‘Maybe,’ Tom nodded after his father. ‘Or maybe not. It’s Saturday. Might have a lie in. Are you both working tomorrow?’
‘Yes. Just another day for me son.’
‘Same for my mum,’ said Melody.
But Si wasn’t listening. Tom noticed his father couldn’t wait to get away. He was hustling his mother along the landing now. What was the hurry? Perhaps they were going to make mad, passionate love to each other. Yuck. But on the plus side, if they wanted to rip each other’s clothes off, things between them must be all right again.
‘I think we’ll leave going up for a minute.’ Tom led Melody into the kitchen. ‘Want some toast?’
‘Okay.’ Melody pulled out a chair and sat down.
‘So. Going back to your mum. What does she do?’ asked Tom. He posted four slices of bread into the toaster and flicked the kettle on.
‘She works in a pub. Works crazy hours for a pittance.’
‘So she’s not bone idle like you then?’ Tom smiled.
‘I’m not bone idle,’ Melody protested. ‘I just want a man who’ll look after me. And in exchange I’ll look after him.’
‘Oh yeah?’ Tom waggled his eyebrows.
‘Yeah.’
‘Wanna show me how?’
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,’ Melody smiled knowingly.
‘You might only be eighteen Mel, but you don’t come across as naive.’
‘I’m not,’ she admitted. ‘My upbringing was an education in itself.’
Tom placed two mugs of tea on the table.
‘So you are,’ he posted quotation marks in the air, ‘streetwise.’
‘Not streetwise as such,’ Melody put her head on one side and considered. ‘More savvy.’ The toast popped up. She watched Tom get to work with the butter knife. ‘I have a hazy memory of my father. He was a handsome man. He had a few spells in prison for conning gullible women out of their money.’ She took her plate of buttered toast from Tom. ‘In between prison sentences my father – according to my mother – sowed a lot of wild oats. I apparently have quite a few half brothers and sisters scattered around England.’ She took a bite of toast and chewed thoughtfully. ‘I haven’t a clue who or where they are. Wouldn’t it be awful if I unwittingly met my brother and fell in love with him?’
‘I thought you were falling in love with an old man,’ Tom pointed out.
‘No. I’m marrying an old man. Love doesn’t come into it.’
‘You know Mel, you sound awfully callous speaking like that.’
‘I know. There’s a name for women like me,’ she paused to sip her tea.
‘Gold diggers,’ Tom finished Melody’s sentence.
‘Well I’m not ending up like my mother. Spending her life in tears. Listening to a man’s empty promises. Being fleeced of the little money she had. Not to mention working all hours God sends. And what sort of man is she going to meet on the other side of a bar? Half of them are pissheads.’
‘Wow. So cynical for one so young.’ Tom popped the last piece of toast in his mouth. ‘I know you said you couldn’t be bothered with further education Mel, but seriously, I’d rather go back to school than spend my life shackled to some old git with a big wallet.’
‘It’s too late for that now.’
‘You’re eighteen. Not eighty!’
‘You don’t understand Tom. When Mum was running away from debt collectors and anybody else baying for my father’s blood, I was in and out of so many different schools. I might as well confess. Ridiculous as it may sound, I can barely read or write.’
‘You’re joking.’
Melody looked irked. ‘Why would I joke about something as serious as that? I was the laughing stock at every school I went to. The class thicko. So there’s no way I’m doing further education Tom. I haven’t properly done the primary education.’
‘There’s evening classes. There has to be others in the same boat as you.’
‘Well I’ve never met them. And nobody’s poking fun at me again. So I’ll do things my way.’ Melody drained her tea. ‘So. Are you seeing me home or what?’
‘I think or what is a better idea.’
Melody pushed her mug of tea to one side. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’
Chapter Fifty One
Steph lay in bed. Her eyes scanned the darkness while her mind wandered. Downstairs she could hear Tom and Melody talking. Si was next to her. They were laying back to back. Their bodies facing in opposite directions. The same way their marriage was going.
Was there any such thing as the perfect relationship? Barry Hastings certainly hadn’t found it. For all his academic accomplishments and destination for great things, he’d failed dismally in the commitment stakes. Six disastrous marriages. Although maybe that wasn’t a fair judgment. Four disastrous marriages. Two of the wives had died remember? Steph swallowed. To lose one wife so young was unfortunate. To have two wives croak before thirty-five was disconcerting. If she’d been given to fancy, she would have said suspicious. Barry hadn’t said how the women had died. Steph had been itching to know but too scared to ask. Barry had gone all morose. Steph wondered how often Barry saw his children. In the end she’d felt unable to ask any questions. Still. There was plenty of time to get to know more about Barry. Like tomorrow. When she went to his apartment. Steph was a bit worried about that. If Barry was a wife murderer, shouldn’t she play it safe and meet him in a public place? Hang on, who said Barry was a wife murderer? Her mind reeled. Oh for goodness sake, she chided herself. Get a grip on your imagination! There’s nothing wrong with Barry. He’s just had a rotten time. That’s all. Been unlucky. Steph firmly shut the door on any further dark thoughts.
Her mind turned to Si. The way he’d propelled her along the landing had been peculiar to say the least. His hand had been in the small of her back, pushing Steph into their bedroom. It was as if he couldn’t wait to put distance between them and that girl. Very odd. What was her name? Melanie? She had seemed so familiar too. Steph had wanted to ask the girl if she’d ever been on television. She certainly had the looks of a model or actress. At least Tom had found somebody the same age as himself. That was a first.
Steph’s mind wandered again. This time to June. Her neighbour had extended another invitation to be with Flash Harry. Sunday lunch no less. Steph was tempted to tell June that she and Si couldn’t make it. Or any other invitation. Steph imagined June’s face falling with disappointment. And then looking puzzled. Asking why. And Steph telling June that she and Si were splitting up. Then June would look horrified. She would undoubtedly burst into tears. Steph sighed.
‘Are you awake?’ she asked across the void of duvet.
‘Yes,’ Si replied.
‘I forgot to tell you. June wants us to go out with her and Flash Harry on Sunday.’
Si grunted. ‘Whatever for? The man gave a first class impression of not being able to abide me.’
‘Quite the contrary. He apparently liked you so much he wants to spoil you. Well, both of us. So keep Sunday clear.’
‘I will,’ said Si. ‘I shall particularly look forward to going out to dinner with my wife by my side.’
‘We won’t tell June what’s happened between us.’
‘From my perspective Steph there is absolutely nothing to tell June. From yours, however, the waters are a little muddier.’
‘I do wish you’d stop carrying on like some little innocent,’ Steph snapped testily.
‘I am innocent,’ Si said firmly.
Steph opened her mouth to speak but her mobile phone cheerfully announced a text message. She reached out to the bedside table.
‘Gosh, a text message,’ Si said sardonically. ‘I wonder who could be texting my wife at this time of night?’
Steph could feel her face reddening. ‘It’s probably Shirley.’
Si chuckled without humour. ‘Of course. Go on then Steph. Look at the message. What does Shirley say?’
‘I’ll pick it up in the morni
ng,’ Steph replied testily.
‘You know as well as I do Steph that the message will be from Barry Hastings.’ Si sat up in bed. ‘So don’t you dare patronise me with talk of what we will and will not be telling June.’
Steph rocketed upright. She sought out Si’s face in the darkness. ‘Just remember Si,’ she hissed, ‘I’m not the one who was dealt a black eye. I’m not the one who was stripped down to my underwear in a garden parading a naked lover. And I’m not the one who had yet another lover turning up on the doorstep asking for my whereabouts. So don’t you dare try and give me a guilt trip over Barry Hastings texting me.’
‘Ah. So it is Barry Hastings texting you. Well fancy that!’
‘Oh shut up Si.’
With that Steph’s mobile began to ring. She cursed the fact that she’d failed to turn the damn thing off.
‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’ asked Si.
‘No.’
‘Well if my mobile phone rang at this hour I’d be a little worried.’
‘Why?’
‘Well nobody rings at this time of night if there isn’t something important to say.’
The mobile stopped ringing. Steph desperately wanted to pick the phone off the bedside table and see who the missed call was from. But at the same time, she wanted to appear nonchalant to Si. The mobile started to ring again. Si switched on his bedside light.
‘Steph you may as well answer the phone. Because if you don’t, it’s going to keep ringing. And I for one would like to get some sleep.’
Steph snatched up the mobile. The caller display said Barry H. Bugger.
‘Hello?’
‘Steffy! I sent you a text darling but you didn’t respond.’
Barry’s voice was very loud in Steph’s ear. Most of the time her mobile gave her crackly calls that broke up or disconnected through black spots. But it was The Law of Sod that right now she had the clearest connection in the world. Steph was very aware of Si’s close proximity. What if he heard Barry’s conversation? She put the mobile to her other ear and leant away from Si.
‘I was in bed.’
‘Oh sorry. Have I disturbed you?’
‘Not at all.’
There was a pause. ‘You certainly disturb me Steffy.’
Steph swallowed. ‘Oh.’
‘I can’t stop thinking about you.’
‘That’s nice.’ Steph was aware that Si was shifting subtly toward her.
‘I just want you to know that you’re one hot lady. You’re very special to me Steffy. And tomorrow I want to show you just how special you are. Come over at eight.’
‘Excellent,’ Steph squeaked. ‘Well toodle-oo.’
Steph disconnected the call. She then turned off the mobile for good measure. She didn’t dare look at Si.
Chapter Fifty Two
The following morning, as Si shook cereal into a bowl, he decided to make no mention of Barry Hastings’ late night call to his wife. Steph was silently munching her way through cornflakes. She seemed to be fascinated by a speck on the table. Eye contact was at zero. But even the loaded atmosphere didn’t bother Si. Right now, his overriding concern was to remove Steph from the house before Melody surfaced. The last thing he needed was Steph putting two and two together. She would have a blue fit if she discovered Tom was dating Dawn’s daughter.
Steph had almost finished her cereal. Si shovelled cornflakes into his mouth as fast as he could. A minute later and Steph had put her cereal spoon down. Her bowl was empty. Si abandoned what was left in his bowl and shoved it to one side.
‘Do you want a lift to work?’ he broke the silence.
‘Won’t it take you out of your way?’
‘No. No. Not at all. Come on. Let’s go.’ Si jumped up, grabbed his keys and shot off into the hallway.
‘Hang on,’ said Steph, ‘I think I’ll fetch my coat. It’s not so warm today.’
‘I’ll get it!’ Si was taking the stairs two at a time before Steph had barely finished her sentence. Moments later he was pounding back down them again. ‘Here you are,’ Si thrust a jacket at his wife. ‘Come on.’
‘What’s the rush?’ Steph frowned. ‘Frightened Amanda might turn up again?’
Si ignored the jibe. He just wanted to be inside the sanctuary of his van. Away from Melody. Moments later he roared out of Jessamine Terrace in a cloud of exhaust.
It was only now, as Si watched his wife walk through Tesco’s automatic doors that he relaxed. But only slightly. There was a lot to oversee today. And the plans buzzing through his mind weren’t work related. Si hit the van’s accelerator. As he threaded his way through Saturday morning traffic, he reflected on Barry Hastings’ late night call to Steph. Si had heard every word. How Barry couldn’t stop thinking about Steph. How Steph disturbed him. That she was hot. Special. Si winced as he recalled the next bit. That Barry wanted to show Steph just how special she was. At his apartment no less. Like a poisoned arrow, every word had pierced his heart. And how the poison had spread. Si felt as though his whole body were polluted. How dare another man pursue his wife with sweet words of crap designed to get her into bed. Si could forgive Steph because she believed she was a wronged wife. And she was naive. But Barry Hastings wasn’t. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And no way was Si letting Barry Hastings lead Steph like a lamb to the slaughter.
It was only when Si had parked at The Nut and Squirrel that he discovered Steph’s mobile phone on the passenger seat. It must have fallen out of her jacket. How very fortuitous. Si pocketed the phone. Locking the van, he went inside the pub.
‘Morning mate,’ Terry came out of the new rest room. ‘I want you to–’
‘Be right back,’ Si walked off to the bar area.
‘Flamin’ Nora Si! What are you up to now?’
Si ignored Terry. He knew he was skating on thin ice as far as this job went. But he didn’t care. His marriage was more important. Ahead Si could see Dawn polishing glasses.
‘Morning Dawn.’
‘Hello pet. You look like a man with a bee up your backside.’
‘I am. Two things. Firstly, did your daughter come home last night?’
Dawn put down a glass. ‘As it happens, no. She texted me to say she was staying at a girlfriend’s house. Why?’
Si nodded. ‘I have a girl in my house that’s a dead ringer for you twenty years ago. She’s called Melody. And she’s currently in bed with my son.’
Dawn picked up the glass and carried on polishing. ‘Don’t fret. It won’t last.’
‘I’m not fretting. Just warning you that when Steph susses it out, fur could fly.’
‘How is Mike Tyson?’ Dawn pursed her lips.
It never failed to amaze Si how bitchy women could be. ‘On the brink of having an affair. And I need your help to stop it.’
Dawn nearly dropped the glass she was polishing. ‘My help?’
‘That’s right. Do you go on Facebook?’
‘Of course. Everybody goes on Facebook Si.’
Si grunted. ‘I don’t. Clearly I’m out of touch.’
‘Just a bit,’ Dawn grinned. ‘I go on it all the time. I can even access it from my mobile phone. Why?’
‘Because I want you to check out a guy called Barry Hastings.’
‘There are probably loads of people with that name.’
‘This one is blond. Mid forties. Good looking.’
Dawn visibly perked up. ‘I don’t mind checking out handsome men.’
‘I want you to do more than that. I want you to seduce him.’
Dawn banged the glass down on the bar top. ‘Now look here Si. What sort of girl do you think I am?’
‘Sassy. And gorgeous. Perfect to dazzle Barry Hastings. You don’t have to go the whole hog with him. But I want you to lure that man away from my wife.’
Dawn gave Si an assessing look. She was silent for a moment. ‘I see. So what you’re saying is...you want to use me as a honey trap?’
Si winked. ‘Clever girl.’
‘I won’t be far away. Any problem, I’ll rescue you.’
‘Give me one good reason why I should do this.’
‘Because you’re one of the causes for my marriage hitting the skids. It’s payback time baby. Call it karma.’
‘Oh for–’ Dawn sighed. ‘So when does this plan get put into action?’
‘As of right now. First things first, get on Facebook. Find Barry Hastings and put in a friend request. Send a message saying that you went to Blackfen Primary School and want to re-connect with old friends.’
‘And then?’
‘Arrange a meeting. For tonight.’
‘Si, if you don’t mind me saying, this is ridiculous. What if he doesn’t go on Facebook very often? He might not pick up my friend request until next week.’
‘In which case we move on to Plan B.’
Dawn rolled her eyes. ‘Go on.’
‘You still meet him tonight. It’s just that there won’t be any introduction. It will be more like,’ Si paused while he considered, ‘cold calling. But we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. Meanwhile–’
‘Meanwhile,’ Terry’s voice sounded in Si’s ear, ‘I’d like some plumbing done.’
Si nodded. He followed Terry back to the new function suite. ‘Meanwhile,’ he called over his shoulder to Dawn, ‘do that friend request.’
Chapter Fifty Three
Dawn went into the Ladies powder room. She dumped her handbag on the edge of the washbasin. Digging inside its squashy depths, she extracted her mobile phone. Seconds later she was on Facebook.
Dawn pondered why she was doing this. She felt partly responsible that Si’s marriage had hit the rocks. But then again, strong marriages didn’t flounder at the first bit of skirt testing its boundaries. Dawn had flirted with a lot of married men. And taken a few of them to her bed too. She hadn’t felt particularly guilty either. At her age, any man she met was either married or divorced. And both factions usually had a truckload of emotional baggage trailing in their wake. If a man had reached the age of forty without marrying or divorcing, in her opinion there was something wrong with him.
Flings and Arrows Page 19