Alison Fraser - The Strength Of Desire

She’d telephoned the hotel reception just before blacking out. A doctor had come. He had called the paramedics, who had whisked her to hospital for a proper examination. It was gynaecological—complications from the stillbirth resulting in possible long-term damage. It was unlikely there would be any more babies.

It had followed the pattern of the stillbirth. Jack had turned up the next day, with flowers and excuses and apparent concern. She had told him that they might never have children now, and he had taken the news almost too well.

He had explained his absence with an all-night poker game, and Hope hadn’t challenged it. She’d felt a little guilty herself, because throughout the crisis she had found herself wishing that another man had been there, one who could cope, who would be strong, unselfish, reliable.

She’d returned to Britain on discharge from hospital. Jack had made a token effort to talk her out of it, but had been quick enough to arrange for plane reservations.

He’d been less happy with her plan to stay with her friend Vicki until she could find a house of their own in London. Even when not on tour, Jack had preferred to live in hotels, with the convenience of room service, rather than keep a house or flat. He was still trying to dissuade her from her plan as she boarded the plane.

She had phoned Vicki beforehand, of course. Her friend had sounded taken aback at first, then sympathetic at her circumstances. She’d gone on tour with Jack as a gofer the year before, and knew what an exhausting round it was. From her initial reluctance, she’d quickly switched to insistence that Hope make her temporary home with her.

‘She’s agreed?’ Jack said in near-shock when Hope put the telephone down.

Hope nodded, frowning. ‘I know you think Vicki is silly and self-centred, but she’s not really…You said yourself she was pretty useful as an assistant.’

‘Yes, well.’ Jack still looked unhappy. ‘It’s different. You need someone who can look after you.’

Hope shook her head. ‘I’ll be fine when I get back to Britain, and it’ll be less than a month till you join me.’

‘I suppose.’

Jack didn’t argue further, and Hope assumed the matter was settled. She didn’t know Jack very well then. If he wanted something to go his way, he enlisted other people to make sure it did.

In this case, Guy. He was there at Arrivals at Heathrow. But so was Vicki.

Hope noticed them immediately, before they noticed her. It was hardly surprising. They were deep in argument. Guy had his hand on Vicki’s arm, holding her there as he talked down at her. Hope was so surprised that she stopped in her tracks and watched. Whatever they were arguing about, it was obviously something heated and personal, yet she couldn’t remember any occasion when Guy had even met Vicki.

She was still staring at them when Guy looked up and saw her. So did Vicki, and took a step forward, only to be stopped by something Guy said.

Whatever it was, it must have been something pretty powerful, as the other girl gave Hope an anxious look before suddenly breaking off and almost running in the opposite direction, leaving the field clear for Guy.

He walked up to her, reaching for her hand-luggage, and saying, ‘You look exhausted. How are you?’

‘I…Fine,’ Hope answered automatically, her gaze going beyond him to the milling crowds. Vicki had disappeared. ‘What’s going on? Where’s Vicki gone?’

‘Don’t worry about her,’ he dismissed, and, taking her arm with his free hand, began steering her towards the nearest exit.

Hope went with him rather than cause a scene. She was tired and in no state for a stand-up argument. In the airport bus that took them to the car park, she said with low anger, ‘I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but I’ve arranged to stay with Vicki and you can’t stop me.’

As usual, he kept his cool and replied shortly, ‘Vicki’s changed her mind.’

‘What do you mean?’ She just managed to keep her voice down in a bus full of strangers.

‘What I said,’ he sighed. ‘She came to the airport to tell you. I understand there’s some man involved.’

‘Oh.’ Hope stared at him, as if she could gauge the truth of what he was saying that way. He stared right back, his eyes not wavering an inch.

She lapsed into silence. She supposed it was possible. When she’d called Vicki and invited herself to stay, Vicki had initially been reluctant. If she already had some boyfriend staying, that would explain why.

So what was she going to do now? She was still pondering the question when they arrived at the car park and he steered her towards his Jaguar. They’d been travelling for a quarter of an hour before she realised he was driving west on the M4 instead of east towards London.

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