Getting It Right This Time (15 page)

Not good.

Sighing, Kate leaned against the counter top and looked out into the garden. Even though it was barely eight-thirty, the sun’s rays filtered through the glass, warming her face and evoking notions of swimming and barbecues. Maybe she should pack up the car and head to the beach with Jessica today--forget Mark, forget her guilt, forget the fact James could be looking down on them with a look of total disdain…

Before she could ponder on it further, the
thump-thump
of Jessica’s feet on the ceiling above her tore into Kate’s thoughts and forced her to focus on the here and now. Within seconds the kitchen door flew back on its hinges and Jessica came in with her hair tousled and her huge eyes puffy from sleep. Kate grinned and held out her arms.

“Morning, baby. Sweet dreams?” she asked, picking her up and kissing her face.

“Hungry now.”

Kate laughed. “Okay, don’t I get a hug first?”

Jessica’s arms came around her neck, and Kate inhaled her familiar scent like a soothing balm. Whatever happened next between her and Mark, she would not allow anything to hurt Jessica.

Even though she’d been barely two years old when James died, Kate vowed Jessica would always know how much her father loved her. She swallowed. And also how good he’d been to her and others…maybe other things became more important to him than Kate over the years, but Jessica had been the light of his life from the minute he arrived at the hospital three hours after she was born.

Carrying her to the table, Kate put Jessica down on a chair so she could prepare their breakfast. She put a bowl of cereal in front of her and the telephone rang.

“Hello?”

“Morning, gorgeous. How are you today?”

Kate’s stomach flipped over as she glanced at Jess. “And good morning to you too.”

“What are you wearing?” Mark asked.

“Cheesy.”

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Getting It Right This Time

“So? I still want an answer.”

Heat surged into Kate’s face as she looked down at her old t-shirt and shorts combo. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

His laugh caused her heart to pick up speed. He’d rang her yesterday twice and now today before breakfast. To some women it would be overbearing so soon in a relationship, but Kate relished every minute of his pursuit. It felt like a million years since a man had paid her any amount of attention--or maybe more like five. The thought they’d made a mistake…

“So?” she said, turning her back to Jessica. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“What are your plans for today?” he asked.

“Nothing yet. We’re just sitting down to breakfast and then I was going to ask Jess what she wanted to do,” she said, gently reminding him of her priorities. “Why?”

He cleared his throat. “I wondered if you and Jess fancied an afternoon of swimming and eating home-grilled hamburgers?”

Her heart hitched in her chest. Hadn’t she been contemplating the exact same thing? She stole a glance at her baby girl as she spooned Rice Krispies haphazardly into her mouth. Kate lowered her voice. “I’d love too. But it’s too soon. I’m not ready to explain to Jess about us yet.”

At the mention of her name, Jess twisted in her seat. “Who is it, Mummy?”

“Um, just a friend, sweetheart. Finish your breakfast.”

Kate carried the cordless phone over to the back door and stepped outside. Watching Jess through the window, she asked, “You do understand, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Mark said. “I’ll do this how you want. I promised no pressure and I meant it.” He paused. “But can guy help wanting to see two of the prettiest girls in Foxton on a day like this?”

Her stomach tightened at the sound of the smile in his voice. He could always get to her with that damn smile, she thought as her defenses wobbled on a precarious precipice.

“Mark…”

“Yes?”

She stared at Jessica. She would love nothing more than a swim. To call Jess a water baby was like calling a Labrador hungry. “I can’t…not yet.”

A long moment stretched and Kate pressed her lips tightly closed, preventing any further words. He needed to accept the change in his life if he seriously wanted the three of them to be together.

He exhaled. “Look,” he said, softly. “I have this great big house with no one in it. As well as a completely prepared and treated swimming pool that hasn’t been swam in yet this year and a barbecue with a grill big enough to cater a wedding reception.”

She smiled. “I think you may be exaggerating a little, aren’t you?”

He laughed. “Maybe. But the fact is, cooking for one on the thing is sad and pathetic.”

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75

Kate grinned. “Maybe it’s you who’s sad and pathetic? But then again, there’s not a lot we can do about that, is there?”

“Ouch.”

She laughed. “Sorry.”

“Come on, Kate, please. I have to see you.”

“Have to?”

“Have to. What if I invite Lucy as well? You can tell Jessica I’m a friend…like Lucy.”

Kate watched Jessica as she lined up Rice Krispies with military precision around the table.

Her daughter loved nothing more than spending time with Lucy. But how would she take to Mark?

She drew in a breath. Her mind gave an abrupt about turn. She exhaled.

“Fine. You win. If Lucy will be there, we’ll come.”

His relief and without doubt, mile-wide smile came across the line. “Fantastic! You won’t regret this. We’re going to have a brilliant day. Jessica is going to love it so much she won’t want to go home.”

A weight dropped into the pit of Kate’s stomach even though she knew he was oblivious to the way his comment sounded…or how much the notion scared her. “Mark…”

“She’ll love it here, I know she will.”

Walking back inside, Kate pushed her retort aside. Her indecision was not Mark’s problem, but hers. “And where is here exactly?” she asked. “I have no idea where you live now. Unless you’re stashing your cash away and still living with your mum?”

“Very funny.”

“Well, I don’t know. Lucy said you’d bought The Landscape but you know how she loves winding me up.”

He didn’t answer straight away and her heart accelerated. Surely not?

“Mark?”

“It’s true. I bought it last year.”

“What?” She clutched her throat. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. I’ll see you around twelve-thirty.”

He hung up the phone but Kate didn’t move. The receiver stayed glued to her ear, the disconnected line humming in her ear seemingly repeating the words, “He’s bought The Landscape.

He’s bought The Landscape.”

“Mummy?”

She blinked at the sound of Jessica’s voice. “Mmm?”

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing. Nothing, sweetheart.” Kate pushed the receiver blindly toward the phone and replaced it in its cradle. He’d bought The Landscape? She walked over to Jessica and lifted her from her seat. Moving on automatic pilot, they left the kitchen and started up the stairs. Kate numbly 76

Getting It Right This Time

walked into the bathroom and turned on the taps without hearing Jess or even being aware the sink had been filled and her daughter stood butt-naked waiting to be washed. She dipped the flannel in the water and soaped it.

He’d bought The Landscape?

Situated at the highest point above the city, The Landscape’s outstanding views were the inspiration behind its name. Unshed tears stung her eyes. She and Mark spent hours lying on their backs in the park that stood at the foot of the hill on which the house was built. Mark spoke of money and success, foreign holidays and fancy cars, while she teased him about his materialism, hoping one day he would understand she thought of nothing else other than making a future with him--a future with The Landscape as their home where their four or five kids could run around screaming and playing.

Kate forced a smile and looked deep into the clear, untroubled eyes of her beloved only child.

“How do you fancy meeting a new friend of Mummy’s today?”

Chapter 9

“Why didn’t you make me listen?” Kate cried into the receiver.

Lucy laughed. “I remember telling you on three separate occasions Mark bought The Landscape. And each time you didn’t believe me. Why would I make it up?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Kate held her hair back from her face in a fist. “It’s such a shock. I never thought in a million years…”

“What? That Mark wouldn’t do something he said he would?” Lucy gave an inelegant snort.

“Give me a break. The man has achieved everything he set out to do.”

A flutter of nerves whispered through Kate’s stomach as Mark’s determined face of a couple of nights ago came into her mind’s eye. He said he wanted her. He said he’d have her.

“Kate?”

She shook her head, squeezed her eyes shut. “You’re right. I should’ve known he wouldn’t be talking fantasy when he said The Landscape would be his one day. Mark is not a joking man.

Well, not about material things anyway.”

“Or you. I can’t remember a single time he joked about you either.”

Kate snapped open her eyes. “Maybe. But he never said anything serious either, did he?”

A pregnant pause ensued. “Well, anyway, he is now,” said Lucy. “So the question is, what are you going to do? Do you think you two could have a future?”

Something bordering on shame scratched at Kate’s nerve endings. How was she supposed to tell Lucy she’d already engaged in oral sex, straight sex and everything else in between with Mark, yet felt nervous attending a barbecue at his house? The woman would slap her when she saw her.

“I…um…”

“What? The meal was a disaster with his client ringing up and ruining everything. But I wouldn’t write it off that you and Mark can’t enjoy a date some time in the future.” She paused.

“It’s been over a year since James died, and I think it would be best for Jess in the long run if her mum let loose a bit--”

“I had sex with him.”

Silence. Kate held her breath with one eye closed. More silence.

“Say that again.” Lucy’s voice was barely above a whisper.

And despite knowing the entire conversation was about to blow up in her face, laughter bubbled at the back of Kate’s throat. She grinned. “I had sex with him. Here. On my sofa. With Jess upstairs.”

“Oh. My. God.”

Kate laughed. “Is that letting loose enough for you?”

“Loose? You’re a frigging slut!”

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Getting It Right This Time

They both burst into a torrent of laughter. Tears tipped over Kate’s lower lids and slid down her cheeks. “I know. What sort of example am I to Jess?”

“A bloody bad one.”

Once their laughter and general exchange of insults were exhausted, Kate swiped her hand over her face. “This is so weird.”

“Yeah, but fun.”

“Believe me, this is not my idea of fun.”

“Yeah, right. The most eligible bachelor in Foxton is desperate to be with you after a five year separation, despite having enough women hankering for his attention to fill a stadium, and you’re not enjoying any part of it. Bullshit.”

“Will you stop? I’m not denying how I feel about him, but this is crazy. I haven’t even kissed another man since James, and now I’ve reached page fifty of the
Kama Sutra
with Mark in a single night.”

“Really? Tell me more.”

“Ha ha. The fact is, Mark comes with a notoriety I didn’t expect and you didn’t warn me about. It’s scary, Luce.”

Lucy sighed. “I know, I know. But you’re forgetting I’ve watched you grieving and suffering over the last twelve months as well as handling everything Jess is going through. Coming back to Foxton was the best decision you’ve made. Enjoy this, don’t think too far ahead.”

“But the press…”

“Will get tired of you and Mark eventually.”

“And in the meantime? What about Jess?”

“I’m concerned about her too, but you can’t blow a second chance like this. She’s a fantastic kid. Give it time. I bet five hundred pounds Jess will soon feel the same way about Mark as you do.”

Kate wasn’t sure. “Maybe. Look, we’d better get off of this phone and start getting ready.

You’re definitely going to be there, right?”

“Hey, I’ve cancelled a date with George Clooney for this. You bet I’ll be there.”

Less than two hours later, Kate pulled her Peugeot 307 to a stop in front of the black cast iron gates of The Landscape. The height of them looming above her made Kate feel as though she’d been shrunk by magic during the drive there. The engine purred and the seconds ticked by yet she didn’t inch forward, but instead continued to grip the steering wheel and stare straight ahead.

“What am I doing?” she whispered. “I should go. Turn around and get out of here before he sees me.”

But then the gates slowly opened automatically.

“Oh, poo.”

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Drawing in a strengthening breath, she put the car into first and drove forward. The tires crunched over the gravel driveway as Kate acknowledged her memories of The Landscape had somewhat blurred since leaving Foxton. She remembered the house being big. A mansion even.

Now it seemed like a bloody estate!

“Oh, my good God.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and pressed down on the accelerator. Standing before her in all its eighteenth century glory, The Landscape almost blotted the sun from the sky. She pulled in between Mark’s Mercedes and Lucy’s Ford Mondeo and cut the ignition. She was here.

No going back.

A sudden and ear-splittingly excited screech from the back seat told Kate her daughter was equally in awe of the place and her next words confirmed it. “It’s a castle! A castle, Mummy!”

Kate smiled despite the nerves rattling around inside her like miniature kids at a trampoline party. “It looks like one, doesn’t it?”

“It is one.”

Still smiling, Kate got out of the car. Shielding her eyes, she gazed up at the numerous mullioned windows where the blazing sun shone on the glass, down to the intricately oak-carved door and its winking brass knocker. The front of the house was all that could be seen high above the parkland, and a rush of excitement swept through her veins at the prospect of discovering the back of the house where only a privileged few were invited. Both now and in centuries past. The Landscape. The Landscape belonged to Mark.