Love's Foolish Punch

by S M Mala

Jamie started to laugh and turned on his side to look at her.

  ‘You do that, seriously?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Cohen. I’ve got a stint in the taxi office and then I’m doing that for the afternoon before I turn up at your empty flat and eat through the contents of your fridge.’

  ‘What a waste,’ he whispered.

  ‘I know you think you’re wasting your money but, I assure you, it’s not being wasted in my tummy.’

  ‘That’s not what I meant. It’s a shame you’re not doing what you want and that he couldn’t see how wonderful you are.’

  Molly blinked back the tears that immediately sprung to her eyes.

  ‘Molly, are you okay?’ he asked, stroking her face.

  ‘That was such a lovely thing to say, thank you.’

  ‘But it’s the truth.’

  Then she just pushed herself into his arms, feeling the warmth of his body before saying,

  ‘Stop talking or I’ll drag you to our fake wedding whether you like it or not.’

  ‘You’re a nutter!’

  The school children thought they were funny. ‘Bloody nutter!’

  ‘Oh, shove it up your arse,’ Molly mumbled. Then she glanced at Squirrel who happened to be passing by, mainly because he fancied the other promotional girls wearing skimpy costumes. ‘You didn’t say it’d be outside.’

  ‘You’re all right. You’re dressed as a peanut, covered in a delicious caramel brittle whereas these other little lovelies aren’t covered up at all.’ Squirrel checked out the women in their miniskirts then laughed. ‘Stop talking to me and promote.’

  Taking her large peanut shell, full of free samples and tokens, she did as she was told, making sure to avoid children with possible peanut allergies and pensioners with dentures.

  But her mind wandered off to the previous evening, night and morning with Jamie.

  This time they slept together in the bed, not under the influence of alcohol.

  Molly had a peaceful night’s sleep, and when she woke, all she did was look at Jamie.

  He seemed serene, and his face was so gentle. The man looked good when he was sleeping.

  In an odd way, he made her very happy when he wasn’t even trying.

  When he woke up that morning, he greeted her with a big smile and a massive hug.

  To her, that would make up for never getting close to him.

  And for Molly, right now, it was good enough.

  Smiling away, she did her job then recognised someone looking at her.

  It was Bill.

  Molly gulped hard then smiled.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, walking up to him. ‘This is an odd surprise.’ Bill grinned, shaking his head. ‘You’ve never seen a talking peanut brittle before, I take it.’

  ‘Not such a pretty nut,’ he laughed.

  She noticed Squirrel was distracted from chatting up the girls and stopped to look over at Bill, doing a double take.

  ‘Hello,’ Squirrel said rushing over and putting out his hand. ‘I’m-.’

  ‘I know who you are,’ Bill said and smiled warmly before shaking his hand. ‘I’ve seen you around.’

  ‘And this little peanut here is my cousin, Molly.’

  ‘We’ve met.’

  ‘Really?’ he said, scowling. ‘As you may know, she’s Jamie’s fiancé.’

  ‘I think me and the whole world know it,’ he said, smiling at Molly. ‘Did you enjoy the party?’

  ‘I did,’ she replied and didn’t want to look too confused. ‘Wimbledon isn’t where you live, is it?’

  ‘Do you mind Squirrel, if I have a word with Molly? Alone?’

  ‘Certainly not!’ he said, excitedly. ‘Take her away. I’ll hand out the nuts.’

  ‘Well, you are a Squirrel, aren’t you?’ quipped Molly, not sure what was going on.

  Her comment was met with a concerned glance from her cousin.

  Bill walked, and she hobbled towards a corner where no-one could hear them.

  ‘Molly, I know you think that this is odd, and I hope you’re not offended but I wondered if you were free to meet for lunch?’ he said, looking at her earnestly. ‘I thought we had such nice chats, I’d like to do it again.’

  ‘I’d love to but …’ She didn’t know how to put it.

  ‘This isn’t a come on. I can tell you’re deeply in love with Jamie.’

  ‘Can you?’

  ‘After Saturday night, it was pretty obvious.’

  ‘We didn’t have sex in the toilets! We were just pretending,’ she said, feeling her face go red.

  ‘I didn’t know that,’ he laughed and shook his head. ‘It’s just… I’ve got a proposition for you, and it’s all above board. Can we meet tomorrow for breakfast? Here’s my number.’

  He handed her a card that could scan his number into her phone.

  She still hadn’t figured out how to do it.

  Now she had to think on her feet.

  Jamie was in trouble with Bill’s wife, who was going to land him in poo.

  Bill might put Jamie in cement.

  And Molly wanted to help Jamie.

  ‘Please try and come tomorrow, Molly.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Then he walked away, and she caught Squirrel on the phone talking to someone before turning to avoid her eye.

  She knew who he was speaking to.

  ‘You won’t get an anaphylactic shock!’

  Molly looked at the two girls scowling as she tried not to laugh. ‘You know it’s not called ‘anorexic shock’. Blimey, I wish I could get that. And I’m covered in caramel brittle, so there’s no trace of nut.’

  ‘Do you know how many people have a peanut reaction?’ one of them said, in her hippy outfit, looking outraged. ‘And some die.’

  ‘I’m not a real peanut,’ Molly said gently. ‘And these are not being given out to taste, they’re in their packets.’ She held it up. ‘And, furthermore, I see you two every few weeks and you say the same thing.’

  ‘It’s wrong!’ the other girl said as they marched off towards Dunkin’ Doughnuts.

  Watching the promotional lovelies get less hassle and more interest, she stood there pondering on what to do about the breakfast meeting.

  ‘We’re going out for dinner, and you don’t have to get changed, if you don’t want to,’ a voice said behind her. ‘It might be quite funny.’

  She turned, and it was Jamie.

  It felt like her heart was going to burst from happiness as she laughed.

  ‘Peanuts are obviously an irritant. Some of these folks don’t seem to like it,’ he smiled back.

  ‘It’s Wimbledon. Mummy land. Of course, they wouldn’t like it. If we were down Brixton High Street, these would be all gone!’ She held up the packets and dropped them back in her shell holder.

  ‘And you told one of them you weren’t a nut, which isn’t exactly true, is it?’

  ‘You know I’m related to Squirrel, so what do you expect?’ She let out a little sigh. ‘You’re the second unexpected visitor I’ve had today.’

  She waited to see what he was going to say.

  ‘I heard Bill was here,’ he said, looking down at his feet. ‘What did he want?’

  ‘To take me out for breakfast tomorrow.’

  Jamie darted her a glance then looked around at the people walking past.

  ‘And you think meeting him is a good idea?’ he mumbled.

  ‘He said it was all above board and I believe him.’ She saw him frown. ‘Has he murdered anyone you know of? Seen him use a cement mixer and shove someone in it? If I look closely, will I find blood on his hands? Tell me what’s so scary about him.’

  ‘He’s got power,’ Jamie said, leaning closer. ‘He can open and close any business he wants. The man has connections all over the place, and I know he has the means to make someone lose everything they’ve got.’

  ‘So we won’t be sunk at the bottom of the Thames together?’ Molly started to laugh. ‘I wouldn’t mind that. I always loved ‘Bed knobs and
Broomsticks’ when they were at the bottom of the…’ She started to sing. ‘Beauty briny, shimmery, shiny, beautiful briny sea!’’

  His look, she couldn’t quite figure out.

  ‘And you say you’re not a nut,’ he whispered, starting to smile.

  ‘Only when I’m deeply upset and broken hearted.’

  ‘I better make sure that doesn’t happen again.’

  They looked at each other, smiling. It felt a little odd they’d spent the night together in a strictly platonic manner. But it made Molly feel good.

  ‘Shall I meet him?’ Molly asked. Jamie’s smile started to fade. ‘Do you want to come?’

  ‘It would be a little rough, me turning up for his wife to tell him I’ve been sleeping with her, don’t you think?’

  ‘Are you still sleeping with her?’

  ‘No,’ he said bluntly. ‘When I’m with someone, I’m very committed.’

  ‘That’s not exactly true, is it? You slept with someone when I was in the next room. That’s not very nice.’ She wanted to giggle at his confused expression. ‘Don’t worry Jamie, I’m not thinking this is real, okay?’

  ‘All right.’ He smiled. ‘Just remember, it’s not real.’

  ‘I won’t forget.’

  Week five of the engagement… bob and weave

  ‘Morning Molly Drew…’

  Jamie was looking at her as she woke up. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Mr Cohen, how’s it goin’?’

  Molly snuggled into his warm arms.

  They spent the night together again, this time sleeping in his bed. Both of them were completely clothed.

  He kissed her forehead, and she let out a happy sigh.

  ‘Do you want me to drop you off?’ Jamie asked. ‘Don’t go if you don’t want to.’

  ‘I have no reason not to. And Bill’s good at picking places that do good eggs benedict.’

  ‘I can make eggs benedict.’

  ‘Well, I never knew.’ She looked up at him and smiled. ‘Maybe tomorrow?’

  ‘Molly, don’t do anything silly, okay?’

  ‘What like? Drop my large knickers to get you out of trouble? I like you, but I don’t like you that much.’

  Kissing his cheek, she sat up, knowing she’d arranged to meet Bill at nine o’clock in town. It was a posh restaurant, so she had to dress accordingly.

  ‘God, I ache!’ she groaned, stretching her arms. ‘That gym is making me feel knackered.’

  ‘I’ll be at the gym this morning then I’m going for lunch with friends. What time are you getting back here?’ Jamie yawned.

  ‘I’m going to see Sienna and my godson afterwards. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you when I see you.’

  He stroked her back, causing unexpected tingles through her clothing.

  Molly looked down and could see her nipples were jutting out. She didn’t want Jamie to see, so walked straight towards the bathroom, putting on the shower.

  He told her yesterday not to get confused about what was going on.

  She was being paid, and it was a job.

  They were friendly, nothing more or less.

  And they liked each other.

  That was a good thing.

  But she liked him a lot more.

  That was bad.

  Carefully, she put her hair up so it didn’t get wet and stepped under the shower, wondering what Bill wanted to talk to her about and if she’d have to lie.

  One thing she was determined to do, was show him that Jamie was a good man.

  Closing her eyes, she relaxed though she was a little nervous.

  She jolted.

  Jamie placed a kiss on her shoulder.

  ‘We don’t need to do communal showers,’ she said, feeling embarrassed and wanting to cover her body. ‘I thought that was for hotels and you to wind me up.’

  Then he placed his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging away her pain. Molly couldn’t object to it as it felt good, and he was working very well with his hands. Those hands, she knew, had a lot of practice doing things they shouldn’t.

  ‘Okay, you can stop now,’ she said, stepping away. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Didn’t you like it?’

  ‘Just behave,’ she mumbled, stepping out of the shower and knowing he was turning her on but probably had no idea.

  Or he did, and that was the point.

  Quickly, she got a towel and walked back into the spare bedroom, drying herself at high speed.

  All of a sudden she felt nervous. And it wasn’t about the meeting with Bill.

  Jamie had done something, in a matter of seconds, that made her realise she fancied him a hell of a lot.

  She’d have to try and control that side of it and make sure she didn’t show it.

  There was a knock on the door.

  ‘Do you want tea?’ he asked and she let out a little nervous sigh.

  ‘Yes please. I’ll be ready in a minute.’

  She put on her underwear then the outfit she’d chosen. The day before, Molly had gone home and went through the clothes she hardly wore, picking out a few items that might be suitable.

  Now she wasn’t sure.

  And she wasn’t going to ask Jamie.

  ‘Casual, smart breakfast meeting,’ she thought and put on a pair of dark blue jeans, a long sleeved white t-shirt topped with a pale blue shirt.

  There was a smart black leather jacket that would make her look less scruffy.

  Examining herself in the mirror, she didn’t look bad and applied a little bit of powder and lipstick to finish it off.

  She put all her things away and then checked the time. They’d have to leave in fifteen minutes.

  Molly went to the kitchen, and Jamie was sitting at the table then looked up at her. He smiled before taking a sip of his tea.

  ‘What? You don’t think this is okay?’ she said, stopping in mid stride. ‘It’s casual but smart.’

  Jamie didn’t comment but continued to drink, not looking at her.

  Now she felt self-conscious.

  ‘You think I should change into something else?’ she asked, waiting for some response. ‘Jamie?’

  ‘I’m not to dress you,’ he replied, looking at her. ‘And I don’t need to. You look gorgeous.’

  Molly’s radar was on high alert. She realised he was on a charm offensive.

  ‘And you say you don’t fancy Bill?’

  ‘I feel sorry for him because he’s with a cheating wife. People he associates with have lecherous little brothers who like to get into her knickers.’ Molly sat at the table. ‘And thanks for saying something nice when you’re not drunk.’

  ‘I’ve got vodka in my tea,’ he laughed. ‘Seriously, you look lovely, Molly.’

  Then he looked at her, and it was an odd expression.

  Half smile and half gaze.

  ‘Bill’s no angel. He’s not been completely nice to Chloe throughout their marriage,’ he said in all seriousness. ‘I think the relationship is doomed, but I don’t know who’s holding on to whom. Don’t fall for his charm or bullshit.’

  ‘What? Only fall for yours?’

  ‘You can say you don’t feel well.’

  Jamie had parked the car by the restaurant. ‘Call him now.’

  Molly noticed an odd change in Jamie. From leaving the flat to arriving, he started to look worried, and she could see something was bugging him.

  ‘I’ve no business for him to wreck, no reputation to tarnish as that’s done and dusted.’

  ‘What if he asks about me?’

  ‘I’ll gush that you’re the perfect man with a chequered past, but we’re together,’ she said, re-applying her lipstick. ‘Let’s see what he says.’

  ‘Don’t do anything you don’t want to.’ Jamie looked deadly serious. ‘I’m not worth it.’

  ‘Reverse psychology?’

  ‘No, caring comment from me to you.’

  There was a little flutter in her chest, and she smiled.

  ‘I’m not a prostitute a
nd I would only do something that I wanted to do. I’m here to get you out of big poo, and that’s my job, my role, so to speak. I need to focus on something else other than my sorry life.’ Then she hesitated. ‘And to stop thinking about Daisy and Sam, in that order.’

  ‘Molly,’ he said, putting his hand out and stroking her face. ‘I like you.’

  ‘I like you too.’

  Jamie kissed her cheek and grimaced.

  ‘Why no smile?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m not sure this is a good thing.’

  ‘I’ll find out soon enough.’

  She examined him looking at her and noticed genuine concern and apprehension.

  Knowing she’d be late, she got out of the car and walked towards the entrance, turning to wave to Jamie.

  He had driven off.

  ‘Can’t be that worried then, can you?’

  Bill looked very handsome over breakfast while they chatted about nothing. Quite a few heads turned, both male and female as he sat unaware of this attention.

  It was odd for Molly. She felt relaxed in his company but put it down to him being a friendly Australian.

  Then it dawned on her.

  ‘What do you do for living?’ she asked as freshly squeezed fruit juice was delivered to the table.

  ‘I’m an entrepreneur, so I’m told.’ He let out a little laugh. ‘I invest in all sorts of business opportunities if I think there’s a chance of being successful.’

  ‘And they have been, based on where you had your party,’ she said, sipping her juice and grinning. ‘I didn’t see your wife for much of the evening. Did she enjoy it?’

  Bill stared at Molly then knocked back his glass of orange juice.

  ‘She’s very beautiful and-.’

  ‘Molly, the reason we’re over here is because I have a child from a previous relationship,’ he said, so quietly she could barely hear him. ‘Chloe doesn’t like the idea I want to spend time with my daughter, but it’s something that has to be done. It’s what I want to do.’

  ‘That’s very good. Some fathers don’t take an interest.’

  ‘I’ve been doing some research on you.’

  Immediately she felt panicked at what he was going to say and poured out a cup of tea, waiting for the next bit.

  ‘Why do you look worried?’ he asked, handing her the small jug of milk.