Yours Unfaithfully (47 page)

“She told you that?”

“She told me about your father’s will and her ousting to Australia. She’s missed you, she’s wanted to have proper contact with you for years but you have made it nigh on impossible for her.”

“Tim, it’s not like you to speak to me like this. You’re pretty upset over this aren’t you?”

“Simon, I’m sorry, but please, say you’ll talk to her when you get home and give her a chance? You two are family, it’s crazy that you go on shutting her out of your life. She’s not after your money, Simon, if that’s what you think. She’s done incredibly well in Brisbane, do you know how well?”

“No, I’ve never taken any interest in what she’s up to.” Simon’s wife had sat silently through this exchange but she’d heard enough. “Simon, sometimes you are a pigheaded old fool. Tim’s right, she’s your only sister and you should have listened to her years ago when she tried to make contact with us, instead of running away from her. Listen to him, and better still listen to her. Hear what she’s got to say before you make your mind up about her intentions.”

Simon rarely received a dressing down from his wife, and never outside the privacy of their own home. He was shocked, doubly shocked that two people who he was close to had expressed such strong views. He was a reasonable man, he thought, so perhaps it would be best if he followed their advice before saying any more on the subject.

“As you are both so clearly in agreement on this I shall do as you ask.”

Tim was aware that he had pushed his position to the limit in his defence of Veronica. “Thank you, Simon, I really appreciate you taking account of my feelings on this one.”

“It’s kind of you to concern yourself with my family problems Tim, so think no more about it.”

“Simon, on the subject of family problems, my neighbour thinks her ex-husband has run off with her three children. Melanie wants me to go with her to try and find them, although personally I don’t believe he’s done it.”

“Tim, she’s right, you must help the woman, when does she want to go?”

“As soon as she can. She’s out of her mind with worry at the moment.”

“Of course, well as soon as you’ve dropped us off at the Manor go and help her. I need a couple of days to recover from my trip, so that’s fine with me. Take the rest of the week off and ring me on Friday to let me know if you’ll be back on Monday.”

“Thanks, Simon. I’ll be back next Monday, whatever happens.”

By lunchtime he was ready to set off in the hunt for Ben and the others. Melanie had packed enough stuff for a few days and it was all stacked in Nina’s car, along with her two suitcases.

When Tim saw her luggage, he recoiled. “Nina, we’re going to the Lake District, not Spain.”

“I know that, Tim, but I always take more clothes than I need, Ben always used to complain at carrying my cases, not that we often went anywhere.”

Melanie took Tim by his lapels and pulled him to her face where she kissed him. ‘It’s really good of you to do this for her, I really appreciate it.’

“OK, but I still don’t believe he’s done anything. I’ll be back as soon as we’ve found him.”

Within two hours they were north of Birmingham and making good time.

“Nina, do you have any clue as to where we should start looking? Didn’t he say anything that would help us find him?”

“Nothing more than I’ve already told you, Tim.”

“Shall I try ringing his mobile again?”

“No Tim, don’t do that. If he realises we’re on to him he’ll move somewhere away from the Lakes and then we’ll never find him. Our best chance of finding him quickly, before he takes off abroad is to surprise him.”

“We’ll do it your way Neen. After all, the quicker we find him the quicker we can get back. What is your plan exactly when we do drop in on him? Do we grab the kids and run?”

“I suppose so, once I’ve made it clear that I know what he’s up to, he’ll have no choice but to forget the idea. After all, the kids won’t stay with him once they see me and I explain what’s behind this trip.”

“We should be there by six. It gets dark at around eight, so we can’t do much searching tonight can we? Where are we going to stay?”

“We’ll book into a hotel in Windermere or somewhere. After all now the school holidays are over it shouldn’t be that busy. Tim, you know I appreciate you doing this for me.”

“I didn’t have much choice, Neen, with Mel giving me orders to help you find them.”

‘I still think it’s nice of you to help me like this. A couple of weeks ago when you talked about us being friends, do you remember? ... You said you’d always do anything to help me, I’ve thought about that a lot since then, and now you’ve proved it to me.’

The last thing he wanted right now was to be reminded of things he had said when Melanie was away and he was sharing Nina’s bed. He’d meant every word of it, of course he had; after what they’d done together it was natural that they would be friends, but he hadn’t thought then that he’d be called upon to be part of a two person search party in the Lake District.

The car went quiet for a while. Each of them had things to think about. Tim was still trying to come to terms with his sudden trip north alone with the woman he was trying to end an affair with.

The plan Nina had devised to get Tim away was working. She congratulated herself on having executed it so skilfully. She knew Ben and Beckie had no credit on their phones because they told her so when they were leaving. They wouldn’t be able to phone back even if they wanted to. It was a fair bet that once they’d arrived in the Lake District the signal would be poor. When she’d rushed round to next door and Tim had tried to phone he’d got the same problem.

She had plotted this down to the last detail. She knew that Melanie would never let her go off alone, she was sure that Mel would enlist Tim to help her find her missing husband. So far her plan had worked perfectly and she had several alternatives in her head in case they found them too quickly. She had even considered telling Mel that they had gone to Cornwall; that way she could have enjoyed a few days there with Tim, certain in the knowledge that they wouldn’t find the missing party.

That was too risky, she decided, and with any luck they could take days to search the Lake District. Nina planned to do the actual investigation at each campsite, so that if she spotted their name on a list she could divert Tim away before they made contact. It would only be if they actually bumped into them at a campsite that the game would be over.

Nina was certain that once Tim relaxed with her at the hotel he would start enjoying the trip as much as she was. She might even persuade him that the search could wait for a day or two while they worked out if they had a future together. Sitting here in the car, with Tim driving her, she felt a warm glow from the satisfaction of having got what she wanted.

The next few days could shape her entire future. She was playing a cruel game where Melanie was concerned, but that was a price she could live with to win the prize of a lifetime with Tim.

As they caught their first sight of Lake Windermere the sun was already casting long shadows, and once at the water’s edge and out of the car they needed their coats.

This was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, Tim decided, but best to go along with Nina’s crazy plan. At least that way their failure wouldn’t be his fault. He was hungry and tired. He’d been up at four this morning for his journey to Heathrow. Now, fifteen hours and more than six hundred miles later he was in no mood to start searching for campsites.

Aware of his state, Nina booked them into the first decent looking hotel they came across. Tim struggled up two flights of stairs with Nina’s cases before lugging his travel bag up to the room next door. He looked out of his window hoping to see the water, but his only reward was a view of the hotel’s car park. Nina had told him to get showered and ready for dinner and to meet her downstairs in half an hour. She was taking charge of this project to find her missing offspring as firmly as he’d supposed she would.

Nina would decide when they ate and probably what they’d eat, and then tomorrow she’d take charge as they went in search of her brood. With any luck they’d find them quickly and get home tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Nina’s head was filled with different thoughts. If she was to entice him away from a marriage that, by his own admission, was far from happy, then she had to work fast and use every ounce of her charm. There was no way she could live next door to Tim after what they’d shared together; no way she could lay there at night knowing he was only a few yards away from her, cuddled up to another woman. OK, so that woman was his wife, but what of it? Did his wife care about him when she’d buggered off to Poland, leaving her to keep Tim happy, or when she’d had her ‘fling’ with her boss, who was obviously infatuated with her? No, Melanie had had what she wanted and now it was time to harvest what she was owed.

Once she had Tim to herself for good she could make him happy, content with his lot. She was better in bed than Mel, he’d told her that more than once. The culmination of this carefully structured plan was bound to work out, but the next couple of days were crucial. She needed more time with him, time to let him see what life with her could be like.

When Tim strolled up to the bar, he was stunned by the sight of Nina. Gone was the worried woman, intent only on finding her lost flock, and in her place was an elegant picture of poise and beauty standing before him with a smile on her face and a glass in each hand. She had packed enough clothes in her two cases to have a choice to suit every occasion. Tonight she had chosen a taupe dress in a silky fabric that clung to her seductively, showing her figure to perfection. The low neckline promised delight, making no effort to conceal her ample cleavage. Her brown hair was tied up so that it fell enticingly to one side of her head, leaving the other side bare and inviting.

To a tired and hungry man, Nina was an oasis of hospitality. She wore her smile perfectly and only ever directed it at him, which added to his feeling of security and delight.

“Here you are Tim, a pint of Stella, that was right wasn’t it?”

“Perfect Neen, just what I need”

“Well, take your time over it. I’ve booked us a table, but they can’t seat us until eight thirty, so you’ve got time for another if you want while we choose something from the menu.”

They sat down on a red velour sofa, softly lit from behind by a gold standard lamp. The hotel was nothing if not opulent, catering for those who could afford the best, the kind of place, thought Tim, where Nina is totally at home. This is so her, she looks at one with the carefully crafted furniture, like a piece of delicate porcelain sitting provocatively on the edge of the sofa, legs crossed to reveal her thigh in a pose that is truly aristocratic.

“How are you feeling now?” she enquired. “are you very tired?”

It would have been boring to admit to her how tired he was, and given the effort she had taken to make herself look nice, the least he could do was give her some attention.

“No, I feel a lot better for a shower. I’m looking forward to tucking into a good steak.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking Tim, look, third line down on the second page, Fillet Steak with a pepper sauce, dauphinoise potato and sun dried tomatoes, how does that sound?”

“I was hoping for chips, but I can make do with whatever-it-was potatoes.”

“Get some red meat into you, Tim, and you’ll be fit for later.”

“Later? Why, what’s happening later? I thought we’d eat this and then get to bed ready for an early start tomorrow.”

“Tim, just imagine how Lake Windermere will look in the dark, with the lights reflecting off it. We can’t miss that, can we? We’ll take a short stroll along the road by the lakeside, get some fresh air and then settle down for the night.”

It was an instruction, Tim decided, not an offer, but if that’s what she wanted, that was OK by him. After all, what difference could a few minutes spent strolling around outside make?

The waiter brought the red wine she’d ordered and poured a glass for each of them.

“Nina, I don’t think I should drink wine. I’ve had a couple of lagers and I’m tired already. I’ve got to drive again first thing in the morning.”

“Nonsense, Tim, you can’t enjoy a fillet steak without red wine to wash it down. Drink it and don’t worry about tomorrow until tomorrow.”

He was too tired to argue, so he emptied the glass there and then, and again each time she refilled it. He didn’t notice the waiter bring a second bottle. His mind turned to the meals he’d tried to enjoy with Melanie at the Walnut Tree and he couldn’t help but compare the tranquility of this with the open hostility he’d suffered in the company of his wife. Why couldn’t she be like Nina; relaxed and caring?

As the wine took effect, his inhibitions deserted him. He leant across the table towards her, “...Nina, you’re beautiful, I told you that before, if you remember?”

“Of course I remember, I remember everything you’ve ever said to me, Tim, like how we would always be friends, I even remember you telling me you loved me once.”

“It would be very easy to love you, Nina.”

“Then feel free to do so, Tim. My only wish is to make you happy.”

“Oh, you do make me happy, Neen, you make me very happy. You are a special lady, do you know that?” The slight drawl in his voice warned Nina not to ply him with more drink. Too much could be as bad as too little.

“Tim, let’s go for our little walk now and then when we come back I’ll make us some coffee in my room before you turn in for the night, OK?”

“Sounds good to me, Neen.” It was only when he stood up that he realised the effect the drink and his tiredness was having on him. Never mind, a walk outside in the cool air would soon have him right.

They walked a little way from the hotel towards the water before Nina noticeably shivered. Tim’s instinct was to be gallant and he offered her his coat, which he put around them both as she cuddled tight to his waist in an effort to warm herself.

Like this they reached the water’s edge and stood staring at the bouncing colours of the lights on the water, until even being huddled together was not enough to keep them warm. Nina was shivering for real now and Tim readily let her lead him back towards the hotel and straight up to her room.