Ben glanced
around the dark nightclub then sighed he couldn’t believe he was off to America
in a few days time “Hey mate how’s things?” asked Mark “Okay…you’re looking a
bit better” Mark smiled happily “Well that mad bastard is in some secure unit
with no chance of ever getting out” Ben agreed as he offered to buy Mark a
drink “I’ll get these” he said digging out his wallet “So what did the doctor
say?” asked Ben knowing that Mark had had a doctor’s appointment that day “Well
things are really looking up because I should be off these damn crutches by
Christmas” Ben smiled “Oh that’s great” he praised “I’ll still have to have
physiotherapy though” Ben nodded in agreement as they went to sit down.
The party was
in full swing when Sara arrived with Chris who went straight to get them both a
drink “I’m just going to the loo” Sara whispered Chris looked a little weary as
he searched for Ben “He’s with Mark” whispered Amy Chris relaxed a little “Well
you’ll be glad to see the back of him” Amy added but Chris shrugged “No really
we were all really close friends once…Me Mark Ben and Paul…now look at us
barely speaking…I think Paul’s death affected us more than we know” Amy glanced
at Morven then sighed “At least Morv’s started living again…she goes out most
Saturday nights when Megz stays overnight with her other grandparents “Yeah I
know” he agreed as Ben slipped from the room.
Sara emerged
from the ladies straight into Ben’s arms “Don’t do this” she hissed he held her
there “Sara I know you still love me…I know it!”
“This is crazy,” she said trying to escape his embrace
“Sara please”
“What the hell’s going on?” asked Chris they both spun round
“Leave me alone!” snapped Sara angrily “I knew it was a
mistake to come here…the sooner you leave Ben the better!” she hissed as she
marched away.
Chris remained
where he was staring menacingly in Ben’s direction “You just can’t help
yourself can you…Ben she chose me”
“Only because she feels guilty!”
“What?”
“It’s true…she doesn’t love you Chris your marriage wont
last five minutes”
Chris suddenly rushed at him forcing him against the wall
“Go ahead and hit me” challenged Ben “It wont change anything” Chris let him go
then stormed out after Sara.
Morven moved to
let Chris sit down “I’ll let you two talk” she whispered Chris nodded as he
lifted his drink “So what was all that about?” he asked Sara let out a deep
sigh “He’s besotted” she said “We shouldn’t have come Chris…let’s just go
huh…there’s no point in spoiling his leaving do” Chris glanced across to where
Ben now sat he was deep in conversation with Mark “If that’s what you want
darling” he said getting up from the stool Ben watching him slip Sara’s jacket
around her shoulders then take her hand as they past by “You going already?”
asked Mark Chris stood right in front of Ben who was now staring at Sara her
hand in Chris’s “Yeah…all the best Ben…I really do mean that” growled Chris Ben
nodded solemnly as the couple left.
As soon as they
were outside Sara turned swiftly round “Was that really necessary?” she
shrieked Chris looked puzzled “Did you really have to rub his face in it?”
added Sara “Oh so now it’s my fault? I
didn’t rub his face in it I simply let him know the score!” Sara took a few
paces away “Oh so I’m your property now?” Chris shook his head “No! But you are suppose to be my fiancée”
“As if I could forget!”
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
“Nothing…just forget it”
“No come on you said it”
“Chris please I’m tired I just want to go home and get to
bed”
“I thought you were coming back to my house?”
“Well you thought wrong…Chris just because I’m your fiancée
doesn’t mean I have to be with you 24-7”
“Wow…I didn’t think being with me was such a chore”
“It’s not…you’re just so sensitive”
“Sara come on…out with it…you’re obviously pissed off about
something…what is it?”
“Nothing…I’m just tired I told you”
“Fine…I’ll take you home” he said at last.
A few days
later Sara found herself tossing and turning all night every time she closed
her eyes it was Ben’s face she saw not Chris the look in his eyes when he’d
told her he was leaving haunted her “Shit this is a complete mess” she muttered
aloud before getting up and making her way downstairs.
She flicked on
the kitchen light then made her way to the cooker she always fixed herself some
hot chocolate when unable to sleep taking a saucepan from the cupboard she
filled it with milk then waited for it to boil “Oh it’s you…I heard someone
lurking about the kitchen” she glanced at the hammer clutched in her mother’s
hands “Yeah it’s only me…I can’t sleep” she said as she placed two scoops of
chocolate into the mug “You want one?” her mother shook her head “I’ll just
make myself some tea…so tell me what’s keeping my little girl from her sleep…or
is that who?” Sara sat down at the table mug cupped in hands “I never could
hide anything from you mum” she stated downheartedly “Well I figured it could
only be one of two things either the meeting you had with Isobel a few days ago
and as that seem to go down well then it must be Ben” Sara scratched at her
dark haired head then sipped her chocolate “It’s Ben…I can’t believe he’d just
up and leave like that” her mother stared at her “Why are you so concerned?”
Sara’s eyes widened “Well I mean it’s Los Angeles mum…anything could happen to
him over there” Irene Landers lifted her cup and after taking a sip she
answered “Anything can happen to Chris over here” Sara sighed “That’s different
I mean there’s the gun culture in America for a start” her mother drew in a
deep breath then placed a hand on her daughter’s arm “Do you know what I
think?” Sara shook her head “I think you’re engaged to the wrong man” tears
begun to well up in Sara’s eyes “Oh sweetheart come here” she said as she put
down her tea then comforted her daughter “You have to tell Chris…he has to
know” she shook her head “I can’t I don’t want to hurt him” Irene brushed her
daughter’s hair away from her face “You have to…if you go on to marry him then
you’ll be marrying him for the wrong reasons it’s not fair to him and it’s
certainly not fair to you” Sara sniffed but knew what she had to do.
Early next
morning she showered and dressed then headed round to Chris’s only to find that
he’d gone off to work already “Oh no this can’t be happening” she thought “Is
something wrong?” Chris’s sister inquired “No I just really need to speak to
him that’s all” the older woman flashed her a cynical look “I’ll tell him you
were here” she offered Sara smiled as she left ‘I could text him’ she thought
as she reached for her mobile.
Chris arrived
home from work minutes later having told his boss he had some kind of family
crisis “Where’s the fire?” he asked she let out a deep sigh “I need to talk to
you” he glanced at his watch “Now! Couldn’t
it have waited?” she shook her head as they entered his home “No no it can’t
wait Chris” she muttered downheartedly as she side glanced Chris’s sister who
was on her way out leaving them on their own.