There was still a sheen of frost lingering on the branches of the trees in the shade and the fence enclosing the field of horses was sparkling in the sunlight. The sky was cloudless. Suzie placed a huge vase of peonies – various colours of pink, from pale cherry blossom, to hues of bold magenta – on the hall windowsill. From here, there were uninterrupted views across the hills, of the pale green and yellow swatches of fields stretching out to the horizon.
She gazed at the view. That was one thing she did love about being here, the openness. You could see past their boundary fence into the village – she could make out the post office, the tiny junior school. She remembered the days off after her miscarriages, the sounds she used to hear from the school, the thump of a ball, the yells, happy screams, girls chasing each other round the playground; it was as if every cheerful noise from other people’s children drove a nail deeper into her heart.
Suddenly, Suzie caught a glimpse of a car veering into the lay-by just past the school. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. It couldn’t be! What on earth…? Yes, she could swear that was Daniel’s car, with that logo – and it was swerving very erratically. She caught her breath. Charlie might be in there, carrying HER BABY. Oh God. What was that man doing with Charlie?
She raced down the stairs, banged open the boot room door, hauled on her purple wellies and a thick coat and marched down her driveway. Then she saw it, with the @goingplacesatanyage on the side. She ran over and flung open the driver’s door, ready to yell at Daniel.
But there was Charlie, clutching the steering wheel, looking terrified.
She. Could. Not. Believe. It. Charlie. Carrying her baby, at the wheel. She was speechless.
‘What in the name of God are you doing, Charlie? Charlie?’ she screamed.
Suddenly, Charlie looked up at her. Beneath her eye sockets were damson circles. ‘Sorry, Suzie, I was—’
‘I can see what you were doing, I saw you screech into this lay-by from my window at home. Daniel, what on earth is going on? For God’s sake, Daniel?’ She clutched on to the side of the car door to steady herself.
‘Why on earth is she at the wheel of that car? I have employed you to drive Charlie, not the other way around!’ she shouted at Daniel as he calmly got out the passenger side and walked round.
‘I know you did, Suzie, but I am a trained driving instructor too. It says on my web—’
‘I don’t give a damn if it says you are Spider-Man on your website, you will NOT disobey me!’
‘Look, Suzie,’ Charlie started, ‘it’s my fault, I persuaded Daniel… Daniel and I just – we had a bit of an argument, so that’s why I was annoyed.’
‘I’m going to bloody well kill you, that’s after I fire you!’ She narrowed her eyes at Daniel. How could he? After she trusted him?
‘No! Don’t fire him!’ yelled Charlie. They both turned to stare at her.
‘What?’ said Suzie. ‘Don’t worry, I can easily get another company or taxi service to drive you around, Charlie. Do NOT go behind the wheel of a car again, do you understand? Not until you’ve had my baby, that is!’
She turned to Daniel. ‘Drive Charlie straight home! I will transfer what I owe you to your account and you are not to have anything to do with Charlie again, do you hear?’