Love's Foolish Punch

by S M Mala

  ‘As we’re going to be engaged, we might as well try to get to know each other.’

  ‘But you don’t want to get personal.’

  ‘That’s before I realised how similar we are.’

  Molly laughed, shaking her head and grinned.

  ‘No, we’re not,’ she sighed.

  ‘We’re both a little bit broken, and need fixing,’ Jamie replied, sitting on the bed. ‘And maybe we both need cheering up so let’s make this fun, to get me out of trouble and to get you back into the swing of things.’ She noticed he looked over at the box. ‘Is that what I think it is?’

  ‘Daisy,’ she said, putting her hand protectively on it. ‘We used to cuddle under the sheets, so I put her here when things get on top of me.’

  He was starting to smile, and she knew Jamie was holding back his laugh.

  ‘How long ago did she pass away?’

  ‘It was in July.’

  Molly pulled the box closer, avoiding eye contact.

  ‘What of?’

  ‘Cancer,’ she whispered. ‘They did some tests and said she had six weeks. She died two days later. Nikos, my boss at the taxi firm, helped me out with her cremation. He’s a good man.’

  ‘Yes, Squirrel mentioned he’d given you work.’

  ‘It’s fun but not that glamorous, is it? Me working part time in a taxi office, teaching drama classes and doing promotional work for Squirrel. Your friends will think I’m a gold digger.’

  ‘Ah, well, I can tell them you’re looking for a big break,’ he laughed and put his hand out to touch the box. Molly then felt him touch her fingers before pulling away. ‘It’ll happen.’

  It was odd, the way she was feeling.

  For the first time, Molly didn’t make any excuse for her behaviour or what she was thinking.

  She didn’t have to as she barely knew the man sitting in her bedroom.

  ‘Hello, Molly Drew. How are you?’

  Jamie was stood at her door at one o’clock on Sunday, holding a bottle of wine.

  ‘How’s it goin’, Mr Cohen?’ she said, feeling a little odd seeing him. Molly smiled, and he did the same. ‘Come in. Squirrel’s here.’

  Stepping in, he kissed her on the cheek and handed the bottle over.

  ‘It smells good,’ he whispered.

  ‘Jamie!’ Squirrel said, walking towards him with a large glass of wine. ‘You’ve come to join us for lunch! What a wonderful thing that is!’

  ‘He came here at noon and has already nearly downed half a bottle of wine,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘And he won’t leave until he’s drunk most of my brandy. I have to put him in a complimentary cab by six.’

  ‘My lovely little Molly!’ announced Squirrel, raising a glass in the air. ‘I think we should celebrate your engagement. Typical to have called it off then change your mind. Just like true life, and I should know. I’ve been engaged numerous of times!’

  ‘My darling cousin…’ Molly said, starting to laugh. ‘…has shares in a well-known jewellery firm from the amount of engagement rings he buys. Our family thinks he purchases them in bulk.’

  She turned to see Jamie smiling at Squirrel before gently tapping his cheek.

  ‘Women, as both Jamie and I know, are complicated creatures.’ Squirrel put an arm around Jamie’s shoulders, escorting him into the living room. ‘Nine engagements seem to be a suitable figure considering I am a man of maturity.’

  Jamie started to laugh, and Molly realised she really like the sound of it.

  It made her smile.

  Concentrating on making sure nothing would get burnt, she stayed in the kitchen area, passing over the bottle of wine and another glass.

  The men were talking quietly and laughing loudly.

  She left them to it.

  Staring out the window, she liked the sound of people chatting and happiness. That had been sorely missing from her little home, especially after Daisy’s sudden death.

  Her little fluffy bundle of love made her happy. Molly looked at the small bush where her cat would lie under. For a moment, she could see her there.

  Then she remembered Sam, Daisy and her snuggled on the sofa.

  That was a lovely time.

  Being in love and thinking someone loved you only to realise it wasn’t true.

  It was a load of bollocks.

  ‘Do you need any help?’ she heard him ask and turned to see Jamie standing behind her, glass in hand, looking around.

  ‘I’ve got it under control.’

  ‘So it seems,’ he nodded and smiled. ‘How are you feeling today?’

  ‘Embarrassed about yesterday,’ she said putting her hand to her forehead. ‘It won’t happen again. I promise.’

  ‘Mr Mac called to ask if you were okay. I told him you were fine and would love to take up personal boxing and fitness sessions.’

  ‘You said what!’

  ‘You can certainly pack a good punch for someone small,’ he laughed and stepped closer. ‘But I don’t know what was scarier. The wild punching or the expression on your face?’

  Her oven buzzer was bleeping, and Squirrel rushed in.

  ‘Is it nearly ready?’ he asked, rubbing his hands together.

  ‘Set the table and top up Jamie. Be a good host, and I’ll bring it all. Okay?’ she said, seeing Squirrel bend over to check the chicken. ‘It needs to rest fifteen minutes so will you do that for me?’

  ‘No starters, young Molly?’

  ‘Bradley Drew don’t be a pig. I’ve cooked lots, so go, will you?’

  She pushed the pair out of the way and prepared for lunch.

  Then she accidentally glanced at Jamie, who suddenly diverted his eyes.

  Molly wondered what he really thought about her now.

  ‘Oh, my word! I’m stuffed!’

  Squirrel was rubbing his very flat, concaved stomach.

  ‘For a slim man, you can certainly eat!’ laughed Jamie, picking at his Yorkshire pudding. ‘But I can say, hand on heart, it was amazing!’

  ‘Why, oh why, do you need to put Encona pepper sauce on your food?’ Squirrel asked as Molly ate a potato with her fingers. ‘It’s sacrilege.’

  ‘It’s chilli and stop being a snob. You put mayonnaise on yours, and I don’t say anything,’ she mumbled back then looked at Jamie again. ‘He also adds ketchup when I’m not looking. My mum used to go spare when he put some on her famous chicken curry.’

  ‘I was heightening the taste!’ Squirrel said, his face full of indignation.

  ‘You were covering for the fact you can’t take the chillies.’

  ‘I’d love to see what it’s like round yours at meal times,’ laughed Jamie. ‘I bet it’s interesting.’

  He’d been in very good spirits, probably because he was full of them. Now and again, she’d catch him looking at her then glance away. And as lunch progressed, she realised he was extremely attractive, funny and sweet.

  All it took was a drop of human kindness, and she was sucked in.

  ‘Christmas consists of my parents, his dad and whatever lady friend he’s got in tow,’ smirked Molly, knowing it wound up Squirrel no end. ‘Bradley along with myself and some of our weird relatives who we rarely see.’ Molly reached out for another roast potato and dipped it in the chilli sauce. ‘We usually disappear to the pub later on in the day. The oldies get drunk and play rubbish music while trying to jive badly in the living room.’

  ‘And soon, my love, that will be you and I,’ Squirrel said sadly. ‘If only to find one’s true love then we’d have our own family.’ Her cousin shook his head and grabbed a leg of chicken, putting it on his plate. ‘I have room for just one more bit.’

  ‘What do you do at Christmas?’ Molly asked, looking at Jamie, who was taking some more chicken and another Yorkshire pudding. ‘I expect it’s a bit more sophisticated.’

  ‘Why’d you say that?’ he replied, looking confused.

  ‘I thought it’d be classier.’

  ‘My mum puts on a massive feast for
all and sundry, getting stressed out. David then plays the host with his wife.’

  Molly caught Squirrel flashing her a concerned look as if not to ask anything else. Jamie noticed and grinned.

  ‘It’s okay, Squirrel. She needs to know. David is married to a lovely woman called Rene. They met at university and have been together ever since. The thing is, she had a younger sister that died of cystic fibrosis, and it changed everything.’ Jamie sat up and looked at Molly. ‘Rene was heartbroken. It’s a defective gene that’s rare.’

  ‘That’s very sad.’ Molly looked down at the plate, her appetite suddenly disappearing. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She’s got the support of a loving man. That’s why people probably fall in love with him because they can see his compassion.’ There was a look of sadness then it faded. 'He tries to raise money for cystic fibrosis charities and so does she.’

  ‘I’ve done some fund raising events for them,’ chirped up Squirrel, leaning forward. ‘Rene really wants to help people and their families.’

  ‘And it gives her a focus while she tries to get her head around her loss and the possibility if she has kids, the gene might be passed on.’

  Molly looked at Jamie, eating his food and was lost in thought.

  ‘Why don’t you kill two birds with one stone? And I’m not talking about your sex life,’ Molly sighed, seeing Squirrel grin before glancing at Jamie, who, in turn, grimaced. ‘On the official opening day at Acton, April Fools’ Day as you mentioned, why don’t you get local businesses to buy tickets for a fund raising event? You can raise awareness of the gym, get people to come in and all profits go to the charities that Rene and David support.’

  ‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Squirrel said, sitting up.

  ‘You could turn it into something funny and I’m sure I can get some celebrities to donate things. My best friend, Sienna, she’s-.’

  ‘Gorgeous!’ sighed Squirrel, shaking his head slowly from side to side then looking at Jamie. ‘She was immune to my love.’ He then put his hand on his heart. ‘And I tried.’

  ‘Cornering her in the ‘Hope and Anchor’ for an impromptu snog wasn’t your wisest move,’ replied Molly, remembering the incident. ‘And you’d only met her fifteen minutes earlier.’

  ‘I know a good one when I see it. I had to make a move!’

  ‘That was fifteen years ago and luckily she ended up with Stevo.’

  ‘He’s too good looking for his own good,’ mumbled Squirrel. ‘So what do you think? It runs in the blood, our promotion aptitude. We could sell tickets, get the locals involved. Bring in one of the up and coming boxers to do demonstration fights. Even the ladies who like to throw a few punches. I’ve met a few, believe me!’

  ‘It’s a good idea. I’ll speak to David and see what he thinks.’ Jamie then looked at Molly, a wide grin coming to his lips. ‘By then, we’d have split up and everything would be amicable.’

  She couldn’t help but laugh as he said it, noticing Squirrel look at the pair of them.

  ‘So you split up and got back together again?’ he asked, filling their glasses with wine. ‘Is this going to be a normal thing?’

  ‘Early days like I told that man.’

  ‘Who on earth were you talking to?’ Jamie asked, leaning closer. His hazel eyes looked like they had a hint of green, but she couldn’t figure it out. ‘Are you sure you didn’t make it up?’

  Molly immediately knew he thought she was mentally unstable and shook her head.

  ‘Squirrel, will you get another bottle of wine, please?’ she asked sweetly.

  He didn’t need to be asked twice as he got up and headed for the fridge.

  ‘I’m not crazy, Mr Cohen,’ she whispered. ‘I’m fine now. I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday, but that’s because of a few things. I’m usually quite together and sane.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, totally and utterly.’

  She sat back and pushed her plate away, seeing Jamie laugh. She shot him a sideways glance and shrugged before watching Squirrel return to the table.

  ‘So this man,’ Squirrel said, unscrewing the bottle top. ‘You don’t know who he is? If you tell your mum what you did, she will be very angry. You know what they were like about talking to strangers.’

  ‘If my mum and dad cotton on to what I’m doing now, they won’t be too pleased. Even worse, they’d be furious with you for getting me involved.’

  ‘Point taken,’ he shiftily replied.

  ‘And this man was real.’

  The men looked at each other, neither one convinced.

  ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

  Squirrel moaned an hour later. ‘You gave me too much!’

  ‘You helped yourself to the bread and butter pudding,’ Molly grinned, sitting in an armchair and looking at her cousin and Jamie, sprawled out on the sofa.

  ‘Why didn’t you stop me?’

  ‘How could I?’ sighed Molly and noticed Jamie look at her again.

  He’d been constantly glancing throughout the afternoon.

  Now she realised why.

  He thought she was unstable because of the day before.

  ‘You’re a good cook,’ Jamie sighed, sitting back in the sofa. ‘We should have a lunch party at my place and you can play hostess.’

  ‘Her repertoire is limited,’ groaned Squirrel, rubbing his tummy. ‘I need to get some Gaviscon.’

  The tall man got up and walked out towards the bathroom.

  ‘He’s right,’ smiled Molly, sipping her wine. ‘I cook English food only and curry. Sam loved roasts and-.’ She took a moment, not wanting to mention his name again. ‘I had good practice when he was around. That was a lot in the beginning and then as the work came in, I saw him less and less. I think this was probably where he stored his stuff for when he wanted it, including me.’

  ‘Then what would you make when he wasn’t around?’

  ‘Curries. Lots and lots of curries because he didn’t like spicy food.’ Molly smiled at Jamie laughing. ‘In the last year, I ate curry nearly every day.’

  ‘It will be okay,’ he said gently. ‘It’s because he’s publicising his new film, that’s why it’s bugging you.’

  ‘And his series, one and two, are being repeated.’

  ‘I thought it was shit, if you ask me. What did you think?’

  Molly diverted her eyes. It was painful for her to watch the show, then and now.

  ‘He fooled me,’ she whispered, sipping her drink. ‘And I was too stupid to notice.’

  They sat in silence, listening to Squirrel rummaging through her bathroom cabinet.

  ‘Your home is really lovely,’ Jamie said, admiring the surroundings.

  ‘Considering you live in a posh place, I think you mean this is more humble.’

  ‘I prefer this.’

  She noticed he seemed a little uncomfortable. For a moment, it looked like he was going to say something.

  ‘I burped!’ Squirrel said, walking back in and flopping back onto the sofa. ‘And I feel much better now.’

  Jamie’s phone started to ring, and he quickly got up to answer it, heading out into the small garden.

  ‘You like him,’ she heard Squirrel hiss.

  ‘He’s all right.’

  ‘Why do you keep looking at him?’ her cousin asked with a small smirk. ‘Molly remember this is all pretend and don’t get sucked in by it. He’s a lovely bloke but be careful. Many a fair woman has fallen for his charm and got their heart broken.’

  ‘I’m not falling for anything,’ she shrugged and looked at Jamie, talking animatedly on the phone. ‘He’s not faithful to this Chloe woman. Jamie took home someone on Friday night. I wasn’t impressed.’

  Squirrel pulled a face and then glanced over his shoulder quickly, to make sure Jamie wasn’t coming back in.

  ‘Chloe’s bad man husband will string up Jamie. Not for banging his misses but for humiliating him in the process. David Cohen is a saint like creature, as Jamie said
, but business is business. He finds out that his little brother is trying to cause shit, who knows what will happen.’

  ‘Why doesn’t he stop seeing her? And why pay me twenty thousand to pretend something when all and sundry will know it’s not true?’

  ‘Could be he’s covering his tracks with his brother too.’

  ‘It doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘You’ll find Jamie doesn’t make sense time and again.’

  ‘I have to go,’ Jamie said, bounding back into the living room before going straight to get his jacket. ‘I’m needed somewhere else.’

  ‘By an older lovely, perchance?’ grinned Squirrel.

  Not wanting to admit it, Molly felt disappointed he was leaving. He hadn’t even had pudding.

  ‘Maybe?’ he grinned and turned to Molly. ‘That was lovely.’

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ she said, getting up and walking towards the door, opening it up and letting the cold breeze hit her face. ‘Thank you for coming.’

  She put out her hand to shake his. Then she noticed he was looking semi amused at her palm.

  ‘Pleasure,’ he replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her closer, placing a kiss on her forehead. ‘Bring some bread and butter pudding round on Tuesday.’

  Nodding, she watched him walk out the front door.

  She had so many questions to ask Squirrel about Jamie.

  Going back into the living room, she realised all things would have to wait.

  Squirrel was now fast asleep, snoring, on her sofa.

  Week four of the engagement…cross counter

  ‘You’re not going to leave me on my own again?’

  Molly watched Jamie driving into the countryside. They’d set off after breakfast when Jamie broke the news. She moved in her seat then let out a little groan. Her body ached.

  Mr Mac was being slightly friendly and told her that she should attend classes three times a week. She did and realised the following:

  Mr Mac was sadistic.