Trying Not to Love You - Part Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

It was less than ten days after her father came home that for Martha, everything came to a head. It was late on a Wednesday night, Martha was sat in the kitchen pondering over accounts, her father had gone to bed, Aunt Lucy too. Sonny had gone out, who knew where and she was glad of the peace and quiet. It wasn’t until her phone rang, and she saw the name on the screen that she felt fear engulf her.

                “Steph?” Her godmother NEVER called, Martha called more than enough for both of them. SO instantly she was defensive, more than that, she was scared.

                “Martha, thank god you answered.”

Martha felt sick, her heart was racing, the room was spinning, “what’s happened?”

At that moment she realised that she’d been poised for this moment, waiting for something terrible to happen in her absence.

                “I’m on the way to the University Hospital, Ethan...” her voice failed for a moment. “He got short of breath...the inhalers didn’t work. I called an ambulance but they took ages...”

                “Steph this isn’t your fault...I’ll be there in ninety minutes, call me if there’s any change? Please.” Martha always knew that Ethan's asthma would be better managed out of the City. It was ironic that she couldn't bring him with her. 

Sonny had just won big, he’d met his mate Johnny in Northfield for a few drinks, then after a tip from a wily old man who was sat in the corner of the pub sipping a single malt, they both hit the bookies. The 3.20 at Doncaster - Grant a Wish...66-1. Longer odds than he normally took on, but half a ton to win had seen him come home with nearly three and a half grand. Happy Days.

He was almost skipping as he entered the farm, it was dark, but the light on in the kitchen meant that Martha was there, and coming home to someone, knowing that there’d be a hot meal for him if he wanted it, someone to share the bottle of champagne he’d bought, and most importantly someone to talk to, someone who cared was an amazing feeling.

It was something he’d never had, and the until the last few days he didn’t realise that it was everything he’d craved, and for the last week he’d felt truly alive, for the first time. Throwing open the kitchen door he froze. Martha was sat at the table amongst her paperwork, that wasn’t an unusual occurrence, neither was the wonderful smell of something that she’d lovingly cooked, she was an amazing cook, but it was her face. She was white, like a sheet, and talking earnestly into the phone.

When she looked up and saw him she gasped,  then muttered into the phone,  “I’ve got to go.”

Hanging up the call she looked at him and in that moment he wondered if someone had died, “what’s wrong?”

She gulped again, and when she spoke her voice was quiet, a croak, “will you help me Sonny?”

It was his turn to gasp; she’d never called him anything other than Carter. “I’ll do anything, you know that.”

                “I need you to keep an eye on the restaurant, I’ll be contactable by phone, but I have to go to London, now. In the next few minutes.”

He stared at her, “I can’t run it for you, I know nothing about restaurants.”

She laughed dryly, “you can do it, it’s stocked, Paul’s on top of the bookings.”

When she mentioned the man she’d dated one time he rolled his eyes.

Martha sighed, “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. But I am. You are the only one I can trust, I need you to do this, more than anything.”

She trusted him? He wanted to laugh out loud, “What about you? What’s happened?”

Time was ticking on, she had to be in the car, “I have to go back to London, don’t know how long for. But I need you to do this for me Carter, look after my dad, and keep the restaurant afloat. I can email you loads of stuff, contact me by phone if you’ve got any queries, otherwise just manage things?”

He knew nothing about running a restaurant, that was the ridiculous thing, but on the other hand, he knew that he owed this woman his best efforts; she’d done more than that for him.

                “I’ll try my best.”

She nodded, pulling herself to her feet, fighting tears, “that’s all I’ve ever asked. Tell my Dad I’ll call him tomorrow?”

                “You’re going now?”

Nodding again she stuffed the phone charger and her phone into her bag, “and praying I’m not too late.”

Stepping towards him she leaned up to give him a grateful kiss to the cheek, and then she was gone.

Stephanie looked worse than Martha felt, the pressure of Ethan having what had proved to be a severe asthma attack on her watch had really stressed her out. By the time Martha arrived, Ethan had had IV’s, various bronchodilators, and was fast asleep. He was pale, and looked exhausted, but he was alive and well. Something she hadn’t been assured of for the whole journey down.

                “I’m going to see Scott’s father, when I get back. We can’t do this anymore Steph; it’s not fair on you. I should have been there tonight.”

Steph sighed, “neither of us thought this would take three months.”

                “And there’s no end in sight. He’s not mentally strong; my dad is a long way from being ready to take over the reins again. I can’t see an end.”

And it was then that Martha dropped her head and started to cry. Huge wracking sobs that shook her body. Stephanie felt completely out of her depth, and all that the two women could do was hug each other as beside them Ethan slept soundly.

Sonny glanced at his reflection, he’d hardly worn a suit in his life before, but Carl assured him that it would make him ‘look the part’, he felt a bit like a penguin, so he pulled off the tie, loosened the collar of the black shirt and unbuttoned the jacket, there was making an effort and then there was ridiculous, life was a compromise wasn’t it?

He’d enjoyed the first few days at the restaurant. It wasn’t too taxing, he liaised with the staff, made sure nothing ran out, double checked bookings, then there were the accounts, Carl enjoyed helping him with those in the evening, made the older man feel involved again. And Sonny was getting used to trips to the bank, to acting as maitre’d in the evenings, and to calling Martha for help. They seemed to play phone tag in that he’d get her answer phone then she’d text him or email him the details. Whatever he’d envisaged he’d never thought of two things, firstly that he’d settle into a regular job and enjoy it, and secondly that he’d miss someone as much as he missed Martha. Her being gone left a huge void that alcohol, gambling and the wiles of the prettiest ladies in town went nowhere near filling. His sudden appearance in a suit seemed to set the ladies of the town off into another cloud of oestrogen. He’d never been hounded so much, married and single women alike, but he wasn’t bothered. And he hated to admit that that was due to Martha too.

She’d been gone ten days, and in the beginning him and Carl had joked and laughed. Lucy had scowled and frowned, but now, they’d exhausted the food in the freezer, Carl was looking sad, and he himself was feeling like a fish out of water. He needed her back, they all did.

But she had a life in London; she’s never hidden that fact.

Sonny sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, then came downstairs to say goodbye to Carl.

                “You sure you can manage this tonight?” Carl asked with a smirk. 

Sonny laughed, “it’s an eighteenth birthday party, how bad can it be?”

Carl laughed, “the parents will be there whilst the food’s being served, but if they disappear and leave twenty plus teenagers inside, then you’ll have your work cut out for you.”

Sonny laughed, “putty in my hands. I promise.”

Much as Carl predicted, the evening definitely consisted of two halves, for the first hour he stood behind the bar, surveying the room and opening bottles of wine for the waitresses. But once the adults left, the agreement was that some of the tables would be moved and a dance floor for the twenty-odd youngsters created.

From his position across the room Sonny watched things unfold with humour, he could barely remember being eighteen anymore, much less how he spent his eighteenth, but this gang were hell bent on having fun.

                “Can I get a vodka?”

A voice disturbed his reverie, he’d been stood casually watching the room without really seeing anything, but when he glanced in the direction of the voice he almost gasped. A woman, blonde, tall with more than desirable curves, shown off in a basque and short skirt stood in front of him.

                “Vodka?” He repeated, walking around behind the bar. “Straight?” He asked, filling a measure into the glass.

                “Ice and lime?” She half asked, and he gave a nod.

Handing her the glass, she offered him a note to pay for it, but he shook his head, “on me.”

Her eyes widened, and he felt a surge of heat hit his groin at that simple gesture. “Why thanks.”

Giving her a nod of acknowledgment, he then watched her saunter across the room to join a group of presumably friends. It had been a while since he’d been interested in a woman...other than his misguided feelings for Martha, and she wasn’t reciprocating, maybe this blonde, he glanced up to find her eyes on him, yes, maybe she would be the answer he was looking for, the trip back to normality.

He was working with Paul that night, and a couple of youngsters who had left earlier, once the food was served it was easy to manage the revellers left drinking. When Martha had gone out with Paul he’d been livid, but now that he had got to know the other man, he knew two things, he was a great guy, but was so hooked up on his ex that he was no more interested in Martha romantically than she was in him. Instead he was someone reliable and had been a real asset in the days that Martha had been away.

                “You’re popular!” Paul grinned as he loaded glasses into baskets ready for the dishwasher. Sonny was starting to cash up the till and looked up at the other man quizzically. “Blondie.” He offered, “or rather Jade. Ironically her brother wouldn’t be happy seeing her making doe-eyes at you.”

                “Her brother?”

Paul grinned, “she’s home from working in Ibiza, back to the family, in the Royal Oak.”

Sonny laughed, “she’s James’ sister?”

Paul nodded, “yep. And he seems to be your greatest fan.”

It gave Sonny food for thought, Jade...the name suited her, was definitely flirting, and he’d never been one to run away from a keen woman. And the thought of winding up James...priceless. Looking up he met her eyes once again, she had rarely dropped her gaze from him all night.

                “Another vodka please.” Sonny looked up to see Jade purring at him from across the counter. He nodded, then gave her his best smile, pouring the spirit into the glass.

                “So I haven’t seen you around here before.” She offered as she took the drink.

He sighed, “I’m sure you’ve heard of me, kind of a bit of a legend around here.”

Her eyes widened at that then she smiled, “I presume you’re the ‘man’ that my brother hates.”

Sonny took a drink for himself and raised it to her; she chinked glasses with him and gave a “cheers.”

                “I think I’m the man that your mother warned you about.”

She liked that retaliation, he could tell, and he was glad to know that he hadn’t lost his edge.

When Jade danced with some of the teens attending the party, her eyes were on him. He was a little transfixed wondering just what she’d do next; she was hardly a shy and retiring girl.

                “Well that is just OBSCENE dancing...and all for you Carter hey?”

He was leaning against the bar, watching the drama unfold, and with his back to the door hadn’t notice anyone approach, which was why he was so stunned to hear Martha’s voice. Stunned he spun around to see her standing there, and she was a sight for sore eyes, suddenly Jade was a thing of the past, and Martha was everything. Instinctively he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly.

When he finally let her go, the humour had been zapped from both of them, he realised at that moment that they’d had very little bodily contact since they’d met, he couldn’t remember their skin touching other than the night that he’d tried to kiss her, and when he’d been beaten up. And no there was no denying that the hug had more than warmed him, and Martha’s flushed face only confirmed that it was the same for her.

                “We’ve missed you.” He finally said, stepping back.

She smiled, “funnily enough I missed the farm too. How’s it been here?”

Sonny shrugged, “been steady, don’t think I’ve let things get too out of touch, and this party has been a huge hit...so far.”

Martha’s smile was a beam, “thanks Carter, I really appreciate your help.”

                “And I appreciate you putting me up; Carl told me it was your idea.”

She blushed again, “well it may be only you, but a physically fit man under the same roof makes me more confident.”

                “There was me thinking you were after my wit and charm!”

She rolled her eyes, “think I’ll leave that to Jade Griffiths. Back in town two minutes and she’s already joined your fan club!” He had the decency to look a little awkward and then she nodded knowingly, “ah! I get it. Another way of pissing off James?”

                “I’m not that shallow!” He protested, then hated how much it hurt when she laughed, honestly thinking he was joking. “Want a drink?”

She nodded, “could murder a whisky.”

He moved behind the bar and poured her one, sliding it across the chrome surface to her, “so how was the big smoke?”

                “Crisis...but it’s sorted now. Stressful trying to keep two lives going.”

                “Why don’t you give one of them up?”

She laughed, “obligations and responsibilities Carter, the bane of my life.”

Paul joined them then, and after a quick chat Martha insisted he left early, the two of them could finish up. He was grateful, leaving them with a cheery wave.

                “No more hassles at the farm?”

There had been minor damage to one of the fences that could honestly have been done by the animals, otherwise the ten days she’d been away, all had been quiet.

                “Dance with me?”

They both looked up from their place behind the bar to see Jade, who obviously only had eyes for Sonny. “I’m working darling,” he offered nonchalantly.

Jade’s eyes then flicked to Martha who smiled, “it’s ok Sonny, honestly.”

Taking her left hand in his right, he wrapped his left arm around her, then started to move slowly. Jade was staring at him, but he was also aware that Martha was there. Awkward. When he didn’t meet Jade’s eyes, she rested her head against his shoulder, and he continued to move her around the dance floor amongst the other couples, ignoring the fact that other than two pairs of the parents, he was the oldest there by ten years.

When the song ended, he stepped back, “thanks.”

She smiled at him, and seemed reluctant to let go of his hand, but he was determined. Giving her a bow, he dropped her hand then returned to the back of the room and the bar counter. There was no sign of Martha, Sonny presumed she was catching up, the office door behind him was closed, he’d leave her to it, a gang of teenagers did need his undivided attention.

Half an hour later two of the boys who’d got progressively louder since the meal had ended, started to push each other, argue a bit. He allowed them to sort things themselves for a moment, but when one staggered drunkenly into one of the girls dancing, Martha gasped from behind him, “what’s happening?”

He shook his head, “nothing!” He didn’t take the time to round the counter, and instead vaulted over the chrome surface, and stormed across to the two boys, by now a lot of people were involved in the pushing and shoving.

                “Right, OUT! Everyone out!”

Sonny took the perpetrators by the collar and frog marched them to the door. Then turning back saw the birthday girl stood there crying.

                “Look darling; this is a special licence we’ve got just for you. We can’t have no trouble here, alright?”

She nodded, swiping at a tear.

                “It’s gone midnight, time for you all to call it a night. Ok?”

Within twenty minutes the place was empty and he and Martha were collecting glasses, clearing the tables and trying to make the place more presentable.

                “Think you’ll host a party again?”

Martha looked up and smiled at Sonny, “as long as you are the security!”

Shaking his head he laughed, “multi talented me!”