But doubt lurked like a shadow behind every hope and promise of love and warmth. Doubt dogged her feelings and clouded her mind in areas where she had every reason to be utterly certain. And doubt smiled its chilling smile from the background of her thoughts, haunting her subconscious and her dreams, watched her every movement from its vantage in the forest, and waited with inhuman patience and vigilance for the opportunity to strike.
Such thoughts were pushed aside for the moment when Tessa entered the office- formerly Theo's exclusive domain. Pamela and Tessa had set up a little office in Tessa's room as well, and she worked there now most of the time when she wasn't overseeing things at the Crown Tavern.
'Okay, so I got most of the payroll done,' Tessa was saying, 'but it's this tax thing with the overtime that's giving me a headache.'
'Yuck! Tom?' Pamela called, sweetly, 'I believe this is your department.'
Which wasn't altogether true. Taxation was something Pamela had learned all about while working for Father Mugford at the Catholic Mission. The truth be known, she thought there might be something developing between Tom and Tessa, and so she discreetly nudged things along. Tom was just the sort of man, she thought, who would take proper care of her best friend. What settled things for her was the way he had dealt with David Priestly, Tessa's former boyfriend and father of her unborn baby, a few days before. David had demanded to see Tessa, telling her that all was forgiven. He would pay for the abortion himself, he had said.
Tessa had gone white at that.
'I think you'd better leave, Davie. I've done nothing that needs forgiving. And I'll not murder my unborn child just to appease you.'
'You'll do what I tell you, you little cow!' he said, moving menacingly towards her.
Tom, who had made it his business to be near at hand, closed the gap and headed off David Priestly before he could lay a hand on Tessa.
'Oh, and who's this? You been getting shagged by every buck that comes along, haven't you, you cheap little tart!' He tried pushing his way past Tom who was as unmovable as a menhir.
'Sod off, ya prick! That's my old lady-'
'You gave up any right to so much as speak to Tessa when you turned your back on her,' Tom told him in a quiet but dangerous voice. 'And you gave up any right to be treated like a man when you beat her up, kicked her out of your car in the middle of nowhere, and abandoned her to her fate. Now, I'm just going to give you one more chance to leave this house with dignity. If you don't take it, then I'll take you apart.'