Annie held Victoria by her shoulders and stared at her in the face. Victoria could hardly keep eye contact.
‘I think it’s time to be honest with your husband,’ said Annie.
That stopped Victoria in her tracks.
‘What do you mean?’ she whispered.
‘I mean tell him how you feel about him. And the boys.’
The two sisters stared at each other in the silence.
‘I never thought of that,’ murmured Victoria, hope in her voice.
* * * * *
Dr Blake couldn’t believe her ears. ‘Are you sure about this?’
‘Never more sure.’
‘When I said closure, this wasn’t quite what I had in mind.’
‘It wasn’t quite what I had in mind either.’
‘But then you were thinking more revenge, as I recall.’
He laughed.
‘Was I?’
‘As I recall, yes.’
He shook his head at himself, smiling all the time.
Dr Blake felt a bitter taste rise up in her mouth. She always hated this stage. It was like releasing an animal she’d nursed back into the wild. Part of her hated to see them go; part of her knew this was what her job was all about; part of her knew she’d miss them; part of her resented their sudden independence; and most of her was terrified at her loss of earnings.
So many parts. No wonder she talked to herself.
She looked at him with a quizzical smile.
‘And this is all because of what “hit you” in that alleyway?’
It was a low trick – manipulating him back into victim mode. She knew what she was doing, but couldn’t stop herself. It was just happening so suddenly – she hadn’t had time to prepare herself.
Jake nodded happily.
‘Does that make … sense to you?’
Stop it right now! Stop it! Acting like a spoilt bitch instead of his psychotherapist. Well, I’m not his psychotherapist any more am I? He’s chucking me. I can be as bitchy as I like. OK, stop talking to yourself, it’s getting spooky.
Jake shook his head, grinning like a fool.
‘Nope I suppose it doesn’t make any sense,’ he said. ‘But then nothing you said to me made much sense either. And this was far quicker and considerably cheaper.’
Owch! Get those claws in.
‘Most alleyway transactions are, Jake.’
Jake stared at Dr Blake in shock. Did he detect a change of tone in her voice? A hint of bitterness maybe? Scorn, even? Was there a real person in there after all? He looked at her critically for the first time. She was much smaller than he’d pictured.
Typical – she only shows it when she knows he’s leaving. Women were so bloody contrary.
He beamed warmly at her for the first time in seven years across the large, silent room.
Oh my God, she thought. He’s really good looking. Out of his bloody tree, but really good looking. (Mind you, what more could she hope for in her line of work?)
She gave him a sad smile back and stood up. ‘Have a good trip.’
Jake stood up too. Should he kiss her goodbye? Shake her hand? Hug her? Cry on her shoulder like a child?
She turned away and walked behind her desk before he could do anything. Safely there, she gave him a warm grin.
‘I’ll miss our sessions Jake. I do wish you the best of luck.’
‘Thank you.’
He almost added ‘You too,’ but sensed that it wouldn’t go down well.
And, after seven years of therapy – followed by closure of a spectacular kind, Jake Mead turned and walked out of Dr Blake’s office for the last time.
23
THE DAY STARTED bright, cold and fresh. Cass and Brutus would be arriving in the city later that afternoon and Annie’s eagerness to see them lifted her slightly from her dip after Susannah’s dire prediction of the family’s future. Cass’s pregnancy was going well so far.
Annie was to see them all at the Metropolitan Opera House that night. Her father, Katherine, Victoria and, of course Davina, were joining them and she had invited Edward. Tony and Fi were also coming after a day of sorting out their wedding list and Sophie was due to arrive today with David. Annie felt comforted by the thought of seeing them all.
Verdi’s Otello meant little to any of them except Annie, but the extravagant beauty of the opera house and the idea of sitting in a box were enough to coax her family into coming.
‘The good news is I managed to get us two boxes, the bad news is it’s slightly restricted view,’ Annie had warned them when she’d bought the tickets.
‘Restricted view?’ her father exclaimed. ‘What’s the point of going if people can’t see you?’
‘No. Restricted view of the stage. Not of you.’
Her father was looking forward to it immensely.
Annie was tempted to pop into the office, but knew that she could do nothing to help. Instead she had a day designed specifically to boost her spirits. First, meeting up with Edward in the park before he went to work – for requisite ego-building in nice surroundings – then lunch with a newly arrived Sophie – gossip, good food and any info on Jake she could wangle – followed by a pleasant afternoon on her own, wandering round The Frick Museum – solitude and art.
In between, she would pop back to the apartment, as usual, to check whether or not Charles had sent an e-mail to Victoria.
Central Park had become Annie’s friend. She had started jogging in it after experiencing one too many nights of fitful sleep. Her body was missing the regular exercise from karate and she discovered that a morning jog gave her the perfect chance to get her thoughts in order before the inevitable worries started creeping in. And it meant that on the way home she could buy a freshly baked doughnut, warm out of the oven, before the queues started.
After a hot shower and change of clothes, Annie was back out in the park. Today was not as cold as yesterday, and the weather resembled a dazzlingly bright autumn day in London, the sky’s blue interrupted only by speeding white clouds, the trees boldly bare. She stood under the gothic arch of the Hansel and Gretel-style building that housed the information centre, staring ahead at the skaters on the ice rink twirling against a backdrop of naked trees and the monolithic buildings beyond.
Leaning against the railing, watching people wandering past, she noticed that umbrellas were suddenly blossoming. When the rain turned to hail, she pushed up her collar and smiled as the skaters vanished within moments.
Motionless, she watched the world go by.
Shoulders suddenly hunched, faces down, everyone was rushing by, trying to dodge the rain. Then suddenly she spotted a pair of long legs under an umbrella that made her stomach somersault. If it hadn’t been impossible, she’d have sworn it was … just then the umbrella was blown temporarily away from its holder’s face. It was! She watched as the figure disappeared temporarily behind some bushes to the right of her view. She ran to the right of the building and waited, breath halted, to see if he would come up the hill towards her, or if he had taken the other route and was gone again.
After what seemed like hours, the figure appeared again, running now, straight towards her.
Conflicting emotions raced for supremacy inside her body so fast that she had to act quickly before the wrong one won. She ran out from under the building into the rain, straight into his path.
‘Jake!’ she exclaimed, the cold rain pricking her cheeks, tingling her hair and feet.
He started, stopped in his tracks, stared at her and seemed struck dumb, while a rainbow of expressions flickered over his face.
Try as she might, Annie couldn’t work out a single one of them. Happiness at seeing her? Shock? Fright? Relief? Boredom? Adoration? Gratitude that he wasn’t going out with Sophie?
Impossible to tell.
Suffice to say he didn’t rush into her arms – which as far as she was concerned, was a bit of a letdown.
So. He was still in love with bitch whore Sophes, eh?
‘Hi,’ he managed eventually, his hand flying to the back of his neck. Could she tell he’d just been thinking about her?
Hi.
One syllable, opposite of low, thought Annie. But what did it mean?
She had no option. She had to keep him talking until he’d used enough syllables for her to be able to decipher any emotion behind his words. She hadn’t been a Samaritan for nothing.
What should she say now?
You remember that time in the alleyway … About that baby … I hear Paris is nice this time of year …
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Getting drenched,’ he suddenly grinned, as if coming out of the effect of a stun gun.
‘Here you’re getting soaked,’ and he held the umbrella over both of them. It was a relatively large umbrella, but it still meant squeezing up a bit.
Annie was so unused to Jake actually being decent to her that she was now totally confused. It was a context she hadn’t worked in for too long. If he was deliberately trying to confuse her she’d have been impressed. But was he?
Was he trying to wrong foot her? Or rather, make up for lost time? Had the alleyway incident stayed with him too? Or did the new surroundings of New York simply eradicate everything that had gone on before and they could start again?
Or did Jake just have an umbrella and not want to see a girl get wet?
He’d only been here for a matter of minutes and already she had brain ache.
The hail was actually hurting them now and unless Annie got inside Jake’s jacket – which did occur to her – this was going to become seriously unpleasant. She gestured for them to run under the canopy of the building. They stood there for a bit, watching the sudden downpour.
She had to know how Jake felt about Sophie’s engagement to David. And why was he here? There was no time to waste. The conflicting emotions were still in there, battling away. Pride, anger, hurt and resentment were busily battling for victory over Warm Interest. Quick.
‘I mean, what are you doing here? In New York? I thought all the important stuff was being done back home.’
Ask about Sophie. Listen and nod, then ask about Sophie …
Jake shrugged, leaning against the railings, looking studiously at his umbrella as he furled it up. What was he going to say next, she wondered. Can I have my ball back please?
‘Susannah called us in London. It sounded pretty serious, so I decided to come out. I flew in last night. I was just on my way to the office.’
Annie was suddenly terrified. She had no idea Susannah was going to do this. Was she going to let them go?
She didn’t have a moment to lose.
‘Is it about … the money that’s haemorrhaging out of the company?’
Jake looked at her. ‘If it is, Susannah hasn’t mentioned it.’
What? Why weren’t they telling him anything? How could he help Markhams’ if he didn’t have all the information? Didn’t they trust him? Was it a bad sign that he was here? Were they going to sell the company immediately? Without telling her? And what did he feel about Sophie?
‘Oh. Well, she’s very worried about it. Very worried.’
‘You mean … the vanishing money?’
Oh, so he did know.
‘Yes,’ she said, relieved. ‘Susannah hasn’t got a clue where it’s all going. Have you?’
He shook his head. ‘I’ve only just been alerted to it by one of my colleagues,’ he said quietly. ‘We’re looking into it now. I … um, I think I may have an idea where it’s going. We’re doing all we can as fast as possible, I promise.’
She couldn’t help the grin. Jake was her ally once more! Her knight in shining armour. Who ran out on her seven years ago, without warning …
Keep talking, keep talking.
‘Oh thank God. Have you told Susannah?’
‘Not yet. I don’t think she’d take it too well.’
‘You must tell her.’
‘Must I?’
‘Yes. She thinks she can’t afford you any more.’
Jake stopped breathing. He had to ask.
‘You want me to stay?’
What did that mean? Did he want her to want him to stay? Or was that her just wanting him to want her to want him to stay? Or was she just going mad?
‘I want you to save us.’
‘How long have I got?’
What did that mean? How long have I got to save your life? Or how long have I got to be with you? Or how long have I got to live? Was that buzzing sound her head?
‘A week. The New Year. Then she’ll let you go.’
‘Jesus,’ he whispered. ‘Thanks.’
Right. Now, Sophie …
‘We think there may be an inside leak actually,’ said Jake suddenly. Yes, it was worth risking everything. He couldn’t have kept a secret from her now if he’d tried.
Annie gasped. She spoke before thinking. ‘Oh don’t be ridiculous.’
Stung, Jake shot back.
‘I’m not being ridiculous. I’m being thorough. I’m doing what I’m paid to do.’
Oh, so this was purely business then. Victoria was right. He was a stubborn bastard.
‘Who would be a leak then?’ she asked disdainfully. ‘My father?’
He looked away from her, watching the rain.
Oh fine. Not talking now. How mature.
She tried another tack. ‘Look, I’m meeting Edward here any minute—’
‘Oh yeah?’ he stayed looking at the rain.
She stared at him. There was no need to be so rude. After all, she’d sat behind him and Sophie all the way through that wretched film and never once said ‘Oh yeah?’ to him in that tone of voice.
‘Yeah,’ she replied, making up for lost time.
Warm Interest finally lost the battle. In fairness, it had put up a good fight. Piqued, she indulged the victor.
‘I hardly think you’re in any position to have a problem with that, do you?’ she accused bitterly.
Jake suddenly looked straight at her.
‘As a matter of fact I do.’
She couldn’t believe her ears! She’d be damned if she was going to let those stupid dark eyes boring into her have any effect on what she said or did. Any more.
‘What the hell’s it got to do with you who I go out with? If you haven’t forgotten, we’re not going out with each other any more, on account of you running out and leaving me—’
‘It’s got nothing to do with us going ou—’
‘Oh right. This is just friendly advice is it?’
Jake exploded.
‘Friendly! How can I be friendly? You lied to me about having my baby, then said you’d elope with me, then changed your mind at the last minute—’
‘I didn’t lie to you – or change my mind—’
‘Oh, what? So you knew all along that you’d dump me, did you?’
‘I MADE A MISTAKE! I THOUGHT I WAS PREGNANT AND I WASN’T. I’D ONLY JUST FOUND OUT WHEN YOU CAME INTO MY ROOM. AND IF YOU’D STUCK AROUND TO FIND OUT, YOU’D HAVE DISCOVERED I WAS AS UPSET ABOUT IT AS YOU WERE.’
Phew. Glad she’d got that off her chest. About time too.
She felt strangely light, as if she might blow away in the wind.
Jake stared at her in stunned silence. Too much information. Unable to compute. Focus, talk, breathe. When he finally spoke, his voice didn’t seem to be coming from his body.
‘Annie. All I’m saying is … be careful who you trust—’
‘HI THERE!’
They didn’t hear what the voice was saying at first, only that there was one, and it was obliterating their conversation.
Jake and Annie both looked to where the voice was coming from and saw a tall, slender shape standing in the light. They assumed the man was a mad stranger. Then Annie remembered. Edward! She then experienced a sinking feeling that was so profound she feared her womb had prolapsed.
Edward seemed delighted to have found them together, yet conscious that delicate feelings
needed to be soothed. He smiled warmly at them both before coming forward and shaking Jake’s hand so firmly, Annie worried for his shoulder socket.
‘We were just about to share a soggy bagel and double-strength, half-spilled coffee,’ continued Edward, holding up a wet paper bag. ‘Care to join us?’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Jake softly, staring fixedly at Edward. ‘I only like dry rye and decaff. Otherwise … obviously, hard to resist …’
Edward laughed.
Jake then gave Annie a short, blunt goodbye without meeting her eye, turned to Edward and said, in lieu of goodbye, ‘Edward’. And then he turned up his collar and ran off into the rain.
* * * * *
Edward and Annie stayed there until the rain finally came to a halt fifteen minutes later. Both Central Park and the rain soon lost their appeal as Annie got colder and colder. She just wanted to get back to the apartment and take off her soggy clothes. Have a hot bath. Close her eyes and marvel at what she had managed to finally say out loud to Jake. It was a truly momentous day.
And not only because of what she’d said. But because she finally realised that adverts are always better than the real thing.
* * * * *
When Annie reached the apartment, Victoria was still in the increasingly lengthy process of getting up. She was sitting in the drawing room eating a chocolate-flavoured children’s cereal, her finger flicking through the TV channels, her eyes glazed over. Annie, restless and on edge, went into the office and turned on the computer. Yep, there was a message.
She pressed the intercom button and buzzed Victoria.
‘There’s an e-mail for you,’ she told Victoria.
Victoria jumped in shock at the voice to her right. She turned, brushed aside the curtain and looked at the little grey box. The red light was flicking, showing that it was on.
‘For me? Are you sure?’
‘Yep,’ replied Annie into the office intercom. ‘From Charles.’
They swapped rooms. Annie went and sat in the drawing room, looking out at the park, feeling shell-shocked and depressed. She sat in the silence for a while until an ugly buzzing came from the intercom.
‘Annie! I need your help!’
It was Victoria from the office.
She found Victoria sitting staring at the computer, her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were watering.
Persuading Annie Page 24
