Page 11 of The Plan
I look away from all of them and down to my plate. My stomach growls quietly as I grab my knife and fork, ready to try my creation. The pastry almost touches my lips when my phone rings.
Pulling my fork away from my mouth I ask, “Do you mind?”
Everyone shakes their heads so I get up, grab my phone off the counter, and walk into the living room. I feel his eyes on me the entire time and it’s not until there’s a wall between us that I start to relax. I’m expecting to see a London number on my phone but when I look down, I see a local one.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is that Mrs. Chapman-Webb?”
“Speaking.”
“Hi, it’s Luke from Huskins, the estate agent. I’m really sorry but there’s a problem with your credit check. Until it’s resolved, we’re unable to rent you the property.”
“What?” I ask, totally shocked by his words. How can that be? The only thing in my name is my phone and my life insurance. Edward handled everything else. I just gave him the money.
“I’m sorry, Mrs—”
“Addison,” I bark, not wanting to hear my married name again.
“I’m sorry, Addison. I can hold the property for twenty-hour hours for you but after that time, it will have to go back on the market.”
“I understand. Thank you.” I’m as polite as possible, although it’s a far cry from what I really want to be.
I hang up the phone and drop my arm to my side. The anger that was licking at the edges starts to flow through my veins.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I head back into the kitchen and grab my handbag from the side. “Enjoy your dinner. The dessert will need to come out in fifteen minutes.” I look over to the table briefly and see three sets of wide eyes and gawping mouths. I don’t hang around long enough for the questions to come. I march through the living room and pull my boots on as fast as I can before grabbing my jacket on the way out.
The cold air hits me the second I pull the door open but I don’t stop in fear Aunt Addy will come after me. I don’t want to talk right now. I need to be alone.
I make it to the end of the street before slowing to put on my tan leather jacket. I pull it tight around me and fold my arms across my chest. I continue walking the streets I once knew so well. A day wouldn’t go by where I wouldn’t be out with either Kayleigh, Cara, or some other school friends, playing on our bikes, scooters, or just sitting somewhere discussing the latest gossip: who kissed who at the school disco, who fancied who but was too scared to admit it…
I continue walking with memories of my childhood invading my head. I walk past the park where we used to hang out. It’s where I got the scar on my elbow after falling off the monkey bars when I was nine. I walk down past a small row of shops that have either shut down or just closed for the night, remembering that one of the now boarded up ones was an old fashioned sweet shop where Mum and Aunt Addy used to take me and Kayleigh if we’d been good.
When I get to the petrol station and see they do takeout coffee, I head inside to grab one to keep me warm.
“Addison! Addy said you were back. It’s so good to see you; you’re looking really well.”
“Thank you. How are you?” I say, mustering up as much enthusiasm as I can.
“I’m good. Cara would love to see you,” Kathy says, referring to her daughter, who I was just reminiscing about.
“That would be great. I’ll give you my number.” I rattle it off and, after paying for my coffee, head back out into the cold March night.
I continue walking aimlessly and it doesn’t come as a surprise when I stop by a little patch of grass overlooking over the sea. This was where Kayleigh and I used to come to hide. If one of us had an argument with our mums or a bad day at school, this was where we would be found. We liked to think our mums didn’t know, but I’m fairly sure they did. The town is pretty quiet, but here sat back in this little cove, it’s like the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I sat here for hours the day Mum told me we were leaving for London. Kayleigh eventually found me, obviously sent by our parents. I remember her giving me a hug and telling me everything was going to be okay; that we’d write and stay friends, and nothing would really change.
Except, everything changed.
And now I’m back all these years later, and although the place looks almost the same and most of the people I remember are here, everything has changed.I’vechanged, and I’m not sure it’s for the better.
I came here with a plan. A plan for a new life for myself, a better life where I focused on me, but that’s been derailed already. Was it all just a pipe dream? Something that seemed so perfect in my head but was always destined to fail? Am I meant to be in London living my old life? Is that who I really am, and is all this just a memory I no longer fit into?
I stare out to sea, watching the waves crash in long after my coffee’s gone cold, my thoughts running around my head at a million miles an hour, wondering if I’ve made a stupid mistake by coming here.
I’m aware of someone approaching long before I see him. I also know exactly who it is before his body becomes clear. I’ve never been so aware of anyone like I am with him. It’s like my body knows his, even though we’ve only just met.
“Hey,” he says, coming to a stop in front of the bench I’m sat on. It never used to be here when we were kids. I can only presume someone died and it’s been put here in remembrance. “Addy said you’d be here. Can I sit?”
“Sure,” I mutter. As much as I want to be alone right now, for some reason I can’t bring myself to send him away.
