Love or Money?

by Carrie Stone

  “David got me the job here. I bumped into him at a building project I went to price up a couple of months ago. I ended up telling him my situation and he gave me his number. He said if things got tough, his wife was always hiring new salespeople and he’d put in a word.”

  Felicity felt her face growing hot. She was mortified at her actions, her heart going out to Steve. How could she have got things so confused?

  “Telesales, though? You’ve no telesales experience.”

  Steve cringed, clearly ashamed. “I know, but beggars can’t be choosers. I have no clue how to use a computer let alone talk in a sales manner on the phone. But I did a weekend training course up north. Catherine’s been helpful. I’ll find out next week if they will be making me permanent.”

  Felicity looked down as Steve shifted uncomfortably. “So are you going to tell Zara? I think you should. She had her suspicions for a while that you were cheating on her.”

  Steve looked crestfallen and guilt wracked. “Oh, don’t say that. Did she really? I knew things were strained between us. But God. Not that.” He looked at Felicity wide-eyed and all at once she felt compassion towards him. There was no doubt he’d been a fool to think that Zara wouldn’t cotton on to something being amiss, but from the way he’d just spoken – her estimation of him had risen highly. He had only been trying to do right by his family.

  “Don’t worry, she’s passed those suspicions now. I do think its best you tell her sooner than later though.”

  Steve nodded. “I was going to wait until the baby was born. I’ll know by then if they’re keeping me on here and if so, I’ll be in more of a position to pay off the debt against us. Then it won’t be such a worry for Zara.”

  Felicity bit down on her lip and nodded quietly. How much debt had he gotten them into exactly? An idea came to her, but she held back - unsure how to broach it.

  “I need to get going. I start at nine. Do me a favour, Fee. Let me be the one to mention this to Zara. For the moment let’s keep it between ourselves until I get that chance?” He looked at her hopefully.

  Felicity shrugged. She wasn’t one for keeping secrets but given what she’d discovered she felt it she owed it to Steve to be the one to break his news.

  “Ok, but on one condition.”

  Steve looked at her in frustration. “What condition?”

  “You accept my help toward clearing the debt that you owe.”

  Scratching his head in a self-conscious manner, Felicity knew that Steve was considering her offer and struggling to find a polite way to decline. From his stiff body language she was almost certain that he didn’t want her input in the matter. It was his manly pride taking over.

  “Steve, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for Zara so she avoids the stress and worry of further financial problems. I have spare funds and I want to help. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount but enough to at least get things back on track.”

  Steve sighed dejectedly. “I can’t say it’s something I’m comfortable with, but because it’s for Zara and the kids… I’ll pay you back every penny once things are stable.” He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders in defeat.

  Felicity smiled. “Ok, good, then that’s finalised.” She wrapped her coat around her more tightly, feeling surprisingly a lot happier with the situation.

  Steve glanced at his mobile. “I have to go now.” He took his name badge from his pocket and turned around to walk away, before stopping and changing his mind. “It wasn’t your place to be following me though, Fee.” He looked at her sternly. “I know you did it out of loyalty and friendship to Zara, but next time, keep your opinions to yourself.”

  Felicity remained quiet, shamefaced at the dressing down as Steve’s words hit home. He walked off without further ado, not waiting for a response. She began to wonder if her mother’s advice had been right. Had it been unwise to meddle in Zara’s relationship?

  Dan fumbled with the code lock of the suitcase for the fourth time. He was certain it was programmed with the same number as his credit card PIN but it wasn’t working. He finally heard the lock click into place and carefully span the wheel to the final digit. The handle flipped open.

  “Fucking thing.” Angrily throwing back the plastic lid, he began piling his clothes hastily into it. Stacey wasn’t due home for another few hours but he’d timed his moment well. The flight was leaving in less than three hours, just enough time to get packed and make his way to the airport. He’d thought long and hard about his decision and even though Andy had tried to talk him out of it, he couldn’t help but feel he was doing the best thing.

  He still couldn’t get over how much Stacey had managed to save in their wedding account. He was almost certain she must have had funds she’d been keeping from him. No wonder she’d been talking about having a venue in an exclusive country estate. She could bloody well afford a horse drawn carriage to go with it. It had been a shock seeing the bank statement by chance. But it had got him thinking.

  He chucked a couple pairs of the shoes he’d set aside onto the pile of clothes in the suitcase. He wouldn’t need much where he was going. Anyway, he had enough money now to buy new if he needed it. He grinned to himself. He’d always wanted to travel and finally his chance had come.

  He grabbed the bag of toiletries he’d pre-packed the previous night and put them amongst his things, glancing around the bedroom one final time to make sure he hadn’t missed anything.

  “Passport, tickets, luggage. What else?” he muttered to himself, opening his sports bag. He felt inside for the umpteenth time, ensuring the wad of money he’d withdrawn from the bank was still safely inside.

  Satisfied he had everything he needed, he pulled the lid of the case over and clicked it into place. He was ready. He picked up his sports bag and extended the pully handle of the suitcase, suddenly remembering the letter.

  “Shit.” He put down his things and checked the back pocket of his jeans, pulling out a creased envelope. Walking across to the dresser table, he tried to ignore the small pangs of guilt building up inside him and carefully propped it against Stacey’s perfume.

  In time maybe she’d even come to thank him for his decision. But right now he couldn’t worry about that. He had other things to think of, namely the small bar he’d arranged to view the next day. He’d always fancied himself as a landlord and the location was perfect. He couldn’t wait to see the back of his grim gardening days. After all, where had it got him so far?

  At thirty-four he wanted to be more than a local landscaper with a dolly-bird fiancé. Maybe if things had worked out different with Fee then he would have been more financially comfortable. But he couldn’t go on kidding himself. The UK had nothing to offer him.

  He picked up his luggage excitedly. He had a good feeling that Thailand was going to be a very happy new start.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Sylvia walked quietly toward the exit of the hospital, not trusting herself to speak. Phillip had barely said two words to her in the past few hours and she was beginning to feel anger at his unjustness. How many times would she have to apologise or try to explain herself before he’d finally listen? Wasn’t it clear that she too was living in absolute terror at the knowledge of the story about to break in the papers? It was made even worse by Phillip’s agent calling and warning them the original plan to run the headline had been revised, almost certainly for the fact they were saving it for Saturday’s main story. She didn’t know who to turn to. Her whole life was about to fall to pieces.

  She didn’t remember blacking out, neither did she remember being taken to the hospital. A panic attack is what the doctors had diagnosed, apparently quite common in pregnancy. Suffice to say, the baby and her health were satisfactory and she’d been discharged with orders to rest and take it easy. Ha! She’d wanted to laugh frenziedly at those instructions. Take it easy? Was that before or after she had been publicly humiliated and crucified? Before or after the father of her child walked out on her? Before or after her f
riendships and career suffered scrutiny and negative press?

  The tears started to flow down her cheeks and she wiped them away quickly, feeling hurt by Phillip’s sneer in her direction. As thankful as she was that the baby was ok, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the impending onslaught was going to be the tipping point. Who in the world would do something so cruel and malicious to her, knowing that she was pregnant?

  She’d racked her brains repeatedly in the last couple of hours; nobody knew about her pregnancy except Fee and Caitlin and realistically neither woman could be responsible as neither one knew about Dan. It left only one alternative outcome. Dan. It had to be Dan. But surely not? Even he wouldn’t stoop that low – would he?

  “Stop snivelling.” Phillip snapped, pointing his key fob toward his sleek black Jaguar. The car made a discreet sound to indicate it was unlocked.

  “Are you dropping me home?” Sylvia asked tentatively, unsure whether he intended to leave her stranded now that he knew she was fit and healthy. He eyed her with disdain and she felt herself flinch at his hostility.

  He took a moment to answer and Sylvia felt her eyes once again welling up with fresh tears. How could a man who had only a day earlier been so warm and excited, now be so cold and distant toward her?

  “Get in.”

  Feeling pathetically grateful for the reprieve, she scrambled quickly into the car before he could change his mind. He got in beside her and she felt the return of the sullen energy settling between them.

  “I want to see the papers when we get back to yours. The proof that it isn’t this Dan guy’s baby.”

  Sylvia felt her heart skip a beat, a flutter of hope in her stomach. So he had been listening to her ramblings about the paternity test. “It’s all there, the 99.9% proof that genetically it can’t be his child. The baby is yours Phillip - I promise you.”

  “Wrong. There’s no proof that it’s my child is there? For all I know, Dan could have been one of many.” His voice grated with repugnance. Sylvia shrank back from him, wounded.

  “How can you say that? You know that isn’t how I am. Dan was a one night mistake when we were split, Phillip. We were split – remember that? You were the one who said you didn’t feel ready for commitment. You were the one who pushed me away.” Sylvia heard the bitterness in her words, but she continued regardless. “Yes, I made a mistake with Dan, and believe me there hasn’t been a day gone by when I haven’t regretted it. But the best thing to happen to me was this baby and it’s ours Phillip. Our baby.”

  Phillip stared directly ahead, not commenting. Sylvia sensed from the way that he opened his mouth then closed it again, that he wanted to say something but was holding back.

  She gently put her hand on his leg, relieved when he didn’t brush her off. “Please Phillip, talk to me. I can’t face this alone. It’s hurting me to see you like this.”

  Phillip turned to her and she noticed the redness around his sunken, tired eyes. He wasn’t one for showing emotion but he didn’t need to. He looked like a broken man.

  “Do you know how it felt to be told by my agent that you’d been with another man? I dismissed it instantly – told him there’s no way Sylvia would do that. But he had copies of messages. Text messages between you and this Dan discussing the baby.” His voice cracked and he swallowed. “I really didn’t want to believe it but I had no choice. I feel sickened by it.” He shook his head sadly. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why, Sylvia?”

  Sylvia jumped quickly to her own defence. “Because I didn’t know how to. I thought long and hard about it, I really did, but I couldn’t bring myself to shatter all that we’d suddenly built up since finding out about the baby. That closeness and commitment.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I thought that if you didn’t know then it wouldn’t ever matter, the baby was yours and we could just concentrate on the future.”

  Phillip looked at her in frustration. “But what if the baby wasn’t mine, then what? Would you still not have told me? Would you have gone along with letting me believe it was my child?”

  Sylvia stared at him with pleading eyes. There were a thousand reasons in her heart and head for keeping the news of Dan from Phillip but it wasn’t easy to share those reasons. Phillip would never know the torment she’d been through and words couldn’t describe it. What more could she say? She honestly didn’t know what she would have done if the results had shown Dan to be the father. She’d never really allowed herself to imagine that scenario.

  “I don’t know what I would have done about the situation with Dan had the result been different. But I can promise you that I would have told you if you weren’t the father – however much it would have ruined our relationship. I love and respect you too much to have done otherwise.”

  Phillip scanned her face intensely, his eyes softening a little. “I don’t know if there’s any way back from this for us. This headline is going to blow us apart, you know that don’t you?” He looked at her sadly. “I’ll be there for the baby, but I can’t promise you that I can be there for you, Sylvia. Things are too raw right now.”

  Sylvia sighed sorrowfully. “I understand. I just hope you can forgive me and maybe change your mind after a bit of time.”

  She waited for Phillip to say something in return, but instead he started up the car’s engine. The conversation was over. She would have to face the consequences of her actions alone. The thought terrified her.

  Glenda glanced at the alarm clock and was surprised to see that she’d awoken far ahead of her usual time. Bill snored quietly beside her, his mouth slightly open and she couldn’t help but smile to herself. She was really looking forward to the day ahead. Being a Saturday and Bill not having to work, they’d agreed a leisurely drive up to Cambridgeshire to check out potential areas to rent.

  Getting out of bed, she slipped on her pale blue dressing-gown and tiptoed out of the bedroom, careful not to wake him. It had been a few days since she’d spoken with Fee and despite her attempts at calling, the stubborn mare was still refusing to answer. She was saddened deeply by the situation but she knew that with a little bit of persuading, Felicity wound come around to the idea of her and Bill living away. She’d planned to take some pictures to show her, just in case.

  She heard her letterbox clatter and tutted to herself. More bills to pay. That’s all she seemed to be doing lately. She was living on the bread-line enough as it was, without the electricity and gas rises that seemed to eat into every spare penny she had. She thought about Bill’s generosity when they’d discussed the living arrangements in Cambridge. Part of her had been overly worried about helping financially towards household costs – she barely earned pocket money from her cleaning jobs. However, Bill had been stern in insisting that she wasn’t expected to contribute a penny. As long as she took care of her own flat costs in London, then all Cambridge outgoings would be taken care of by him – including a monthly allowance for her. An allowance! She could hardly believe her ears.

  She padded into the hallway barefoot and picked up the three white envelopes and folded daily newspaper and made her way into the kitchen.

  Boiling the kettle, she sat down at the dining table and reached for the paper. It wasn’t often she got a chance to take a quiet moment to read and relax. She picked up the paper and spread it out in front of her, smoothing the front page with her hand.

  “My goodness.” She couldn’t help herself from speaking aloud, for staring back at her was a large photo of Dan alongside a photo of Sylvia. The headline was etched boldy and suggestively across the page. ‘Phillip gets ditched! Baby isn’t his – it’s the gardener’s!’

  “Surely not?” Glenda couldn’t believe what she was reading. A photo of a grim, lonely looking Phillip Moore with a suitcase in his hand completed the article. She scanned the storyline quickly, feeling her pulse racing. Dan? Sylvia? A baby together? None of it made sense. Did Felicity know? Her heart sank. What if she didn’t? How would she feel knowing her friend and Dan had started something togethe
r?

  “I could wring that man’s neck” she muttered to herself, cursing the day she’d fell for his charm and let him stay at Felicity’s. Her daughter had been right about him all along. He was a waste of space. First cheating on Stacey with Fee and now this. She picked up the phone hastily, not caring that it was an ungodly hour. Someone had to warn her daughter and she wanted to be the one to do it.

  “You’re joking? Dan and Sylvia?” Zara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. For a moment she forgot the morning madness that was taking place around her in the kitchen, instead concentrating on the unexpected phone call from Glenda.

  “Let me come with you - I’ll bring Daisy and Steve can take Abbey and Lexi to the shopping mall for a couple of hours.” Steve glanced up from eating his toast at the dining table and shrugged his shoulders. Zara mouthed to him a silent thank-you.

  “Ok, I need to get everything sorted here first with the kids and I can meet you outside Fee’s in an hour? She won’t have read the papers before then. Come to think of it, Fee never reads the papers.” Zara sighed. “It’s a good thing really.”

  She finalised the details with Glenda and hung up the phone, shocked.

  Steve watched his wife as she cleared up the children’s plates and took them to the dishwasher. “What’s all that about? Something going on with Fee? You look stunned.”

  “I can’t believe it. You remember Fee was keen on that gardener I told you about – Dan?”

  Steve nodded. As much as he usually wasn’t interested in the women’s gossip that Zara relayed, he’d been surprised when she’d mentioned that Fee had started something with a gardener. More so when Zara had attributed the doomed relationship to Fee’s fleeing to Australia. “Yes, what about it?”

  “It’s all over the papers today that the gardener and a friend of Fee’s who is dating Phillip Moore, have been having an affair. Fee’s friend Sylvia is supposedly pregnant with Dan’s baby!”