‘Nowhat ifs, Rebecca. The man’s as unreliable as the rest of them. I mean, would it have really been such an inconvenience to pick up his mobile and let me know he wasn’t coming? Under anycircumstance?’
The doorbell rang, interruptingAnnabel’srant.
‘That’ll be Katy,’ said Rebecca. She rose to her feet again. ‘She said she might pop round. You put the kettle on and I’ll go and letherin.’
Annabel hauled herself up off the sofa and, doing as she was told, headed out into the hall and towards the kitchen. After entering the room, she went straight for the kettle and filled it with water before clicking it on to boil. She grabbed a trio of mugs and a teaspoon. ‘Coffee for three it is,’shesaid.
While wondering what words of wisdom Katy and Rebecca would be offering today, she heard a cough from behind. Turning, her sister stood in the doorway, suddenly looking a littlesheepish.
‘You have a visitor,’shesaid.
As she signaled for the unknown caller to come forward, Dan stepped into view. Just the sight of him left Annabel lost for words. Not only did he have some nerve, he looked awful. His clothes were all disheveled and he definitely needed a shave. Her heart sank. The last time she’d seen him in this state it had been because of hismother.
She knew Rebecca was right, that she was being harsh. But for her own well-being, she also knew she couldn’t allow herself to be swayed. Instead, she maintained her resolve that nothing and nobody excused him for not contacting her. He had to know that even a few seconds of phone call would have been better thannothing.
‘I’ll just grab my things and leave you both to it,’ saidRebecca.
‘No need,’ said Annabel. ‘He’s not staying.’ She looked Dan directly in the eye. ‘We have nothing to say to eachother.’
‘Well, I thinkyoudo.’
Annabel willed her sister to stay put, however, she continued to tip-toe out of the room regardless. Suddenly, finding herself alone with Dan, Annabel fumed and insisted that Rebecca would payforthis.
She felt her anxiety levels begin to rise. Being in Dan’s presence felt way too uncomfortable and a part of her wanted to make a run for it too. She’d said all along that his mum’s dying was too close for comfort and now she had the scary prospect of being forced to deal with it head on. Why couldn’t Rebecca understand that it was easier to view Dan as an ignorant bastard? To believe that he had played a cute game and didn’t give a damn about anyone but himself? Her sister had to see that was better than the alternative. Especially when coping with his loss would undoubtedly stir up feelings about her own. Why else would she have chosen to stay angrywithhim?
Annabel just stood there waiting for him to speak, the silence continued well after the front door opened and closedagain.
‘Sorry about turning up like this,’ Dan eventually said. ‘I didn’t know where elsetogo.’
Oh God,thought Annabel. Her heart immediately went out to him, but news about his mother was exactly what she’d been afraid of. She steeledherself.
‘Isshe… ?’
Dan shook his head. ‘No,’ hereplied.
Relieved, Annabel felt herself relaxslightly.
‘But she is in the hospice. She ordered me home for a shower and a change but when I got there, I couldn’t bring myself togoin.’
‘I can understand that,’ saidAnnabel.
He attempted a smile. ‘I can’t seem to face being on my own.Stupid,eh?’
Annabel knew that feeling all too well. She recalled the sheer loneliness she experienced after Tom’s death; how empty and soulless the house felt without him as she wandered from room to room. His things were still there. His smell was still there. But Tom had gone and he was never coming back. Even with Rebecca to console her, nothing filled the gaping hole he leftbehind.
She felt her defences beginning to crumble, as she realised Dan’s mum probably wouldn’t be going home again either. At least she had her sister and best friend for support. If she turned this man away, he’d havenobody.
‘I can understand that too,’shesaid.
Their eyes locked and a sense of anticipation suddenly filled the air. Confused, she knew she should say something, however, words again seemed to fail her. She watched him silently take a step forward and nervously realised that the kitchen counter prevented her from taking a step back. He took another step and then another. Annabel knew she was in dangerous waters. But it didn’t seem to matter how much her head wanted to tell him to just go and never come back, her heart began to screamsomethingelse.
She felt her stomach flip as he reached within touching distance and her heart raced even faster as he looked into her eyes. He cupped her face and leaned in to kiss her; without even thinking about what she was doing Annabel couldn’t help but respond. One gentle kiss turned into two and then three, each one lasting a little longer and tasting that much sweeter. With her arms suddenly around him, her body ached as tentativeness turned to passion. She felt his hands grip the back of her thighs as he lifted her onto the counter and while keeping her lips on his, she began frantically unbuttoning hisshirt.
‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ whispered Dan, through their desperatekisses.
Annabel pulled back to look at him, his concerned expression only made her want him more. ‘I’m sure,’shesaid.
She released him of his shirt altogether and drew him close onceagain.
