2 #2
“I’m sorry, Dani. I was going all lawyer on you.
You can decide what you want to do when you’re ready.
” He took a sip from his drink and mentally kicked himself.
He’d never liked Jez from the moment he’d met him.
He was everything Adam despised in a man.
Jez was driven by what people thought of him, selfish, pretentious and self-absorbed.
He used people to get whatever he needed and it was obvious he’d never had Dani’s best interests at heart.
He’d stopped her continuing her studies and totally controlled her life.
In the five years they’d been together, Dani had become consumed with everything to do with Jez and she’d lost sight of who she was.
Adam looked at her drawn, sad face and knew that if Jez had been anywhere near, he’d have beaten the living shit out of him. Lucky for Jez, he was down in London.
Dani looked up at Adam’s kind face and forced a smile. “It’s okay, you’re right I need to get on with it. I’d appreciate you handling it; I really haven’t got the strength to deal with that. I need to get myself a job. That’s my priority. I need to be busy.”
“Any ideas?”
“I really don’t know; a bar or restaurant, something with a lot of hours. And then I need my own place. I can’t stay here indefinitely.” Dani rubbed her tired face and took another drink.
“You can stay as long as you like. We love having you here. All of us. The kids are so excited you’re here and Chloe, she misses you a lot. Me too.”
Dani screwed up her nose and smiled, “I love being here too. I’ve missed you all so much.”
“Good. About the job, I can ask around. There are loads of places, I’m sure a few are looking for staff, especially with Christmas around the corner. I’ll get the paper tomorrow and you can have a look. Are you okay for money?”
Dani’s eyes shot up to Adam and she grinned at him. He really was the best, “I’m fine, Adam, thanks for asking.”
“You need anything, anything at all, and it’s done.”
Dani scraped back her chair and flung her arms around him, catching him off guard. “You’re the best, Adam.”
Adam awkwardly put his arms around her, feeling embarrassed by her sudden outburst as she squeezed him. She pulled back and his rugged face flushed. “Well… er… thanks.”
Dani sat down and smirked at him. For all his confidence and strength, he still wasn’t comfortable with displays of affection. Dani found it amusing to see a six foot four, burly man recoil when affection was openly bestowed upon on him.
DANI PLACED THE DIRTY dishes into the dishwasher and began wiping down the kitchen counter, when she heard the familiar sound of Chloe’s car pull up.
She opened up the kitchen door that led into the garage.
Chloe was juggling her bag and a fast-asleep Rosie.
Dani quickly took her bag and mouthed that she’d get Sophie and Ollie.
“Hey guys, how was the party?” That was all Dani needed to say, and Ollie and Sophie immediately gave her a blow-by-blow account of every detail, as Dani helped them into the house, both of them carrying bulging bags of sweets and a balloon each.
Within an hour, all three children were tucked up in bed and Dani sat with Chloe in the kitchen. Adam worked in the office, tactfully leaving the sisters alone.
Dani twiddled her hair nervously; her nicotine craving had kicked in hard.
She looked at the clock. It was nine fifteen and normally she’d have been at the bar and would be on her fourth cigarette.
Chloe was rambling away about Adam’s company Christmas charity dinner, as she looked through her kitchen cupboards, jotting down what she needed to get from the supermarket.
“So it’ll be the first time since Rosie was born that I’ll get to go out to the swanky do.
Last year she was just too small. And I know Adam’s dad could’ve babysat, but I would have been worried all night and…
” Chloe opened the fridge and peered in, then looked over to Dani who was staring at the clock, oblivious.
She closed the fridge and sat down at the table. “Hey, stop that.”
Dani looked up and sighed.
“Has he called you?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I didn’t pick up. I’m not ready to talk yet. I could kill for a cigarette.”
Chloe pursed her lips together. “I’ve some sugar free pastels if you want, or a lollipop.”
Dani shook her head. “I quit one nasty habit, I don’t want to substitute.”
“Which nasty habit is that, the cigarettes or Jez?” smirked Chloe.
“Both.”
Chloe laughed. “What do you want to do tomorrow? We could go to Betty’s in Harrogate, if you like. You’ll love the cakes there.”
“Sounds good, but I need to search for a job and I really need to get my hair done too.”
“I’ll book you an appointment at where I have mine done. I doubt you’ll get in until Monday, though.”
Dani shrugged, indicating that was okay, “I think I should sell my car too. It’s not economical and to be honest, it’s really not me.”
Chloe sat next to her and hugged her shoulders. “If that’s what you want to do. We can put it in the paper.”
“I just want everything that reminds me of him out of my life. I feel… I feel… argh! I don’t know. Angry? Foolish? Pathetic. Probably all three. I’m so pissed off at him and at myself for being so blind. Adam told me you both didn’t like him.” Dani looked up at Chloe, whose face dropped.