by Nick Roteman
“It’s Freddy’s but we need to go in...”
Moira stepped forward and knocked boldly on the door, while Auburn took a step backwards to be behind her.
“Hello Freddy, it’s Moira from the library, are you decent?” She called through the door.
“Open the door.” Auburn whispered from behind her.
Suddenly there was a strange muffled sound from within, almost a cough or perhaps a word, it wasn’t clear which.
“I’m coming in!” Moira called out as she took hold of the handle and turned it, and with a firm push, the door slowly creaked open.
“Oh my goodness!” Moira uttered rushing inside, while Auburn stayed by the open door.
Freddy was lying on top of his bed, still in his pyjamas. His face was covered in congealed blood, his hair matted and stuck to his face. His eyes were staring up at the ceiling.
Moira was at his side, she took his hand. “Yes!” she exclaimed, “Yes he’s alive, just.”
She turned to Auburn who was still standing in the doorway, transfixed.
“Are you able to call for an ambulance, quickly my dear? I must get some cloth to wipe his face with; poor chap... what happened do you know?”
“Yes, I can phone, this is all my fault, my fault.” Auburn mumbled her voice hardy audible, as she left.
As she walked back to the kitchen to retrieve her mobile, she continued her mutterings. “Oh my goodness what have I done to poor Freddy, he doesn’t deserve any of this, it’s all my fault for meddling as usual.”
Tom had driven at speed all the way up to Weybridge, but Natalie never lost sight of his car. When he stopped at the gates to Alice’s house, she drove past but as there were only two other houses in the cul-de-sac she was forced to drive into one of their driveways. No one marched out of the house to chastise her, so after waiting a couple of minutes she reversed back out and very slowly drove past the house, and risked a quick glance into the driveway. Tom was too busy taking his precious suites out of his car to notice her.
She parked her car a street away and sat in it unsure what to do. She had to know who lived there. She would confront her and have it out with her, because although she had had the journey down to think rationally, she knew it could only be another woman, and obviously having seen her house an extremely rich one. She was not jealous, she was sure it wasn’t that which was driving her, no, it was the fact he had betrayed and used her. She had to admit all she really desired right now was revenge pure and simple. Best scenario would be her not knowing what a complete rat he was, and she having to tell her everything about him - glorious!
Alice hugged Tom tightly to her bosom refusing to let go, she had missed him so much.
“Oh it’s so good having you back my darling,” she whispered in his ear, as she pulled him even closer to her body.
He pushed her back to arm’s length and regarded her. “You don’t know how good it is to be back Alice.” He smiled and pulled her to him, and held her tight.
Reluctantly she slowly untangled herself from him. “Would you fancy something to eat or drink or both darling?” she whispered.
“A cup of real coffee and a sandwich will do for now thanks.”
She grasped his hand, tittered at the size of her tiny hand in his, and led him off to the kitchen.
“Tonight my love!” he announced, his mouth still full of sandwich, “Is your night. I am going to cook supper for us.”
“What!”
He thought that would do the trick, show her how wonderful and caring he was, before asking her.
“Oh yes my turn, now how about a juicy sirloin steak with fries and a green salad, washed down with a bottle of champagne?”
“Oh gorgeous, but I’m not sure I have any steak in the freezer...”
“No problem you put your feet up and think nice thoughts about me. I’m off to the butchers for a choice cut and the off licence. I shall return triumphant in two shakes of a duck’s tale, right no arguments, won’t be long!”
She was prepared as she got out of her car and began walking back to the Close, when suddenly ahead of her his Porsche drove out of the driveway. She reckoned she could have won an Olympic medal for the time it took her to fly back to her car, jump in and squat down as low as she could beneath the dashboard. The Porsche screamed past already doing twice the speed limit and was gone.
She walked purposely towards the house, although suddenly her legs felt full of lead and there were butterflies in her stomach doing somersaults. She knocked on the solid wooden door and took a small step back; this was it no turning back.
Alice opened the door and looking out saw Natalie and smiled. Natalie had not actually envisaged what the person opening the door would be like and was as surprised as she was unprepared. Alice was quite ordinary, not ugly by any means but nothing special, just what one would call pleasant. She had expected a devil woman, someone she could automatically hate on sight, but with the appearance of the proverbial girl next door, all animosity vaporised and she just stared blankly back at her.
“Hello, can I help you?” Alice asked her softly.
Natalie hesitated, almost to the point of running off.
Alice noticing her apparent nervousness smiled reassuringly at her. “Why don’t you come in, please.” She said as she moved slightly to one side to allow her room to enter.
Natalie walked in and waited for Alice to lead the way into the drawing room. She chose to sit perched on the corner of one of the oversized armchairs, and looked like an awkward child seated there.
Alice sat down on the couch and looked at her. “My name’s Alice, what can I call you?”
“Natalie.”
“I was just about to make a fresh pot of coffee, would you like a cup, or perhaps you prefer tea, I have many blends?”
“Oh...umm...coffee, thank you.” She replied, before adding, “You have a really lovely place.”
Alice placed the tray down on the glass-topped coffee table and after handing one to Natalie, picked up the other and settled herself back down on the couch.
“Won’t you sit down, you look so uncomfortable perched there.”
Natalie reluctantly did as she was bid.
“Now Natalie, what can I do for you,” she said smiling, “Or tell you, I feel you want to talk to me about something important to you, am I right?”
“It’s about Tom...”
That surprised her. “Tom, you know Tom?”
“Yes Tom Phipps. I need to know why he’s here!” The words just tumbled out. “I, we were going out, still are as far as I know, together. I don’t know why he is here and you?” She stopped, put her cup back on the table and grasping her hands together looked down at them before looking back up and this time glaring at Alice.
Alice broke the silence, “I don’t quite understand. Tom is going out with you, is that what you’re inferring?”
“I am not inferring, as you say, it’s a fact. I don’t remember breaking up with him, so what are you to him, I want to know!”
Alice was silent her lips a moment ago smiling now a thin tight line.
“I see, when... I mean how long have you been seeing Tom?”
“We have been dating for...oh, over two years,” Natalie retorted still glaring at her. “So when did you start with him if I may ask?”
“It’s not quite like that, we met through my late husband, and he has been extremely supportive since I lost dear Alan.”
“Yes I bet he has. My money not good enough for him anymore? I guess looking at this place you’re comfortably well off.”
“I really don’t think that’s any of your business, and I don’t appreciate your inference thank you.”
“Oh you don’t do you! Well I don’t happen to like someone stealing my boyfriend! He might be a bit of
a bastard at times and he’s certainly no bloody saint, but he’s my bastard, my boyfriend right!” Natalie said spitting out the words her voice rising in anger.
Silence reigned for a few minutes, both women sat there, Natalie openly glaring, breathing hard, while Alice fidgeted examining her hands, thinking.
They both heard the front door opening, Natalie stiffened as Alice quickly rose to her feet.
“Excuse me.” She added leaving the room.
“Hey where are you my darling?” Tom called out before Alice could shut the door and warn him of their visitor.
He approached her, arms outstretched to hug her, but she shook her head and he stopped short.
Frowning he asked, “What’s up, someone in there?”
Putting her finger to her lips she closed the door and led him towards the kitchen.
“What’s going on Alice?”
“What’s going on is there is someone called Natalie in there waiting,” she gestured with her index finger in the general direction of the door. “Someone who claims she is your girlfriend and...”
Tom cut in sharply. “That’s absolute crap, let me sort this out. Stay here,” he warned. “I’ll go and talk to her, just stay here.” He said, pushing her gently behind him as he opened the kitchen door to leave.
“This is my house Tom I am not staying here in the kitchen!” Alice hissed back, resisting his arm and trying to push past.
“Please Alice, let me talk to her, then I will explain all, it’s just a misunderstanding, that’s all, let me talk to her first alone.”
Alice stopped pushing against him. “Five minutes, then I’m coming in and throwing her out right!”
Tom lightly closed the kitchen door behind him and strode purposely towards the drawing room.
He opened the drawing room door and stepped inside the room, swiftly closing it behind him. Natalie jumped to her feet and turned to him.
He smiled, but it was not a welcoming one. “What are you doing here Nat, honestly you’ve got it all wrong. What are you doing?”
Natalie stared at him, her face devoid of expression. “Just tell me Tom, what, why are you here, and who is she? - I thought...”
“Whatever you’re thinking is wrong. Alice is a good friend, her late husband was a close friend of mine. I’m here just trying in a small way to help her. She’s been going through a rough time, and has some financial problems.”
“Doesn’t bloody look like it?” Natalie tetchily retorted deliberately glancing about emphasizing the point.
“Not a lack of money, trying to sort out her tax problems and investments. She rather left those things to Alan.”
“And you’re not going out with her? Are you staying here with her?” she suddenly demanded.
He had been in worse situations at least this was only about money and not his usual lack of it for once. He could handle her; she just needed to be convinced: time for a charm offensive.
“Please sit Natalie, please Nat just sit and listen, yeah.”
Natalie sat down again on the armchair and leant back into it, crossing her legs and her arms across her ample chest, to show she was waiting for this brilliant excuse, which would explain everything.
Tom approached but dropped onto his hocks so his face was slightly below hers, and looked up sweetly.
“Look darling, I’m flattered you’ve come all this way to fight for me, or have a fight more likely, but there’s nothing here, I promise.”
“Do you, and how long are you here for?”
“Just for a few days while I help sort out the paperwork with her. It just makes sense to stay here. Nothing has happened, it’s just some business, I promise, anyway her son lives her too...”
“ Does he? Look you can promise all you like, how can I trust you, and while I’m asking, where has all your money suddenly come from? That car for instance Tom, well?”
“I told you didn’t I, I have been working very hard. I got an advance on fees, as my old banger had given up, and I can’t do without a car. A good mate got me the car it was a repossession job, I got it for a song, anyway it’s good for my business makes me look like I’m doing better than I am, and you know that darling.”
“And that’s it, you’re not sleeping with this woman, it’s all just business?”
“Just business yeah, nothing else, goodness!”
“Why were you back in Bournemouth and telling me you were up in London?”
“I had to drop some papers off at a local solicitors, Alan used to work in Bournemouth sometimes. I didn’t want to say I was in Bournemouth because I wasn’t really, literally dropping off and straight back here. I said London to you, because I thought it would avoid all this misunderstanding, not lead to all this. Look you’d better go I’ll explain things to Alice.”
“When will you be back?”
“Are you going straight back?” he said slowly getting back to his feet. He smiled down at her. “Look why don’t you stay, there’s a good hotel nearby, stay the night and I can join you there later. Look we’ll have dinner together and maybe a cuddle if you’ll let me, what you say?”
Natalie thought it over for a moment. “Ok I suppose why not, but you’d better be really nice to me, you’re not out the woods yet mister, I’ve more questions and I still don’t trust you ok!”
Tom gave her directions to the hotel and showed her out. As he shut the front door, Alice was behind him. He turned to her and held out his arms, she obligingly fell into them.
“It’s all sorted darling, sorry about all that, she’s, well she’s misguided but harmless, we went out a few times a few months back, and she’s been sort of stalking me since. But as I say she’s ok, I actually feel sorry for her, so I suppose rather foolishly I try and be nice to her, perhaps being kind is not doing her any favours! Anyway I’ve told her not to come here again, and I don’t think she will. She’s going back to Bournemouth now.”
“And that’s all, you’re not her boyfriend or seeing her as she says, she’s just misguided?”
“No, I just said there’s nothing between us, nothing ok!”
Alice rather naïvely decided to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being, she really wanted to believe him. She had always hated arguments and raised voices. This all stemmed from her childhood and listening to her parents incessant bickering, which had led to her leaving home when she was sixteen, firstly to stay with her aunt then at eighteen she moved into a flat with two other girls. She would have probably still been there, had she not had a fling with her boss, which had ended with her marrying him when she became unexpectedly pregnant with Peter.
Now all Tom had to do was invent some plausible excuse so he could vanish this evening and meet up with Natalie.
He left Alice to go into the study saying he had to work, when the idea hit him. An email from Jerry (for a very silent partner he was fast becoming a real find) arranging a last minute dinner meeting, somewhere, anywhere, he’d think of something before he told Alice. He hoped.
He decided he had better tell Alice now before she began preparing a meal for them. She was naturally disappointed but didn’t want to show it and appear clingy, so she just nodded and said fine.
Chapter Fourteen
The ambulance took Freddy to Bournemouth General, the same hospital as where Phil was. He was badly dehydrated and concussed with a nasty wound, but after being attended to was only expected to stay in a day or two purely for observation.
Moira suggested Auburn should stay with her until Freddy was home, and she jumped at the invite not wanting to be alone just in case Tom showed up again but she kept that part a secret.
Back at the library, Auburn under instructions from her ‘love guru’ namely Rachel, had politely approached Oli as planned over their coffee break.
She asked h
im in the words she had rehearsed with Rachel beforehand; asked that is not demanded, if he would like to come for a drive with her after work, and perhaps, yes she even used the word perhaps, stop off for supper on route. It was such a warm and friendly request that caught off balance he could only say yes.
Auburn was in a flap, what to wear, and the time was marching on, she mustn’t be late. As she had brought two suitcases full of clothes for her stay with Moira, she had plenty of choices. Moira to the rescue, she was delighted with this blossoming relationship between the two youngsters which she had cannily spotted on their first week together, and if Auburn took it one step at a time, well that was the real problem, Auburn was always in such a hurry.
“Keep it simple and casual, ostensibly you’re only going for a drive, you know.” Moira said reiterating what Rachel had said, desperate to rein her in before she got carried away.
“No!” Auburn corrected, “not just a drive, we are having supper and more...”
“Yes I know... now what about this beautifully soft paisley shirt?” she said holding up a warm red coloured shirt. “And put it with this cardigan and worn with say...”
She rummaged through a pile of expensive trousers, finally coming up with a pair of tight-legged corduroy ones.
“Here these are a delight, I think the modern name for their colour is walnut, am I correct my dear, I know you know these things?”
“Yes, yes,” Auburn replied, snatching the outfit out of her hands and placing them carefully on her bed. She signed as she turned to Moira, the edges of her mouth began to turn down, she seemed suddenly so sad.
“What is it dear, tell me?”
“I can get the shirt on but can’t do the buttons they’re so tiny, that’s why I haven’t worn it, it really is so annoying!”
“Hey, hey, come on that’s why I am here. Let’s get you dressed shall we? You want to look your best, and boy you certainly will.” She said sweetly.
Oli Gregson had had to take a taxi to Moira’s house, so that Auburn could take him out for their drive, but still managed to arrive on time.