Anjuli jerked up straight. “No!”
Ouch, that hurt. But what hurt more was the thought of Mac going to jail. What would happen to her children if she confessed? And her teaching career? Why should Mac’s life be ruined because of one moment of madness? Granted, she had caused a lot of damage during her raging-bitch hate campaign, but she’d harmed herself most of all. Anjuli’s heart clenched at the thought of Rob’s reaction if he knew what his sister had done. He would be devastated, and she’d be damned to smoky hell if she let that happen.
Mac’s face was full of determination and self-loathing. “I have to pay the price for what I did. I’m guilty and I should be punished. Even then I’ll never be able to make up for burning the manor.”
Guilt. Punishment. Atonement. It could have been her standing at the window, insisting on suffering for her mistakes.
“Punishment is overrated.”
“It’s what I deserve.”
Anjuli frowned. “The way I see it you owe me, big time, so I forbid you to turn yourself in. I don’t want Rob and Ben or your children to suffer because of the fire. To make restitution you can pay for redecorating and new furniture, or the repairs if the insurance won’t pay when I tell them it was my fault.”
Astonishment and then relief flashed across Mac’s face, and tears flowed from her eyes. “I don’t understand,” she cried. “Why don’t you want me to own up?”
“Because I forgive you,” Anjuli said gently. “And I’d like to put it behind us. I won’t say a word and you won’t volunteer the information. Ever.”
“You don’t want justice?”
“What I want is for you to stop waging cold war with Ash and blaming me for what she did with Craig,” Anjuli said, a hint of asperity in her voice. “When I found out I felt terrible. That’s why I stopped calling, not because I condoned what had happened. I agree Ash did the wrong thing, but it’s Craig you should be angry at. He’s the one who vowed to be faithful to you, not Ash, and he’s the one who deceived you.”
Mac fumbled in her purse, took out her cheque book and tore out a cheque. “It’s signed, all you have to do is fill in the amount.”
Anjuli took the cheque. “Then consider your debt paid.”
Mac stared at the sky, seemingly lost in thought, and Anjuli gazed around the room. Had Rob stayed in a room like this during his cancer treatments? Had he stared at flowery curtains while he wondered how much longer he had to live, and felt weak and dispirited? How had he had the strength to endure? She’d been in the hospital for only two days and she felt as low as a receding tide.
“Rob told me about his cancer,” Anjuli said.
“I used to bring him here,” Mac replied softly. “He never complained, not even during the worst of it. Ben and I worried ourselves into sleeplessness—and him, tiring himself out working long hours. He was building his house in Halton as well as other projects, and one day I found him putting the slates on the roof in the middle of a storm, determined not to let his illness stop him. Can you believe it?”
The two women shared a smile.
“I won’t stand in your way if you truly love him,” Mac said, her eyes solemn. “But if you don’t, please let him find somebody who will. So far you’ve excelled at pushing him away. Don’t pull him back only to break his heart again.”
Anjuli looked into clear grey eyes that made her heart clench. “I do love him, Mac.”
“Then show him.”
Easier said than done if he was moving to America.
“Ash is coming to pick me up,” Anjuli said delicately.
Mac’s face hardened. “I won’t lie to you, I’ll never forgive her, but I hope you and I can somehow repair our friendship.”
“One day at a time works for me.”
Mac straightened her shoulders. “Thank you, Anjuli. You won’t regret what you’ve done for me, I promise.”
* * *
Rob’s boots crushed the sun-parched grass as he and Ben hiked to the top of the Redes Moor. From this distance Heaverlock Castle looked larger than it was up close, the three surviving turrets like giant sentinels, guarding against modern invaders. Rob flicked his gaze to the stone bridge, digging his heels in when he recognised the jeep driving across it.
As tiny as an ant, Damien got out of the car and Anjuli came out of the house. Their bodies got closer, separated and they went inside. Ben didn’t comment, but even if he had Rob wouldn’t have heard. The river was far below but a roaring filled his ears, washing him in anger.
Was Damien kissing Anjuli more deeply now that they were indoors? “Massaging” or undressing her, hoping to finish what he’d started the day he’d walked in on them? Rob had needed distance from Anjuli, time to think about his future before they spoke face to face. He was ready, inasmuch as he ever would be, but talking to her about his offer to buy the manor could wait. Her stilted emails said he could come round anytime, but he’d be damned if he walked in on her and Damien.