Time After Time: A heart-warming novel about love, loss and second chances

Hayley looked down. The headline of a discarded copy of Metro on the seat next to her caught her eye: KLINGEL’S TO REPRESENT BOOTS BORRELLO.

Everybody had heard of Carmine Benedetto Borrello. The press dubbed him ‘Concrete Boots’ because no evidence tying him to any crimes had ever been found. Hayley put the paper back on the seat beside her.

Maybe I should go over to the dark side. I’d probably make more money.

She shuddered. Mergers and acquisitions might not be the sexiest area in law, but at least she’d never wake up next to a horse’s head.

It was gone eight o’clock when she arrived at their compact, terraced house in Chiswick. Although she’d attempted to run almost all the way home from Stamford Brook tube station in her heels, she knew that Millie and Danny would already be fast asleep. A pang of regret hit and her guilty conscience tut-tutted for good measure. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been home for a family supper during the week. Balancing everything – work, children, husband, parents, finances and household – was pushing her to the breaking point. Rick always said she should look after herself.

Well, duh. But when?

Even before she’d contacted Isamu, Rick kept asking Hayley why she didn’t tell Charles to shove his job up his backside.

Easy for him to say, most of the financial responsibilities are on me now.

She knew that was unfair, so she never said it out loud, but it didn’t stop the thought bubbling under the surface.

Hayley quietly opened the front door and walked into the hall. Rick sat at the kitchen table reading the paper, his glasses perched on the end of his nose and a glass of red wine in front of him. He glanced up, folded the paper and smiled at her. Hayley noticed how relaxed he looked and, inexplicably, it annoyed her. She’d always loved his easy-going, laissez-faire attitude, felt it kept her grounded, but now she often wanted to give Rick a shake. Instead she gave him a small wave, dumped her heavy bag on the floor, hung up her damp coat, took off her shoes and crept upstairs.

Millie was fast asleep, curled up in a ball with Jelly-Belly, her favourite teddy with the big gut and green eyes. Pickles purred and stretched at the foot of the bed. Hayley tickled him behind the ear, then smoothed down Millie’s auburn hair and kissed her cheek.

‘Sweet dreams, darling.’

Millie murmured something incomprehensible and Hayley smiled. Very quietly she snuck out of the bedroom and into Danny’s room. He lay higgledy-piggledy in his bed, arms flung out like a starfish, his dinosaur pyjama-top halfway up his belly. Hayley covered him with his SpongeBob SquarePants duvet and kissed him. She lingered at the doorway.

I should have ‘Crap Mum’ tattooed on my forehead.

‘Hey.’ Rick smiled when she walked into the kitchen in a fresh T-shirt. ‘Good day?’ He ran a hand over his stubble and through his greying hair. ‘Did you speak to Isamu?’

‘The job fell through.’

‘What? Why?’

‘Said they’d filled it internally. Isamu reckons I should sit tight for a few months.’

Rick shook his head. ‘Oh fuck, that sucks, big time. I’m sorry. Maybe it’s for the best though – you didn’t seem that keen –’

‘That’s not the point, Rick, I …’ She sighed as she rubbed her face.

He looked at her. ‘You want to talk about it?’

She shook her head.

Rick looked away, then finally said, ‘Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?’

‘No, thanks. Food’s the last thing on my mind right now. But did you get the Halloween costumes?’ Her imaginary pen was poised, ready to check a ‘Done’ box on her virtual to-do list.

‘Oh shit.’ Rick scrunched up his face and snapped his fingers. ‘I knew I should’ve done something else.’

She put her head down and her palms over her eyes. ‘Rick, I put a note on the fridge.’ She looked up and tried a smile which, she imagined, looked more like an unhinged grimace. ‘Never mind. Go tomorrow.’

He shook his head. ‘Sorry love, I can’t. I have to go over the website with the culinary school.’

‘Tomorrow?’

He nodded. ‘I’m seeing them in the morning. The site looks great, even if I do say so myself. I’ll show you later if you like? Anyway, glass of wine? How was the rest of your day?’

‘Utter bollocks. The Berger offer went tits up,’ Hayley said, tears prickling her eyes and she turned away.

Get a grip.

She couldn’t stand crying in front of people, not even Rick. If she lost control she didn’t think she’d ever regain it.

‘Shit.’ Rick’s brow furrowed. ‘What happened?’

‘I don’t know. But now I don’t have a job offer and I’ve lost another client.’ She swallowed. ‘I’m going to get reprimanded. Or fired.’

He snorted. ‘That’s a bit dramatic. There’s no way you’ll get fired.’

‘Rick –’

He waved a hand at her. ‘Charles couldn’t cope without you. Man, I was really looking forward to his reaction when you quit … Something else will come up. You could always tell him to –’

‘Shove it?’ Hayley let out a sarcastic laugh. ‘You’ve said that a hundred times. I can’t quit without a job to go to.’

‘You’ll find something. And you’d be a damn sight happier, that’s for sure.’

‘Would I? How? What would we live on?’ She waved an arm around. ‘Do you want to call Mum and tell her we can’t afford to support them anymore or shall I?’

Rick’s bright blue eyes narrowed. ‘Is that a dig at me again?’

‘What? No. I didn’t mean –’

‘I’m doing the best I can. And we agreed. Remember?’

How could she not? Six months before her dad’s stroke, Rick had come home one evening, pale and red-eyed. ‘They’re wiping out the entire department,’ he said, shaking his head and running his fingers through his greying hair. ‘All one hundred and twenty-six of us.’

He’d applied for jobs and she watched Rick’s confidence take a hit with every rejection letter he received, even more so when he didn’t hear from prospective employers at all.

‘Start the web-design business you’ve always dreamed of,’ she said one night. He protested, said it wouldn’t be fair on her. ‘I’ll support us,’ she replied. ‘Besides, I’ll be a partner soon. You should do it. We’ll manage.’

Now Hayley looked at Rick, took a deep breath. ‘I know what I said, but –’

‘I just don’t get how you can work for that stupid dick,’ Rick said.

Hayley nodded. ‘He’s definitely a dick. But he’s not stupid.’

Rick picked up the newspaper again. ‘All I’m saying is that you need to do something.’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Do something? What the bloody hell do you think I’m doing, Rick? I –’

He held up a hand. ‘Maybe you and Tony should go out on your own. Or speak to another recruiter,’ he said, his tone more subdued. ‘Okay? That’s all.’

Hayley knew he could tell she was dangling ten – badly in need of a pedicure – toes over the warpath. That’s why he was backing off; he preferred to leave her alone until she calmed down. It irritated the hell out of her sometimes. Why couldn’t he stand up and fight? Taking a deep breath she walked to the fridge, counting slowly.

1 … 2 … 3 …

‘Do you need me to fold any washing?’ she said.

4 … 5 … 6 …

Rick looked at her and blinked.

7 … 8 … 9 …

‘I didn’t do any laundry. I had to –’

BOOM!

‘Oh come on,’ Hayley shouted. ‘For fuck’s sake. You were at home, why couldn’t you do a couple of loads?’

Rick gestured to her to lower her voice.

‘Don’t shush me,’ Hayley snapped.

‘You’ll wake the kids,’ he said, his jaw tight. ‘Look, I had to finish the website and start a quote for another project. The biggest one I’ve ever had, actually. That was more important than the fucking washing, okay?’

Hayley stared at him.

‘I’m sorry, okay?’ he said. ‘I guess now’s not a good time to tell you the toilet upstairs isn’t working properly as well.’

‘You’re joking?’ She put the wine back and slammed the fridge door. A plastic magnet – the letter O – clattered to the floor, leaving the word HELL behind.

‘Don’t worry,’ Rick said. ‘I remembered to call the plumber. He’s coming tomorrow.’ He held his arms up in mock defence as he sat, weaving his upper body around like a boxer, pretending to get ready to dodge whatever she might throw at him by ducking under the table.

Hayley welcomed his humour like a hairdryer in a bath. ‘I can’t deal with all of this as well,’ she said in a strained whisper. ‘I can’t handle my job and continually remind you to sort stuff out, then spend weekends doing the washing and running errands.’

‘Hayley, listen –’

‘No. You listen. I need to see Mum and Dad. I haven’t been over in two weeks. Oh, and I thought we’d squeeze in some family time. Remember that?’

‘You’re blaming me for the lack of family time?’ Rick raised his eyebrows and Hayley could tell she’d hit a nerve. ‘You spend every goddamn waking hour at that office. We hardly see you.’

‘I’m working.’

‘I know that. But you promise the kids you’ll be back for supper and you rarely are. I get it and don’t worry, I’m okay with it but the kids, they …’ His chair toppled backwards as he stood up and it landed on the floor with a crash. ‘Shit.’

‘You know how much pressure I’m under. I need you to be supportive, Rick.’

He acquiesced. ‘Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I know you’re worried about the finances. Look, I’ll help tomorrow, I promise.’ He opened his arms and walked towards her but she moved away.

He sighed.

‘What?’ she said. ‘What was that sigh for?’

‘Nothing.’

‘No, go on.’ Hayley’s hands were on her hips and she raised her chin. ‘What was it for?’

Rick spoke in a low voice and she saw that the anger in his eyes had been replaced with sadness. ‘Every time I … you’ve got this big wall around …’ He waved a hand as his voice tailed off. ‘Forget it. Never mind. What’s the point?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Rick puffed out his cheeks. ‘Nothing.’

She closed her eyes. She knew what he meant.

The distance.

She felt it too. The silence between them took up an increasingly large space, filled with all the things they should be saying to each other, but couldn’t, or wouldn’t, or didn’t dare.

‘We need to talk about us,’ Rick said, barely audibly. ‘Come and sit down.’

Us? What does that mean? Does he want out? Does he want to leave?

The nagging voice in her head wondered. After all, the hours she spent at the office were ridiculous and, even during the small amount of time she spent at home, they often fought. Images of him with another woman three cup sizes bigger and twenty times more beautiful than her, invaded her mind.

Could he have found someone else? Is that why he’s been so distant?

A while ago Hayley would have confronted him but now she preferred to pretend they were on an episode of that cheesy show, The Waltons. Her life was complicated enough.

‘No. I don’t want to talk,’ she said.

‘You never want to talk,’ Rick snapped. ‘Even if you wanted to, you’re never here. At some point we have to –’

‘I said no,’ Hayley shouted. ‘I don’t want to fucking talk, okay? Not now, not tonight.’ She shook her head and turned away, swiftly wiping the tears starting to spill down her cheeks.

Come on. Get a grip.

She grabbed her bag and coat, and slipped on her shoes.

Rick was in the kitchen doorway. ‘You’re leaving?’ She noticed how his tone had hardened. ‘Seriously?’

With one hand on the door handle and without looking back she said, ‘I’m going to Ellen’s. Don’t wait up.’

She closed the door softly behind her and stood on the front step, her heart aching. Hayley missed Rick, she missed them.

What happened to us?

They’d been so close. The perfect couple – everybody had said so and both Rick and Hayley had known so too. Right from the beginning Hayley had been convinced their love was one that would last forever. She could never have imagined being with someone else.

But now …?

For a few seconds she considered going back inside, throwing her arms around him, pulling him tight, allowing him to comfort her and in return, telling him she loved him. But something inside her stopped her and instead she turned and walked away.

CHAPTER 3

Let’s Play Pretend

‘For Pete’s sake, look at you. I’ll put the kettle on,’ Ellen said as she opened the door.

Hayley could rely on her best friend to speak her mind. She pulled a face. ‘Got anything stronger? Arsenic? Cyanide?’

Ellen raised an eyebrow then turned and marched down the hallway to the kitchen, her long blonde hair bouncing along behind her. She pushed up the sleeves of her grey sweatshirt, fished a bottle of white wine out of the fridge and plonked it on the table.

‘Wotcha!’ Mark walked into the kitchen carrying a very sleepy looking, six-year old Morgan. She looked like she’d had a bath and she smelled of strawberries, her damp hair framing her delicate features. Hayley noticed her smooth skin and wished she could make her own as flawless. Morgan gave Hayley a little wave and held out her favourite stuffed toy, a floppy-eared, brown and beige rabbit ingeniously named Bunny. Hayley took Bunny and moved its paws in a wave to Morgan, who giggled.

‘How’s the family?’ Mark asked, putting Morgan down and then straightening up with a slight groan. When he caught Hayley’s look he pulled a face. ‘Uh-oh.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Need a girl’s night in with the wife? I can take my guitar down the pub.’

She shook her head. ‘No, you don’t have to leave. It’s mainly work and …’ She sighed. ‘Rick and I fought again.’ Hayley thought she saw Mark and Ellen exchange a look but Mark turned his back and swiftly got three wine glasses out of the cupboard. He opened the bottle of white and filled the glasses almost to the top, then chucked the cork in the dented stainless-steel bin with a clang.

‘Morgan, I think Hayley needs a cuddle,’ he said.

Morgan obliged, wrapping her arms around her. Hayley squeezed back and kissed the top of her forehead.

‘Let’s go then, Missy,’ Mark said. ‘Time for bed.’

Morgan looked up at Hayley. ‘Will you tuck me in?’

‘I’d love to.’

Morgan clapped her hands as she danced off down the hallway, her feet thud-thudding across the floor, while Hayley followed. Her bedroom had soft pastel curtains and pink walls, a single bed with a white frame and three hearts cut into the headboard. There were Little Miss and Angelina Ballerina books in the bookshelves, and stuffed animals on the floor. Bunny’s fancy daybed, a purple satin covered shoe box, lay on Morgan’s pillow.

Morgan climbed into bed. ‘Night-night. I love you,’ she said as she kissed Hayley on the cheek.

Hayley felt a lump rising in her throat. ‘I love you too. Sleep well, little angel.’ She kissed her, then called Mark and Ellen.

‘So?’ Ellen said as the three of them settled down on the well-worn but wonderfully comfortable blue sofas in the living room. ‘What’s going on?’

Hayley smoothed her hand over the cushion and traced her finger around the old, dried red wine stain that reminded her of Gorbachev’s birthmark. She shook her head. ‘Work is hell. Charles is making my life so miserable. He piles his work onto me and it means I hardly see Rick and the kids. Charles, on the other hand, seems to play an awful lot of golf.’

‘He’s such an arse,’ Mark said, then arched his back and grunted. ‘He really is.’

‘I know.’ Hayley swallowed some wine, enjoying the mild burning sensation in her throat. ‘He blames me whenever anything goes wrong and that seems to be a lot these days. But he’s always clever, I’ll give him that. If I say anything it looks like I’m making excuses, so I take the hit. And,’ she puffed out her cheeks, ‘I didn’t get that other job.’

‘What?’ said Ellen. ‘Why?’

Hayley shrugged. ‘Filled it internally. But that’s not the only problem.’ She explained how the Berger offer had fallen through and her conversation with Charles.

‘Oh bloody hell, Hayley,’ Ellen said.

‘I know damn well he’s trying to push me out, get me to quit and I probably would have if I’d got that job. But now … What if he fires me?’

‘Well, if he does it’s his funeral,’ Ellen said.

‘Let him sack you,’ Mark said as he filled Hayley’s glass back to the top. ‘He’ll beg you to come back when he realises how much shit he’s in. You work harder than anyone in that firm.’

‘It’s not that easy,’ countered Hayley. ‘I’ve lost deals and … he has allies.’

Ellen frowned. ‘Allies? What do you mean?’

Hayley hesitated. ‘I … I haven’t said anything to Rick but … I overheard Charles speaking to Max.’

‘One of the partners?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Sounds ominous.’ Mark said.

Hayley nodded. ‘Charles said he didn’t think I was in control of the Berger deal.’ She laughed. ‘Turns out that was true, right? But he said he’d specifically given me the responsibility of getting that client. And it’s true. He did.’ She paused. ‘Anyway … he told Max if the deal collapses, he’ll be recommending severe consequences for me.’

‘Hang on a second,’ Mark said. ‘Severe consequences? After all you’ve done there?’

Hayley looked down. ‘Like I said, I’ve lost deals lately.’

‘Please tell me Max defended you?’ Ellen said.

Hayley shrugged. ‘Kind of, I suppose. Said something about my work always being exemplary. Then Charles jumped in and told him he’s seen it happen before.’

‘What?’ Mark said.

Hayley exhaled. ‘Solicitors losing their edge. The killer instinct disappearing.’ She bit her lip before continuing. ‘Charles has, and I quote, a number of contacts he could replace me with.’ She took a gulp of wine. ‘Practically guaranteed there wouldn’t be any disruption.’

‘The little fucker,’ Ellen said.

Hayley shuddered. ‘I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve always been so diligent, you know? They don’t call me Hawk-Eye Hayley for nothing.’ She paused. ‘I know there’ll be paperwork and reprimands before I’m fired, but … I … I just can’t face any of that right now.’

‘Charles really is a shit,’ Mark said. ‘Is there anything you can do?’

‘Other than leave?’ Hayley shrugged and drained her glass, then sighed. ‘He’s making my life a misery and I’m turning into a bitch. I’m no fun to be around. Rick said something about a big project he’s bidding on and what did I do? Bit his head off, that’s what. We got into an argument about Halloween costumes and the washing.’

‘Uh-oh,’ said Mark.

‘I know. I’m pathetic.’

‘That’s not fair and –’ Ellen said.

Hayley cut her off. ‘It is. I’ve morphed into a whining git who doesn’t have time for anybody and –’ She threw a hand up into the air. ‘You see? I’m whinging again. Mind you,’ she said, ‘it wouldn’t hurt if Rick could remember to get stuff done around the house.’

Ellen nodded silently.

‘A conversation might not be a bad idea,’ Mark said.

Hayley laughed. ‘Rick said something about me having,’ she made air quotation marks ‘a wall around myself.’ She saw Ellen and Mark’s faces. ‘What? You agree?’

Ellen looked down and fiddled with her watch, avoiding eye contact. Hayley recognised the stalling manoeuvre instantly.

Mark took the lead. ‘Look, when I saw Rick last week he told me things were a bit, uh, tense.’ Hayley started to protest but Mark continued. ‘And Ellen said you withdraw when you’re unhappy, didn’t you?’ Hayley saw Ellen shoot him her very best ‘shut up or die’ stare but Mark didn’t seem to notice and opened his mouth to continue.

‘What Mark is trying to say,’ Ellen said loudly, putting a hand on his thigh, ‘is that you don’t talk as much as you used to and perhaps you should.’

Hayley felt her shoulders stiffen. Rick had spoken to Mark about their problems behind her back? The double standard wasn’t lost on her – because here she was, talking to them.

They were my bloody sodding friends first.

She ignored how childish it sounded in her head. What else had Rick told them? That they hadn’t had sex in three months? As she felt the heat rising to her face, Hayley changed the subject clumsily, not caring how obvious it appeared.

‘Will you cut my hair Ellen, please, I’m desperate. What do you think about colouring it? Would chestnut look good?’

Ellen took the bait. ‘Maybe more of a golden brown? It’ll brighten your skin.’

‘And will you do mine too, honey?’ Mark said in a high voice. ‘I hear highlights are all the rage again.’

Ellen laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. ‘Shush, you.’

‘And work’s okay?’ Hayley said, trying to keep the focus on Ellen. ‘Still enjoying it?’

‘Love it. Although this week? Completely nuts. I’m so glad my boss gave me the weekend off. I’m knackered.’

‘And you?’ She looked at Mark.

‘Never better,’ he said as he stretched out his arms. ‘I’m living the dream, I am. Selling insurance always was my calling. In fact, I want a T-shirt that says “Insurance agents are premium lovers”.’

Ellen groaned.

Mark laughed. ‘Nah, it’s fine. It pays the bills.’

‘How’s your dad?’ Ellen asked. ‘Any better?’

Hayley shook her head.

‘It’s only been a year,’ Mark said.

‘I know, but …’ Hayley sighed deeply. ‘He’s not improving anymore, you know?’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll never hear him talk again. He’ll never walk properly again …’

Ellen nodded. ‘I can’t even imagine … How’s your mum?’

‘She copes.’

‘Still writing for that greeting card company?’

‘Yep. And each time I see her in a new light. The stuff she comes up with is disgusting.’ A smile returned to Hayley’s lips. ‘It was a caption for a picture of an old, wrinkly, naked couple the other week. Something about saggy boobs looking like testicles.’

Mark almost choked on his drink. ‘Nice.’

As they drank more wine and the evening passed, Hayley mellowed. The weight of her frustrations lessened to that of a double-decker bus, although she knew another five were waiting to drive back onto her shoulders in the morning.

She stayed far longer than she had intended, but Hayley loved the warmth of Mark and Ellen’s place. It was understated with its flat-pack furniture and well-used sofas, small kitchen and dented wooden floors. Hayley always thought of it as inviting and cosy – just how she used to feel about her own home. She’d lived in the flat with Ellen years ago, before she moved out and Mark moved in, and well before Morgan arrived. They’d had some incredible times there and memories lingered in every room. Good memories.

Shortly before midnight Mark played rock, paper, scissors with Ellen to decide who would get up with Morgan. He lost.

‘Don’t worry, darling,’ Ellen said. ‘I’ll make your favourite apple pie as a consolation prize.’

Mark got up, kissed Ellen on the lips and Hayley on the cheek, then he squeezed Hayley’s hand and said, ‘Talk to Rick, he’s a good bloke.’

Ellen refilled their glasses and flopped back down on the sofa.

‘Alright then,’ she said, propping her head up with one arm. ‘Work is shit and Charles is a fuck-head. But what’s really going on with you and Rick?’

Hayley sighed. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I see you two. You’re still so close …’ Ellen kept quiet and Hayley continued. ‘We fight over stupid stuff. We don’t laugh together anymore. And sex, well,’ she shook her head, ‘not for ages and when we do it feels like a routine. Everything’s a routine. I get up, go to work, go home, work some more, go to bed and start all over again the next day. The weeks blend into each other.’ Hayley clicked her tongue. ‘It’s a phase – I’m in a rut and I don’t how to get out of it.’