Love's Foolish Punch

by S M Mala

  ‘I need your help!’ he said grabbing her shoulders. ‘You need to set up a meeting so I can speak to Tommy Halo. He’s refusing to make contact with me, and there’s nothing the lawyers can do.’

  She removed his hands from her shoulders then stepped back.

  ‘What have you done?’ she asked, shaking her head. ‘And why do you want my help? The only bad thing I did was leave the ladies with toilet paper hanging out of my trousers all those years ago. Tommy found it then told everyone, but I was very drunk.’ Molly glanced away, still embarrassed that it happened at a posh do.

  The only good thing about it, people knew of her puppet but not her face.

  ‘It’s going to affect you, do you know that?’

  Staring into the glazed blue eyes, she realised whatever it was, Sam intended to drag her down.

  ‘Tommy told me he never wanted to hurt me and-.’

  ‘You saw him?’ he said, looking utterly surprised. ‘When?’

  ‘Weeks ago at a social thing and he told me to speak to you. I am speaking to you. What’s in that book?’

  ‘Ask him,’ he shrugged. ‘It’s a whole lot of lies.’

  ‘Why are you here?’

  ‘Molly, I think we should get married. It would help us both out, you know that don’t you?’

  Again, something didn’t sit well with that statement, and she felt sick that he wasn't honest.

  And it also made her stomach turn that he thought she’d just fall at his feet and say ‘yes’. For all the good things about Sam she knew about, right now, she couldn’t even list one.

  Just then, she wished she was with Jamie but shook that thought out of her head, recalling the punch to his ribs.

  ‘I don’t want to marry you,’ she said quietly. ‘I don’t love you and, to me, that would help.’

  ‘It’s a business proposition, not a romantic one,’ he shrugged before smiling. ‘We could pull it off and do our own things. You’d have a good life. You can move out of here.’ Sam looked around the room. ‘I’ve got a nice pad in Kensington.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with my life and I love my home,’ she said defensively. ‘Marry someone else if you’re so desperate to go down the aisle.’

  ‘It has to be you.’ Sam stepped closer. ‘Molly, I know I didn’t support you enough when everything fell to pieces. I was concentrating on other things. I should have been there. I want to make it up to you.’

  ‘Why would it help us both out, Sam? If it’s a business proposition and not a romantic one, what’s in it for me?’ Then she had a sinking feeling. The way he looked at her, she could tell he was clicking something over. There was hesitation over his face as he tried to sum up something to say. ‘Go away and never come back to my house. If you don't tell me, I will find out, and if it means everything gets fucked for me, I will certainly fuck you over Sam, like you did to me, okay?’

  ‘Again?’

  Jamie was standing outside after she finished a shift on Wednesday afternoon. ‘Can’t you take a hint or are you simple like that?’ Molly sighed.

  ‘I’m not very smart,’ he shrugged. ‘I’m not giving up on you.’

  ‘Give up! I’ve got enough on my plate without your spats of odd behaviour!’

  ‘That’s why you love me.’

  ‘You think?’

  ‘I hope so.’

  Molly frowned knowing she had to sort out the mystery with Sam, before dealing with the trouble standing in front of her.

  ‘Today is not a good day,’ she said, starting to walk. ‘I have to go home and get changed to meet Bill.’

  ‘Why?’ Jamie squinted, then looked agitated. ‘What does he want?’

  ‘It’s got nothing to do with you,’ she replied, remembering that same cold expression from weeks ago. ‘Shouldn’t you be working or something?’

  ‘I can’t work, not with this hanging in the air.’

  ‘You did it, not me.’

  Molly turned and walked away, but knew he was following closely behind her.

  ‘You hurt me,’ she mumbled, shaking her head. ‘And I hate feeling like that. It’s Mr Mac who told me I had to pull myself together and focus my anger on the boxing.’

  ‘Yes I felt it, and my ribs are still bruised. Are you still boxing?’

  ‘Yes,’ she sheepishly replied. ‘But not at your gym.’

  ‘I see.’

  She realised he stopped walking. Molly looked over her shoulder at him.

  ‘You don’t want to see me again?’ he asked, biting his lip. ‘It’s over?’

  It was the first time she was stumped on how to answer then thought hard.

  ‘That’s what you wanted,’ Molly said, trying not to show how hurt she still felt. ‘You made it clear and I got it confirmed by your lover.’

  ‘Chloe didn’t tell you everything and she’s not my lover.’

  ‘Did you ask her what she said?’

  ‘She said you were upset and pretty cut up about what happened.’

  ‘And you came back to admire your handy work?’ she said angrily, gulping hard and trying not to burst into tears.

  ‘Molly I never meant to hurt you. I felt so bad afterwards. You have to forgive me.’

  ‘Jamie, I don’t have to do anything, not if it’s another lie I’m being told.’ She looked up at the sky. ‘I think the damage is done.’

  ‘It can be repaired, trust me. I’m willing to work like a bastard to make you see I’m worth it.’

  They stared at each other. Molly didn’t know what to say.

  ‘I need to tell you everything then you’ll understand. I make mistakes, you know. I’m not perfect. I know that’s a shock for you, but it’s true,’ he said, looking as if it was going to be a major surprise.

  ‘Oh, I believe that!’ she smiled. ‘Even when you’re in the wrong, you still manage to make out that you’re wonderful when we both know, you’re not.’

  ‘It’s the first time you’ve done that for weeks.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Smile at me and it makes my heart melt because you have a beautiful smile, you really do. It can light up a room.’

  She wasn’t going to succumb to his charm tactics, this time.

  ‘I’m not a very forgiving person,’ Molly honestly said. ‘I fester and hurt a lot. Plus I know you lack a romantic gene, so all this nice love talk you’re giving me is pretty wasted.’

  ‘I mean it.’

  ‘Like every other man I know, it’s loaded with bullshit.’

  ‘You’re not going to marry Sam, are you? Rene said she read something about it and…’ Jamie stepped closer. ‘He’s wrong for you, do you know that?’

  ‘I have no intention of marrying him, but he’s trying to land me in some sort of crap that I need to sort out. He won’t tell me what secret there is about me and him. He’s very cagey regarding Tommy’s new book. And I need to find out what’s going on.’

  ‘I miss you.’ Jamie let out a little sigh. ‘I think about you every day and I hated being on that flight alone. I was confused and upset. I thought-.’

  ‘Why did you lie about flying out on 2nd when you’d booked the 1st?’ she asked, noticing he looked devastated. ‘And you tell me I got it wrong? Listen Jamie, don’t make any more of a fool of me than you already have. It’s not fair.’

  ‘Molly that was the surprise. We’d fly out on 1st instead of 2nd, after lunch. I thought it’d be funny.’

  ‘I bet that’s another lie.’

  ‘It’s not! I think about you all the time, that’s another truth and I miss you more than anything.’ he said sadly. ‘I don’t know how to fix it.’

  She stood there, not knowing what to say.

  ‘I think of you and not all good things,’ she whispered. ‘But I have to sort this out with the ex before I can move forward.’

  They looked at each other for a long time. Then he did something out of the blue.

  Jamie sunk to his knees and looked up at her.

  ‘What are you doing?
’ she asked. He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Jamie? You need to get up.’

  ‘Forgive me. You have to forgive me. I made a monumental mistake and I’m really hurting,’ he said, gulping hard. ‘Molly, I’d do anything to reverse what I did. It was wrong. I feel like I’ve lost something.’

  ‘Your mind?’

  ‘My heart.’

  He had managed to twist her heart now, making Molly yearn for the little shit on his knees, in front of her. She must have been more forgiving than she thought, as the need to kick Jamie in the balls had subsided.

  ‘After the fundraiser, where you’re not expected to box, can we meet for a drink? Just you and me?’ he quietly asked. ‘I want to start again, show you I’m a good guy.’

  ‘I think April Fools’ Day will be very appropriate.’

  Molly bent down and looked into his eyes.

  ‘No more lies, okay?’

  ‘I didn’t lie to you, I just didn’t tell you everything,’ he whispered, looking up and kissing her on the lips.

  Somersaults happened in her gut, and she remembered them making love.

  It was a flash in her head of the wonderful feeling of being intoxicated with Jamie.

  Stepping back, Molly knew she had to go.

  ‘How are you, Molly Drew?’

  ‘Mr Cohen, how’s it goin’?’

  ‘Pretty shit, knowing I’ve ballsed this up, and I want to make it better.’ Jamie seemed genuinely upset, as he got to his feet. ‘My feelings for you are true, you do know that, don’t you?’

  Molly shook her head from side to side, trying not to look miserable because she didn’t know if he was telling the truth or lying.

  ‘Honestly?’ he said, putting a hand to her cheek. ‘You thought I’d lie about something like that?’

  Then she nodded and noticed he closed his eyes, putting his forehead against hers. She felt his breath on her nose.

  ‘I didn’t lie. I wanted to stand on my own two feet, and David wasn’t letting me. Chloe had the money, and I wanted to show them I’m not playing at the business. Then it got out of hand, and I didn’t want to be with Chloe, but I equally needed to sort out how much I owed her.’

  ‘But you used me,’ she whispered. ‘You were willing for me to go with Bill just so she could get her divorce and a fair settlement.’ Molly watched his eyes open. ‘And you knew he’d be attracted because of my mop of red hair and colouring.’

  ‘I would have killed him if he laid a finger on you.’

  ‘But he didn’t and you still walked away.’

  They looked at each other again before he kissed her forehead and pulled away.

  ‘A week on Saturday, you and I are on a date, a proper one,’ he grinned, starting to blush. ‘And I’ll be well behaved and treat you with the respect you deserve. Because that’s what that ugly shit actor never did.’

  ‘Jamie!’

  ‘And I know you don’t believe a word I say, but one thing you need to know… I only ever did it with you three times, no one else.’

  ‘That’s your idea of saying ‘sorry’?’ she laughed, stroking his cheek. ‘Oh well, it’s a start.’

  ‘He’s suffering.’

  Molly was standing with Bill as they put their coats away while the man continued to talk about Jamie. They were heading to a reception being held by one of the larger broadcasters that Bill knew. Including Molly’s old employer, who she was going to avoid at all costs. The major players were there, and Molly realised that Bill seemed to be one of them.

  ‘David said Jamie has been a right pain in the arse for weeks. And he knows what his younger brother got up to and isn’t impressed. He was most apologetic about the involvement with Chloe and the finances.’

  ‘I see,’ she said, feeling sorry for Jamie. ‘And he took the money because David wouldn’t lend it to him?’

  ‘Jamie saw the place in Acton and wanted it but David thought he should wait. Then Chloe lends him the cash, and he owes her, or me. I told him weeks ago he made a big mistake using you.’

  ‘You spoke to him?’

  ‘I did and he wasn’t his usual cocksure self. If I didn’t know any better, he seemed heartbroken.’

  ‘Did you try and thump him?’ she asked eagerly. ‘I would have.’

  ‘I heard you did,’ laughed Bill.

  ‘Oh,’ she said, glancing away. ‘He told you?’

  ‘It was a fine punch from what I heard.’

  ‘Did you ask for your money back?’

  ‘He introduced me to you, so I’ll get my money back one way, or another.’

  ‘Bill, did you sleep with Danika?’ she mumbled, seeing him smile.

  ‘She cornered me and I was a little drunk. We kissed then I stopped it immediately. Believe it or not, I like Jamie.’

  ‘Even though he had an affair with your wife?’ she asked, very confused about what she was hearing.

  ‘Chloe and I drifted apart years ago and, at least with Jamie, I know it was fun. She’ll be all right, and I forced her away. My heart belonged to another, and it took me until recently to have the guts to follow it. There’s someone for everyone.’

  ‘But not me,’ Molly said glumly, thinking about Jamie then Sam, which instantly pissed her off.

  She grabbed Bill’s arm and pulled him to the side.

  ‘I don’t know what the stuff is in the book. Sam won’t tell me, and when he came round, he kept saying it was best if we got married.’ Molly noticed something stiffen Bill’s face. ‘Do you know what it is? Will it jeopardise everything for me? Please tell me. You’ve been very kind, and we hardly know each other. I don’t want to let you down.’

  ‘Oh, sweet Molly,’ he said, gently stroking her cheek. ‘There are many rumours floating around. I tried to get in contact with the publishers, and they are holding fast on the information, so we tried his publicist and got nothing. Listen, whatever it is, if the only thing you did was walk around with toilet paper hanging out of your trousers, I’m sure many people have done worse.’

  ‘Are you sure Hamish doesn’t know?’

  ‘He was asked. It is a closed book until April Fools’ Day,’ he sighed, leading her to the room where they were all gathering. ‘Just enjoy yourself this evening.’

  And she did.

  For the first time in ages, she felt confident, and things were looking good. The place was full of actors, celebrities and the big wigs that put them there.

  But her mind would just float back to Jamie. Summarising the good versus the bad. The good outweighed the bad on the list, but the bad had hurt her deeply. And she wasn’t quite sure if she could let him do that again.

  Right now, Molly was feeling vulnerable, and it wasn’t all down to him.

  Sam Price had a lot to answer for, playing mind games.

  She roamed around the extremely large party, trying out canapés and getting her glass constantly topped up.

  It’s when she looked out onto the gardens she saw them.

  Tommy Halo and Sam Price.

  They looked like they were having a quarrel, and it seemed a major coincidence that they’d be there, considering Sam said Tommy wasn’t returning his calls.

  Molly headed towards one of the doors leading to where they were and stood to the side, making sure she wasn’t spotted. She put on the record function on her phone and started filming them.

  ‘How could you do this?’ Sam said angrily. ‘This is all about not getting your own way.’

  ‘That’s not true! Why don’t you face up to it?’ hissed Tommy. ‘You just shit on people when it suits you.’

  ‘And what you are doing now? Do you know how it will affect me? Have you any idea?’

  ‘You never thought of that at the time, did you?’ laughed Tommy. ‘But afterwards, everyone had to protect you!’

  Molly noticed Sam’s angry expression as Tommy stepped back.

  ‘Isn’t this a little public?’ Tommy said, shaking his head. ‘Aren’t you embarrassed to be spotted with some nobody like me? Isn�
�t that what you said? And Molly? Why haven’t you done the honourable thing and told her the truth?’

  ‘Why didn’t you?’ he snarled back. ‘You were never a true friend to her. What’s this you’re saying? You never wanted to hurt her? If only she knew!’

  ‘Know what?’ she shouted out and watched the pair freeze in utter horror. ‘You’re both together so you can tell me what’s going on?’

  ‘I’m going!’ shouted out Sam but Tommy pulled his arm so he wouldn’t walk away.

  ‘Tell her. You said at the time you were going to, but you never did.’

  ‘Get the fuck off me!’ he said, shaking Tommy’s arm.

  Walking up to them, Molly stared at the pair of good looking men and then it occurred to her.

  Something Jamie said.

  ‘Sam, are you gay?’

  The horror on her ex’s face was slightly amusing because it was Tommy’s guilty expression that gave it away. Molly didn’t know what to think, but she wasn’t going to make a scene.

  It was a shock.

  She had to think on her feet what to do next.

  ‘If you’re blackmailing Sam, that’s a bad thing,’ she said, turning to Tommy. ‘He might want to come to terms with it slowly.’

  ‘What did you say?’ laughed Tommy, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You think he’s just figured it out?’

  ‘It makes sense why he’d want to marry me.’

  ‘Oh my god Molly!’ shouted out Tommy. ‘He asked you what?’

  ‘It’s got nothing to do with you,’ hissed Sam, walking closer to Molly. ‘It doesn’t mean what we had wasn’t real.’

  ‘Oh, for god’s sake!’ shouted out Tommy. ‘It’s going to come out! We owe her that much.’

  ‘You’re the one who’s telling people!’ barked Sam then turned to look at Molly. ‘Let’s leave this place and talk.’

  ‘Molly, ask him! Ask him what happened all those years ago. Our careers burned all because of it!’

  She had no idea what Tommy was talking about and double blinked.

  Then slowly it dawned on her when she looked at the pair again.

  Trying hard to compose her breathing, she put her hand to her chest.