Page 107 of A Year at Appleyard Farm
And just as he knew she would, she smiled and accepted his offer.
‘Would one o’clock be okay?’ she asked. ‘Only visiting starts at two.’ She gulped down the last of her tea. ‘Right, well, I must be off while there’s still enough light to pick some more sloes. Thanks ever so much, Stephen. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She leaned over to give Freya a hug. ‘And we must meet up again soon too. I’ll need some more apples for one thing.’
The door hadn’t quite closed before Freya placed both elbows on the table and leaned forward, her hands making a cradle under her chin.
‘You know it pains me to say it, Stephen, but I think Laura rather likes you. I’ve still got my eye on you, mind, but what you did today was really generous, and it’s definitely earned you some brownie points. Now, what did you come over for again? With all the excitement of the wedding plans, I’ve completely forgotten.’
Stephen eyed her wearily from across the table. ‘Nothing really,’ he said. ‘Just a bit of a catch-up, that’s all.’
57
Laura dragged a tissue across her lips, grimacing at herself in the mirror. Since when had she ever worn lipstick? Once upon a time, she told herself, a very long time ago, and she had no intention of starting again today. It wasn’t as if Blanche would even notice, so she could stop fooling herself that her neighbour was the cause of her madness. The trouble was, she wasn’t fooling herself; she knew exactly what the reason was, and his name was Stephen.
She stared at her reflection angrily.Yes Stephen, no Stephen, three bags full Stephen, she mimicked. For heaven’s sake. Anyone would think she was a hormone-laden teenager the way she was carrying on, and most importantly what would Stephen think? He must be horrified by her behaviour. The first sign of a man who doesn’t want to run a mile from her, and she throws herself at his feet. And what’s worse is he’s just being friendly, she reminded herself; no doubt because she was providing the flowers for his future sister-in-law’s wedding, and wasn’t that what the best man was supposed to do? Keep thestaffsweet, chat up the single bridesmaids, and so on. It was a role that almost had its own job description, and she had fallen for his charming charade. Pathetic.
She tugged at her fringe and thrust her hairbrush back into its pot. She just had time for some toast before she’d need to leave for the hospital. And she’d make sure there was no necessity to stop for coffee and cake today either. Having Stephen accompany her to the hospital would certainly make things easier for her, there was no doubt about that, but that’s where it ended. They were going to visit her dear friend, and that’s what she should focus on. She peered at herself again, narrowing her eyes in appraisal. It’s just that yesterday had been such a good day in many ways, and she really couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made her laugh like that…
Boris alerted her to the ring of the doorbell, bang on the hour, and although she had been pacing the floor for a good ten minutes, she made sure that it took her at least another minute to answer the door. She was so determined to be welcoming but not gushing, friendly but not overly so, that the expression on Stephen’s face when they finally came face to face threw her completely.
‘Oh,’ was all she could manage. ‘Is everything all right?’
He gave her a searching look. ‘Can I come in?’ he asked unnecessarily, hovering slightly on the threshold.
Laura opened the door wider, allowing him to pass, and stared at his broad back as she followed him down the hallway. They came to rest in the kitchen, Stephen standing rather awkwardly with one hand on Boris’s head, who despite the tension in the air was trying to surreptitiously chew his fingers. Stephen didn’t seem to notice. He waited until Laura was standing facing him before he spoke. He must have cleared his throat because she saw his Adam’s apple rise and fall a couple of times before his lips started to move.
‘I wanted to apologise for yesterday,’ he started, ‘because I think it may have given you the wrong idea…'
Laura’s heart sank. Even though she had been thinking much the same thing all morning, she would have preferred to be the one to say it. The thought distracted her for a moment.
‘Sorry, say again, I missed the first bit.’
Stephen smiled softly. ‘No, I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I was talking about the police. I think I rather took it for granted that Giles was guilty, and perhaps you did too? Of course, all the police said they would do is look into the matter, and it never occurred to me to think anything else. I’m afraid it was my fault you ended up with the impression that it would all be okay – it was me, trying to be the big I am as usual.’
Laura stared at him. What on earth was he talking about? She frowned then as the meaning of his words sunk in. ‘I’m not sure I’m following you,’ she said. ‘Isn’t everything okay? And anyway, what do you meantaking it for granted that Giles was guilty? He is guilty; I saw him!’
‘Laura…Giles has a watertight alibi for Monday, the police questioned him yesterday. They rang me this morning to tell me.’
She opened her mouth and then closed it again. ‘But that’s not right,’ she blurted out. ‘How can it be?’
Stephen’s expression was full of contrition, and something else too. Something she really didn’t like the look of.
‘I don’t know, Laura, I know how positive you are that Giles was driving the car that day, but…I’m not quite sure where that leaves us now.’
Her cheeks began to burn. ‘Don’t you dare!’ she fired at him. ‘Don’t you dare say you believe me when you clearly don’t. And if you ever look at me like that again, I swear I’ll throw you out. I don’t need your pity.’
‘Laura, I—’
She turned her back on him. ‘Leave me alone,’ she said, trying to stop the rush of tears that were threatening to spill down her face. She stared at the wall, her fists clenched, fighting to stay in control.
She wasn’t sure which emotion she felt the most. There was anger certainly, both at the police for giving her news she didn’t want to hear, and at Stephen for swallowing what they’d said without challenge, and for pitying her because she’d got it wrong again. But there was also sorrow, because she’d let Blanche down, and because shehadgot it wrong again, clearly. Just when she felt things had begun to look a little brighter, she was right back where she’d been before; the pathetic deaf girl making a huge fuss over nothing again.
She shook her head, trying to clear her confusion. This wasn’t right. None of this felt right; she’d been so sure. The minutes stretched out without interruption as she stared ahead, feeling her emotions swirling round her. She tried to pick one to focus on, but they were as elusive as butterflies.
A few more seconds ticked by, moments which became increasingly uncomfortable. She’d led them both into an impasse she realised. Either she would have to turn around, or Stephen would have to do something to attract her attention. Both these options would feel stilted and unnatural and, worse, require some kind of capitulation, and she wasn’t ready to give in, not yet. Any minute now there’d be a tug to her arm, just as there had been on the day of the accident. She waited but none came, and she could feel her anger beginning to rise again.
She whirled around, an accusation ready on her lips, and was astonished to find the kitchen empty; both Stephen and her dog had gone. Her anger subsided in seconds as a healthy dose of remorse replaced it. She hadn’t meant for Stephen to leave, not really, and anxiety quickened her heartbeat as she realised that she couldn’t bear for him to have left.
They must have gone out into the garden. From there, the side gate led out to the path beside the house and back down the driveway. Stephen could so easily be halfway down the lane by now. She flung open the back door and rushed outside. Seated on her small bench under the kitchen window was Stephen, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his eyes closed against the warm autumn sun which slanted across the lawn. One hand rested on Boris’s head which lay gently in his lap. His eyes flew open as he heard her stumble out, his legs scrambling to tuck themselves beneath him so that he could sit up straighter.
