by Nikki Ashton
“Platform four,” said the stunned woman behind the glass screen, “but you’d better hurry it’s going in about two minutes.” She blinked at Luke. “Hey aren’t you…”
Luke didn’t give her the chance to finish. He yelled a ‘thank you’, already sprinting in the direction of the woman’s pointed finger, and leaving a crowd of bemused onlookers behind him. He’d thought that he’d had plenty of time to find Martha, but hadn’t banked on a car crash and the traffic heading for the local flower show which had clogged the roads with cars travelling slower than if they were carrying Miss Daisy. As Luke reached platform four he saw it was empty, apart from the guard who was just about to press the button to close the train doors.
“Wait!” Luke cried breathlessly.
“Hurry up sir, I’m just about to press the button.”
Without thinking twice, and hoping that Martha was already on board, Luke jumped onto the train with seconds to spare. Breathing heavily, he bent over, his hands on his knees and desperately tried to draw some air into his lungs. Finally, his breath a little steadier, Luke started to make his way down the carriage. He pushed through two carriages, rocking unsteadily as the train rolled along the track. Luckily the few people on the train were engrossed in their books, laptops or mobile phones, so no one recognised him. At one point he almost ended up in the lap of a rather stern looking woman, but she shoved him off with a huff and an icy glare. Then as he was halfway down the third carriage, Luke’s heart jumped to his throat. Martha was sitting next to the window, her head resting against it and her eyes firmly stuck to the view outside. Luke held his breath as he approached her, hoping that she didn’t bolt if she spotted him.
“Hi,” he said as he flopped down in the empty seat next to her.
“Luke,” she gasped turning in her seat. “What are you doing here?”
Martha bent down to pick her bag up from the floor and struggled to her feet. She tried to push past Luke, but he put his hand out and grabbed the seat in front of him, creating a barrier to her escape.
“Sit down, please,” he whispered looking up at Martha with pleading eyes.
She shook her head. “I have nothing to say to you,” she hissed. “Now let me get past.”
Luke stood up and taking Martha’s shoulders, gently pushed her down back into her seat.
“You may have nothing to say to me, but I have plenty to say to you,” he said quietly but with authority.
“Don’t touch me, you don’t have the right after what you’ve done.”
Luke sighed. “Whatever you think I’ve done, I swear to you I haven’t.”
“Hmm, so you say; so what the hell is this?” Martha flicked at the screen on her phone and held it in front of Luke’s face. “Your lovely girlfriend sent it to me last night, seconds after you lied to me that you were at the warehouse.”
Luke took Martha’s phone from her fingers and stared at the picture of Luke on the balcony at Rachel’s apartment. “Yes, it’s me,” Luke sighed, “and I did lie about where I was, but there is a reason for that.”
“And what about this?” Martha snatched the phone back and scrolled to the text message that Rachel sent after the picture. She read it out to Luke.
Luke desperate to touch her, hoping it might calm her, sighed and ran a finger down Martha’s cheek, she shrank back and batted his hand away.
“I said don’t touch me.”
“I’m sorry, okay and you’re right I have been seeing her,” he said. “But I’ve been trying to get her to admit that we didn’t sleep together at the hotel.”
“Hah,” Martha snorted. “Is that the best you can come up with?”
“I know, it’s a pretty lame plan. Jake and Tom said the same, but it’s the best I could think of.”
Martha shook her head. “I meant is that the best excuse you can think of?”
“It’s the truth,” Luke said.“My plan was to try and sort everything out. I wanted to prove to you once and for all that you are too important to me to do anything that stupid.”
“Oh right,” Martha scoffed. “So you thought the best way of doing that would be to sleep with her and get her to partake in some pillow talk. You prick!”
“I haven’t slept with her, not since that first night when everyone stayed at the house.” Luke coughed to rid the lump in his throat that was threatening to choke him. “I didn’t even want to that night, because I knew then that you were who I wanted. And to be honest it fucking scared me.”
Martha looked at Luke’s glistening eyes. They seemed so open and honest, but how could she trust them when he was so adept at lying?
“So, how long have you been conducting this make believe relationship then?” Martha asked.
Luke paused, afraid of what she’d say after they’d argued in the car over Rachel calling him. Ultimately though he knew that he had to tell the truth.
“About four weeks, since the night your car broke down.” Luke winced as he heard Martha’s intake of breath.
She tried to stand up again, but Luke held her by the arm.
“Hear me out Martha,” he pleaded, “and then if you still don’t believe me I’ll let you go. I thought that if I got close to her she’d tell me the truth.”
“You’re telling me you haven’t slept with her? In four bloody weeks, she hasn’t once tried to jump your bones?” Martha didn’t know what to believe. He sounded genuine, but who on earth would even consider such an idiotic plan working – Luke sodding Mahoney, that’s who.
Luke shook his head, and a small smile touched his lips. “Don’t go off on one, but I told her that I had the clap.” Luke held his hand up. “And before you do go off the deep end, I told her someone else gave it to me, not you. But she knows now that was a lie, that I didn’t really have it –I made that really clear.”
Martha stared at him open mouthed. She didn’t know whether to laugh or slap his face.
“I just have no idea what to say to that,” Martha replied.
“Well, that makes a change.” Luke laughed and then saw Martha’s stony glare. “Okay, not a joking matter.”
“So, did she admit it was a lie?” Martha said with a huff.
“Nope, when I left her last night she gave me this scary look and said she’d never admit it, but she didn’t need to anyway. I knew, and Jake and Tom proved I was right.” Luke reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a rolled up envelope. “These photographs prove that she set me up, and we think she drugged me.”
Martha turned her head to the window. “I don’t want to see them again, just don’t, Luke.”
“You need to see them, and I need to explain to you what Jake and Tom figured out…please, babe.”
Slowly Martha turned back to face him. “Okay,” she sighed, ”tell me.”
Luke spent the next ten minutes showing her the photographs and explaining everything to Martha. She didn’t speak, but listened intently to everything he had to say, until finally he sat back seemingly exhausted.
“Jake and Tom have gone to see her?” she asked staring down at the CCTV stills.
“Yep, they think confronting her with copies of the pictures will force her to admit it, but to be honest,” he sighed, “I don’t really care why she did it. As long as you believe me.”
Martha flicked through the pictures again, taking in every detail and considering every word that Luke had said.
Luke held his breath, scared that if he made a noise it would break Martha’s concentration. He didn’t want her to miss anything that proved his innocence. Finally, she looked up at him, her eyes bright and glistening.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should’ve believed you.”
Luke heaved a sigh of relief. “I totally get why it was so difficult to do that, those pictures were pretty damning.” He took them from her hands and shoved them back into the envelope. “I just wished you hadn’t run away from me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when we were in Oxfordshire?” Martha looked dow
n at her hands that she was twisting together. “I would have listened.”
Luke lifted her chin with his forefinger. “Yeah, but would you have believed me?”
Martha considered his question for a second and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Yeah well I couldn’t take that risk, plus I was desperate to get the proof and you would’ve stopped me doing that.” Luke sighed. “To be honest though, the next morning I just knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to be with her when I could be with you. That’s why I went straight to London, to see her and put an end to it all.”
Martha sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. Her throat tickled as she fought back the tears that were threatening to fall.
“Do you hate me?” Martha turned to face Luke and looked at him warily.
Luke shook his head. “Baby, I could never hate you. You frustrate the fuck out of me at times, but I could never hate you.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Martha’s. “I love you with all my heart and not being with you is unthinkable. Every time I look at you, you take my breath away, and when I’m not with you I get a pain in my chest that only disappears when you’re around.”
Martha’s breath shuddered as Luke’s words made her stomach lurch with excitement and joy. The depth of her feelings for him were immense and she understood exactly what he was saying, because she felt the same way.
“I love you so much, Luke,” she whispered lifting her hand to cup his face. “The thought of you with her, with anyone else, made me feel sick. It broke me and I just couldn’t be around to see you and you not be mine.”
Luke nuzzled against Martha’s palm and then leaned forward to kiss her softly.
“I’m yours babe, always have been and always will be. From the minute you caught me naked in my room, you captivated me, and every day since I’ve known you, my feelings have just got deeper and deeper.” Luke sighed and kissed her again. “You are the most beautiful, brave, spirited, frustrating woman I have ever met, but I love you more than I can ever express in any damn song, and I always will.”
Tears gently rolled down Martha’s cheeks as she smiled up at Luke with love shining in her eyes.
Oblivious of the rest of the train passengers and lost in themselves, neither Luke not Martha heard his phone ringing, it was only the missed call vibration that brought it to Luke’s attention.
“Sorry, baby,” he sighed. “Let me just check who that was.”
Martha sat back in her seat with a satisfied sigh. God it was so good to be back in his arms again. She had no doubt though now it was definitely for keeps
“It was Jake,” Luke said after listening to a voice message. He rubbed his hand over his face. “Fuck.”
“What?” Martha asked with panic in her voice. “Luke, what’s wrong?”
Luke sighed and stared at Martha for a few seconds before pulling her into a hug.
“I don’t know what she’s doing, but apparently Rachel’s turned up at the house.”
“You’re joking,” Martha gasped. “What the hell is she doing there?”
Luke shrugged and kissed Martha’s temple. “No idea. Jake just said they were getting ready to leave, when she buzzed the intercom. She wanted to come up, insisting that she sees me.”
Martha didn’t respond. Her grip around Luke’s waist tightened as she inhaled his scent.
“Okay,” she finally said. “Let’s get off at the next station, go home and see what she wants.”
Luke pulled himself away from her embrace and looked at Martha with a furrowed brow.
“Really?”
Martha nodded. “Yes really. Does she know about those?” Martha pointed to the envelope of photographs.
“I don’t think so. Jake said she was waiting in her car on the drive.”
“Well, text him not to tell her.” Martha nodded at Luke’s phone, urging him on. “We can tackle her about it and produce the truth, but I’d love to know what bullshit she’s going to come out with first.”
Luke started to smile as his thumbs whizzed across the keypad of his phone. “She is going to fucking freak when she sees the proof I have against her.”
“Yes,” said Martha narrowing her eyes. “And she’s going to freak when I punch her in the trout pout too.”
Chapter 42
“Right, Jake has her holed up in the pool room,” Luke said as he and Martha pulled up outside the house. “Now listen, baby, as much as I’d love to see a full on bitch slapping session, I don’t want you doing anything that might get you into trouble.”
Martha giggled and started shadow boxing. “I’ll have her down in one,” she said throwing a punch.
“Martha!” Luke couldn’t help a smile appearing on his face. “I’m serious, no slapping…not until I say so anyway.”
They both got out of the car, and Luke threaded his fingers with Martha’s as they went into the house. Tom met them in the hall. He pulled Martha into a hug, and lifted her off her feet.
“I am so glad that you’re back together,” he said. “He’s been a total arse without you.
“Gee thanks, mate.” Luke gently punched Tom in the shoulder.
“Martha!” Jake cried as he ran down the hall towards them with his arms outstretched. “I’ve missed you honey.”
Tom quickly stood aside allowing Jake to pick Martha up and swing her around.
“Jake, stop,” she cried. “I’m going to be sick.”
Jake quickly dropped Martha to her feet. “Ugh, I hate vomit. Good to have you back though, sweetheart.”
“Hey, less messing around here,” Luke hissed impatiently. “Let’s go and see what Medusa has to say.”
Jake started to laugh. “Hah, he called her Medusa. Fucking excellent.”
As Luke opened the pool room door, he heard Martha take a sharp intake of breath. He reached behind him and grabbed hold of her hand.
“We’ve got this babe,” he whispered.
“She’s gonna be dead and buried sugar,” Jake said in a mocking Texan accent.
“Jake,” Tom hissed. “Shut up.”
When they walked into the room, Rachel was sitting on the pool table rolling a ball up and down the baize. Hearing a noise behind her, she jumped off and turned around. She gasped as she noticed Martha standing next to Luke.
“What the fuck?” she screamed. “Why is that bitch here?”
Rachel’s face was screwed into an ugly caricature of her usual model perfection. She banged her fist on the cushion of the pool table.
Luke stopped walking and pulled Martha behind him. Martha gave a huff and released herself from his grip.
“No, Luke. I’m not scared of her.”
“Yeah, well you should be honey.” Rachel took a step towards Martha. “He is mine, and we were perfectly happy until you came along.”
Luke shook his head. “Oh cut the bullshit, Rachel,” he sighed. “I’ve already explained to you I only came back to you to try and prove that I didn’t sleep with you.”
Rachel shook her blonde mane back over her shoulders and smirked.
“And I told you that we did have sex.”
Luke threw his hands into the air. “Rachel, tell the fucking truth. What the hell have you got to gain now?”
“Why don’t you tell the truth, Luke? Be honest, you don’t want her,” Rachel said pointing at Martha. “It’s me that you really want. We were good together, you know we were.”
“Erm, excuse me,” Jake piped up, his hand in the air. “I’d like to disagree with that. You were shit together. You made him miserable.”
“Who asked you?” Rachel cried.
“It’s just my opinion,” Jake replied.
“And mine,” Tom said raising his hand too.
“Oh just...piss off.”
Martha couldn’t believe it. Rachel actually stamped her foot like the little princess she really believed she was.
“For fuck’s sake,” Luke groaned. “Rachel, we are never getting back toge
ther. I love Martha. I have never, and will never love you. Now tell the fucking truth!”
Rachel put a hand to her chest. “Luke, how can you say that?” she said with a sniff. “Don’t be afraid to admit it, just because she’s standing in front of you.”
Martha had heard enough. “Shut up Rachel! We’ve just about had enough of your crap. Now you know, and I know, that you didn’t sleep with Luke, and haven’t slept with Luke since you all stayed here earlier in the year.” Martha’s hands were on her hips and her chest out as she spoke to Rachel in a measured tone. “You sent those photographs of you and Luke, because you set them up. You wanted me to think that you’d slept together so that I’d split up with him, and like a stupid airhead, I believed them...”
Rachel opened her mouth to speak. Martha put her hand up.
“Shut it. I’m speaking.”
“Whoa go Martha,” Jake laughed.
“Jake you shut it too,” Martha barked without looking at him. “So Rachel, as I was saying, like an idiot I believed the photographs.” She glanced at Luke, who was looking at her with admiration. “I should have believed Luke. Well, sorry to tell you blondie, but I do believe him, and we are back together and will stay together despite your poison, you heinous little witch.”
“Fuck, Luke,” Jake groaned. “I think I’m getting turned on by your woman.”
Luke simply grinned and puffed out his chest. Yes, she was his woman and she was awesome.
“Now,” Martha continued. “Why don’t you tell us how you did it?”
“Did what?” Rachel crossed her arms across her chest and cocked her head to one side.
“Rachel!” Luke roared. “Cut the crap, how the fuck did you make it look like I was kissing you and went to your room?”
Rachel shook her head. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Martha heaved a sigh. “Okay, if that’s the way it’s going to be.” She moved over to the pool table and picked up a cue and two pool balls.
