Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sarah had hidden her anxiety when Richard told her what he’d done.
‘It’s for show,’ he told her. ‘We welcome them once and they can’t ever say we weren’t hospitable then.’
‘Let’s hope the weather holds, so we can stay outside,’ she replied.
‘Well, we could hardly come inside, could we?’
Sarah scoffed under her breath. Everything was so secretive with Richard. They’d have to be careful, that was for sure.
Later, as they waited for their neighbours to arrive, Richard turned to her. ‘You know we’re only doing this because we have to? I won’t allow anyone to get close to us. Do you understand?’
Sarah nodded, just as the couple from next door came out of their home. They went to greet them at the top of the drive.
Juliette was looking tanned in a strappy maxi dress, her hair in an updo. Although she wore make-up, Sarah could see the glow of happiness shining through because she was with Danny. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him, or his off her as they smiled a greeting.
They looked good together, Juliette a little smaller than Danny in height, even with her wedged heels. Danny had dark wavy hair, shorn at the sides. He wore long shorts and a pale blue shirt. His watch was expensive, so were his loafers.
‘Welcome to our humble abode.’ Richard waved a hand across the garden.
‘Not so humble,’ Danny said. ‘Don’t you have six acres?’
‘We do, there’s a wood we can show you later.’ He beckoned them forward. ‘Shall we go through to the garden?’
They stepped onto a large lawned area surrounded by shrubbery.
In front of the house on a patio, a table was laid out underneath a wooden gazebo, trails of ivy hanging over one side.
There were salads and condiments of every sort in bowls spread over it.
To the right, a barbecue was lit and hotting up, an array of prepared food sitting beside it in plastic boxes.
‘This looks amazing,’ Juliette said.
‘Come, sit.’ Richard smiled at his guests and then snapped his fingers at Sarah. ‘Get drinks for everyone.’
‘Of course,’ Sarah replied. ‘What would you both like?’
‘Lager will do for me,’ Danny said, passing him a carrier bag. ‘I know you said not to bring anything, Richard, but I’ve never been one to arrive anywhere empty-handed.’
‘Cheers.’ Richard took it from him and gave it to Sarah.
‘Do you need any help?’ Juliette asked.
‘No! It’s fine,’ Sarah snapped. Then she changed her tone.
‘Thanks for asking. I won’t be a moment.
’ In the kitchen, she opened two bottles of lager and poured wine for her and Juliette.
She added lemonade to hers: it wouldn’t do to get tipsy and let her mouth run away with her.
She and Richard had rehearsed all the awkward questions that might come up during conversation and what to say next to steer them away.
Even so, it was like treading on razor blades, having to watch every word she said.
It was going to be a long evening; she was sure she wouldn’t relax.
‘How long have you lived and worked in London?’ Richard asked when they were all finally seated.
‘Born and bred in Islington,’ Danny replied.
‘I’m from the Midlands originally – Tamworth,’ Juliette said. ‘Have you both lived around here long?’
‘Yes.’ Richard lifted an empty bottle in the air. ‘More beers,’ he demanded, glancing at Sarah.
Sarah got to her feet.
Juliette did too. ‘Please let me help.’
‘It’s fine.’ She smiled. ‘I won’t be a moment.’
Inside the house, she checked to make sure everything was okay before re-joining them. She plonked down bottles in front of Danny and Richard and then produced another bottle of wine from the crook of her arm.
‘Here you go.’
There was no thanks from Richard as he reached for his, but there were from Juliette and Danny. Sarah wondered what they were making of the strange couple next door. She could only imagine the conversation that would happen that night once they had left.
Over the next drink, they got to know each other a little. They spoke about their jobs, their lives and what had brought them to Mapleton.
‘Have you thought of starting a family yet?’ Richard asked.
It was an innocent question but the look of horror that shot from Juliette to Danny clearly showed that something awful had happened.
‘I didn’t mean to put my foot in it,’ Richard backtracked.
Danny raised a hand before covering it with Juliette’s. ‘We lost our daughter last year. She was four years old.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Sarah spoke in unison with Richard.
‘She was here one week and gone the next,’ Juliette said quietly. ‘Meningitis. We’re still coming to terms with it.’
‘Is that why you’ve moved here?’
‘Partly,’ Danny said. ‘A lot of it was to do with wanting a simpler life for now.’
‘I can’t begin to understand what you went through.’ Richard looked sheepish.
‘It’s hard to tell people as it brings back the pain,’ Danny replied. ‘But now you know.’
Juliette was looking at the table the whole time the men were talking. She glanced up at Sarah, her eyes brimming with tears. Sarah felt them well up in her eyes too.
‘Let’s get this show on the road.’ Richard stood up. ‘Time to get the barbie going.’
Sarah watched as Danny gave Juliette a loving look of reassurance and her heart almost broke for them.
A few minutes later, the barbecue was in full swing. Juliette was teasing Richard and Danny as they both wanted to become barbecue man. The maudlin atmosphere had lifted.
After they’d eaten, Richard insisted on showing them around the woods. They walked through the gardens, admiring the mature flowers and rockeries, the tiny bridge to nowhere over the small pond that Richard had created last year.
As the two men walked ahead, Juliette fell into step by Sarah’s side.
‘I’ve had a wonderful time,’ she said, linking arms with her.
The gesture took Sarah by surprise so she went along with it, knowing it would irritate Richard.
‘Yes, it’s been a lovely evening,’ she said, relishing the feel of her so close. It was ages since she’d had a good conversation with a woman. Tonight they had chatted and she’d got to know a few things about the couple that would work well in her favour in the future.
‘How about you and Richard? No children on the horizon for you two?’
‘No, not yet.’
They entered the woods and followed a well-trodden pathway. Sarah enjoyed watching Juliette’s reaction to it. Seeing it through someone else’s eyes was amazing. Sarah had many a nightmare about it.
‘Juliette!’ Danny shouted to them. ‘Come and look at this.’
The men waited while they caught up and came out into a clearing. There was almost a complete dome of branches overhead. It seemed as if they were in an igloo made out of trees. There were a few stumps that could be used as seats, remnants of a fire in the middle of them.
‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Juliette spread out her arms and twirled around. There was hardly any light coming through and she stumbled. Danny came to her rescue and helped her up again.
‘This is our special place, isn’t it, Sarah?’ Richard came towards her and reached for her hand.
She nodded.
‘We often light a fire here and sit with a bottle of wine, don’t we?’
‘We do.’ She found her voice at last.
‘How many acres does the wood cover?’ Danny asked, looking up at the trees.
‘Three. I said I’d clear it but really the garden area is large enough and a wood, well, it’s enchanting. I love to come here to be on my own. I get a lot of my ideas here, being at one with nature.’
Sarah could feel his fingers squeezing her hand tightly, but she wouldn’t complain. It would do no good. She had no doubt that he would have a go at her for something she’d said that evening. But he’d been just as bad with his loose lips.
Still, she wouldn’t ever say that.