Restart (The Revival Series) (10 page)

Chapter 11

By the time Ryan, Daniel and the kids came back they were starving hungry and Carrie had been working most of the day, with Leah providing a welcome distraction on the sofa in between power naps, and making coffee for them both. They decided since it had been a while since they had all been together that it was the perfect opportunity to go out for a meal.

Carrie called up a booked a table for them all at the Carvery restaurant in town, for seven o’clock and they all piled into their cars and met up in the restaurant's car park.

Sitting and waiting for their meals, Leah felt the wine once again going to her head, and knowing she needed food as soon as possible to absorb some of the alcohol.

“So, was Ryan a good surprise, Leah?” Asked Daniel,

“Of course, he was, although it was a big shock.” Said Leah, and she felt Ryan’s hand on her knee under the table, giving a gentle squeeze. She had decided to wear a dress for the evening, and the warmth of his skin on her cold legs gave her goose bumps.

“Such a romantic gesture, though,” chipped in Carrie.

“Don’t get any ideas, Carrie, a farmer’s wages don’t stretch to diamonds like that,” Daniel said, teasing Carrie.

“Yeah, I can’t say that was cheap, but only the best for my wife,”

Leah smiled at Ryan, and tried to compose herself as his hand moved up her leg, his fingers leaving a burning trail of heat behind them,

“Gosh you two are just so sweet,” Said Carrie, grinning at them, and Ben began to make retching noises, from the other end of the table.

“You will learn when you get older and fall in love,” Said Ryan, giving his son a stern look to stop being silly.

“Girls aren't worth it, too much hassle.” Said Ben, jabbing his sister in the ribs, and she proceeded to shout at him.

“Ok stop it you two now!” Said Leah sternly, straightening herself up in her chair, and moving her legs so that Ryan had to move his hand slightly.

“Are you staying till Sunday Ryan?” Asked Daniel, just as the food arrived, and thanked the waiter, who was making his way around the table placing everyone's meals in front of them.

“No Dan, I thought I would go tomorrow morning with the kids. That way Leah and Carrie can have some girly bonding time, without the worry of the kids, and I can have the house and everything ready for when Leah comes back on Sunday.”

The kids both started moaning in unison until Ryan gave them a look and they both turned back to their food.

“Aw that’s really thoughtful of you,” grinned Carrie, who winked at Leah. “Wonder what mischief we can get up to then Lee!”

Leah chuckled and took a bite of her barbecue chicken from her fork.

“If you two are getting into mischief then I might just have to stay,” Smiled Ryan, once again placing his hand on Leah’s knee and moving his hand up her thigh and making her shiver.

“I’m with you there Ry!” said Daniel and high-fived Ryan across the table. Carrie rolled her eyes “Men!”

As the night rolled on both Leah and Carrie were feeling tipsy from the wine, which Daniel and Ryan were finding highly amusing, and the kids were shattered, from all the fresh air they had from the day outside with Daniel.

They made their way back to the farm and each family said their goodbyes with Carrie, Daniel and Tyler going to the main house and Leah, Ryan, Ben and Emma going to the barn, despite the kids all complaining they were being separated.

“Do we have to leave tomorrow?” Grumbled Emma, as she flopped onto the sofa. Ryan scooped her up into his arms, and gave her a kiss on the head, and Leah smiled at how nice it was to see them so close.

“I'm afraid so petal. Let's leave Mummy and Carrie to spend some time together, and if you're good I will treat you to a takeaway tomorrow night,”

“Pizza!” shouted Ben, shrugging off his coat and dropping it on the arm of the sofa.

“Glad to know I will be missed,” Leah teased, picking up Ben's coat and hanging it on the coat hook.

“I will miss you, does that count?” Said Ryan, winking at Leah.

The next morning, they all had a huge breakfast at Carrie’s including pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms and beans, and were all left feeling like they wouldn’t need to eat again for a fortnight at least.

Leah helped Ryan pack all the kids cases into the car, and actually felt sad to let him go. She had really enjoyed the small amount of time they had spent together and felt things were finally looking up for them and maybe, just maybe that the talk wouldn’t be needed after all.

Everyone crowded into the courtyard, to say their goodbyes, and Ryan enveloped Leah in a hug, squeezing her bottom at the same time, and Leah flushed with embarrassment as she heard the kids giggling behind her.

“I know it’s only an extra day but I’m going to miss you.” Said Leah, holding back the tears; She felt silly for getting so emotional, but things had been so tough for so long, and she didn’t want the feelings she had with Ryan being there to ever end, she didn’t want to go home and go back to how things were before she came to Devon, and was praying that maybe they had turned a corner.

“It’s only an extra day, and we can carry on where we left off.” Ryan said, bending down and kissing her on the nose.

“Sounds perfect,” Leah muttered and lifted her head to give him a gentle kiss on the lips.

“Right, I really need to go, or I never will,” Ryan let go of Leah and ushered the kids into the car, helping Emma with her seatbelt, as she was struggling with her broken arm and Ben instead of helping his sister was laughing at her instead.

Leah watched as Ryan drove away, and watched his car disappear into the distance, and hugged her arms around herself to keep warm. Carrie joined her and put her arm around her shoulders.

“I can’t believe this week is almost over, it’s gone so fast.” Said Carrie,

“It definitely doesn’t feel like I've been here a whole week already.” replied Leah, and the pair made their way over to the main house.

Once inside, Carrie made them a coffee each and they curled up on the sofa.

“So did you managed to have that chat? Things seemed ok?” Carrie asked, looking down and picking at a loose thread on the knee of her jeans.

“Nope,” Leah Sighed, “But things seemed so much better that it didn’t feel necessary. It's as if he's changed back to the old Ryan, the Ryan I married, and I don’t want to jeopardize that by bringing up things which hopefully have changed now,”

“Leah, I get what you are saying babe, I really do, but people don’t just change overnight. I still think you need to talk to him. Once you go back home, he will still have work and you will still be the one stuck at home, doing the school runs and things won't be so rosy and romantic day to day,”

“I know that Caz, but I really think that maybe he's realized and coming here and this..” She lifted up her hand and waved the ring around, “This I think is his was of admitting he was wrong and trying to apologise. I know life isn’t all hearts and flowers but I really do think things may improve at home and until he…if he, proves me wrong, then I am going to just let things drop.”

                  “Okay Leah, just remember I am always here for you at any time, whenever you need me just call, day or night. And please don’t bottle things up or hide things, it's not healthy and just makes you feel ten times worse.”

Leah smiled at her friend and drank her coffee. She didn’t understand why but she just felt that something had changed and hoped and prayed Ryan had seen the error of his ways and that life was about the change for the better.

That evening, Leah and Carrie sat on the wall in the courtyard, looking out through the fields and watching the stars.

“This is one thing I would never change,” Said Carrie, “You can’t see the beauty of the stars in London, and it really is magical. I could sit here and stare for hours.”

“It is beautiful, but to be honest, I’m normally in bed by the time the stars are out,” Leah giggled.

“You light weight!” Teased Carrie and gave Leah a gentle shove. “To be honest with you, though, I don’t come out here often, unless the dogs need walking but Daniel tends to them before bed most nights.”

“I’ve hardly seen the dogs this visit, normally they are always around my feet,” Said Leah, as it just occurred to her that it was strange.

“They spend a lot of time out in the fields now, they go out early with Daniel and don’t tend to come back till later on, so you won’t see them much. Some days I almost forget we have them,”

Carrie leant sideways and put her head on Leah’s shoulder, and let out a big sigh.

“I do love it here, and I love my life with Daniel and Tyler, but I must admit I do miss London sometimes, most of all I miss you and our little lunch meetings in the coffee shop, and putting the world to right. We don’t do enough of that now.”

“Isn’t it strange how people change with age, and how we drift without really noticing it. Kids change you and make you so busy, that I really don’t think you notice until you have drifted too far,”

“You're right there Lee, but at least, we know that no matter how long we don’t talk for if we are busy that no matter what we will always be here for each other if we need to be,”

Leah smiled, and closed her eyes, taking in her friend's words. She would miss Carrie like crazy and had loved the time they had spent together this week, but the knowledge that she had such a good and close friend warmed her heart and made her feel positive about everything.

Chapter 12

The drive home was a long and lonely one for Leah with just the radio for company, but she travelled with a smile on her face at the thought of seeing Ryan and carrying on from where they had left off. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy and she felt like she was a newlywed again.

Once she hit the motorway on the final stretch before she made it home, she pulled into the services for a toilet break and to grab a drink. Pulling her purse out of her bag to pay, she saw the light on her phone light up inside her bag. Once she had paid the girl on the checkout, she stood to one side, and checked her phone, expecting a message from Ryan, to see where she was.

Greg: Hello sweetheart, I cannot wait to see you, are you free tomorrow? Gx

Leah sighed and scrunched her eyes together. She hadn’t forgotten about Greg, but had pushed him to the back of her mind and although she didn’t want to hurt him, she knew she would have to let him down somehow.

Without replying, she dropped her phone back into her bag, and walked back to the car, biting her nails. Maybe if she just ignored his messages, he would get the hint and leave her alone? Was she mean enough to just ignore him? Or should she change her number, and make an excuse to Ryan about it.

All sorts of ideas on how to reject Greg, without having to face him, swam through her head. She didn’t want to come face to face with him again after everything. She knew how bad she would feel seeing him and thinking about what she had done behind Ryan’s back, and how deeply she now regretted it.

Once back at home, Leah was greeted at the door by Emma, who promptly disappeared to get her homework finished before school the next day. Ben was on the playstation in his room, and Ryan was in his office.

Leah couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Ryan hadn’t come out to meet her, but then understood that he had missed a few days of work and reassured herself that all was fine and that he was just trying to catch up.

Leah unpacked her case, and put all her laundry in the washing machine, before climbing the stairs and gently knocking on the office door.

“Come in,” Ryan answered and Leah gently turned the handle and looked in. Ryan lifted his head from the pile of papers on the desk for a brief second and then returned them.

“Oh Leah, you’re back. I wasn’t expecting you till a bit later.”

“Yeah I came back early, I didn’t want to be rushing about this evening, not when I have to be up early for the kids to be back to school,”

“Yes, I can imagine it will be a shock to the system, having to get up at a normal time again, or well a normal time for you, as most of the population get up earlier,”

Leah, stood up straight and felt a little hurt at Ryan’s words, but brushed them aside, as surely he was only joking, although he had always moaned about the time she slept.

“I was about to do some dinner, is there anything you want?” Leah asked, trying to make conversation.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m swamped with work after those days off. I will grab something later if I get a spare minute,” Just before Ryan finished speaking, the shrill of his mobile phone cut through the air and made Leah jump.

“Mel, hi I’m working on it now, yes I know I will be in your office first thing,” Ryan’s tone completely changed on the phone, and his demeanour became softer and a smile appeared on his thin lips. Leah closed the door, feeling as if she had been dismissed, and walked back down to the kitchen, to begin preparing dinner.

Leah stood by the sink, chopping vegetables for dinner, holding in her emotions. Surely Ryan hadn’t lost the attraction to her so soon from leaving Carries? Leah pushed the thought to the back of her mind, Ryan needed to work and once he was caught up things would be better she was sure of it.

Dinner was a solemn affair with just Leah and the kids, and Leah had to force down her food, as she had no appetite, yet put on a brave face for the kids, when all she wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry. Luckily the kids didn’t seem to notice Leah’s sour mood and ate and joked about as they normally would.

The evening continued much the same, the kids going to bed, Ryan staying permanently in his office, and Leah spending the evening curled in the arm chair with her book; trying to pretend that she wasn’t disappointed with Ryan’s lack of attention.

*****

The next morning, Leah woke up to the shrill of her alarm clock, and as she did every morning, she stretched out her whole body and pushed her arm across the bed, which was once again empty.

Leah sighed and pulled herself into a sitting position, rubbing her hands over her face and rubbing her eyes. She quickly got washed and dressed and applied a thin amount of makeup to make herself look more human, before going to wake the kids up.

Downstairs, Leah found the house deserted, a note left lying on the kitchen table.

Morning!

Busy day so left early for the office. Off to the pub after work with the lads as well so don’t wait up.

Ryan x

Leah quickly ripped up the note in anger and went and dropped it into the bin. So much for carrying on where they left off! She looked at the ring and the feel of it on her finger disgusted her. She quickly took it off and slammed it onto the drainer.

Was she such an idiot to believe Ryan had changed? Was last week all an act to try and get her on side? Maybe he knew how she had been feeling and thought it was a good idea to butter Leah up, give her extravagant gifts in the hope that she would let him carry on the way he was.

It wasn’t long before the kids came into the kitchen for breakfast, and Leah put on the usual bright face for them, as she poured cereal and milk into bowls.

“Mum, where’s the ring dad got you? Not lost it already, have you?” Asked Emma, noticing that her mum wasn’t wearing the shiny diamond eternity ring.

“Oh no Emma, don’t be silly, it must have been so expensive that I’m worried about damaging or losing it, so I took it off just for the time being.” Leah answered quickly, thinking on the spot on what to say that wouldn’t alert the kids to problems between their parents.

Leah drove the kids to school, picking up Oscar on the way, giving Cara a quick wave from the car, once again trying to avoid having to speak to her. On the drive home, she heard her phone ding in her bag, and once she was stopped at a traffic light, against her better judgement she fished in her bag and retrieved the phone.

Greg: Leah, is everything ok? I thought you would be home by now? Please text me as soon as you can, I’m worried. Gx

Leah knew she had to speak to Greg, she knew yesterday what she wanted to say to him, she was going to call everything off and concentrate on her marriage, but the cold reception she had received from Ryan had confused her and know she didn’t know what to do for the best.

Leah waited until she was back indoors, to re-open Greg's message, and send a reply; a reply that she deleted and re wrote a least a dozen times until she forced herself to press the send button.

Leah1982: Sorry, I didn’t get back till late and I was exhausted. Please don’t worry x

She placed the phone on the arm of the chair and sank down, she knew it wouldn’t take long to get a reply and she picked at her nails nervously, until her phone dinged to signal a message.

Greg: Can I see you?

Such a small amount of words, yet such a big question. Did Leah want to see Greg? She felt confused and didn’t know what to do for the best. The best for her, the best for her marriage and most importantly the best for the kids.

   
Leah: Meet me in the park at 12 x

Leah took in a deep breath and knew it was best to meet in a public place. She didn’t feel comfortable meeting at Henry’s after the reception she had from him last time, and if she did as she planned and ended things, then if they were in public then hopefully there wouldn’t be a scene.

Getting up from the chair, Leah wandered into the kitchen and saw her ring, sitting where she left it on the drainer, looking all sparkly. She crossed the room, and slowly picked it back up and slid it on her finger; she owed it to herself to make things work. As Carrie had said, Ryan knew her like no one else did.

Leah arrived at the park fifteen minutes early and sat down on the bench where she met Greg the night things had changed between them, after Ryan’s work party had gone so terribly wrong.

She removed her ring and placed it in her purse, not wanting to throw it in Greg’s face, she didn’t want to hurt him any more than she needed to.

It wasn’t long before she saw a familiar figure walking across the field toward her, and she took in a long shaky breath.

“Hey,” Said Greg as he sat down beside her. She could feel the heat from his leg through her thin leggings and she shivered.

“Hi Greg,” Leah whispered quietly,

“Everything okay? We could have met up at the house; Henry is back at work now. In fact, I hardly see him at the moment. His boss is due a promotion and he’s hoping to step up into his place.”

“That sounds great for him,”

“Yeah it should be. Means a pay rise, but a lot more responsibility.” Greg moved his hand and brushed the side of Leah’s knee. “I’ve really missed you, Leah.”

“Greg, we need to talk,” Said Leah through shaky lips, just as her mobile began ringing in her bag. She quickly grabbed it and looked to see Ryan’s face flashing on the screen. “Sorry one minute,” she said to Greg and stood up and walked across the park a few meters away from Greg before she answered.

“Hello,”

“Leah, I need a favour please, I never managed to find the passports and I need them later on. Can you dig them out for me and I will grab them quickly before I meet the lads at the pub?”

“Sure no problem, what do you need them for?”

“Oh nothing much, I might have a business trip coming up and I also wanted to check they were all still valid.”

Before Leah could say another word, she heard a sound of a woman giggling in the background, not just any woman but Melissa, and Leah’s blood ran cold.

“I gotta go Leah, but if you can do that for me it would be great,” without even saying goodbye, Ryan hung up and the line went dead. Leah felt as if her world was crumbling down around her. Ryan had never needed to go away anywhere on business, let alone anywhere that a passport would be needed; and then there was the added complication of Melissa. She despised the woman so much and was now convinced more than ever that Ryan had visited her in Devon and bought her the ring to keep her sweet so she wouldn’t be suspicious of him going away…with Melissa.

Leah wanted to scream and cry, or that’s what she felt she should be doing, but anger took over and in that moment she hated Ryan with everything she had. How dare he take her for a ride and treat her as if she was so stupid.

Leah turned and walked back to Greg and took his hands and pulled him to his feet.

“Stuff talking let's go back to yours,”

Leah took Greg by surprised and pulled his head down and kissed him, and not only a small kiss but a lust filled kiss and Leah knew exactly what she wanted at the moment in time.

   *****

Two hours later, Leah pulled herself from Greg’s arms and stood up from his bed, quickly getting dressed. He sat up and looked at her from under his eyelashes.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” He murmured, and he reminded Leah of a little-lost kitten.

“It won’t be long Greg and I will do something to solve this mess, but right now I need to get home, not for Ryan but for the Kids. If I’m not there and I don’t have the passports like he asked me for, then he will start asking questions and I can’t drag the kids through all of that. At least not right now.”

Leaning over, she kissed Greg slowly, and he ran his fingers through her hair, before pulling her head closer and deepening the kiss.

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

“I can’t wait,” whispered Leah, pulling on her boots and making her way outside the house.

Walking back home, Leah couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. The guilt still remained but it was masked by the happiness she felt. She had stepped over the line by sleeping with Greg, but she refused to be walked all over again, she wanted to take back control of her life and of her happiness.

Once home, she dug out the passports and left them on the hall table, before she quickly ran upstairs and had a quick shower and changed her clothes, throwing them into the washing machine. Erasing any evidence of Greg from her physically.

The kids arrived home, not much later with Cara in tow.

“Mum, can Oscar stay for tea?” Asked Ben pleading whilst Emma rolled her eyes.