Aaron had mentioned to her that he would have to shoot off straight after the launch and therefore couldn’t stay for the celebrations. At the time, Karin had done her best to conceal her disappointment. It sounded like it was important, whatever it was, a meeting or something, but even so it was rather short notice. In the end he left without saying goodbye because Karin was in the middle of an interview, which was a shame as she had hardly seen him all day.
The launch was over now, and had been a success. Everyone said so. Why wasn’t she feeling a little more elated then? But really, she knew why. Because she had desperately wanted Aaron to say that he was proud of her. In fact the only person to actually tell her this was Louie, who texted to let her know that she was watching her on the news, glowing with pride. Even coming from Louie this still meant something. Without really knowing why she did it, Karin texted back to say thank you for caring.
She had the same mixed reaction when she read Louie’s next message about Will. It said how sorry she was to hear that he had drowned. Karin shuddered to remember that Louie may have been responsible for Will’s death.
Two days on from the launch, she still hadn’t seen very much of Aaron. He had come back late on Saturday night, drunk, and been working ever since. But this morning, before he left for the office, they agreed to sit down over dinner and make a plan. The way Aaron kissed her goodbye as he went out the door gave Karin some reassurance that there might actually be a way out of this and a glimmer of hope for the future.
Their future. Together.
She was still prepared to write off the money, being the easiest solution of all, but Aaron was in no mood to let Louie get away with it and had made that very clear. Karin did wonder at what point the bank would raise concerns if this money was to yo-yo once more out of Louie’s account and back into her own, where it had landed in the first place from her mother. Might it look like there was some money laundering going on, switching it about like that? Then again, the bank knew her and Louie as a couple now. In any case, Aaron dealt with large sums all the time with his property deals, so he must know ways around it, if indeed this was a problem.
They could discuss the details later.
In preparation for this evening, Karin had walked into town to buy some ingredients from M&S. She wanted it to be special, in spite of the inevitable challenges their dinner table discussion would create. As she stepped into the lift, trying to get her bags of shopping under control so she could press the button for the tenth floor, the sparkle of her engagement ring caught her eye. Karin had to admit that something had changed whenever she looked at it now. The initial euphoria of – Which part of Leeds would they live in? In what sort of house? How many children would they have? When would be a good time to start a family? – had turned into How will this end?
But if they could devise a good plan this evening then maybe there was a chance.
The possibility of a fresh start.
Karin had already suggested that as soon as the money landed back in her account, they could get on a plane and build a new life for themselves. Somewhere. Anywhere in the world, in fact. And even though she had no idea how to reach this next phase, she was beginning to feel excited by it, believing it might actually be possible.
Karin had never imagined leaving Leeds since making it her home just over a year ago. She would be sad to abandon the charity, the projects and the people associated with it, but other than Mel she had no real ties here. She had even worked out a plan for Mel too, if she could be persuaded to come and join them once they were established. She could get a job, maybe meet someone over there. Mel was always talking about wanting a change of scene.
Aaron seemed to be in favour of this plan.
The lift came to a jolting halt on the fifth floor, reminding Karin that there was a whole mountain to climb before they got to that point. She noticed her fingers had turned white where they wound through the handles of the carrier bags, and she was just swapping them over when a family with a pushchair entered the lift. Karin shuffled up to make room, smiling an apology for her bags. She looked at their happy little unit and it made her want to cry.
Stumbling into the hallway, she closed the door with her foot and went into the kitchen with the provisions. Tomato and mozzarella salad followed by a fat, juicy steak, cooked rare, just the way Aaron liked it, with sweet potato fries and homemade relish. For dessert, her special chocolate pudding loaded with Grand Marnier. Cooking wasn’t really her thing but she knew that Aaron’s ex-wife had some flare in this department, so she was keen to make an effort, and especially tonight.
While unpacking the bags her phone started to ring. Karin thought it might be Aaron and, in her hurry to answer it, it flew out of her hands like a bar of soap. ‘Sorry. You still there?’ she shouted, retrieving it from the kitchen floor. ‘Hello? Aaron?’
It wasn’t Aaron.
‘Hey, Karin. How’re you doing?’
‘Lou.’
Karin sank to the floor.
‘What do you want?’
‘I was just wondering what you’re cooking tonight.’
‘What? How do you know I’m—? Where the hell are you?’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t be late. Aaron said around eight o’clock.’
‘What?’
‘Hasn’t he told you? He wants to talk to me about my artwork and thought it might be nice if the three of us discuss it over dinner. As we’re all such good friends now, I mean why not? So I’m not in breach of our agreement, Karin. It’s all above board. And you really were sensational on Saturday on the news. Dead-dead proud of you.’
It sounded like she was driving. Why would Aaron do that without informing her? Was Louie even telling the truth?
Once the call had ended, the only thing she felt she could do was to get on with dinner. Aaron would be home shortly; she would keep herself busy until then. Maybe this was all part of his plan? If it was, then, ideally, she would have liked to have run through it with him before putting it into action. Alternatively. If Louie was bluffing and turned up here uninvited, at least they could deal with her together.
All would be fine.
Karin chopped the tomatoes and mozzarella, narrowly missing her fingers several times due to her nerves. Her next problem was: did she serve this on three plates or two? Did it even matter? She moved onto the steaks. They were large enough to go three ways if necessary; however she doubted she would be able to eat a thing if Louie was here in any case.
Louie was bluffing. She must be.
Karin didn’t hear the door opening. Closing again. Or the footsteps on the kitchen tiles. He must have slipped his shoes off in the hallway, so when Karin suddenly saw someone behind her she screamed; immediately after, throwing her arms around his neck when she realized it was Aaron.
Aaron freed himself, holding onto her hands. ‘Has she called you?’
‘Louie? Yes! What on earth is going on?’
He let go of her but, before answering, poured out two glasses of wine. Watching the liquid fall from the bottle so freely, Karin felt the tautness in her stomach all the more. Every part of her was tight. There was so little time for discussion now, not if Louie was already on her way.
‘It’s going to be okay,’ said Aaron, taking a mouthful, clinking his glass against hers afterwards.
Karin put it down again, without drinking. ‘Please Aaron. I need to know what’s happening.’
He nodded, but still took his time to reply. Finally he put down his glass, and said: ‘Well the main thing is to let her think she still has all the power.’
‘She’s the one with the money!’
‘Your money. Don’t forget that. Louie thinks she’s coming over to discuss some deals that I’ve got lined up for her artwork. But, we are going to get your money back.’
At least that tallied with what Louie had said on the phone; she hadn’t been making it up then.
‘When she gets here at eight o’clock, you need to tell her that I’m running late and I’m not going to be back until at least nine. You with me so far?’
‘I think so,’ Karin replied, hearing the doubt in her own voice.
‘And then – this is the important bit, Karin – you tell her that you’ve had a change of heart. You want to be with her, not me.’
‘What? Are you sure?’
She needed a moment with that, and Aaron allowed her some breathing space. Realizing she was still struggling to understand, he added: ‘She’ll never give you the money back otherwise, Karin.’
‘I really don’t—’
‘Trust me,’ said Aaron.
‘Well. So then what?’
‘That’s all you need to know. Believe me, the more natural you are the more believable this will be.’
‘Aaron. I don’t think I can do this.’
What if Louie were to say something that would compromise her even further? Could she risk that? But what choice did she have? She was squeezed every which way. By Louie. By her past. And ultimately, by her own mother.
One step at a time, Karin told herself, breaking into a sweat. She took an ice cube from the freezer and ran it over her forehead, which was now beginning to throb. If Louie started accusing her of anything, anything at all, she would deny it. Louie had proved herself to be untrustworthy, a blackmailer and a thief no less. Maybe even a murderer. If it came to it, Aaron couldn’t possibly believe Louie’s word over hers.
Could he?
She had detected a change of atmosphere between them lately. And maybe it had been creeping up on them for a while, although she couldn’t say exactly when it had started. Things had been pretty stressful of late, so it could just be that.
They waited in silence for Louie to arrive. Aaron topped up Karin’s glass and poured out more for himself, to calm their nerves.
Thirty minutes later the doorbell rang.
Aaron put his finger to his lips. ‘I’m right here,’ he whispered, tiptoeing into the other room.
The doorbell rang again.
Louie was not going to go away.