Your Lying Eyes

Your Lying Eyes Chapter 22

Chloe was in the middle of feeding Maisie when she let herself into the flat.  She hung her coat in the hallway and went into her room for a quick shower and change of clothes.  As she made her way back into the living room, she heard the sound of Maisie giggling and Howard's laugh ringing through the flat.  Her stomach flipped over as the sound of his voice reached her ears.

She entered the room to see Howard on his hands and knees on the floor, peeping around the side of the sofa, playing peek a boo with Maisie.  Chloe sat on the other sofa, her legs tucked up underneath her, watching them and giggling to herself.  Maisie sat in her rocker, kicking her legs and laughing at him as he pulled a face and called "Boo!" each time he poked his head out from behind the sofa.  

Chloe spotted her and got up from the sofa.

"I'll put your tea out for you, Anna.  It's ready, just needs warming up in the microwave," she told her leaving her with Howard and Maisie.  She smiled and winked at her as she left the room, closing the door behind her.

As they were left, both of them felt awkward and Howard stood up, his face red, partly from the playing and partly because he felt unsure all of a sudden.

"Hi!" he said quietly.  "We were just playing then.  Didn't see you come in."

"Looked like you were having fun!" said Anna, "Both of you!"

She walked over to the sofa and sat down, smiling at him as she did so.  Her hands were warm and she was sure they would be shaking if she held them out in front of her.  She sat on the edge of the seat, her back straight and patted the seat at the side of her for him to sit next to her.  He did so, smiling nervously at her.

"Had a good day at work then?" he asked her, not knowing what else to say.

"Yes.  It was a bit awkward at first but Joe apologised about last night and we've sorted everything out," she told him.  "He's promised that it won't happen again."

"What won't happen again?" he asked her wondering if she were going to tell him about what he suspected had happened in the apartment the night before.

"Er making me work so late like last night," she said quickly remembering that he didn't know what Joe had tried to do the night before.  She didn't want to tell him and make things more difficult.

"Good," he said, "That's good to know."

"Your tea's ready now, Anna," Chloe called from the hallway.  "And I've put Maisie's bath out ready for her Howard."

They both stood up, Anna going to the kitchen to eat her meal and Howard taking his daughter to the bathroom to bathe her and then put her to bed.

"Is it ok if I go out now then?" asked Chloe as Anna sat to eat her meal.

"Yes of course it is," she replied smiling at her.  "We're fine now.  Thanks for all your help Chloe.  Have a good evening."

"I won't be too late.  Be in before twelve," she promised as she let herself out of the flat.

As Anna put her dishes in the dishwater and set it off going, Howard joined her.  She poured out two small glasses of wine and together they went to sit in the living room.

"She didn't need much rocking tonight," smiled Howard, nodding towards Maisie's room.  "She was out like a light as soon as I put her into the cot."

"Poor thing.  You must have worn her out playing peek a boo!" laughed Anna.

"Yeah, I'm feeling pretty tired myself," he admitted.  "Been none stop today.  Tomorrow will probably be the same.  We've got to go to London tomorrow morning.  It's an early flight at seven so have to be at the airport about six.  Couple of interviews lined up for tomorrow. Be back on Saturday morning."