by Rachel Dove
Lizzie thought for a moment, and Irvin could see the pieces slot into place slowly.
‘She liked him? Have they been seeing each other?’
Irvin nodded. ‘Taylor thinks so, but not like that. He spoke to Elaine about it. I think our daughter is making a mistake. I don’t want her to end up years from now, stuck in a marriage she bitterly regrets. She deserves better. We have kept her back all her life, protected her from the world, but we were wrong.’
He took another forkful of his breakfast, looking intently at his wife.
‘The question is, Lizzie, do we regret this marriage? Are we going to talk, sort this out, and go and help our daughter, or are we going to keep fighting till we are throwing things at each other across the nursing home lounge?’
Lizzie said nothing, and the two surveyed each other across the table.
***
Simon pulled up to the address in his car, squinting as he looked at the sign. It was well hidden, and thanks to Elaine’s satellite navigation it had only taken three wrong turns and a near-death experience on a one-way street before they came upon the small Harrogate side street.
Simon frowned, looking at his passengers’ equally baffled faces.
‘Is this really the right address?’ he pressed Roger. Roger looked at the paper in his hand, passing it through the gap in the seats to show the couple.
‘Yep, he wrote it himself. What’s going on?’
Elaine looked at the sign. ‘I don’t know, but do you think this has something to do with that guy from the club?’
Simon pulled the car down the side street, parking in one of the spaces in front of the building. The all got out and walked slowly towards the main entrance. It was an impressive building, with matching curtains in every window. Benches ran along the outside of the building, punctuated by walled-in flower beds, and pretty trees in pots.
The sign Meadow Lees hung above the door, which was red and had white ornamental pillars on either side.
The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over everything as the night started its nocturnal shift. The trio walked to the door, and Simon went to press the intercom when Will appeared in the doorway. He flicked the catch, and stood back to admit them. They found themselves in a neat foyer, a room marked ‘nurses’ station’ to the right.
‘You don’t have to sign in,’ Will said gruffly. A woman walked down the corridor towards them, smiling at Will kindly, and Simon’s eyes narrowed.
‘Kim, I presume?’ He glared at Will as he did it, but the woman shook her head.
‘No, I am Celeste. I work here, with Kim.’
She turned to Will. ‘This is more than my job’s worth, and if they come early …’
Will patted Celeste on the arm, motioning to them to follow.
‘I appreciate it, Cel, I really do. We won’t be long.’
He turned back to Lily’s friends. ‘Follow me. We need to be quiet, so please, if you are going to yell at me, leave it till the car park. I mean it.’
They followed him down several long corridors, stopping when he did at an open doorway.
‘Guys, I want you to meet my wife, Kimberley.’
***
Sometime later, the four of them sat in a small pub in Harrogate. They were waiting for their food orders to arrive, each of them taking a long gulp on their drinks.
Elaine spoke first. ‘So she was leaving you?’
Will nodded. ‘We hadn’t been getting on, and I suspected that she was cheating, but we had bought the house the year before. We were busy working, never saw each other. It happens. She met Damon at work, and I guess it had been going on for a while.’
Simon shook his head. ‘I am so sorry – we all had you pegged as a complete cheating bastard.’
Will laughed, looking at three people who cared lots about Lily. ‘No, I was cheated on. I came home early one night to talk to her, and I found her packing. She was leaving me for him. He was parked outside in the car.’
Will downed his drink. ‘I was so angry. We had a fight. It was bad. I told her she was nothing but trash, that I would never forgive her. She just took it – she kept packing and left. Told me he was better than me, that I wasn’t right for her.’
Elaine touched him on the arm. ‘We all say things we don’t mean in the heat of the moment.’
Simon pulled her closer, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. Roger looked stricken as he listened.
‘The last thing I said to her, before she left, was that I wanted her to drop dead. She drove off with him, and the next thing I knew, I got a call telling me she was in the hospital. Damon had skidded on something in the road, slammed into the central reservation. He died instantly. He was Ryan’s brother,’ he added, looking at Simon.
‘The guy from the club?’ Simon confirmed.
Will nodded. ‘Apparently she had met all his family. They all knew that she was leaving me. They were planning to get married. After she divorced me of course. Ryan wanted them to be buried together, but she pulled through at the last minute. I told them all to back off. I was so blinded by anger and guilt, I couldn’t do it. Kim’s parents have no idea, and I made Ryan promise never to tell them.’
Roger motioned to the bartender for another round.
‘So you kept yourself tied to a woman in a coma?’
Will nodded. ‘By the time I had finished grieving and could see straight, it was too late. Her parents were broken. She is their only child. They refused to let her go, so we moved her to the long-term care home. I come and see her, and they never find out their daughter was leaving me.’
Will shook his head, taking the glass the bartender brought over. ‘Good job I’m not driving,’ he quipped, knocking the whisky back.
‘We’ll give you a lift,’ Simon told him. ‘You need a drink, by the sounds.’
‘How do you cope? Don’t you hate her?’ Elaine asked softly.
‘No, I don’t. I did, for a long time, I hated them both, but then I realized – she was right. We weren’t right together, she and I. She fell in love, that’s all. She’s really not a bad person. I love her, but I am not in love with her. Now I just feel sad for us all. She lost Damon. Even if she wakes up, he will still be gone. I know what it’s like to be alone, and I don’t wish that for her.’
‘What about her parents? Can’t you tell them the truth now?’
Will shook his head. ‘I can’t do that to them. I play the part of the dutiful husband, and with me there, they still have a piece of her. In all honesty, it never really mattered till I met Lily.’
Roger made a strange sound in the back of his throat, followed by Elaine, and Will and Simon flicked their heads around to them in question. Roger was sobbing, and Elaine was crying too.
Simon looked like he wanted to run away from the table and Will pulled Roger into a bear hug.
‘Cheer up, slugger,’ he said, ruffling his hair. Any other time, that would have earned him a slap, but Roger just cried harder.
‘It’s so awful. It’s like a tragic romance!’ He sniffed, setting Elaine off again.
Simon hugged her tight. ‘It’s okay, baby, we can sort it out now, right?’
Will shook his head. ‘I have already hurt Lily. Telling her all this won’t change a thing. She is too good to be a secret girlfriend, and that’s just what she would be. I can’t tell Kim’s parents the truth, and if they knew about Lily, it would destroy them. I’m still married to their daughter.’ He rubbed his hands together at the table, and his wedding ring glinted in the light.
Roger sniffed loudly. ‘You have to tell her though; she needs to know. She doesn’t love Stuart. She is too good for him. Give her the choice, tell her about Kim, and let her decide.’
‘I have to agree with Rog, Will,’ Simon said. ‘I can’t stand Stuart. The guy is a dick. You can’t be okay with her marrying him.’
Will clenched his jaw tight. ‘I’m not okay with it, believe me. That’s why
I wanted you to meet me, so you would understand that I only want the best for Lily. See for yourself why I never told her the truth about me. I would never hurt her, not again. It’s about Stuart.’
The food came, and after the waitress served the very distracted and tearful diners, they set about demolishing their tea, and Will told them what he knew.
***
Stuart couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was being watched as he went about his day. He started his day as usual, alone in his cottage after a late night of wining and dining the clients. He was having a last hoorah before he was on the road once more, with his new wife in tow. His dad was planning a huge comeback campaign for his golf season, and he knew it was make or break. The PR machine would be in a frenzy, and any slip-ups would have to be in the past. He couldn’t risk anything coming out afterwards, so once they were married he would be the model husband.
If things worked out the way he hoped, every milestone in their lives could be punctuated by television appearances, magazine photo shoots. Lily could sell the shop, be at home. Hell, with her eye they could buy a house and she could renovate it. Stuart would make his money back, and then some. With the right endorsements and the help of the relative celebrity status of his family, it might just be the time for Stuart Woodward to take his shot.
He had showered and dressed, and was walking from his cottage to the main clubhouse when he noticed all eyes seemed to be on him. The people and their usual cheery waves and hellos were muted, and some of the women were downright rude. Stuart looked down at himself and checked he hadn’t popped a button, or left his flies hanging low. Nothing. He was as well heeled as ever. He surreptitiously pretended to scratch his ear on his shoulder, taking a quick whiff. The only smell he got was his aftershave, with an undertone of the antiperspirant he had put on after his shower. He was fresh, and looking good, awesome in fact, so what was the deal?
He saw one of the caddies heading down towards the equipment stores, and he chuckled to himself. It was Will’s day to work. Perfect. His day was looking up. Now he could have a little fun, distract himself from his self-imposed monogamy. Twist the knife into his failed rival. Maybe he would get him to make a display for the big day. Lily in the flower beds, or get him to write her name on the green somehow. Something over the top that Lily would be embarrassed about, and Will could be tormented over. Yes, that was just the ticket.
‘Vinnie, has Will arrived yet?’ he said, making no effort to say hello. The caddie grinned at him, a slow, easy smile, and Stuart faltered. Vinnie had never liked him and they both knew it.
‘Oh, Will’s here all right. He’s in the bar. And it’s Victor, not Vinnie.’
Stuart frowned. ‘In the bar? Why? He should have started work.’
Victor shrugged, looking Stuart in the eye in a ‘do I look bothered’ manner.
‘Answer me then! Why is he in the bar when it’s not even open yet.’
Victor’s eyes flashed with irritation at his tone. ‘I don’t know, boss,’ he sneered. ‘Why don’t you toddle on over and find out?’
Stuart was incensed. ‘Who the hell do you think you’re talking to!’ He rounded on him, his face red with the impertinence of the man. Victor was already walking away as though he didn’t have a care in the world.
‘Whatever, dude, have a nice life.’
Stuart was about to chase him, give him a piece of his mind and his marching orders to boot, when he spotted Mrs Riverton, one of his ‘regulars’ walking up to the clubhouse from the car park.
‘Eh?’ he said to himself. ‘What is she doing here?’
It wasn’t her usual day; in fact in the last couple of weeks he had been trying to avoid most of the female clientele like the plague. The last thing he wanted was for some nut job stalker to emerge at the wedding, spilling Prosecco-soaked secrets to his blushing bride. He cursed himself once more for being a wedding cheapskate as he ran towards the bar.
***
Will waved at Mrs Riverton as she came into the bar, strolling past him to join the other select list of ladies who had been invited by the head chef to sample the new menu, along with enough free booze to float their fake boobs in. Will was sat in front of the fire, lounging on the sofa. Stuart ran into the bar, looking hot and harassed from his run, and Will eyed him as he walked across the room.
***
The fire flared into life as Stuart approached, batted by the wind of his entry, and the effect made Will look like Lucifer, standing at the entrance to hell. His dark hair and almost black eyes never moved an inch as the two men stood in front of each other.
‘Comfortable, are we?’ Stuart asked sarcastically.
Will reached out and tapped the arm of the chair with his fingers. Drum drum drum drum.
Stuart scanned the bar, looking for clues as to why he was in this seemingly parallel dimension. The women in the other side of the bar were all laughing and joking, nibbling and slurping at appetizers and aperitifs happily. He noticed that they all studiously avoided his gaze, but a couple of them were looking at Will with interest.
‘I am uncomfortable, actually,’ Will suddenly said from behind him. Stuart spun around again, and saw that Will was standing right in front of him. ‘I am decidedly uncomfortable, but I think you will be feeling the same shortly.’
‘Oh really,’ he scoffed, regaining some of his swagger. ‘Tell me, Mr Dances with Worms, why would I feel uncomfortable?’
Will’s jaw twitched. He leaned in closer, his eyes scanning the room quickly. ‘The only worm here is you, so sit down and listen.’
‘Listen to you? You listen, gardener. I employed you, so if anyone is calling the shots –’
Will growled, moving closer so fast that Stuart thought he was going to head-butt him. ‘You have no cards here, Woodward. Your bevy of conquests over there are not attending a soiree by mistake, or coincidence. Sit down. Now.’
Stuart felt like he wanted to bite his own tongue off, but he said down, opposite Will. He took his seat again and leaned forward, so that the two were parallel, couch to couch.
‘This is the deal,’ Will started. ‘Lily will be here in an hour, once these ladies have moved on to the spa area. The spa therapists are comping them by the way. It turns out they are not fans of you either, since you bedded half of them, so that’s a bill coming your way. The waitresses will send you the bill for the food and drink too. Consider this your stag do.’
Stuart looked around. The waitresses were stood at their stations, looking very pleased with themselves. He felt sick.
‘How?’
‘People talk here, numb nuts.’
Stuart flushed, knowing his secret was out. ‘Why are you doing this? For Lily? She won’t thank you for this public humiliation, you know. What are you hoping – that she will just run into your arms?’
Will shook his head. ‘This is not about me. It’s about her. She deserves better than this, and you know it. The deal is this – I keep my job, you tell Lily the truth about your cheating, and take the fallout.’
Stuart went to stand, but Will grabbed him by the arm. The waitresses all looked over, but Will just smiled at them, showing them he was in control. Stuart ripped his hand away, sitting back down with a childish flounce.
‘That is not a deal. I have a future. I’m not about to blow it all up!’
Will spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Lily has a future too. She deserves to know just who she is marrying. If she still wants to marry you, then fine, but you will tell her the truth or I swear to God, I will parade every woman you ever cheated with into this bar, and tell everyone the truth.’
Stuart thought of the women in the room. Many of them were married to power, money, and influence. Some of their husbands even ran in the same circles as his father. If it came out, he would be done.
‘I’ll take the deal. I’ll tell her.’
Will said nothing, just stood up to leave. He saw him salute someone across the room, and w
hen he turned he saw Roger and Simon were standing there. The look they gave Stuart made him very glad that he was in a room full of witnesses. Simon made a throat slitting motion with his hand, and Roger scissored his fingers at his crotch area in a Bobbit-like mime.
Will was walking away, towards the gardens. Stuart called after him. ‘Why did you do this, if you knew that there was a chance I wouldn’t take the deal? I thought you liked her.’
Will stopped, his shoulders drooping. He kept his eyes on the door. ‘I knew you would take the deal. You are a scrote, Woodward, a coward. You don’t deserve her. I want her to be happy, that’s all. Don’t back out, or I will be back. And I have sharp garden shears.’
Stuart gulped. Will gave one last look to Simon and Roger, who made themselves scarce again in the bar area. They were here to pick up the pieces, make sure he told her the truth.
Stuart sat with his head in his hands, watching the second hand on his expensive watch tick on. For the first time in his life, he was going to tell the truth to someone, and it was going to be awful. He ordered a Scotch, noting that the only server to actually acknowledge his request was Ian, the barman. The rest of the serving staff were all notably absent, the waitresses shuffling the now tipsy women along to the spa.
He stared at the table, trying to figure out what went wrong, who to blame for his current predicament. He hated Will and all he stood for. The man was hiding something himself, yet he called him on his own stupid mistakes. Ian placed a tumbler full of whisky and ice onto the counter, and Stuart looked at him gratefully. Ian looked a little shocked by the reaction, and then he realized why. He was never grateful. That was it. He never acted grateful, said thanks. He just took what he wanted, because the world owed it to him. His father was right. He picked up the glass, taking a deep gulp that burned his throat and warmed the pit of his stomach.
Lily walked in then, looking so pretty in a cute floral dress, wrapped up in boots and a long coat. She looked stunning, and Stuart’s heart felt like it was being squeezed in his chest. She saw him sitting there and smiled. She came and sat next to him, dropping a quick kiss onto his lips.
