Love on the run, p.1
Love on the Run, page 1
LOVE ON THE RUN
SUZIE TULLETT
Copyright © 2023 Suzie Tullett
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The right of Suzie Tullett to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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First published in 2023 by Bloodhound Books.
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Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publisher or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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www.bloodhoundbooks.com
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Print ISBN: 978-1-5040-8522-9
CONTENTS
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Also by Suzie Tullett
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Acknowledgements
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A note from the publisher
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ALSO BY SUZIE TULLETT
The Trouble With Words
Little White Lies and Butterflies
The French Escape
Six Steps To Happiness
Holly’s Christmas Countdown
A Not So Quiet Christmas
Tessa Cavendish is Getting Married
For Robert, Adam and Ben
My boys
CHAPTER 1
FOUR WEEKS UNTIL RACE DAY
“We’re going to be mixing with the rich and famous.” Beth giggled in excitement. “Look at this.”
She and her brother sat at the dining table. They scrolled through their mobiles while their mother, Hannah, tidied up the kitchen around them.
Beth held up her phone screen. “It’s a list of who’s who with villas near ours.”
Archie’s eyes widened as he read. “Imagine walking down the road and coming face to face with loads of celebrities. That’s mad.”
“Beats missing Danny for.”
Hannah’s head jerked in her daughter’s direction. Either that was one hell of a name check Beth and Archie were looking at, or Hannah had slipped over into the twilight zone. Danny Parkes was one of those singers who appealed to teenagers, mothers and grandmothers alike and along with most of the female population, Hannah’s daughter idolised him.
Anyone would have thought Beth’s life had ended when she realised their trip overlapped with one of his concerts. Try as she might, there was no budging on the holiday dates. The relief Beth felt when she learned the whole event had sold out and, France or no France, she wouldn’t be seeing Danny anyway.
“Unless…” Beth’s eyes widened, and she frantically tapped on her phone screen. “I’m sure I read somewhere that he was looking at houses down where we’re going.”
“Earth to children,” Hannah said, bringing them back to reality. “Time to use the bathroom. Your dad and whatshername will be here soon.”
Beth frowned. “Point one, you mean Monica.”
“Do I?” Hannah replied. “In my defence, it’s hard to keep up.”
Hannah’s children looked up from their phones and stared at Hannah in astonishment.
“Bitchy or what!” Archie said, trying not to snigger.
Hannah blushed, knowing Archie was right to call her out. As she emptied a stack of plates from the dishwasher, even she couldn’t believe she’d just said that. In all the years following the divorce, Hannah had made sure never to say a bad word about Carl to the children, even when bad words were warranted. Plus, what her ex-husband did, with whom, and for what period was none of Hannah’s business.
“I’m sorry,” Hannah said. “That wasn’t nice.” Being fair to Monica, she hadn’t just been on the scene longer than most in Carl’s umpteen girlfriends, Monica obviously didn’t begrudge spending time with the kids, and more importantly they seemed to like her.
“Point two,” Beth continued, getting back to why she was affronted. “We’re not babies.”
Hannah scoffed. Didn’t she know it. Unlike fifteen-year-olds, babies didn’t backchat. “No, but you do have a long drive ahead of you.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Like we can’t control our bladders.”
Recalling the number of occasions the three of them had set out in the car, only to find that twenty minutes into the drive one of them needed a pit stop, Hannah wasn’t about to back down. For their own good, as opposed to hers. Having had plenty of practice, patience might have been Hannah’s strong point, but it certainly wasn’t their father’s. “And like I can’t control these,” Hannah said, imitating her daughter’s voice. Reaching for their passports, Hannah stared at Beth and Archie, eyebrows raised, daring them to try her.
Realising the matter wasn’t up for discussion, Hannah’s children groaned in protest. Their chairs scraped against the floor tiles as they got up and trudged out into the hallway, muttering to themselves as they went.
“I’m so not going to miss her,” Beth said.
“Bet she’ll miss us though,” Archie said.
“She’s probably just jealous because while we’re off having fun she’s stuck here.”
Hannah sniggered as she got back to her domestic duties. Beth wasn’t wrong. Who wouldn’t want to spend a month in Provence. With its swathes of golden beaches and crystalline azure seas, not to mention its provincial towns and bustling market squares, Hannah easily envisaged herself watching the world go by over a lingering lunch and glass of Cantoiseau Blanc. Except unlike Beth and Archie’s hotshot lawyer of a dad, Hannah couldn’t afford it.
As for Archie’s snidey comment, as much as Hannah loved her children, she was sure she’d cope with the lack of hormonal bickering, let alone not having to cook multiple meals at once because one of them had turned vegan for a week while the other most definitely hadn’t. In fact, the thought of cleaning the house and it staying that way made Hannah positively giddy.
From the 17th century vase she’d picked up for £10 at a car boot sale, to the rare elm wicker chair she’d found in a junk shop, to the Chinese bamboo pot she’d got for a fiver, with Beth and Archie away, Hannah relished the prospect of delighting in all her treasures instead of focusing on schoolbags and shoes left in the middle of the floor.
Bought cheap with her divorce settlement because it was so run down, Hannah had worked hard over the years to get her home just the way she wanted. She couldn’t count the number of YouTube DIY videos she’d watched and hours of graft she’d put in to save money on labour costs. Everything about her house was budget minded.
Hannah looked over at the Welsh dresser she’d previously transformed. All set to go to the tip, she’d rescued it from a neighbour. It was surprising what could be done with a bit of creativity, a sander and a pot of Farrow and Ball flat matt paint. She’d thoroughly enjoyed transforming it into the beauty it had become and finding herself with the time, Hannah wondered if she might use the next few weeks to pick up some more trash that she could turn into treasure.
She thought back to when Carl had first announced Beth and Archie’s end-of-year-exams reward. It was just like him to swoop in with an over-the-top gesture. Hannah pictured the kids jumping up and down and screaming as if they’d won the lottery, leaving Hannah little choice but to stand there, hiding her annoyance behind a fake smile and clamped jaw. At the time, Hannah couldn’t believe Carl hadn’t discussed his plans with her first. A concern he dismissed.
It was evident Carl viewed himself as the fun parent; the one who took Beth and Archie to fancy restaurants, bought them expensive gifts and, as it turned out, arranged lavish holidays. As for getting his hands dirty, he did none of that. It seemed Carl was way too important to hel p with any of the mundane stuff, leaving Hannah to raise their children, clean up after them, be the disciplinarian… That was when Hannah realised the trip was a gift in more ways than one. Not only would Hannah get a break, Carl would finally learn what it was like to be a proper parent.
Hannah smirked as the sound of squabbling interrupted her thoughts.
“Those are my earphones.”
“No, they’re not. Give them back.”
Hannah heard the two of them tussle.
“Get off!”
“Not until I get what’s mine.”
Hannah’s smile turned into a giggle. Carl might have thought he was Father of the Year with his excessive presents and a surprise holiday but having never had the kids for more than a weekend at a time, he didn’t have a clue what he’d let himself in for.
CHAPTER 2
While Beth and Archie finished upstairs, Hannah contemplated the weeks ahead. She might not have been heading for the South of France, but she still looked forward to the following few weeks. She planned on sleeping in every morning, spending days relaxing on the sofa, eating what she wanted when she wanted, and getting lost in all the books she hadn’t found time to read. For once, Hannah was going to be a lady of leisure. Something she’d never been before.
Hannah cocked her head and her thoughts were interrupted when a car horn beeped followed by what sounded like a stampede as Beth and Archie charged down the stairs.
“Are you sure you have everything you need?” Taking their passports with her to give to Carl for safekeeping, Hannah headed out into the hall to see Beth and Archie sling their rucksacks over their shoulders.
“It’s a bit late if we haven’t,” Beth replied, eager to get going.
As was Archie. “Mediterranean here we come,” he said, flinging open the front door.
Grabbing their suitcases, it appeared the two of them couldn’t get out of the house quickly enough.
“Excuse me,” Hannah said, raising her voice.
Beth and Archie stopped.
Refusing to let them go without a proper goodbye, Hannah tapped her cheek in readiness.
Beth crumpled. “Mum, you’re so needy.”
“That’s because she hasn’t got a life,” Archie said.
Hannah laughed. “And why do you think that is? Between looking after you two, running a house and going out to work, there isn’t much time for anything else.”
“You know what they say,” Beth said. “There are twenty-four hours in a day, it’s up to you how you spend them.”
Hannah scoffed. She’d never heard such a privileged statement. Whoever came up with that little nugget of advice had evidently never been a single mum. “Is that so? I’ll remember that the next time you’re nagging for a lift.”
Beth and Archie gave Hannah the briefest of hugs and quickest of kisses.
“Now can we go?” they both asked.
Hannah nodded and the two of them clamoured out the door, desperate to start their French adventure.
“Make sure you text me,” Hannah called out.
“We will,” Beth replied.
“Every few days. So I know you’re alive and well.”
“Bye, Mum!” Such was Archie’s excitement, he almost bumped into his dad who made his way up the garden path.
“Careful!” Jumping out of the way, Carl shook his head. “Anyone would think they’d never been anywhere before.”
Hannah observed her ex walk towards her. Wearing chino shorts and a tight-fitting T-shirt that showed off his broad chest and muscular arms, Carl’s self-confidence shone through. His overgrown hair was pushed back off his face and a huge smile revealed perfect teeth. There was no denying Carl’s good looks. Tall, blond, and with near flawless features, Hannah could see him fitting in with the South of France’s elite. As would her children, she acknowledged, who took after their dad in both poise and looks.
Watching them throw their suitcases into the swanky Range Rover’s boot before climbing into the back seat, Hannah missed Beth and Archie already. She didn’t know whether to feel envious of, or sorry for, Monica as the two of them enthusiastically greeted her. On the plus side, Monica didn’t appear fazed by Beth and Archie’s exuberance. She seemed to match it, which Hannah considered a good sign.
“Are you ever going to get rid of that?” Carl indicated the huge lion statue sat to the right of Hannah’s front door. “It’s so bloody ugly.”
“In China, stone lions act as guardians. They’re said to defend homes from accidents and theft.” Hannah could see Carl didn’t care one way or the other, but she carried on anyway. “Buddhists think they bring peace and prosperity, while in Italy they symbolise power and prestige.”
Carl shook his head. “So in other words, no.”
“Of course it’s a no. I think he’s gorgeous. Besides, he’s famous around these parts. A real talking point. People would miss him if I got rid of him.” She patted the statue’s head. “Wouldn’t they, Leo?” She returned her attention to Carl ready to get down to business. “Beth and Archie won’t get far without these.” Hannah handed over their passports. “I’m giving them to you because I know they’ll only lose them.”
“Understood.” Carl shoved the documents into his shorts pockets.
“Also, you’ll need to make sure Archie wears sun lotion. He hates the stuff, says it makes his skin too greasy. He’ll do anything to get out of putting it on.” Anxiety began to threaten Hannah. To say she’d been looking forward to some well-earned me time, she hadn’t realised how hard handing Beth and Archie over for more than a couple of days would be. “And don’t let them out of your sight.”
“Hannah, they’re fifteen.”
“Which is way too young to be wandering around a foreign country on their own. Do you want one of them to get kidnapped? Oh, and make sure they eat properly. Left up to them, it’ll be pommes frites and ketchup morning, noon and night.”
Carl scoffed. “Anything else?”
Hannah took a deep breath, insisting that while Carl might have a more chilled parenting style than her, he’d never put Beth and Archie at risk. “If I think of something, I’ll message.”
“So, what do you plan on getting up to while we’re away?” Carl asked.
“You mean apart from putting my feet up, stuffing my face, and enjoying the peace and quiet?”
“For a whole month?” Carl looked at Hannah, incredulous. “Surely, you can come up with something better than that? Won’t you get bored?”
Hannah laughed. The fact that he expected more doing and less sitting on her part evidenced just how little he knew about living with teenagers. “I’ve booked time off work especially for it.”
“Come on, Dad!” Beth called out.
Carl put a hand up, acknowledging his daughter’s request. “Coming, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? Hannah bit down on her lips, hoping to goodness that Monica was made of sterner stuff. If not, the only adults in the group were going to be eaten alive.
“Can I ask you something?” Hannah asked, before Carl could leave.
He shrugged. “I suppose.”
