Someone to Love

by Jenny Frame

  Wendy was playing gigs and going back to university, still enjoying her youth. India was around the same age as Wendy, and she had just confirmed all her fears were legitimate. Wendy seemed happy, but maybe what Trent had to offer was too much.

  Trent’s mobile rang. “Hello?”

  It was her lawyer. The bid for the house had been accepted and life was about to change. She was happy for herself and the children but could Wendy be a part of that?

  She heard the front door open and the sound of heels marching towards her office. India could be heard saying, “Please wait here, Lady Claudia, and I’ll see if Trent is available.”

  Oh no. That was all she needed. Wendy was to meet her here before they made their way to the pub where her band were playing.

  Lady Claudia came marching straight in and India said, “I’m sorry, Trent. I couldn’t stop her.”

  Trent held up a hand. “That’s all right. If you could just shut the door on the way out.”

  “I’ve found you at last, darling. Your secretary let me in,” Claudia said.

  “How can I help you, Lady Claudia?” Trent said.

  Claudia frowned and took a few steps towards her. “Why Lady Claudia all of a sudden?” She ran her nails down Trent’s lapel. “It wasn’t so formal when you were sleeping with me.”

  Trent cringed at the remark. What had she been thinking, sleeping with her client, even if their business was completed? It was a stupid, unprofessional mistake and she was paying for it now.

  “What is it that you want—I have an appointment to keep,” Trent said.

  “Why have you been ignoring my calls?” Claudia had an angry tone to her voice now.

  “I was on holiday over Christmas,” Trent said.

  “Oh, that’s right. Your little family trip to Lapland.”

  “How did you know where I was?” Trent was starting to get really irritated now.

  Claudia sat on the edge of her desk. “I have my sources. Imagine my astonishment to hear that you, dear Trent, were on the most family-orientated holiday you could get. That’s not you.”

  Trent was annoyed about the presumption of her character. “There are only two people in the world who truly know me, and you, Lady Claudia, are not one of them. So don’t try to presume what my thoughts and wishes might be.”

  “Touchy, aren’t you? You’ve really changed since those brats came into your life.”

  “Don’t call them that,” Trent snapped. She had to restrain herself from bodily throwing her out the door.

  “Hit a nerve, have I?” She giggled.

  Trent shook her head. “You have my attention now. What is it you want from me?”

  Claudia obviously thought she was getting somewhere. She sidled towards her and reached her hand out to touch Trent’s cheek.

  “You, my darling. I want you.”

  Trent grasped her hand to stop it. “I’m seeing someone.”

  Claudia looked as if she had just stabbed her in the stomach. “How could you?”

  Trent could not understand Claudia’s anger. They had slept together once and had dinner once.

  “What is this about, Claudia? We slept together once. You’ve had many lovers, many husbands—you can’t be jealous because I met someone.”

  “You got me the biggest payoff I’ve ever had from any man. I am rich, thanks to you, and I don’t need to fake interest or pretend to laugh at the jokes of old creaking men. I’m independent, I’m rich—people need to laugh at my jokes now.” Claudia ran her hand over Trent’s shoulder and down to her waist. “You were my chance to live again, Trent. You were the road I could have taken when I was a much younger woman and didn’t.”

  “You were always interested in women?” Trent asked.

  “The only person I have ever loved was a woman”—Claudia studied her face—“and you remind me of her so much. I walked away from her for my first husband, and I’ve lived with that pain ever since.”

  “Then go and find her. I’m not her, and I’m not on the market,” Trent said firmly. Claudia’s clambering touch and possessiveness were making her skin crawl.

  “She’s no longer with us. As soon as I met you for my first appointment, I knew you were my second chance.”

  Trent was starting to get exasperated. “I’m forty years old, Claudia. I’m too old to be your toy boy. Walk into any gay bar in London, and you’ll find plenty of women who will laugh at your jokes.”

  Claudia’s face turned to thunder in seconds. “Who is this woman you’re seeing? Your pretty secretary?”

  “No, and it’s none of your business,” Trent said.

  “Your nanny?” Claudia guessed.

  Trent’s hesitation gave her away.

  “She’s a child. No surprise you were attracted to her,” Claudia spat. “You get to an age where you want to feel young again, so you ditch the older woman and take up with someone half your age,” Claudia said angrily.

  “You were never mine to ditch, and I’m not with her because of her age. I’m in love with her.”

  It was a new experience declaring her love out loud, but nice all the same.

  “You love her? You love her?”

  Trent was now starting to realize that Claudia’s ex-husband might have been right about her. Luckily he’d gotten disentangled from her.

  “Please leave now,” Trent said.

  The hurt look on Claudia’s face turned to a sly grin. “What goes around comes around, darling. Just remember—you are in my position now, you are the older woman in your so-called relationship. How long before your young nanny is pining for someone her own age?”

  “Get out,” Trent said.

  Claudia laughed. “You know I’m right.”

  * * *

  Wendy finished tuning her guitar and rested it against the guitar stand. The bar was starting to get busier. They should have a good crowd tonight. She gazed over to the bar and saw the lonely looking figure of Trent standing alone and nursing a drink. Trent had been quiet ever since they met up at her office.

  This was meant to be a special night for them. It meant a lot to Wendy to show Trent her band and her music, but also to have a date night since the children were staying over at Becca’s.

  She’d tried to talk to Trent on the way over, but she said nothing was wrong. How could they have any problems after the way they’d committed to each other on holiday?

  She touched the necklace Trent had given her and heard her bandmate Skye say, “Is it true?”

  “Is what true?” Wendy asked.

  “Kira says you’re with her now.” Skye pointed over towards Trent, who saw them looking.

  “Yes, I am. I’m in love with her.”

  “Are you out of your mind? What has she done to you? Seduced you when you’re feeling vulnerable?”

  “I’m not vulnerable. What do you mean?” Wendy asked.

  “You’ve been vulnerable ever since Bailey. She’s a ruthless divorce lawyer, Dee—she’s moved in on you like a predator. A much younger nanny was probably all her dreams come true.”

  Wendy was furious. She had been aware of Skye’s crush on her, but this was ridiculous.

  “You know nothing about our relationship, so keep your opinions to yourself, Skye.”

  “She probably just wants you as a mum for her kids.”

  Wendy jumped down from the stage and turned to Skye. “Don’t talk to me unless it’s about music or the band.”

  She made her way through the growing crowd. Wendy needed to touch Trent. She stepped into her arms. “I love you.”

  Trent felt a little stiff. “And I love you.”

  Wendy pulled back. “I want to talk later when we get home. There’s something worrying you, and I don’t want you to say there isn’t because there is.”

  Trent went to speak but Wendy silenced her. “No, I don’t want to hear there isn’t. I told you. I have to go now, but we’ll talk later.”

  Wendy walked off in a determined fashion. She was a strong woman�
�Trent had to admit that. Maybe she was worrying too much? Then she looked around at the other bar patrons, with long hair, beards, tattoos, and assorted piercings, and she felt the gap between them as wide as ever.

  A voice beside her said, “I’m Skye.”

  “Hello, you’re in the band?” Trent said.

  “Yes, and I’m one of Wendy’s closest friends. I want a word with you.”

  * * *

  Trent couldn’t have been prouder of Wendy than while watching her perform. She felt such a rush of love, and it brought some clarity to her confused thoughts, especially after the words of her so-called friend, Skye.

  She was sure much of what Skye said was nonsense. She sounded like a jealous crush, but the words she used—predatory, pressurizing Wendy—were triggering to Trent. She could see how their relationship could be painted to look. Had she been predatory? Maybe Lady Claudia was right—maybe they were exactly the same.

  She knew in that moment that she loved Wendy enough to let her go, as heartbreaking and painful as that was.

  They drove back home in relative silence, which was unusual for them. When they entered the lift, Wendy grasped her hand as usual, and sang her silly little song. It would destroy her, letting this perfect woman go, but some things were more important than her heart. Wendy was.

  Trent unlocked the door and Wendy said, “Right, let’s sit on the couch and sort out whatever cloud has been hanging over us since we got back.”

  “Let me just put my briefcase in my office.” And delay the inevitable.

  She walked into her office and sat down at her desk, putting her head in her hands.

  “As I thought, delaying tactics.” Wendy sat down in front of her desk. “What is the problem? We couldn’t be more in love, but since we came back from Lapland, you’ve been on a downer.”

  Trent clasped her hands together. “Not a downer, just a realization of what was right.”

  Wendy furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? This isn’t about the kids, is it?”

  “No, no. They are my life now and always will be. No, the realization is this—I’m too old for you, Dee.”

  “What are you talking about? Has Skye been talking to you at the bar?”

  “She did have a few jealous words for me, but I had already formed that opinion.”

  “Formed that opinion? Formed that opinion? You’re not in court now, so stop giving me that stoic crap.” Wendy stood up and started to pace. “You’re older, not too old.”

  “Dee, you’re a young woman with the world at your feet. You should be with someone your own age.”

  Wendy slapped her hands down on the table. “And how well did that work out for me the last time? I got cheated on, up to my eyes in debt, and having to leave university. I wanted someone who was ready for the things I was. Bailey clearly wasn’t, and neither would Skye be, as much as she thinks she is. I want a partner and children. Our stages in life and wants mesh perfectly.”

  Trent hadn’t thought of it that way, but then she remembered what Wendy had said the first time they were intimate.

  “That’s not what other people will think, and do you remember what you said to me when you came to my room on my birthday?”

  “I said lots of things—remind me?”

  Trent grasped Wendy’s hand. “You said you couldn’t trust your heart, so you wanted me to take the lead, take care of you. How do you know you can trust it now?”

  “Because I trust you, which is more than can be said for you. Fine, call it all off, break your heart, break my heart, all because you don’t trust me, and you’re worried about what other people will think.”

  Wendy slammed the door on her way out, then the door to her own bedroom. Trent covered her head with her hands. How could someone be so lucky as to fall in love with two wonderful women in her life, and not get to be with either one.

  She picked up the brochure for the new home she’d bought, screwed it up into a ball, and threw it against the wall.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Trent became aware of a voice. It was Wendy, but was it a dream? She slowly began to wake up and felt intense pain in her neck. She had fallen asleep at her desk and felt like hell.

  The crumpled-up house brochure was now flattened out and sitting in front of her, as was Wendy. She was sitting on the other side of her desk in her nightdress, and her eyes were puffy from a night of crying, she suspected.

  “What’s that?” Wendy asked.

  Trent stretched, trying to ease the discomfort in her neck. “A house I’ve bought.”

  “You bought a house? Without even talking to me about it? Is that what all those secret phone calls were about?”

  Trent nodded. “It was meant to be a surprise. I wanted to buy a family home for the children and for you. I was going to do it all properly, ask you to marry me and all that.”

  “Are you still going to ask me?” Wendy said.

  “No, I don’t think it would be right. Besides, after last night—”

  “Take me to see this house.”

  “Why?” Trent asked.

  “Because despite the fact that sometimes I like you to take responsibility for us, from time to time, I do still know my own mind, and I will not be told what’s best for me. I want to see the home you bought for us, and I do mean us, Peter.”

  The warm light of day, and furiousness of Wendy’s determination, thawed the cold worry that had been building up in her heart.

  “If you’re sure. I’d need to call and see if I can get the keys,” Trent said.

  Wendy smiled and walked around the desk. She leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure.”

  Then Wendy kissed her teasingly, shattering any ice still left in her heart.

  * * *

  Trent turned the car into a leafy street of super-expensive terraced houses. She parked on a numbered space outside one of the houses and turned off the ignition.

  She rubbed her hands together nervously and kept staring ahead. She let out a breath and said, “I’m forty years old, set in my ways, grumpy, a workaholic, and I have no right to have the love of a young woman like you.”

  Wendy tried to reply, but Trent looked at her and held her hand up to silence her. “No, I need to say this. I lost one woman because I never opened up, and I’m not going to let that happen again.”

  Wendy could feel her hands start to shake. She wanted to hold Trent in her arms now. After the emotion of last night, to have Trent hopefully give them a chance was everything. To hell with what her friends would think.

  “Okay, tell me.”

  Trent took her hand and cradled it softly. “As I said last night, at your age you should be out at clubs, dancing the night away, going to music festivals, and listening to music that I would call noise, not sitting on the couch with me of an evening, like an old married couple. I don’t know why you were attracted to me, but you were, and I’ve treasured getting to know you and earning your trust. I know what trust is to you. You came into my world like Mary Poppins and did everything in your power to help me build a relationship with Alice and Noah. I love them like my own children, something I’d never thought I’d have or be capable of.”

  Wendy couldn’t stop the tears welling up in her eyes, “You were always capable of it, Peter. You just needed some guidance and someone to love.”

  Trent brushed one of Wendy’s braids off her face. “You are that someone, Wendy Darling. I love you, and you were right last night in everything you said. If we are happy with our differences, then who cares what people think, as long as you swear to me you’ve never felt pressured or obligated to be with me…in that way.”

  “Never, I’ve been attracted to you since we first met. You being older than me isn’t a bad thing. It’s perfect for us.”

  She watched Trent take the keys they had picked up out of her pocket. “I wanted to show you and the kids that I wanted a family, a future with you all. When we were in Lapland, I called my estate agent to instruct him to find some prope
rties for me to look at. Not a penthouse bachelor pad like my flat, a family home. This was the one I thought was perfect.”

  “Aren’t there people living in it?”

  Trent smiled. “No, it’s unoccupied. It’s just been decorated and furnished for sale. Would you like to see it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  They both got out of the car, and Wendy looked up at the architecture of the white stone terraced home. There was a pretty archway over the front door, and a black wrought iron gate, and matching fences between this and the other identical houses along the street.

  “What are you thinking, Dee?” Trent asked.

  “It looks just like the house in Peter Pan.”

  “That’s why I liked it.”

  Wendy leaned over and whispered to Trent, “Take me to Neverland, Peter.”

  * * *

  Trent watched Wendy walk slowly around the large drawing room, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. She had been quiet, taking everything in since they walked into the house.

  “What do you think?”

  Wendy held her arms out and twirled in a circle. “It’s so big, but beautiful.”

  “I hoped you’d like it. There’s so much more to show you. Follow me to the kitchen,” Trent said.

  They walked down the spacious hallway and came to a wooden spiral staircase, heading to the lower floor. Wendy ran her hand along the wooden banister as they walked down. “There’s no lift to worry about.”

  “No, just stairs. It’s all been recently remodelled. I hope you’ll like the kitchen. I think it’s truly something.”

  They got to the bottom of the stairs and stepped into the room. Wendy clasped her hand to her mouth. The kitchen space ran nearly the whole length of the bottom floor with stone floors, a new ultra-modern kitchen, and French doors out onto a patio area.

  Wendy was just taking it all in, so Trent said, “This is what really sold it to me. I thought it would be great for the kids. We could be cooking while the kids sit at the kitchen table at the other end of the room, or in the summer the French doors could be open, letting them play outside.”