by RJ Hunter
"I suppose I ought to be grateful you were here, Frank."
"It was nothing, Sally. Here, let's have a drink."
"I don't want one Frank. I just want you to go. It's not working, and I just can't go on like this."
"What? How can you say that, after all I've done - you ungrateful bitch!"
Suddenly, the music began to blare again. Frank stormed into the lounge, pushing teenagers out of the way as he made his way towards Penny's new stereo. He ripped the plug from the socket viciously, before lifting the apparatus high above his head, and smashed it down to the floor. The room went silent, and all eyes turned to watch him. Frank then marched back to where a terrified Sally was standing.
"Right, there shouldn't be anymore interruptions!" He glared.
"I'm calling the police. Get out of my house now!" She cried, taking a step back.
"I'll be back, you can count on that. After all, Sally, we're an item now, aren't we. You can't go kicking out little Frankie over a lover's tiff!" He said, inching closer towards her.
"Get away from me you bastard!" She screamed, reaching for a carving knife.
"I'll teach you to pull a knife on me!" He snarled, easily knocking the weapon from her hand.
Sally scrambled to retrieve it, but as she bent down a backhander sent her sprawling to the floor.
"Don't wait up!" He cursed, turning to go.
Frank screeched off into the night. He was angry about Sally, angry about the Penny interruption and angry about missing what would have been another opportunity with Deborah. He could have had three women that night, but now he would have to be content with one of the girls at the club if he could get lucky, or Pauline, of course, and that thought irked him greatly.
It was left to a couple of Penny's friends and a pleasant, young man called, Kyle to come to Sally's assistance. While one of the girls put a cold compress to the side of Sally's face, the young man watched, very perturbed by what he had just witnessed.
"I wish I could have done something to help, I just felt so useless."
"It's probably a good thing you didn't, Kyle. He's a very nasty and dangerous man."
"I think you're going to need a steak on that eye, Mrs. Peddlescoombe."
"Kyle, please don't ever mention steak to me again." Replied Sally, trying to laugh the matter off.
Penny came down in her dressing gown, looking pale and distraught. The sight of her mother receiving first-aid was distressing to her.
"Mum, what's happened?"
"Nothing to get upset about Penny. I just fell and had an accident that's all, and your nice friends are helping me."
"It was Frank wasn't it?"
"I really don't want to hear his name mentioned again Penny. Frank is history. So how did the evening go, and why are you in your robe?"
Penny couldn't bear to give her mother any more bad news, and decided to keep quiet about Frank and Jamie molesting her.
"Oh, I spilt a drink over myself, and just decided to get changed." She replied, rather unconvincingly.
"Penny."
"Yes, Mum?"
"Come over here and give me a cuddle, I need one."
For Sally, it had been one of the most restless night's in memory. She was over tired and didn't get to bed until late. The awful argument with Frank certainly hadn't been conducive to a relaxing evening, and to top it all, the side of her head throbbed like mad. She was the first one up the following morning and sat stroking Pepys for a while, before finding the energy to pull back the curtains and get started on the clear up. The whole house seemed to reek of stale smoke and alcohol, so she opened the kitchen door and as many windows as she could.
The party had finished earlier than expected, due to Frank's unforgivable behaviour, and as a result a lot of the food had remained uneaten. Sally made herself a coffee. It was 07.30, and she thought about waking Penny, but then decided to let her have a lie in, since she probably wouldn't be too much help anyway.
As she was filling a black bag with rubbish, Sally heard the most appalling noise. It sounded like a terrifying, high pitched scream, but it certainly didn't seem human. Dropping the bag, she hurried out into garden, where the noise seemed to have originated, then she heard it again. As she stepped onto the patio, she saw Pepys running for his life across the lawn. Both Frank's dogs, Conan and Thor were in hot pursuit, and soon caught up with the border collie. With frightening savagery, they tore into Pepys, pulling him around like a rag doll. Sally screamed at the dogs to stop, and not thinking of her own safety, grabbed the broom and went running towards them.
Conan growled at her, but Sally yelled back at the pit bull terrier, and raised the broom to strike it. The blow was enough to send the animal scurrying off to a safe distance. Thor, however had Pepys's neck in his powerful jaws, and didn't look like letting go. Sally brought the head of the broom crashing down with a ferocity she never knew she possessed. She hit the dog hard across the back and it immediately let go of Pepys and yelped in pain, before running off to join its partner.
Sally scooped up the bleeding Pepys and ran back towards the house. Conan and Thor began to chase after her, quickening their pace as they sensed their prey escaping. She practically flew into the kitchen, feeling the dogs inches away. Conan leapt up at her, sinking his teeth into the back of Sally's dressing gown. Fortunately, he only got a mouthful of material and released his grip. Sally cursed him, and slammed the door hard into the animal's snarling face.
Penny appeared in the doorway looking horrified.
"Pepys! What's happened to him?"
"It's Frank's dogs. They've attacked him."
"Is he going to be alright, Mum?"
"I don't know Penny!" Shouted Sally, panicking. "Come and help me, there's blood everywhere!"
Sally laid the dog on the kitchen table, and gasped as she took in the extent of his wounds. Both his neck and hind leg had been badly bitten through, and he was bleeding profusely.
"I'll get the first-aid box."
"No, Penny - there isn't time. Get a couple of hand towels from the drawer and come over here."
Penny fetched the towels and rushed to her mother's side.
"What shall I do?"
"Don't panic Penny, remember when Tina was here and cut herself, it's just the same. Fold the towels and put them over his wounds. His neck looks the worst - just apply a little pressure and see if you can slow up the bleeding."
"But Mum, where are you going?"
"I'm going to get dressed, I'll have to take Pepys to the vet, and while I'm at it, I'll phone that bastard, Frank and tell him to get these monsters out of my garden before I shoot the damned things."
"Please hurry, Mum."
"He's very traumatised, Penny. Try and talk to Pepys and re-assure him."
It was midday by the time Sally got back from the vet's. She looked tired and pained as she sat at the kitchen table where Pepys had lain a few hours earlier.
"Is it bad Mum, will Pepys die?" Asked Penny, sitting down next to her.
"Yes, it's bad, but we don't know yet. The vet is operating on him as we speak."
"The dogs are still loose in the garden."
"I left a message for Frank, that's all I can do."
"Poor Pepys, he's such a friendly dog. He doesn't deserve this."
"None of us do, Penny." Replied Sally, her voice a mixture of despair and anger. "Where's that revolting son of his, still in bed I suppose?"
Penny nodded.
"Well, let's get the horrible little swine up. He can get those bloody dogs under control and clean up all the mess they've made."
"Leave him, Mum." Pleaded Penny. "I don't want to see him."
"Do you bloody well think I do, Penny, do you? He's got to accept some responsibility." Barked Sally, about to charge off up the stairs, only to be side tracked by the telephone ringing. "Yes, who is it?" She asked abruptly.
"Hello, Sally - it's Pauline."
"Pauline? I'm sorry if I sounded a bit off. I've been hav
ing a bad day, and now's not a good time to talk."
"You've been having a bad day? Why, what went wrong, some of your underwear turned pink in the wash!" Remarked Pauline caustically.
Sally wasn't in the mood to humour her caller. But she suddenly remembered the torment she must be going through having recently lost her daughter.
"No, Pauline, not quite. I was meaning to call you about the terrible news," said Sally, totally unprepared for the conversation. "I just don't know what to say, poor Tina. It's just so awful. Are you coping, I mean, is there anything I can do to help?"
"Could you come over, Sally? You said you would visit. I need someone to talk to."
"Let me check my diary, Pauline." Sighed Sally. It was the last thing she felt like doing.
"Sally, I feel so desperate. I've tried to bury my feelings about Tina. You are my friend aren't you?"
"Yes, of course Pauline." Replied Sally, feeling that under the circumstances, she had no choice but to go and see this strange, disturbed woman.
28. REVELATIONS
"What about this one, a bit formal I suppose?" Asked Mark, trying to be helpful.
"No, I wouldn't wear that, I want something youthful, something to match my new image." Replied Pauline, as she searched through another rack of designer clothes in the Knightsbridge boutique.
Mark was greatly relieved when Pauline eventually found what she was looking for and they could finally go to the till and settle up. They had spent the whole afternoon shopping for outfits to go along with Pauline's latest whim. Following her meeting with Claire, she had realised that things had to change, and a new, stronger, slimmer, fitter and calculating Pauline was about to emerge.
Mark hated shopping trips with the boss's wife. It wasn't even the tedium of hanging around, feeling uncomfortable, and having to try and say the right things. No, it was the embarrassment of it all. Pauline was a huge embarrassment. Sometimes he wished the ground would simply swallow him up, the way she spoke to some shop assistants. Frequently, she had them in tears, or calling for the manager after she had torn a strip off them for no apparent reason, other than she felt like it. Then, she would always hate the clothes once she got them home and tried them on again. This meant trips back to the shop, always on his own to exchange the items and get a refund. Today, however, Pauline had been satisfied with her purchases, and seemed at one with the world for a change. But, had a change come over Pauline, wondered Mark, or was there something rumbling underfoot he had no knowledge of.
He had been surprised at Pauline's indifference to Tina's death, and at times he began to have serious doubts about her sanity. He was also very much aware of the suffering she had endured at Frank's hands. But to show no outward emotion over something as serious as the death of a daughter was unnatural and impossible for him to comprehend. If anything, Mark himself had been more upset and shocked by the tragedy, rather than the girl's mother. He was the first to offer his condolences and send flowers and a card to both Frank and Pauline, despite their obvious shortcomings.
He liked to remember Pauline how she was when he had first met her, as a young and somewhat naive mother of a little girl. She was in love with the man of her dreams, and her head was way up in the clouds. Now he hated himself for even thinking for a moment that she might be insane. He accepted her behaviour by convincing himself she was in shock, and the real impact of the event hadn't had time to be assimilated into her troubled mind. He felt that it was only a matter of time before she cracked under the strain and gave full vent to her oppressed emotions. Mark, however remained loyally by Pauline's side and put up with her unpredictability with unbending resolution.
It felt strange, driving her around without Jamie. There had been countless times when he had wanted to speak in private with Pauline, without the spoilt child being present. On occasions, Pauline would sit up front with Mark, while Jamie was content to occupy the back seats, lost in his own vivid imaginative world. He and Pauline were able to talk quite freely, but now he had the chance, the words didn't come easy to him. But since Jamie had been sent off to stay with a 'friend' of Frank's, Pauline had once again taken to sitting in the back and saying very little.
Frank had made it very clear that he didn't want his son to know about Tina's death. It was this, and his opinion that Pauline's mental state would deteriorate further that finally convinced Frank that Jamie would thrive better away from his mother.
"I want to go and have tea near the Serpentine." Said Pauline, quite out of the blue.
Mark parked the car around the perimeter at Hyde Park, and before sitting down to their tea, they took a gentle stroll together around the lake. Pauline then surprised him again by linking her arm through his.
It was rather an overcast day with a light breeze, and as they walked, geese and ducks eagerly followed their progress in the hope of being tossed the odd morsel of bread or two.
They headed over to a cafe, situated by the water's edge. They walked purposely and silently, as if both were heavy in thought.
"I used to bring Tina here when she was a little girl. I would walk miles with her in the pushchair, or we would take a bus or get on the tube. Tina used to find it so exciting." Reflected Pauline.
"I'm sorry Pauline. It must be so difficult for you. I sometimes wonder where you get your inner strength?"
"Thank-you Mark, always as thoughtful as ever."
"If you want to talk Pauline, I'm always here to listen, you know that."
"In fact, I do want to talk to you, Mark, but not about Tina. I'll deal with my grief in my own way, just as I did with Albert."
"Yes, of course, if that's what you want. So what is it you want to talk about?"
"Your son!"
"My son?"
"Yes, Mark. Jamie is your son."
"I don't believe you!" Exclaimed Mark, looking totally bewildered.
"He's your son. Think about it."
Mark went silent and gazed at Pauline blankly.
"The occasion is far too serious for you to be joking, isn't it, Pauline?"
"I don't joke Mark." She replied, before taking a seat at one of the cafe's outside tables.
"I realise that Pauline."
"I'm telling you now Mark, while there's still time. Jamie is going to need you soon."
"I take it, Frank doesn't know of this?"
"No, of course not. Well, not yet anyway." Replied Pauline coldly.
"What do you mean, not yet? If you tell Frank, it'll be like signing my death warrant, and probably yours too. He dotes on Jamie."
"Don't worry about Frank, I'll deal with him." Remarked Pauline, as she studied the menu. "These cream scones sound nice."
"Does that mean you're finally going to leave him, Pauline?"
"I'll never leave him, Mark. In fact, Frank and I are going to be together for eternity." She said icily. "Now listen,, I've informed my solicitors of the situation, and I've also changed my will accordingly. Frank has left everything to me. His father insisted on that when Tina was born.
"What does all this mean?"
"It means you've got to be there for Jamie. I know he can be a horrid, spoilt brat at times, but he's young. You can change him, Mark - you can make him a better person. Besides, he thinks the world of you."
"This is all too much, Pauline. I just can't believe it. After knowing him all these years, after watching him growing up, now I discover that Jamie is my son!"
"Now, don't go getting any ideas. You must keep it to yourself, just for the time being. Can you do that, Mark?"
"Yes, I think so, Pauline."
"Good. Now order our tea please."
Pauline's house certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea. It was situated in Kew, a beautiful, leafy part of South West London, famous for the nearby, botanical gardens. But the house lacked character and seemed out of place compared to some of the other houses in the area. It was an ugly, square, ultra-modern building with a sloping roof and large rectangular windows. A double garage seemed to
take up most of the ground floor, and as far as Sally could tell, the living areas looked as if they were located on the first and second floors.
It was a frightfully humid day and Sally was sweltering, even going bra-less in the light cotton dress she had opted to wear. Not wanting to be noticed, she quickly put on her sunglasses. She didn't actually know anyone living in the area, but felt uncomfortable being associated with Pauline Gant. Although the side of her face still ached from the blow she received from Frank at Penny's party, the redness and swelling had thankfully disappeared over the last couple of days.
Ringing the doorbell, Sally took a deep breath and decided to stick it for no more than an hour, she would think up some sort of excuse to make her exit if things weren't going well. Although there was no real reason to think that, since it had been Lizzie who had managed to rub Pauline up the wrong way the last time the women had met. Sally had decided to bluff her way through her meeting with Pauline, and since Frank was now hopefully history, she could leave and have no further contact with either of them.
Pauline resembled a cheap hooker and looked ghastly. Her make-up had been smeared on, she was wearing bright red lipstick and her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, through drinking and crying. She welcomed Sally inside as if her visitor were royalty, and led her through to the lounge.
While Pauline went to sort the drinks out, Sally surveyed the room with its beige, leather furniture and cream-coloured carpet. Staring out through the green patterned blinds, Sally could see her car parked directly across the road, and longed to get back inside it, and flee off into the waiting sunshine. She was still very worried about Pepys, but as yet there had been no real news from the surgery. Fortunately Lizzie had taken a day off from the boutique and was able to go over and stay with Penny.
Sally peered into an enormous glass cabinet which contained Pauline's best crystal and a collection of her favourite photographs. There were a couple of old pictures, which Sally presumed to be of Pauline's parents. Another photo showed a proud old man standing outside a prestigious-looking bank. There was another which interested Sally, it was Pauline when she was much younger and slimmer. She was wearing a mini-skirt and standing outside what looked like a nightclub with an elderly-looking man, in rather a provocative pose.