Without A Song

Chapter Sixteen: City of the Angles

Today was Tuesday, if I was to go back to Saudi soon I needed to ring Ben and Casey, tell Rupert and Leanne that I was leaving sooner than I thought, then tell the girls. There was still the slight matter of contacting Sue but if she didn't want to make contact then I'd have to return to Saudi without speaking to her.

I rang Steve and Catie Mellors.

"Good morning Stephen, you sound well. I've heard that Dernewell business dinners can be fairly daunting."

"This was not a big do, just three of us Catie. I've made my decision, I'm going home to Saudi as soon as possible."

I explained more about Nicole, what I knew she meant to me and how I'd given up on making contact with Sue. I thanked them for their time and their indulgence with me. As we said our goodbyes I heard the telltale bleeps of a missed call on the line so I checked my phone's missed call log. I'd missed two calls from Leanne. She'd rung during the previous night. I returned her call now.

"Where are you?" She answered in a guarded tone.

"Not far, is there some sort of panic?"

"Charlie and George both report you did not come home last night. They are worried."

I smiled. "Leanne, please tell them I'm okay. I'm staying in town with an old friend from way back. If you've any filter coffee on the go I guarantee to be back and have drunk it before the girls get out of bed."

"Not much chance of that. They are prowling the floor of the family room like hungry lionesses."

"I'm twelve miles from town to you, add two miles for the town itself and I can be with you in half an hour. Anyone else call?"

"Rupert took a call from someone called Ben at three this morning. Left a message asking to you to call him back on his home number when you get a chance."

"Ben is one of my bosses in Saudi, his wife Casey kept me on the straight and narrow after Rupert's email. Rupert spoke to Casey before I left so that will be him checking up on me. Maybe I've got to go back. I'm just getting dressed, be with you soon."

I put down the mobile brick and hoped that the phones of the future would be far lighter than these boring blocks of plastic and circuit boards. It really did take me half an hour and more to get back to Huntly Mill. Not because of the distance but mainly due to the school run. Scores of coaches from the outlying villages converged on the centre of Dernewell, all full of children attending any one of the many state and private schools in the town. Back at the mill house I drove in through the barn entrance gates and saw Patricia emerging from her rooms carrying a plate and what looked like a large mug of tea. Slowing my speed I waved to her as I turned the Miata towards my driveway. Hoping I hadn't been seen by other members of the household, I parked the car in my drive, quickly got out of my glad rags from the previous night and slipped into the shower, hopefully removing any lingering remains of Terri's scent. Funny thing, I reminisced, that past night was the second time I'd slept with Terri where no sex had happened and each time I'd come out of it totally refreshed. Her words from the bedside were still dancing around inside my head. They both bothered me and perturbed me but I put them aside to deal with the present. Shower over I dressed casually and walked down the corridor to the kitchen ready to face the music. There was nobody about. Animated voices coming from the family area of the room beyond the kitchen door took me in that direction. Silently making my way into the short hall I opened the door by the smallest measure and peeked into the room beyond. Leanne was facing me but George and Charlie were facing her with their backs to me. I caught Leanne's eye and motioned to her to stay quiet.

"Where's he got to? He should have been here by now." Charlie's voice was strained. I couldn't see her but I knew it was she from the higher pitched tones rising from the sofa directly in front of me.