Never Too Late (12 page)

“What trouble? I had Molly to help me. Besides, I knew you’d both be starving after your walk. Now go sit down in the dining room and we’ll bring these in to you.”

Jake looked at Molly, who was still pressed up against the kitchen counter. “No, we’ll eat together, in here.”

“Well…” Nan cast an uncertain glance in Molly’s direction. 

This wasn’t the time to make things difficult. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed away from the counter, picked up four plates and laid them out on the table.

Nan began serving, her bright smile back in place. “So tell us where you both went today.”

* * *

Molly barely registered lunch. She’d spent the time trying without much success to ignore Jake’s looming presence as he sat beside her, his knee almost touching hers. Any questions cast in her direction, she’d deflected with a polite handful of words.

“Jake has said you know much about this house.” Lilayni sat back after they’d all finished off the much-complimented apple pie. “I would love to see the rooms, if you can show me?”

Despite herself, Molly had found herself warming to Lilayni and her ready laugh and refusal to take anything too seriously. “I’ll show you around whenever you like.”

“Perhaps, now?” Lilayni glanced at Jake.

“You can see Barrowdene anytime. It won’t take long,” Nan chipped in. “What you two should do is look around Halstead Estate this afternoon. It’s only twenty minutes from here, and the grounds are stunning. The manor house itself is only open to visitors in these summer months, so you don’t want to miss that.”

Lilayni stared in surprise. “Visitors in summer only? Like Buckingham Palace?”

Molly grinned. “Not anywhere near as big as Buckingham Palace. It is a mansion though, and it’s owned by the current Baron Halstead. It’s very well maintained.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed on her happy face. “You’ve been there recently?”

She nodded, fondly remembering the grand estate that had looked like the setting of a
Pride and Prejudice
movie in winter. “I was actually lucky enough to see inside it last year when it was closed to the public. Baron Halstead is one of Martin’s clients, and when we visited, the downstairs halls were all decorated for the family’s Christmas. The tree itself must have been over eight-feet tall, and they had lights everywhere, even in the grounds.”

Lilayni smiled, looking dreamy. “Ah, fantastic. I too love Christmas. The lights, they are so romantic. And in the city, they are even in the sky.”

The sparkling glance she sent Jake was full of shared memories, and a cold hand wrapped around Molly’s enthusiasm. An image of Jake and Lilayni walking hand-in-hand beneath twinkling city lights came unbidden to her mind and she had to force a smile to her lips as she listened to Lilayni’s bubbly words.

They were such a well-matched couple.

“Come with us.” Jake’s voice startled her out of her thoughts.

“Where?” She flushed as she faced his searching amber gaze. “To Halstead?”

He nodded. Without a word, Nan stood up and began clearing the plates. Molly shot her an uncomfortable look. “I can’t. I… I promised to meet Sophie after lunch.”

“Is that so important?” he asked with a frown. “You see her nearly every day, don’t you? She’ll understand if you change your plans.”

Sophie wouldn’t mind at all, since their meeting only existed in Molly’s head. 

Lilayni was watching them intently, a small frown on her brow as she looked from Jake to her and back again. A wave of pity surged in Molly. Was this what Lilayni had to go through being with Jake? Did she suffer through his two-timing? 

She steeled herself. He wasn’t going to bully her into this. No way would she hurt Lilayni. “Sorry. It can’t be changed.”

But it was easier said than done.

Jake skewered her with his assessing gaze, and her cheeks scorched. He wanted a much better explanation; his eyes demanded it, but she’d rather die before confessing her true feelings. She stared back, defiant.

His expression shifted and her heart sank. He was going to squash her refusal.

But Lilayni spoke first. “That is a shame. It would have been fun with you also.” She turned to Jake. “Maybe we will go another time?”

Jake’s attention stayed on Molly’s hot face as he answered. “No, I’ll take you today, since you’re leaving after the weekend.”

Lilayni wasn’t staying?

Guilt washed over Molly for refusing to go with her and she wanted to jump in and offer to go after all, but she clamped down on her wayward tongue just in time. No. She’d done the right thing. She wouldn’t crumble. Lilayni was an innocent who couldn’t seem to see how Jake was using her, but Molly knew better. She’d already been through this once with Brian, and deep in her heart, something told her that getting involved with Jake would hurt her worse than Brian ever had.

Avoiding his steady gaze, she got up from the table and went to help Nan clear up.

Minutes later, Jake and Lilayni had left and Molly was drying dishes as Nan washed up.

Very little had been said, with Jake thanking Nan for lunch and hustling Lilayni out the door with barely a glance in Molly’s direction.

Now, the old kitchen, a half-heartedly modernized remnant of a bygone era, was gloomier, as if all the life in it had followed him. She worked in silence, already missing him and hating herself for it.

Nan cast her a searching glance. “I wanted to apologize… What I said earlier. It didn’t come out right. You must know you’re more than good enough, Molly.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Nan.”

“How can I not?” Weariness filled Nan’s eyes. “I worry about you all the time. And after what Brian did… I don’t want you fading away, child. You put so mush hope in him. It was as if after your grandad died, you turned to Brian for security.”

“Maybe, but I’m over Brian now. I’m getting on with my life.” The words rang with truth and she blinked in surprise. There was nothing there, no hate, no resentment, no love, just indifference. Had she ever truly loved Brian? Or had it been like he said, just her need to build the perfect relationship?

But Nan clasped her hands together in anguish. “It’s just… you’ve never known anything else. Brian was the most exciting thing to happen to you while you’re stuck here in this little old village with little old me.”

“How do you know leaving Appleby would have made me happy?” Molly placed a soothing hand on her nan’s shoulder. “Maybe I’m happiest being here with you.”

“No.” Nan shook her head in earnest. “How can you be? I was selfish in keeping you close after Ricky died. I should have encouraged you to do more with yourself. You could have been the first of us to go to university and be—”

“Oh, Nan, we never had the means.”

“We could have. If only I’d tried harder.”

Sadness welled in Nan’s eyes and Molly hugged her. “You’ve done so much for me, Nan. You couldn’t have done more. Maybe my life here isn’t worldly, but I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I’m happy being just me.”

Nan gave a weak smile. “Truthfully, I’d never want you to change. You’ll always be my little Molly.” Reaching up, she pressed a kiss to Molly’s forehead, then stepped back with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But I still think Jake being here is good for you.”

“Nan!” Molly stared at her, exasperated.

“I’m right, aren’t I? You only got over Brian because of Jake.”

Molly frowned. Jake had made her see Brian in a different light. Perhaps she should be grateful to him for that, but he was a heartless player too, only after the same thing Brian had been.

Nan turned back to her washing up. “But it looks like I’ve said far more than I should have, so I’ll not interfere again unless asked.”

“Nan, there’s nothing like what you’re thinking between Jake and me. Anyway, didn’t you see? He has a girlfriend. Even if I did feel anything for him, it wouldn’t lead anywhere. We’re like… apples and oranges.”

“Apples and oranges!” Nan snorted. “And, yes, I saw everything. My eyes work fine, thank you. Now, despite what you told Jake, there’s no need for you to stay hidden inside on such a fine day, so why don’t you let me finish up in here and you go and see what Sophie is doing, for real.”

Molly grinned. Of course Nan had caught on to her bluff. Now all she had to do was somehow stay out of Jake’s orbit for the rest of the weekend. Shouldn’t be too hard.

The first day of September was a cloudy Monday, and Molly sat in her office, checking emails and occasionally glancing at the clock on the wall.

Martin was late.

They started work at nine in the morning but he always arrived ten minutes earlier to open up the office and set out what he needed done for the day. But today, even at half past nine, he was nowhere to be seen.

She reached for the phone. She could call his mobile, find out where he was, but then she pulled her hand back. It would look like she was checking up on him.

Belinda’s words stung fresh in her mind, and Molly didn’t want to give the impression she was chasing Martin, but with her luck, what if Belinda answered Martin’s mobile phone?

No, she’d give Martin another half hour.

Getting up from her desk and straightening her suit jacket, she headed to the shelf to sort out the client files for the week.

She’d taken care to dress extra professionally today. Her pastel-pink trouser suit flowed with her curves but didn’t call attention to them, and with no make-up save a touch of mascara and rose lipgloss, and her wild hair pinned back in a neat French plait, she wasn’t the obvious candidate to be having a raging affair with her boss.

Three new client files needed checking and entering into the computer records. She had enough to keep her busy until Martin decided to show. She took the files back to her desk.

At least here in the office, she could relax. She didn’t have to concoct new ways of avoiding Jake. A whole weekend spent dodging him had been exhausting enough.

The front door slammed, and startled, she dropped the files on to her desk.

She rushed out to find Martin standing in the hallway with his pale ginger hair on end, and in a suit that looked like he’d lived in it all weekend.

Molly gaped. “Martin!”

Martin scraped an agitated hand through his upright hair and fixed bleary eyes on her. “Bring me a cuppa, will you Molly? Make it strong.” Then clutching what looked like an overnight bag, he bounded up the stairs to his office two at a time.

Ten minutes later, she knocked on Martin’s office door, balancing a plate containing a cup of steaming Earl Grey surrounded by rich tea biscuits, and a frown of concern on her face.

She’d heard the shower in the upstairs bathroom run briefly as she’d made his tea, and she’d taken her time so as not to rush him. He’d looked like he’d been on the road for several days, and going with her instincts, she’d heaped on the tea biscuits on the off chance he hadn’t eaten either.

He usually came to the office from his home. What had happened today?

“Come in.” Martin’s voice boomed from inside the room.

Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.

“Thank you, Molly.” With a flash of appreciation in his grey eyes, Martin stood and stepped out from behind his desk to take the tea and biscuits from her.

He’d changed into a clean shirt and trousers, but no tie, and his suit jacket lay over the back of his chair. The shower had brought a little colour back to the pallid skin showing above his beard, and his damp hair was combed flat to his head. It wouldn’t stay down long, though. Pale strands were already springing up in disarray as they dried.

He walked back to his desk, taking a gulp of the tea and then chomping down on a biscuit like it was a life-saving drug. His eyes were still bloodshot, but at least the zombie look he’d worn when he’d crashed into the office was gone.

Layers of paper were scattered over his desk.

Whatever was wrong with him, it looked like a business matter. A thread of apprehension ran through her. “Martin, is everything all right?”

He stopped mid-chew and turned wide-eyes on her. “Erm… Did Belinda call?”

“No.” Belinda wasn’t likely to rush to call her about anything, not after last Friday. Molly eyed him with curiosity. “Did you forget something at home this morning? Is that why you’re expecting a call from her?”

“I didn’t go home.”

She stared. Her instincts were spot on, and her uneasiness skyrocketed.

With a sigh, Martin placed his cup on the desk, and sank into his large leather chair, indicating for her to sit down opposite. “I just got back from London.”

“But you’re usually back on a Sunday evening.”

“Tricky client.” For a moment, he looked like he would say more, but then he glanced away and picking up his teacup, took another sip.

She leaned forward. “Is it something I can help with in any way?”

He looked back at her. “Doubt it.”

“Then, does Belinda know you’re back?”

He shook his head, his expression glum, his attention fixed on the teacup in his hand.

Jeez!
She sat back. Coaxing words from a dead fish was easier than this.

Her gaze fell on the papers on his desk. They were a jumble of receipts, orchard sale notes, maintenance forms and more, all from Barrowdene.

Realization dawned.

Martin had been dead set against Francine selling Barrowdene, and hadn’t Nan said the sale still needed to complete? Francine must have told her that before she left.

“This is something to do with Barrowdene, isn’t it?” She fixed Martin with an insistent stare. “Martin, what’s going on?”

He looked at her, guilt boring deep in his eyes. “Molly… I’ve made a huge mistake.”

“Mistake?” Cold dread clutched her insides.

“I thought I could stop Francine selling…”

“But why?”

“She can’t…” He shook his head. “I’d lose everything.”

He went back to staring into his now empty cup, a deep frown on his face as he wrestled with his thoughts.

She opened her mouth and closed it, lost for words.

How could this have happened? There had beed nothing out of place with Barrowdene’s accounts in the two years she’d organized and filed them. Nothing she could remember anyway.