Diana placed her phone back down on the work surface and studied it for a second, tempted to ring Jason herself. But then, that might only exacerbate their problems. Having an interfering mother-in-law meddling in his affairs wouldn’t help Jason’s mood any.
She would speak to him, but not yet. She turned back to the fridge to pour herself a large glass of wine while she pondered. She didn’t believe that Jason had just decided one day that he’d had enough and started trawling these sites out of bitterness. If she knew Jason at all, he simply wasn’t made that way. There was more to this, Diana was sure of it. Jason wouldn’t just throw in the towel because Robert had refused him financial backing. He wouldn’t throw away his marriage, thereby giving Robert exactly what he’d always wanted. There was always the possibility he was no longer in love with Karla, but Diana’s instinct told her that wasn’t the case. Which left one other option: Jason must truly believe he had no other choice.
Diana fervently hope that wasn’t the case. Because if it was, then Robert had definitely gone too far. He’d stolen Sarah’s life. She couldn’t allow him to ruin Karla’s. Somehow, Diana had to find out what had gone on in Robert’s office. She had to find a way to prevent four people’s lives from being destroyed. If that meant bringing forward her plans, then so be it. It would have repercussions for her, but Diana had long lived with the knowledge that the actions she’d taken years ago might catch up with her. She was ready now to live with the consequences, painful though they would be.
Twenty-Seven
JASON
As he pulled up outside the house, Jason looked towards the windows and sighed heavily. He’d never thought there would come a day that he wouldn’t look forward to going home after work. Right now, though, with him and Karla only speaking to communicate about the kids over the last few days, he would rather be anywhere else. He had no choice, he reminded himself. His reason for being there was the kids. His reason for being at all.
Which was feeling sorry for himself, obviously. He pulled himself up. Karla was the real victim in all of this. She was changing, moving away from him, building her own life, she’d said, which basically meant she was going out at night, staying out. He needed to be here.
Taking a breath, he grabbed his phone and reached for the car door, then paused as he realised he had a message. He was surprised to see it was from Jessie. They’d chatted for a while when they first messaged. She’d told him about her nursing job at Carlow general hospital, making him smile with a few hair-raising tales of embarrassing accident and emergency situations. She’d also told him about her last boyfriend, who turned out to be a ‘lying shite’ – married, she’d discovered, and had promptly dumped him. Jason had been vague, avoiding saying anything about his personal circumstances, other than that he was recently separated – and he’d felt he was betraying Karla by saying that much. As he’d heard nothing from Jessie since, he’d assumed she’d shied away from the ‘recently separated’ scenario. Not sure he knew how to handle it, whether he should just accept being on his own rather than go down this impulsive route, Jason had half hoped she wouldn’t follow it up. Wondering now whether to answer, he pulled up the message, and then smiled when he read it.
So, are we still talking? Or did you find me about as scintillating as watching paint dry?
Ouch, he thought. Another woman whose feelings he’d hurt. She’d probably assumed he would contact her. Glancing towards the house, Jason hesitated and then keyed in a reply.
If you were paint, you would be sunshine yellow in colour. You brightened my day. It was corny, but he really didn’t want to leave another woman questioning her confidence because of him.
Full marks on the flattery.Keep it up.She sent back, with a winking emoji.
Jason’s smile widened. She could have sent a rolling-eyes one, he supposed.
So, you’re sporty.Athletically toned then?she asked him.You look like you are – unless your photo is ten years old?
It’s not, Jason assured her.Not doing much sport at the moment though.
What’s your fave? Tennis or squash, I bet, so you can sneak off at lunchtimes?
Into more physical sport.Jason didn’t mention the extreme sports, fancying that would make him sound as if he was trying to come across as some kind of macho man.
Hmm? Interesting, she sent back.
Jason laughed.You?
Outdoors girl: walking, cycling, swimming.Indoors: weightlifting.
Jason raised an eyebrow.Weightlifting?
Lager girl. Pint glass. So, do you want to elaborate on the ‘recently separated’? Or have I just turned a boring shade of brown?
Jason wavered. He was messing her about. He had to stop this, be honest with her. But then, albeit they were only messaging, she seemed easy to talk to. He so badly needed that: someone to just talk to, someone who might actually be listening, where Karla had simply stopped.
Glancing again towards the house, he debated, then typed.Can we talk later? I’m in the car.He pressed send.
Can do. Get back when you can. X
Will do,Jason replied. Would he? Again, he prevaricated, guilt doing battle with the aching loneliness he felt inside. He’d never imagined you could actually feel your heart breaking, but he felt it now. Did he really want to break Karla’s heart further by doing this?
Still undecided, wondering now whether he should send a message explaining instead, which would be crass and insensitive, he’d no doubt, Jason climbed out of his car and walked wearily to the front door. Josh was heading from the lounge to the stairs as he let himself in. He noted he was already in his pyjamas, which was unheard of for Josh, who liked to push bedtimes to the limit. ‘All right, tiger?’ he asked him. ‘Going up already?’
Josh shrugged and nodded unenthusiastically. ‘Mum’s going out,’ he said, his eyes downcast. ‘I can’t stand Megan. All she ever does is talk girl stuff with Holly.’
‘Right.’ Jason glanced warily up the stairs, to where he assumed Karla would be getting ready to go out for the third time that week – ‘With friends,’ she’d told him vaguely, when he’d asked. He dearly wished she wouldn’t do this, but he was in no position to try to appeal to her. He just prayed she was safe – she was clearly drinking to excess, coming home at all hours, and he was desperately worried that one night she might not.
He also had a problem with Megan, the babysitter, which is why he was making sure he was here. He and Karla had both been majorly unimpressed with her the last time she’d babysat. What would he do about her imminent arrival? Pay her, he supposed – something for her trouble, anyway – and tell her they didn’t need her tonight after all.
