Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
With Danny coming up every weekend, Juliette had given herself a project to either find somewhere to visit locally, or else book in an evening or lunch at a different place. This weekend they were going to The Traveller’s Rest, Stanley.
Inside the pub, they were shown into the restaurant area and seated at a table near the window.
‘According to the menu, they do a cracking pie night every Monday, so the first one that you’re here, I’ll book in for that,’ Juliette said as she studied what to have. ‘It’s very popular.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ Danny reached for her hand. ‘There’s a bank holiday coming up. Perhaps then?’
‘I’m counting the days.’
‘For the pie?’
‘Obviously.’ Juliette giggled. ‘I’m so pleased it’s all gone well for you. Are you nervous about starting with a new firm?’
‘I think it’s you who should be worried, seeing as I’ll be working from home two days a week. Won’t I cramp your style?’
‘I’m sure I can manage. Besides, once we’re both here, our bills and outgoings will be less, so maybe I won’t have to work every day of the week.
’ Already she’d taken to leaving Friday afternoons free and her weekends were kept clear for when Danny was around, so the life-work balance had shifted in the right direction for them.
‘What are you having?’ She looked up from the menu. ‘I think I’m going to try the chicken.’
‘I’m going to have… steak.’ He snapped it shut.
‘So predictable.’
They placed their orders and wine was poured. Danny had a lemonade too.
‘Have you thought any more about…’ Juliette stopped, her eyes widening with disbelief.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s Richard, from next door. And he’s with another woman.’
Danny turned his head.
‘Don’t look!’ she whispered loudly.
‘What am I supposed to do? Face you and not move all evening?’ He shook his head. ‘Besides, it might be completely innocent.’
Juliette put a hand to her face. ‘I don’t know why I’m blushing. I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be.’
‘What’s the woman like?’
‘Mid-twenties, tall, blonde hair. Very attractive.’
‘He must be a charmer, getting them so young.’
‘If I didn’t know you, I’d say you were envious.’
‘Naw, but I am going to have a quick look.’ He did so just as Richard leaned over to kiss the woman across the table.
‘I told you!’ Juliette said. ‘That’s definitely not business.’
The waitress came across with their orders and bustled around them as they got ready to eat.
‘What’s he doing now?’ Danny asked.
‘I wish I’d let you sit facing the room,’ she said. ‘I’m right in his eyeline and I can’t stop looking.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s none of our business what he gets up to. It’s not as if it’s doing us any harm.’
‘But what about Sarah? I’ve a good mind to make it obvious we can see him, watch his face when he knows he’s been caught.’
‘It’s nothing to do with us,’ Danny repeated. ‘Let’s eat.’
Juliette gave Richard one last glance before shaking her head. ‘I hope he hasn’t seen us, actually. That would make things very awkward. Oh, they’re standing up. Looks like they’re going.’
‘Has he spotted you now?’
‘I don’t think so.’ She sat still while she watched the couple disappear and then she gave out a huge sigh of relief. ‘They’ve gone.’
‘Good. Now we can concentrate on us.’
‘Yes, tell me about the new job.’
Sarah had been on her own since seven thirty that evening.
It was nearly eleven and she was wondering what Richard had been up to.
He’d said he was going to The Valley Arms, but she wasn’t entirely sure that was true.
Obviously she couldn’t follow him, but she did wonder if he was out with another woman again.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t know there were others.
It was more how blatant he was about it.
Sometimes he even took women out around the village.
It was as if he wanted to show everyone that he’d still got it.
Why he’d want to do that was beyond her.
But still, it did give her a little peace every once in a while. Until her anger got the better of her.
He’d disappear most evenings now, leaving her alone. She missed the affection they used to share. When they’d first got together everything had been good. Richard had been attentive and loving. How different things were now.
The first time she had suspected he’d been with someone else was when he bought new clothes and a different brand from his usual aftershave.
He’d had a haircut too. She’d questioned him about it, but he’d denied it was anything more than he fancied a change.
A couple of days later, she’d been in the village and had seen him flirting with a young woman.
They were in the car park. He was running a hand along her arm, the way he used to do with her.
The woman had laughed at something he’d said and mirrored his actions.
Anyone from a distance could see that they were most likely fucking.
He’d denied anything was going on when she’d questioned him and had thought better of asking him anything again once she’d had the wrath of a backhander. It had still stung though that she wasn’t enough for him anymore. Especially after what she had done for him.
Finally, she heard Richard’s car pull into the drive. She didn’t get up to greet him, waiting for him to show his face in the living room. He always did, trying to rile her into showing some emotion. Other than a few comments she’d throw at him, she’d never given him the satisfaction.
‘I wasn’t expecting you to be up,’ he said, flopping down into the armchair with a stupid grin on his face.
‘Where have you been?’
‘Out and about.’
‘On your own?’
‘Yes, of course.’
He caught her rolling her eyes and laughed.
‘You’re seeing someone else, aren’t you?’
‘It’s none of your business. You have a roof over your head. It doesn’t mean that you own me.’
She sniffed. ‘I can smell her perfume.’
‘Give it a rest. What I get up to outside of the house is nothing to do with you.’
‘Maybe I should do the same.’
Richard sighed. ‘You’re very good at getting what you want, aren’t you?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If you want me to fuck you, then I will.’
She left the room, but he followed her into the kitchen. He was predictable as he pulled her into his arms, kissing her so forcefully she knew her lips would feel bruised afterwards. His hands reached for her T-shirt and pulled it out of her jeans.
She responded in the way she knew he liked, getting him excited so that he would be quick.
Like they mostly did now, he bent her over the table and took her from behind.
She wondered if he ever imagined she was someone else.
She often closed her eyes and dreamed of Henry Cavill.
Imagining Richard was another man almost took away the forceful nature of his actions.
The sex was functional, and over and done with quickly.
It was the one thing she hated but endured.
She used to love it, was after it all the time at first. But now, as the feeling she was going to be replaced had become stronger over the past few weeks, her fighting spirit was building.
She needed to start thinking of her future, their future.
Things couldn’t go on this way indefinitely.
Sarah would always let Richard think he had the upper hand. Even if it meant shutting herself off to what he was doing while she was biding her time.