‘I heard her say it, Daniel. I heard her say how much she’d enjoyed the three of you being together the other week.’
‘Oh, that!’ His frown disappeared. ‘That was nothing. Ben wanted to show her his bedroom and afterwards I offered her a coffee. I don’t think she was very happy about us being together and I wanted the chance to talk to her about it. She was in the house no more than half an hour, tops.’
‘I see. She made it sound like so much more.’
‘Well, that’s Lucinda for you, making something out of nothing.’
‘And you didn’t tell me because it was nothing?’
‘It was important in the sense that she needs to accept that you’re in my life, but there wasn’t anything untoward about it. You can trust me, you know.’
Anna sighed. ‘It’s Lucinda I don’t trust. How did she take you turning her down?’
‘Not great, to be honest. And she was decidedly frosty with me today as well. But she’ll get over it. And even if she does try to play games, I’m not going to play back. And neither should you. Tell you what, why don’t you come with me next weekend? We’ll show her a united front and then things can get back to normal.’
She nodded. ‘Okay.’ It would be good for Lucinda to see them still together and she wanted to go into Chester to redo some of the shots she wasn’t quite happy with. But deep down she suspected it was only a short-term solution. Despite what Daniel had told her, she wasn’t convinced Lucinda would give up the fight that easily.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It felt good to be travelling back up to Cheshire side by side in Daniel’s Range Rover. She wondered if it was because, only a week ago, she’d convinced herself she’d never be making this trip again. She risked a sideways glance at Daniel and her heart thumped heavily in her chest at the sight of his profile — high cheekbones, sturdy chin, lips that she knew were soft when she kissed them, the way his dark-blond hair curled at the nape of his neck.
As though sensing her scrutiny, he glanced at her and smiled. ‘What?’
‘Nothing. Just happy to be here.’
‘I’m happy you’re here too.’
It had been a busy week, both at work and on the home front. She and her father had gone to see Jack where he was being held on remand. And while it wasn’t the kind of prison he would be staying in once he had been sentenced, it was still a terrifying and depressing place.
When they’d walked into the visitors’ room, it had taken her a while to spot Jack. He had lost a lot of weight and his hair had been greasy and his skin sallow. But when he’d looked up and smiled at them, she’d caught a glimpse of Jack the boy. The boy she had helped bring up and who she loved dearly.
Hesitantly they had made their way across the room. He’d stood up briefly. Anna had gone to hug him but he’d hung back.
‘We’re not supposed to have contact,’ he’d said. She moved backwards, embarrassed that she didn’t know the protocol.
They sat down.
‘How are you?’ Andrew asked.
Jack shrugged. ‘Okay, I suppose. I’m just trying to keep my head down. I never thought I’d end up in a place like this, but it’s my own fault.’ He looked away, but when he turned backtowards them his eyes were shining with tears. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I know I’ve let you down. I’ve let you all down. You’ve only ever tried to do your best for me and I’ve thrown it back at you all.’
Their father made a noise as though he was trying to clear his throat. ‘I’m sorry too. I should never have kicked you out.’
‘Yes, you should,’ Jack said. ‘It’s what I deserved. If you hadn’t done that, I would never have known how good I had it then. When I think about what I did, I’m so ashamed. Dad, I never should have stolen from you, and Anna, my behaviour and violence towards you was unforgivable. To Harry too.’
Anna couldn’t speak she was so moved by his words, but their dad said, ‘We all make mistakes, son. Some bigger than others.’
‘I can’t change the past, but I can learn from it. And if you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, I promise I’ll never do anything like that again.’
Andrew nodded. ‘I can see that you regret it. And I won’t turn my back on you now.’
‘You’ll always be my brother, Jack,’ Anna finally managed to say.
It was an emotional visit, but Anna was glad that they were reconciled. Whatever the future held, they would face it together as a family. That evening, her dad went out to meet someone, though he wouldn’t say who, and Anna had a chance to catch up with her youngest brother.
‘Harry,’ she said when she saw him. ‘It feels like ages since I’ve seen you. How are you doing?’
‘I’m doing good. I’ve got myself a job to earn some money before uni, working in a restaurant, and I’m spending time with friends.’
