Time After Time: A heart-warming novel about love, loss and second chances. Hannah McKinnon Mary

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СКАЧАТЬ Hayley recognised the stalling manoeuvre instantly.

      Mark took the lead. ‘Look, when I saw Rick last week he told me things were a bit, uh, tense.’ Hayley started to protest but Mark continued. ‘And Ellen said you withdraw when you’re unhappy, didn’t you?’ Hayley saw Ellen shoot him her very best ‘shut up or die’ stare but Mark didn’t seem to notice and opened his mouth to continue.

      ‘What Mark is trying to say,’ Ellen said loudly, putting a hand on his thigh, ‘is that you don’t talk as much as you used to and perhaps you should.’

      Hayley felt her shoulders stiffen. Rick had spoken to Mark about their problems behind her back? The double standard wasn’t lost on her – because here she was, talking to them.

      They were my bloody sodding friends first.

      She ignored how childish it sounded in her head. What else had Rick told them? That they hadn’t had sex in three months? As she felt the heat rising to her face, Hayley changed the subject clumsily, not caring how obvious it appeared.

      ‘Will you cut my hair Ellen, please, I’m desperate. What do you think about colouring it? Would chestnut look good?’

      Ellen took the bait. ‘Maybe more of a golden brown? It’ll brighten your skin.’

      ‘And will you do mine too, honey?’ Mark said in a high voice. ‘I hear highlights are all the rage again.’

      Ellen laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. ‘Shush, you.’

      ‘And work’s okay?’ Hayley said, trying to keep the focus on Ellen. ‘Still enjoying it?’

      ‘Love it. Although this week? Completely nuts. I’m so glad my boss gave me the weekend off. I’m knackered.’

      ‘And you?’ She looked at Mark.

      ‘Never better,’ he said as he stretched out his arms. ‘I’m living the dream, I am. Selling insurance always was my calling. In fact, I want a T-shirt that says “Insurance agents are premium lovers”.’

      Ellen groaned.

      Mark laughed. ‘Nah, it’s fine. It pays the bills.’

      ‘How’s your dad?’ Ellen asked. ‘Any better?’

      Hayley shook her head.

      ‘It’s only been a year,’ Mark said.

      ‘I know, but …’ Hayley sighed deeply. ‘He’s not improving anymore, you know?’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll never hear him talk again. He’ll never walk properly again …’

      Ellen nodded. ‘I can’t even imagine … How’s your mum?’

      ‘She copes.’

      ‘Still writing for that greeting card company?’

      ‘Yep. And each time I see her in a new light. The stuff she comes up with is disgusting.’ A smile returned to Hayley’s lips. ‘It was a caption for a picture of an old, wrinkly, naked couple the other week. Something about saggy boobs looking like testicles.’

      Mark almost choked on his drink. ‘Nice.’

      As they drank more wine and the evening passed, Hayley mellowed. The weight of her frustrations lessened to that of a double-decker bus, although she knew another five were waiting to drive back onto her shoulders in the morning.

      She stayed far longer than she had intended, but Hayley loved the warmth of Mark and Ellen’s place. It was understated with its flat-pack furniture and well-used sofas, small kitchen and dented wooden floors. Hayley always thought of it as inviting and cosy – just how she used to feel about her own home. She’d lived in the flat with Ellen years ago, before she moved out and Mark moved in, and well before Morgan arrived. They’d had some incredible times there and memories lingered in every room. Good memories.

      Shortly before midnight Mark played rock, paper, scissors with Ellen to decide who would get up with Morgan. He lost.

      ‘Don’t worry, darling,’ Ellen said. ‘I’ll make your favourite apple pie as a consolation prize.’

      Mark got up, kissed Ellen on the lips and Hayley on the cheek, then he squeezed Hayley’s hand and said, ‘Talk to Rick, he’s a good bloke.’

      Ellen refilled their glasses and flopped back down on the sofa.

      ‘Alright then,’ she said, propping her head up with one arm. ‘Work is shit and Charles is a fuck-head. But what’s really going on with you and Rick?’

      Hayley sighed. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I see you two. You’re still so close …’ Ellen kept quiet and Hayley continued. ‘We fight over stupid stuff. We don’t laugh together anymore. And sex, well,’ she shook her head, ‘not for ages and when we do it feels like a routine. Everything’s a routine. I get up, go to work, go home, work some more, go to bed and start all over again the next day. The weeks blend into each other.’ Hayley clicked her tongue. ‘It’s a phase – I’m in a rut and I don’t how to get out of it.’

      ‘You’ve been through a lot in a very short time, Hayley, even for you. Is there anything we can do to help? Shall we take the kids for a day so you can talk?’

      ‘No, but thanks. I’ll be okay. Things will get better. They have to. I can’t imagine going on like this.’ They were both silent for a while until Hayley spoke again, more quietly this time. ‘Can I ask you something?’

      ‘Always.’

      ‘Do you … do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you hadn’t married Mark?’

      Ellen frowned and sipped her wine. ‘Not really. I mean, he drives me barmy. After twenty years he still tells me to put the cap back on the toothpaste. You’d think the bugger would have given up by now.’ She grinned and shrugged. ‘Anyway, you know what my grandmother always said.’

      ‘No, what?’

      ‘I’ve never considered divorce but I’ve often thought of murder.’ They both laughed. ‘I almost murdered him the other night. He was late and his phone was dead. I’d already planned his funeral and chosen my outfit by the time he’d got home.’

      Hayley giggled. ‘You didn’t tell him that, did you?’

      ‘Course I did. He said if I played “My Heart Will Go On” he’d spin in his coffin and haunt me forever.’ She sniffed. ‘So I told him I’d play “Another One Bites the Dust” instead.’

      Hayley laughed. ‘See? You two crack me up.’

      ‘What can I say? He’s the love of my life. Yeah, there’s a certain routine but it’s stable too.’ She paused. ‘So you’re wondering then, are you? What your life would be like?’

      ‘Yes, sometimes,’ Hayley answered quietly. ‘Often, these days.’ She’d never actually said it out loud before.

      ‘Really?’

      ‘Yeah. СКАЧАТЬ