Chapter 12
TWELVE
I’d had no intention of digging a new pond this afternoon, but with each back-breaking shovelful of heavy clay soil, I felt the tension dissipating.
The sun was hot on my back, the string straps of the vest top I wore providing no protection from its rays, but I didn’t care.
I needed to be busy. I needed to feel the burn in my muscles, the sweat trickling between my breasts.
I reached for the water bottle I’d left in the shade of the cherry tree I’d planted with my father when I was just five, spinning off the top and gulping back the tepid contents, wiping my mouth on the back of my hand and tilting my face up to take advantage of the light, barely there breeze.
What had Jade meant when she said she and her cousin were close?
Had she known what she was doing? How those words would make me react?
Had that been her goal, to see me squirm, knowing she could so easily backtrack and deny the suspicions swirling through my mind?
The idea of Ryan’s cousin here, under my roof, the two of them laughing together at how after all these years I was still na?ve enough to fall for a sob story, made me sick with fear.
And more than that – it made me angry. Made me want to defend myself, my home, the life I’d fought too hard to lose now.
It was bad enough when I’d thought she might be his wife, doing as he instructed out of fear, her desperate need to protect her child.
But Kenna would do it just to hear him laugh. She’d do it for the fun of it…
I closed my eyes against the injustice, the cruelty.
The truth was, I couldn’t reconcile the image of Jade’s wide, terrified eyes, the way her hands had trembled that first day here, with the brash confidence of a woman who meant to hurt me just for the hell of it.
I couldn’t make it make sense in my head.
And even if it were at all possible, there was still that photograph of her in a wedding gown.
I knew it was her in the picture. I would stake my life on it.
I dropped the drained water bottle back on the grass, pressing my hands to the base of my spine with a groan.
As if he’d been waiting for me to straighten up and take a break, the front door to Aaron’s house opened, its distinctive creak giving him away, and I tensed, not turning to look in his direction, hoping he wasn’t going to cause a scene.
My front gate opened, and I leaned heavily against the handle of the shovel as I watched him approach.
‘You look like you’re in your element.’
I smiled, knowing it was true. ‘Thanks.’
‘Not everyone can make shovelling look so…’ He wrinkled his nose and laughed. ‘Even covered in mud and sweating buckets, you still manage to look gorgeous. It’s a talent.’
I shook my head, blushing. This was our normal.
We’d always been friendly, but over the past year it had become more flirtatious between us.
I was sure that if I wanted it to, our relationship could easily become something more than just friendship.
But Aaron understood me. He knew I had walls he would never be able to break through.
Even so, I enjoyed the easy banter we shared.
I just hadn’t expected it from him now – not after the accusations he’d thrown my way on the doorstep this morning.
I braced myself, waiting for the real reason he had come over so soon.
He was checking up on me… on them , and I didn’t like it.
‘Annie!’
I turned, seeing Jade emerging from my front door. ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said, stopping short as she clocked Aaron. ‘I didn’t realise you were talking to someone.’
I glanced between the two of them, hyper aware of the lie I’d told Aaron to keep him from delving too deep.
I didn’t want them having a conversation, revealing my deception.
It would only make things worse. Jade was looking at Aaron with unveiled suspicion, dislike even, and I frowned as she walked up the path towards us.
‘It’s fine,’ I said, hoping to find out what she wanted and get her to go back inside as quickly as possible.
‘I just wondered where the towels are kept? I used the ones you gave me, and Amala needs a bath. She’s exploded through her nappy again.’
‘Oh, right. They’re in the airing cupboard on the landing – it’s the door beside my room.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ She nodded, taking a step back. I held my breath, hoping that was the end of the awkward encounter, but Aaron moved in, extending a hand.
‘I think we got off on the wrong foot,’ he said. ‘Jade, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right,’ she replied, looking at his hand without taking it.
Aaron shrugged. ‘Annie’s friend, right? How long are you staying?’
Jade glanced at me enquiringly, and I met her eyes briefly, then looked at the hole I’d been digging, wishing I could climb into it and cover myself in dirt, hide from this awful situation.
She broke into a smile that was too stiff for her pretty face. ‘That’s right. I’m not sure how long I’m staying.’ She looked at me again. ‘Sorry, I better get back to Amala. I’ve left her on the changing mat. ’
I nodded, watching her rush back up the path, wondering why she’d gone along with the lie. She had done me a massive favour by not landing me in it. Aaron would have been on my case so much worse if he learned that I’d fabricated my story.
I turned back to Aaron, seeing his expression of deep thought as he watched Jade close the front door, and wondered if he’d been hoping to catch me out.
‘I’d better go in and help her,’ I said, wiping a soil-streaked hand across my sweaty forehead. He looked at me, then gave a nod. I didn’t wait for him to question me further as I picked up my water bottle and walked briskly up the path.
Once inside, I watched Aaron through the peephole, standing where I’d left him, his eyes trained on the bathroom window. He stood motionless for a full two minutes before finally leaving. I leaned my head against the door and let out a sigh of relief.
‘Here,’ I said, passing the soft white towel to Jade as she lifted a squirming Amala from the shallow water.
Amala had been crying when I’d gone up to offer assistance, feeling reluctant but obliged, but the moment her tiny body had touched the warm water, she’d been stunned into silence, her dark eyes wide.
Now Jade wrapped her in the thick towel, bringing her to her shoulder and rubbing her back.
I stood in the doorway, blocking her path to the bedroom. ‘Why did you lie for me?’
I watched her face closely as she raised her eyes to meet mine. There was no need for me to explain my question. I could see she knew exactly what I meant.
‘I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I could tell he was prying, and I wanted to end the conversation.’ She shrugged. ‘Your neighbour is a busybody. And who you have staying with you is none of his business.’
‘I only told him you were a friend because it would worry him to know the truth.’ I paused, wondering how to phrase my next question. ‘Would he be right to worry? Should I be worried?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
I folded my arms. ‘What I mean is, why have you come here? What do you want from me, Jade?’
She stared wordlessly back at me, and I could see fear in her eyes, panic at having been put on the spot.
I couldn’t help but feel bad for having pushed her.
She was so vulnerable. But that made it all the worse.
If anything were to happen to her, to Amala, I would be in the spotlight. I couldn’t have that.
She gave a shaky sigh. ‘I wish I could tell you. I really do. But… I just can’t. I’m sorry, Annie. I do realise what an imposition we’re being. If you could just give me a few more days, a little more time…’
‘Time for what ?’ I asked, my voice turning angry as the frustration of having my questions go unanswered bubbled up in my gut.
She shook her head, her face blanching. ‘Amala’s getting cold. I need to dress her.’
I remained in the doorway, blocking her path from the bathroom, determined to force her into telling me the truth, but she walked towards me and I felt myself stepping back, allowing her to pass, unwilling to get physical with a young mother holding her child.
She walked around the bed, placing Amala on the duvet, and I hesitated, then left the room.
I was certain that if she was unable to speak about her reason for being here, it was because she knew I wouldn’t like the answer.
I fought between my need to protect her and my own self-preservation. If Ryan found me, if she led him to me, he would kill me. But if I kicked her out now, would she and Amala take my place?
I paused halfway along the hallway and leaned back against the wall, my limbs heavy with dread. I had no idea what to do.