Love or Money? (15 page)

Sylvia stared into Phillip’s face not knowing how to act or what to say. Four weeks, that’s what they’d agreed. Four weeks for her to remedy the situation and begin to plan her future with Phillip.
 

“
Say something then” Phillip urged with a trace of annoyance in his voice.

“
What do you expect me to say, Phillip?” Sylvia stared angrily at him. “I haven’t even told my parents yet because we agreed to keep it a secret. Yet you’ve just told someone we barely know.” 

S
he knew he thought she was over-reacting but she didn’t care. Despite him welcoming the idea of the baby more openly that she’d have ever imagined possible, she was irked that he’d shared her news before she was ready to.

She was also terrified of the repercussions. Phillip had no idea she’d slept with Dan. What would happen if he real
ised there was a possibility that the child wasn’t even his? Although it was a slim probability, it was a matter she’d intended to address before they publically announced their news. She still had over a week before the doctor would allow her to test the paternity. Nine days in which she’d planned to get Dan to agree to the test.  She was almost certain it wouldn’t be his child – as she’d explained to him when they’d met. But there was still a niggling doubt. 

She wasn’t entirely sure what she hoped to achieve from the results but she felt she needed to know who the father was, for her own peace of mind.
  She wanted her child to grow up with two parents in a loving, secure environment and Phillip could help her to provide that. Being forearmed with the information of whether the child was his or not would surely help her to confirm if she could make her ideal a reality? Although she had every intention of keeping the knowledge from Phillip at this stage, she wasn’t sure if she could do that to him if it was revealed that Dan was the father.

Except now, everything had been complicated. If her pregnancy became public news before she had an opportunity to confirm the paternity, there was the chance that Phillip’s reputation would be damaged in the worst case scenario. Not to mention his heart.

“Let’s not argue.” Phillip returned to his seat and reached out to take her hand across the table. “I’ve made a mistake but it’s not the end of the world. Caitlin can be trusted, you know she isn’t a gossip. Our secret is safe, I promise.”

Overcome with tiredness, Sylvia found herself nodding her head in agreement. She didn’t want to argue. She didn’t need any
more stress. The damage had already been done. She’d slept with a man that wasn’t Phillip and now she was paying for her mistake.

“
Ok. Just promise me you won’t tell anybody else for the moment?” 

Phillip looked at her with sincerity.
“I promise, darling.”

Sylvia desperately hoped he meant it.

Chapter Nineteen

“
Well all I can say is that is that I’m absolutely shocked” Glenda repeated, dusting a heavy silver photo frame.

Zara watched as Glenda anxiously polished the frame before replacing it on the mantelpiece. She herself had been surprised by the news but she mostly felt excited. She
couldn’t wait to see Felicity. “So has she booked the return flight yet?” 

Glenda set down the yellow dust cloth and picked up the polish, spraying the PVC window ledge.
“Yes, she’s managed to get a late flight for Thursday evening. She said she arrives back into Heathrow on Saturday late morning. So I’m going to use her car to pick her up, save her getting a taxi.”

“
Oh Glen, I’m so excited. It feels like she’s been gone forever” Zara said, keeping her eye on Daisy who was playing quietly on the carpet with her toys. “I’ll have to pop round on Sunday and see her.”

Glenda stopped polishing and sat down in Fee’s favourite armchair. If truth to be told, she was ecstatic that her daughter was returning early from Australia but she was also extremely nervous. After a lengthy discussion with Bill, she’d agreed that she’d finally tell Felicity all about their relationship during their next phone conversation. What she hadn’t expected was that phone conversation to begin with Fee telling her she was coming home!
 

“
Of course. I know she’s going to be thrilled to see you too. She said she was looking forward to getting home. The reason I’m so surprised is because I thought she was getting on rather well with Owen.” 

Zara
nodded her head in agreement. “I know, I thought the same. Her emails have been very complimentary toward him. I was beginning to wonder if something might have started up between them.”

Glenda tutted sadly.
“That’s the thing, we both know Fee. Owen might have been a nice man for her, but she’s not going to entertain the idea of being with a voluntary worker, is she? Silly girl. I feel like knocking her head against a wall sometimes.”

Daisy got up and walked over to Zara, putting her dummy in her mouth and pu
lling against Zara’s leggings. “Can we go home, Mummy?”

Zara sighed. It was almost impossible to get any time to herself lately. She had been looking forward to her weekly catch up with Glenda at Fee’s house. It was nice to relax and keep her company whilst she went about her cleaning routine, but Daisy’s nursery being closed unexpectedly for the last two days had played havoc with her schedule. She’d even had to call the office yesterday and use one day of her leave allowance that she normally reserved for medical emergencies. It didn’t help that Steve had been working longer days. She’d hardly seen him of late.
 

“
Daisy, let Mummy and Auntie Glenda have some chat time. Go and watch the television for a while and we’ll go home after, Ok?”

“
Come here darling and I’ll put the television on for you” Glenda said taking a cushion from the sofa and putting it down in front of the TV. Daisy did as she was told and waited patiently as Glenda switched on the large LCD screen and located a cartoon channel. Daisy’s face lit up at the sight of the dancing pink and yellow banana on the screen. 

“
That should keep her quiet. Let’s go and sit in the kitchen for a bit.” 

Walking into the other room, Glenda asked Zara about the situation with Steve since the hospital incident.

Zara sat down at the dining table. “To be honest with you Glenda, I really feel like things have improved between us since we had a good chat about the baby. But the problem is his work situation.”

Glenda opened the fridge and made a note to do a full shop in time for Fee’s arrival. She didn’t want her daughter returning home to empty cupboards.
“What’s happening with his work then? I thought you said things had picked up for him?”

“
They have. He landed that new contract with a big developer in West London. Yet I’ve hardly seen him since. When he is home, things are good. He’s more talkative and we are getting along much better. But the problem is, every night for the past week he’s had to work late.”

Glenda joined Zara and sat down,
taking time out for a moment. “You should say something to him, love. You’re almost eight months pregnant now. He knows how hard it’s been on you this time around. You can’t do it all by yourself.” She patted Zara’s arm sympathetically. “When is your maternity leave starting?”

“
That’s my saving grace. I go on my leave at the end of next week. So I’m hoping that will ease things a bit. I also want to go out and get a few more boy’s bits. Everything we’d bought to this point was neutral but now we now that the little one is on his way, we can be a bit more indulgent.” Zara gently patted her huge stomach.

“
Well after next week, you’ll have time to rest yourself a bit more. I’m just pleased things are improved between you two, even if Steve has to work more. I really couldn’t believe what you told me about the cheating suspicion. Honestly love, the pair of you are so good together. It’s nice to hear that you’re working through your problems.”

Zara contemplated Glenda’s words. Steve really had been making much more of an effort in the past couple of weeks. He seemed more affectionate toward
s her and there had been lots of unexpected compliments from him, not to mention small gestures of romance. She wasn’t sure if it was partly due to the excitement at having the son he’d always longed for but she didn’t care. What mattered was that despite his heavier workload, their family was a unit again.  Any suspicions she’d had, had been discarded. She needed to look to the future and they’d be doing it together.

“
How are things with you and Bill? I’m assuming you still haven’t told Fee about him because she hasn’t mentioned anything to me about it in her emails?” 

Glenda picked at her thumbnail distractedly, aware that her anxiety was once again building.
“Oh Zara, I’m so worried about how she’s going to react. I had built up the courage to break the news to her over the phone the other day, but then of course she begins by telling me she’s returning.”

Zara bit down on her lip. Glenda had been given more than enough time to enlighten Fee on her new relationship with Bill, she should have acted upon it far sooner. Fee would be furious for being kept in the dark for the past eight weeks. She tried to soothe Glenda’s fears.
 

“
You need to do it as soon as she gets home, Glen. She might be more understanding than you expect. After all, we’ve both noticed she seems to have changed quite a bit while she’s been over there in Australia.”

Glenda looked at Zara. “
You’re right. She might be ok about it mightn’t she? It’s not only that though…” she trailed off, looking down in embarrassment.

Zara leaned forward curiously. “What is it then?”

“I didn’t really want to say anything because it’s not all signed and sealed yet, but Bill’s been offered a job in Cambridge.”

“
Oh, I see” Zara replied quietly. Why hadn’t Glenda said something earlier? No wonder she was anxious if her relationship with Bill was on the rocks. Zara felt her heart go out to Glenda. She hadn’t seen her looking so happy in years; it was a shame to think that the happiness could be short lived. “Are you ok about it? It’s not too far away I suppose” she said carefully. 

Glenda smiled sadly. Zara’s response was exactly as she’d expected, but it wasn’t Zara’s fault, it was her own. She’d had her boundaries blurred for far too long. People saw her as the kind, anxious Glenda who’d do anything to help others. It was time for her to change that view. She wanted to start being seen as the happy
-go-lucky Glenda who took chances. The Glenda that put herself first.

“
Actually, love, that’s not what I meant.” 

“
Oh, sorry. I thought you said Bill was moving away?” Zara looked at her in confusion.

Glenda took a deep breath. If she was going to have to face her daughter, she needed to have enough courage to face Zara first.
 

“
Yes, he is” she began, putting her hands out on the table in front of her. “But what I meant is that I’m moving with him. He’s asked me to accompany him in Cambridge and I’ve said yes.”

Bizarrely, she felt a sense of empowerment at speaking the words aloud. It hadn’t been half as hard as she’d expected. She looked at Zara’s shocked expression and giggled.

“You can pick your jaw up from the floor now.”

Zara laughed and stood up, coming aroun
d to reach Glenda and hug her. “Oh Glen, I can’t believe it! Cambridge! I’m so happy for you. When did you decide?” 

Overcome with emotion at Zara’s support, Glenda wiped the beginning of tears from her eyes and sat back down, filling her in on her plans.

Zara couldn’t believe that the excited, zealous woman sitting in front of her was Glenda. Listening to her plans of sharing a property with Bill and taking up pottery lessons she couldn’t help but feel enthused for her. 

“
So he’s just waiting for the company to provide the housing budget and then we can start looking at options. We were thinking of going up to Cambridge next weekend actually. You know, get a feel for the place.”

“
Yes, that sounds like a great idea. When will the move be then? Once all the finer details are sorted?” 

“
January 6th. They want him there for the first week of the New year, so we’ll be aiming to leave London straight after the Christmas holidays.”

“
Wow, so soon Glen!” Zara felt her baby kicking and she smiled. “At least you’ll be here for when this little one comes - I want him to meet you before you swan off to your new life in Cambridge.” 

Glenda laughed, her nervousness replaced with elation. She had been surprised herself when Bill had told her the timeframe of the move, but she’d come to terms with the idea. There was so much to look forward to within the next seven weeks, she could hardly believe the changes. Despite having to share her news with Fee, she couldn’t wait to see her daughter. She hoped that she’d be returning home more settled and content.
 

In just under four weeks they had Zara’s little one
’s arrival to prepare for. Not to mention the Christmas holiday season which was going to be a hectic time; especially as it was always spent with Zara, Steve and the children. And hopefully this year Bill would be joining them.  It would be nice to have a final gathering before she prepared for her new start with him. 

Crossing her fingers under the table, she sent up a silent plea that Felicity’s arrival home would be the start of new things for her daughter. Her biggest wish was to see Fee at least as happy as she was feeling, if not happier. She desperately hoped it would happen soon.

Owen heaved Felicity’s heavy suitcase onto the check-in weight counter, smirking at her as the counter displayed the exact luggage allowance she was entitled
to. Much to her surprise he’d been correct in saying that she wasn’t over the limit. 

Passing the check-in attendant her passport and E-ticket, she clarified her details and waited for her documents to be returned.
 

“
Shall we go for a coffee before you go through to departures?” Owen asked, picking up her small hand luggage holdall and carrying it for her.

The attendant passed Felicity her documents, highlighting her departure gate and wishing her a pleasant flight.

“Yes, I have time before my flight. I won’t be getting decent coffee onboard for the next twenty-two hours, so I had better make the most of it” she joked nervously. 

She couldn’t believe how quickly her departure from Australia had come about. The past few days had passed in a blur and no
w she was about to board a long-haul flight home. She felt sick at the prospect. Her throat was aching with grief at the thought of her last minutes spent with Owen. Walking in silence side by side, they found a small coffee shop and sat in the quietest corner. 

Ever since she’d revealed her plans to leave Australia, Owen hadn’t been his usual happy self. It was as if an unspoken sentence hung heavily between them, neither knowing how to broach the subject of asking the other’s feelings. It had been a painful three days. She knew that he wanted her to stay and despite her hopeful jokey open suggestions, he hadn’t verbally given her any indication. His actions however, told a different story. She’d never seen him looking so distracted and weighed down.

They sipped their coffee in silence, a heavy air of sadness around both of them. 

“
What plans do you have for when you arrive home then?” Owen asked, breaking the silence.

Felicity stirred her coffee, pondering the question. Although she was looking forward to seeing her mum and Zara, she hadn’t re
ally thought past her arrival. There was, however, a sense of dread at the thought of returning to work. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

“
No idea, probably just catch up with my mum and then visit Zara. It’s a little strange thinking about going back into my old life. I know I haven’t been gone for long, but I feel differently about things. It sounds really silly, but I’m worried I might not fit in with people’s expectations any longer. I’m worried that…”