Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘L eo!’ Anna ran up the stairs, dying to tell him about her day.
He had his back to her and his mobile to his ear when she went rushing into the kitchen. He waved and carried on talking, an unfamiliar grave expression on his face.
She studied him. He’d seemed a little preoccupied his week – or at least preoccupied by Leo standards. Occasionally his face suggested he was thinking deeply about something.
‘Thanks, Raph. Appreciate it. Speak later.’
He ended the call. ‘Hey Anna, love.’ He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the mouth, just like he did every time she arrived home from work.
‘Hey, Leo Knight. Everything okay with the family?’ Leo had spoken with his brother nearly every day in the last week, with Raph ringing him several times. Did they know about Anna and Leo getting back together? Leo hadn’t said anything. Maybe they didn’t approve.
‘All fine,’ said Leo. ‘How did it go? No one killed each other?’
‘It was amazing! Honestly, Jakub was like a dog with two tails and Karel lapped it up.’ Today, Karel had come to the ?ilhov brewery to spend the day with Jakub. As the day had progressed, Anna had repeatedly noticed the family resemblance between them, especially when they took a sip of beer and savoured the flavour, their identically shaped eyes half closed in reflection and contemplation.
‘That’s great. A good way to round off the week.’
‘Yes. They left the brewery together and were going to dinner with Karel and his sister. I’m so pleased for Jakub, it would be wonderful if they could be a family again.’ For a moment her smile slipped. Her family had been very quiet. Since she’d made it clear she and Steve were done, there’d been very little communication. In fact she couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard from her aunt or Rebecca. The former didn’t matter but she and Becs had always supported each other, especially when they were younger when things had been tense at home.
‘Talking of which, our adopted family, Jan and Michaela, said to knock for them at seven.’
‘Great. Are we going to tell them about us?’ Anna smiled at the thought, remembering Michaela’s avid curiosity. She’d dropped by twice this week on made-up pretexts.
‘Not straight away. Let’s tease Michaela a bit longer.’
‘I think she might have guessed on Saturday night.’
‘Yeah, the “can I borrow some milk?” ploy was rather obvious on Monday evening. Shall we play it cool and then I’ll kiss you when the beer arrives. That’ll surprise Little Miss Matchmaker.’
‘I think I’ll go have a shower.’
‘Okay. I’ve got a couple of calls to make.’
Anna went downstairs wondering about the many calls he’d been making all week.
‘Hey, Zdeňka,’ she heard him say. ‘Yeah, what time? I can make it a bit later. I need to make sure Anna is…’
She’d moved out of range and couldn’t hear the rest. She gritted her teeth, dying to know what was going on, but she refused to ask. It would look as if she didn’t trust him. And that’s where everything had gone wrong last time.
A quick shower revived her and she decided that, so long as she wore plenty of layers, she was all set for a Friday night out with Jan and Michaela. They had booked a table at a rooftop bar in the Old Town Square, promising that they wouldn’t be cold.
Leo was equally bundled up, his blonde curls peeping from beneath his black beanie. He kissed her thoroughly at the front door before they set off. Anna clutched the lapels of his coat to steady herself. ‘Maybe we should stay home,’ she said, with a breathless laugh. Kissing Leo would never get old.
‘That was to tide us over until the big reveal.’ He gave her one last kiss and then they closed the front door and took the stairs down to Michaela and Jan’s apartment.
* * *
Although the air was crisp, the location was spectacular and well worth the expensive menu. Anna had been amused by the laborious journey to the rooftop floor, which had involved several staircases and a lift. Despite the chilly weather, which had everyone huddling under blankets with heaters blasting out above them, the terrace was busy. It was definitely a tourist hot-spot and Anna appreciated Jan and Michaela bringing them there. The panoramic view took in the nearby square tower of the astronomical clock and, beyond, the twin Gothic towers of the church of Our Lady before Tyn – as well as a bird’s eye view of the terracotta-tiled roofs stretching away on all four sides.
‘This is fab,’ said Leo, his head turning this way and that like a curious owl. ‘You can see everything.’
‘Not quite everything,’ said Jan, with an amused smile. ‘But it is good to come once. It is very touristy.’
‘Are we still tourists?’ asked Anna.
‘No,’ said Michaela. ‘You’re family. Our family.’
‘That’s a lovely thing to say,’ said Anna, exchanging a quick glance with Leo, who grinned back at her.
A waitress appeared, ready to take their orders.
‘I’m going to play tourist and have an Aperol Spritz,’ said Leo. ‘Pretend it’s a gorgeous sunny day.’
‘I’m sticking with beer,’ said Jan with a shudder, giving Leo a reproving shake of his head.
Leo simply shrugged. ‘I like an Aperol now and then. It’s my Italian blood.’
Anna who had planned to go for wine, decided that actually it would be fun to try a cocktail and opted for a Kir Royale. Michaela, to Jan’s disgust, followed suit.
When the drinks arrived, they lifted their glasses. ‘ Na zdraví ,’ said Jan.
‘To us,’ said Leo and leaned over to give Anna a kiss full on the mouth.
Michaela clapped her hands together. ‘I knew it,’ she crowed and lifted her glass. ‘I told you, Jan. You owe me three-hundred koruna .’
‘You said it would happen at the chata .’
‘No, I only said it might, but I knew it would definitely happen some time.’
He shook his head.
Anna and Leo linked hands and laughed at the pair of them.
‘Sorry, mate,’ said Leo. ‘You have to accept it, she’s right. Women are always right.’
‘You know she gave you an air bed with a hole in it,’ said Jan, smirking at Michaela, who straightened and waved her hand as if to brush her misdemeanour aside.
‘I … I…’ She blushed bright red. ‘I said it might.’
‘It did,’ said Anna dryly. ‘I mended it the second night with a few plasters and some duct tape.’
Michaela tried to keep her mouth still but it crumpled in amusement. ‘But you are together now?’
‘Yes,’ said Leo, putting his arm across, Anna’s shoulder. ‘We are.’
A happy glow, as bright as the patio heater above them, lit up in her heart.
* * *
The next morning, Anna lay next to Leo, propped up on her side, watching him with a gentle smile on her face. A week in, and she still loved watching him. In sleep he was the essence of himself, lying on his back, one arm thrown above his head, his blond curls spread like a halo on the white pillow, totally at ease and comfortable in his skin. Anna had always envied him his happy-go-lucky confidence and that blithe assurance of knowing where he fitted in the world, but now she felt she knew herself. Oval-shaped Anna had emerged since she’d come to Prague, and boy, did it feel good.
Leo’s eyelids flickered, the sandy lashes fluttering, centipedes against his skin. A deep breath, a snuffle and then his eyes opened. He woke, she thought, with a soft sleepy glow that ignited … and then he was dancing, limbs twitching, and straight into action, sweeping her into his arms the minute he spotted her. Immediate delight spread across his face, as if she was the best sight in the world. So very Leo.
‘Morning, gorgeous!’ He beamed at her and gave her a kiss on the mouth, pulling her on top of him.
‘Morning,’ she said with the self-same involuntary smile she found herself giving whenever he was around.
‘Shower?’
‘Mmm,’ she groaned. Mr Sunshine to her Miss Slow-To-Get-Started in the mornings. He threw back the covers and bounced out of bed like Tigger’s soulmate. ‘I need coffee.’
She couldn’t help giggle at his unabashed stretch, everything on display, his arms reaching upwards and his chest expanding as he stood in the cold light of the Velux window. Rain spattered in windy gusts on the glass, reminding her that winter seemed to have slid its way in without either of them really noticing.
‘God, it’s hideous out there.’ He glanced up at the skylight. ‘A day for staying in bed, except…’ He paused and took her hand. ‘There’s something I want to show you. This afternoon.’
Anna raised an eyebrow. ‘Haven’t I seen everything already?’ she teased.
‘I need to be somewhere at two. I want you to come with me.’
‘Okay. Are you going to give me any clues?’ It was unlike Leo to be this serious.
‘No,’ he said and then light danced in his eyes and she felt a little easier. ‘It’s a surprise.’
‘Because I love surprises,’ she said dryly.
‘I’m really hoping you’ll like this one.’ His eyes held hers, and for a moment she wondered if he was planning something crazy, like getting married again. Fireworks raced through her veins. Or proposing? Although two o’clock sounded very specific. Was she getting ahead of herself? Excitement filled her, like a rush of butterflies swarming in her stomach, their wings beating furiously. She would happily marry Leo a thousand times over.
‘I’m sure I will,’ she said, laying a gentle kiss on his cheek. This time she knew she could trust him. While he was the same sunshine personality that had brought love and light into her life, he’d also changed. There was more depth to him. He was more thoughtful, more measured, not quite so impulsive. ‘In the meantime, I need coffee.’
‘Are you sure?’ he asked, sliding back into bed and pulling her towards him. All thoughts of a shower were quickly dispelled.
When she finally managed to extricate herself, albeit reluctantly, a good half-hour later, she snagged one of his shirts from the end of the bed and left him propped up on the pillows looking very pleased with himself, while she headed upstairs to make a fresh pot of coffee.
With two mugs of coffee in her hands and heading back to the bedroom, she was passing the front door when there was a soft knock. Putting the cups down and buttoning up Leo’s shirt, she opened the door and peered round the frame, expecting to see Jan coming to collect the chairs.
‘Hello, Anna.’
Anna’s eyes almost burst out of their sockets with exaggerated cartoon-character shock, and despite the very obvious response, it took a good ten seconds for her brain to locate the words. ‘Becs! What are you doing here?’
‘Surprise,’ said Rebecca, with an ironic half-smile. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’
Anna stared at her cousin for a moment, taking in the long legs and sheepskin pilot’s jacket. ‘Er, yeah.’
‘It’s flipping freezing out there.’ Becs blew on her hands and stepped over the threshold … and of course, by the law that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, Leo, asking, ‘What’s happened to my coffee, Anna, love?’, came strolling out of the bedroom … naked.
There was a ridiculous frozen-comedy moment when Leo looked at Becs, Becs looked at him and then they both looked at Anna.
With considerable aplomb, Leo waved at Becs. ‘Hi, there. Long time no see. Just popping to the bathroom.’
With that he sauntered off, quite unperturbed that he was naked, although Anna couldn’t help thinking that with that bottom, he carried it off extremely well.
‘Well,’ said Becs, looking down at Anna’s bare legs.
Anna sighed. ‘Why don’t you take this?’ She handed her cousin her coffee. ‘Go upstairs. I’ll get dressed and see you in a minute.’
Becs raised an eyebrow. ‘Looks like you’ve got some ’splaining to do.’ Anna wasn’t sure if Becs using their childhood term for explaining was a good thing or a bad thing.
She hurried into the bathroom to find Leo stepping into the shower.
‘Coming to join me?’
‘Maybe not politic right now.’
‘What, now the cavalry has arrived?’ Despite the lopsided smile accompanying his words, Anna heard the slight disquiet in his voice.
‘It doesn’t change anything,’ she said, going up to him and pressing a gentle reassuring kiss on his mouth.
He didn’t respond and she wrapped her arms around him, heedless of the water spraying over her. In response he gave her a quick squeeze.
‘Best get this shirt off,’ he muttered. ‘Before it gets soaked.’
She stripped off and stepped in with him. Under the stream of water, she kissed his mouth, holding him tight. They stood together in silence and Anna could feel the stiffness and tension where his muscles bunched.
‘What are you worried about?’ she asked softly, running her hands over his shoulders.
‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘Nothing at all.’ And he kissed her on the mouth, his hands sliding down to her bottom giving it a quick squeeze. ‘You’d better get a wiggle on. Your cousin’s come a long way to have her say.’
‘Well, she can say what she likes. It’s not going to change anything.’
* * *
Her cousin stood beside the French doors looking out at the view, sipping at her coffee.
Anna detoured to the kitchen to pour herself a fresh coffee and came to stand next to her.
Becs handed Anna her mug and wriggled out of her coat. ‘I didn’t realise it would be so cold here.’
‘It’s winter in Central Europe, what did you expect?’
‘Go you on being a welcoming host.’ Becs draped her coat over one of the dining chairs. ‘Nice place.’ She took in Anna’s little improvements. ‘Very nice. I detect the Anna touch.’ She felt the tablecloth Anna had bought in Mikulov. ‘This is pretty and the furniture is all very stylish.’
‘Amazing what you can find in a skip.’
‘No! Really?’
‘Yes, we renovated it all.’
Becs raised her eyebrows. ‘How did you get such a flair for decorating, given we grew up in the House of Magnolia?’
Anna laughed at that, relaxing a little. ‘Thank you. So come on then, spit it out, what are you doing here?’ Like Anna needed to ask.
‘Don’t suppose I can convince you I fancied a weekend away?’ she asked with a wry smile.
Her honesty made Anna smile, too. ‘No, cuz, you couldn’t. Deliver your lecture, get it over with, and then you can enjoy a weekend away.’
‘Look at you being all assertive.’ Becs gave her an approving nod and a wider smile this time. ‘It’s good to see you,’ she said, taking a seat at the table. ‘You look well.’ There was a pause before she said more emphatically, ‘Really well. You look different. I like the hair.’ She kept studying Anna’s face as if trying to identify the changes.
‘Thank you.’ Anna came to sit down with her, deciding that it would be easier to rip the plaster off and get on with the inevitable. ‘You didn’t think to let me know you were coming. What if I hadn’t been here?’
Becs’s expression suggested that the possibility was highly unlikely, which was kind of insulting but also accurate about the old Anna. Old Anna. The thought flashed in her head as bright and bold as a lighthouse beam. Old Anna didn’t go for weekends at chatas with new friends. Old Anna didn’t make new friends, certainly not easily. Old Anna didn’t have longer hair, wear dresses or remodel furniture. Old Anna kept herself to herself and behaved the way the family expected her to.
‘The other weekend I was out all Saturday, mushroom picking.’
‘Rather you than me.’
‘I promise you it was really fun. But we’re getting away from the elephant on the table right in front of us.’
Becs’s mouth twisted. ‘If you’d known I was coming, you’d have made an excuse. Been unavailable. You’ve not exactly been responding to any communication of late. The family felt drastic action was required.’
‘And you drew the short straw?’ Anna’s mirthless laugh brought a blush to Becs’s cheeks.
‘Everyone thought I would––’
‘You were bullied into it,’ said Anna, with sudden insight. She could picture exactly what would have happened.
‘I wasn’t bullied into it. They knew I was worried about you.’ Rebecca’s annoyed glare told Anna all she needed to know. Becs was no pushover, so they must have really been relentless.
‘Well, you can stop worrying.’
‘Can I?’ Her face softened. ‘What’s going on, Anna? This isn’t like you.’
Leo, his hair still damp, walked into the room.
‘Anyone want a late breakfast? Brunch really?’ he asked. ‘Toast? Eggs?’
Becs looked… Anna reevaluated. No, it wasn’t annoyance on her face, it was more a touch of peevishness, as if she was a little put out. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to my cousin in private.’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t mind at all and I’m happy to go, but it’s not up to you. Do you want me to leave, Anna, love?’
Anna looked at him, surprised by the uncertainty that tightened the fine lines around his eyes. Although his face remained impassive, that tiny clue made her heart clench.
‘No,’ she said, lifting her chin, her eyes softening, trying to tell him there was nothing to worry about. ‘I’d like you to stay.’
Only the tiniest change in the shape of his mouth indicated his relief. If she’d not been watching him closely, she would have missed it.
‘Seriously, Anna?’ Becs sounded as if what she had to say was completely acceptable and sensible and only an idiot wouldn’t want to hear it.
‘Seriously, Becs,’ snapped Anna, already having decided she was not playing this game. She was a lot older this time round, and distance from the family had provided her with new insight. Leo was right: she’d spent a large part of her life fitting in rather than expanding and finding her own-shaped world. She was done with Old Anna. She was Czech Anna now and she much preferred this version of herself.
‘Everyone’s worried about you. And Steve is devastated. He realised he was too hasty and should have trusted you. Although –’ she nodded towards Leo ‘– this complicates things.’
Anna raised an eyebrow.
‘He wants you to come home.’
Anna sighed. ‘It’s over, Becs. He might have pulled the plug and stormed off but I planned to finish things with him that weekend. It hasn’t been right for a long time, but neither of us wanted to admit it.’
‘That’s not what Steve says. He loves you. He wants you back, if you … give him some sort of sign.’
Anna laughed. ‘He doesn’t know you’re here, does he? What was the plan? I’m supposed to go back with my tail between my legs and apologise to him and he’ll take me back?’
Becs had the grace to look a little ashamed.
‘No, he doesn’t.’ She paused and then launched in. ‘But Anna, he’s one of the good guys.’ Her tone gentled. ‘He’s the faithful sort.’ Completely ignoring Leo’s presence, Rebecca gave her a look of entreaty They had both been scarred by her father’s wandering eye and roving hands. ‘You know that he’d never look at another woman. It’s not too late. If you come home, I know the two of you can sort everything out.’
She continued, carefully, patiently. ‘Steve cares. He wants you back. I think you’re being very hard on him. Life isn’t all sunshine and roses. Or high drama. With Steve you’d always know where you are.’ She shot Leo a look. ‘Although I’m not sure if he knew about this he’d be so forgiving. Sorry, but not sorry, Leo. You wanted to stay.’
Anna lifted her chin. ‘I don’t need forgiving.’ She held up her hand before Becs could say anything. ‘Steve and I had run out of steam, we were going through the motions and I think both of us were hanging on because it was safe.’
‘Are you sure, Anna?’ Rebecca flicked a glance towards Leo. ‘No disrespect, but have you considered this might be … well, I mean, Steve might not be as glamorous and exciting – we all know Leo is very pretty – but Steve’s solid, you know where you are with him. There’s a lot to be said for that.’
‘Rebecca!’ Anna was indignant on behalf of Leo. ‘That was rude.’
Leo shrugged. ‘She’s just saying what she thinks.’ His tone was impassive. Anna wondered what he was really thinking.
‘I’m talking about living with the reality of things,’ snapped Becs.
Anna smiled sadly at her cousin. They both knew she was talking about her father.
‘Look, Anna. I’m thinking about you. The best thing for you,’ she said, so gently that Anna almost felt sorry for her. ‘As we’re talking frankly.’ She directed an insincere smile at Leo. ‘Steve won’t hurt you. He’ll never be unfaithful.’ Leo folded his arms and glared at Becs, who paused only momentarily before sliding the knife in, right on target. ‘You’ll never have to wonder whenever he befriends another pretty girl.’
Anna held her gaze but the blow reopened old wounds. What Becs meant was: never have to wonder like their aunt did constantly with Uncle Henry. Like she had done with Leo even after they were married. He would always be a magnet for gorgeous women.
Leo’s face was expressionless and, more worrying, he wasn’t saying anything to defend himself.
Then he stood up. ‘I think I’ll leave you two to it.’ He looked at his watch. ‘I need to be somewhere at two.’
Anna suddenly remembered. ‘Oh, do you want me to come with you?’
He shook his head. ‘No, it doesn’t matter. It can wait,’ he said with airy nonchalance, although she wasn’t convinced by his quick, almost glib response.
‘Are you sure?’ she pressed.
‘No. It’s fine. I’m sure Rebecca didn’t come all this way to see the inside of our little place in Prague. Why don’t you take her to the bridge and the castle?’
‘Okay,’ said Anna, but lifted her hand to his face and placed it against his cheek, wanting him to know that her cousin’s arrival changed nothing. ‘If you’re sure.’
He turned his head and placed a kiss in her palm. ‘I’m sure. Now wrap up warm. It’s cold out there. And if you stay until it’s dark, Rebecca can see how beautiful the city is at nightfall.’
He turned to Becs. ‘Enjoy Prague, it’s a gorgeous city.’
‘Thank you.’
‘See you later.’
Anna watched him leave the room and heard his steps, his tread a little heavier than usual on the stairs. A tiny shiver of misgiving whispered through her.