Deceit of Angels (35 page)

“Come
on!  Get up everyone.  It’s Christmas Day!” came the cry around the house.

Margaret
tried to shush her and told her not to wake up John and his family who were
still sleeping in their apartment.

“Lucky
old John and family,” muttered Anna.  She tried to snatch a few more minutes
but finally had to give in and join the others in the parlour.

It
turned out to be a very wonderful two hours as they opened their presents in
front of the fire.  Margaret went down to the kitchen and brought up a pot of
steaming coffee and as they let the caffeine bring them to life, they marvelled
at the gifts that littered the floor.  There seemed to be everything; clothing,
books, toiletries, jewellery, tapestry frames and numerous other treasures,
some requested and some given as a surprise.  Jason’s gift to Anna was a
beautiful and very expensive watch bought from Harrods.  Anna began to wonder
if all his gifts had to come from only the exclusive department stores and if
he had ever chased a bargain as an astute Yorkshire lass would do.  Margaret’s
gift to Anna was a wonderful set of golf clubs in a leather bag. 

“We’ll
have to try them out as soon as we can,” Jason smiled.

“Isn’t
the club closed over Christmas?”

“Only
today and tomorrow.  We can play on Sunday after the boys have left, if you
like?”

Anna
nodded, her heart skipping a beat at the impending visit.

A
short time later, everyone made their way upstairs to get dressed and then back
downstairs for breakfast.  And after breakfast, Anna and Jason took Hollie
outside to try out her new bike, courtesy of Grandma Harrington. 

Christmas
Day at the Grange was always spent quietly and for the first time in many
years, Anna wanted to attend the morning service with Margaret and Mrs Wilby. 
Jason expressed surprise at this, but not wanting to be left behind, agreed to
accompany everyone to the beautiful medieval stone church of Saint Mary’s where
he had been christened.  The service was pleasant and Anna enjoyed singing the
carols and listening to the sermon on the meaning of ‘love and trust’. 

And
then it was back to the Grange for lunch.  This was also an unhurried, quiet
affair with turkey, Christmas pudding and all the trimmings.  Being with
Jason’s family made Anna’s heart twinge.  This was the first Christmas Day she
had spent away from her sons, the first Christmas she had not been with her
mother and sister and after lunch, Anna paced the floor waiting for the call
that would lift her spirits.  When it came, she bubbled over with delight as
her sons confirmed their arrival for the following day.  As she put down the
phone she was convinced more than ever that not telling Jason had been the
right thing to do.  Pressing charges would not have helped the situation one
bit.  Why spoil Jason’s happiness?  Why spoil her sons’ life?

The twins
arrived on Boxing Day about mid-morning, after setting off very early and
making good time.  Not that Anna could wait to see them since she had spent the
time since breakfast, going backwards and forwards to the window, until Hollie
shouted that they were finally parking outside the house.  Anna was out of the
front door in seconds, her arms round her sons as they climbed out of the car. 
And then they were surrounded by the rest of the household, shaking hands and
receiving kisses, before being bundled into the warmth of the Grange. 

“I
said they must be fine young men,” said Jason, as they drank their coffee in
the parlour.  “And I was right.”

“I do
believe they’ve grown,” Anna smiled.  “Although Martyn needs his hair
cutting…and that beard!”

“Beards
and long hair are part of life at uni.”

“Does
that apply to the girls too?” laughed Anna.

She
couldn’t describe her feelings over the next three days, having her sons
close.  But it wasn’t just that, it was the fact they fitted in so well with
life at the Grange and they obviously approved of Jason, telling their mother
that he was a ‘great guy’.  She showed them round the house and grounds and
listened to their many stories of life on campus now that their first term was
over.  On an evening, she, Jason and the twins would escape to the billiard
room and play snooker, the happy banter between the men she loved, lifting her
heart out of the mire of depression she was apt to sink into at unexpected
moments.  

Anna
loved every room in the Grange, delighting in their unique style, but the
billiard room was her favourite.  It had hardly been touched for centuries and
harked back to the time when the gentlemen would leave the ladies to pursue
their own interests.  Masculine in design, with oak beams, lime green walls and
brass light fittings, the soft furnishings were upholstered in plush olive
green velvet and very comfortable.  Stepping into the room, Anna always got the
impression that she was entering an exclusive gentlemen’s club.

Anna
leaned on her cue and narrowed her eyes.  “Is this true, Martyn?  Are you
telling me there wasn’t a washing machine in halls?”

Her
elder son squirmed with shame.  “I didn’t have time to do my washing.”

Chris
grinned.  “So, he brought it all home for Grandma to do, even his bed sheets,
the dirty sod.”

“Thanks
Bruv,” said Martyn, rubbing his chin.

Jason
bent to take his turn, trying not to smile.  “I remember it well.”

Anna
turned on him in disgust.  “Not you, surely?”

Jason
straightened his back as the red ball disappeared into the side pocket.  “I
tried to get home every few weeks and I must admit I hauled my washing with
me.”

“Poor
Margaret.”

Jason
winked at Martyn.  “If you want to keep on the right side of your mother, then
I suggest you use the laundry facilities.”

“Well,
I don’t suppose it matters to me,” Anna sighed.  “I’m just thinking of my mum. 
She’s getting on and doing a whole term’s worth of washing isn’t going to help
her bad back.”  She cocked her head to one side.  “Unless you move back in with
your dad.  I’m sure he could cope with the washing.”  She caught the boys’ wary
side-glance at each other.  “What is it?”

Chris
cleared his throat.  “Dad has a girlfriend.  Well, a woman friend actually. 
She’s just moved in with him, so we decided to stay out of the way while they
settled down.”

Jason
looked at Anna and noticed a blush come to her cheeks.

“Oh,
that’s fine,” she said nonchalantly.  “Why shouldn’t he?  Anyone I know?”  She
didn’t care that she was being curious.

“Her
name’s Pam,” said Chris.  “Someone from work, I think, but we haven’t met her
yet.”

Anna
closed her eyes as a cold wave passed over her, followed by a pang of jealousy
as she imagined another woman using her kitchen, sleeping in her bedroom.  But
then a sense of relief flooded through her.  She had been vindicated, the woman
in the pub was exactly who she thought she was.  Now she knew for certain, she
started laughing. 

Jason
came to her side and put his arm round her shoulder.  “Are you OK, sweetheart?”

She
nodded vigorously.  “Oh, yes.  I said she could have him and so she can.”

After the boys
had left, the heavens opened and it rained continually, saturating the garden
and drumming down on the roofs of the cars like a hail of bullets.  Jason had proposed
a game of golf but now it would have to be abandoned.

“It’s
such a shame,” said Anna, peering out of the window, while Jason sat reading
his newspaper.  “I was so looking forward to beating you again.  Never mind. 
It might brighten up later.”

But
it didn’t.  In fact the rain turned to a fine, chilling drizzle that had the
power to seep into clothing and soak a person right through.  Most of the day
was spent in the parlour either watching television or playing board games and
cards.

Eventually,
Jason looked at his watch and glanced across at Anna.  “Do you fancy going to
the club anyway?  We could have a drink in the bar.”

She
looked up from her magazine and smiled.  “That sounds great.  We’ve been cooped
up too long.”

“My
fees are due on the first, so I’ll be able to pay them while we’re there.”

She
gave him a withering look.  “Oh, Jason, I reminded you about that before you
went to Singapore!”  She smacked his hand in playful annoyance.

“I
know but it slipped my mind,” he said guiltily.

They
were about to leave the parlour when Hollie burst through the door carrying a
large vanity case.  She was in her dressing gown after having her bath and her
hair hung down her back in dark, damp ripples.

“I’m
ready now, Anna,” she cried, her face aglow with enthusiasm.

Anna
stopped, a look of disquiet spreading across her features.  “Oh, I forgot!  I
promised Hollie I’d put her hair in ringlets.”

Jason
chuckled.  “Looks like I’m not the only one with a bad memory.”

Anna
bit her lip apprehensively.  “I’d better keep my promise.”  She looked towards
the little girl emptying the contents of the vanity case on the table.  It had
been a present from Mrs Wilby and she treasured all the paraphernalia
associated with hair and beauty.  “She’ll be terribly upset if I let her down.”

Jason
gave a sigh.  “You’re probably right.  But I must go to the club and pay my
fees.”

“Can’t
you send a cheque tomorrow?”

He
shook his head.  “It won’t get there in time.”

“I’ll
come to your car with you.”

Despite
his protestations, she insisted on walking with him into the hall while he
pulled on his coat.  Outside it was dark and bitingly cold.  Anna hugged her
arms as she stood in the porch out of the driving rain.

He
noticed she was shivering.  “Sweetheart, go inside.  You’ll catch your death.” 

She
watched him climb into the car.  “What a pity I can’t come with you.”

He
waved his hand.  “I’ll be an hour at the most.”  He suddenly added, “Shall I
pick up an application form for you?  I think it’s about time you became a
member and you’ve still not made use of Mother’s birthday present to you.”

“Yes,
do that.  If I’m going to beat you into the ground, it might as well be
official.”

Jason
gave a grin and drove away.  Anna watched him go.  Whenever she thought of that
moment in the future, she bitterly regretted her promise to Hollie.  If she had
accompanied him, perhaps events would have turned out so differently.   

Jason pulled
into the car park and looked towards the lights streaming from the windows of
the club.  The folk inside were obviously enjoying a Christmas drink and he
suddenly felt disappointed that Anna had had to stay behind.  It would have
been nice to get away from the Grange for a few hours.  Sighing heavily, he
climbed out of the car and ran through the rain and across the shining tarmac. 
The warmth and comfort of the building enclosed him.

There
were very few people in the foyer, as they all seemed to be in the bar.  Jason
walked over to the desk and the smiling receptionist brought up his details on
her computer and prepared to take his payment on his credit card.

“Well,
hello stranger.”  The husky voice was unmistakable and he quickly glanced to
his left.

“Hello
Deborah.  Merry Christmas,” he answered politely.  She sidled up to him and
came far too close.  He used the excuse of signing the receipt to move away
from her.  “Could I have an application form, please,” he asked the
receptionist.

Deborah
smiled seductively.  “Don’t tell me Anna’s becoming a member at last?” 

Unsmiling,
Jason took the form, folded it and put it in his inside pocket.

“We
thought it was about time.”

“Be
warned!  Caroline will be after her.  She still wants her to join the team.”

“I’m
not surprised.  Anna is an excellent golfer and I think she’ll be a credit to
the club.”

He
said it in a way that would sting her and when her dark eyes turned even darker
with jealousy, he found it difficult to hold back his enjoyment.    

“Yes,
well.”  She glanced around the foyer as if trying to control her temper and
then turned her attention back to Jason.  “So, have you had a pleasant
Christmas?”

“Very
nice, thank you.”

He
knew his coldness would cause rancour, but for some reason he couldn’t help
goading her.  If there was one thing he had learned about Deborah Gilbert-Hines
it was that she thrived on the heat of passion and anger.  He remembered the
last time he had confronted her and how his rage had ‘turned her on’.  He
wasn’t going to fall for that again.

“I
heard you’ve been away?”

“Yes,
to Singapore on business.”

“Gone
long, were you?”

“Just
a week.”

Deborah
feigned thoughtfulness.  “Would that be round about the thirteenth of
December?”

Jason
frowned.  “I guess so.  I left on the eleventh, so yes, I was away then.”