Chapter Twenty-Five
That afternoon, Anna lost herself in her work. She was always happiest with a camera in her hands and Chester offered a wealth of interesting photo opportunities. As she had last time, she investigated some of the lesser-known architecture. Daniel had told her about Albion Street, a row of Victorian terraced houses, which was used as a location in the World War Two drama Foyle’s War . She was fascinated by how it fitted into life today while still retaining its original charm. It made her wonder how many other hidden gems were around, what opportunities there were for her camera lens, if only she looked for them.
She returned to Daniel’s house tired but full of inspiration. And after Ben had gone to bed they sat happily entwined on the sofa together, chatting about their ideas.
This was something she loved about being with Daniel — that they could talk to each other about their ambitions. Daniel was a willing sounding board for her ideas, as she was for his, and she liked that they pushed each other to be the best that they could be.
After much research Daniel had found a venue on the outskirts of Manchester where he was going to launch his photography school. He was going to stay here while she got the train back to London on Monday morning.
When the time came for her to go, Daniel gave her a long final hug goodbye. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Me too,’ she said quietly, wishing that they didn’t have to be apart. She pondered their situation as she sat on the train. She could see how much Daniel enjoyed his time in Cheshire and how he was beginning to think of it as home more than he did London. Whereas her roots were firmly embedded in London. She liked going to Cheshire, but it wasn’t where she needed to be, either for work or for her family. So, for the moment, she hoped that she and Daniel would cope with this hybrid living, although she feared that in the long term one of them would have to compromise on where they wanted to live. With Ben being a big part of the equation, she was all too aware that she would be the one making the sacrifice.
* * *
As Anna got off the train at Canada Water, she spotted Daisy, whom she hadn’t seen since her exhibition. Immediately she called out, ‘Daisy, hi!’
Daisy turned and Anna was shocked at how drawn she was looking. What on earth had happened to her happy-go-lucky friend?
‘Oh,’ she couldn’t stop herself from saying, ‘you don’t look great, are you okay?’
‘Thanks a lot.’ Daisy managed a smile. ‘But to answer your question, no, I’m not feeling particularly good.’
‘Are you ill?’
‘Not ill, no.’
Anna suddenly felt guilty that she’d been so wrapped up in her own life recently. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got time for a drink and a chat, have you?’
Daisy sighed as though letting go of pent-up stress. ‘Actually, I’d love to. If you’ve got time, that is?’
‘Of course I have.’
* * *
Finally they were seated at a table in the Angel, a bottle of wine and two glasses in front of them.
‘I’m really sorry, Daisy,’ Anna said. ‘I know I haven’t been a very good friend. I’ve been so busy, but I’m here for you if you want to talk to me.’
Daisy poured the wine and took a large gulp. ‘Thanks, Anna, I do appreciate it. A lot has happened and I haven’t wanted to be a burden, not when everything is going so well for you.’
‘Daise, that’s madness. I know what it might look like, but I’m always at the end of the phone. Don’t ever feel you can’t talk to me.’
Daisy smiled. ‘Thanks. Truth is, Tom and I are over.’
‘What!’ Anna gawped at her. She knew it wasn’t a good look, but she couldn’t help herself. ‘I thought you two were solid.’
‘So did I.’
‘What happened?’
Daisy laughed bitterly. ‘Same old story. He went out with his mates, got drunk and ended up in bed with some girl.’
‘And how did you find out? Did he tell you himself?’
‘Nope. Tried to pretend nothing had happened, until someone tagged me on my socials with a picture of them together.’
‘Ouch.’
‘Exactly. So, I confronted him and he admitted everything. Said it was a drunken mistake that would never happen again, that he was really sorry. It was me he loved, yada, yada, yada.’
‘And you don’t believe him?’
Daisy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘The thing is, Anna, he only confessed when he had to. If someone hadn’t tagged me, I’d have been completely oblivious.’
‘Maybe he’s telling the truth and it was a mistake — but once the trust is gone . . .’
‘Exactly. You’d never have trusted Mark again, would you?’
‘Never. But Mark wasn’t even sorry in the first place. And then he tried to do the same thing to Jemima. Probably even used the same lines. He’s completely untrustworthy.’
‘I have thought about forgiving Tom. I really wanted this to work, and I thought he was the one, but I just can’t. I’d constantly be on tenterhooks, wondering what he was up to whenever we weren’t together.’
‘Yes, I can see why you’d think that.’ She knew how that felt, even though Daniel had repeatedly assured her she had nothing to worry about. She pushed the thought aside. Today wasn’t about her. ‘And I know it’s little consolation, but maybe it was better to have happened now, rather than when you’d moved in with each other.’
‘True. But now I’m right back to square one. Still living with my mother.’ Daisy shook her head. ‘Oh, listen to me, I’m so fed up with thinking about it. I’m even boring myself. Changing the subject, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why did you have your exhibition at The Whigmore? Was it to stick one up at Mark?’
‘Not really, no,’ Anna said. ‘I didn’t want it there. I didn’t even find out until just before the event. Charlotte who does my PR organised it all.’
‘Fancy that! You have come up in the world.’
‘Hmm, yes. Don’t get me wrong, she’s really good at what she does, and she’s getting me loads of exposure, which I need, and which I certainly wouldn’t get without her contacts, but . . .’
‘But?’
‘But everything feels out of my control. It’s my work and I’ve still got free rein on what I decide to photograph, but sometimes I feel a bit like a puppet on a string. It’s really not how I expected it to be.’ Anna sighed. ‘Oh for goodness’ sake! I’ve got what I’ve always dreamed of and yet still I’m complaining. How self-centred is that?’
Daisy laughed and gave her a hug. ‘We’re a right pair, aren’t we?’
‘We are. But we’ve been friends for a long time and I hope that won’t change.’ She reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. ‘I know it looks like my life has changed, but I’ll always be here for you.’
‘Thanks,’ Daisy said, but she looked away.
‘Daise? Is something wrong?’
Daisy sighed. ‘I suppose it’s confession time. When Tom and I broke up, I didn’t contact you because I was jealous.’
‘Jealous?’
‘Yes. You seemed to be living the perfect life, with your new boyfriend and job and living a life of luxury.’
‘It’s not that luxurious,’ Anna muttered, although she couldn’t deny that living most of the time with Daniel was more luxurious than what she was used to. ‘And I do have to work hard. But, yes, I’m finally doing the thing I’ve always wanted to do.’
‘And you have the perfect boyfriend.’
‘I wouldn’t say that. He is special, yes, but our relationship isn’t without its complications.’
‘Which are?’
‘I’ll tell you about them another time. I want to talk about you.’
‘Okay, well, there I was in a crappy job, still living at home, and there was no comparison. But I had Tom and I was in love and we were talking about finding somewhere we could rent so that we could live together. As much as I love Mum, I’m thirty and want my own place, my own life and most of all I want to start a family.’
‘I know, that’s what you’ve always wanted.’
Daisy shook her head sadly. ‘No chance of that happening any time soon now, though.’
‘No, I suppose not. But maybe Tom wasn’t the right man for you. Maybe you needed to split up so that you can find the right one, the one who does want to commit and have babies. You never know what’s around the corner.’
‘Yes, that’s very true. But for the moment I’m stuck with the single life, a crappy job and living with Mum. Oh, there I go again! Tell me about these complications. Cheer me up by telling me you don’t have the perfect life after all.’
Anna laughed. If anyone else had said that, she would’ve thought they were being nasty, but not Daisy.
‘Remember when I told you that Daniel was thinking of setting up a photography school in Manchester?’
‘And I said it would be difficult having a long-distance relationship.’
‘And I pooh-poohed that.’
Daisy laughed. ‘Yes, I do remember your optimism.’
‘Well, as ever, my dear and trusted friend, you were right. Oh, I do get to go up there to work on my exhibition, but we’re apart much more than we’re together, especially at the moment. And Ben’s only nine, so it’s going to be a long-term thing and I’m really not sure how we can make it work.’
‘Can you trust him?’
‘I think so.’
‘You don’t sound so sure.’
‘He’s nothing like Mark, but his ex-wife lives up there and she’s already made a play for him. He turned her down flat, but he didn’t tell me until I told him I knew. He says he doesn’t want to be with her, that it would never work and it’s me he loves, but I don’t trust her. I don’t think she’ll stop until she gets what she wants. Besides, there’s Ben and the thought of being a full-time father. That might be too much for him. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how it all works out.’
‘Like you said,’ Daisy added. ‘ You never know what’s around the corner .’