by Karen Woods
The old woman walked to the end of the bar and kept her voice low. “Yes love. He was flung from a moving car about three hours ago. One of the regulars found him in the car park. The medics have been to see him and it’s lucky he’s not dead.”
“Can I go upstairs and see him?”
“Of course, love. Just let me open the gate to let you through.” Melanie slid through the small gap behind the bar. Floe held the middle of her arm and looked her directly in the eye with a concerning look. “Love, just be prepared when you see him. He’s a mess. The doctor wanted to take him to hospital, but he wouldn’t go.”
Melanie closed the gate behind her and thanked Flo for allowing her inside. She was a lovely lady, purple rinse hair with the look of Mrs Slocombe out of the TV series ‘Are You Being Served’. Melanie gripped the wooden rail as she trudged up the stairs. She could hear people talking. When she reached the top of the stairs she stood for a second regaining her breath. Something was wrong, she edged closer to the door and listened carefully. It was Diane’s voice she could hear. She pressed her ear firmly against the door, but still she couldn’t work out what they were saying. What on earth was she doing here? Melanie opened the door with caution, her stomach was churning. Diane was sat next to John and she was sure she could see her holding his hand. John moved his head slowly to see who it was.
“Melanie,” he whispered.
She shot a look at Diane and gave her the eyes to move away from her man. She should have spoken to John first, but she was agitated. “What are you doing here?” It was as simple as that, no beating around the bush.
Diane stuttered. “I was on my way past and thought I would call in to see if there was any news. Gary is worried out of his mind and I was too.”
No, she wasn’t having none of it. “Well, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“It was just spur of the moment. I was going to the shop and ended up here.”
That would have to do for now. Melanie plonked down on the sofa and reached over and touched John’s swollen face with a gentle hand. “Oh my God, look at the state of you.”
John wriggled about, with each movement he groaned. “Bastards they are. They took liberties, five of them steamed into me. There was fuck all I could do.” Five of them? He was lying again. “My dad is going sick, he said I have to move out. My mam can’t sleep and she’s on nerve tablets to try and help her calm down.”
“Why did they do this to you?” She was watching him carefully.
“They think I had them over. Jordan was taxed and they think I did it. I swear on your life I know fuck all about it. When they had us in the bedroom I just said it was me, so they would leave my mam and dad alone, they were going to do them in. I shit myself, honest, I’ve never been as scared in my life.”
Melanie let go of his hand as if it was diseased. How could he tell a bare-faced lie like that and even swear on her life? Diane reached over and gripped her light blue denim jacket. “I’m going to get going. Gary will be home soon, and I want to set his mind at ease now you are alright.”
John never looked at her. “Tell him I’m a strong cookie and he knows I’ll be up and about in a few days. These cunts won’t put me down for long. I’ll come back stronger than ever. It’s far from over this. Watch this space.”
What on earth was he going to do? He was a nobody compared to Donny and his boys. They would squash him as soon as he made a move. “See you later Mel. I’ll have to get home and sort the baby out. My mam will wonder where I’ve got to. I only said I was nipping to the shop.”
Melanie clocked her and noticed she had no belongings, no shopping nothing. This wasn’t making sense. Diane left and there was an eerie silence in the room. Melanie was sick to the pit of her stomach; maybe what Lenny had told her was true after all.
Melanie waited outside Diane’s house. She was hidden away in the darkness of the night. Gary would be home soon, and she wanted to make sure she got to speak to him without Diane being there. Her head was in bits and she was stressed. A car pulled up facing the house. She peered out and she could see Gary. She watched him wave to the driver and moved from the shadows. The wind was howling and leaves were jumping about near her feet. “Gary,” she whispered quietly as he got near her. Gary was puzzled, had he just heard someone saying his name, he wasn’t sure? “Pssss, Gary, it’s me Melanie.” Gary stopped dead in his tracks. He squeezed his eyes tightly together and spotted her. She held a single finger up to her mouth and beckoned him to come closer. Gary chuckled, what was going on, why was she acting like this? Melanie grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the house.
“What’s going on Melanie, is everything alright?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute. Just let’s go somewhere where nobody can hear us.” Melanie took him to a block of flats and opened the door to the staircase, she flicked her eyes around and made sure they were alone. Gary stood with his hands in his pockets eager to know what was going on.
“Go on then, what’s wrong?”
Melanie plonked down on the cold concrete stair and dropped her head into her hands. “Diane is seeing John. I’m one hundred percent sure.”
“Fuck off, what makes you think that?”
“I don’t know, call it a gut feeling. Listen, she goes out every Wednesday and she tells me she goes to see her old friend from Morris dancing. She’s a lying bitch. Lenny Jackson told me ages ago that they were seeing each other but I just thought he was chatting shit to wind me up.” Gary stood thinking, he was in shock. “Gary, do you seriously not remember sleeping with Diane when she was babysitting?”
“No, honest, it’s all a blur. But, if she say’s I did then I must have.”
“Here’s what I think,” she patted the stair next to her and waited for him to sit down. “I think John is the father of the baby. He slept with her at babysitting and framed you for it. I’ve seen them together - something is fishy. And she called the baby John, what does that tell you?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, I’ve just been to John’s and she was there. She called around because she said you were worried and she wanted to put your mind at rest. She’s a lying bitch and we need to catch them bang at it. It’s Wednesday tomorrow and she’ll be meeting him, I’m sure of it. Let’s follow her and see if she’s up to no good.”
Gary bit hard on his knuckles. Deep down her knew Diane was a liar but John was his best mate, how could he do something like this to him? He sat in deep thought. “She has been distant with me you know but I put that down to her being tired all the time. But, yes, something isn’t right. I never said a word about John. If I’m being honest I’ve tried to distance myself from him, he’s into everything and I don’t want any part of it. He probably deserved a good hiding anyway.”
“So let’s follow her and put this to bed. If I’m wrong, then I’m sorry, but I don’t think I will be.”
Gary stood and held his head back, his nostrils flared. “I’ll knock the dirty lying twat right out if he is. Honest, I’ll do him in.”
Melanie was glad she had him onside. At last she was going to see with her own eyes what was going on and if Diane was cheating with John then God help her, she’d drag every bleeding hair from her scalp and name and shame her to everyone. Gary opened the door and turned back to her. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow morning then. I’ll just let her think I’m going to work she won’t be any the wiser.”
“See you tomorrow Gary. I just hope I’m wrong.”
“So do I,” he said in a quiet voice. He was gutted.
Early the next morning Diane was drying her hair. Gary was getting ready to go to work and sat watching her. “You’re up early, are you going somewhere?”
“I’ve got to take the baby to the clinic and then I might go and do a bit of shopping.”
“It’s alright for some. I’ve got a hard day’s graft ahead of me. Should I ring in sick and spend the day with you both?”
“No,” she panicked.
“We need the money, you can’t afford to be having time off.”
Gary sat cracking his knuckles. “Maybe you’re right. I best get going then. Come here and give me a kiss.” As he approached her she turned her head, so he could only kiss her cheek. His heart sank. Why hadn’t he seen all these signs before? He wasn’t imagining it, she had no interest in him whatsoever. Why, though, why would she marry him if she didn’t love him? If John was the father of the child, why would she be so cruel and treat him like this? “I’ll see you tonight. Enjoy your day.”
Diane kept her eyes on the mirror and never replied. “Bitch,” he muttered as he left the room.
Melanie was waiting as promised. Once Gary was there they hatched a plan to catch them both at it. Gary had something in his coat and she could see a long shape in the arm of his jacket. Gary sparked a cigarette up and sucked on it with force. “She’s getting ready, drying her hair, putting make-up on.”
“I bet she is, the dirty cow. Gary, if this is right then you’ll have to hold me back because I won’t be able to keep my hands off her.”
“And, who’s going to hold me back?” Gary laughed. “All night long I’ve tossed and turned, I’ve not had a wink of sleep.”
“Me neither, every time I think about it I feel sick.”
“Well, it needs sorting doesn’t it? Today is D-Day.”
Diane walked alone through the estate. Vanessa must have had the baby. What excuse had she told her this time? She would never have told her the truth, no way. Gary was following her every move, ducking and diving in and out of alleyways. Melanie was behind him and she was keeping a low profile. Diane stopped at a house and stood out of view. She was waiting. “What’s she doing?” whispered Melanie.
“Nothing, she’s just stood there.” A taxi pulled up and they could see John struggling to get out of it. He was still injured, and he could barely walk without help. Gary watched Diane help him out of the taxi and cringed. The colour drained from his face and you could see his fingers rolling into two tight balls at the side of her legs. Melanie was ready to strike, he had to drag her back. “Fucking stay put. If we go now they will just say they were doing nothing. If we are going to catch them, we need to make sure we do it at the right time.”
Melanie was distressed. “I knew it, didn’t I tell you something was going on?”
Her words stabbed deep into Gary’s heart. He felt betrayal, lies and heartbreak but he was cold enough to realise they needed proof. “Just hang fire until they’ve gone inside the house.”
“I thought you weren’t going to come.” Diane stressed.
“I nearly wasn’t. My legs are fucked but I knew I had to spend some time with you. Where’s the baby?”
“I left him with mam today. I thought we could have some quality time together.”
John passed the gold key to Diane to open the door. “I need to lie down as soon as we get in here. I keep going dizzy.”
The door opened, and Diane helped John inside. “I love our time together. I just can’t wait until we are together forever.”
John was knackered, he was sweating and a bit shaky. “Can you get me a glass of cold water; my mouth is dry. I think it’s the painkillers that I’ve been taking.”
Diane smiled over at him. “Of course, I’d do anything for you.”
John squirmed as she vanished into the kitchen. As soon as he got the chance he was getting on his toes and away from here. He wanted a clean slate, a new life without all this grief. Diane walked back into the room and passed over the cold drink, she held it to his mouth whilst he sipped. “I can’t wait to make love to you. I’ve been thinking about it all morning.”
He smirked and knew sex was on the agenda today. Diane slowly started to get undressed. She’d upped her game for sure. She wore black lacy knickers and a matching bra. John nodded his head as he clocked the sexy underwear. Melanie never wore anything like this, she was more into passion killer knickers and grubby bras. Diane walked over to the radio and twisted the button. She was setting the mood and making sure this date was going to be something he would be remember all day long. She’d been doing a bit of research too. She wanted to please her man and make sure she ticked all the boxes. Diane stood looking at him and held a seductive look in her eye, she licked her lips in a sexual manner. “You just lie there and let me do the work.”
“Yes, I don’t think I can move anyway.”
Gary stood at the front door and he yanked the steel crowbar from his jacket. The vein at the side of his neck was pumping with adrenaline. “This has to be quick, once the front door is open we need to be as fast as we can to catch them at it. You go upstairs, and I’ll look downstairs”
Melanie was alert. Her heart was pounding inside her ribcage. “Just get that door open. Hurry the fuck up and let’s get this over with.”
Gary was quick and precise. Boom, the front door was open. Melanie scrambled up the stairs and ran into each bedroom in a wild frenzy. She looked under the bed, inside the wardrobe, behind the doors, nothing. She stood thinking and rechecked all the areas again, still nothing. With a shallow heart she headed back down the stairs, she shouted as she made her way to the bottom. “Nothing Gary, they must have left already.” Melanie pushed the living room door open and froze. Gary was stood over John and the crowbar was hovering over his head. Diane was sat in the corner of the room with her knees hitched high to her chest. It was Gary who spoke first.
“Start talking now before I smash this all over your lying bastard body.”
John was in no position to defend himself. The odds were against him and he was cowering as his eyes met the cold metal crow-bar. Melanie ran at Diane and dug her fingers deep into her hair, she was swinging her around the room and smashing her clenched fist into every inch of her body. Diane was screaming at the top of her voice but nothing was stopping Melanie, she was making sure this slag got a good kicking. She gripped her by the throat and flung her onto the sofa. “Start fucking talking, how long has this been going on and don’t lie to me because I’ll punch your fucking head in if you do?” Diane was shaking from head to toe. She cradled her body and kept her head low. Gary was still stood over John debating his next move. Melanie swung her foot back and booted Diane again. Her voice was chilling. “Start talking bitch.”
“I wanted to tell you, but John said I couldn’t. He said we would sort it out in time. I’m sick of living a lie too. Do you know how hard it’s been for me pretending that Gary is the father of John?”
Gary’s face creased with pain. It was true, his best friend was the father of the baby. Gary smashed the crowbar over John’s legs. John screamed in agony but nothing was stopping him now. “You dirty lying bastard. How could you do something like this to me! We were friends, we went way back. How could you stitch me up like this?”
Melanie ran over to Gary and grabbed the crow-bar before he did something he would regret. “Leave it, just let them tell us what has been going on.”
Diane snivelled and pleaded with Melanie. “I was drunk, and John took advantage of me. He made me keep quiet, he filled my head with shit and promised me the moon. I remember everything about that night and he forced himself on me.”
John was trembling, blood seeped through his grey tracksuit bottoms. “You lying slut, you come onto me. You were gagging for it.”
“Melanie, he did the same thing to you upstairs, do you remember?”
Of course, she remembered that night, she visualised every second of it. Diane wobbled to her feet and started to put her clothes on, she was singing like a budgie, making sure the truth was told here today. “I went to his house with my mam and confronted him. He told lies and blamed you, Gary. If I wouldn’t have agreed then I would have been turned out onto the streets, my parents told me that. I was scared I had nowhere else to turn. How could I have told you that John was the father, you are my best friend Melanie and I’d betrayed you.”
Melanie digested everything that was being said. This was all too much f
or Gary and he rushed into the kitchen to be sick. Diane followed him.
Melanie walked over to John. She looked down at him and spat directly into his eye. “You worthless piece of shit. How dare you treat me like this. I hope you get what’s coming to you. You’ll have no one to turn to once I’ve told the world about you, no one at all.”
“Melanie, it just all got out of control. She came on to me. You saw me that night, I was off my head and not thinking straight. She’s always had a thing for me, come on you know that.”
Melanie squirmed. “How could you live a lie like that? You’ve made a right fool out of me and Gary. I’m gone from here; don’t you ever darken my door again.”
Melanie left the room and headed down the garden path. John couldn’t move. The pain in his legs were excruciating, his bones were broken for sure.
“Gary, I’m so sorry. If I could change what has happened I would,” Diane pleaded to her husband.
“You’re a lying dirty slapper, you let me marry you and think John was my baby, how fucked up is that?”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. John means nothing to me. It’s you I love, please forgive me. I swear to you now I’ll never ever hurt you again.”
“Are you a fucking nutter or what? I wouldn’t touch you with a barge-pole now. I want a divorce and you out of my life as soon as I can, you’re rotten to the core, fucked in the head. You and that prick in there deserve each other.” She tried to touch the top of his shoulder, but he pushed her away and growled over at her. “Don’t you dare touch me. You’ll never touch me again.”
“But, I love you Gary. I didn’t realise it until now, but I do from the bottom of my heart I do.”
He stared at her for a split second. “Go and tell someone who gives a fuck because I don’t. Save your lies for someone who will listen. I’m going home now, I’ll get my stuff. Don’t ever come near me again.”