‘How about I cook something for you and we’ll relax for a while?’
She smiled. ‘That does sound nice.’
* * *
‘Oh, that’s me stuffed!’ Anna said after polishing off an omelette. ‘I hadn’t realised how hungry I was.’
They moved into the living room so they could sit more comfortably. While Daniel had been preparing the food, Anna had changed out of her dress into the T-shirt and leggings she’d been wearing earlier in the day. She leaned back on the sofa, enjoying the feeling of being able to relax.
‘Thank you for tonight,’ she said.
‘What for?’
‘You know, the Mark thing.’
‘I didn’t really do anything.’
‘Yes, you did. Before you intervened I was beginning to get a little scared. And then sticking by me for the rest of the evening when he was glaring daggers at me. It meant a lot.’
‘He’s a bully, Anna, and I don’t like bullies.’ He paused. ‘Tell me . . . did he ever hurt you?’
‘Not physically, no. But he was vicious with his words. And his temper was always a little volatile, especially when he didn’t get his own way. I was treading on eggshells a lot of the time.’
‘And yet you loved him?’ Daniel said quietly.
Anna nodded. ‘I did. He wasn’t like that at first.’
‘No, they never are.’
She turned to face him. She needed to explain, because she was worried he thought she was foolish for having loved Mark.
‘He can be very charming when he wants to be and that’s what he was when we first met. I was vulnerable back then and didn’t have much faith in myself. I was still struggling without Mum. He believed in me and he made me believe that I could be something too. When I applied for the job as the receptionist at the gallery I didn’t even think I would get it, but by the time I left I was practically running the place.’
‘Doing his job for him,’ Daniel said dryly.
‘Yes, I was. But I was good at it and it gave me a sense of accomplishment that I’d never had before.’
Daniel laughed. ‘Why ever not? By all accounts you’ve practically held your family together since your mum died, as well as dealing with your own grief. You were only a teenager, don’t forget. Most people would have gone off the rails, but you didn’t. You should give yourself credit.’
‘Maybe,’ she said thoughtfully. She’d never looked at it like that before. She’d just done what she needed to do. What was expected of her. ‘By the way, thanks as well for charming my dad.’
‘I didn’t charm him.’
‘Well, he was full of praise for you, so you must have done something. Dad’s not good with new people or environments.’
‘I really liked him and we just got on. I could see he was uncomfortable but he came anyway, because he wanted to support you. He knows how much you do for him, for all of them, but he doesn’t have the words to express that.’
Anna nodded. ‘You’re right. He doesn’t show his emotions, so it’s not easy to see what he’s feeling.’
‘Still waters run deep and all that.’
‘Well, you’ve certainly got the measure of him. Which is more than Mark did. He didn’t like my family and they didn’t like him.’
‘Can’t say I’m surprised.’
‘Whereas, you’ve got them eating out of your hand.’
‘What can I say?’ He grinned. ‘I’m just a very special person.’
