Al and Sarah went to work separately the next morning; Sarah was due in later, and wanted to go over to Millie’s when she finished for the day. She also felt the need to practise driving to and from her new home. Her new home! She knew that it was early days but everything seemed to fall into place now that she had moved in with Al. Going to sleep in Al’s arms, and waking to the sound of his alarm, eating soft boiled eggs for breakfast together, and kissing him goodbye, before going off to bathe and get herself ready for work.
She found a parking space in the Quays car park quite quickly, and giggled as the sight of Al’s car made her stomach flip. The actual sight of Al, sitting behind the security desk, made it very difficult to wear her professional expression. The whole thing was destroyed when he got up from his chair, put the security pass around her neck and gave her a very indiscreet kiss and whispered in her ear.
“Good luck for today. Oz is on the war path already, so smile painfully as much as you can, it might make him feel guilty. See you at home about six o’clock, and if you aren’t too tired, perhaps we could go out for a meal?”
“I’ll see you later. Can we go to your friend’s pub again?”
This provoked a very broad smile.
“I hoped that was what you’d say. See you.”
Sarah went upstairs feeling as if she was floating on cloud nine. The sound of Oliver ranting brought her down to earth with a bump. She slid into the conference room as quietly as she could and took a seat next to Daryl, who looked on the verge of tears.
“Ah! Our poor wounded soldier has joined us at last. Hello Sarah. We were expecting you a little earlier.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Sarah put on a smile, and noted that most of the people in the room could see how much pain it caused.
“Actually Oliver, I shouldn’t be here at all. I was advised to stay off for the rest of the week in case of infection. I chose to come in today, and Jenny said it would be alright to come in for nine-thirty so that I’d miss the rush hour. I’ve only just started driving again. I could have come in by tram but that would have taken me a great deal longer, and I’ve no doubt that the dressing on my wound would have raised some unwelcome interest.”
“I did tell you about this yesterday, Oliver, and you agreed to it.” said Jenny. “I should have mentioned it again at the start of the meeting. I’m very sorry. How are you feeling today anyway Sarah?”
“My face is still sore but it looks as if the cut is healing well. Al took pictures last night, which I am happy to show to anyone with a strong stomach – later on, of course.”
“Right! Well, the rest of the team can bring you up to date once they’ve finished looking at your mugshots. The cases we will be filming tomorrow are definitely pedestrian and I’ve no doubt that the audience will find little to make noises about. We are putting the more interesting stuff on ice for now until we get the feedback from this chap’s inquest, but don’t get your hopes up; it looks as if your little friend Natasha may have scuppered all our careers in media.”
Oliver picked up his file of papers and left the room; his mood obviously destined to last for the rest of the day. A team sigh rolled around the conference table, then the younger members of the team rushed over to look at the pictures of Sarah’s wound. It was agreed that Sarah and Al had been brave and brilliant, and that Natasha and Marta were bonkers mad and evil. The rest of the day was spent going through the information on the guests, the plan for Friday’s show, and ideas about what to do if they were all made redundant. With Jenny’s blessing, Sarah finished at four-thirty and having blown another kiss at Al, drove over to Millie’s flat.
She was buzzed through to the flat, and the wonderful smell that met her as she walked in through the flat door, confirmed that Jiara was cooking the evening meal. Millie invited Sarah to stay, but understood when she explained that she was going out to dinner with Al. Millie had been busy and packed some more of Sarah’s belongings for her.
“I may have to buy some more comic egg cups. I miss them, but not as much as I miss you. Jiara and I went shopping this morning; she was very impressed by the supermarket and the range of herbs and spices available. Perhaps you and Al could come over for a meal on Saturday when Tom is here as well?”
“I shall be really spoiled; Al’s sister stocked his fridge and freezer up for us yesterday, and I’ve a feeling that we may get an invitation for one her roasts on Sunday. I hope so. I really want to say thank you to her in person for my ring. I just wish that we didn’t have this inquest hanging over us all. Oliver was horrendous today. I think I’ll go in early with Al tomorrow so he can’t moan at me for being late again.”
“He’ll find something; the runners are too slow, security staff are too obvious, the research is faulty, and the audience aren’t making enough noise. How’s your poor face?”
Sarah showed Millie the pictures, and while they were examining them, Jiara came over to look at them too. She put her hand very gently at the side of Sarah’s face and muttered a few words. Although she had no idea of what Jiara had said, Sarah knew that it was something kind and caring, and felt touched by the gesture.
“She is sending good wishes and healing to you.” said Millie, smiling.
“Thank you, Jiara. I am so glad you’ve come to live with Millie. She is my oldest friend in the world, and I’ve been very happy here and I know that you will be too.”
“Come into your old room Sarah,” said Millie “I’ve boxed up some more things but I think that you took most of it yesterday. I washed and dried your bedding but you know how I feel about ironing. Shall I help you carry it down?”
“Yes please. Al will be home by six, and it will give me more time to put stuff away. Such a relief not to have to hide anything anymore.”
Jiara came to give Sarah a hug goodbye before going back into the kitchen. Millie, Sarah and the boxes piled into the lift.
“There’s something I’d been meaning to tell you Sarah. About Oliver.”
“When did the two of you have an affair?”
“How did you know? Did someone say something?”
Sarah shook her head.
“No, I sensed something between the two of you from the start, and the fact that everyone said that you were the only one who could calm him down.”
“It was a long time ago and it was over almost as soon as it started. More of a physical thing, but we were both feeling a bit vulnerable. I’m not sure if he ever told Elena.”
“I think he may have done. She phoned here to apologise after Oliver had been particularly awful. I felt so embarrassed because Jude came to the show, and was really angry about the way he behaved. Elena phoned to say that Oliver’s mother had been taken ill in the night, and she’d wanted him to stay home. She also said that if you had been here, you would have been able to sort him out because you knew him so well.”
“Oh well, next week will be interesting. With regard to tomorrow, I don’t need to warn you that sparks will fly, and the only way to deal with Oz is to stay calm and let him rant. On a completely different tack, how would you feel about doing freelance social work if we get made redundant?”
“Another door opening? Why not? Al and I have a wedding to finance, not to mention finishing the renovations on the house.”
“You sound blissfully domesticated already. I have a feeling that you may have to have something that requires bridesmaids. Jude’s three, and how many nieces does Al have?”
“Three also – and a small boy, not to mention two sons of his own in their teens, your Tom and Jiara. A fairly happy bunch of guests including all the adults. We haven’t started talking about a wedding yet though. Moving in is the first step.”
They packed the boxes into Sarah’s car. As Millie hugged her, Sarah looked up and saw Jiara waving from the balcony, and felt less guilty about leaving her friend.
“I love the idea of carrying on working with you, and no, before you say it, I don’t think any the less of you because you and Oz had a fling. I can understand why, but I’m glad the two of you came out of it as friends. I have a feeling that any bad news is going to hit him hard.”
“I nearly forgot! There was some post for you this morning. I put it in the top of your bag. Now go! Before you make me cry. Keep me up to date tomorrow and I’ll let you know how Tom and Jiara get on. Come over about seven-thirty on Saturday?”
“Will do. Enjoy tonight’s meal. It smells wonderful.”
Driving back to Al’s on her own was another new and exciting experience; she had his spare set of keys, and instructions on how to switch off the burglar alarm. It took her a while to get all the boxes and bags indoors, it was only after she closed the front door and turned on the kitchen light that she remembered the forwarded post that Millie had given her.
Not surprisingly, there was a very unpleasant letter from Abigail, still annoyed that she didn’t know where Sarah had gone. There was a much nicer letter from Roseanne confirming that the house sale had gone through, and wishing her luck for the future, and a letter from Simon which she put aside to look at later. At the bottom of the pile was an envelope containing a small pack of Andy’s postcards. Sarah put the envelope down on the table, not feeling a hundred per cent sure that she actually wanted to look at them. What difference would it make? She hoped that Andy had found his happiness somewhere, and that by looking at his postcards, she could finally close the door on the years of their relationship.
The postcards were all much the same; nice views and tiny writing that Sarah found hard to decipher. The last postcard was much easier to read; it hadn’t been written by Andy though. The writer identified themselves as being a good friend of Andy’s called Shane, who was sorry to have to tell her that Andy had been injured in a climbing accident, and although he was rushed to hospital, his injuries were severe and he died the next day. Shane wanted Sarah to know that Andy had been very happy in Thailand and that he had loved everything about the place. Although he hadn’t found anyone to share his life with, he had made some good friends, truly fallen in love with the country, and intended to buy somewhere to live once the house sale had gone through. Shane said that he had contacted Simon about Andy’s death, and wanted Sarah to know that Andy had only ever said good things about her.
Sarah cried.
And cried.
The box of tissues was well and truly depleted by the time she got around to opening Simon’s letter. As she read it, she started to cry again. Simon sent his condolences on Andy’s death. He also had to advise her that in the will that Andy had left with him before going to Thailand, Sarah was a joint beneficiary of the estate, and there was nothing Abigail could do about it. Simon needed Sarah’s address so that he could put the papers together for her to sign.
Sarah was still crying when Al came home. She had planned to be changed out of her work clothes, hair and lippy done and ready to welcome him. One look at her face as he walked in and Al knew it was bad news. She handed him the postcard from Shane, and when he had finished reading it, handed him Simon’s letter.
Actions had always spoke louder than words for Al. He took Sarah by the hands and led her to the sofa, sitting her down and taking her in his arms. His handkerchief was more absorbent than the box of tissues, and his comforting presence soothed the pain she was feeling.
“Let me guess.” he said, “You are feeling very guilty about Andy, particularly as his friend says that he never said anything bad about you. Added to which, he has named you as one of the beneficiaries of his will. Perhaps you should accept that Andy did actually appreciate the years you spent with him; that going away helped him to realise that he would never be able to make you into the person he wanted you to be. He died doing something he loved, and from the look of this postcard, he found a good friend in Shane. There’s a return address, and I think you will want to write to him when you feel up to it. As for the solicitor’s letter, it does confirm that Andy felt the time you spent together should be acknowledged if anything happened to him. Look on the bright side; Abigail will be SO annoyed when she finds out.”
Al’s words were putting everything back into perspective; and his last comments about Abigail made her smile. Just imagining Abigail’s face made her giggle and bury her nose in Al’s neck.
“How do you always know the right things to say, Al?”
“Years of realising that I was saying the wrong things to Sonia, I suppose. We’ve both learned, haven’t we?”
“Poor Andy.”
“Don’t think of him that way. He was happier than he’d ever been, or ever would have been if he’d stayed where he was. You know that people will just say that I’m marrying you for your money now?”
“Millie says we’ll have to ensure that bridesmaids play a role in this wedding.”
“Six? And a pageboy? You don’t want a church wedding, do you?”
“No, and I don’t want one of those big white meringue dresses either. An outfit more suitable to my advanced years, in blue or violet perhaps?”
“Do you feel up to going out to dinner tonight, or do you want to stay home?”
“Let’s go out. You’ve brightened up my world again. I’ll even put on a dress. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to wear one of the glamorous dresses that Millie and I chose before she went away.”
Sarah changed quickly, and while Al was having a shower, she phoned Jude, primarily to tell her that she had moved in with Al, but also to share the news about Andy. He had never warmed to Jude, and it often felt as if she was the only person who understood their bizarre relationship . Jude was very happy for Al and Sarah, especially now that it would be easier to see each other. There was a stunned silence when Sarah explained about Andy.
“I don’t know what to say Sarah. I never liked him but I would never wish him dead either. Are you okay? What does Al say?”
“I’m fine now. I cried a lot when I read the postcard and Simon’s letter, but Al came home, mopped up my tears, hugged me better and talked sense into me.”
“Good, what are you doing now?”
“Going out to dinner. Oh, I haven’t even told you about Millie’s news yet.”
They were still chatting when Al came downstairs, dressed to go out.
Sarah looked him up and down, smiled and said goodbye to Jude.
“You look very smart. I’ve only ever seen you in your uniform or in a tee shirt and jeans, and…”
“You look gorgeous in that dress, and if you say any more, I might have to cancel dinner so that I can carry you off upstairs…”
“Wonderful as that sounds, I am starving, and you must be too.”
“I am. Do you want to drive or shall I?”
“I’ll drive, then you can have a drink. I’ll stay on fruit juice tonight.”
“That’s the first time any woman has offered to be my chauffeur. I don’t tend to drink vast amounts anyway, but sometimes a pint of decent beer goes down very well. And I can guarantee that there will be decent beer on offer tonight. Thank you.”
Although she was trying not to, it was hard not to compare this reaction to the one occasion she had offered to drive Andy anywhere. He preferred to drive, didn’t drink and she couldn’t actually remember him having been in her car when she was driving. Al pulled her up from the sofa and hugged her very tightly.
“Stop overthinking. It’s all in the past, and no amount of guilt will bring Andy back. Let’s go and eat, and I promise not to criticise your driving.”
The atmosphere at the pub was jolly and when Al’s friend announced that Al and Sarah were engaged, there was a rousing cheer from a room full of total strangers. The meal tasted even better this time around; possibly because they were more relaxed in each other’s company and able to focus on the food (and beer).
“Did you get a chance to phone Millie?” asked Al.
“No. Jiara’s cooking dinner tonight and I didn’t want to interrupt. I won’t have time till after we finished filming tomorrow – and by then there may be more of an update on Oz’s mood.”
“Call her when we get home anyway. I need to sort out my kit for tomorrow, though the stab vest may be overkill if the guests are as tame as Oliver says they are.”
“Do you really have to wear a stab vest? I never noticed before.”
“Only when filming and even then, only if we think there might be a violent reaction. Two lie detectors and a DNA test. Run of the mill really. That sounds a bit blasé doesn’t it?”
“I would like to talk to Millie. I’ll text her when we get home then.”
After finishing off with sticky toffee pudding and custard, they made the short journey home. Sarah felt that he’d see nothing to criticise in her driving anyway, apart from the fact that she drove quite slowly, but then Sarah’s car wasn’t anywhere near as high powered as Al’s. As soon as they got indoors, Sarah sent a text to Millie to see if she was awake and up for a chat. The answer came back ‘Yes’, and Sarah curled up on the sofa; unable to suppress a smile as Al kissed the top of her head on his way upstairs.
“You first.” said Millie. “Have you had a lovely evening?”
“Sort of. Dinner with Al was bliss. I drove so that he could have a drink. I think my confidence has come back again.”
“You never lost it; come on, what are you bursting to tell me.”
Starting with the postcards and ending with Simon’s letter, Sarah told Millie everything, including the feelings of guilt about the way Sarah felt she had treated Andy. Ever the level-headed social worker, Millie lost no time in echoing Al’s words and adding a few of her own.
“Just remember, Andy had as much choice about staying still for ten years as you did. If he was really as unhappy as you think he was, he should have come to an agreement with you about splitting up. He could have swanned off to Thailand years ago but he didn’t. When we were at Uni, you had oodles of self-confidence and since you’ve been working on the show, I’ve watched you regain your self-esteem, and grow back into the Sarah I used to know. Except this Sarah is a woman who is extremely good at her job, at being a loving friend, and capable of having a proper relationship with the wonderful Al. I never met Andy but I think he was disappointed in himself for not being braver. That disappointment came out in his efforts to change you, and his disapproval when you wouldn’t, and couldn’t change. If nothing else, you should take some consolation that Andy found happiness and a good friend eventually, and you have found…”
“…YOU! And if I hadn’t found you, I would never have found Al. How did your dinner go?”
“Jiara is a wonderful cook, and I may have hit on an idea to keep her occupied once I go back to work. There is a wonderful Asian Women’s collective that supports independence, and encourages learning new skills whilst maintaining culture and heritage. If that sounds a bit formal it’s because I’m reading it off a pamphlet. As far as the rest of Jiara’s family are concerned, she is here on holiday; her twenty-first birthday is in six weeks’ time, and they are anxious to have her back before then so that they can marry her off, get a sizeable dowry, and split up her inheritance. I think that Ram realised their plans and that’s why he made the allowances in his will. By acknowledging Tom as a blood relative, and me as Tom’s mother, we may well be able to arrange for Jiara to have permanent residence in the UK. If that’s what she wants.”
“And does she?”
“No pressure. We’ll see how she and Tom get on this weekend. Are you still on for dinner on Saturday?”
“Salivating! Al and I are going to visit the scary storage place during the day and see what we can scavenge.”
“Good. Make sure you phone me after work tomorrow and tell me if Oz has imploded. Promise me that you will wipe out your time with Andy, and concentrate on building a new life with Al?”
“I will; and if we end up unemployed, we’ll have my inheritance to fall back on. Deal?”
“Deal. Sleep well.”
Sarah turned the sound off on her mobile and plugged it into the charger. Al came in from the kitchen and sat down next to her.
“Have you sorted out the world now?”
“Most definitely. Just one thing though.”
“Go on.”
“Is there a reason why you don’t have a TV in your bedroom?”
“Umm. No one to watch it with?”
“I have a TV in the storage unit.”
“With a remote?”
“Of course.”
“What else have you got tucked away in there?”
“I’ve forgotten. Will you come and have a look with me on Saturday?”
“I’d love to. Time for bed now, we have an early start – and a day of Oliver to face.”
“I think we should go food shopping afterwards – something to take the taste away?”
“We definitely need more chocolate Shreddies, and have I told you how gorgeous you look in that dress?”
“You did, and I remember what else you said at the time.”
“Good. It still stands…”
Al pulled her up from the sofa and into his arms, before putting his mobile down on the coffee table and placing Sarah’s next to it.
“Do not disturb, you two.” he said, and kissed Sarah with a promise of so much more.
Chiara1421 