“I could ask if you’re okay, but I was at the nurse’s station when you tried to get onto the ward and it seemed obvious that you were far from it and you seem a bit overdressed for the NHS.” He attempted to lighten her mood. “I am free for a while if you fancy a coffee and a chat?”
“Are you sure? I am at a loose end, but I am sure you must have better things to do,” she smiled.
“I do have other things that I need to do at some point, but nothing better, Steph, come on.” He reached for her hand to lead her down a corridor and into a locker room come staff room where he put the kettle on and made her a cup of strong tea.
“Can I tempt you to a Jammie Dodger?” asked Chris as he extended a half open packet of biscuits under Steph’s nose.
“No thanks.”
“Are you sure? They used to be your favourites.” He laughed gently as he waved the packet more vigorously in front of her face.
“Oh, sod it.” She took the packet and dunked a biscuit into her tea.
“So, why the posh frock and sad face?” Chris took the seat opposite her.
“That is a very long and messed up story.”
“Look, I can’t promise that I can listen to the whole story now, but I could make a start and if you still need an ear to bend, we could continue this later, when I am off shift,” he said sincerely.
“Okay, maybe if I give you the edited highlights or at least the lowlights. I found something out about Jon tonight that hurt me beyond belief,” she started feeling slightly disloyal to be sharing details with Chris of all people.
“Go on.”
“He lied to me, not a bad lie, but a big lie. I can’t believe he would do that to me, but he did and the worst thing is that he doesn’t really see why we can’t just forget about it, but I don’t think I can and I feel so angry with him,” she said feeling more confused as she tried to make sense of it in her head and out loud. “I walked out on him, at a very formal function and I didn’t know where I should go and I thought if I could talk it through with my dad it might make some sense, but . . .”
“But you’d missed visiting.” Chris reached across and took her hand in his.
“Maybe it’s for the best, you and him, he seemed a bit OTT to me and he warned me off you and got Mr Wright onside with his cash.” There was a definite sneer to Chris’ tone making Steph uncomfortable again.
“He just likes to be in control of everything,” she told him calmly before removing her hand from his.
“What will you do about work? He said he was your boss.” Chris shifted awkwardly in his seat looking slightly embarrassed that she had released herself from his grip.
“He is my boss, but I can’t do anything about that for now and my job is a very good one with lots of opportunities so I willhave to see how things pan out there.” That really did seem to be the best immediate plan.
“Maybe your job won’t be that good now that you’ve dumped him.” said Chris and had her boss been anyone else, she would have probably held the same concerns, but she didn’t.
“I don’t think he employed me for being his girlfriend. I actually am very good at my job you know,” she said seriously and a little affronted.
“I’m sure you are, but . . .” started Chris.
“You know what, I should be going. I have a busy day tomorrow. Thanks for listening, but I think this, me bending your ear is a very bad idea.”
“Why don’t I call you?” Chris asked almost desperately making Steph feel guilty.
“Okay, or if you’re free one night,” she said and looked at the wall clock, “For dinner, as friends, old friends,” she suggested.
“Cool, I’ll call you,” he replied as she got to her feet. “See you then, Stevie,” he called as she left the room and headed down to reception to call a cab.
Steph got as faras the car park to her flat where she immediately saw Jon’s car next to her own and knew that she couldn’t face him, not yet. He would bamboozle her with his words and his touch and she would forgive him, she knew she would because she wanted to and she was so weak where Jon was concerned. The depth of her love for him made her weak and susceptible to his wishes and right now she couldn’t risk that. When they talked again she needed to be in some way resistant to him and prepared to hear the full story on Mrs Brooker, Penny.
Turning quickly, she headed to her car and got in with no clue where she could or should go, but she knew she had to go, toget away from Jonathan Brooker, to go somewhere he wouldn’t find her, not for a few days anyway.
Heading out of the car park she looked in her rear view mirror and wondered how she was ever going to recover from this, from Jon, from being without him.
Fifteen
Waking slowly, Steph stretched out expecting to feel Jon’s body next to her or at least the warmth of it still resonating from the sheets, but as its absence registered in her mind she winced at the recollection of the previous night’s events. The urge to cry was overwhelming and when she rolled over and gave into it she couldn’t actually believe how physically painful his non-existence in her life really was. She lay curled up in the foetal position for possibly hours before getting up and forcing herself to wash and dress.
