by Beevis, Keri
She didn’t want him taking her all the way back to Norwich. This situation was uncomfortable enough without prolonging it. She could get him to drop her in Holt, but she would still have to endure another hour in wet clothes. The café where she worked was only about six miles further along the coastal road. He could drop her there. Natalie would be able to give her a change of clothes and she could catch a ride home with Beth.
‘Can you drop me off in Cromer?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Cromer?’
‘I work there.’
He studied her for a moment, the frown softening slightly. ‘Sure thing, Cromer it is.’
Neither of them spoke during the journey, Lila focussing on the rain-splattered passenger window, while Jack scowled at the road ahead. She was grateful that he turned the heating up, though it didn’t stop her shivering. The radio was playing in the background, Happy by Pharrell Williams. Lila couldn’t help smiling at the irony.
‘Where am I dropping you?’ he asked as they passed the town sign for Cromer.
‘There’s a café called Nat’s Hideaway, down near the pier.’
‘I know it.’
He indicated left, took the turn and pulled up outside the café, waiting silently for her to get out.
Lila paused, her hand on the door handle. ‘I doubt it means anything, but I really am sorry about your sister.’ She waited for a reaction, saw the muscle in his jaw tighten. He didn’t look in her direction.
‘Go.’
Lila gave a resigned sigh. She had tried and could do no more. She awkwardly climbed out into the rain, balanced on her crutches. ‘Thank you for the lift,’ she told him as she pushed the door shut.
Jack didn’t react, the car pulling away before she’d barely released the handle.
Lila shook her head in frustration; watching him go, before heading into the blessedly warm empty café.
‘Good God, Lila, you look like a drowned rat.’ Lila’s boss, Natalie Mcardle, stepped out from behind the counter, surprise and concern knitted on her face. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘It’s nice to see you too and thank you for the compliment. It’s a long story and before I tell you, can you loan me some dry clothes please?’
‘Beth?’ Natalie yelled back into the kitchen. ‘I need you to cover the counter.’ She glanced at Lila’s crutches. ‘Go wait in the kitchen. You’re not going upstairs with those. I’ll go get you a towel and something to change into.’
She was gone before Lila could thank her.
As Lila hobbled towards the kitchen, Beth appeared, her mouth dropping open in a similar expression to the one Natalie had worn. ‘Jesus, did you swim here?’
‘Long story,’ Lila repeated, her teeth still chattering from the cold and the damp. ‘Nat’s gone to get me some dry clothes.’
‘I’d hug you, but I think I’ll wait.’
Beth Fielding was Lila’s oldest friend and had been on the phone to her every day.
Lila grinned. ‘That’s probably a wise idea. Listen, Beth. If I hang around here until your shift finishes, do you think you could give me a lift home?’
‘Sure thing, this bad weather’s keeping everyone away and Natalie’s going to close up at three.’
‘Great. If we’re going early, is there any chance we can make a detour?’
Beth looked dubious. ‘To where?’
‘I want to go back to Filby Broad. I need to see where it happened.’
4
‘Where have you been?’
Alyssa Whitman stepped into Jack’s path as soon as he walked back into the pub.
‘I had something to take care of.’
‘It was that woman at the funeral, wasn’t it, the one with the crutches. I saw you speaking to her. Who was she, Jack?’
‘She was a snoop, just like you.’ He kept his tone light. ‘I asked her to leave and I made sure she did.’
As Alyssa mulled over his words, he gave her arm an affectionate squeeze and brushed past her to the bar.
‘I recognised her. It was her, wasn’t it, the woman in the other car.’
Jack paused, swore under his breath at his nosy half-sister who didn’t miss a trick.
‘Just drop it, Alyssa. She’s gone.’
‘Does Mum know?’
‘No, and she’s not going to. I took care of the situation. She’s gone and you’re not going to say anything.’
‘Why was she there?’
To pay her respects, that was what Lila Amberson had told him. Jack hadn’t let her elaborate, wanting her gone before his mother clocked her. Perhaps he had been a little too hot-headed, should have given Lila a chance to explain why she had come.
‘I don’t know. It’s not important. I told her to leave.’ He didn’t bother to add that in order for Lila to leave he’d had to give her a lift to Cromer.
‘Who’s leaving?’
The question came from Giles Buchanan, who sidled into the conversation, his free arm snaking around Alyssa’s shoulders.
Jack and Alyssa answered at the same time.
‘No-one.’
‘That Lila woman in the accident.’
‘Really?’ Giles glanced from one to the other, his piggy eyes narrowed, though his tone was amused. ‘And what did Henry and Kate think of that, I wonder.’
‘Mum and Dad don’t know she was here. Jack sent her away so she didn’t upset Mum.’
‘And as she’s gone, they don’t need to know she was ever here,’ Jack added.
‘Gotcha.’ Giles winked, gave a smarmy smile. ‘Your secret is safe with me.’
Jack scowled at him, barely hiding his disdain. He could think of a hundred more suitable boyfriends for Alyssa, but it didn’t seem like Giles was going anywhere. He worked with Jack’s stepfather and already had the Henry Whitman seal of approval.
‘She had a nerve, didn’t she, daring to show up here?’ Giles continued, smoothing his already-slicked-down hair with his chubby fingers. ‘What do you think she wanted? Money, I imagine. I looked into her… you know, after the accident. I wanted to know who had played a part in taking our Stephanie from us. She calls herself a photographer, but she works in a diner too, because let’s face it, we all know photography isn’t a proper job.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Jack bristled, remembering how he’d endured similar comments about his own career before his first bestseller. Nobody had thought writing was a real job.
‘Photography is more of a hobby,’ Giles continued, too thick-skinned to pick up on Jack’s annoyance. ‘So she’s a waitress with aspirations to be a photographer and she doesn’t have two pennies to rub together; no wonder she’s making a beeline for our family. I can tell you she is thinking ka-ching!’
Our family. Oh yes, Giles was making himself right at home.
‘Is this true, Jack?’ Alyssa was looking at him, seeking confirmation.
‘No, it’s not. She’s not after money.’
‘She told you that?’ It was a question, but Giles didn’t wait for Jack to answer, instead turning to Alyssa. ‘I should go talk to her, warn her off. I’ll bet Lila Amberson was here because she is viewing your parents as her cash cow. Let me go set her straight.’
‘Jesus, drop it, Giles.’ Jack snapped. ‘Lila Amberson isn’t after anyone’s money. She came here to pay her respects. It was a stupid thing to do, I think she realises that now. She’s gone, so drop it.’
‘What?’ Jack added, annoyed when both Giles and Alyssa stared at him, mouths open.
‘You’re defending her,’ Alyssa pointed out.
‘I’m not defending her. I’m saying she’s not a gold digger.’
‘You don’t know that.’
‘Yes, I do, so drop it, both of you. She’s gone. Let’s move on.’
‘We should sue her.’
‘For Christ’s sake, Giles, stop.’
‘Okay, okay.’ Giles held his hands up in a truce.
‘I need a drink,’ Jack muttered.
‘A drink
? That sounds like a wonderful idea.’
Recognising Tiffany’s voice, Jack turned as she snuck an arm around his waist, pulling him in for a kiss. She was damp from the rain, her lips cool.
‘You finally made it then.’ His tone was only half joking. She had promised she would be there in time for the service and it pissed him off that she hadn’t made it, even though deep down he had known that would happen. Tiff was always late, regardless of how important the occasion.
She rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Jack, you know I would have been there if I could. The train was delayed and I had trouble getting a cab. And you know…’ She trailed off, trading hugs and air kisses with Alyssa. ‘Sweetie, how are you holding up? I still can’t believe this happened.’
Leaving the two of them to it, Jack made his way to the bar, ordered a gin and tonic for Tiff and a double whisky for himself. He would leave the car there and catch a taxi back for it in the morning.
The conversation with Giles had soured his mood, had him questioning why he had defended Lila Amberson. It had to be Stephanie. He was at the funeral of his seventeen-year-old half-sister, a place he had never dreamt he would be, had watched her body being lowered into the ground. Emotions were running high and losing her was making him soft. He wasn’t thinking clearly. Perhaps Giles was right. Maybe it was about money.
No, he didn’t think so. Lila had stood out from the rest of the mourners with her hippy dress, denim jacket, one scuffed boot and crutches, and Jack suspected it was true she didn’t have a whole lot of money, but his gut told him that she was genuine, and that her reasons for showing up at Stephanie’s funeral, although misguided, had been because she wanted to pay her respects. Her reaction when he had confronted her had been shock, hurt, even embarrassed, but she hadn’t counter-attacked; something he would have expected her to do if she had a motive.
Plus she had bussed to the village and made her way to the church on crutches. Although he had dropped her in Cromer, he knew from the news articles he had read that she lived in Norwich. That was a long journey for someone still recovering from a serious accident. If her intentions were financially driven there were easier ways.
And he had been an arsehole to her.
Of course it was too late to take it back. Lila Amberson was out of his life and he’d made it clear he wanted it to stay that way. There was no point regretting his words. Better to move on.
* * *
‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’
It was the fifth time Beth had asked the question since Lila had told her where she wanted to go, despite the fact they were almost at Filby.
‘I need to do this.’
The rain had stopped, but the roads were still slick with water, the sky filled with dark clouds threatening another downpour, as Beth eased the car round the bends. Lila’s mind had been set on returning to the scene of her accident, but uneasiness cloaked her, tensing her muscles, as they passed through the pretty village filled with hanging baskets and floral displays in vivid colours. As they came through the other side and the houses gave way to trees, she spotted the bridge up ahead.
For a moment she was in the car with Mark. He was driving too fast, and she was begging him to slow down. She had thought it was because he was still mad at her, but then he glanced briefly in her direction and she saw the raw fear on his face.
The flashback was frustratingly fleeting and only served to unnerve her further.
‘Stop the car.’
‘I can’t. We’ve got traffic behind us.’
‘Stop the car.’
‘Give me a second.’
‘Just stop the bloody car, Beth.’
Doing as instructed, Beth hit the indicator then the brakes, pulling abruptly to the side of the narrow road a few metres before the bridge. The van that had been hugging her tail honked angrily before swerving to pass.
‘What the hell’s going on, Lila?’
‘I need a moment.’
‘I can’t sit here. There’s a car park the other side of the bridge. I’ll pull in there.’
Beth earned herself another honk from an angry trucker behind her as she pulled away. As they crossed the bridge, Lila saw the flash of water then the skid marks and the fallen trees and bushes where the accident had happened, now littered with half a dozen bouquets of flowers, and her insides turned to ice. Beth slowed, indicating for the car park, received another honk from the trucker, who wound down his window and yelled a curse about women drivers as he passed.
‘Wanker.’ She stuck her fingers up at him as he zoomed off up the road.
As Beth pulled into a wooded clearing that served as a car park, Lila had another even briefer flashback. She had been there before, the night of the accident, and was sitting in Mark’s car, alone, watching the dark trees.
‘Lila? Lila, you’re scaring me.’
She snapped to, realised they were parked, the ignition off, and it was still daylight, even if the dull afternoon was making the clearing appear dark.
‘Are you okay? You’ve gone pale.’
‘I had a couple of flashbacks.’ Lila folded her arms, rubbing at the goosebumps under the baggy sweater Natalie had lent her.
Beth’s eyes widened. ‘Of the accident?’
‘Not the actual accident, but before.’ When Beth stayed silent, waiting for her to continue, Lila elaborated. ‘I was in the car with Mark and we were fighting. He was driving too fast and I was trying to get him to slow down, but he wouldn’t listen. Then I saw his face and he looked really scared. I don’t know what scared him, Beth.’
‘Are you sure that’s what actually happened? Maybe the flashback is muddled with fragments of other things, you know what I mean, like in a dream.’
‘I don’t know. It was his face. Something had spooked him.’
‘You said a couple of flashbacks. What about the other one?’
Lila hugged herself tighter. ‘It was here in this car park, but it was only me in the car. I don’t know where Mark was.’
‘Was this before or after the first flashback?’
‘I don’t know. It’s like I get this brief snapshot of a memory and then it’s gone and I can’t remember what else happened.’
‘What did the doctors say? Will your memory come back?’
‘Maybe.’ Lila shrugged in frustration. ‘It’s early days. They say to give it time.’
‘Then you have to learn to be patient.’
‘You know I’m not good at that.’ Lila opened the car door, reached for her crutches.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Getting out.’
‘Are you crazy? The ground’s too muddy. Your crutches are gonna sink, you’re gonna be a mess, and I had my car cleaned last week.’
‘Please, Beth. I want to see exactly where it happened. I need to.’
‘We drove over the bridge. You saw it.’
‘But not properly.’
Beth shook her head. ‘No way, Lila, that road’s too busy to cross on crutches.’
‘It’s a country lane.’
‘It’s a busy country lane, with cars and trucks going fast, and no proper pavement. I’ll drive to the entrance of the car park. You can see everything you need to from there.’
‘But…’
‘You get out of the car, I’m leaving you here and you can find your own way home.’
‘You wouldn’t dare.’
Beth raised her chin defiantly. ‘Try me.’
Lila considered for a second, knew her friend well enough to not call her bluff. Lila pulled the door shut, slumped back in her seat. ‘Can we agree on a compromise?’
‘Which is?’
‘Richard Gruger, the man who pulled me from the crash, lives a couple of minutes from here. I’d like to see if he’s home so I can thank him.’
Beth was quiet for a moment. ‘Do you have his address?’
‘Yup.’
‘Okay, but then we’re going home. Deal?’
* * *
> Bored with studying, Aaron Gruger switched off his computer, got up from the desk chair, stretched lazily and yawned. Time to have a break and maybe sneak in a bit of Xbox. His father was away at a teaching conference – thankfully – and his mother out shopping, so they would have no idea he was skiving.
He headed downstairs to the kitchen, poked his head in the fridge and took out a can of Coke, pulled the cap and downed the drink in one, burping loudly before crunching up the empty can and dropping it in the bin. He burped again, yawned again, stretched again, and glanced out of the kitchen window at the wide lawn surrounded by trees. It had been raining heavily for most of the afternoon.
Aaron had grumbled like hell when his parents had first moved to Norfolk. The house they had picked was in the middle of nowhere with a shitty bus service and hardly any shops. He missed being able to go out whenever and wherever he pleased and the first couple of years had been hell. Then he had turned seventeen, got his driving licence and realised it wasn’t so bad. The space and quiet had its advantages and the woods and countryside were great for riding his quad bike. He liked the old house too, that it was big enough to escape his father when he was in one of his moods.
Luckily his father wasn’t home much, claiming to spend most of his time over at the school where he was headmaster and Aaron went to sixth form. Aaron wondered if his father might be having an affair, though kept his suspicions quiet, knowing it would break his mother’s heart if it were true. Judith Gruger lived to please her husband and son, and she put them first in every respect.
Which was why when the time came, Aaron was dreading telling her of his plans.
He was eighteen and his life had already been mapped out for him. A levels in a couple of weeks, university, and a job with one of the city’s accountancy firms: it was what Richard Gruger had planned for him, but it wasn’t what Aaron wanted.
He was academically smart, always had been, and the A levels would be a breeze. He didn’t need the study time, but his father insisted. His mother tried to enforce it in his absence, though Aaron knew he could twist her arm if need be. The only reason he didn’t was because he didn’t want to get her in trouble with his father. So he dutifully studied, knowing that after the A levels there would be no university, that he wanted to go travelling, learn more about who he was and what he wanted from life.
