Naive Retribution

by Dawson, H A

  Joe smiled to himself. He hoped their relationship would blossom into something more.

  ‘Which of his nerdy friends is it?’ Dawn asked.

  ‘I can’t remember.’

  ‘It’s about time he finds himself a girl. He’s not normal.’

  ‘He’s slow to mature.’

  ‘You can say that again. I hope he is interested in girls. I don’t want a queer for a son.’

  Joe tensed.

  ‘He’s just like you were at his age, awkward and ill-at ease with everyone.’

  He held his bitter response.

  ‘There’s definitely no doubting he’s your son. You’re very similar in lots of ways.’

  ‘He does have some likenesses to you too,’ Joe said, ‘he’s straight-talking and fights for what he believes in.’

  ‘I don’t know . . . I’m not sure we have much in common.’

  Joe reached for a drink, and wondered if her statement was true. Her relationship with Dylan had always been fractious and they rarely saw eye-to-eye. Even when Dylan was a small boy, she had snapped at him for the slightest misdemeanour and was impatient and intolerant. It seemed as though her maternal instinct had been lacking, yet seventeen plus years ago, when they had first met, he would never have thought that that would have happened. She had desperate for a baby, to the point of being tearful.

  Dawn’s distress at her inability to fall pregnant occurred at a time when Joe had been seeing Jade. He had not been aware of Dawn’s needs and was disappointed by her failure to tell him she had stopped taking the contraceptive pill months before. Once he recovered from the deceit, his pride swelled and he pondered the possibility that he could father two children of similar ages. It was even more satisfying when he imagined the envy of his peers, having once mocked his inability to turn a girls head.

  Years on, his considered his naivety laughable. His life would never have been as rosy as he had expected it to be in his youthful ignorance, and although saddened by the outcome, part of him believed it had been for the best. There was no way he could have carried on seeing two women, and he would not have been able to share his time with either of them either equally or sufficiently. Something would have had to give.

  ‘I’ve arranged to meet with Jade on Monday,’ Joe said.

  ‘Don’t get sucked in.’

  ‘Unlikely.’

  ‘You used to think she was hot . . . can’t see why. I thought she was a bit skinny.’

  He wrapped his hand around his beer glass and stared at the liquid.

  ‘I thought you saw her the other day.’

  ‘She didn’t turn up . . . rearranged.’

  ‘She stood you up! I don’t know why you put up with her. She was trouble, or have you forgotten?’

  ‘Hardly.’

  ‘Then why?’

  He was about to respond when Dawn was drawn to something inside the pub. He spun around. Dylan was standing a little distance from the doorway next to the bar, and he was chatting to Sonya.

  ‘You never told me it was a girl!’ Dawn said, leaping to her feet.

  Joe grabbed her arm, holding her back. ‘Don’t.’

  ‘Why ever not? I just want to introduce myself. You should too.’

  ‘You’ll embarrass him.’

  ‘So what? Everyone needs to be embarrassed every once in a while. How do you know her?’

  ‘I saw them talking outside school a few weeks ago . . . when I had to pick him up.’

  ‘She’s his girlfriend?’ Dawn said, aghast. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘I think they’re just friends.’

  ‘Aw . . . I hope you’re wrong. It’s just what he needs. What’s her name?’

  Joe hesitated. ‘Sonya.’

  ‘Sonya,’ Dawn said, with a distant look on her face. ‘Lovely name.’ She swallowed the remnants of her drink and placed it on the table. ‘I’m going to introduce myself. He’ll appreciate me showing a bit of interest.’

  She stepped away, along the path, and weaved around three teenage girls sitting cross-legged on the grass. Deciding it necessary to stop her, Joe jumped to his feet and followed her inside. He arrived just in time to witness an expression of dread forming on Dylan’s face.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing a girl?’ Dawn said.

  ‘We’re just friends.’

  Dawn smiled. ‘I can see you’re not. You’ve got that same look on your face as you did when I caught you looking at those magazines.’

  Dylan’s jaw dropped and his face coloured.

  ‘You’re such a pretty thing too,’ Dawn continued, turning to Sonya, ‘not at all like I’d expect of my boy. What do you see in him?’

  Sonya’s mouth opened and closed and her eyes flitted.

  ‘Leave us alone,’ Dylan said.

  ‘Aw. Poor little thing’s embarrassed.’

  Dawn reached to his cheeks. He pulled away; his nostrils flared and his eyes bulged.

  ‘My baby’s growing up,’ she said.

  ‘I should go,’ Sonya said in a squeak, and hurried to the outer door, not even stopping to speak to her parent’s.

  ‘See what you’ve done,’ Dylan yelled. ‘You always have to spoil it.’

  Dawn gawped, bewildered.

  ‘She’s just trying to be friendly,’ Joe said.

  ‘You just couldn’t resist could you? Just had to tell her who I was with.’

  ‘So it is true,’ Dawn said, gleefully, ‘she is your little girlfriend?’

  Dylan glared. ‘I hate you. I hate you both.’ He ran to the outer door.

  After a moment’s indecision, Joe followed. He peered left and right and across the street, but there was no sight of his son. Hands in pockets, he turned into the car park. Recognisable voices caught his focus. He stopped and listened, remaining out of view.

  Sonya was cancelling an arrangement to meet.

  ‘Don’t listen to her,’ Dylan said, ‘she’s an interfering bitch.’

  ‘You shouldn’t talk about your mum like that.’

  Silence.

  ‘Do you really look at . . . at those dirty magazines?’

  ‘She made that up.’

  ‘So you don’t?’

  Silence.

  ‘I thought you were different.’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘I’m . . . I’m sorry Dylan. I don’t feel comfortable with this. Please don’t bother me again.’

  The voices faded. Joe peered around the corner. The two figures were walking in different directions.

  Chapter 14

  Too restless to sleep, Jade climbed out of bed, donned her dressing gown and slippers, and shuffled downstairs. William passed her a cursory glance as he reached for his coffee, and then returned his attention to the television. A new tax law was being discussed relating to high earners. She felt as though she should be paying attention, but the words floated outside her bubble, making no impact on the fogginess inside her head.

  During the night, the same scenes had repeated: Her mother’s struggles with her rheumatoid arthritis, Kath’s harsh words, and the moment of her mother’s death in the bath. Even now, with the benefit and clarity of daylight, it continued to be a burden and Jade struggled to deal with Kath’s unequivocal displeasure. Could it be that there was even just a little truth in her sister’s announcement, and that Nancy had disapproved of her assistance? The thought caused Jade’s body to wrack in agony.

  She pulled her legs up to the sofa and wrapped her arms across her middle. Her mother had shown her pleasure and appreciation when Jade assisted; there was no doubt about it. With fondness, Jade remembered their bond and how they had spoken of many things during their private time together, from schoolwork to wider issues such as capital punishment and a new influx of immigrants. Jade had loved those moments, and felt special having her mother’s sole attention. There had not been the continuous tension that Kath spoke of, and she had certainly not taken away her mother’s independence and hope. Rather, she had helped maintain
her mother’s self-esteem to an acceptable level. How would Nancy have felt with ragged hair and unwashed skin? Far worse, for sure.

  Kath was wrong. She was jealous, pure and simple.

  The thought did not rest easy.

  Jade looked to William. ‘You don’t think I made Mum suicidal, do you?’

  ‘I thought we’d been through this.’

  ‘I was just wondering.’

  ‘No one other than your mum was responsible for that.’

  ‘But she was depressed. If I’d listened to her more-’

  ‘Stop beating yourself up. It’s happened. Forget it and move on.’

  Jade averted her gaze. How could he be so pitiless? She gave him a cold stare and reached for a cushion, pressing it to her abdomen. Yet, despite her attempts to show her annoyance, with jerky movements and frequent stares, William appeared unaware of her burden and continued to watch the news programme, blissful in his ignorance.

  Grinding her teeth, she stared at a low table. It was evident she was not going to receive his compassion and regretted involving him in her troubles. If her decision to hire Luke Adams had remained private as originally intended, then she would not be in the position of expecting his kinds words and gestures. William had interfered and now showed a reluctance to offer his support. It was unfair, utterly wrong.

  The breakfast programme continued and they sat in silence. With William’s indifference still rattling, Jade’s thoughts reverted to her mother’s suicide and Kath’s hurtful comments. Unwilling to be bullied, and needing to convince herself of her innocence, she told herself she was a good person. There should be no doubt in her mind that she would have tried to stop her mother’s suicide, and had she known of Kath’s plan to assist, under no circumstance would she have let her succeed.

  Jade had nothing to fear.

  So why hadn’t more of her memories returned? Kath was likely to have the answers. Visiting her, however, was out of the question and would inevitably cause an argument. Anyway, it was not a good idea having her sister’s viewpoint thrust upon her as it could cloud her memories and prevent them from re-emerging. It would be like brainwashing, every thought forced on her, she could not have formed her own perspective. Satisfied by her reasoning, Jade’s arms relaxed at her side.

  ‘What you doing today?’ William asked.

  ‘I’m playing tennis. Why?’

  ‘Just wondering.’

  Jade’s eyes narrowed. Today was the day she was meeting with Joe. Had he found out about their plans? She reached for her coffee and buried her face in the warm vapours.

  ‘I just think you should keep yourself busy,’ he continued. ‘Too much thinking time is not healthy.’

  ‘I’m always busy.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘I don’t know what you think I do all day, but I don’t lounge around and watch daytime television.’

  ‘I didn’t think you did. I just worry you’ll work yourself into a frenzy.’

  Jade cringed.

  ‘You should either do something useful like go see Kath, else you should forget what she said.’

  ‘Why the sudden interest?’

  William frowned.

  Jade twiddled her thumbs. She couldn’t believe for a second, he hadn’t realised he had blanked her earlier, and decided he was very good at feigning ignorance.

  ‘It can’t be much fun being at a disadvantage,’ he said.

  ‘It’s not.’

  ‘Then speak to her some more. It might help you remember things.’

  Jade clenched her jaw.

  ‘Was she into art at school?’

  Baffled by his sudden question, she spun to face him, and then remembered the picture, the gift, from the stalker. It was a drawing of burning building and a dove fleeing, and she reasoned it symbolised something.

  ‘I don’t remember,’ Jade said.

  ‘Will you have time to drop it in to Luke?’

  ‘I’ll do it this afternoon.’

  ‘It was a strange gift. Perhaps he thinks you’d appreciate it.’

  ‘Perhaps that’s not the gift at all.’

  William did not respond, stood up and left the room with his mug. Outside a siren sounded, then another. Jade hurried to the window. The fire engines had stopped outside her house, and the officers gathered, their expressions perplexed. She was just about to call William when the doorbell sounded.

  She hurried to the door.

  ‘Mrs Horton?’

  ‘Miss actually.’ She pulled her dressing gown tighter across her front and peered over her shoulder to William. ‘We’re not married.’

  ‘We received a call about half an hour ago regarding a fire at this dwelling.’

  ‘That wasn’t me.’

  ‘The name we were given was Mrs Jade Horton.’

  ‘I’m sorry you’ve been called out,’ William said, ‘but someone’s playing a prank, and it wasn’t either of us.’

  The man puffed out. ‘This happens too often. It’s not just the money, it’s the fact it could stop us getting to a real fire.’

  ‘We are sorry, but I promise you, it wasn’t either of us. Someone is stalking us, and we’ve hired a private investigator to find out who it is. It’s likely to be him who’s done this.’

  More words were exchanged before the officer accepted his plea and left. William closed the door and looked to Jade, regretful of the incident.

  ‘Why would he do something like that?’ she asked.

  ‘Because he’s sick.’

  ‘Is that the gift he was talking about? I can’t believe his reference was solely linked to the drawing.’

  William said nothing, donned his jacket, and checked the contents of his bag.

  ‘I don’t like it,’ she said, ‘I wish he’d stop doing this.’

  ‘You’re just going to have to deal with it.’

  ‘I don’t know how you can be so calm.’

  ‘It’s an inconvenience, nothing more.’

  ‘It’s more than that.’

  ‘If you’re worried you should see if Luke would recommend a hypnotist.’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Just a suggestion.’

  William closed his bag, grabbed his car keys and headed outside. He didn’t understand how she felt at all; their communication was pointless. Perhaps Joe would be more considerate with his words. She smiled. He was bound to be.

  The door opened. ‘Jade,’ William called.

  There was panic in his voice. She hurried to the door and followed William’s gaze to the shed. Smoke was seeping from under the door and gathering behind the windows. It looked as though it was about to burst into flames.

  ‘Pass the fire extinguisher!’

  Transfixed, she stood and gawped.

  ‘Jade! Now!’

  For a surreal moment, she heard her brothers screaming out her name. She could not respond, and she could not fight the flames to get to them. It was too hot and the smoke was far too intense. She strained to listen to their voices, their desperate screechy cries, and pleaded for someone to help them.

  William bashed into her. Thrust back into the present, she stepped back, watching as he yanked the extinguisher from the wall and ran outside. He pulled opened the shed door and squirted something with foam.

  ‘It’s just an old rag,’ he said.

  She gawped, voiceless.

  ‘The window at the other side has been smashed. It has to be his doing.’

  Her stalker knew about the fire; he was proving a point.

  ‘I don’t have time for this,’ William continued. ‘I’m going to be late for an important meeting now.’

  ‘Then go’

  ‘Smelling of smoke . . . give me some credit.’

  ‘I can’t smell anything.’

  He passed her an irritated glance and hurried up the stairs, beating the steps in frustration. Ignoring William’s heavy movements coming from the bedroom and bathroom, she looked through the window. Was her stalker still out there watching with
amusement? Maybe he had hoped it would go up in flames so they would have to call the fire brigade. Perhaps he was awaiting her humiliation.

  William stormed down the stairs. ‘Confront your sister again, will you?’

  ‘I can’t do that.’

  ‘Then arrange to meet him. Do something.’

  ‘I am doing something. I’ve hired Luke Adams haven’t I?’

  ‘If you’d agreed to be hypnotised years ago, we wouldn’t be in this mess. We’d know who you’d offended and you would have dealt with it.’

  ‘It’s not my fault.’

  ‘It’s certainly not mine.’

  ‘You’re not being fair.’

  ‘No.’ He gave her an assertive glance. ‘I’m being more than fair. In fact, it’s as much my fault as yours. I should of pushed you into dealing with this mess years ago instead of letting you hide away.’ He passed through the outer door. ‘Sort it or else I will. It’s ruining my business.’

  Jade stood and gawped. Had he really said that?

  Jade weaved along a busy street, elbowing past the dawdling shoppers, peering at the market stalls, her aim to reach the bridge by four o’clock. She believed she had allowed herself plenty of time to make the uphill walk, yet she still checked her watch every couple of minutes, fearful of being late. She didn’t want to miss seeing Joe again, not this time.

  She had decided to park away from the meeting point, believing the late afternoon traffic would be less congested at the south side, but now regretted her decision. The walk was further than she remembered, and her skin was warming. Not wanting to turn up hot and sweaty, she loosened her cotton jacket and slowed her pace.

  Her expectations were high and her imaginings extreme. Would they greet each other with open arms? Would he spin her around gleeful to see her again? Hazza had said he would be pleased to see her. His words remained locked in her heart.

  She glanced to a haberdashery stall and a key cutting and engraving stall, and then peered further ahead. The grocery stallholder was packing away the remaining goods into a van and stacking the empty boxes into a pile by the stall. As he progressed about his business, he made jibes at a man across the precinct. It was a lively exchange, with both men taking the comments intended as friendly insults in good faith.