Blackberry Way (Tales From Appleyard Book 4) Read online

  And just as he knew she would, she smiled and accepted his offer.

  ‘Would one o’clock be okay?’ she asked. ‘Only visiting starts at two.’ She gulped down the last of her tea. ‘Right, well, I must be off while there’s still enough light to pick some more sloes. Thanks ever so much Stephen. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She leaned over to give Freya a hug. ‘And we must meet up again soon, too. I’ll need some more apples for one thing.’

  The door hadn’t quite closed before Freya placed both elbows on the table and leaned forward, her hands making a cradle under her chin.

  ‘You know it pains me to say it, Stephen, but I think Laura rather likes you. I’ve still got my eye on you mind, but what you did today was really generous, and it’s definitely earned you some brownie points. Now, what did you come over for again? With all the excitement of the wedding plans, I’ve completely forgotten.’

  Stephen eyed her wearily from across the table. ‘Nothing really,’ he said. ‘Just a bit of a catch up, that’s all.’

  Chapter 12

  Laura dragged a tissue across her lips, grimacing at herself in the mirror. Since when had she ever worn lipstick? Once upon a time, she told herself, a very long time ago, and she had no intention of starting again today. It wasn’t as if Blanche would even notice, so she could stop fooling herself that her neighbour was the cause of her madness. The trouble was, she wasn’t fooling herself; she knew exactly what the reason was, and his name was Stephen.

  She stared at her reflection angrily. Yes Stephen, no Stephen, three bags full Stephen, she mimicked. For heaven’s sake. Anyone would think she was a hormone-laden teenager the way she was carrying on, and most importantly what would Stephen think? He must be horrified by her behaviour. The first sign of a man who doesn’t want to run a mile from her and she throws herself at his feet. And what’s worse is he’s just being friendly, she reminded herself; no doubt because she was providing the flowers for his future sister-in-law’s wedding, and wasn’t that what the best man was supposed to do? Keep the staff sweet, chat up the single bridesmaids, and so on. It was a role that almost had its own job description, and she had fallen for his charming charade. Pathetic.

  She tugged at her fringe and thrust her hairbrush back into its pot. She just had time for some toast before it was time to go to the hospital. This time she’d make sure there was no necessity to stop for coffee and cake. Having Stephen accompany her to the hospital would certainly make things easier for her, there was no doubt about that, but that’s where it ended. They were going to visit her dear friend and that’s what she should focus on. She peered at herself again, narrowing her eyes in appraisal. It’s just that yesterday had been such a good day in many ways, and she really couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made her laugh like that…

  Boris alerted her to the ring of the doorbell, bang on the hour, and although she had been pacing the floor for a good ten minutes, she made sure that it took her at least another minute to answer the door. She was so determined to be welcoming but not gushing, friendly but not overly so, that the expression on Stephen’s face when they finally came face to face threw her completely.

  ‘Oh,’ was all she could manage. ‘Is everything all right?’

  He gave her a searching look. ‘Can I come in?’ he asked unnecessarily, hovering slightly on the threshold.

  Laura opened the door wider, allowing him to pass, and stared at his broad back as she followed him down the hallway. They came to rest in the kitchen, Stephen standing rather awkwardly with one hand on Boris’s head, who despite the tension in the air was trying to surreptitiously chew his fingers. Stephen didn’t seem to notice. He waited until Laura was standing facing him before he spoke. He must have cleared his throat because she saw his Adam’s apple rise and fall a couple of times before his lips started to move.

  ‘I wanted to apologise for yesterday,’ he started, ‘because I think it may have given you the wrong idea...'

  Laura’s heart sank. Even though she had been thinking much the same thing all morning, she would have preferred to be the one to say it. The thought distracted her for a moment.

  ‘Sorry, say again, I missed the first bit.’

  Stephen smiled softly. ‘No, I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I was talking about the police. I think I rather took it for granted that Giles was guilty, and perhaps you did too? Of course, all the police said they would do is look into the matter, and it never occurred to me to think anything else. I’m afraid it was my fault you ended up with the impression that it would all be okay – it was me, trying to be the big I am as usual.’

  Laura stared at him. What on earth was he talking about? She frowned then as the meaning of his words sunk in. ‘I’m not sure I’m following you,’ she said. ‘Isn’t everything okay? And anyway, what do you mean taking it for granted that Giles was guilty? He is guilty; I saw him!’

  ‘Laura… Giles has a watertight alibi for Monday, the police questioned him yesterday. They rang me this morning to tell me.’

  She opened her mouth and then closed it again. ‘But that’s not right,’ she blurted out. ‘How can it be?’

  Stephen’s expression was full of contrition, and something else too. Something she really didn’t like the look of.

  ‘I don’t know, Laura, I know how positive you are that Giles was driving the car that day, but… I’m not quite sure where that leaves us now.’

  Her cheeks began to burn. ‘Don’t you dare!’ she fired at him. ‘Don’t you dare say you believe me, when you clearly don’t. And if you ever look at me like that again, I swear I’ll throw you out. I don’t need your pity.’

  ‘Laura, I—’

  She turned her back on him. ‘Leave me alone,’ she said, trying to stop the rush of tears that were threatening to spill down her face. She stared at the wall, her fists clenched, fighting to stay in control.

  She wasn’t sure which emotion she felt the most. There was anger certainly, both at the police for giving her news she didn’t want to hear, and at Stephen for swallowing what they’d said without challenge, and for pitying her because she’d got it wrong again. But there was also sorrow, because she’d let Blanche down, and because she had got it wrong again, clearly. Just when she felt things had begun to look a little brighter she was right back where she’d been before; the pathetic deaf girl making a huge fuss over nothing again.

  She shook her head, trying to clear her confusion. This wasn’t right. None of this felt right; she’d been so sure. The minutes stretched out without interruption as she stared ahead, feeling her emotions swirling round her. She tried to pick one to focus on, but they were as elusive as butterflies.

  A few more seconds ticked by, moments which became increasingly uncomfortable. She’d led them both into an impasse she realised. Either she would have to turn around, or Stephen would have to do something to attract her attention. Both these options would feel stilted and unnatural and, worse, require some kind of capitulation, and she wasn’t ready to give in, not yet. Any minute now there’d be a tug to her arm, just as there had been on the day of the accident. She waited but none came, and she could feel her anger beginning to rise again.

  She whirled around, an accusation ready on her lips, and was astonished to find the kitchen empty; both Stephen and her dog had gone. Her anger subsided in seconds as a healthy dose of remorse replaced it. She hadn’t meant for Stephen to leave, not really, and anxiety quickened her heartbeat as she realised that she couldn’t bear for him to be gone.

  They must have gone out into the garden. From there the side gate led out to the path beside the house and back down the driveway. Stephen could so easily be halfway down the lane by now. She flung open the back door and rushed outside. Seated on her small bench under the kitchen window was Stephen, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his eyes closed against the warm autumn sun which slanted across the lawn. One hand rested on Boris’s head which lay gently in his lap. His eyes flew open as he heard her stumble out, his l
egs scrambling to tuck themselves beneath him so that he could sit up straighter.

  ‘I thought you’d gone,’ she said, her eyes wide with panic.

  ‘No,’ said Stephen with a soft smile. ‘I’m still here. You said you wanted to be left alone, that was all.’

  ‘Did I?’ she replied, ‘I don’t remember.’

  Another smile. ‘You did. You were quite clear.’

  Laura pressed her lips together. ‘Oh… I was worried that you’d gone, as in completely gone.’

  ‘Well, I thought about it… but I hazarded a guess you didn’t mean for me to leave you alone forever and, as you didn’t actually throw me out, I thought I’d stay. There is still time to throw me out of course.’

  She nodded slightly, not knowing what to say. She should apologise she knew that, but she couldn’t quite find the right words.

  Stephen shuffled imperceptibly sideways on the bench. ‘Perhaps you should come and sit down while you think about it,’ he said. ‘It’s quite nice and warm here in the sun.’

  Boris lifted his head as if to make room for her too. There really was nothing else she could do, so she edged onto the seat, keeping her knees pressed together.

  ‘You should close your eyes for a bit; stretch out,’ said Stephen, releasing his legs out from under the bench again. He laid his head back against the wall. ‘It’s such a beautiful day.’

  Laura did as she was told. The gentle heat was soothing, and she could feel her tension begin to slide away. After a few minutes, she felt Stephen’s fingers brush against her own. She opened her eyes to find him looking at her.

  ‘Would you possibly do something for me?’ he asked. ‘In return for my being such an obedient soul.’

  She nodded. ‘I might.’

  ‘Sit here quietly – quietly mind – without interrupting, while I try to explain what I attempted to a few minutes ago. Only this time I’m going to do it as I originally intended; without upsetting you, or giving you the impression that I don’t believe you, or, God forbid, that I pity you.’

  Laura’s stomach gave a lurch but she nodded again, her mouth firmly closed.

  ‘I feel really awful about yesterday,’ began Stephen. ‘I was furious with the way you were treated by those two policemen, and I think I lost sight of the reason we were there, ironically the same thing I accused them of. I was so determined to prove a point to them… and if I’m honest… well, I wanted to score a few brownie points with you too. That’s my innate macho arrogance getting the better of me I’m afraid.’ He rubbed a finger along a furrow in his brow. ‘When we came back outside it felt like we’d scored a victory and I never gave much thought to the consequences of our visit – because to me you were never anything other than one hundred percent certain of Giles’ guilt, and therefore so was I. It never even occurred to me that the police would find differently, and, if they did, how difficult this would be for you. And now I don’t know what to say, because they don’t believe Giles is guilty, and you do feel awful, and that’s probably all my fault.’

  Laura looked down at her hands in her lap, and those of Stephen lying inches away from her own. Slowly she moved one hand to cover his.

  ‘I’m sorry too,’ she said. ‘Just not half as eloquently as you. But, I am very grateful you’re still here, and that I haven’t managed to frighten you off completely, despite my best efforts. I’m just not sure how to say the rest of it.’

  ‘Well how about if I say that I think I already understand, and we’ll work the rest out as we go along. How does that sound?’

  Laura grinned. ‘Much better than anything that will come out of my mouth…’

  Stephen returned the smile. ‘Right, well are we going to sit here all day or are we going to see Blanche?’

  Laura stared incredulously at Stephen for the second time that day. ‘You’re actually still going to come with me?’ she asked, ‘After the way I’ve behaved?’

  ‘I know, sometimes I surprise myself. I thought I would have shouted a few profanities by now and gone down the pub. Instead, I find myself still here which is pretty impressive given my poor track record in being a kind and compassionate human being. Funny old world, isn’t it?’

  The heat was rising to her cheeks again, but this time not in anger. She looked at Stephen’s easy smile. ‘I’ll get my coat, shall I?’

  The journey to the hospital was silent for both of them, which was fine by Stephen. It gave him time to analyse the whole new barrage of thoughts that were swirling around his brain. Laura wasn’t so much complicated as like a tangled ball of string. He wondered idly if he would ever be able to unpick all the knots, or indeed why he would want to, which was the strangest thing.

  He had felt genuinely shocked at the news the police had given him. He honestly had not given a thought to Giles’s supposed guilt or not. He had believed that it was simply a matter of letting time take its course before the inevitable arrest came; but now he felt more confused than ever. He didn’t doubt Laura’s certainty for a second, but he could see clearly how now, more than ever, that her previous dealings with the Drummond family stood every chance of being dragged up again, and that thought worried him a great deal. There was still the matter of a serious unsolved crime of course, and as furtive glances at Laura in the car had confirmed, she was still distraught at what had happened to her friend.

  It wasn’t only concern for Blanche of course. For Laura, the trip to the hospital was taking her right back to a time she had fought hard to forget. It was bound up in tortured memories of her husband teetering on the edge of life, unable to respond to her, leaving Laura unsure whether her final words to him had even been heard. He had learned the story from Freya; how David had clung to life for two long days, the medical staff doing everything they could to heal his broken body, even though his death had been all but guaranteed from the moment he had been brought into hospital. Without her hearing to help her, Laura had missed so much of what had been going on, and had had to fight for every scrap of information she could get. It must have been a hellish void. He risked another glance at her, determined that if she needed support he would provide it. Just so long as she actually wanted it of course…

  The walk up to the orthopaedic ward seemed to take forever, and Stephen willed every turn of the corridor to lead them to their destination. Laura was palpably tense, and more than anything he longed to take her hand, but her closed body language shouted don’t touch me louder than words ever could. He too was beginning to get a little nervous about what they might find when they entered the ward.

  In the end he need not have worried. They eventually found Blanche at the end of a small bay, tucked into the corner under a huge window and beaming at a vivacious blonde who sat beside her bed. He hovered for a moment, unsure what to do for Laura’s sake, until Blanche’s visitor caught sight of them and got up immediately, a welcome smile on her face.

  ‘Mum, you are popular today!’ she laughed. ‘Look, someone else has come to see you.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Elizabeth, Blanche’s daughter,’ she added by way of explanation.

  Stephen stood back to let Laura shake the proffered hand. ‘Hi,’ she began shyly, ‘I’m Laura, one of Blanche’s neighbours…’

  The smile widened in recognition. ‘Yes, I think we’ve met once or twice, haven’t we? And of course, I’ve heard all about you, or rather I’ve heard all about the magical properties of your sloe gin.’

  Laura gave Stephen a hesitant look. ‘I thought about bringing a bottle along with me today… but I didn’t think it would be allowed…’

  ‘You’re probably right. Pity though, eh Mum? You’d have liked a drop of that.’

  Stephen glanced at Blanche who was lying flat on her back but, apart from a bright pink bandage circling her wrist, looked surprisingly none the worse for wear.

  She waved at Laura with her good arm. ‘Come and sit down dear,’ she said, patting the chair beside the bed where her daughter had been sitting. ‘That’s all right Elizabeth,
isn’t it? That way I can talk to Laura properly.’

  Elizabeth flashed Stephen a knowing smile. ‘Perhaps you and I could go and find some other chairs?’ she suggested smoothly. ‘That way Laura can have Mum to herself for a few minutes without us all gabbling at once.’

  Stephen felt his shoulders relax. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind. We’ve rather barged in on your visiting time.’

  ‘Oh, I’ve been here most of the day, don’t worry. We’re just waiting for the doctor’s round so that mum can be discharged. She’s coming home to me for a bit, until she’s properly on her feet. Come on and I’ll fill you in.’

  She led the way back down the ward, her heels clicking on the floor. Despite the fact that Elizabeth wasn’t too far off being old enough to be his own mother, she was a very attractive woman, and at any other time Stephen would have admired the sway of her hips in her tight jeans, or the cashmere jumper which clung to all the right places, but not today. He was only concerned with how Laura was feeling.

  ‘That was very kind, thank you,’ he said, as they reached the corridor outside.

  Elizabeth turned. ‘Not at all,’ she replied. ‘Mum told me that Laura’s deaf, but aside from that I’ve got a bit of an ulterior motive I’m afraid. That’s why I wanted to talk to you by yourself.’

  Stephen looked back down the row of beds.

  ‘Oh?’ he said.

  ‘Since her accident, I’ve been in to see Mum most days, and she’s really quite worried about Laura. To be honest I’m rather ashamed that I hadn’t realised what good friends they are, or that Laura had been calling in on Mum nearly every day to check on her. Physically, mum’s going to be fine. She’s as tough as old boots actually, but the doctors are more concerned about her up here at the moment.’ She tapped the side of her head. ‘At her age the shock of the accident and a bad fall can be a real setback, and couple that with the fact that she’s not going to be going at the same speed as she used to, the effect on her mental health could be disastrous. A young lad came to visit Mum earlier today and since then she’s been quite distressed about Laura’s wellbeing. That’s why I’m so glad to see her; it might help to put Mum’s mind at rest… particularly now that you’ve come with her. Mum mentioned that Laura was on her own, you see.’ She gave Stephen an apologetic smile. ‘Are you—?’