Time After Time: A heart-warming novel about love, loss and second chances. Hannah McKinnon Mary
but –’
‘Jesus, Hayley, ever since Ronald died you moan non-stop.’
‘Well –’
‘Seriously, every day I have to listen to you complain about Charles.’ He laughed. ‘But he is a flashy fucker. All Rolex watches, Armani suits and hot chicks. Lucky bastard. Bet you that’s the life.’ He reached over to give her a slap on the bum but Hayley deftly slid out of reach.
Suddenly she wondered if she’d ever had kids with this man and tried to stop herself from screaming. ‘So …’ She cleared her throat in an attempt to buy time and calm her nerves. ‘I spoke with Jackie the other day.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Yes. She and Ray had a bit of a pregnancy scare.’
‘Jesus, she isn’t, is she?’
She watched him closely. ‘No,’ she shook her head. ‘She isn’t.’
‘God, can you imagine?’ he said and snorted. ‘Kids. Ugh.’
‘Well … you used to say you wanted some.’
‘Pfff, yeah when I was a teenager.’ He looked at her sharply. ‘Shit! Are you trying to tell me you’re in the fat club?’
‘Fat club? What? No!’
‘Thank fuck for that.’ Chris stuffed the rest of the bread into his mouth, dropping crumbs everywhere. ‘We’re getting too old for that kind of shit.’
She needed to get him out of the house before she burst into tears. Or strangled him. Or both. ‘You’re working tonight?’
‘Yeah, at Crowbar. Spikey reckons I should have more gigs soon. I’ll be out all night.’
‘That’s good.’
Good that you’ll be out.
‘When are you leaving?’ she said as she tucked her hair behind her ear, not yet used to how short it felt.
‘Now. You clear up or I’ll be late for the lads. The washing needs doing too. I don’t have any boxers left. And the dishwasher finished ages ago.’
‘I’ll do it. No problem,’ she said automatically, then opened her mouth to protest and tell him he should clear up his own mess. But she needed to have a good snoop around. ‘Okay. So you’ll be back late?’ She crossed all of her fingers behind her back.
Please say yes.
‘Not until early morning.’
Oh thank god.
He winked at her. ‘Maybe I’ll slip you a length. It’s been a while.’
Hayley tried not to shudder. She couldn’t imagine anything worse. ‘I’m on my period.’
‘Again?’
She shrugged. ‘Must be the hormones. Like you said, we’re getting old.’ She heard him mutter, ‘Yuk,’ under his breath as he stepped out of the kitchen.
When he left the house she felt like she’d been holding her breath for hours. Trying to keep a lid on her emotions, she explored the living room. It looked cosy enough, with a caramel-coloured sofa and matching armchair and a small pine dining table set by the window. There was a picture of her parents, and one of her and Chris on the mantel piece. Two large framed black and white posters, one of the Eiffel Tower and another of the Empire State Building, decorated the walls. Trembling, she sank down on the sofa, buried her head in a cushion and finally let the tears go.
Sobbing, Hayley pulled out the mobile phone and punched in Rick’s number, but once again the automated voice repeated it was out of service.
He’s real. I know he is. But I don’t even have a picture of him, or of the kids.
She let the phone slip out of her fingers and its thud on the floor startled her.
Don’t sit here and wallow. You’re wasting time. Find a solution. Find a way home.
She needed to search the house for clues and then leave. How could she stay knowing that Chris would be coming home with triple X-rated intentions?
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