Deceit of Angels (44 page)

She
squinted at him.  “Who told you?”

“It
doesn’t matter.  All that does matter is that I love you.”

Anna
frowned.  “I didn’t want you to know.”

“But
if you had told me, I could have helped you.”

She
shook her head vigorously.  “I couldn’t tell you.”

He
decided not to pursue the argument.  “Does it change things now that I know?”

She
moved away from him.  He made no attempt to stop her, but stood patiently
waiting.

“I
don’t…Let me think a minute.”  She trailed her fingers through her hair.  He
noticed that it had grown and now she dressed it with a pretty band letting the
soft blonde curls fall over her shoulders.  She looked so lovely and yet
vulnerable.  “Everything’s so different now.  Everything has changed.”

He
wanted her to understand.  “I still love you so much,” he repeated.

She
stepped closer to him and he resisted the urge to reach out for her.  “But
Jason, I’m carrying a child and I don’t know who the father is.”

“I
don’t care about that.  I know who the mother is and that’s more important to
me.”

Anna
looked at him and her heart melted.  “You really want to be with me?”

He
laughed softly.  “Anna, please, please let me back into your life.  I can’t
function without you.  Only you can make my existence bearable.”

He
slowly reached out for her and she stayed quite still.  “I don’t seem to be
able to think beyond tomorrow,” she whispered.

“Well,
then that’s what we’ll do,” he smiled.  We’ll think only of tomorrow and let
the future take care of itself.”  He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her
fingers.  “You’re still wearing my ring.”  She didn’t answer.  “And what on
earth is this?”  He lifted up the pendant round her neck.  “You’re wearing a
ten pence coin!”

“It’s
our coin, the one you used in the club.  I never take it off.”

He
shook his head in disbelief.  “I’ve bought you some expensive gifts and you
cherish something so mundane?”

“It’s
not the price of something that’s important, it’s the meaning behind it.”  Anna
stared at him hardly believing that he was standing there. 

He
pulled her closer.  “Oh, Anna, please let me help you through this.”

She
put her arms round his waist.  “You were so angry with me.”

“Yes
and now I’m angry with myself.  I’ve been unbelievably cruel.”

“I
used to peek through the curtains when you visited,” she giggled.  “I tried not
to but I couldn’t help myself.”

He
gave a chuckle that was so good to hear.  “You’ve been here all the time and I
didn’t know.  Where were you when I came with Hollie?”

“Hiding. 
In John and Irene’s apartment.”

Jason
threw back his head and laughed.  “The one place I would never go.  And you
were using your old bedroom, weren’t you?”

She
nodded.  “Yes, but Fran had to lock the door every time you came.”

“I
thought I felt your presence.  But I put it down to wishful thinking.”  Jason
looked down at her and smiled.  For the first time he saw how she bloomed with
health.  Pregnancy enhanced her beauty.  It suited her.  “When’s the baby due?”
he whispered.

“Beginning
of September.” 

He
glanced around the garden that was starting to fill with the heavenly colour
and scent of roses, clematis and a variety of other summer plants.

“I
haven’t been to this part of the garden for a long time.”

“Actually,
I spend most of the day here if the weather is fine and I want to work
outdoors.”

“You
work here?”

“Yes,
your mother employed me.  I’ve been her wedding planner.”  She pointed to the
table laden with files.

He
sucked in a sharp breath.  “She knows?”  Anna shook her head.  “I have a lot to
make up for.  Whatever you want us to do, then I’ll do it gladly.”

She
felt reluctant to ask the next question but needed to know.  “How’s everything
at Harrington Rhodes?”

He
became serious as his smile faded.  “Not so good.  I’ve been losing contracts. 
Can’t seem to get my head round the business and if I don’t pull myself
together I’m certain it’s heading for bankruptcy.”  He pulled her closer and
smiled.  It was wonderful feeling her in his arms again.  “I exaggerate
slightly, but I have been losing contracts.”

Anna
opened her eyes wide in surprise.  “But in all the time I worked for you, you
never lost one.”

“That
was when you were working for me.  Now Natalie sits at your desk.”

“Natalie?”

He
grinned at her jealous tone.  “Mmm!  She needs to be seen to be believed.”

“That
perfect, eh!”  He teased her by not answering.  “Well, I’m pleased you found
yourself another PA.”  She turned her face away. 

Jason
waited a few seconds and then cupped her face in his hands.  “But she’s not
you.  I’ve missed you terribly.”

“And
I’ve missed you.”  She paused for a moment.  “In a few weeks I’ll not be
married any more.”

Jason
jerked back in surprise.  “Your divorce!  It’s finalised?”

“The
decree absolute will be through very soon.”

“That’s
wonderful.”  He rubbed his cheek on top of her head.  “I hope I never meet your
husband.  I’m liable to do him some harm.”

She
pulled away from him.  “Oh, no you won’t.  He’s done enough damage to us.  Make
me a promise that you’ll never let him come between us again.”

“I
promise,” he whispered. 

Fran
appeared.  “Madam says are you friends now?  And do you want to come in for
coffee?”

They
smiled at each other.

“Yes,
we’ll come in,” said Anna, taking Jason’s arm.

CHAPTER
NINETEEN

T
he
next three weeks were unbelievable.  Jason established a routine of coming for
dinner every Wednesday evening and he and Anna would walk round the garden, or
if it rained, they would stay in the parlour, talking endlessly, while Margaret
kept herself busy with her cross-stitch.  Sometimes she would raise her eyes
from her work and smile at Anna snuggled comfortably in the armchair with Jason
sitting on the floor at her feet.  The fact that her son was now reconciled
with the mother of his child, filled her with absolute delight.  And then at
the weekend, Jason would try and stay overnight, depending on his business
commitments, sleeping in his usual room and leaving on Saturday or Sunday
evening.

The
change in events affected everyone.  John, Irene and Fran could now breathe a
sigh of relief that they no longer needed to hide Anna.  Although news of their
reconciliation had not reached him yet, Graham Rhodes saw a complete upturn in
the business as Jason started winning the contracts again.

“The
boy is back,” he said, rubbing his hands in satisfaction.

And
the news hadn’t sifted through to the people living at Bishop Sutton either. 
Jason had decided he wanted to get used to the idea himself, before he broke it
to them.  But they couldn’t help noticing the radical change in his manner and
temper.  He filled the house with his presence once more and the only
conclusion they could come to was that their boss had a new lady in his life. 
This would certainly account for his regular absences from home and his
overnight bag.  They didn’t ask questions and discouraged Hollie from doing the
same.

“He’ll
tell us when he’s ready,” said Mrs Wilby sadly.  She knew Hollie had never
stopped missing Anna.

For
Anna, life began to take on a whole new meaning.  She looked forward to Jason’s
visits and would wait at the door for his arrival.  Sometimes they would travel
to Bristol and go to Mothercare to buy items for the baby, including the
pushchair, cot and car seat, laughing as they struggled to pack them into the
boot.

“I’d
forgotten how cumbersome these things are,” Jason grinned.

He
had kept his promise to Sophia and had let Anna set the pace of their
reconciliation.  Gradually he began to win her trust and confidence and when
the moment finally arrived when he found the courage to press a kiss on her
lips, he was surprised and overjoyed that she responded passionately.  He
didn’t dare hope that they would share the same bed just yet, but there was no
doubt that their love was as strong as ever.  And that alone was enough for
him.            

Anna’s divorce
came through and she was now a free woman.  The enormous relief that flooded
through her when the notification arrived was overwhelming.  She was in the
library when Margaret gave her the letter and although she knew what it was,
her hands trembled as she opened the envelope.

“That’s
it,” she said, giving a half-smile.  “I’m no longer married.”

“Thank
the Lord for that.  Perhaps you and Jason can make some plans of your own now,”
said Margaret with relief.

After
Margaret had left, Anna sat down at her desk and for the first time in months
she could see into the future.  She and Jason had not discussed marriage, as
they had kept to their strategy of taking life one day at a time.  But now
everything seemed so different.  Without realising it they had planned for the
baby’s arrival and she knew that Jason was now in the same frame of mind as
she, that beyond any doubt the child she was carrying was his.  They were both
convinced of it and nothing it seemed would shake their belief.

It was a wet
Saturday just a day after Anna had received her decree absolute.  Jason was
away on business, but he hoped to arrive at the Grange in the late afternoon
and spend the night.  Anna was very busy with yet another wedding and she felt
sad for the bride and groom that the weather was being unruly and threatening
to spoil their special day.  Although photos in the garden were impossible, Anna
had put ‘Plan B’ into operation, that is, photos in the large conservatory
filled with flowers and an abundance of natural light.  This plan had always
been welcomed in the past and today of all days it was viewed with relief by
the agitated mother-of-the-bride who had fretted over the weather.  The photos
completed everyone made their way to the ballroom to start the reception.  Anna
needed to collect some invoices from her desk and quickly hurried to the
library.

She
met Fran en route.  “Gentleman waiting to see you, miss.”

Anna
pulled up short.  “Oh, Fran, I’m too busy to see anyone today.  And he hasn’t
got an appointment.”

The
young girl pulled a face.  “He said it wouldn’t take long.  Sorry, miss.”

Letting
out a sigh Anna went into the library determined to get rid of this unwanted
intrusion.

He
was standing at the window, his back to her.

“I’m
so sorry, but I really can’t see anyone without an appointment, especially
today.”

He
turned slowly and Anna gasped with shock.

“I’m
sure you can see me,” he said, smiling.

Anna
stood completely still as though paralysed.  “What do you want?  You shouldn’t
be here.  We’re divorced now.”

“Your
mum told me that you’re pregnant and that you’re due in September.” His gaze
dropped to her expanding waistline as he took a step forward.

Anna
moved so that the desk was between them.  “What’s that got to do with you?”

“Because
I’ve got an inkling that you’re carrying my kid.”

“No,
I’m not!  This is Jason’s baby.”

“Are
you absolutely sure of that?”    

“Yes,
I’m positive.”

He
moved round the desk and Anna quickly changed her position.  It was though they
were in some bizarre dance.  He moving forward and she moving back. 

“I
don’t think you are.  Let me think.”  He stroked his chin, his eyes never
leaving her face.  “We were together at Christmas…”

“Together! 
How dare you call it that, as though I agreed to it!”

“What
else would you like me to call it?”

“You
forced me…you kept me a prisoner…!”

He
waved his hand in dismissal.  “Whatever!  As I was saying, December to September
is nine months, so there’s a strong possibility that I could have fathered that
child.”

Strength
began to surge through her body and she clenched her fists in anger.  “You are
not
the father of this child.  And I would appreciate it if you would leave.”

He
pursed his lips.  “I only popped in as I was in the area.  But I’ll be making a
special trip in say…three months.”

“Don’t
you come anywhere near me!”

“Oh
yes, Anna, I will.  I want to know if this is my child.  So, you’d better warn
that bloke of yours, because if it does turn out to be mine, I’ll be applying
for access.”

“You
can’t do that.  I don’t want you anywhere near this baby.”