Picnics in Hyde Park

by Nikki Moore

She nearly lost her nerve but wouldn’t give in that easily, holding his gaze. ‘Statistically, the number of women in the field compared to the number of men makes it more likely your nanny was female.’ Pushing a strand of black hair behind her ear, she watched his deep green eyes flicker along her collarbone before returning to her face. That was interesting. ‘Seriously, I know I’d have to meet Aimee and Jasper and pass all the clearances and checks, but if you offer me the job I’d quite like to know what happened to the last employee in it.’ Forcing a nervous laugh. ‘She’s not buried under the patio or anything is she? Or chained up in the basement? What’s the big mystery?’

  His smile was fleeting. ‘No mystery, just simply not pleasant. She, ah,’ he picked over his words, ‘did something I didn’t agree with that meant she was no longer suitable to be my children’s nanny. It turned out she wasn’t the person I thought she was. It was disappointing,’ he shrugged one shoulder casually as if he didn’t care, but there was something in the set of his chin that suggested otherwise, ‘but these things happen, and I need to replace her urgently. Does that tell you enough?’

  ‘I guess so,’ she replied through stiff lips, longing to jump up and yell at him. ‘Thanks for sharing.’ He really was an absolute bastard. It felt like every muscle in her face was clenching, but she breathed in and out deeply, striving to keep calm. Since when was falling in love such a crime that it meant you were unfit to look after children? And he could have said anything, taken the diplomatic line and said his nanny had left for personal reasons. Instead he was suggesting Melody had let him down, when the truth was that it was the other way around. Especially after all the time, energy and passion her sister had devoted to his children, who she’d grown to genuinely care about.

  Zoe could hardly believe it. He clearly had zero conscience. Was it the industry he worked in that made him think he could treat people this way, or did the nature of the industry happen to support an arrogance that had already existed before he’d made it big? She resisted the urge to bounce out of her seat, grab his precious bloody paperwork and whack him around the head with it repeatedly, very hard and with great satisfaction. Fury didn’t even begin to cover it. Bloody, bloody men.

  ‘So, what about you?’ he asked, looking at her expectantly.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Why have you just left your job after five years and come back to the UK? You must have liked it over there to stay that long? You still sound very British but I noticed you use American slang quite a bit.’

  ‘I guess it’s normal to pick things up when you’re living and breathing it every day,’ she said shortly. ‘And in answer to your question, personal reasons, including to be with my family again.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ he stood up. ‘Right, I think we’re done here. Thank you for your time.’

  ‘Can I have another glass of water before I go please?’ She needed a minute to think, as well as rein her anger in.

  ‘Sure,’ he checked his watch, ‘but it’ll have to be quick. The next candidate will be here any minute.’

  ‘That’s fine. Thanks.’

  He nodded and picked up the glasses, leaving her alone. Springing off the sofa she strode across the room and flung open the nearest French door, propping herself up against the frame. Her heart beat a rapid ga-doom, ga-doom, ga-doom in her chest, pumping adrenalin around her body. What a bastard Matt was.

  The scent of freshly cut grass filled her nose and normally the heady smell of British summer would be a lovely distraction, a balm to the last few years of homesickness. Not today. Her fingers clenched around each other, knuckles tight.

  Then as if her system had used the last of its energy up with the hot blast of anger, belated jet lag hit hard again. A drowning wave of languor washed over her, making her eyes go gritty and heavy. Just like that, she couldn’t wait to get out of this house and away from the whole sorry mess. God, she was weary. Curling up in a ball and sinking into a deep slumber suddenly held massive appeal. She hadn’t slept properly for almost two weeks before leaving New York. There’d been too much to do, wrapping up her life and returning to her old one. The nights staring dry-eyed at the ceiling hadn’t helped either. Somewhere inside her there was a healthy need to grieve and cry, but she hadn’t been able to manage it before leaving the States.

  It had been a mistake coming here, a knee-jerk reaction. Would it be better if she simply left? Went back to Melody and helped her put her life back together, while doing the same for herself? But then she heard Matt moving around the kitchen, whistling along to a pop track currently in the UK download chart, perhaps one that he’d produced. He sounded so happy, so unconcerned. It was completely unfair. Why should he be acting as if life was peachy when he’d practically ruined her sister’s?

  She went to shut the door and her head jerked as she spotted a wooden bench tucked away in a corner of the manicured lawn, not far from a sturdy apple tree and rose-beds resplendent with pearl-white blooms. Her gaze zoomed in on a scrap of fabric draped over the seat. It was a rich mulberry colour. Melody’s cardigan, one Zoe had bought in Bloomingdale’s and paid to have shipped back to the UK for her last birthday. Next to it was a book, left open face down to keep the page. The spine would be permanently creased by now. They’d always argued about Melody’s inability to treat books with respect. Then it dawned that her baby sister had been ejected so quickly she’d not even been able to grab her things from the garden and she shook with regenerated rage, adrenalin boiling up and smothering her exhaustion.

  It was time to give Matt, a guy too similar to Greg for comfort, what he deserved. He needed to feel humiliation and hurt on every level. She was sick of men who thought they could treat women like that, tossing them aside when they were done. It wasn’t right and it stung. It ripped apart your self-esteem so you were left wondering, what’s wrong with me? Why aren’t I good enough? It ripped apart your heart so you thought, I never want to go through this again.

  Matt Reilly would pay, and not only for making her sister jobless, homeless and breaking her heart with the help of his brother, but for all the other women he’d hurt in the past. She’d read the articles. Sure, you couldn’t take everything you read in the tabloids as a given, but there had to be a grain of truth in them. If only a fraction of the hearts he’d reportedly broken since becoming a widower three years ago were true, the line of devastated women would stretch from London to Brighton and back again.

  But how was she going to do it?

  Then there was that sweet, magical moment when inspiration hit. As Matt swept back in and she turned to him, smoothing her hands down over her top, she saw an appreciative glint in his eyes, quickly hidden. Put that together with his near paranoia about the press and his desperation for privacy and she knew exactly what to do.

  This was going to be so goddamn satisfying…if she could pull it off.

  3

  ‘I don’t know about this, Sis,’ Melody twisted a piece of long, dark blonde hair around her nail-bitten finger, frowning. Lowering her voice so customers nearby couldn’t overhear, she leaned forward. ‘Aren’t you worried it might backfire?’

  Zoe stared at her sister’s pale, hollow-eyed face. ‘I don’t see how it can,’ she replied, putting her mug of latte down on the sticky table. They’d met at a cafe near Jemima’s flat in Holloway, given that part of the plan relied on Matt and Stephen not finding out they were related. ‘The risk is all his,’ she added, sliding the coffee aside so she could grasp her sister’s chilly hands. ‘And don’t you think he deserves it? Don’t you think it will do him good to be humiliated and confused, the way you’ve been? I mean, you still don’t even know why, do you? Not properly. All Matt said to you that day was that you weren’t suitable for his brother or to look after his kids and had to leave immediately. There was no conversation, no chance for you to ask why. He just threw you out.’ Melody had told Zoe more about it a few days earlier. About the way that one day she’d been a girl in love, part of Matt and Stephen’s fami
ly unit, and the next she’d been out in the cold with barely any explanation. ‘But you said that Matt seemed okay about you and Stephen seeing each other before then? You’d been together a few months?’

  ‘Yes.’ Melody gnawed her bottom lip, dark brown eyes looking bruised. ‘He was. I just don’t get it. Why the change of heart? And why wasn’t I good enough? Because we’re not rich? He never seemed like a snob to me.’ She gulped. ‘I thought he liked me.’

  ‘I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense.’ Zoe paused. ‘Unless he thought you and Stephen were just casual, and then when it started getting serious he wasn’t happy? You said that you and Matt always got on well though. Why wouldn’t he just talk to you about any concerns he had?’

  Melody’s eyes brimmed. ‘No idea. Yes, we did get on well, he was more like a big brother than an employer sometimes.’

  Zoe sighed, her sister’s naivety paining her. ‘Oh, Mel. You should never confuse professional and personal relationships. That way can only lead to hurt.’

  ‘Pardon?’ Melody stared at her, dazed eyes clearing.

  ‘You should always keep a personal distance from the people you work for. You know that.’

  ‘Don’t start lecturing me. You don’t know what it was like.’ Melody flashed, yanking her slim hands away. ‘I was with the family for three years. It’s a bit late to wade in and start pulling your big sister act just because it’s suddenly convenient!’

  ‘Right,’ Zoe murmured through dry lips, throat aching. Ouch. Direct hit.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Melody gasped immediately, ‘I didn’t mean it. You know I didn’t. I’m just such a mess…’ she dropped her head into her hands, shoulders heaving, ‘and I’m so angry.’

  ‘I know. Don’t worry.’ Melody was normally the gentlest person in the world. Zoe scooted her chair around the table to get closer, the legs scraping on the tiled floor. Placing a hand on her little sister’s back, she waited quietly, giving her time.

  If she’d been there for Melody, maybe none of this would have happened. Mel wouldn’t have gone looking for the guidance and friendship from her boss that she should have been getting from her big sister. Even though they’d texted and Skyped a lot, it hadn’t been the same, living on opposite sides of the ocean. Zoe might blame Matt and Stephen for her sister’s heartbreak, but part of the responsibility rested on her shoulders too.

  The look on Matt’s face when he talked about Melody letting him down flashed across her mind and as much as she wanted to dismiss it, or think he’d been lying, there’d been something there. Something he was unsure of or puzzled about. It would do no good to tell Melody what Matt had said because it might upset her. But perhaps her plan could serve two purposes; not just revenge, but finding out just what the heck had happened.

  She stroked her sister’s back soothingly. ‘I know you’re worried about my plan, and don’t really agree with it but maybe if I can find out why, it will give you closure?’ She nodded at Melody’s raw, tear-filled eyes. ‘I take it that Stephen still isn’t taking your calls or answering your messages?’ Thinking of his travel bag and see you when I get back holler to his brother. ‘I suppose he could be abroad. Perhaps he’s having problems with his phone.’

  Melody shook her head, a lone tear running down her cheek. ‘I don’t think so, and he can more than afford the roaming charges. I just don’t get it. Everything was fine. We were happy. And I just can’t understand the way Matt acted— Oh, Zoe, I don’t know what to do-oo…’

  The last word ended on a wail and reignited the hot, rolling rage and fiercely protective instincts in Zoe. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, rubbing her sister’s back more firmly, wanting to scrub away the hurt. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But Matt hasn’t been in touch to check how you are either. I mean, you could be living on a park bench somewhere for all he knows. It’s disgusting. I really think he needs to be taught a lesson.’ She looked into her sister’s face, jaw set, thinking of the added insult of a few days before, when she’d gone to Matt’s house. ‘Let me do this for you, Mel,’ she said fiercely. ‘Let me get answers and teach them they can’t behave this way. That you can’t ignore people and pretend you’ve done nothing wrong. It’ll be fine, I promise.’

  Melody sighed heavily, running a finger over some spilt grains of sugar. ‘Okay,’ she whispered.

  ‘Good. It’s the only thing that makes sense.’ Zoe paused. ‘Also, I know that Jemima is happy to have you,’ she broached, ‘but sleeping on her couch is less than ideal. What do you think about me calling Ruth and seeing if you could stay with her for a while? You always got on well together, right? I’m sure she still has the guest room set up ready. It might give you some distance. Fifty miles might not be very far, but it’s not on Matt’s doorstep either. One of the worst things about a break up is running into the person, or the possibility you’re going to. If Stephen gets back soon, you’ll have two people who upset you to avoid. I don’t want you to think I want shot of you,’ she added, ‘because I can’t wait for us to spend some quality time together after I’ve been away so long. I’m just thinking of what’s best for you right now.’

  Melody sniffed. ‘It would be good to have some space, and be somewhere familiar. I know it never seemed like home to you, and Ruth isn’t the huggy sort, but I feel safe there.’ She nodded. ‘Can you call her please? If you can do it without arguing that is. I’m going to splash some cold water on my face.’ Pushing her chair back, she grabbed her bag and hitched her chin up, trying to be brave.

  Zoe watched her go. Poor thing. Sucking in a deep breath she dialled her Aunt’s number, dreading the conversation. ‘It’s me,’ she said when Ruth answered with a curt hello.

  ‘Oh. You are still in the land of the living then.’

  ‘I did text you from the airport the other day.’

  ‘Messaging relatives is no substitute for a good old fashioned phone call,’ Ruth said in a sniffy tone. ‘I expected you to follow the text up with a call. I knew you’d be jetlagged but surely you could have—’

  ‘I’ve had my hands full,’ she cut across her Aunt’s accusation, picturing her grey hair in its no-nonsense bun and the pursed lips, shoulders bolt-straight, her dark eyes cool and unforgiving. When in this mood, the result was stilted accusations Zoe didn’t have the time and energy for today. Obviously she still wasn’t forgiven for what had happened before her departure for the States, despite the birthday and Christmas cards she’d always sent, accompanied by luxury gifts. However, now was not the time to try and sort it out. That didn’t mean she shouldn’t be conciliatory. ‘I’m sorry, you’re right, I should have called. The thing is, Matt’s fired Melody and kicked her out, and Stephen’s gone AWOL.’

  ‘What? What on earth do you mean? What happened? The absolute brutes.’

  ‘I’m not sure yet.’ Zoe didn’t know whether to be grateful or sad that her Aunt would jump so easily to her sister’s defence, when if it had been her the first thing Ruth would have asked was what did you do? ‘I’m trying to sort it out,’ no way was she telling Ruth the details of what she was up to, ‘but in the meantime I think it would be good for Melody if she came home for a while. We’ve talked about it and it’s what she wants, if you’ll have her.’

  ‘Of course I will. The guest room is made up for when she visits during the holidays. Put her on the first train you can and let me know when she’ll be arriving. I’ll pick her up from the station. She can stay as long as she likes.’

  ‘Okay, thank you,’ Zoe said, relieved. At least that was one less thing to worry about. There might be a lot of muddy ground between her and Ruth, but Melody’s well-being was always a given. ‘I’ll text you. I’m aiming to get her on the train this afternoon if I can manage it.’

  ‘Right. And what are you going to be doing in the meantime?’

  ‘I’ll be trying to work out what’s gone on, and see if the situation can be retrieved.’ She had to talk in the language that Ruth understood.

 
‘You do that. Keep me updated, will you? If you need me to speak with either of the swines let me know. I don’t know enough about Stephen to comment, however it’s odd about Matthew, I didn’t think he was like that. He always seemed so nice. I met him a few times when I came into London for lunch with your sister.’

  ‘That’s what Melody thought too,’ Zoe replied. ‘I’ll be in touch. Bye.’ She hung up, sitting back in her chair. Formidable was not the word for her aunt. She almost felt like setting her on Matt because it was what he deserved, but that wouldn’t get them anywhere. She was convinced that direct confrontation wasn’t the route to take. Staring down at the greasy table top, she frowned, anxiety coiling in her stomach. Was it always going to be this way between her and Ruth? Was there ever going to be a time that they could come to some understanding? Or when Ruth would tell her why she’d always been the odd one out in their little patched together family?

  When Melody returned a minute later, Zoe forced a smile. ‘Good news,’ she said. ‘You can go to Ruth’s as soon as this afternoon if you want. We can grab your things from Jemima’s and get you on the train in no time.’ She thought longingly of the coarse sandy beaches of Southend-on-Sea. Pictured the world’s longest pleasure pier, the row of multi-painted beach huts, the rides and roller coaster of Adventure Island on the Western Esplanade. Could almost taste the salt that carried on the sea breeze and always tangled her hair. While Ruth’s house with its dark shadows, locked rooms and no-nonsense air had never felt like home, she loved the seaside town she’d spent most of her teens in.

  ‘That would be good,’ Melody murmured. ‘I do think I need to get away and the sooner the better.’ She closed her eyes then opened them again, looking horrified. ‘I haven’t even asked about you, Sis. Are you doing okay? Funny that we’re both going through break-ups at the same time.’

  ‘I’ll be fine.’ Zoe grabbed her bag from under the table and started rooting through her purse. ‘At least I know what happened,’ she muttered, head down. The memory of that last night with Greg flashed in front of her eyes. ‘Besides, I’ve got other things to concentrate on. I’ll be checking out of the bed and breakfast in a couple of days’ time and moving in with Matt.’