Chapter 9: Weekend 9th to Monday 11th May.
There were a lot of tired eyes around the table Friday evening as we sat in silence eating our meal.
Rachel, as usual, gulped her food immediately springing to her feet.
“You are going to make yourself sick with all this rushing around.” Marcie warned concerned.
“That’s show-business,” Rachel laughed as she made for the door.
“Hold it,” Debbie called, “While you’re all here,”
“I would like to thank you all for making yesterday the happiest day of my life. I really appreciate all you did to make it ‘my’ day.”
“Marcie squeezed her hand tenderly.
“Don’t start us all crying again. Yesterday was ‘your’ day.
You worked hard for that exam and it was the least we could do to show you how much we all love you.”
Rachel placed her hands on Debbie’s shoulders as she lightly kissed the top of her head.
“You deserved it, Debbie - you’re an angel” amid “I’ll second that” from Lynda and “Here, here,” from me.
Rachel winked at me as she continued her exit just before the doorbell rang.
Marcie glanced at the clock above the fireplace.
“That’ll be ‘little miss dynamite’ right on cue as usual.”
I got up to leave as Lynda laughed, “We’ll see you on Monday then.”
I smiled as I opened the living room door to see Rachel disappearing out of the front door, carrying her guitar case, almost knocking Tracey over in her haste.
Tracey was at one side of the front door watching Rachel get into her car and speed away amid the usual screech of tyres.
“She doesn’t hang about does she?” she asked as I embraced her.
“Do you know that’s the first thing I said about her” as I closed the bedroom door and all thoughts of Rachel left as I undressed Tracey and we commenced our usual routine.
I had come to regard Tracey as nothing more than a sex object as we seemed to spend our entire time together in bed.
After we made love I held her in my arms and kissed her all over telling her how much I loved and missed her.
Saturday.
I awoke as the mid-morning sun shone through the window and clumsily prised myself from Tracey’s limp naked body, waking her.
“Sorry love.” I apologised as I wrapped the towelling dressing gown around myself and headed for the bathroom.
Returning I found Tracey sitting up with her left hand covering her eyes as I discarded my robe, kissing her bare shoulders passionately I re-entered our ‘love nest’, but to my surprise she pulled away bursting into tears.
My immediate thought was ‘she’s pregnant’, as I asked her what the matter was.
“These” she screamed thrusting her right hand at me containing a pair of lacy panties.
I stared at Tracey’s hand in astonishment mumbling “What?”
“I trusted you,” she threw the duvet to one side and made to get up.
Grabbing her shoulder forcing her down, I lay on top of her to restrict her movement.
I have never treated Tracey roughly before and a look of terror came to her glazed eyes as I held her motionless.
The thought that Tracey could ever consider me using any form of violence against her deeply concerned me, so I had to explain this very strange behaviour.
“Tracey, I’m sorry for this,” I began softly,
“You know I would never harm you in any way, believe me.
I love you and only you.”
I felt the tears build up in my eyes as a fear of losing her grew.
“If I let you up will you let me try to explain and it may stop you doing something that we’ll both regret.”
“Okay,” the fear left her face as she nodded repeating, “Okay.”
My left hand held Tracey’s right panty-clad hand at her shoulder. Easing my grip I took the lacy material from her to study them.
The knickers were made of white cotton and lace with a small print of a rose at the gusset.
I was positive I had never seen them before as I asked,
“Are you sure these aren’t yours?”
“Oh, I’m quite sure they’re not mine, but, I’d be quite interested in whose they are and what they’re doing in your bed.”
“Well,” I began confused, choosing my words very carefully.
“There are only three possibilities.”
“Only three?” She screamed.
Allowing Tracey to sit up I retrieved the white cotton pair she had left me on her first visit from beneath the pillow.
“Okay, that possibility is gone - they’re not yours.”
“Tell me about it?” she quipped sarcastically.
“The second possibility is that they were in the washing machine and I didn’t notice them when I brought my clothes back here.”
“You expect me to buy that?” she asked unamused.
“To be quite honest I don’t, but I figured it was a feasible possibility.”
I sighed shaking my head.
“The only other explanation is,” I continued, “they were planted.”
“Planted!” she exclaimed, “and who would do such a thing?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I assured her.
“I can think of five suspects.” Tracey hissed as she tried to get up, but I still had her legs entwined in mine.
“Listen,” I pleaded, “I’ve learned a lot about these girls this week.”
“Such as?” she replied as she tried to free herself from me.
“Such as,” I began.
“Marcie has no interest in men because she was abused during her marriage and she had to give up a baby when her abusive husband started to beat her up.”
“That leaves four - will you let me up?” she commanded.
I could see she was very distressed.
“Only if you will listen to what I’ve got to say,” I pleaded,
“I don’t want to lose you because of a small misunderstanding.”
Tracey agreed and I freed her.
“Debbie’s mother died the day she was born,” I continued,
“Since she was little her father raped her as he blamed Debbie for her mother’s death.”
A look of horror came to Tracey’s face.
“Understandably,” I continued, “Debbie has a total fear of all men as her only memories of her childhood are full of pain and suffering.
So, I shouldn’t think these would be hers.”
As Tracey concertedly sighed, “the poor kid,” I realised that they must belong to Debbie from Wednesday, but undaunted I carried on relentlessly.
“Aleesha hasn’t spoken a word to me since I arrived here.
Her English isn’t too hot and is obsessed with the constant fear of failing her exams and what her family in Kenya could do to her if she does not graduate. So we can rule her out too.”
“This still leaves two.” Her sarcasm had returned.
“Then there’s Lynda. The hardest one to explain.” I paused for effect.
“Lynda,” I gulped, “is a nymphomaniac.”
“Oh is she?” Tracey’s eyes widened.
“Yes, but she only sleeps with people she hates.”
Tracey looked puzzled.
She opened her mouth to speak, thought better of it and shook her head asking, “Run that past me again?”
“When Lynda was fourteen, she had an affair with some older guy.
When she caught him in bed with someone else she murdered him with a kitchen knife and, has vowed to cause as much misery to as many men as possible since.
This is why she sleeps with men, and on occasion their wives or girlfriends, and then purposely ruins their lives afterwards.”
Tracey could not believe what she was hearing. “You’re kidding?” she asked in astonishment trying to imagine one of the ‘fairer sexes’ considering such an act.
�
��So if Lynda wanted to spoil our relationship,” she figured, “she could have planted them? That’s incredible.” Tracey was shocked as a seething rage was now coming to her lips.
“Actually, Lynda told me last night she liked me,” in an effort to allay any animosity between them.
“And that rules her out does it?” she asked disbelieving.
“Well,” I answered, “actually it does.”
Tracey pondered my answer for a moment and asked, “And what brought about this revelation last night?”
I raised myself up from my position - kneeling before her as she pulled her legs up beneath her.
“On Thursday Debbie passed her banking exams and to show her that we all care for her Marcie reckoned we should take her out to celebrate.
So, we all went to a local social club where Rachel and ‘Diamonds’ were playing and afterwards we had a party back here.”
Tracey listened intently and then asked,
“And how many were at this party?”
“Just ‘Diamonds’ and us” I assured her.
“It must have been a hell of a party with a dozen women and one guy.”
Her sarcasm was easing, but still very present.
“Actually,” I stated, “it was quite a good party after I found out something that meant there was no danger of any of them ruining my relationship with you.”
I paused for effect while I stroked her thighs.
“Diamonds’…are…Lesbians.”
She looked shocked. “No way.
You’re trying to make me believe that, ‘miss treasure chest’ is….”
“Rachel is their leader.” I assured her.
Tracey looked deep into my eyes searching my soul for the hint of a lie and giggled as she got out of the bed, put on my dressing gown and exited towards the bathroom laughing.
“I’ll be back in one minute.”
When she returned a few moments later, sitting on the edge of the bed, she asked. “That doesn’t explain how ‘they’ got into your bed.”
She pointed at the lacy briefs, which were now lying at the foot of the bed.
“Any one of ‘Diamonds’ could have ‘planted’ them for a joke.”
“How?” she asked. “If you were in your bed - I presume you were in your bed?”
“Oh yes,” I assured her, “the party went on till about three o’clock; by that time they were all pretty ‘stoned’ and crashed out in the living room.
I didn’t trust myself with them, so, I slept here until seven o’clock when I got up and woke them all up.”
Her voice softened. “They all stayed the night here?”
“Yes, and, by the way, the first thing that ‘Diamonds’ did was to ask Rachel and the others if they could borrow underwear, blouses and things, so while I was having my breakfast any one of them could have changed in here and dropped them on their way out.”
Tracey leaned towards me and we kissed,
“As long as they didn’t drop them while you were here.”
Discarding the robe, tossing it onto the floor, I assured her,
“I swear I have never seen them before - and certainly not with any body inside them.”
To help lighten the atmosphere I laughed,
“I told you before I’m a ‘one-gal guy’ – well, one girl at a time anyway,” I joked, “I can assure you that you are the only girl for me and I could want nobody else as long as I have you beside me.”
I breathed a long sigh of relief as we made love and fell asleep.
I wondered why I hadn’t noticed the knickers before and began to think of the events between Wednesday night and now.
Debbie must have removed them while I struggled to free myself from my clothes and I hadn’t spotted them during the panic that followed.
After the party I slept above the duvet with Rachel fully-clothed and rushed to get dressed before the females commandeered the bathroom the following morning.
Last night I was more concerned in stripping Tracey to notice anything else.
We awoke to a now familiar knock at the door. “Your teas are out” Marcie called.
As we both dressed I implored Tracey.
“Listen; what these girls told me is in the strictest confidence.
I’ve managed to gain their trust these past few weeks, so please,” I begged, “Please don’t mention anything or question anything of what I told you earlier, Okay.”
“Okay.” she kissed me as she opened the door.
“By the way,” I continued, “Will you marry me?”
A wide smile beamed across her face. “You bet I will” she whispered kissing me again on the way to break the news to Marcie, Debbie, Lynda and Aleesha.
After clearing the dishes we returned to our ‘love nest’ making plans for our future.
Sunday.
We awoke to the sound of the telephone ringing.
The alarm read 10:02 as we heard Debbie answer it, and knocking on my door she shouted, “Casanova, it’s for you.”
I hurriedly donned my dressing gown and lifting the receiver I heard Mum say “Good morning, Casanova.”
“Oh, hello,” I smiled, “How are you doing?”
“We were just wondering if you were still alive as we haven’t heard from you since you moved to ‘the Far East’, or if all these eastern maidens had molested you to death?” she joked as she usually did.
“No Mum, I’m fine. In fact I feel wonderful today.”
“Heavens,” she exclaimed, “must be all that eastern sunshine you’re getting that’s making you feel so good.”
“Actually,” I stated, “it’s a ray of western sunshine that’s done that, Mum, I’m getting married.”
“Hold on a second.” came from the other end as I heard the ‘phone being dropped for a few moments, then I heard Dad exclaim,
“You’re what!”
Announcing regally, “Her Royal Highness and I have decided that it’s about time we settled down and got married.”
“I take it you are referring to Princess Tracey?” he asked.
“That’s the one.” I answered.
‘Well, Congratulations kid.” he laughed enthusiastically.
“I assume we will get an invite to the ‘royal’ wedding?”
“I’m sure that might be arranged.”
We laughed as we said goodbye and I rejoined Tracey.
“Well,” I sighed as I embraced her again.
“My Mum and Dad are pleased to know I’m still alive and they’re overjoyed to learn I’m getting married.”
We smothered one another in kisses for a few minutes and then suddenly - she stopped.
“There’s a thing,” she said sitting up, “I suppose you had better ask my father for his permission to wed his ‘one and only’.”
I thought about the suggestion for a second.
“Right kid, while I’m in the shower you get your things together and we’ll go see him.”
“I’ve a better idea,” she giggled lowering herself to me, “while I’m in the shower you gather your things together and we’ll go see him.”
I thought about her idea for a second until she said.
“Or, I’ve an even better idea,” Tracey spoke very seductively,
“We could shower together, gather our things together, together and then go see him together.”
I did not need asking twice.
After we showered I donned my suit and the clean shirt I had ironed for Monday and headed for the breakfast table.
As we entered the living room Debbie, leafing thorough a magazine, looked up from the sofa and asked, “Good lord, have you two fallen out?”
Tracey smiled and answered “No.” while I entered the kitchen to get our Cornflakes.
“We’ve fallen out the bed a few times though.” I smiled as I placed the cereal, bowls and milk onto the table as Tracey occupied Lynda’s chair and Debbie bowed her head giggling.
“Tracey could show y
ou her bruises if you like.”
We all knew that she had said the wrong thing - she meant it were unusual to see us up so early.
”Debbie,” I called quietly, “could you inform the chef that we shall be dining out this evening?”
“Sure.” she confirmed as the door opened and Rachel and Melanie entered.
“My God, have you two…” Debbie looked at me and sighed. “Oh forget it.”
“Good morning.” both smiled as Rachel retrieved bowls as I had just done, while I introduced Tracey to Melanie who smiled and said “Hi” settling into Marcie’s chair. “Melanie is a ‘diamond’.” I assured Tracey with a knowing look.
“Melanie,” I smiled, “You’re the very person I want to talk to today.”
As Rachel deposited two bowls onto the table Melanie quipped.
“You can’t be over fussy about who you talk to then - what can I possibly do for you?”
“Your shop,” I asked, “sells rings, does it?”
“We sell all kinds of rings from a fiver up to five grand’s worth.”
In posh shop assistant mode, she asked,
“In which type of rings would sir be interested?”
“Engagement rings.” I replied.
Rachel and Melanie looked at each other in amazement before congratulating us.
“Sure,” Melanie smiled delighted, “Call in anytime and I’ll be happy to show you what we’ve got” then turning to Rachel she asked,
“Are we doing anything exciting today?”
“Rehearsal at Angel’s at one o’clock,” was the reply.
“Then, if you’ve got half an hour to spare now, I could show you our range this morning.”
“I think we could spare a few minutes.” I smiled looking at my watch, which read 10:37.
Tracey asked, “Do you have a jeweller’s shop?”
“Guess what it is called?’’ Rachel and I asked in unison.
Tracey looked at me, then Rachel, and asked “Diamonds?”
“Got it in one.” Rachel applauded.
“I’ll take you to view the rings on one condition,” Melanie continued, “You hire ‘Diamonds’ as your wedding band?”
“I don’t know about that,” I laughed,
“You can play at our wedding on one condition.” Looking at Rachel. “Will you record ‘Baby - You’re an Angel’?”
“Sure thing.” the reply.
“Okay,” Melanie sighed, “whenever you’re ready, let’s go.”
We left Rachel behind as she had some washing to do.
Melanie rode with Tracey as I followed because, I knew where the shop was, and while Melanie opened the shutter door I waited with Tracey outside.
“You’re very quiet.” I commented, she whispered. “I’ll tell you later.”
Melanie silenced the alarm and invited us into an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of gold, silver and ornate merchandise and proceeded to show us an array of beautiful engagement rings.
Tracey took quite a long time to decide which one she wanted and who could blame her as several trays were placed before her?
She really liked the more expensive rings, but she kept being swayed to the smaller rings by the price tags.
Melanie was obviously an expert in dealing with these situations and eventually she persuaded her to go for a medium-sized one amid winks and nods to me to confirm that I could afford it.
“Will you take a cheque?” I asked her.
“Not on a Sunday,” came the reply, “you can have it ‘on approval’ until tomorrow,” she began clearing away the trays.
“Are you sure?” we both asked.
“On one condition,” she asked as she secured the last tray into the safe, “that you let me take you out to lunch tomorrow? - If that’s okay with you?” she asked Tracey.
She was still admiring the ring on her finger.
“Sure, fine, no problem,” her enthusiastic reply.
“Thanks Brian,” Tracey kissed me lovingly with tears in her eyes,
“It’s beautiful.”
I looked at the ring that was going to ruin me financially, and smiled. “Not as beautiful as the girl who’s wearing it.”
We hugged one another as I winked over her shoulder saying, “Thanks, Melanie you’re a diamond.”
Melanie was still busying around as she said “I’m glad you like it.
Now, will you get out of here before my insurance company finds out about this?”
We walked hand in hand to Tracey’s car where we kissed again and then we admired her ring sparkling in the sunlight, while Melanie secured the shop.
“Thanks Melanie.” Tracey smiled as they hugged.
“Nonsense, any friend of a friend of Rachel’s is a friend of a friend of mine.” Melanie laughed.
Melanie inserted two fingers into her mouth and let out a very loud whistle bringing a passing taxi screeching to a halt.
“What time tomorrow?” I asked as she boarded the taxi.
“Is High Noon okay?”
“I’ll be here, thanks again. You’re a diamond.”
We shouted our gratitude as the taxi sped away then we kissed again.
“Thanks Brian,” she repeated, and then became much more serious,
“I’ve got to tell you what Melanie said.”
“If it was girls-talk I’d rather not know.
Right now I am wondering what Daddy is going to say, so stick close to me encase either of us breaks down, Okay?”
“Okay, I love you,” she said as I repaid the compliment and we set off for Glasgow.
Driving towards Ingilston, I kept checking she was behind me and I thought of how I came to meet this girl who will soon become my wife.
Almost five years ago I was romantically linked with Mary who worked in an electrical store in Glasgow City centre - while Tracey was going out with one of my friends at work, Andy Baird.
Andy, one day suggested that we should arrange a ‘foursome’ and little did we realise he fancied Mary.
After our night out together we discovered that Andy and Mary were two-timing us and we figured the best way to get our own back was to let it be known that I was ‘seeing’ Tracey - more out of spite than anything else.
Within about three weeks Andy and Mary fell out and tried to persuade us to resume our former relationships, but we were adamant that we would not have either back.
Slowly our love grew much to the annoyance of Andy and Mary who haven’t spoken to us since that day.
I was speculating at what Andy might say when he finds out we are now engaged, as we turned left at the Maybury roundabout to join the M8 motorway.
I noticed a couple thumbing a lift and pulled over.
A young man of about twenty-five years old opened the passenger door and with an American accent asked, “Are you going to Glasgow sir?” “Yes, I replied.”
“We would deeply appreciate a ride, sir” while he awaited my answer I asked him.
“Do you have a driving licence?”
He looked puzzled at this strange request, “Yes Sir” he replied producing it from his top pocket handed it to me with his U.S. passport, “That’s fine” I smiled as I scrutinised the documents.
“Have you been drinking today?”
“No sir.” his reply.
“Can you drive a stick shift?”
“Yes sir.”
“Okay, could you do me a favour in return for a lift to Glasgow?”
“Sure.” he answered confused.
“Would you mind driving for a little while?”
“I’ll be glad to, Sir.”
“Okay, it’s all yours.” I opened the door and got out.
“Gee, thanks sir.” he said enthusiastically, but his smile vanished as I pointed to Tracey’s car and said, “I’ll be following right behind you.”
“Excuse me sir. This car ain’t hot or nothing? I’m a police officer.”
“So am I,” I called back, “Don’t exceed 50 and pull over into H
arthill Services, okay?”
“ARE YOU OFF YOUR HEAD?” Tracey screamed as I opened her passenger door climbing in.
“No,” I assured her, “you’re dying to tell me what Melanie said.”
“My God - she was right.
You have just entrusted your car to complete strangers - what if they run off with it?”
“They won’t.”
“How the hell can you be so trusting?” She hissed.
“Because,” I answered, “I’ve got his passport, driving licence and California Highway Patrol Police ID.” I studied the documents closely for a few moments.
As we drove off behind my car I broke the few moments silence by asking,
“So Melanie was right was she?”
Tracey let out a long sigh saying quietly “Now I see what she means.”
There was another long pause.
“Melanie said when you moved into the flat she initially saw you as a threat to her relationship with Rachel.
I told her I held the exact same opinion of Rachel, but she said what changed her mind was the other night when you danced with Debbie.
She said that if Debbie could trust you that much then she had to trust you too.”
“God bless her.” I sighed.
“That song,” Tracey continued, “the one you asked Rachel to record.”
“Baby - You’re an Angel?”
“Yes, that’s the one,
Melanie said Rachel wrote that song for Debbie to let her know how much they all care for her and no matter what suffering she went through as a child Rachel and the others would always be there whenever she needs a friend.”
All was quiet as I repeated “God bless her.”
A tear fell from her eye as she reached across squeezing my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered,
“When you told me all those things about those girls, to be honest, it sounded too incredible to be true.
Although I tried hard to believe you I still had my doubts.
Can you please forgive me?”
I raised her hand to my lips and kissed it, looking at her ring.
It seems Tracey’s brief encounter with Melanie had confirmed all I told her about all the flatmates to be true.
“Of course I forgive you.
I suppose they do seem a pretty weird bunch, but they are all good girls and I am glad I’ve got to know them.
Can I confess to something?”
I kissed her hand again then rested it lovingly on my thigh.
“That night,” I began, “in the Hareshaw forest, before the cat interrupted us when I told you that I was going to move to Edinburgh.
I purposely did not tell you about the girls because I feared that you might get the wrong impression of the set-up and I was worried that you would think I was thinking of cheating on you.
I made up my mind that I wouldn’t get involved with any of them and keep as far apart from them as possible, but over these week’s I’ve fallen in love.”
Her hand suddenly pulled away and I feared I had said the wrong thing, but all she was doing was signalling to pull out and then she replaced her hand on my thigh saying “Sorry, you had fallen in love.”
“Yes, but it’s not the kind of love we have.
It is a brotherly-sisterly type of love.
I could not love Debbie any more than I love Louise.
As weird as they are they treat me like a brother and, believe me, I do love them all - even ‘screwball’ Lynda.
I couldn’t believe it when she told me she had gotten away with murder and for Debbie to accept any man after the hell she’s gone through is quite an achievement, believe me.
I honestly would do anything for that kid.”
“Anything?” she asked curiously.
“Absolutely anything.”
Tracey pondered my answer for a few moments and then said, “I trust you.”
I raised her hand to my lips again and kissed it.
“I love you,” I whispered as her hand pulled away quickly.
“Oh-oh, these two are pulling over.” She said concerned.
I surveyed our surroundings as I smiled,
“We must be at Harthill then.” I must have sounded smug and a little relieved that my faith in people had not floundered.
Tracey said nothing as she continued to follow my car while I checked I had our American friend’s documents.
“Gee thanks buddy” the American smiled.
“NO, thank YOU” I assured him “Now where did you say you were going?”
“Glasgow.” he replied.
“Okay, next stop George Square.”
“That was quite an experience.” The American smiled.
“I’ve never driven on an English freeway before, but how did you know we wouldn’t run off with your car?”
“Quite easy,” I replied, “If you had left this motorway I would have brought every police car in Scotland down on you, so you wouldn’t have got far.”
I advised him not to forget he wasn’t in England. “If you must - call us British - never refer to us as English if you want to have a pleasant visit to Scotland.
And anyway you wouldn’t have got far without these.”
He stared in amazement as I returned his passport and documents.
The remainder of the journey was taken up with idle chatter about where they were from, where they had been and where they were heading until I dropped them off at George Square where I bade them farewell.
Tracey was still behind me as I pulled up outside her parent’s home where I saw her father pottering about in the garden.
Tracey ran to him and kissed him on the cheek as he straightened up from his chore then winking at me she ran inside to tell her mother the good news.
“Sir,” I began nervously, “May I have a word with you?”
“Sure.” he said reviewing his multicoloured flowerbed.
“Sir, I have asked Tracey to marry me, may I have your permission to take her as my wife?”
He beamed a huge smile and said, “We thought you’d never get around to it.
Sure, if she’ll have you” he shook my hand and hugged me.
“We’d better go inside and see what Mother has to say about it.”
Catherine Collins was overjoyed with the news and said so several times over a cup of tea.
Then we decided we should visit my parents too.
My sister, Louise was sunbathing in the front garden when we arrived and she fired half a dozen questions at Tracey before we reached the front door.
“When’s the big day?” “Will I be a bridesmaid?”
Dad’s first question was “Are you pregnant?” as we all sat down excitedly to another mug of tea.
We answered every question with the same lines.
“We don’t know.” ”We’ll see.” “We’ll let you know.”
Monday 11th May.
In all it was a pretty eventful weekend and I was glad to get back to my office on Monday morning - back to reality.
“Sarah” I called as I reached my desk.
“You called?” she asked popping her head around the door.
“Come in, I’ve got something I would like you to do for me.”
“You’re the boss,” she said cheekily as she entered closing the door behind her.
“I need an excuse to phone the Glasgow office,” I began.
“Can you go around the girls and find out if any of them have any invoices under query or anything whatsoever.
Even if any copy invoices are needed okay?
Any excuse whatsoever.”
She looked puzzled as she obeyed and exited returning a few moments later saying “Julia says she was going to phone for a copy of invoice 5044, I’ll afraid that’s all I can find at the moment.”
“That’ll do nicely.” I stated lifting the telephone and dialled the number.
“Bad weekend was it?” she asked cautiously.
“No.
In fact, I had an absolutely wonderful weekend.” I assured her.
“Extension 46.” I called into the ‘phone and it was answered by a familiar voice.
“Accounts department.” it said.
I put on my authoritative telephone voice as I called, “Hello, this is Edinburgh office here, could you send me a copy of your invoice 5044 to complete our reconciliation of your account?”
“Sure, consider it done.”
“Brilliant, can I have your name for the record?”
“My name is Andy Baird.” the hesitant reply.
“Oh, Andy,” I asked as if surprised, “How are you doing my old buddy?”
There was a pause and then he said, “I’m fine, Brian, How are you?”
“Oh, I’ve never felt better in my entire life,” I enthused, “and it’s all largely thanks to you.”
There was another pause as he asked, “How come?”
“Do you recall that blonde lassie you did the dirty on five years ago?”
“Tracey Collins?” he asked.
“Aye, that’s her,” I paused for effect, “I just got engaged to her.”
As expected he immediately hung up.
I replaced the receiver and looked at Sarah who looked puzzled.
“That wasn’t very nice,” she said in sympathy then she realised what I had said.
“Engaged?” she asked, “Since when?”
“Since yesterday.” I answered.
“Congratulations, I must tell the girls.”
Sarah hurriedly left to spread the word.
I leaned back in my chair and thought to myself.
‘Sarah is right, that was not a very nice thing to do to your old mate Andy.
My God, you can be a heartless bastard when you put your mind to it.’
I chuckled in delight at the cunning way I got my own back on my old mate, yet again, as I began to sift through the mountain of paperwork before me.
An hour later I was ‘hard at it’ when Sarah brought me a mug of tea and interrupted me by sitting on the edge of the desk as she ‘normally’ did.
Sarah Nicholson was 19 years of age and a very pretty girl with long brown hair and a very pleasing slim figure that never failed to get admiring glances from our male colleagues and I admired the way she would often tease them.
She made no secret she was a ‘committed’ Christian and was very efficient indeed in many things.
She obeyed my every command without question with a cheekiness that endeared me to her.
As I laid down my pen she raised her shorthand notebook asking.
“Okay, have you set a date for the big day?” “Not yet.”
“Is Tracey pregnant?” “Not yet.”
“Are we all getting invited?” ”Not yet.”
“Who is Melanie?”
“Melanie who?” I answered evasively lowering my mug to the desk.
“A young lady named Melanie called while you were on the phone earlier and asked if she could postpone lunch until Wednesday?”
“When I told her you were engaged - on the ‘phone I meant - she said she knew because she gave you a ring yesterday, I have no idea what she was talking about?”
“My God,” I sprang up, “I’d forgotten about that.
Did she leave her number?”
“Yes,” she replied, handing me her notebook.
I dialled the number written under Melanie - lunch - Wed.
“Diamonds.” called the young female voice.
“May I speak to Melanie, please?” I asked.
While I waited her velvety tones Sarah asked if she should leave but I motioned for her to remain where she was.
“Hello?” enquired a familiar voice.
“Melanie, it’s Brian.
I got your message, Wednesday’s fine, but what about the ring?”
“I’ll get it Wednesday, no problem.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Sure, I’m sure, I’ll have to go. I am up to my eyes in it here. I will see you Wednesday okay?”
“Thanks Melanie, I appreciate it.”
As I replaced the receiver I looked at Sarah, who sat arms folded, very confused.
“It’s a long story.” I assured her.
“I’ll bet it is,” she laughed as I scribbled into her notebook ‘Free for lunch?’
She jumped off the desk as her enchanting smile returned.
“Sure,” she laughed as she made for the door,
“I don’t mind being second choice - I’ll arrange something.”
As I lifted my pen I again chuckled to myself.
There was something about Sarah that made it a pleasure to come to work. She certainly brightened up the dull routine with her wit and her antics as I resumed the dull routine I felt extremely happy.
The following two hours flew by until Sarah was, again, perched upon my desk.
“Lunch time already?” I asked checking my watch.
“Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?”
She laughed as I laid down my pen and stretched.
“Where are you taking me?”
“As it is such a beautiful day,” Sarah replied, “why don’t we grab a couple of burgers and go ‘alfresco’?”
It sounded like a wonderful idea to me.
Fifteen minutes later we were sitting in the sunshine off Princes Street watching the world go by when I heard a familiar voice calling.
“Hello there, Chief. How are you doing?”
Looking round I saw the two drunks I had met on Thursday with Lynda shuffling towards us.
“You know these two?” Sarah asked quietly.
“Afraid so.” I answered as they came to stand unsteadily before us.
“Good afternoon Gentlemen.” I greeted them with a smile.
“Would you mind if we join you, Chief?” the first drunk asked politely.
“Help yourself.”
I beckoned them to sit while Sarah watched confused.
Once they were seated next to me Charlie took the familiar brown paper bag from his pocket and handed it to his buddy who asked us politely “Would you care to join us?”
Offering me his bottle, I politely declined.
He then offered it to Sarah – She, also, politely declined?
“You know hen,” he stopped to drink from the bottle,
“You’re getting younger every day.”
He handed the bottle to Charlie and then leaned forward looking at Sarah with a puzzled expression.
Straightening up he whispered to me, “She’s not the same one, Chief.”
Smiling at Sarah I replied “You’re right.” as Sarah smiled bemused.
“You know,” he continued, “you’re better off with this one, Chief.
That other one had far too many problems.”
“Do you really think so?” I asked him smiling at Sarah.
“Oh, aye,” he continued, “too many problems with death and rape and all that lesbian nonsense.
Oh aye, you’re better off with a nice quiet girl than live with all that weeping and wailing.”
“I suppose you’re right.” I agreed. “What’s your name, Sir?”
“It’s Sandy Broon - but my friends call me Sandy and my companion is Charlie.” he replied as the cannon boomed from the castle.
“Well, Sandy Broon,” I rose to my feet, “some of us, unfortunately, have to be getting back to work.”
I put my arm around Sarah’s shoulder as she stood.
“You and Charlie take care of yourselves.”
“Okay dokey, Chief, I hope you and your young lady get on alright.”
Sarah waved goodbye as I swung her around and we walked towards the office with my arm around her.
“What was all that about?” She asked.
“Like I said this morning, it’s a long story.”
She smiled up at me and whispered, “I’m sure it is.
Maybe some day you’ll tell me?”
I smiled at
her saying “Maybe some day?” As she broke away from me and we entered the warehouse doors where she sighed,
“Thanks, for a very enjoyable luncheon.”
“It was you who made it enjoyable Sarah.
Thank-you, you’re a Diamond too.”
I looked across at Emily to check that she was still sleeping.
“In this chapter, Emily, It seems I had gotten away with it yet again.
Tracey had discovered the evidence of my infidelity with Debbie, but I had managed to lie my way out of it by telling her all I knew about my flatmates – telling her exactly what she would have wanted to hear.
Then to compound it I proposed to her to confirm my faithfulness – then arranged to have lunch with Melanie with Tracey’s approval.
It was all going so well, Emily, I hoped my luck would hold out and by enlisting Sarah’s help I believed I could cope with whatever fate threw at me knowing she would be there to pick up the pieces if it all went wrong”.
Diamonds by Brian Ritchie Page 12