Sunday's Child (15 page)

Hattie tried not to laugh. “But Mr. Edgemont is like eighty-two. What was he doing in the loft?”

“Goodness only knows. Anyway, the short story is, Cal can't start for the next two weeks as the entire attic is riddled with woodworm. He needs to replace all the ceiling joists then board the attic floor again.”

“Mr. Edgemont's accident is a blessing in disguise, then. The whole thing might have come down on them during the night or something.” She pushed aside the disappointment filling her. She'd hoped on seeing him for the bulk of the day, talking to him as he worked.

“But he did say he'd drop by later to pick you up. Around seven or so. He said something about tripping fantastic lights or some such thing.”

“That sounds like fun. I need to get my head around what I'm going to do in the future. Only thing I do know is that I'm not going back to Headley Cross.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Would you mind if I stayed here a little longer. I can pay rent for the room, help out with food and so on. I could also work in the shop like I said I was going to.”

“You will not,” Aunt Laurie said firmly. “You are on holiday. Let your arm rest, go for walks, do some thinking.”

“OK. It'll give me time to get all those curtains and cushion covers made. They'll be ready to go straight in your new rooms then. Do you want to come with or do you trust me?”

Aunt Laurie grinned. “I'll come with. I don't start work until midday today. Besides, after the last time I let you decorate…”

“Oh, that was years ago and Steve's idea.” Hattie halfheartedly complained. “And what's wrong with lime green and orange? You had one of those bubble chairs decked out in that.”

Laughter filled the room. “That was left over from the seventies. And I was glad to see the back of it.” She broke off as the phone rang. “Hello.” She listened for a moment then held out the phone. “It's the hospital, for you.”

 

****

 

Cal arrived just before seven. His stomach roiled within him and he wished he hadn't eaten. Or at least had something plain like eggs on toast, rather than the curry he'd fancied on his way home. He rang the bell and waited.

Hattie answered the door, her face pale and her arm in a…cast?

Shock flooded him. “What happened?”

“Hello to you too, Cal.” She opened the door properly. “Come in.” She left him in the hall and went back into the lounge.

Shaking his head, he shut the door and followed her. Laurie had rung earlier and said Hattie was out of sorts, but he hadn't expected this. “What happened?”

“The hospital rang. The consultant was checking the files from the weekend and decided he didn't like my x-ray. They called me back in and redid it and my wrist is broken after all.”

“It could be worse.”

She raised bitter, anger filled eyes to him. “How could this
possibly
be any worse?”

He sat next to her. “You could be on crutches as well.”

She scowled. “That's not possible.”

He grinned and waited patiently for the penny to drop.

It took a while before she relaxed slightly and a faint smile crossed her lips. “Yeah, I guess so.”

He hugged her, planting a kiss on her cheek. “But as you're not, I'm taking you dancing.”

“I can't dance like this.”

“I beg to differ. The last time I checked, people dance with their feet, not their wrists. You'll be fine, I promise.”

“I don't know how to dance other than ballet and I told you, I can't do that anymore. Not since some dumb accident when I was fourteen.”

“No problem. I booked lessons for us tonight and Thursday.”

“Lessons?” A wonderfully puzzled look crossed her face, making him want to kiss her even more. “Just because I don't know anything but ballet, doesn't mean I need lessons.”

“We both do.” He gently pulled her to her feet. “I have something special planned for Saturday. Now go put on a pair of flat canvas shoes and a skirt. We need to be there in twenty-five minutes.”

They arrived at the hall just in time and he led her onto the dance floor. Most of the other couples were much older, but he didn't care. For the next couple of hours this was just him and Hattie.

“What are we doing here?” she asked.

“Ballroom dancing.”

“You're kidding?” Amazement filled her face, her eyes sparkling. “Like on the television?”

“Without the judges I hope, but yeah. It looks so easy and effortless on the TV and I've always wanted to learn and as you don't know how to dance properly…” He broke off and grinned.

She shook her head at him. “And this connects to Saturday, how?”

“I'm taking you to a tea dance.”

Her face lit up like the full moon on a clear night. “Oh, wow.” She hugged him as tightly as she could with one arm. “Nanna met Grandad at one of those. I had no idea they still did them.”

“Maybe not on the mainland, but here on the island, the Palladium does them once a month. If you'd like to come, of course.”

“I'd love to. But my arm…”

“Won't be a problem.”

No stranger to footwork, Cal found the first dance they learned was easy and soon they were both dancing like professionals. Or they may as well be. Hattie laughed and smiled and relaxed in his arms, following his lead effortlessly. He lost himself in her eyes, the scent of her perfume and her presence. He had easily the most beautiful woman in the room in his arms, but his reaction to her body flush against his, stunned him. He thought being a Christian would help him control himself, but he wanted her and it took every ounce of restraint he had, not to mention a shed load of telegram prayers, to simply drive her home afterwards.

He opened the truck door and walked her up the path to the house.

Her eyes sparkled like stars. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”

“You're welcome.”

“It was nice not having to share you with your pager.”

“Actually, my pager came too.” He chuckled, low and long. “But you know what they say. Love me, love my pager.”

Hattie tilted her head. “I thought that referred to dogs.”

He lifted his hand and ran it slowly down her cheek. “Hattie…”

Her eyes darkened as she studied him. She leaned into his touch. Did she feel the same tightening in her belly that he did? “Yes?”

His lips covered hers. As she responded, he deepened the kiss, tasting and possessing her. His arms held her against him and he lost all track of time. Until the porch light flicked on, illuminating them.

He pulled back. “I think that's my cue to leave,” he said regretfully. “Same time on Thursday?”

She smiled. “I'll be ready and waiting. Good night.”

“Good night.” He watched her go inside and then headed back to the car.
Better watch it, Cal
he told himself.
Or you'll be in too deep. Don't mess with the affairs of the heart.

Too late
came the reply.
You're already drowning.

 

****

 

Hattie stood in the queue in the bank. She'd kept the money under the mattress long enough and decided that Wednesday was the day to pay it in and open a new account. One Steve wouldn't know about. Right now, the envelope was tucked into her sling as her purse was too small to fit all the notes it. Aunt Laurie had dropped her off and gone to work. After her shift finished, they were going fabric shopping.

She was going to give her aunt's address as her place of residence, with her old address as back up. Holding the ID in her other hand, she moved up in the queue at the customer service desk. Why she had to queue for a scheduled appointment she had no idea.

Markus moved away from the cashier and smiled at her. “Hello, Harriet. How's the arm?”

“It turned out to be broken after all, so I can't work for six weeks.”

“I bet Steven's not happy.”

“It's got nothing to do with him. He doesn't even know I hurt my arm, never mind anything else. I'm done working with him. I'm staying here for the time being. I might even find a job on the island and settle here full time.”

“You can't quit the guest house. He depends on you.”

“It's too late. I quit last week before I left.”

“Does Steven know where you are?”

She moved up in the queue, shivers running up her spine and a hollow pit in her stomach, as his comment unsettled her. “No, and that's the way it's staying. You promised not to tell him if I went out with you and I'm expecting you to honor that promise.”

“Do you have time for lunch?”

Hattie blinked. “That's a change of subject.”

Markus grinned. “I guess so. But you do have to eat.”

“True. OK, once I've paid this in.”

He glanced at the envelope in her sling and his eyes widened for a moment before they narrowed. “Wow, that's a lot of cash to carry around.”

“This would be why I'm paying it in.” She reached the counter. “Hattie Steele. I have an appointment with Mr. Clyde at eleven.”

“I'll take you through.”

“Harriet, I'll wait outside for you.”

“Sure.” She followed the woman down the corridor to an office, shoving aside the thought that Markus's parting comment sounded more like a threat than a promise.

Twenty minutes later, and almost five grand lighter, she exited the bank into the bright, chilly sunshine. She always found it ironic that during winter the Earth was closer to the sun than in summer, yet the temperature was decidedly colder.

Markus leaned against the wall, chatting on his phone. “Here she is. I've got to go. Speak to you later.” He smiled at her and held out a hand. “Let's go.”

Hattie slid her free hand into her pocket, out of his reach, and walked with him. He led her into the first eatery they came to, which happened to be a fast food outlet. She ordered chicken strips and chips and a lemon soda. Markus paid and carried the tray to a table.

He spent most of the time touching her hand, or rubbing his foot against hers, his eyes fixed on her. She found it disconcerting at first and downright creepy after ten minutes of it. “I was thinking, Harriet.”

“What about?” She pushed back in her seat, as far away from the table as she could politely get and picked up her soda, drinking slowly.

“About when we were kids and you used to come up here for the summers. Steven and I used to joke about being brothers, and you and I getting married before we reached thirty.”

She looked at him over the cup, suddenly finding the chicken in her stomach too greasy. Steve had said the same thing several times over the past few weeks. And she'd felt just as uncomfortable. “Really? I don't remember that.”

“We did. Of course, we were only kids, but I always knew we'd end up together. And you coming back here to stay has to be fate. I like you, Harriet. I like you a lot.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't believe in fate. And I don't feel that way about you.”

“Steven would like it.”

“Then marry Steve. Oh wait, you can't. He's already married.” She put the cup down, wiping her hands on the paper napkin. “Besides, your name doesn't start with a P.”

Markus frowned. “What's that got to do with anything?”

“He said I have to marry someone whose name starts with a P.”

His frown turned into a grin. “Didn't I tell you my given name is Peyton Markus?”

Hattie buried the laugh. He wouldn't find it amusing and this really wasn't the time for humor. “Isn't Peyton a girl's name?”

He sighed. “It's a family name, handed down to the eldest child. So that's one plus in my favor.”

“I can't marry you, Markus. For one thing, you haven't asked.” She stood up. “Thank you for lunch. I have to go and run the rest of my errands now.”

He grabbed her hand. “Is there another reason? I can fix the not asking you very easily. And I already have Steven's permission to ask you.”

Her stomach plummeted and she felt sick. “Wait a minute. You asked Steve? When did you speak to him? You promised not to say anything.”

“Whist you were in the bank. So, sweet one, what's to stop you from marrying me?”

She held his gaze.
My heart lies with someone else
she whispered silently. “I can't because I don't love you. Or trust you.” She tugged her hand free. “Thank you for lunch. I'll see you around.”
But not if I can help it.

She hurried from the shop and almost ran down towards where she said she'd meet Aunt Laurie. By the time she got there, she was shaking.

Her aunt hugged her, sitting her down on a bench. “Goodness, child, whatever is the matter?”

“Markus said he'd spoken to Steve, so presumably Steve knows I'm here. That means he'll be down here begging me to go back. Or pressuring me to marry Markus.”

Aunt Laurie handed her a tissue. “Marry Markus? Where did that come from?”

Hattie took a deep breath and used the tissue. “I bumped into Markus at the bank. He asked me to lunch, said he'd spoken to Steve and asked his permission while I was paying in the money. Steve said yes. He'll insist on my marrying Markus now. And before you say he wouldn't do that, you know he will, or he isn't my brother.”

Aunt Laurie hugged her. “No one can force you into marriage, dear. It's illegal in this country. Now dry those eyes and let's go fabric shopping. Then I feel a cream tea coming on with huge scones and clotted cream.”

Hattie smiled slightly. “Sounds good.”

“And you can tell me all about this date with Cal and the fantastic lights. I'm intrigued.”

“Dancing,” Hattie said, getting to her feet, thoughts of Cal whirling in her head, blowing away her fear. “He took me ballroom dancing.”