United States of Love. Sue Fortin

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СКАЧАТЬ didn't bring my car back in time.’

      ‘You still got there okay, and got a lift back in style.’

      ‘No thanks to you.’ Glaring at him, Anna dropped her bag to the floor and threw her coat onto the back of the sofa. ‘You could at least apologise.’

      Mark gave a sideways look. ‘I'm sorry.’

      He didn't sound particularly sincere, Anna thought, but at least he had apologised.

      ‘I was just hoping you would have time to think about us. I didn't expect you to be getting it on with your client.’

      Anna let out an exasperated sigh. ‘I wasn't getting anything on with my client. It's just business.’

      ‘So that answers one question. What about the other? Did you think about us?’ His voice was calm and soft now.

      Anna sighed sadly. ‘Mark, I think we’re better off apart. In fact, I know we are.’ She really didn't want to have this conversation. She almost felt sorry for him, guilty even, until she remembered how she had felt during their marriage, and what he had done. The pain might not be so real now but she couldn’t forget how much hurt she had endured back then.

      ‘Listen, there's something I want to tell you,’ began Mark. ‘I … ’

      Anna shook her head fiercely. ‘No. Not now, Mark. Please.’ Picking up her bag, she made for the stairs. ‘I'm too tired and I still haven't finished work yet.’

      Leaving Mark standing open-mouthed by the sofa, she went upstairs to ring Jamie.

      ‘Tex was really impressed with you,’ enthused Jamie. Anna wondered whether Tex was referring to her skills as a PA or in being able to say no to him. ‘I'm really happy and confident about giving you more work if you want to carry on,’ Jamie continued.

      ‘I'd be delighted,’ answered Anna, a morass of feelings swirling round in her head, half of her hoping the work would be with Tex, the other half hoping it wouldn't. She didn't know if she would be able to resist him for too long.

      Home from school, Luke grinned with delight at seeing his father seated on the sofa. ‘Hi, Dad! You're back then.’

      ‘Yeah, I'm back here with the Ice Maiden. She's not in a good mood with me.’

      Anna ignored Mark's comment, the atmosphere between them as stilted as it had been all afternoon. She continued preparing the evening meal. Jacket potatoes tonight. Nice and easy. And she knew Mark didn't really like them.

      Luke headed straight for the fridge. ‘You still fed up about the car, Mum?’

      ‘Don't start picking, tea will be ready soon.’ Anna tapped Luke's arm and closed the fridge door. ‘And as far as your dad is concerned, just ignore him.’

      ‘I don't know why you're being so pissy, you're not usually,’ frowned Luke, stealing a pinch of cheese Anna was grating.

      Mark appeared in the doorway and lounged against the wall. ‘I was thinking of going back to the States,’ he announced. ‘I'm not sure if it's working out me being here.’

      ‘What?’ exclaimed Luke. ‘You've only been here a couple of weeks. He doesn't have to go does he, Mum?’

      ‘Well … it's up to your dad,’ said Anna, totally surprised by this apparent U-turn. What was all that about getting back together then?

      ‘Of course I don't want to go, but … ’

      ‘Just stay, Dad,’ pleaded Luke. ‘It will be okay. Mum's just having a couple of stressy days. Aren't you, Mum?’

      ‘It's not quite that simple,’ Anna said.

      ‘I think maybe my coming back was a mistake.’ Mark looked over at Anna as he spoke. If he was hoping for her to refute this, then he was out of luck. Anna said nothing.

      ‘It wasn't a mistake, Dad. It's a good thing. I've really enjoyed you being here. It's just like it used to be. I wish you could stay, you know, for good. Here.’ Luke dropped his gaze to his trainers. ‘Just stay for now, please.’

      ‘All right,’ said Mark after a lengthy pause. ‘I'll hang about for a bit longer, just as long as your mum doesn't mind.’

      ‘You don't mind do you, Mum?’ said Luke looking eagerly at Anna.

      ‘Well, I … err … ’ began Anna. Yes, she did mind wasn't what Luke really wanted her to say.

      ‘Why don't you just say yes?’ her son snapped. ‘Why don't you just say, “I think it's a great idea? Your dad is more than welcome.”’

      Anna looked at Mark, hoping for a bit of support. Wrong. Mark just shrugged in a nothing-to-do-with-me sort of way. Not for the first time, she sensed that Mark was manipulating everyone around him.

      ‘Don't you need to get back for work?’ she asked Mark, hoping he would take the hint.

      ‘Oh no. They can manage without me for a bit longer. Well, that's that sorted then.’ Mark pushed himself upright from the wall and grinning at Luke, gave him a playful punch on the arm. ‘Cheers mate.’

      Luke beamed back.

      Anna had to marvel at the laser-precision, pincer movement Mark and Luke had just executed. Attack from both sides. She never stood a chance. Now it looked like she had Mark here indefinitely.

      ‘Just give him a chance, Mum,’ said Luke after Mark had gone upstairs for a shower. ‘Everyone deserves one. You always say that yourself.’

      ‘It's not that simple,’ said Anna reticently.

      ‘Of course it is. You're just making it difficult.’

      Anna sighed. How much did you tell your son about your marriage? ‘Listen, Luke. You know I wouldn’t say anything bad about your dad to you, but you have to understand lots of things happened between me and him, things that you wouldn’t know about.’

      ‘I’m not stupid,’ grumbled Luke. ‘I remember the arguments. Dad being out late or all night. You crying.’ He paused, looking at her before dropping his gaze. ‘I know about the baby and the other women.’

      Anna gulped. She had often wondered if he knew more than she or, indeed, Mark gave him credit for. ‘I’m sorry you do. I guess I never protected you from it as much as I thought.’

      ‘But you could still give him another chance. Now that he’s had a year to sort himself out. Couldn’t you?’

      Anna gave Luke a hug, which felt slightly ridiculous as he was several inches taller than her already. ‘Let’s just worry about you and Dad getting to know each other again. That’s the important thing.’

      Jamie had asked her to step in at the last minute to cover for another member of staff who was sick. She was to accompany a German woman and her two children on a school visit in Brighton and help with the interpreting. Anna had really enjoyed this assignment. It was great to be able to practice her German and the family were very charming and polite. An unexpectedly busy week as it had transpired, СКАЧАТЬ