Changing Places
Authors: Colette Caddle
Colette Caddle
lives in Dublin with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of twelve bestselling novels. To find out more visit Colette’s
website at www.colettecaddle.com or follow her on twitter @colettecaddle.
Praise for Colette Caddle
‘Charles Dickens once advised budding novelists to make their readers laugh, make’em cry, but most of all, make’em wait. And bestselling writer Colette Caddle
does all three with an assured hand’
Irish Independent
‘If you like Marian Keyes, you’ll love Colette Caddle’
Company
‘Will have readers laughing and crying every step of the way’
Irish Times
‘An engaging, warm slice of life with which all women will be able to identify. Highly recommended’
Publishing News
‘A warm, irresistible Irish author for all ages. Heaven knows how they do it, but they have that special magic’
The Bookseller
‘Caddle seems to know instinctively what women readers want’
Ireland on Sunday
Also by Colette Caddle
FROM THIS MOMENT ON
EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
ALWAYS ON MY MIND
BETWEEN THE SHEETS
THE SECRETS WE KEEP
IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM
THE BETRAYAL OF GRACE MULCAHY
RED LETTER DAY
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
SHAKEN AND STIRRED
A CUT ABOVE
FOREVER FM
First published in Great Britain by Pocket Books, 2005
An imprint of Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
A CBS COMPANY
This edition published by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2015
Copyright © Colette Caddle, 2007
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
® and © 1997 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.
The right of Colette Caddle to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act,
1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB
Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney
Simon & Schuster India, New Delhi
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-47114-149-2
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to
actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
For my boys, Peter and Seán
ContentsChapter 1
‘Good food, good wine and some lacy underwear – that’s the way to a man’s heart.’ Mark Donnelly gave Anna a knowing wink before going back into
his office, laughing to himself.
‘Isn’t he terrible?’ Val said with a tolerant smile. ‘What’s the special occasion anyway?’
‘It’s Liam’s birthday – he’s thirty-three today.’
‘So book a table in that new Indian place, it’s supposed to be good.’
‘Can’t afford to,’ Anna told her, pulling a face. ‘I spent the last of my wages on a couple of DVDs for his present. I’ll take him out next week when I get
paid.’
‘Then just go to some nice little wine bar for a drink,’ Valerie suggested.
‘And take the scenic route home . . .’ Anna smiled as she remembered some of the detours she and Liam used to take when they were dating.
Val frowned. ‘In the dark?’
Anna’s lips twitched at the older woman’s innocence. ‘Haven’t you ever gone up a leafy lane with a guy, Val?’
‘Not unless you count the time I went picking strawberries with Tommy O’Malley.’
‘When was that?’
‘When I was eleven,’ Val said, her expression wistful. ‘I suppose Mark’s right. About the underwear, I mean.’
Anna chuckled at Val’s blushes. ‘Yeah, maybe we should just stay in. I could cook something nice and be decked out in a sexy nightie when he walks in.’
‘Well, watch out for hot grease. You don’t want any nasty burns in your privates. That wouldn’t be very romantic.’ Val switched off her PC and stood up.
‘Are you doing anything this weekend?’ Anna asked, conscious that they always seemed to talk about
her
social life.
‘I’ll probably bring Edna to bingo tomorrow night.’
‘Oh. Nice.’ Anna knew for a fact that Val hated bingo but her autocratic sister made Val take her every week. She was supposed to be an invalid, apparently riddled with arthritis,
but she always seemed to be game for a night out, especially when her sister and minder had other plans.
‘And I was thinking of visiting that new garden centre on Sunday,’ Val went on.
‘Sounds great.’
Val adjusted her scarf and put on her jacket. ‘Well, goodnight, Anna. Hope you have a lovely time and Liam appreciates the effort. Shouldn’t you be making tracks yourself?’
‘I just need a quick word with Mark before I go.’
‘Don’t let him keep you, now.’
‘I won’t. ’Night, Val.’
Anna tidied her desk, leaving out her list of Monday’s appointments before going into Mark’s office. He waved her to a chair as he finished a phone call. ‘No, Jan, I’ll
be late. No, I’m not going gallivanting! I’ll have you know, I have to meet a very important client.’ He rolled his eyes expressively at Anna. ‘Yes, yes, as soon as I can.
Right, darling, bye.’
Anna shook her head as he replaced the receiver. ‘You’re a disgrace. You don’t have any appointments tonight.’
‘Excuse me, I have a very important date with a pint of the black stuff!’ Mark rubbed his hands together. ‘And you never know who I might bump into, in the pub. It’s
important to circulate in this business, I’ve made some of my best sales over a pint.’
‘If you say so, Boss.’
‘So, what can I do for you?’
‘I just wanted to ask you about number seven, Marlboro Road. I have one couple coming back to see it a second time and I think they might make an offer.’
‘Excellent.’
‘Yes, but there’s no way it will be for the asking price.’ Anna handed him the details.
‘Four hundred and twenty thousand Euros? That’s a bit steep. I thought we agreed it should go in at three-nine-five.’
Anna sighed. ‘We did, but Mr Delaney wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘And you don’t think he’ll want to accept an offer under four-twenty?’
‘He might take four-fifteen but no less than that. He is the most stubborn man I’ve ever met and he just won’t listen to reason. There’s no way this couple will offer
four-twenty.’
‘Want me to have a word with Delaney?’
‘Would you? He’s the sort that prefers to deal with men.’
‘No problem. Let me know when this couple make an offer and I’ll talk to him then.’
Anna stood up. ‘Cheers, Mark, that’s great.’
‘And in return, you can do something for me.’
Anna lowered herself back into the chair. ‘Oh, yes?’
‘Yes. I have a client who’s looking for a house on a bit of land – say an acre or so. And he’d like a view of the sea.’
‘He’s got money then.’ Land was very expensive on the coast north of Dublin, and a sea view added several thousand to the price of even the most modest property. ‘How
come you’re not handling this one yourself?’ Anna asked. Mark made a point of dealing with the larger properties himself. Of course, he left it to Anna to do the measuring up and take
the photos but he handled the clients.
‘Let’s say that unlike your Mr Delaney, Charlie Coleman enjoys dealing with the ladies.’
‘Ah, you mean he’s a lech. Are you using me?’
Mark handed her the file. ‘Of course! Have a look through this and we’ll talk again on Monday.’
Anna stood up. ‘No problem. See you Monday.’
‘Don’t forget the lacy underwear.’
Anna grinned. ‘Val’s right. You’re a terrible man!’
After a quick trip to the supermarket, Anna went home and started to prepare dinner. She’d agonized at the deli counter for a good ten minutes before finally buying two
chicken Kievs. It was safer, given her limited culinary skills, and Liam loved it. She was just slicing some mushrooms when she heard his key in the door.
‘Hey, Birthday Boy, what time do you call this?’ she said as he wandered into their tiny kitchen, loosening his tie.
‘The lads insisted on bringing me for a pint,’ Liam replied, snaking his hands round her waist and pulling her to him. ‘Mmm, you smell good.’
‘Stop that,’ she laughed, pushing him away. ‘Let me concentrate on cooking your birthday dinner or you’ll have to go out for chips.’
Liam shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on the back of a chair. ‘What are we having?’
‘Chicken Kiev.’ Anna turned to smile at him. He really was a fine thing with those wonderful green eyes and thick brown wavy hair that she always wanted to touch.
Liam grinned slowly and reached for her again. ‘Sounds good. Have we time for a starter?’
Anna reluctantly pulled away. ‘No, sorry, no starters.’
‘You’re no fun. Have I time for a shower, then?’
Anna glanced at the clock. ‘If you’re quick.’
‘I’ll be ten minutes.’
Anna quickly fried onions and mushrooms, wrapped them in foil and then popped them into the oven beside the chicken and baked potatoes. Once she’d opened a bottle of wine and set the
table, she went into the sitting room and plumped the cushions.
She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror over the fireplace. Not bad. After realizing that she didn’t actually
own
a sexy nightie, she’d decided that wearing sexy
clothes was better than putting on her old Minnie Mouse nightshirt! Shaking back her long, auburn hair over her shoulder, she turned one way and then the other admiring the new purple top that
clung to her small breasts and tiny waist. She was wearing it with her black suede trousers that hung low on her hips, and perilously high sandals that she only wore when she didn’t have far
to walk.
Going back out to the kitchen, Anna checked the chicken and turned down the heat. Just this once, she was determined not to burn anything. After making sure all was in order, she poured a glass
of wine and carried it back into the sitting room. Curling into a corner of the large comfy sofa, she looked around in appreciation. The walls, sofa and carpet were all white, relieved by vibrant
throws and pillows that were thrown carelessly around the small room, and the soft glow from the numerous candles she’d lit earlier.