The Life You Left. Carmel Harrington

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СКАЧАТЬ was a firm favourite. James adored it and she wanted to give him a little treat. And the added bonus was that Risotto was really inexpensive, but didn’t look it.

      She’d prepared most of it, but would actually finish it when everyone had finished their starter. For dessert she had made Banoffi cupcakes. This was often a dessert she made for friends the odd time she entertained. She made her usual cupcakes but added some mashed banana to the mixture instead of fruit or nuts. Then when they were cooked she took the top off the cupcakes making a little hole in the centre of them with her heart shaped cookie cutter. She then poured the Banoffi caramel into the hole, topped this with chopped bananas and some whipped cream. It really was very good and as Mary had said that cupcakes were her favourite, she wanted to surprise her with these.

      James was bringing the alcohol, although she did have a bottle of red and white ready to go too. The kids had made place names for the table; they were excited at the thought of a dinner party. They even made a place name for Benji and put it on the floor beside a bowl of water they put down. She was just going to make some lunch for Ella soon and have her fed before everyone arrived. That way she would hopefully sit happily in her high chair when they all ate. It was all about timings with a little baby!

      Putting Ella into said highchair she spied James out in the garden with the kids. He was a big child himself, he had his shoes off already and was jumping up and down on the trampoline like a lunatic. The kids were squealing with delight jumping on top of him every time he fell down.

      Ella was in high spirits and had picked up that something important was happening. She was a really sociable baby, loved having people all around her, so she was literally bouncing up and down in her highchair, too excited to eat her food.

      James walked in the back door gasping for breath. ‘That trampoline is a killer. That’s better than any workout at the gym!’ he declared with a clink of bottles banging together as he placed the wine on the floor.

      Sarah laughed; he was puffing from the exertion. ‘Grab a beer and sit down. You’ll survive!’

      ‘Something smells gorgeous. Banoffi cupcakes?’ James asked hopefully.

      ‘The one and only.’ Sarah answered.

      ‘Before the others get here, I have to talk to you about Paul.’

      ‘Did you find anything out?’ Sarah asked quietly. Looking at her brother’s face she figured he had and she wasn’t sure she’d be pleased at what he was about to disclose.

      ‘Yeah, I know where he is. You’ll not like it, sis.’ He said slowly.

      ‘Go on, tell me. I’ve been imagining all sorts. Nothing could be worse than my imagination.’ She braced herself for James’s words.

      James wasn’t so sure. ‘Saz, he’s in London.’

      Sarah grappled for the kitchen counter to steady herself. She had imagined many scenarios as to where Paul could be, but none of them involved him being in a different country. She’d just assumed he was in Ireland somewhere, maybe in a cottage in Cork or Kerry like one of the holiday lets they’d had in previous summers with the kids. They didn’t know anyone in London, so she was at a loss as to why he was there.

      ‘Ok, here’s the deal. I rang his company and asked to speak to him. And the receptionist told me that he didn’t work in Ireland any more. I asked her why, and she informed me that he’d been promoted and taken a transfer to their London Headquarters. He moved over there over five weeks ago and has been working there since. I asked her for his new number and she gave it to me. I rang them and they said he was with a client at the minute but I didn’t leave a message, sis. I did ask them if he was now better as I’d heard he’d been unwell. The receptionist in London seemed puzzled and said that he’d not been absent from work at all. So I said to her that I must have him muddled up with someone else and I just hung up.’ James finished, never taking his eyes off his sister. He wished he could do something to take away the look of pure horror Sarah had on her face.

      Sarah felt completely bewildered. ‘If he got a promotion why didn’t he just tell me? Why didn’t he talk to me about moving to London? Did he think I’d not want to go? Why lie and tell me he’s depressed and out sick. What’s he playing at for goodness sake?’

      ‘I don’t know but this is far more serious than him just needing to sort his head out. He’s been lying to you about work and the country he’s in! What else is he lying about? I’m sorry but it doesn’t look good.’ James replied.

      Sarah suddenly felt her body go rigid with anger. She started to pace her kitchen and felt the urge to scream. Here she was coping with the children on her own, scraping to make ends meet whilst at the same time worrying about Paul, thinking he was suffering and depressed. She thought she was doing the right thing giving him space to sort himself out as he requested, but all along he was in London working away, not a bother on him. She’d bloody well kill him.

      He’d always been a bit flaky, she’d often felt let down by him over the years, but this was in a different league. She’d excused him missing birthdays or anniversaries, because in fairness he would always make it up to her. He’d come home and surprise her with a night away in ‘their’ hotel and they would have a blissful childfree twenty-four hours, where she’d remember what it was like to be a wife, a lover. She felt scared again and looked at her back door, wondering if she could simply run away herself. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to take anymore. But then she looked at the children jumping up and down on their trampoline, pure joy on their faces and she knew that she would have to face this, for their sake.

      ‘Do you have the address and number of where he is?’

      ‘I do.’ He handed a piece of paper over to her.

      ‘I’m going to ask Rita to take the kids for a few days next week after the funeral. I’m going to London. I’ve got to see him face to face and find out what the hell is going on.’ Sarah said, making the decision as she spoke.

      ‘You can’t go on your own. I’m in the middle of two cases at the minute in work, so leave it a week or so till I sort out some time off.’

      Sarah shook her head. ‘You’re a star, as always. But no, this one I’ve got to do on my own. If I need you, I’ll tell you. But this is my marriage or what’s left of it anyhow. I’ve got to sort this one out on my own.’

      ‘You’re taking this better than I thought you would.’ James said, a little surprised at how unemotional she seemed. He had expected tears at the very least.

      ‘I’m too angry right now. I’m furious with him, putting me and the kids through this. It’s all so unnecessary. I’ve wasted too many tears on him already; I’m not wasting any on him today.’ She finished defiantly.

      ‘Good for you!’ James responded, squeezing his sister’s shoulder. ‘You hold onto that anger. He deserves it, every bit of it. Sock it to him when you see him.’

      He jumped up and pulled out a bottle of red. ‘Pinot Noir for the young lady?’ Glancing at Sarah as she shook her head, he ignored her, deftly opening the bottle and pouring a glass for her. ‘You need this, you have to be in the right frame of mind for luuurrrvvve, Cilla!!!’

      Laughing half-heartedly, Sarah accepted the glass, taking a sip. ‘Cheers, bro. What I’d do without you I just don’t know.’

      ‘You’d be lost, alone and miserable, that’s what you’d be. A lucky girl you СКАЧАТЬ