Changing Places (15 page)

‘Hey.’ Liam was stretched out on the sofa, a can of beer in his hand, the newspaper at his feet and the remote control on the seat beside him.

‘How are things?’

‘Okay.’

Anna moved the remote and sat down. ‘Any news?’

‘No.’ He didn’t take his eyes off the television.

‘I see you had the toolbox out – what were you doing?’

‘I just went around to do a few jobs for Mum.’

‘See, you did have news,’ she teased him. No response. Anna stood up again. ‘I’m starving. Is there anything for dinner?’

‘I’m not hungry. I ate in Mum’s.’

Anna went out to the kitchen. ‘I’ll get myself something then, shall I?’ she muttered as she went to the cupboard. She didn’t have the energy to make anything so she just
grabbed the box of cornflakes and fetched a bowl, but when she went to get the milk, the only carton in the fridge was almost empty. ‘Oh, for God’s sake, Liam, couldn’t you at
least have brought some milk?’ she said, carrying the empty carton back into the sitting room.

Liam looked up. ‘Sorry?’

‘There’s no milk, Liam, and there’s no dinner, because
you’re
not hungry.’

‘But I never make dinner,’ he retorted. ‘That’s always been your job.’

‘Yes, well – that was when we were both working. Now I think that, just occasionally, it could be your job and the very least you could do is make sure that we don’t run out of
bread or milk.’

‘All right, all right, keep your hair on!’

Anna took a deep breath. ‘Look, I don’t expect you to turn into a househusband, you know? I realize you’re busy chasing up jobs. I’m just asking you to help out with the
shopping. With my weird hours, getting to the supermarket isn’t always easy.’

‘I said I would, didn’t I? Stop nagging.’

‘I am not nagging!’ Anna marched back out to the kitchen in disgust and got herself a beer from the fridge, her appetite now completely gone. She was sitting on the kitchen step
watching next door’s cat preening itself in the last of the evening sun when Liam came out and sat down beside her.

‘Sorry,’ he said, leaning his head against hers.

‘Yeah, me too.’ She turned her head and kissed him. ‘You know, now that you’ve got that tool box out you could fix the garden gate and stop that bloody dog getting in and
doing his business on my roses.’ Anna’s rose garden had always been a joke between them. They only had a tiny yard with a few pot plants, but most of her attempts to grow anything had
failed dismally.

‘Oh, for God’s sake, can’t you just leave me alone?’ Liam stood up and stormed back inside.

Anna stared after him. ‘I’m not having a go! It was just a joke. Liam?’ But he had closed the door behind him and she was talking to herself.

Wearily, Anna got to her feet and went upstairs to have a bath. She turned the hot tap on full and added a generous helping of bath oil. Leaving it to run, she went into the bedroom and took off
her clothes. She felt really upset at Liam’s overreaction. She didn’t expect him to don a pinny and do the ironing and wash floors – in fact, she’d hate that – but it
would be nice if he helped a bit more without her having to ask.

She was trying so hard to cheer him up but nothing worked. She’d even paid off her credit card and then cut it up into tiny pieces so that she wouldn’t be tempted again. Now they had
one card between them and Anna was careful to discuss any major purchases with Liam first. She’d also offered to write letters or update his CV for him because she knew how much he hated
doing that sort of thing, but lately he’d told her that he didn’t need her help.

In fact, he’d changed so much in the last few weeks that Anna hardly recognized him. When he’d first lost his job, he’d discussed all the possibilities with her and
they’d pored over the employment notices together, discussing what he should apply for and what wasn’t suitable for him. But now she didn’t have a clue what jobs he was applying
for because he didn’t tell her. Anytime she asked, he answered in monosyllables and changed the subject or left the room.

With a heavy heart, Anna turned off the water which had long ago gone cold and slid into the bath. She was at the end of her tether. She wanted so much to help Liam through this, but they seemed
to be growing further and further apart. Maybe if she asked Mark for a raise it would cheer Liam up. Then, at least, he wouldn’t have to worry so much about money.

Mark could hardly refuse her. She’d had so many sales in the last month she definitely deserved it. And when Charlie Coleman finally bought a house it would mean a large commission for
Mark and major kudos for her. Thinking of Charlie made her smile. She’d miss him when he finally found the right place – if he ever
did
find the right place. Sometimes Anna thought
that it was unlikely.

Charlie’s heart wasn’t in the search and his daughter didn’t seem to care as long as her pony was catered for and she was near a bus route or train station. For all his
charisma and confidence, Charlie seemed a lonely figure to Anna, and vulnerable in a way. He obviously craved companionship and yet she couldn’t understand why he was alone. He was
good-looking, great company and he was obviously loaded – surely every woman’s dream man. But Anna got the feeling that despite all his flirting, Charlie didn’t like to get
involved. In fact, he probably just flirted with her because she was married and he didn’t have to worry about her taking him seriously.

On that day when she’d told him about Liam’s redundancy, he’d been kind and considerate and, she thought, quite annoyed with her when she’d tried to treat him as a
client. ‘I hope you see me as a friend,’ he’d said. And Anna did in a way. When they went to view houses she found herself commenting on décor and offering opinions,
something she would never do with other clients. And yet, she felt Mark would approve. Charlie wasn’t like other clients and Mark had wanted her to give him the red-carpet treatment. She
figured the best way of doing that was to be brutally honest with him, and so far it seemed to have worked.

Tomorrow she was going to take him to see a much smaller property, but it was nestled in a quiet spot by the estuary and had a large field to the side and back of the house. Anna thought it
would suit him much better than all the ostentatious show homes they’d viewed so far. It was an old cottage with just three bedrooms and one bathroom, but they were big rooms and there was
plenty of scope for adding en-suites to at least two of the rooms. The kitchen needed to be gutted but it was a good size with a small, tiled fireplace and a large window overlooking the back
field. The living room though, was Anna’s favourite. Two sides were practically all window, giving breathtaking views of the estuary, and there was another large stone fireplace that Anna
could imagine sitting beside on a cold winter’s evening with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

She sighed, thinking how perfect a house it would be for her and Liam if they started a family. Part of the back field could be sectioned off to make a safe little garden, and Anna could imagine
herself barbecuing on warm summer evenings while Liam played with the kids. With a sigh, she eased herself out of the now tepid water. There was no point in this kind of dreaming. The way things
were at the moment, they’d be lucky to hold on to the house they had, never mind buy a bigger one.

And as for kids, Liam had made it very clear that starting a family was definitely on the back burner for the moment. But of course she understood that; he was quite right. She mustn’t get
downhearted. She was only thirty-one and there was plenty of time for kids. Liam would get a job, it was only a matter of time, and then life would go on as before. They would be close again and
the silly rows would stop. Liam would go back to being the confident, fun-loving man she’d married. And then she would be able to slow down a little and focus on becoming a mother.

‘I don’t know about this diet,’ Karen complained as they sat in the canteen. ‘I never really liked cabbage.’

‘It’s not
just
cabbage,’ Jill said, stirring the murky green mixture. ‘It’s onions, peppers, tomatoes, celery—’

‘And cabbage.’

Jill sighed. ‘And cabbage. Still, it’s less than three hundred calories.’

‘It feels like it – I’m starving.’ Karen spooned the soup into her mouth, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

‘I’m more worried about the side-effects,’ Jill confided. ‘I have a presentation this afternoon.’

Karen giggled. ‘That could be fun.’

Jill rolled her eyes. ‘Sound-effects are the last thing I need!’

‘Vinny would be thrilled.’

Jill’s head snapped up. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Oh, come on.’ Karen lowered her voice. ‘It’s obvious he’s out to get you.’

‘Out to get me?’

‘Well, your job anyway.’

‘Has someone said something to you? Has Vinny?’

It was Karen’s turn to roll her eyes. ‘Of course not. Vinny’s way too smooth for that, but it’s obvious that he’s not happy being number two.’

‘So you think he’s after my job?’

‘Everyone does, although he’d probably be happier with Sue’s.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with ambition.’ Jill pushed her bowl away. ‘He wouldn’t be a good adman if he wasn’t ambitious.’

Karen shot her a knowing look. ‘Right.’

Jill smiled brightly. ‘Got to go and make myself beautiful before the presentation. If my lipstick is loud enough it might distract them from any strange noises.’

As she redid her make-up in the ladies loo, Jill thought about what Karen had said. It was no surprise really. She had spotted Vinny’s naked ambition – why wouldn’t the others?
And, no doubt, Sue was thrilled by the new competitive edge in the company; it could only mean good things for ADLI. But Jill didn’t feel turned on by the idea of a fight, as she once might
have been. Lately she’d found it hard to concentrate on projects. Getting excited about a new kitchen cleaner or dental-hygiene product didn’t come naturally any more and she often
wondered what she was doing and where she was going.

It didn’t help that she’d had a bust-up with Andy. She had initiated it. He’d been crowding her and getting very heavy, and she hadn’t liked it. Now that he’d taken
the hint and backed off, however, she found she was missing him. Wasn’t that just typical of her? Jill ran her hands through her hair, made a face at herself and went back to her office. She
was just sitting down at her desk when the phone rang.

‘ADLI, Jill Clarke speaking.’

‘Hi, Jill.’

‘Rachel?’

‘No! It’s Anna!’

‘Oh sorry, Anna, sometimes you sound alike.’ Usually when Anna was on a downer. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Why do you think something’s wrong?’

Jill sighed. ‘Isn’t there?’

‘Well, yes, there is.’

‘Liam?’

‘Oh Jill, I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve done everything I can think of to help him, to distract him, to cheer him up, but nothing works. He’s so depressed. He hangs
around the house all day doing nothing. Either that or he’s round at his mother’s.’

‘He must find the day very long.’

‘Yeah, he does. Oh Jill, I can’t stand it. I feel so helpless. There must be something I can do to help him through all this.’

‘All you can do is hold his hand and listen,’ Jill consoled her.

‘I don’t even get to do that any more. If I ask him how he’s feeling or make any suggestions, he bites my head off. He never used to be like this. We could always talk about
everything.’

‘I suppose he’s not in the mood for talking.’

‘He’s happy enough to talk to his mother. He spends so much time over there, Jill, he might as well move back in.’

‘Josie must be pleased.’

Anna’s laugh was bitter. ‘She’s delighted. Waiting on him hand and foot, making all his favourite meals.’

‘Well, I suppose he needs a bit of cosseting at the moment.’

‘Yes – I just wish he’d let me be the one to do it. I feel so lonely, Jill, and I hate to admit it, but I’m actually jealous of Josie. Why does he want to spend time with
her and talk to her, and yet he hardly opens his mouth to me?’

Jill wondered if she should point out to Anna that her husband probably resented her but decided against it. The poor girl was upset enough. ‘Give him time and space, Anna. He’s
going through one of the hardest things a man can experience.’

‘I know, Jill. Oh, I’m sorry for being such a moan.’

‘You’re not. But I’m afraid I have to go now. I have to do a presentation on a new haemorrhoid cream.’

Anna giggled. ‘What a glamorous life you advertising people lead.’

‘You’d better believe it! Take care, babes.’

The presentation went without a hitch and Jill was feeling quite proud of herself as she packed up her briefcase.

‘Can I have a quick word?’ Sue put her head around the door.

‘Sure.’ Jill smiled at her boss and gestured to a chair.

‘It’s about Ideal Interiors.’

Jill racked her brain. ‘Oh, you mean the Gordon account.’

‘That’s right, although I do like their new name, don’t you?’

‘Yes, it’s very catchy.’

‘Vinny came up with it, you know.’

‘Good for him.’ Jill’s expression didn’t change.

‘You’ll remember he took over the account when you were away last month?’

‘At the conference,’ Jill said, making sure Sue remembered that she’d been away on business.

‘Yes. Well, anyway, he seemed to get on very well with Gordon’s marketing team so I thought it might be better if we left him on the case.’

Jill stared at her. ‘You’re taking the Gordon account away from me?’

‘No, I’m just talking about this particular campaign.’

‘And if it goes well and they like working with him?’

‘We’ll talk about it then. Don’t look on this as something negative. You have more than enough on your plate at the moment.’

‘You think I’m not coping?’

Sue stood up. ‘I’m not saying that at all, but if Vinny takes over the Gordon account you’ll have more time and energy to invest in your other accounts.’ She looked at
her watch. ‘Now, I really must fly. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Goodnight, Jill.’