Wade's Woman Page 14

  "I'm ready whenever you wish to leave."

  He swung around at the sound of Tara's voice and stared at her standing in the passage. A huge hand squeezed his heart. She was beautiful! She wore a simple black dress with tulip shaped sleeves, which emphasised her long neck and graceful, white shoulders. The dress fitted her figure perfectly, moulding her full breasts and small waist. It flared at the hips to just below her knees. On her feet she wore elegant silver sandals.

  "I hope I won't be cold,” she whispered and Ryan suddenly realised she was embarrassed as he continued to stare. Her makeup was perfect and she had coiled her long hair into a sophisticated chignon.

  He moved towards her. “It will be warm there, but make sure you ... make sure you wear your big coat. You look nice, Tara.” He could feel his voice tighten as he looked into her face. He wanted her! Hell! Why couldn't things have been different? Why couldn't she love him?

  Tara studied him in turn, her expression deliberately detached while she could feel her body trembling with need for him. He wore a dark navy suit with a pale blue shirt and toning tie. He was magnificent! And he wanted me; just for a moment. I saw it in his eyes just then. I saw the hunger that he couldn't hide but it was lust, only lust. He feels nothing for me and can't trust me. He won't even let me explain about Tony. So, Tara, make this your last hooray. I'll make you proud of me tonight, Ryan Wade.

  The huge country mansion belonging to the Carstairs was set on the hill behind the town and was ablaze with coloured lights as they drove up. People were arriving from all directions and the place was buzzing with noise and excitement.

  Ryan had effectively put his mantle of charm into place, which he seemed to do so easily. With his hand around her waist, he shook hands with their hosts. Tense with nerves she briefly massaged her temples as she felt the beginnings of a headache. How was she ever going to make it through this evening?

  But somehow she did, and Ryan had made it easy for her. He rarely left her side but had still managed to enjoy the fun and activities. Tara realised that she knew most of the people there and started to relax and feel at home. If only this could remain my home, here in Glenroy Crossing and I could stay here forever ... with Ryan. They were surrounded by some of their favourite patients. She saw that everyone held Ryan in the highest esteem, almost treating him like a God and yet he was natural and genuine with all that he met. In the distance she spied Michelle and David, but for some reason didn't get the opportunity to talk with them. At around ten o'clock, after the feasting and drinking and the anticipated speech of goodwill from Sir Ralph, the band played for dancing. They were playing a slow, romantic mood number when Ryan asked her to dance.

  "You don't have to dance with me,” she said softly, so others couldn't hear.

  "Why wouldn't I?” Ryan said, drawing her into his arms.

  She stumbled slightly, her hear racing at his closeness. “I'm not a very good dancer,” she apologised, feeling flustered.

  "Tara, relax. I'm your husband, remember?"

  Looking into his eyes, Tara could think of nothing else as Ryan's face changed from his mask of politeness to one of infinite longing as his eyes moved over her face coming to rest on her mouth. “I made a mistake earlier when I said you looked nice. Big understatement. You're beautiful,” he murmured, his lips lightly touching hers.

  Tara sank against him, resting her head against his shoulder. “Oh, Ryan, do you think there's still some hope for us?” she whispered, her heart lifting.

  "There could be. Do you love me?” he asked, taking her by surprise by the sudden question. She looked into his face, her love for him shining in her eyes.

  Before she could reply someone rudely pulled at her arm. Ryan and she both turned, and Tara gasped as she looked into Tony's grinning face.

  "You don't mind if I have a dance with your lovely wife, do you Doctor?"

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Ryan was the first to recover. “I don't think we've met,” he said smoothly, holding out his hand.

  "No. We haven't. I'm Tony Martin, an old and very ... close friend of Tara's."

  The two men shook hands but Tara could feel Ryan's body tense as he continued to hold her against him. She felt as if she was frozen in time as her mouth went dry and she floundered for something to say.

  "It's entirely up to Tara whether she wishes to dance with you, Mr. Martin,” Ryan said but as he looked at Tara she knew what he was thinking almost as if he had said it out loud. This is your lover, go to him; it's over between us. She could have cried out right there in the middle of the dance floor for the cruelty of Tony's act and for what she had just lost.

  At that moment Ryan's mobile rang and he pulled it from his pocket. “Go ahead,” he said to Tony, releasing Tara. “I'm sure my wife will enjoy herself with you.” His tone was casual as he turned away to take the call and Tara found herself in Tony's arms being swept away into the crowd of dancers.

  She pushed against Tony's chest still very aware that she didn't want to make a scene. “How dare you come here and do this! Let me go!” she hissed.

  Tony laughed and gripped her more tightly. “Oh, I have my contacts, darling. And I rather wanted to have a look at your husband. I must say, he didn't seem very pleased to see me."

  "You promised that you would leave me alone if you received my father's money."

  "Ah, yes, but I haven't got the magical piece of paper yet, have I? I'm making sure you realise that no matter what, you can't get away from me, Tara. If you don't front tomorrow then be prepared for a lot more embarrassing moments like this.” He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and walked away. Tara could fell everyone's eyes upon her and turning, she hurried to where she could see Ryan in the huge entrance. He was putting on his coat as she caught up with him, flushed and breathless.

  "Have you been called out?” she gasped.

  "Yes."

  "I'll come with you."

  "What's the matter Tara? Had a lover's quarrel?” His sarcasm was biting and she realised that the precious moments they had shared on the dance floor when he seemed willing to forgive her, had gone forever. Tony had planned things beautifully.

  "Don't worry,” he continued. “I've asked David and Michelle to give you a lift home. Unless, of course, you would prefer to go with Mr. Martin."

  He swept away, leaving her desolate in the middle of the hallway. She felt David's hand on her arm.

  "Tara, we're leaving now. Do you want to come with us?"

  She sensed straight away David and Michelle's coolness towards her. Fetching her coat and bag, she let David help her into the back of their vehicle where she sat hunched up and miserable but determined not to show her emotions. She didn't have to wait long though to realise that the other two knew what had happened.

  "How could you treat Ryan in this despicable way?” Michelle turned to face her from the front seat and hurled the accusation at her. “You should be ashamed of yourself!"

  "It was you who saw me in Marlston the other day,” Tara replied, everything falling into place.

  "Yes, I saw you and I don't mind admitting that I told Ryan. David and I were absolutely mortified that you should have some fellow on the side and have the damned cheek to ... to smooch with him in broad daylight.” Michelle was so angry she could hardly get the words out.

  David interrupted, trying to be the voice of reason. “Come on, Michelle, now isn't the time to go through this. Everyone's upset so let it go."

  "No. I won't, David. If you're too worried about telling her, then I'm not. Ryan means everything to us, Tara and we won't see you treat him in this way. He has been through hell and is under enormous pressure over the children and you ... you are cheating on him."

  "Stop! Stop it!" Tara cried, her voice rising hysterically. “First it's Ryan who won't listen and now the two of you. Surely someone is willing to hear my side of the story?” Her plaintive cry stopped the others in their tracks and there was silence. Tara felt like screaming into the silence,
screaming that she loved Ryan and that she wouldn't hurt him for the world.

  "I'm taking you home with us.” David suddenly took charge as he drove past Ryan's house and along the road that would take them to the other side of the town where he and Michelle lived.

  "Why are you doing that?” Michelle's anger turned on her husband.

  "Because I think we should listen to what Tara has to say. Besides that, you can see she's distraught and you're making matters worse by attacking her."

  There was another weird silence as Michelle turned her back towards Tara. When they reached their home, Michelle thanked the neighbour who had babysat for Tom and went to check on him while David poured the three of them a drink. Tara sat in the corner sofa by the fire feeling totally drained.

  "Michelle didn't mean to be so rough on you, Tara, it's just that she was so upset after she saw you in Marlston.” David's quiet voice had a calming influence on her and Tara felt that she could tell them about Tony, particularly if Michelle would listen and understand.

  An hour and three more drinks, plus two cups of coffee later, Tara felt much better. Both David and Michelle had been at first disbelieving and then bewildered by Tara's story of Tony and his mother's treatment of Tara's father and then the harassment she had been subjected to in the past few months. Michelle sat next to her and putting her arms around Tara, hugged her tightly.

  "I'm sorry I spoke to you in the way I did. I was very angry with you but I should have known that you couldn't treat Ryan like that,” she said, her face crumbling into tears.

  "Thank you both for believing me,” Tara breathed. “But why won't Ryan listen to me? He refuses to let me explain and then tonight, I know he was willing to forgive me for what he thought I had done when Tony appeared. Ryan must think I'm the worst kind of person ever."

  David sat on the other side of Tara and held her hand while Michelle kept a comforting arm around her shoulders. “You know that Ryan has been through hell with Carol, don't you?” David said.

  "He doesn't talk about it much but has opened up a lot more over the past week or so. I know he is in agony over what may happen about the children,” Tara replied, grateful for their closeness and comfort.

  "I've worked with him very closely for the past three years, since he set up practice. Probably I'm one of the rare people who know how much her cheating affected him. Ryan is a man of the highest ethical and moral standards and it takes him a long time to trust someone. When this blew up in his face, not once, but twice because of Carol, he found it harder and harder to trust again."

  Tara felt more tears welling as she listened to David's quiet, steady voice.

  "I understand that, but why didn't he trust me? He closed me out and believed the worst of me,” she said with a sudden heartbreaking sob.

  "I know. It's the only way he can cope right now. I don't know how else you could have both handled it."

  Michelle broke in. “I'm sorry that I told him now. I'm not a gossipy type of person but I saw red that day. When I got back and ran into Ryan, I'm afraid I couldn't help myself. Can you forgive me, Tara?"

  Tara's response was to give Michelle another hug.

  "Would you like me to talk to Ryan for you?” David asked gently

  "No, not yet. I have to get tomorrow out of the way."

  "Oh, Tara you're not going to still go through with it, are you? Giving away your inheritance to that monster of a man.” Michelle was obviously shocked that Tara still planned to go ahead with her meeting and the subsequent signing over of her estate to Tony.

  "It's hard to understand, I know. But this is the only way I can get rid of him and Julia. He's only interested in my father's money. When he has that and the property, they will leave me alone. Then, if you'll talk to Ryan, I would be grateful, because I don't think he'll want me near him after tonight's little episode."

  "Do you want me to come with you tomorrow?” Michelle asked.

  "No. I'll be fine. I feel in better control now and part of the deal I made with Tony is that he leaves and I never see him again."

  David frowned as he thought about what Tara was going to do. “Okay, but I think when your stepbrother has left, we need to sort this out with Ryan as soon as possible. I would say he's a pretty unhappy man at the moment."

  Tara stood up. “I must get back. I don't know how long Ryan will be, and our babysitter will want to go home.” She hugged them both. “Thank you so much for listening to me and understanding. I feel much better.” She gave a watery smile and then said “The trouble is I'm not sure even when Ryan knows the truth about Tony that he will want me around after the custody hearing. He doesn't love me; otherwise he would have trusted me."

  * * * *

  David drove Tara home and she let herself in, hoping that Ryan would be there, although she wasn't sure what she would say to him. However, he was still on a house call. She thanked Molly's daughter and checked on the children, who were both sound asleep. Knowing she was probably the last person Ryan would want to see that night, she made her way to the end bedroom and curled herself into a tight, miserable ball and tried to sleep. She heard Ryan come in an hour later and go to his room. At least he was safe, she thought as she closed her tired eyes.

  The next morning saw them back to the status quo, coldly polite to each other as they handled the morning chores of getting the children up and having breakfast. Tara had found out from Lauren the previous day that Ryan was leaving early to go into Marlston to visit some of his patients in hospital and to attend a series of meetings with senior hospital staff and would be away for most of the day. As much as she didn't want to deceive him again, this made it much easier to meet Tony at the Justice of the Peace's house and to get that terrible business over and done with.

  Tara had been sure that Ryan was going to make a comment about Tony and steeled herself for his questions, but he retained his frozen calm. Kissing the children goodbye, he gave her a brief nod and was gone. Tara gritted her teeth knowing she could expect little else. She sought comfort in the antics of the children over breakfast, while dreading the meeting with Tony.

  She decided that she would tell Lauren that she had a private matter to attend to rather than invent another excuse. Henry Madigan, the Justice of the Peace, lived about two kilometres from Thelma and Janet's cottage on the edge of the town. She wondered what they would make of this state of affairs if they happened to catch sight of her driving by. More gossip, she supposed. Tara arrived at his house punctually at four o'clock.

  Tony drove up a few moments later in a smart jaguar with heavy snow chains on the wheels. Tara all but ignored him as she knocked at the door. Henry Madigan welcomed them and offered cups of tea and biscuits which Tara refused. However, Tony charmingly accepted, making himself very much at home by the fire in Henry's front room. Tara pulled out the documents and thrust them at Tony for him to sign. The documents were very straightforward; nevertheless, Tony seemed to relish spending precious time perusing every word. Nodding, he handed them to Tara who scribbled her signature with Henry looking on. At last the formalities were over and Tara breathed a sigh of relief. She had given away her inheritance and Tony and his mother were now reasonably wealthy people—and she didn't care. In fact, she caught herself smiling as Henry added his signature as a witness to the documents, stamping and dating them with his funny rubber stamp.

  "I'm afraid I have to go,” Tara said, standing up wanting to get away from Tony and his leering looks.

  "Yes, of course my dear,” Henry replied shaking hands with them both. “Happy to oblige."

  Tara folded her copy of the document and placed it in her bag as she stopped outside at Henry's garden gate. “You've got what you wanted, Tony. Now I never want to see or hear from you again."

  Tony smacked his set of papers gently against his thigh. “I think I've got your message, Tara. But to show that there's no real hard feelings after all we've been through, I would like to give you something."

  "I don't want a
nything from you."

  "Please. It's something your father gave Julia and she'd like you to have it."

  "What is it?” she asked suspiciously.

  "It's in my car. Come over with me and I'll give it to you."

  Tara hesitated and then followed Tony to his car which was parked behind hers in the deserted lane way.

  "It's here in the glove box,” Tony said, reaching into the car and pulling out a small package. Before she could take it his fist suddenly thudded into her stomach and as she doubled over gasping for breath, he pushed her into the passenger seat and slammed the door. The next moment he was beside her and was driving away at speed.

  Tara desperately tried to catch her breath, holding her stomach where he had smashed into her. Dear God! What was happening? A thousand thoughts shot through her brain. Why was he doing this when she had given him what he wanted? Gradually the world stopped swimming before her eyes and she managed to straighten up in the seat. Tony had stopped the car out of sight of Henry's house and now turned to her.

  "I'm sorry I had to do that, my darling. But I couldn't risk you attracting old Henry's attention by making a scene. That would never have done."

  "I have given you what you want,” Tara breathed, trying to hide the tremor in her voice as she still gripped her stomach.

  Tony smoothed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Not quite,” he murmured. “You thought that I wanted Matthew's estate and that I'd leave you to bask in your secret hideaway with your handsome doctor and your ready-made family. You're mistaken, my love. I have always wanted you. I wanted you two years ago when you were so nice to me, remember? Then you turned against me and treated me like the lowest form of scum. You wouldn't even face me across a dinner table. Well, I don't let anyone ever treat me like that.” He almost snarled the words and Tara resisted the urge to cower away from him.

  She looked frantically around. Darkness had settled in and they were alone on a quiet country road lit by one street lamp. She was at Tony's mercy.