Love Interrupted

by Jade Winters

  ‘Morning, Abi,’ a cheery voice said from the door behind her.

  Abi turned to see her supervisor, Jill, a large and jolly woman in her late forties. She had hired Abi as a part-time cashier, despite her lack of previous experience. If it weren’t for this second job, Abi would have gone under by now.

  ‘Oh hey, Jill! How was the bowling?’ Abi asked.

  Jill presented Abi with a mock look of despair, and then chuckled and shook her head. ‘We lost, again on account of Oscar and his over-zealous aim. I tell you, that man should play cricket or something instead.’ She refilled the kettle in the small sink and switched it on. ‘Want a coffee?’

  ‘Thanks, that’d be great. I’m so tired this morning. I can barely keep my eyes open.’

  ‘Is Jakey with Aunty Tia?’ Jill asked casually, scooping up a spoon of coffee and roughly chucking it into a cup.

  Abi hesitated for a moment. Should I tell her the truth about Jake’s whereabouts or will she think I’m mad letting Robyn have him? Abi had cried on Jill’s shoulder many a time over the past few months, and she had provided some good advice. If she told her Robyn had Jake, Abi dreaded to think of Jill’s reaction. Abi shuddered. She couldn’t bear the thought of Jill thinking badly of her, so she took the only option available. Beneath the table, she crossed her fingers tightly and said, ‘Yes. The poor woman is trying to save the world and me at the same time. I feel so bad asking her to look after Jake so much.’ That in itself was the truth. If she could just settle a financial arrangement with Robyn, she could afford to pay someone to look after Jake, and then Tia could get on with her life as a globetrotting charity worker. It troubled Abi to think of Tia giving up so much for her.

  Jill looked at her with pity. ‘Oh don’t fret about those things. Tia wouldn’t do it if she didn’t love you. Besides, that’s what family are for.’

  Abi couldn’t help but grin. ‘Touch wood, my fortunes are about to change.’

  ‘Oh?’ Jill looked at her enquiringly.

  ‘I can’t say anything yet, but after this weekend, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.’ Finally.

  Jill poured the hot water into the cups and stirred, her expression frozen in deep contemplation. ‘I hope so. In a few months from now, you won’t even remember how bad things were. All roads lead somewhere. Even dead-end streets offer the opportunity to turn right around and carry on.’

  ‘That’s so true,’ Abi said smiling. She loved it when Jill came out with that kind of saying. They may have only been words, but the meaning behind them actually gave her hope for a brighter future.

  Jill passed Abi her coffee. ‘Get that down you, and I’ll go and open up.’

  Alone, Abi took small sips of her drink. For the first time in as many months, she felt anxiety free. Her normally clammy hands were dry. The butterflies that were a constant companion were absent, and most importantly, her mind was calm. She smiled to herself. Today’s going to be a good day. I can feel it.

  By eleven o’clock, the shop was bustling with people. Lively children, sauntering teenagers and bored housewives scattered themselves through the various aisles. Abi bent down to slot one of the many books she’d found discarded on the floor back onto the shelf.

  ‘Excuse me ...’ Abi heard a chiming feminine voice. She straightened up and turned to face a naturally tanned woman with supermodel features and a body to match.

  Great, stand next to me, just to make me feel even paler than I already am.

  ‘Can I help you?’ Abi asked, flashing her best smile at the tall young woman.

  ‘I hope so. I’m lookin’ for a book called, “Best Without” or somethin’ like that. It’s about how some successful lesbians prefer childfree women.’ She rolled her eyes skyward with impatience. ‘Ugh, I’m not really sure who wrote it ...’

  Maybe I should read it. It just might explain why Robyn left me. Abi felt a lump form in her throat at the thought. She tried to let her sigh out slowly so the customer wouldn’t notice her despondence. She needn’t have worried. The woman lolled her head to the side with a grin and waited for Abi to respond.

  Abi gestured for the woman to follow her. ‘If we have it, it’ll be in the non-fiction section ...’ she said with a crack in her voice. Just when she thought the splitting hurt of losing Robyn to another woman was finally dwindling, the scab was picked open and left to the seawater.

  Like a puppy, the woman in the short skirt and heels followed Abi through the rows. Her heavily made-up eyes looked over all the dazzling colours of books, paints, birthday cards and ribbons as she walked, paying no attention to where Abi was leading her. She reminded Abi of a child filled with wonder while passing through a sweet shop. Abi halted to point out the variety of books on relationships, and the clumsy woman walked right into her. Her purse fell, and its contents spilt all around them as the woman fell to her knees.

  ‘Oh no! I’m so sorry!’ Abi said apologetically, even though the collision wasn’t her fault.

  To Abi’s relief, nobody really took notice of the blunder, and she quickly helped the woman gather up her things. Still the woman just kept her childlike smile and shook her head, ‘No worries ... uh ... Abi,’ she said, reading Abi’s name tag. ‘I have to learn to watch my feet instead of all the interesting things around me.’ The woman chuckled as she stood with her bag clutched under her arm.

  ‘Anyway, here you are. I’m not sure if we stock that exact book, but there are similar subjects here on this shelf about childfree living,’ Abi said, composing herself again. She felt awfully stupid, nonetheless.

  ‘Thanks so much,’ the woman chimed, starting to check the sexual health books.

  Wouldn’t mind a bit of sexual health myself. Abi giggled as she strolled away and went back to the counter. It dawned on her that she never thought about sex anymore. For her, it had become a luxury, something only other people got to do; like world travel or figure skating. Other people got to love. Other people got to lock themselves into each other in the throes of passion. Those days were gone for her. It amazed her how sex, something that used to be common place during her week, had now distanced itself from her.

  ‘Abi, can I see you in my office, please?’ Jill called ten minutes later.

  Next to Jill stood the tall young woman, looking utterly distraught.

  ‘Of course,’ Abi replied and followed Jill and the customer to the office. Behind her, she noticed Harry, the security officer, following her. A bolt of ice cold panic coursed through Abi’s body. She didn’t know why, but their faces, their body language, and the tense silence was a nasty portend that made her nauseous.

  Harry closed the door.

  ‘Please take a seat, Abi,’ Jill said, barely able to meet her eyes.

  Abi felt compelled to lay a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, but she resisted the urge and hoped she could help fix the situation, whatever it was.

  ‘Is everything okay, Jill?’

  ‘Abi, we have received a complaint from this lady. And I will need your permission for Harry to search you,’ Jill said plainly.

  Abi’s legs went numb, and her stomach churned inside her. What an awful feeling. What could she possibly have done?

  ‘Excuse me?’ Abi forced out with a quiver in her voice. Maybe they construed her shaky tone as guilt when, in fact, it was born from an impending feeling of strife.

  ‘This customer reported you to me. Allegedly, you lifted her credit card off her when you helped her gather her belongings after her purse fell to the floor. This is a rather serious accusation, and as such, we will have to search you, Abi,’ Jill explained in a morose tone that Abi did not ever imagine she possessed.

  ‘That’s ludicrous. Why would I do that?’ Abi protested defensively.

  Jill gave her a long look, and Abi realised that her supervisor knew how short on cash she was. Obviously getting defensive would put her in a worse light than she was already.

  ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this,’ she mumbled to herself, castin
g a glance at Harry. ‘Go on then, search me.’

  Harry looked miserable. They were not exactly friends, but they had shared a joke or two before and spoke now and then. Reluctantly he began to search her. In front of Abi, the customer sobbed, but not once did she make eye contact with Abi. Jill looked to the floor. Silence smothered the mood in the small office where only the muffled music and chatting from the store felt like another dimension—a happy one—a million light years away from the bubble of discord Abi was caught in.

  ‘Oh, Jesus,’ Abi heard Jill utter under her breath as she looked at Harry. Jill shook her head in what looked like regret.

  ‘What?’ Abi asked and turned to face Harry. She looked right at the silver MasterCard Harry held up. Abi felt her knees buckle.

  ‘I didn’t take that,’ she cried out in disbelief as Harry led her, sobbing, away to the security office to wait for the police.

  She could hear Jill apologising to the customer again.

  ‘We’ll take the appropriate steps from here, and the police will contact you shortly to see if you want to press charges. Just give me your contact details.’

  ‘Of course. Thank you for sorting this out,’ the young lady said, sniffling.

  ‘No problem, Miss Adams. I only hope this hasn’t marred the reputation of the shop.’

  ‘I’m sure if your employee is dealt with properly, it won’t have. The local papers would have a field day with this story, wouldn’t they?’

  Chapter Twenty

  As far as Harper was concerned, the pastry shop on the corner of her street was the best in town. Despite travelling the world, nothing came close to the superior food Bella’s served. It was a family run business eking out an existence in a sea of franchises. The quaint shop only had the capacity to fit four small wooden tables and chairs in the seating area. It was a rarity, but that morning Harper was able to claim one.

  ‘So, are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and Ms Dreamy eyes?’

  Harper laughed at Shay’s description of Dylan.

  ‘Absolutely nothing.’ Not yet, anyway.

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘Positive.’

  Shay leant forward in her seat as if she was going to share something confidential with Harper. ‘You know, she looked nothing like I expected. The way people talk about her, I thought she’d be stern looking with a small mean mouth and shifty, beady eyes.’

  Harper laughed at how far adrift Shay had been with her description of Dylan.

  ‘So you’ve seen her a few times now, is she as bad as people make out?’ Shay asked, blowing on her coffee.

  ‘I think on a professional level the gossip is most probably true, she can be brutal. Not because deep down she’s a nasty person, she just takes her job seriously.’ Harper stared down at the twisted napkin in her hands; she unravelled it as she continued, ‘I think she would be the same in whatever profession she worked in. It’s just unfortunate that when she wins, in most cases, someone gets hurt.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose if you look at it that way she ain’t that bad.’

  ‘I mean, like this thing with Robyn having Jake for the weekend. Dylan won’t admit it, but I’m sure she instigated it. She thinks showing her vulnerable side makes her look weak, I suppose.’

  ‘In some people’s eyes, it would, but in yours, it makes her look strong, yes?’

  Harper nodded. Oh my God, since when did I become Dylan’s cheerleader? It shocked Harper to find herself defending Dylan. Isn’t that what you do when you’re falling for someone? Make up all kinds of excuses for behaviour you wouldn’t normally tolerate?

  A waitress stopped by their table and placed a tray with coffees and cakes before them. Both women thanked her in unison. She gave them a brief smile then moved on to the next table.

  Harper reluctantly pushed thoughts of Dylan aside. ‘Oh, God, I’ve been dreaming about this all week.’ Harper licked her lips. ‘This is what life’s about.’ She hungrily dug a spoon into the thick slab of warm chocolate cake and was about to raise it to her open mouth when her mobile phone rang. Harper shook her head in disbelief.

  ‘Why would it ring right this second?’ she said as Shay burst out laughing.

  ‘I told you to turn it off, but you wouldn’t listen.’

  Harper rolled her eyes. ‘Why spoil a habit of a lifetime.’ She dug the phone out of her jacket. ‘This better be an emergency,’ she said, pressing the phone to her ear, ‘Harper Anderson.’

  Harper dropped her spoon on the plate with a clang. She couldn’t believe what Abi was telling her. She’d been arrested. This is not good.

  ‘Listen, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Just stay calm,’ Harper said. ‘I’ll sort this out, and then see if I can get ... yes ... no, don’t worry. Just hang in there. I’ll see you soon.’

  Harper’s hands shook as she stuffed her phone into her jacket and stood up. She looked down at her uneaten cake with regret. ‘I’ve got to go.’

  ‘Why, what’s up?’

  Harper took a deep breath before letting it out with force. ‘It’s Abi.’ Is that poor woman ever gonna get a break?

  ‘She hasn’t been murdered has she?’ Shay asked tentatively.

  Harper gave a small shake of her head. ‘Why on earth would that be the first thing that comes to mind?’

  ‘’Cause that’s what normally happens in the movies, isn’t it? Someone doesn’t want to get divorced, so they have the partner knocked off. Or frame them for something?’

  ‘Well, it isn’t the case this time. Abi’s been arrested.’

  ‘For plotting a murder?’

  Harper laughed despite the seriousness of the situation. ‘No, Shay. Listen, no one’s been hired to murder anybody. She’s been arrested for theft.’

  Shay’s mouth dropped open. ‘What was she stealing? Food?’

  ‘No, someone’s credit card apparently. Shay, that woman wouldn’t steal shit if using it as skin lotion made her immortal.’

  ‘So what are you gonna do about it? You’re a divorce solicitor, not a defence one,’ Shay reminded her.

  Harper knew what Shay was hinting at—that she shouldn’t be too involved with her client, but what choice did she have? Leave poor Abi to stew in a cell? It wasn’t as if Robyn was going to go running to her defence. ‘I might not be a defence solicitor, but I know one who is.’

  Shay’s voice took on a serious tone. ‘You’re going to have to let this woman stand on her own two feet eventually. You can’t always be her knight in shining armour.’

  ‘That’s all very well, but right now there isn’t anyone else that can help her,’ Harper said. She knew she couldn’t always be there for Abi, but the woman had quickly secured a special place in her protective dome. Just when Harper thought things were going in the right direction for Abi, it was sod’s law that something would pop up and spoil things. From what she could tell, Abi was a good woman with good values; a woman who loved her child and was fighting for his future, not her own—that deserved special concession in her opinion. Harper’s own mother never gave a shit about her, but Abi was a woman who tormented herself for the welfare of her son, and Harper would not stand idly by while she was being kicked around.

  ‘Do you think we’ll ever get to hang out at the weekends without you running off to save lost souls?’ Shay said, pulling Harper’s plate across the table.

  ‘You don’t mind me going, do you?’

  ‘Of course not, you lump of jelly,’ she told Harper. ‘Abi’s cause is far more serious and far more important than a cake eating marathon.’

  Harper pecked Shay’s cheek. ‘I promise I’ll make up for it,’ she said. ‘Now enjoy that delicious, mouth-watering cake ... and no more after that one.’

  As Harper left the shop, Shay called after her, ‘Wouldn’t dream of it. Go save the world.’

  Harper scrolled through her contact list as she made her way to her car, praying Marc Smith was around. He was a smart, intelligent solicitor with a heart of gold who she’d
attended university with. Even though they worked in different fields, they still maintained a close friendship. He had a conscience, unlike some other defence solicitors out there.

  The seconds between each ring seemed like an eternity, and Harper could have cried with relief when Marc answered and agreed to meet her at the police station within the hour. As Harper sped towards the location, a million things played through her mind. If Abi were charged, would it have an effect on her case? She didn’t see why it would. She was more worried about social services becoming involved because of Jake. What stance would they take if they were notified?

  Bringing her car to a halt in the police station car park, Harper hurriedly made her way inside to be informed at reception that Abi was with her solicitor. Relieved, she took a seat to wait.

  ‘She’ll be released on bail and will have to report back here in a month’s time,’ Marc told Harper an hour later as he exited the police cells where Abi was being held.

  Harper gave him a brief hug. ‘I owe you one, Marc. Thank you.’

  ‘I’m glad I could help out. Listen, I’ve got to dash, but your client should be out shortly.’

  Some time later, Abi sat in Harper’s car as she drove her home. Finally, after twenty minutes, Abi’s crying subsided, and she spoke for the first time.

  ‘I swear to God, Harper, I did not take that woman’s credit card,’ Abi protested. Her eyes were maroon and bloodshot, and her skin looked terrible. It showed signs of malnutrition, something that did not sit well with Harper at all.

  ‘I believe you, Abi,’ Harper replied, placing her hand on Abi’s. ‘We will get to the bottom of this I promise ...’

  ‘You know, Harper ...’ Abi started, ‘... I don’t even care anymore.’

  Abi sounded disturbingly melancholy, and Harper shook her head profusely. ‘No, you do. You have to. Jake needs his mummy.’ She fished for her needs from her own past, ‘Who else will look after him if you give up? He isn’t old enough to look after himself.’