Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Edith
“ D o you think this one will do it?” Teddy asks with glee in his eyes.
I’m sitting with him and Joel in the Craven, playing a game of Buckaroo, having stopped in here after work. We came in, intending to have a quick drink and look to see if there were any emails from the estate agency, only I’ve not managed to open my iPad because we’ve gained the company of a little human.
After much discussion with Joel, Daisy and Alice at the salon, I’ve decided to rent out the second property we viewed, Joels ideas about the extra space really exciting me.
“I think if you go carefully you might just do it,” Joel says, the smile permanent on his face since we started the game.
With his tongue poking out, Teddy slowly places the cowboy hat onto the ears of the Mule as the three of us wait in anticipation. When it doesn’t buck, he does an air punch before giving Joel a high five.
“I’m such a pro at this.”
“You sure are,” I say.
“I wonder who is going to make it buck?” Teddy asks. “Edith, it’s your turn. What are you going to go for?”
I look at the pieces left in the box and pick out the cowboy boot. “You know I used to have some boots like this,” I say.
“I’d love to have seen you in those,” Joel quips, squeezing my thigh under the table to avoid the attention of others in the bar. My skin heats with his touch, and I flash my eyes at him.
He knows my body better than I know it myself at times. He knows which buttons to push and those to press when I need to relax. He’s never been one to like seeing me stressed and these past few days, I’ve very much been on that pressure train looking at the options for the new salon.
It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve just been waiting for the right moment. Alice has been working hard developing her skills with new treatments and with me looking to sign up to some of Lucy Knighton’s classes, we will be a highly qualified duo in no time.
I place the boots on the hook of the saddle but it doesn’t buck. Teddy’s eyes are wide before his little face scrunches up in excitement.
“Okay, my turn,” Joel says. “What should I go for?”
“This one.” Teddy picks up the bucket but instead of giving it to Joel he reaches up and puts it on his head. “Now you’re a bucket head.”
“Who you calling a bucket head, you little scamp.” He tickles him and, the little belly laugh that comes from Teddy makes me smile. I adore him with all my heart, but what I love more than anything is the relationship he has with Joel. They are each other’s best friends, and I know without a doubt that Joel will make an amazing father one day.
Just as Joel places the bucket on the tail of the Mule, it bucks, causing Teddy to jump and the pieces to fly everywhere.
“Whoa!” he shrieks. “That scared the life out of me, Uncle Fitz,” he sighs taking a mouthful of lemonade.
“Would you like to play again?” I ask, collecting up all the pieces.
“I’m afraid he can’t,” Daniel says, coming over to the table. “It’s bedtime.”
“But dad I don’t wanna go.”
“And I don’t want to be dragging you out of bed tomorrow morning. Bed. Now.”
“Fine. But I’m staying up later tomorrow night,” Teddy protests.
“Hey, we can play next time, scamp. Maybe we can have a go at Pop-Up Pirates, too,” Joel says to him, but his little face makes my heart break.
We’d been having so much fun.
Wrapping my arm around Teddy, I speak quietly in his ear but loud enough for Joel and Daniel to hear me.
“Why don’t you ask Uncle Fitz to take you to bed and race him up the stairs.”
Playfully, Joel’s eyes widen and Teddy’s grin grows. “Will you, Uncle Fitz?”
“Of course. But just so you know. I’m going to win.”
“Wanna bet? ”
Teddy wraps his little arms around my neck with a goodnight and is out of the chair in a flash.
“I won’t be long. Can you keep an eye on my boy for me?” Joel asks, giving my leg another squeeze.
“Of course. Me and Milo will make a head start back to yours.”
He gives me a wink and is out of his seat, shouting up to Teddy that he’s going to get him, causing everyone in the bar to turn to look at him.
I chuckle at Joel and bend down to stroke Milo as he looks up at me with sad eyes. “Come on, boy. Let’s leave your daddy to do night-time duties.”
I head out of The Craven, holding the door open for Milo as he slowly follows me out, and I wonder how long it’s going to be before the walk to and from the pub becomes too much for him.
Just as I turn to head up the road, I accidentally bump into someone. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t—” I stop dead, anger rising from my toes as Leon stands with an amused grin on his face. “Well, if it isn’t the Cobra of the nest,” I sneer.
“Good evening, Edith.”
“It was. I don’t see anything good about it now. Why are you here?”
“I just came over to tie up a few lose ends. You’ve not been answering my texts. ”
Every text or voicemail that he’s sent me since the night of Dad’s party I’ve deleted. I don’t want anything from him, and I certainly don’t wish to speak with him either.
“Maybe there’s a reason for that. Come on, Milo.” I go to move, but he steps in front of me. Holding his gaze, I try to remember why I once fell for his beautiful green eyes.
But as he scans my body, I don’t feel anything but nauseous.
He looks over my shoulder before a smirk tugs his lips. “Have I got you on your own for once? Anyone would think you and Joel are joined at the hip.”
I roll my eyes and this time move past him. “Goodbye, Leon.”
“Edith, wait. I need to talk with you. Can’t we at least do that?”
“You lost all rights to do anything the day you slipped your dick into the wrong vagina.”
He chuckles. “I see your wit hasn’t changed. That was one thing I loved about you.”
My stomach churns and I spin on my heels. “You wouldn’t know what love was if it bit you on the arse. Now tell me what is so urgent because I want to go home.”
“To Joel?” He raises a brow, but I refuse to answer or play his childish games. “I thought we could catch up while I was back in town. Grab a coffee or something and talk.”
I’m sorry... What?
I don’t know if I feel shocked, repulsed, or sorry for the dickhead. Like I’m going to accept an invitation to have coffee. I’m likely to chuck it over the bastard while I stand and watch, hoping he chokes on his damn cake.
“I thought Lorna would be at the top of your list of ‘catch ups’ given the fact she’s helping drag you out of whatever shit you’ve got yourself into?”
He stares at me, his jaw tightening by the second.
“Oh yeah, I know. Dad told me. So what have you done this time? Slept your way to the top of the Monopoly board in the bank and got caught? Exceeded your credit limit on the American Express because you’ve bought too many diamonds for your latest flirt?”
“Fraud.” He cuts me off, annoyance in his tone. “I’ve been accused of fraud.”
I can’t help the grin that slowly forms. Oh, how glad I am that I’m no longer with this slimy worm. I’d known Leon wasn’t perfect when we first got together because there is no such thing as the perfect man. But it makes me wonder now just how corrupt he is and how stupid I was to not notice. “Wow. Congratulations. I’m pleased for you,” I say sarcastically.
“Don’t take the piss, Edith. It doesn’t suit you,” he snaps, taking a step towards me that doesn’t make me feel threatened at all. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“People like you never have.” I turn to walk away, wanting to head to Joel’s as I’m suddenly feeling cold and it has nothing to do with the evening air. But he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him.
Trepidation hits my stomach, but I stand my ground. “Let go of me,” I seethe.
“I didn’t do anything. I was set up.”
“What a coincidence. Next, you’ll be saying you’ve been cloned.”
“Edith, please. I need your help. I could go down for this.”
I’m enjoying the fact that he’s getting irritated with my lack of care and understanding, but the grip on my arm is starting to hurt. If he wants sympathy then he’s come to the wrong woman.
“Well, let me know when the court hearing is. I’ll come along for your final farewell. Now get your fucking hand off me before you have assault added to the list.”
“I need to speak with you.”
“And I said I’m not interested. Now… Let. Me. Go !” I grit.
“Edith—”
“She said to let her go.” The panic in me falls at the sound of Joel’s voice, but I keep my eyes on Leon. His jaw tightens, his hard eyes burning into mine before his grip loosens and I yank myself out of it.
“I wondered how long it would be until your shadow arrived,” he smirks. “This isn’t over.”
“It totally is,” I state, now aware that Joel is standing right behind me as he softly places his hand on my lower back.
“I was just telling your beloved Edie that she needs to stop ignoring my texts.”
Joel’s voice is a hard warning. “Lay your hands on her again and she will be the last thing you touch. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear, captain.” He salutes, smirking, clearly trying to goad Joel to react to his sarcasm.
When he walks into The Craven, I release a heavy breath, unsure what that was truly about but thankful Joel came out just in time. I’m wrapped into his arms the second Leon is out of sight, his thumb brushing over my cheek as concerning eyes hold mine.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“What did he want? ”
“That case I was telling you about is to do with fraud. He’s been accused of it. He wanted to talk about it, I guess, but I’m not interested.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he’s been texting you?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell. I delete them as soon as they come through.”
He runs his finger along my chin and I fall into the deep pools of his chocolate eyes. “You would tell me if he’s giving you grief, right?”
“Of course. But he’s not. Tonight is the first I’ve seen of him since Dad’s party, which I’d hoped had been the last, but clearly, it’s not going to be the case.”
“Well then hear me when I say if he so much as pisses either one of us off again, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
My back straightens. “You know I don’t condone violence, Joel.” More importantly, I can’t bear seeing him get into fights.
“And on this occasion, I don’t care. I should have smacked him a long time ago and the day I do will be a fucking pleasure.”
Although I don’t agree with any form of aggressive behaviour, his hostility makes him even sexier.
“Does this mean I have my very own knight in shining armour?” I smile.
“I don’t want to just be your knight, baby. I want to be your very own number one.”
My smile widens with his words. He already is.
People say that some things in life need closure—that you need to accept what’s happened and move on, forgive and forget. In my case, I can’t do either.
I may not have been what Leon was wanting as a girlfriend but there had been no need to go about ending it the way he had: breaking my heart with an ‘I don’t love you anymore’ would have been easier to comprehend.
All I got was secrets and lies.
What I hate more than anything is what he’s left me with: doubt.
I accept I wasn’t enough for him, I accept that I failed, but what hurts more than anything, like a blade through my heart, is the fact I grew up believing the words that Lorna had drummed into me ever since I was a child: that I couldn’t be loved—that I wouldn’t be loved…
That doubt that was sewn so long ago was cemented with the breakdown of my relationship with Leon, proving Lorna right.
And because of that, I’m terrified in case what Sophia said on the phone that day was a lie, but also terrified in case Joel can’t bring himself to say the words without feeling like he’s betrayed her.