello Ingrid, it’s Tristan… Very well, thanks. I’ll be there with a guest in about an hour. Could you have chef prepare a light lunch? Thanks.’ He turned off the phone and started the car.
‘Who’s Ingrid?’
Tristan pulled out of the parking lot. ‘The housekeeper.’
Sophia looked out of the window. He hadn’t asked Ingrid to inform his parents he had a guest staying the weekend. Her stomach fluttered and she took a deep breath to try and steady her increased heartbeat. They had a chef!
An hour later, Tristan pointed a fob at large, ornate metal gates. They opened slowly and Sophia felt her remaining confidence abandon her. ‘What if they don’t like me?’
‘What?’
‘Your parents.’
‘They aren’t here. They’ve gone to Scotland.’
‘Oh.’
Tristan laughed. ‘I don’t know if you looked more frightened at the prospect of meeting them or now that you’re not. Believe me, you’re better off not meeting them.’
Sophia nodded. So Ru had been right. Tristan wasn’t taking her to meet his parents. A large, well-kept country house, loomed at the end of the drive. She had to get over the feeling of humiliation she felt or she’d spoil the weekend. ‘Nice house.’
‘They down-sized a couple of years back; I preferred the old house, where I grew up.’
‘Down-sized! How big was the last one?’
‘About twice as big, but the staff had the top floor.’
‘Where do the staff live now?’
‘In the cottages over on the right.’ He swept up in front of the house and switched off the engine.
Sophia was still staring at the vast grounds, with perfectly kept grass and flower beds, when Tristan opened her door. She’d never seen anywhere so beautiful. This weekend would be perfect, she was glad his parents weren’t there.
The weekend passed like a dream. Delicious meals were served at a table large enough to have twenty people around it. They sat at one end and made their way through the four courses of breakfast and dinner.
‘I could order lunch as well,’ Tristan offered, after breakfast on Sunday.
‘I couldn’t eat another meal,’ Sophia said. ‘I’ve never eaten so much, or so well, in my life.’
‘So the choice today is swimming, walking—’
‘The grounds are so lovely, I did enjoy our walk yesterday. I could spend the rest of my life walking around here.’
‘Or, a row on the lake.’
Sophia drank the last of her coffee. ‘You have a boat?’
‘Of course. We could take a walk while Sedders gets the boat ready.’
Sophia nodded. ‘Great. So you swim in the lake?’
Tristan dropped his napkin onto the table and pushed his chair back from the table. ‘It might be a bit cold. There’s a heated pool. And you were going to have a go at driving my car.’
‘I’d forgotten that. I haven’t brought my swim stuff.’
‘We can swim naked.’
Sophia let out a small shriek. ‘No! I couldn’t do that.’
Tristan took her hand and led her upstairs. ‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.’
‘What if someone sees us?’
‘The staff only go to the pool area when no one’s home.’
The bed had been made and the room smelled of the fresh flowers in the vase on the dressing table.
‘Do they put in fresh flowers every day?’
Tristan pulled her onto the bed. ‘Stop asking questions.’ He embraced her lips, as he deftly unbuttoned her trousers. ‘I’ve got something much better to do.’
Sophia watched dreamily as Tristan rowed to the centre of the lake. ‘We should have brought some bread for the ducks.’
Tristan shook his head and pulled back the oars. ‘It’s bad for them. One of life’s fallacies.’
‘I thought everyone fed bread to ducks.’
‘They do, but only because they’re ignorant.’
Sophia looked at the small birds circling the lake. He could be so pompous sometimes. She’d have to look into that bit of information.
‘What time are we leaving?’
‘After an early dinner, probably about seven. You can drive the Merc around the grounds before we go.’
‘Are you sure you trust me?’
‘Absolutely. It’ll be good for you to drive something with a bit of power.’
Sophia felt sad when the end of the weekend came. She was already hoping for a return invitation. Tristan opened the car boot and put their bags in. ‘Why are you sitting that side? You’re driving.’
‘I’m not driving on the roads.’
‘No, silly. Just around here, I don’t trust you that much with my favourite girl.’
As soon as her foot pressed down on the accelerator, Sophia could feel the power and she stalled the engine. ‘Relax. Start her up again,’ Tristan instructed.
Following two more attempts, Sophia let the car crawl along the gravel road. ‘Oh, God! I like this. It feels so different from the other car.’
‘Don’t get too carried away. I’m only letting you try her once. Take the right fork. It’ll take us back to the house and onto the driveway up to the road.’
A car approached. ‘Oh shit!’ Tristan said. ‘My parents. Pull over and stay in the car.’
‘But I—’
‘Stay in the car.’ His tone was stern. He climbed out of the car and greeted his parents.
‘You didn’t say you were coming this weekend.’ His mother looked across at Sophia. ‘Who’s that?’
‘Oh, no one. Just someone I’m teaching to drive and we ended up over this way. I needed my tennis racket, so I called in. I forgot you were away.’
Sophia felt her cheeks redden and she looked away from them. How dare he? No one! She heard his father’s voice.
‘You’re teaching her in the Merc?’
‘She’s advanced. Anyway must dash, can’t keep the clients waiting.’
His father cleared his throat. ‘I don’t know why you don’t give up the ridiculous pastime and get yourself a proper job.’
‘Leave him alone, Patrick. I shall come for a visit next month,’ his mother said. ‘If I didn’t come to you, I’d never see you.’
‘Lovely. See you then. I’ll call. How was Scotland?’
‘Cold. Why do you think we’re home early?’
‘See you.’
Tristan walked back to the car as his parent’s car pulled away and the horn tooted. ‘You might as well get in the passenger seat from here.’
‘No one! Someone you’re teaching to drive!’
‘Don’t get upset. You don’t know my parents. Believe me, it’s best not to meet them. I’ve just saved you from a fate worse than death.’ He started the car.
Sophia fumed. What had been a special weekend, had just been ruined. She felt sickened.
Angela hadn’t returned from her parents. Ru greeted her in the hallway. ‘How was the weekend?’
‘Good. It’s a lovely house and the grounds are out of this world.’
‘And how about the dreaded Lady Ashley?’
Sophia swallowed and looked down to her feet. She didn’t need this. ‘Tristan’s parents were away in Scotland.’
‘I knew it. I knew something wasn’t right.’ He put his hand on her shoulder. ‘You deserve better.’ He cleared his throat. ‘You know I’m divorcing Angela.’
Sophia was taken aback. ‘No! Why? I don’t understand.’
‘Since I met you, I just want to take care of you. I’d look after you—’
‘No! Don’t talk like that. You’re married, you need to get your priorities right. I don’t need you to look after me!’ Sophia hurried for the stairs, but Ru grabbed her arm and stopped her.
‘I love you. Don’t you get that? We could make it work.’
Her heart raced. ‘No! No, we couldn’t. I don’t want you.’ She pulled away from his grasp and raced up the stairs and into her bedroom. He must have been drinking. She pulled a chair to the door and secured it under the handle.
She flinched as Ru banged on the door. ‘Sophia, we need to talk.’
Sophia stared at the door. ‘I’ve got nothing to say. Go away. I’m telling Angela when she gets back.’
‘Angela isn’t coming back until the morning. Just open the door.’ He repeatedly pressed down on the handle.
Sophia suddenly felt unsafe. She ran over to the window and looked at the drop to the ground. She stroked Mutley’s head. ‘I’ll come back for you tomorrow,’ she whispered, before filling his water bowl.
She grabbed her weekend bag and went to the window. She slid down the drainpipe and onto the porch roof. The jump to the ground wasn’t as bad as she thought.
As she raced out of the garden and headed towards the street, she heard Ru from behind her. Turning, she saw him standing at her bedroom window.
‘Come back. Sophia! We can sort this out.’
Sophia ran faster. He was mad! Where was she going? What would she do? Think! For God’s sake, think!
Chapter 7
Sophia constantly looked back over her shoulder. Finally, she stopped behind a large oak tree to catch her breath. She dropped her bag to the ground and slowly peeped out to make sure Ru wasn’t on her trail. Why had she brought that heavy bag? What was she going to do? She thought back to the last time she’d been in this situation. The benches weren’t an option and she certainly wasn’t going to Mrs Jessop’s shed. She giggled nervously at the thought. At least she had some money this time. One of the hostels would be her cheapest option.
She took a deep breath, picked up her bag, and after another look back along the road, she hurried towards the town. Luckily, the first hostel she tried, had a room to let. As she secured the door, Sophia felt safe for the first time since her escape. What was he thinking of? He was definitely weird. The signs had been there. She just hadn’t realised the significance of his attitude. She thought back to his comments over Tristan, and the puppy. She’d mistaken his feelings for friendship or caring when in reality they obviously ran much deeper.
She put her bag on the bed and sat next to it. She’d have to go back in the morning to collect Mutley. What would she tell Angela? She should tell her the truth, but could she be that brave? Did she really want to destroy their marriage? Ru deserved it, but Angela didn’t. Was it her business to cause that much trouble? She had no proof, he could just deny everything and make her look like a liar. Of course, he’d deny it. He wouldn’t be man enough to tell the truth and risk losing his family. He must have been drinking.
She lifted the bag onto a chair, kicked off her shoes and, still fully clothed, she climbed into the bed. Hopefully, in the morning, she’d be able to make some long-term plans. At the moment her mind was in shock and she couldn’t think straight.
After a restless night, Sophia was still no clearer about what she should say to Angela. She looked at her watch. Ru would leave for work in about twenty minutes and Angela would have to return in time for Lawrence to go to school. She could get Mutley and her belongings while no one was at home. That idea appealed to her more than any sort of confrontation, but it was a cop-out and she’d always feel guilty. Although why should she feel guilty? She hadn’t done anything. Taking her things while the house was empty would save Angela’s feelings and leave the family none the wiser to Ru’s disloyalty. She’d go into the town, have a cup of coffee and then go to the house.
As Sophia turned into the street, Dot saw her and yapped. There was no time to turn around. Lawrence held the dog’s lead and looked up. ‘Sophia! There you are.’
Angela was leaning into the boot of the car, passing out bags and toys to the children. She slammed the boot shut as Sophia approached.
‘You’ve got a damn nerve showing your face,’ Angela said and headed into the house.
Sophia flinched and followed her. ‘I think there’s been a misunderstanding.’
‘There’s no misunderstanding.’ She walked into the house. ‘You can get your stuff and go.’
‘I don’t want Sophia to go,’ Olivia whined.
‘No, Mummy, don’t make her go. I love Sophia,’ Lawrence said.
Angela dropped the bags she was carrying onto the floor. ‘You two need to get ready. We have to be out of here.’ She clapped her hands. ‘Go!’ The children sauntered to the stairs. ‘Quick!’
‘Angela, I don’t know what Ru said, but he—’
‘I don’t want to hear it. You girls are all the same. Looking for a man to take you on; well, it hasn’t worked. Go and get your things.’
Sophia clenched her hands together. ‘He told me he was divorcing you. I’m not interested in him. Why do you think I didn’t stay the night here? I found a room at a hostel.’
‘Because he told you to go and now here you are turning up like a bad penny. I’ve got nothing else to say to you. You’ve let us all down but most of all yourself.’
‘I—’
‘Get your things!’ Angela started sorting out one of the bags on the floor, tossing items of clothing into a pile.
Sophia felt humiliated. She knew Ru wouldn’t admit to anything, but to blatantly make up lies about her was nasty, and so unfair. She hadn’t seen that coming. She slowly climbed the stairs to her room. Mutley greeted her, immediately making her feel better. ‘I’ll take you out in a minute. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. They don’t let dogs stay at the hostel.’
‘You can leave him here until you get somewhere else.’ Angela said from the landing. ‘Lawrence, w
here are your trousers?’
Sophia went to the door. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I said so, didn’t I?’ Angela busied herself in the wardrobe. ‘I know… I can’t let you stay… Sorry.’ She turned back to Lawrence. ‘There they are. Hanging in the wardrobe. Get them on and your hair needs a brush.’
‘I’ll come for him as soon as I can,’ Sophia said. Angela kept her back turned but nodded.
Sophia pulled the bag she’d arrived with, down from the top shelf in the wardrobe and threw it onto the bed. Tears pricked her eyes. Life had been so good for such a short time. She’d miss them all. Well, not Ru. What a bastard! How could he lie like that and how could Angela believe him?
Ten minutes later, she left her room for the last time. Mutley scampered around her feet as she made her way down the stairs. Angela was in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher.
Sophia cleared her throat. ‘Bye, and thanks. I enjoyed being here.’ She turned away as tears filled her eyes.
‘Here.’
Sophia turned back trying to blink away her tears. Angela was holding out a wad of money. Sophia shook her head. ‘I’m alright.’
‘Take it. You’ll need to get yourself sorted. You can’t stay at the hostel for long and anyway, I took it from his rainy day stash. It sure feels like a rainy day to me.’ A tear fell and rolled down her cheek as she took a step towards Sophia, pressed the money into her hand, and hugged her for a moment before going back to the dishwasher.
As she passed the bottom of the staircase, Sophia looked up the stairs. She was in no fit state to say goodbye to the children, she’d only upset them. She slowly walked away, a holdall on her shoulder and carrier bags in both hands. The same time yesterday she’d felt so happy, and now, once again, her life was in shreds. Maybe she was one of those people that nothing ever quite worked out for. Payback, for not trying harder to save her sister.
