For Better or For Worse by Joanne Rawson

Author:Joanne Rawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: change, marriage, relationships, mother, affair, parent, secrets, past, consequences, old love, ex, chiclit, loveless marriage, high school love, joanne rawson
Publisher: Melange Books LLC

Chapter Twenty-One

The night before the Fitzgeralds were due to leave for their holidays, Patrick’s mobile kept constantly ringing. During each phone call Patrick would lock himself in his study. Annie could just make out the sternness, but his voice was too faint to hear. Eventually on the final call his voice was more than audible, not only in the house but outside on the Close. As Ben emptied his truck, he quite clearly heard Patrick’s demands.

“I tell you, you step one foot outside that house, and I promise I will have you arrested. Do I make myself clear?”

Annie stood shaking on the other side of the door. Never before had she heard Patrick talk like this to a client. It must be very serious for him to get this worked up.

Storming out of the study the phone rang again. This time Patrick hurled his phone at the wall, smashing it to smithereens.

“Are we packed?” Patrick marched into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge.

“Y...Yes..." Annie was now very nervous about Patrick’s angry and demented rage.

“Good. You get the children. I’ll get the cases. We will drive down tonight.”

“But why? Patrick, what is happening?”

“What’s happing is I want to be as far away from here as possible so nobody can get in touch with me.”

“Patrick, I don’t understand.”

Patrick could see the fear on Annie’s face. This was nothing to the fear he was feeling inside. Rebecca was out of control. Her phone calls were disturbing and irrational, saying what she was going to do and say to Annie if he didn’t confess to her that he was in love with Rebecca and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Not to mention what she would tell Brian, Annie’s father and company owner.

“Patrick, perhaps you should call Dad. Discuss it with him.”

“No!” he bellowed. Annie jumped back in fright. “Sorry.” Patrick softened his voice and pulled his trembling wife to him. “No, I can handle this. Your dad needn’t know. Just get the children settled in the car. I’ll get the cases.” He leaned down to kiss Annie on her forehead.

Annie woke Hannah and Isaac and ushered them into the car. In one last attempt she pleaded with Patrick. “I really think you should talk with Dad.” She watched as Patrick fumbled with the key in the lock.

“Annie, I’ve told you it’s all sorted. You know as well as I do that sometimes clients get a little out of control when they go through divorce. It happens so many times. Anyway we are going on holiday and forgetting work for two weeks. Okay?” Reluctantly she agreed.

By the time Patrick had reached the motorway, Rebecca’s blue sports car swung onto their drive.

* * * *

Never in the past had any of the women of Bishops Close uttered even a cross word to one another until Lorna pleaded guilty to Annie that it was the twins that caused Hannah’s unforeseen accident.

In Sally’s sitting room Lorna confessed all to her friends.

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