by RJ Hunter
"Thank-you," she replied, bending forward to move a box out of the way.
William's gaze immediately fixed itself on Sally's cleavage, and he felt himself desperately wanting her. A lock of her hair had worked its way loose and hung seductively over her sad eyes.
"You seem to make a habit of finding my scarf," she said, glancing back up at him, "But you needn't have bothered, as I wont be needing it now."
He sat down on her bed, "Sally, I've come to say, I'm sorry."
"I don't want to hear it William. Not after you shouted out in court that you loved me, only then to tell the whole world you caught me kissing your brother. How could you do that?"
"I didn't mean to, Sally. I wish I had never said it."
She sat down on the bed next to him, her eyes full of pain.
"Why did you say it then?"
William hesitated for a few moments.
"I think it was two reasons. I just wasn't thinking straight. When Fraser asked if we were still seeing each other, I thought he must have known about you kissing David somehow."
"How would he have known about that?" She demanded.
"I know it's absurd, but at the time, he was tricking me into answering exactly what he wanted. I'm sorry."
Sally let her anger relax a little.
"He certainly ran rings around us. And yes, you're right, it was hard to think straight, having all those questions coming at you." She turned to face him again, "What was the other reason?"
William inhaled sharply, and shifted position.
"Well, the truth is, I was still angry with you Sally."
"I thought it may have been that." She stood up, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at him.
"I told you William, the kiss wasn't sexual. Your brother is a wonderful, sensitive, and damaged person. He needs lots of love and re-assurance. One day, I hope you'll understand that."
"Please don't make me out to be a monster, Sally. I do understand, but my feelings for you just got in the way." He pleaded, moving towards her.
"No, William, you don't understand. You hurt me badly, and I don't know if I can ever forgive you for that." She pushed him away, and went to open the door. "Please go. I've got lots of packing to do."
William went back out into the corridor, looking totally dejected.
"Sally, you know the other thing I said in the courtroom? That was true, I did mean it."
"What was that, William? You said a lot of things in the courtroom."
"When I said I loved you Sally, I meant it. I do love you. I never stop thinking about you, I dream about you. Your eyes, your hair, your face, your skin, your wit, your compassion, I adore everything about you. I love holding you, the feel of you, kissing you, having you there with me. I even talk to you when you're not around. I can't bear to be without you." He then tried to put his arms around her, but she shrugged him off and began to close the door.
"Please, William - I've been to hell and back recently. I just don't think I can take anymore."
He glanced around, not quite knowing how to respond.
"I guess this is it then. I don't suppose, I'll ever see you again?"
"No, William, perhaps not. Look, I've got to call my father to come and collect me."
"I expect he wasn't very pleased to hear you're quitting?"
"I haven't told my parents yet."
There was an awkward silence, and William turned to leave, but as she was about to close the door, she called out to him.
"Where have you been William, why have I never seen you?"
He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
"I was just at home mainly. I did go to the lake fishing a few times in my boat. I like it there, it gives me the chance to think about things."
"Well, goodbye, William. I'll leave you to get back to your fishing and your thinking." She then shut the door and went back inside her room. William made his way back down the corridor, and as he did so, he heard her huge sobs of despair, and wished he could hold her in his arms once again.
Jane Parker walked into Mr. Meredith's office, the epitome of office efficiency. She wore a tight navy, pencil skirt, cream blouse and had her auburn locks just off her shoulders. At forty two, she looked as stunning as ever.
"I've got the address for you, Mr. Meredith, we did still have it on record."
"Excellent, Jane," replied the Dean, stopping what he was doing to run his eye over his prized secretary. "I'll just finish off drafting this letter, and we can be on our way."
"I'll get the cash out of the safe. Two hundred pounds, wasn't it?" She asked politely.
"Yes, that should be enough, money doesn't go far these days." He shrugged, "Perhaps, we could get a bite of lunch, and have a drink after?"
"Yes, Mr. Meredith, that would be nice. We missed out over Christmas, what with all that happened."
"We did indeed, Jane, but it's Friday, and I'm sure we can push the boat out a little."
He continued drafting his letter, and when he had finished, he brought it out for Jane to type up. She was a very competent typist, and the letter was completed, placed into an official, university envelope, and was ready in less than five minutes.
"Very impressive, Mrs. Parker, if I may say so."
"You may, and thank-you, Mr. Meredith. I've had many years of experience."
He laughed and put his jacket on, resisting the temptation to come out with innuendo.
As they got into his car, Meredith couldn't help noticing the wonderful fragrance of her perfume and the way she looked. A change had come over Jane recently, which he couldn't quite understand.
"Do you know where you're going, Mr. Meredith?" Asked Jane, with a wry smile.
He wasn't at all sure how to take her last comment, and couldn't work out if she was guilty of using innuendo herself.
"I don't think I do Jane, I'm in a bit of a quandary, and need guidance. Do you know where we're going?"
"I should hope so!" She laughed. "I've lived in Falcondale for ten years now. It's number 20, Bank Street."
"That'll be near to the bank, I'd imagine?"
"Yes, that's very good for a Dean of Students!"
"I do believe you're mocking me, Mrs. Parker?"
"Not in the least, Mr. Meredith, I could never do that to my boss."
He smiled, and headed off, down the drive.
"Jane, may I ask you a personal question?"
There was a moment of silence, as she considered his odd request.
"It depends on how personal it is?"
"Well, I can't help noticing," he hesitated, and had to re-think his words. "I've noticed you look different these days, and you seem, well, happier - please don't misunderstand me when I say that, Jane. I'm certainly not saying that you were miserable in any way, but you've definitely changed."
"That's a very roundabout way of putting it," she added.
"But, am I right in noticing that?"
"Yes you are, and I don't mind telling you, it's not really any big secret - my divorce has been finalised. My ex is now living with another woman."
"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry," exclaimed Meredith, feeling rather embarrassed. "I should mind my own business. I've really put my foot in it now, haven't I?"
"No, of course you haven't, Mr. Meredith, it is 1963 you know!" She giggled, reassuringly. "In fact, him leaving like he did, is the best thing that could have happened."
"Please Jane - call me, John. But, I don't understand. Your husband has left you, and you're happy about it?"
"Yes, in fact, I'm delighted! He wasn't a particularly pleasant man, a drinker and a womaniser - a bit like someone else we know. I met him, thought I loved him, then stupidly got married when I was in my teens. I've regretted it ever since."
"Well, I never. Jane, you've shocked me. But why didn't you ever leave him earlier?"
"We had a son, so I just stayed because of him really. I didn't want to disrupt his schooling, or his life in general. But, Adam's old enough to look after
himself now."
Meredith was silent for a few moments.
"You are quite a remarkable woman, Mrs. Parker. I would never have guessed."
"Thank-you, Mr. Meredith, sorry, I mean, John. I think you are quite remarkable too. But please, I don't look upon myself as Mrs. parker now - just call me, Jane."
"Well, I've never been called remarkable before, thank-you for the compliment, Mrs. Parker, err, I mean Jane!"
As they arrived at their destination, Meredith took the initiative, and went around to open the door for his secretary.
"So what will you do now?"
"Well, I'm going to get the house decorated, and I may even sell it and move on. But initially, I just want the dust to settle, and see what transpires. You never know, Mr. Right may come along!"
Meredith opened the gate and they made their way up the path, and knocked on the door. It was a small, but pleasant unassuming, terraced house, located just to the rear of the main street.
"Hello, Mrs. Matthews, how are you today?"
"I'm well, thank you, Mr. Meredith, please come inside. Do you want a cup of tea?"
"That would be lovely, thank-you. So is Carol here?"
"Yes, she's in the back room, looking at wedding dresses in a catalogue."
Mrs. Matthews, knew they were coming to see Carol, and led them through to the living room.
"Carol, love - we've got visitors."
Carol looked more than a bit surprised to see the Dean of Students, and his secretary in her family's modest home.
"Oh, hello Sir, I wasn't expecting you to be here?"
"Hello Carol, lovely to see you. You know Jane, don't you?"
Carol nodded shyly, and beckoned them to take a seat at the dining table.
"So what brings you, Mr. Meredith?" She asked anxiously.
"It's nothing to worry about, Carol. In fact, I hope we've brought you some good news." He replied, sitting at the table and removing the two envelopes from his inside pocket.
"I don't understand?"
"Just listen to what, Mr. Meredith has to say," added, Jane taking a seat next to him.
"Thank-you, Jane. Now, Carol, I'm sure you've heard about the recent court case involving, Frank Gant, or you've read about it in the local papers?"
Carol nodded, but the mere mention of Frank's name made her blood run cold.
"Yes, the whole town's talking about it. He should have got longer. But why does it concern me?"
"I'll tell you why it concerns you, Carol. You see the court case has brought it home to everyone, including the university governors, what a despicable, horrendous monster, Gant was. Not only is he in prison, but he's also been expelled from the university."
"I still don't understand, Mr. Meredith?" Uttered Carol, looking nervous.
"Alright, I'll get to the point. I know you suffered at the hands of Frank Gant, and lost your job at the campus, because of him."
Carol nodded once more, "He tried to attack me, but luckily he was stopped in time. I had to attend a meeting, and no-one believed me. They thought I led him on. But I didn't, and I lost my job."
"Yes, I know that happened to you, and it put a stain on your character. Falcondale is a very small community and some people don't forget."
"Well, I don't let them upset me anymore. But I was sad to lose my job, I did love it there at the university. That's all in the past now - I've got a job as a chambermaid at the hotel now."
"Carol, I've had a meeting with the board of governors and they all agree that you were treated harshly and should never have lost your job."
"It's all a bit late now, Mr. Meredith," added Mrs. Matthews, putting the tray of tea down onto the table.
"No, not at all," he smiled. "I have a letter here, from the university, offering you, your old job back, and with a higher wage."
Carol looked shocked, and glanced up at her mother.
"I really don't know what to say."
"It's simple, young lady, just say yes, and you can start back on Monday, or the Monday after that. In fact, you can come back whenever you want."
Carol looked thrilled, and put her hands up to her face.
"Thank-you, Mr. Meredith, I'm a little overcome."
"There's more, Carol, the governors have decided that in view of all the torment you had to endure, they've agreed to give you an award!"
"Oh, I see, what like a certificate, or a medal?"
"No, Carol," laughed Meredith, "It's a cash award, two hundred pounds to be exact!"
He then passed her both envelopes, and took a sip of his tea.
Carol couldn't quite believe what was happening, and eagerly opened the envelopes, expecting it all to be some kind of joke. She read through the letter, and putting the cash back into its envelope, she looked up at Meredith.
"I've never seen so much money. Can I talk to my mum in private?"
"Of course you can, and while you're at it, I think I'll pour myself another cup of your mother's excellent tea!"
Carol returned about five minutes later, and took her seat back at the table. Her mother, meanwhile stood hovering, and listening intently.
"I've thought about your kind offer, Mr. Meredith, and I have to say, no. I've moved on now, and I'm happy working at the hotel. I've even met a lad who works there, and he's asked me to marry him!"
"That's wonderful news, Carol, but I'm sad you wont be coming back to the university. At least take the money, you deserve it."
"No, Mr. Meredith, I couldn't possibly. I wouldn't know what to do with so much cash."
Meredith, looked disappointedly towards Jane, and they both stood up to go.
"Carol, your mother mentioned that you were looking at wedding dresses, is that right?"
"Yes, we're hoping to get married next summer, when we've saved enough money."
"They get married young around here, don't they, Mrs. Matthews?"
"It must be the Falcondale air!" She laughed, "Mind you, some of them these days, don't even bother to get married!"
"Indeed, Mrs. Matthews, you're quite right." He then, turned to Carol again, "Listen, my love, I don't know how much wedding dresses cost these days, or even weddings come to think of it. But I want you to take the money. It's yours to spend as you wish. I want you to be the prettiest bride in all of Wales. Now, please don't feel guilty about taking it."
He then picked up the envelope, gave Carol a kiss on the cheek, and put the money into her hand.
"Thank-you Mr. Meredith, and you, Jane. I'll never forget your kindness, but if I accept the money, there's something I'd like you to do for me," replied Carol, her voice full of emotion.
"Anything at all, just say it." Said Meredith, a little intrigued.
"Wait here, I'll be back in a moment."
She returned carrying a small velvet bag.
"I have been reading about the court case, and I couldn't help feeling so sad that Frank had stolen his mother's necklace. That poor woman, what an awful thing to do."
"Yes, do go on Carol," interrupted Meredith, wondering where this was going.
"Well, my Gran found a necklace a little while ago. She thought it may be valuable so she asked Constable Price about it and he said, to hang on to it as no-one had reported one missing."
"So does your Gran still have it, Carol?"
"No, she gave it me. I have it here." With that, Carol opened the bag and retrieved Irene's necklace.
"Gran also put an ad in the paper's lost and found column, but nobody ever replied."
"My, word, it's lovely. Are you sure this is it?" He asked, picking up the piece to examine it.
"Yes, it's Cartier all right, we've had it valued. It's worth around a thousand pounds."
"So what do you want me to do, Carol?"
"I could never wear anything as beautiful as that, and it wouldn't be right, knowing it belongs to someone else. I'm sure Mrs. Gant would like to have it back. Could you return it to her please, Mr. Meredith?"
"Of course, I will, it would b
e a pleasure. What a remarkable young woman you are. I seem to keep meeting remarkable women these days!" He put the necklace safely into his jacket pocket, before saying goodbye to them both.
"Don't forget to invite Jane and myself to the wedding, will you?" He called back, as they returned to the car.
Meredith then drove back up to the top of the road, but instead of heading back towards the campus, he turned, and went in the opposite direction.
"Are you leading me astray, John?" Asked Jane, wondering where they were going.
"I'm taking you to the Falconbury Hotel, Jane. We're going to have lunch there."
"What a marvellous idea, how sweet of you," she replied. "I think it went very well with Carol?"
"Yes, I do too." He then reached into his pocket and handed the necklace over to her. "I think, you had better hang on to this, and put it in the safe on Monday."
"It's so beautiful, she'll be delighted to have it back."
"She will indeed, and Carol's a very honest person to return it." He then went silent for a moment, deep in thought.
"A penny for them?"
"Sorry, what's that," he replied.
"Your thoughts, silly. You were miles away."
"Do you know what Jane, I'm going to call Mrs. Gant and tell her the wonderful news. I'm also going to ask her to send Carol a sizeable reward."
"How wonderful, they'll both be happy." Smiled Jane, as the car turned into the Falconbury car park. She then turned to face him; "Can I ask you a personal question, John?"
"It depends how personal it is?"
"You're playing me at my own game, aren't you?"
"Never! So what do you want to know?"
Jane looked serious, and searched for the right words.
"I know your wife died some time ago, but why haven't you ever re-married? I'm sorry, perhaps, I shouldn't have asked that?"
He wound up the car's window, and pondered his answer.
"No, it's alright. You were very candid with me, and I shall be the same. Mrs. Meredith was one in a million, and I loved her dearly. Like yourself, we married young, and losing her has been the biggest tragedy of my life. But, I appreciate, I do have to move on. I would certainly consider another relationship, even marriage perhaps. But, again like you, I'm just waiting for the right person to come along - Miss Right, as it were."