How Laura Lewis Met Richard Brown

Chapter Twenty-Nine

‘Come and sit down, Henry.’ Richard hollered to his son from the kitchen where he was busy spooning potatoes into a serving dish. Tracey carved pieces of chicken and placed them onto a serving plate, while Jack drained the carrots. It was like a well-oiled production line. Everyone had their job.

‘I want to sit next to Laura,’ Henry demanded from where he sat on the couch. Then, without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Laura by the hand, pulled her up from the couch and led her over to the dining table which had been pulled out into the middle of the room so that everyone could comfortably sit around it.

‘I’ll sit next to you too,’ Megan offered with a smile as she made her way to the table. ‘So I can keep an eye on this little monkey.’

Laura laughed. She liked this little boy, with his no-nonsense way of speaking. Children were like an open book. They simply said what was on their mind. No messing. You knew where you were with kids.

As Laura moved across the room, she glanced at her surroundings. The decor was modern and bright, and very much what Laura would choose for her own home. But was it Richard’s taste or his late wife’s? Something told her that Sally had chosen the wallpaper, the soft furnishings and overall colour scheme, not Richard. But perhaps they had chosen it together? Her eyes loitered on the floor-to-ceiling bookcases that lined the walls of the dining room. Richard had an eclectic taste in books. Had he got this passion for reading from Gertie? Probably.

‘It was so kind of Richard to invite me to Sunday lunch,’ Laura said to Megan as they sat down on either side of Henry. ‘I hope I’m not imposing.’

‘Oh, you’re not imposing,’ Tracey said. She’d just appeared in the room carrying the tray of carved chicken. ‘It’s always a pleasure to have one of Richard’s friends to Sunday lunch.’ She leaned forward a little and lowered her voice. ‘It’s been a long time since he’s invited anyone around for Sunday lunch with the family.’

Laura felt her face grow hot. She lowered her eyes and avoided looking at Richard who had just entered the room carrying a huge serving bowl of new potatoes.

This was going to be so much harder than she’d first thought. She also didn’t like the way that Tracey was talking about Richard. This was his home. He’d invited Tracey and Jack and Megan, and he had chosen to invite her too. That had nothing to do with Tracey. So she shot Tracey a defiant look and a forced smile.

Richard cleared his throat and placed the serving dish on the table.

Laura couldn’t believe the effort he had gone to, just for Sunday lunch. The table groaned with food. Plus there was a bottle of sparkling wine alongside a jug of water. Did they do this every Sunday? Surely not.

Remembering her manners, Laura turned her attention back to Tracey who had just sat down opposite her. ‘This is lovely, Tracey. You’ve gone to so much effort. I really appreciate it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal.’

A deathly hush descended around the table.

All eyes were on Richard.

Had she said something wrong? Laura, too, looked at Richard, whose face was slowly turning a crimson colour. He wouldn’t meet anyone’s gaze as he looked down at his empty plate.

‘Richard is the cook,’ Tracey explained, breaking the silence. ‘He always cooks us Sunday lunch, and usually we all get together at least once a month.’

‘Oh,’ Laura said. Had she misheard Richard? No, she had distinctively heard him say that he wouldn’t subject her to his cooking and that Tracey was the cook. Why would he lie? Surely he wouldn’t be embarrassed about the fact that he could cook? He had a small child to take care of. He needed to cook. It was a good thing that he could. And then it struck her. He hadn’t wanted her to know, because then it would look like he was making too much of an effort. Like it was a sort of date. He had wanted to appear casual, as if it was a throwaway invite, but that didn’t even make sense as this whole idea had apparently been Gertie’s. And then the truth hit her like a thunderbolt. This hadn’t been Gertie’s idea at all. Inviting her along to Sunday lunch to meet his family had been all his own doing.

The chicken stuck in her throat.

‘Oh, I’m so s-sorry.’ She stuttered in her attempt to say something, anything. ‘I just assumed . . .’ She picked up her water glass and gulped down a mouthful of water. He had added lime.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Tracey said. She shot Richard a look, as if silently willing him to say something.

Richard looked up and smiled sheepishly at everyone. ‘Right, well, here’s to friendship. Old and new.’ He raised his water glass and everyone held their glasses aloft in a silent toast. He looked over at his son who was sitting opposite him. ‘You hungry, Henry?’

‘Yep,’ Henry said. ‘But I do not want to eat my carrots.’

‘What a surprise! But you have to eat at least one carrot. That’s the rule.’ Richard tried to hide his smile.

Henry pulled a face but nodded in agreement.

Laura leaned over towards Henry and whispered in his ear. ‘I don’t like carrots either, so I’ll do you a deal. If you eat a carrot, so will I.’

Henry studied her for a moment, as if pondering this deal and wondering if it was a good one, before breaking out into a huge grin. He thrust out his hand. ‘Deal. Let’s shake on it.’

His face looked so serious that Laura had to clamp her mouth shut so as not to laugh. She shook his hand.

Out of the corner of Laura’s eye, she saw Tracey smile as she looked pointedly towards Richard.

Laura helped herself to more chicken and tried to forget what she had just seen.

* * *

‘That was lovely, thank you,’ Laura said, pushing her empty plate away. She couldn’t eat another thing.

‘No problem,’ Richard said. ‘Glad you could make it.’ His eyes widened and he flashed her a quick smile.

It was the first time he had directly addressed her during the meal. His attention had been on Henry, or he had chatted to Jack. Laura had talked to Megan, who had tried to bring Richard into their conversation without success.

‘Right, I’ll go and make us some coffee then,’ Richard said.

‘It’ll go nicely with the chocolate cake I bought,’ Tracey said.

Henry’s ears pricked up at the words chocolate cake . He turned to Laura and touched her on the arm. ‘I love chocolate cake.’

‘Me too,’ Laura said with a grin.

Henry grinned back, and Laura was taken aback by how similar he looked to his father when he smiled. Richard should smile more.

Tracey stood up and began to gather plates. All efficiency. She made Laura nervous.

‘Here, let me help you,’ Laura said, taking Henry’s plate.

‘No, you’re fine. You sit there and have a rest. You’ve been working all morning,’ Tracey said.

Laura lowered herself back into her seat. She wasn’t comfortable not doing anything. She preferred to be busy.

Richard retreated into the kitchen. ‘I’ll make that coffee.’

Laura watched Richard go and couldn’t help but feel that he was escaping from her. Why invite her around if he wasn’t prepared to talk to her?

Henry jumped up and followed his dad, probably in search of the chocolate cake.

Megan took this as her opportunity to scoot along the table to be next to Laura. ‘You okay?’ she asked. ‘You’re being very quiet.’

‘I’m fine,’ Laura said. She wished that Megan wasn’t quite so astute. ‘Just tired.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s been a long week.’

‘Yeah, I heard about what happened with Hazel. Are you okay?’

Laura blinked, Megan’s question taking her by surprise. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Richard wants the community to rally around the kids,’ Megan said.

‘Oh, I need to talk to him about that,’ Laura said. ‘I was thinking pretty much the same thing. He’s a good man, isn’t he?’

‘He sure is,’ Megan said, before adding, ‘This is such a big thing for Richard. You know, inviting you here for lunch with all of us.’

This revelation didn’t make Laura feel any better. In fact, it did the exact opposite. After coffee, she would make her excuses and leave. She craved the quiet solitude of the cottage. She felt the sudden urge to weep and she didn’t know why.

‘You do like him, though, don’t you?’ Megan kept talking. ‘I know he is just as important to you, as you are to him.’

Laura pushed herself away from the table, away from Megan’s intense stare. She couldn’t have this conversation. Not with Megan. Not with anyone. Not now. In her haste, she bumped the table. Jack looked up from his phone. Megan stared, open-mouthed.

‘I’ll just see if they need a hand,’ Laura quickly said, rushing from the dining room into the kitchen.

She found Richard filling the coffee maker with water from a jug, while Tracey washed up. Henry was by her side, perched on a step stool.

What was she doing here? Laura didn’t belong in this family. They just felt sorry for her because she lived alone. She didn’t need their pity. Could she grab her coat and make a quick exit before anyone realised? Maybe she could if she was quiet enough.

Henry jumped down from the stool.

Too late.

He ran over towards her, arms outstretched.

‘Laura, I’m washing up,’ he said, the washing-up bubbles still visible on his thin arms. Some were in his black curls.

‘What a good boy you are, Henry,’ Laura said. ‘It must be fun helping Nana.’

‘Come here, Henry, and dry your arms for me.’ Tracey held out a clean tea towel. It was decorated with colourful cartoon dinosaurs.

Henry took it and wiped at his arms.

‘Can I help with anything?’ Laura asked. She couldn’t escape now so she might as well help. She didn’t want to go back into the dining room and make small talk with Megan.

Richard placed the empty water jug down on the counter and rested his hands on his hips. ‘No, it’s fine. There’s nothing to do.’

Henry wailed. ‘Daddy, I’ve done a wee-wee in my pants.’

Richard sighed and forced a smile. ‘Let’s sort you out then, little man. Don’t worry.’

Tracey pulled her rubber gloves off with lightning speed and threw them next to the washing-up bowl. ‘Oh, let me,’ she said, rushing to Henry’s side and clasping his hand, no doubt before he could protest that he wanted Daddy, not Nana. ‘Come on, let’s get you some clean pants.’

They left the room.

Laura wondered if she should stay or follow them.

Richard grinned and shook his head. ‘Subtlety is not one of her finer points.’ He chuckled.

Smiling, Laura walked over to the sink. She pulled on the rubber gloves.

Richard protested. ‘Oh, you don’t need to wash up.’

‘I don’t mind,’ Laura said. The truth was that she felt more comfortable doing something. It would be easier to speak to him if she was busy washing up, standing side by side.

‘I’ll dry then,’ Richard said. He picked up the tea towel and began to dry the plates.

‘Megan told me that you want to help Hazel and the kids,’ Laura said, drying her hands on the tea towel.’

‘Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that, about how we could help.’

‘I’ll have a think. To be honest, I just think she could do with a friend.’

‘You’re not wrong there,’ Richard said. ‘Are you working tomorrow?’ He put away the last glass into the overhead cupboard.

Laura shook her head.

‘Anything nice planned?’ he asked.

‘Not really. Housework and washing, I think.’

‘Right, well, yes, that is important.’ What was happening to him? Why did he lose the power of articulate conversation when with this woman? She must think him a complete idiot. He had invited her around for lunch and so far he had hardly said a word to her.

The truth was that he was no good at this sort of thing. He had no idea how to talk to a woman he liked. He had never really had to do this sort of thing before. He and Sally had met when they were both so young. They’d grown up together. This was a completely new situation for him. He was out of his depth and comfort zone. Then, on top of all of that, he was worried about Gertie. He should really phone the home this evening, check in on her.

Richard looked up to find Laura staring at him.

‘So, I might call in tomorrow anyway,’ she said.

Richard nodded. What was she on about?

‘You didn’t hear what I said then, did you?’ Laura asked with a smile.

‘No, sorry. I was thinking about Gertie.’

Laura pulled off the rubber gloves and placed them over the mixer tap. ‘I was just asking you about Gertie. How she seemed today. I told you I’d popped up first thing to see her, but she was asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb her.’

‘She did seem tired when I visited,’ Richard said. ‘And not her usual self. I’ll be honest with you, I’m worried, but at the same time I know there’s nothing I can do, so . . .’

‘She’s well looked after, you know. There is always someone there that she can call on if she needs anything.’

Richard nodded. He knew this to be true of course. He didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. He knew that the care staff were doing their utmost to care for his gran. ‘I appreciate all that you are doing, and what the other staff are doing to help her. It’s just that, sometimes . . .’ Richard’s words trailed off as he searched for the right words.

Laura stood silently, waiting for him to find those words.

‘It’s just that I feel a little useless,’ he eventually said, his voice soft, eyes lowered to the floor. ‘It’s almost as if I’m powerless to do anything.’

‘That’s not true,’ Laura said. ‘When you visit Gertie, it gives her strength. She really does look forward to your visits. She can’t stop talking about you and Henry.’

‘Well, she does adore Henry. She dotes on him.’

‘And you too,’ Laura said. ‘Listen, just by being there for her, as you have for all these years, is enough for her. She knows that she’s loved. You can’t ask for more than that.’

Richard absorbed her wise words. She was right, of course. But he still felt helpless. He just wished that he could do something.

‘Anyway, enough about me,’ he said, turning his attention to the coffee machine, which had stopped spluttering the last drops of coffee into the jug on the warming plate. ‘How are you? Do you feel that Buttermarsh could be your home now?’

Laura didn’t respond for a few seconds and Richard thought that perhaps he had said the wrong thing.

‘I wasn’t sure how I would settle in here,’ she said, ‘but actually, it is starting to feel a lot like home. Like I could belong here. Which is strange, as I haven’t been here for very long.’

Richard spoke as he poured coffee into the cups on the tray. ‘That’s so good to hear, that you feel happy and settled here.’ He cleared his throat and continued to pour the coffee. ‘Especially after what happened to you.’

He realised his mistake far too late. The words had slipped out subconsciously. He placed the coffee pot back on the warmer, then turned around slowly to look at Laura. She’d backed up against the counter and her face was ashen.

‘What do you mean? After what happened to me?’

Her words came out so quietly that Richard could barely hear them.

Lie or tell the truth? What should he do?

‘Richard, what do you mean?’ Laura said. Her voice had grown louder.

‘I just mean after what happened to your husband,’ Richard said. He forced himself to look at her. He owed her that much.

Laura stood, open-mouthed. Eventually she spoke. ‘I can’t believe that she told you,’ she said, her voice breaking. ‘I thought we were friends. I trusted her.’ She turned away from Richard, to flee.

Richard rushed over to where she was standing and reached out to touch her arm.

Laura spun around and he stepped back so that there was space once again between them. ‘Don’t blame Gertie. She didn’t tell me anything. She would never break a confidence,’ he said.

‘What do you mean, Gertie never told you? Of course she did. Don’t lie to me, Richard.’

She was shouting and Richard hoped that Tracey and the others couldn’t hear them. He didn’t want them to get involved in this mess. He had to tell Laura the truth. Gertie couldn’t get the blame. ‘I found out. Okay. Just don’t blame Gertie,’ he said. His eyes pleaded with her to not ask how he had found out.

But of course she did.

‘How, Richard?’

Richard closed his eyes. Shame burned at his soul. ‘I googled your name and read newspaper articles associated with your husband’s death,’ he said quickly.

Laura shrieked, no longer able to hide her disgust. ‘You googled me?’

‘I’m so sorry. It’s just that I wanted to make sure you were safe. I wasn’t sure if someone was messing with you. I mean, I knew nothing about you and you were involved in catching the thief.’ He took a ragged breath. I just wanted you and my gran to be safe.’

‘What?’ Her voice came out in a croak. ‘You thought I was a danger to your gran?’

Richard clenched his jaw and looked up at the ceiling. He was making matters worse. ‘Of course not. I trust you. I was worried for you, and for my gran.’ He needed to stop talking.

‘You are unbelievable, you know that! I am not a danger to your gran. The woman who was a danger has now been arrested and you know what, I helped to get her caught.’ Laura had taken several steps towards him and was jabbing her finger towards his chest, eyes ablaze and fire in her belly. ‘My husband took his own life. He chose to do that, and that is something that I have to live with every day for the rest of my life. I came here for a fresh start. To start again, and I thought that I could. But you know what, I’ll never be able to outrun what happened to me. Because people like you have to keep on digging and digging and then drag everything out into the open once again. Stuff that needs to be kept buried.’ Laura took a step closer until her face was inches from his. Their eyes locked. She spat her words at him. ‘But do you know the worst thing? That you don’t trust me. You say you do, but you searched for me on the internet, and that’s the opposite of trusting someone. And you know what? I would have told you. Gertie told me to tell you and I wanted to, but it would have been in my own time. I was getting there, healing. But now that wound has burst right open and you’ve ruined everything. I’ll never forgive you, Richard. Never . Because without trust you have nothing.’

Laura turned and fled from the room.

Richard stood rooted to the spot. Unable to move or speak.

Moments later, Megan appeared. She propped herself up against the doorway, arms folded. ‘What on earth have you gone and done?’