Excellent Angela confronts Caz Me. Her. Him : Me. Her. Him - Chapter 66 by Jacob1395

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language. Background Angela has spent nearly half her life hiding from a man in her past. But when he finally tracks her down, it isn't him she's scared of. It's what he knows. Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried. ********** August 2002 ‘So how long have your parents had this place, then?’ Caz asks as she twirls spaghetti on her fork. We’re sitting at the table in the kitchen. It’s the sort of kitchen I’d love to have in my own home, if I’ll ever be able to afford a home like this. The floors made of stone, and there’s an AGA instead of a more modern oven. My Nan, on my mum’s side, had an AGA in her kitchen. The moment I saw it, it brought back memories of when I was only as tall as Nan’s waist, watching her bake a cake. I can still hear the scrape of the wooden spoon against the side of a bowl, as she mixed the ingredients together. She always scoffed at the idea of using modern electrical equipment. I’d sit by the AGA waiting for it to be done, breathing in all the smells, and imagining what it would taste like. Her best was always, her gingerbread cake, which was so sticky and rich. Rebecca’s sitting on my knees. I notice she’s dribbling down her top and I wipe it away with my napkin. She keeps making murmuring noises, as though she’s trying really hard to tell me something. I can feel we’re going to have such a close relationship when she’s older. I’m so excited about the future and the thought of us being a little family. I may not be able to have children of my own, but I’ve got the next best thing, right here. ‘Well, my dad was in the army for fifteen years. He joined up when he was twenty-one,’ Michelle says. She’s told me all of this before, but I don’t think she’s opened up to anyone else about her family, not even to Lauren and Hayley. ‘I barely saw him when I was growing up because he was always in some different country. When he left the army, not too long ago now, he bought this place to make it up to my mum, so they would have somewhere to go and spend time together on their own.’ ‘Where did he serve?’ Caz says. ‘He’s been pretty much everywhere, but spent most of his time in Afghanistan. During the latter part of his career he spent time in Gibraltar.’ ‘It must’ve been tough for you though, growing up and not seeing your dad all the time,’ I say. ‘Well, like I told you, I was at boarding school, so I was only at home during the holidays. It was hard though at Christmas, when dad was stationed abroad and it was just me and mum. She was never the best cook, so the two of us normally just had an omelette on Christmas Day. It was always turkey omelette though.’ She laughs. ‘Turkey omelette, bet that’s greasy.’ Caz pulls a face. ‘I can’t stomach turkey at the best of times, you know.’ ‘Don’t, you’re putting me off my spaghetti.’ I laugh. Caz throws her fork onto her plate as she finishes eating. ‘I’m going outside for a cigarette. Do you want to join me, Angela?’ I glance down at Rebecca. Her eyes are focused entirely on me. ‘Um . . . no, I’ll stay here.’ I watch Caz as she gets up from her seat and shuffle over to the back door. My spine stiffens. I thought she’d given up smoking for good. She’d done the right thing not having a cigarette while she was pregnant, but surely it would be better for her to give it up permanently now she has Rebecca? I think of Rebecca’s tiny lungs breathing in the smoke. Michelle widens her eyes and motions to me to go with Caz. ‘We need to talk to her,’ she hisses, once Caz is outside. ‘I’ll take Rebecca for a minute. Go out and speak to her, she’ll be more likely to talk to you than me.’ I drum my finger on the table, as I think of what Michelle’s saying. I know why she wants me to have a word with Caz, but I was hoping to put it off until after this weekend. I don’t want to spoil the holiday. But if I don’t get it over and done with, I’m going to keep putting it off. ‘Actually, I think I will join you,’ I say. I hand Rebecca over to Michelle, who murmurs as Michelle takes hold of her, and leap up from my chair, my head a little dizzy. I’ve only had a couple of glasses of wine. I hurry after Caz. I slide the patio door shut behind me, waiting until I’m sure it’s clicked into place, before I join her, where she’s standing at the bottom of the garden. Smoke’s already trailing from her lips. It’s a small garden at the back. To my left there’s a small pond. The water trickling reaches my ear. I shut my eyes as I allow the sound to wash over to me, and it does actually calm my beating heart. I feel as though I could drift off into a peaceful night’s sleep. ‘I thought you’d given up smoking, Caz?’ I say. ‘Well, I did, of course, while I was pregnant, but God I’ve been craving cigarettes for the past nine months, you know. If you’re worried about Rebecca, don’t be, I’ll never smoke near her.’ She puffs out cigarette smoke. ‘God, that’s good.’ Glancing back towards the kitchen, I can see Michelle’s trying to keep Rebecca amused. Dealing with children doesn’t come naturally to her. Rebecca’s going to be getting anxious in her arms. The only person, who Rebecca seems to be totally relaxed with, is me. ‘So, have you had any thoughts on what your next steps are going to be?’ I say tentatively. ‘What do you mean?’ she says, fixing me with a cold stare that sends a shiver racing up my spine. ‘I mean, about moving on,’ I say, trying my best not to say it through gritted teeth, there really was no other way I could say it. ‘We’re happy to support you, Caz, you know we are, and we want to be a part of your life and Rebecca’s, but this can’t go on like it is forever. We did talk about this, didn’t we?’ The screech of an owl slices the silence. Caz looks up to the sky. I can’t tell for sure if she’s trying to hide her emotions from me. ‘So, you want me out?’ she whispers softly. She shakes her head. ‘This wasn’t about having a nice weekend away, was it? You’re trying to butter me up so you could have this conversation with me.’ ‘No . . .’ I take a step forward, my foot squelching in the soft grass. ‘We’re not saying that.’ ‘God you’re just like William,’ Caz says her voice barely audible. My stomach contracts as I take in what she’s said. Just like William. The words stick in my mind. ‘Now Rebecca’s here, you can’t face the prospect of looking after her as well, can you?’ ‘That’s not true, Caz. We love Rebecca, its great having her around, and I hope we’re going to be a part of her life for years to come, but we have to think practically about this. Having to care for you and Rebecca, it’s taken its toll on our earnings. William . . . he should be supporting you, Caz.’ ‘I’m not accepting any money off of that bastard,’ she says. ‘Then where else are you going to get support from?’ I snap. ‘You’re not prepared to even speak to your family.’ Tears well in Caz’s eyes. ‘This is why I need your help, Angela. God, I really need you to listen to me right now.’ ************* Character List: Angela Watkins - Protagonist  Paul Watkins - Angela's husband Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter  Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend  Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend)  Olivia - Angela's boss William Harris - Angela's former friend  Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend  Hayley - Angela's former friend Lauren - Angela's former friend

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