Secrets (5 page)

Chapter Eleven

At seven in the morning on Christmas Day, Janey was disturbed from a deep sleep by the landline ringing. By the tenth ring it became apparent that neither her parents nor Joe were going to answer the phone – which was hardly surprising given the hour they’d all fallen into bed after Midnight Mass. Derek had insisted on saying good-bye to every single member of the congregation. Once home, Violet had excitedly announced it was officially Christmas Day so they should have a celebratory nightcap. Janey had shipped an enormous bedtime brandy and slept like a log. And now, as she catapulted out of her warm bed and flew down the stairs, she prayed the caller wouldn’t ring off just as her hand reached for the receiver. Shivering, she snatched up the still ringing phone.

‘Hello?’ she asked uncertainly.

‘At last,’ said a familiar voice.

‘Jake?’ Janey was so surprised, her knees threatened to give way. She sat down heavily on the bottom step of the staircase.

‘Darling, I’m so glad I’ve managed to track you down.’

Still groggy, for a moment Janey didn’t know what to say. Then the fog from her brain cleared. ‘I sent you a text, and tried calling you.’ It came out accusingly. ‘You didn’t reply.’ And then she burst into tears.

‘Oh, babe. Don’t cry. Please. I lost my mobile. Marie has loaned me her spare, but I don’t have any of my numbers on it. It’s been an absolute nightmare.’

Janey felt a mixture of anger and relief at hearing Jake’s voice. ‘Marie? Is she Cinderella?’ As soon as the question had left her lips, she felt foolish. Jake might put two and two together about her feeling suspicious and insecure.

‘Marie is Todd’s wife, darling. You remember Todd? He’s the big hairy guy on keyboards.’

‘Oh, right. Well, that’s kind of her.’ Janey wiped the tears away with the back of her hand.

‘It’s been manic this end. Non-stop work. But I finally managed to set aside some time to do detective work on tracking down your parents’ phone number.’

‘They’re ex-directory,’ Janey said, as realisation dawned. ‘How on earth did you get this number?’

‘Just call me Head of Scotland Yard.’ She could sense Jake grinning down the phone. ‘I put Little Cobbleton into a search engine, and found a few points of interest including Aunty Molly’s Cake Shop.’

‘Aunty Molly’s Tea Shop,’ Janey corrected.

‘That’s the one. I rang it, was passed around to several customers in a bid for information. I ended up speaking to a Mrs Jones, who just happened to be enjoying an afternoon cup of tea and a freshly baked scone with Aunty Molly’s homemade strawberry jam and – I quote – clotted cream from the farm shop and not the whippy muck you buy in supermarkets.’

Janey groaned. ‘You do realise Mrs Jones is the chief gossip of Little Cobbleton. Having now spoken directly to you, she’ll assume she knows every last detail of your life, and will be spreading all sorts of rumours. As it is you’ve already been branded a drug user by Susie’s mother.’

‘Oh, but I am. I’ve been swallowing ibuprofen every day. Cinderella’s singing voice is like a strangled cat. The last few days have been one constant headache.’

Janey giggled. ‘So what else did Mrs Jones tell you?’

‘Well, as you said, she does seem very well informed.’

‘You mean nosey.’

‘Ah, but the great thing about nosey people is they’re a fount of knowledge. And Mrs Jones came up trumps! She happened to know your parents’ phone number. So here I am, talking to my gorgeous girl at last.’

Janey sat on the bottom step, grinning foolishly. ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear from you, even if it is at the crack of sparrows.’ Of
course
there had been a legitimate explanation for Jake’s silence! Of
course
he hadn’t dumped her! Why had she allowed the likes of Susie to rattle her cage?

‘Sorry about the unearthly hour. Blame Todd’s little kids. They are extremely hyper.’ Jake lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘I’m missing you so much, Janey. Happy Christmas, darling.’

‘Happy Christmas to you too, sweetheart. I’m so sorry I don’t have a present for you to open.’

‘The only present I want is you.’

‘I love you.’

‘And I love you too.’ Jake was speaking so softly now she could hardly hear him. ‘Have you opened your present yet?’

‘No! It’s only a little after seven. Nobody’s up yet. We usually open our presents after the Queen’s speech. My parents are rather formal and have a routine,’ Janey laughed apologetically. She shivered and pulled her short nightdress down over her knees. It was absolutely freezing in the high-ceilinged hallway. An icy draft from the tiny gaps around the front door tickled Janey’s bare flesh. ‘Anyway, I want to save your present until last.’

‘No, I want you to open it now, while I’m on the phone. Go and get it.’

‘Okay,’ said Janey excitedly. ‘Give me thirty seconds. My parents have yet to go cordless, and the present is upstairs.’ Janey put the receiver down and took the stairs two at a time. Grabbing the tiny wrapped box from the bedside table, she raced back to the phone and bumped her bottom back down on the last step. ‘Got it,’ she said, slightly breathless.

‘Good. Tell me when you’ve taken the wrapping off.’

With trembling fingers, Janey ripped off the paper and gasped. She stared at the little Tiffany box in the palm of her hand. Inside were two heart-shaped diamond earrings set in platinum. ‘Oh my goodness, Jake.’ Janey’s voice shook. They must have cost at least a couple of grand. There was a sudden scrunching noise from Jake’s end, like that of a hand going over the mouthpiece. ‘Coming,’ she heard him say to somebody. Then he was back.

‘Do you like them?’

‘They’re beautiful,’ Janey sighed. Right now she could forgive Jake anything. From never giving her anything towards the rent, to never buying so much as an apple for the fruit bowl, and even for losing his mobile.

‘Wear them and know you have my heart. Always.’

‘I will,’ she said, her eyes filling up again.

‘And don’t listen to the likes of Susie or the village gossips.’

‘I won’t,’ Janey assured. ‘But actually, darling, there’s something I need to tell you.’ Nervously she told Jake about her application to be headmistress of Little Cobbleton Primary School. ‘But I probably won’t get it,’ she finished in a rush. She waited for his reply, anxiously twisting the telephone cord around one finger. But Jake was thrilled to bits.

‘Sweetheart, that’s wonderful! I really hope you get the job.’

‘Do you mean it?’

‘Absolutely! Living in the country is the perfect place to bring up our kids. Just think, one day they will go to the very school Mummy went to. Plus you’ll be able to keep your beady eye on them!’ Jake laughed. ‘When I was looking at Little Cobbleton on the internet, it said the village was only a forty-five minute train ride to London, so there’s no problem getting to the studios when I’m doing session stuff.’

Janey couldn’t stop smiling. In a matter of minutes she’d been elevated from abject misery to Cloud Nine. Suddenly there was the sound of a child crying and a frazzled female voice asking for assistance. Janey’s brow furrowed.

‘Where exactly are you, darling?’

‘Be right there,’ he replied to the woman. ‘I’m at Todd’s house. I’ve been invited for Christmas dinner.’

‘Bit early aren’t you?’

‘I came over late last night after the evening performance of Cinderella. Todd insisted I sleep on the sofa and have the entirety of Christmas Day with him, his wife and the kids. They’re a bit of a handful because they’re only tiny.’

For a moment Janey felt slightly put out. Surely she could have gone to Manchester after all? She wasn’t some sort of princess averse to roughing it on a sofa! They could have both enjoyed Christmas Day together with Todd and his wife and family.

‘It was very last minute,’ said Jake, as if reading her thoughts. ‘Todd wasn’t standing for any nonsense with me eating Pot Noodle today of all days.’

Janey exhaled slowly. It was no good getting worked up about Jake spending Christmas Day with Todd. Almost certainly the guy would have included her if he’d known in advance. What sort of girlfriend was she anyway for having a private strop?

‘I’m delighted you’re not all alone,’ Janey said, and meant it.

‘Jake!’ came the female voice again. ‘What the heck are you doing?’

‘I must go,’ Jake murmured.

‘Why is Marie after you? Where’s Todd?’

‘In the bog and one of the toddlers has wrecked the Christmas tree. I’d better go and supervise while Todd’s detained.’

‘Will you call me again?’

‘After today it will be crazy with the show. I’ll try and call on New Year’s Eve.’

Janey was so happy to have finally spoken with Jake she readily accepted his explanation and half-promise to call again. And that was her third mistake.

Chapter Twelve

Needless to say, Jake did return from Manchester in the New Year. Janey was ecstatic to return to her London flat with her boyfriend by her side. Their nights were spent making passionate love before falling asleep in a tangle of arms and legs. Jake didn’t offer to pay anything towards the rent or bills, and Janey couldn’t quite bring herself to discuss it. She convinced herself that because Jake was paying rent on his own digs, it warranted exemption from him paying anything on hers. She presumed there wasn’t much money left in Jake’s wallet by the time he’d paid expensive train fares too, so she left the subject of finances alone.

As January progressed, two wonderful things happened. Firstly, Jake established more musical opportunities in London. Secondly, Janey was officially offered the position of Head Teacher at Little Cobbleton Primary. Her role would commence after the Easter Holidays, when the current Head had officially retired.

Janey took advantage of the remainder of her time in London by hooking up with Joe and Sanjay and introducing Jake. She was thrilled all three men hit it off. Only Susie continued to bitch about Jake. It was clear she had developed an intense dislike of him. Janey thought this was probably mutual, although Jake was careful not to openly bad-mouth her best friend.

During February half-term, Janey took Jake to Little Cobbleton to finally meet Violet and Derek. Her parents were smitten with Jake from the start.

‘He’s utterly charming, darling,’ said her mother. ‘It’s quite obvious why Susie has been such a cow about him. She’s jealous.’

During their stay at Orchard House, the lovebirds learned a cottage nearby would soon be available for rental. Mrs Jones told Jake about Rose Cottage, saying she had it on the good authority of her neighbour’s nephew’s wife’s milkman who had been told to stop delivering milk from the beginning of March. Jake hid a smile and thanked Mrs Jones profusely. She purred like a cat and told everybody who would listen that Jake was Mr Charming and a thoroughly decent boy. Even Susie’s mother was forced to concede the drug rumours might have been an inaccuracy.

The happy couple viewed the cottage, immediately falling in love with the pretty red-bricked terrace complete with roses tumbling around the door.

‘But what on earth will we do with four bedrooms?’ Janey stood on the first floor landing and chewed her lip while she considered.

‘Well, this one here,’ Jake indicated the room in front of him, ‘can be our bedroom. And I suggest this one,’ he pointed to the room next door, ‘to eventually be a nursery. The two bedrooms in the loft can be used as a study for you and a practice room for me. I think it’s perfect,’ he nodded approvingly.

Janey glowed. However, there was a “but”. It was time to talk about money. She took a deep breath. ‘The rent is a lot higher than my London apartment. Maybe you should consider phasing out your commutes to Manchester and giving up your flat? Then you can share the cost of this place with me.’

Jake sighed. ‘I can’t do that just yet, sweetheart. Certainly not for the foreseeable future anyway. I’m getting more bookings in London, but Manchester is still my bread and butter. But if we rent Rose Cottage, I don’t expect you to shoulder the expense yourself.’

Janey felt her heart leap. ‘Really?’

‘Just give me six months and then I’ll be in a position to give you half towards everything.’

That hadn’t been quite the reply Janey had wanted to hear, but she let it go. After all, her salary was about to increase considerably, and it wasn’t like Jake wasn’t
ever
going to help out. She told herself to be patient. The guy was doing his best to relocate from one end of the country to the other. He’d already established more musical contacts in the South, so surely by August he’d be inundated with work! Even so, Janey decided to keep the financial details to herself. It was nobody’s business except hers and Jake’s. He would contribute just as soon as he could. And that was her fourth mistake.

Chapter Thirteen

Everybody was genuinely pleased to hear Janey and her handsome musician boyfriend were moving to Little Cobbleton.

‘I’m delighted about your forthcoming position as Head Teacher at the primary school,’ said Mrs Fosdyke. ‘New blood is what the school needs – and
young
blood too! I suppose your charming boyfriend will be offering a musical input at some point, eh?’

‘Maybe,’ said Janey, thinking what a brilliant idea that was. She’d definitely discuss it with Jake when he returned from his current trip to Manchester.

Only Susie remained sour about Janey’s new job and impending house move.

‘So you’re sodding off,’ she said flatly. She was sitting at Janey’s kitchen table, arms folded across her chest. Susie watched as Janey loaded up a large cardboard box with carefully wrapped china and glassware. Who was she going to turn to at a moment’s notice when her fridge was empty? Or the gas meter need topping up? Or she needed to borrow twenty quid on the never-never?

‘I’m making a progressive career change,’ said Janey. She paused for a moment and stretched. There were some loud pops as the kinks in her spine released. ‘I’m not, as you so testily put it,
sodding off
.’

‘Well it seems like it to me,’ Susie sniffed. There was a silence before she added, ‘I might as well look for work down there myself.’

Janey pretended to forage in the box and silently boggled into it. ‘Little Cobbleton isn’t exactly a fount of industry,’ she pointed out. ‘A lot of people commute into London, which is pretty costly.’

‘I’m not going to commute,’ said Susie. ‘I won’t need to if you give me a job as a classroom assistant.’

Janey closed her eyes and let out the smallest of sighs. ‘I think you should let me get my feet under the table first.’

‘Oh that’s just chuffing typical!’ snapped Susie. ‘Put your boyfriend first, why don’t you. But your best friend, who you’ve known all your life, is shoved to one side.’

‘What
are
you talking about?’ asked Janey in amazement.

‘Jake’s going to be a music teacher. So why can’t I be a classroom assistant?’

‘I haven’t even discussed anything with Jake yet,’ said Janey. ‘Where on earth did you get
that
little gem of information from?’

‘Mrs Jones,’ said Susie importantly. ‘And I know it’s true because Mrs Gager told Mrs Jones, and Mrs Gager said she heard it from Mrs Fosdyke…who heard it from you.’

‘Susie, give me a break. Please. If anything comes along, you will be the first to know. But don’t put me under pressure, eh?’

‘Message received loud and clear.’ Susie stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair in the process. It landed with a clatter on the floor. ‘Get stuffed, Janey,’ she shouted.

‘Susie, don’t be like that. Come back here and–’

But Susie had already thumped her way down the stairs and banged out the front door.

When Jake returned from Manchester, he had some serious news about Carbon Vendetta. The band members had had a frank talk about their future.

‘The guys are fed up with me splitting my time between the North and South,’ Jake shrugged. ‘So I’m bowing out.’

‘Oh,’ said Janey, trying hard not to show her pleasure. If Jake didn’t have band commitments, surely he’d be one step closer to giving up the Manchester commute. ‘So the guys will carry on without you?’

‘For a bit. But I can’t see it lasting. They’re all fed up with the legwork involved, plus their wives are complaining. Todd doesn’t believe there’s any chance of making it big. We’re all in our late twenties and competing against teenage boy bands manufactured by Simon Cowell. The lads will do a sideways move…wedding gigs and functions…but who knows how long for? Meanwhile, I’ve been paid off.’ Jake suddenly looked bashful. ‘I bought you this.’ He fished in his back pocket and pulled out a small black box. ‘I know we have expenses coming up with Rose Cottage, and I
will
help you out as soon as I can. But I saw this.’ Jake smiled endearingly. ‘I just had to buy it for my darling.’

As soon as Janey saw the box, she knew it could contain only one thing. A ring. Her heart rate began to speed up. She looked from Jake to the box with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. Jake took a step towards her, and opened the box. Inside was an exquisite heart-shaped diamond engagement ring.

‘This is another piece of my heart.’ He took her left hand and slid the ring onto her wedding finger. ‘And I’m giving that piece of my heart to you.’ The ring fit her perfectly. ‘Janey, will you marry me?’

As soon as Janey went to speak, she realised how long she’d been holding her breath. Her answer whooshed out in one great chuggy gasp. ‘Yes!’ she screamed in delight.

And that was her fifth mistake.