Chapter 27 Shannon
Shannon
“Is that really the name of your business?” I ask, clearing my throat, trying to sound serious.
“When can you fit me in?” I’d been waiting to get the living room and kitchen floors sanded since I’d moved in.
Wesley had offered to help, but I couldn’t expect him to do all that.
He’d given me two numbers, Sandman Steve, and the Spit and Sawdust guys, though he’d never used Spit and Sawdust himself before.
“I can pop over sometime this week, if that works for you?” Steve replies. “Perfect. I’ll text you the days I’m free.” I pull out my phone and quickly send him a message. “I’ve just sent it through, but you can reach me on my home number too,” I offer.
“Alright, Mrs, I’ll be seeing you soon,” he says before hanging up.
Shoving my feet into my flip flops I make my way over to Wesley’s house.
I pull out my phone to check the garage code Wesley sent me — he thought it best to keep my bike locked away.
Tugging open the heavy door, and there it is, right where he left it over a week ago.
I’ve never been big on exercise, but since Wesley bought me this beautiful new bike, I figured I should make the effort and actually take it out for a spin.
He gave me strict instructions to wear the helmet and make sure its properly fastened.
It might be a pretty colour, but my hair looks cute today and this thing’s about to flatten it.
I’m wheeling the bike out and locking the garage when I spot the car turning up the lane.
Quickly, I push the bike towards the house, ducking between mine and Wesley’s home, keeping low.
There’s no reason for random people to be coming up the lane.
It’s usually a tractor or delivery driver.
The car comes to a stop outside Wesley’s house, a tall blonde woman steps out the flashy car, dressed in a beige suit with sky high black heels I’d definitely break my neck in. Edging round the corner for a better look, and my stomach drops.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself. “Wesley’s ex wife.
” She waltzes straight to the front door, holding a large brown envelope that looks official.
As I shift to get out of sight, my foot hits the old tin plant pot, and of course it makes a clanging noise knocking into the downpipe.
She looks up, eyes scanning me from head to toe, then back to my face.
“Oh, I didn’t see you there.” Her hoity toity voice too forced to sound like a genuine posh bird, blends perfectly with her toffee nose look, its already getting on my nerves. She uses the same voice Talia puts on when she’s speaking to clients. “Is he around?” she asks gesturing towards the house.
Stepping out from my shitty hiding spot, I make my way over to where she’s standing.
“Nope, he’s at work.” I’m not playing nice today, this fucking woman hasn’t earned it for a start.
“Oh, good,” she says, breezing past me, and turning back to the front door. Following behind her because I don’t trust her not to stick her nose in where she doesn’t belong. Once she’s posted the envelope through the letterbox, she spins on her sky highs back to face me.
“I don’t suppose you’ve been here long enough…” she starts, waving her hand dismissively between us. “I’ve been here long enough to know him,” I cut in, voice firm, confident.
“Oh, well, I see. I feel sorry for you then.” She scoffs with a smirk on her face. I’m not a violent person but I really want to give her a Shannon style send off, back to whichever hole she crawled out of.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, no longer holding back. My hands on my hips ready. She gives me another once over, clearly still trying to place me and failing. She hasn’t a clue who I am, but I’m sure once she drives away it will all come flooding back, usually does.
“Word of warning.” Her tone menacing. “He’s not a very nice person.” Deciding to push her a little, just to see what she’s really like, I go in for the kill.
“Oh yeah? And how would you know that?” I click my tongue, casting my eyes down on her this time. She scoffs again and flicks her long blonde hair over one shoulder like some kind of shampoo advert.
“I was married to him.” She holds out a hand with blood red nails, perfectly manicured.
But before I can bite back and say something I’d probably come to regret later, her phone pings.
She glances down at it gripped in her other hand like a weapon.
“I’m terribly sorry, I’ve got to take this.
” The hand held out to me now dropped by her side.
“But, erm… yeah, this was nice,” she says with a tight smile, already walking away.
The car door slams behind her, phone to her ear. I watch her pull away, debating whether or not to call or text Wesley, but I’m sure he’s about to find out.
This was a stupid idea, trying to ride my bike to Mum’s on my very first day of riding it.
I should have broken myself in gently, done a few laps up and down the lane to get used to it.
But no, classic Shannon had better ideas.
And now here I am, sat on my bike at the bottom of the mile long hill, wearing shorts, T-shirt, and bloody flip flops.
Yeah, I know… stupid bloody idea.
The scorching sunshine and humid air is a killer, I looked half decent an hour and a half ago when I finally left the house, this journey would normally take me twenty minutes in my car.
To make matters worse, I told Wesley I was cycling to my parents’, so naturally he made me prove I was wearing the new helmet by sending him a selfie of my now red, blotchy face, with sweat stinging my eyes.
A real hottie… not. He told me to text him when I got to mum’s… an hour ago.
Of course, he’s been blowing up my phone ever since.
I take a deep breath, grabbing my water bottle from the basket and downing it in a huge gulp, what was once ice cold is now lukewarm.
I pop my water bottle back in the basket and push my bike closer to the bank of the lane and quickly send Wesley a text before gearing up to battle the uphill journey.
Hey xx
Is all I put because I don’t want to tell him the truth.
Where are you? Xx
Fuck my life, why can’t he just ignore me for once.
I'm nearly there xx.
Lies
What do you mean nearly?? You should already be there Shan, are you okay? Xx
Double fuck my life… this man.
I'm fine… I may have exaggerated the distance. Xx
Plus, I only have short legs.
Fingers crossed he doesn’t reply.
I'm coming to find you.
Jesus. Noooo.
NOOO I'M NEARLY THERE. Xx
I give up, tossing my phone back in the basket, and climb back on my bike, paddling my arse off up the hill, my breaths coming out in sharp short puffs, ripping all the air out my lungs. I’m halfway up. Fifteen minutes after Wesley’s last text, I hear a car coming up the hill.
“Shit,” I wheeze out, jumping off my bike, and I look towards the farming gate, panicking because I know it’s him.
Unhooking the heavy chain from the post it jingles as it hits the post, then I shove the gate open with both hands while the bike rests on my hip.
It groans with the grinding metal, letting out a high-pitched whine and an aching creak making my teeth itch.
Pushing my bike through the opening, lifting it slightly so I can duck down behind the dry stone wall, I get down low crouching like someone who is about to have a sneaky wee, believe me people do that round here, it’s the nearest spot if you’re walking home from the pub and caught short…
not that I’ve ever done it. I’m lying of course.
The noise of his truck comes closer, trudging up the hill. By the sounds of it, his truck isn’t used to going so slow. Then the engine cuts off and the door shuts… footsteps scrape across the gritty lane, and a throat clears.
“Babe? What are you doing?” the familiar gruff voice asks. I don’t answer, I’m almost sitting in the grass, the wall can’t be higher than four feet.
“Shan, I know you’re there. I can see the top of your helmet,” he says again. Bloody helmet is supposed to protect me, not get me into trouble. The farmer's gate creaks again, then there he is standing in front of me, arms crossed over his hulking builders form, crowding into my space.
He tilts his head, his gorgeous face looking down at me with a smug smirk tugging at his lips. His sky-blue eyes roam over my body, and as usual my body betrays me with a need to take him right here and now in the bloody farmer’s field.
“Why are you trying to hide from me?” His tone is gentle and playful. I take in a breath of air but stay crouched down.
“Well, there was this… erm.” He cuts me off, picking my bike up like it weighs nothing, and walks back out the field.
With a sigh, I push myself up and dust off the dirt from my legs and follow behind, like a naughty puppy.
He puts the bike in the bed of the truck, then walks around to the passenger side door opening it for me, but he grabs me around the waist pulling me closer, planting a kiss on my lips.
He leans in, lowering his voice to a playful whisper. “You’re adorable when you’re trying to play hide and seek with me, sweetheart.” He spins me around, slapping my arse. “Get in the truck.” He’s getting a little bossy of late… I think I like it.
We arrive at mum’s — she’s out in the garden, watering the plants. She glances up, then walks over with her watering can in hand, looking puzzled.
“I thought you were riding your new bike?” she quizzes, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised — mum’s always taken care of her appearance. She won’t leave the house without her lipstick on or mascara, totally different from me. Wesley, thankfully, doesn’t mention finding me hidden in a field.
“Oh.” I chuckle, waving a hand towards Wesley.
“He was passing by… offered me a lift.” Hiding my little lies behind my smile feels like second nature.
I avoid looking directly at him and the smirk forming on his lips…
again. Mum pats his arm that he’s got resting on the open truck window, still eyeing us both curiously.
“I bet you two could do with a nice cold drink?” She looks between us. “Wesley, Derek has beer in the fridge?” she offers, and he smiles at her in agreement.
“Thanks for the offer Mrs Newton, but I’ve got to get back to work.” His voice sounds different, and it catches me off guard making me want to laugh. He hasn’t properly met my family yet. There are no airs and graces with us lot.
“Less of the Mrs Newton, call me Sue,” Mum says.
A beat passes between us, then mum claps her hands together, a spark in her eyes like she’s just had a brilliant idea.
“Wesley, why don’t you come for dinner later? It’s just salad stuff and Derek is cooking on the BBQ, but there’s plenty to go around,” she chirps, eagerly waiting for him to answer.
Which doesn’t take him long. “If it’s not too much trouble.” By the sounds of it, he’s all up for it. He answers her again in that soft voice. What is it with everyone today putting on fake voices?
Mum pats his arm again. “I’ll pop the kettle on Shan.” She walks away, and I’m aware I’m pulling a face at him.
“What?” he asks, and I laugh at him. “You don’t have to talk like that.
” I press my palm against his bearded cheek, he leans into me, fixing his eyes on mine.
“It’s called being polite, Miss. I can’t hide for shit,” he teases.
I lightly shove his face away and drop my hand.
“Just go, get out of here, and thanks for the lift.” I lean in to kiss him, and he reaches up, wrapping his long fingers around my jaw, fixing me in place.
“I’ll be counting down the hours.” He kisses my cheek then turns to start the engine.
“I’ll drop your bike off at home first before I come over.
” I jump out the truck, and close the door before making my way around to his side.
“See you later alligator.” I shoot him a wink.
“In a while crocodile.” He waves his hand then reverses out the driveway.
It hits me as he pulls away, he’s going to be having dinner with me and my family.
I don’t think I can hold back the words I’ve been desperate to say to him.
Falling for him wasn’t easy in the beginning but now I can't imagine not loving him.