‘Hi, Mum.’
There was a tangible silence on the other end of the line before a low voice responded weakly. ‘Hello, Rhys.’
Rhys’s stomach went hollow and his knees buckled. Without saying a word, he sat down, his mouth agape, perspiration forming on his brow and upper lip. He remained mute for what seemed an eternity. It was Vicki. He felt disorientated and his brain waves flew in every conceivable direction except towards his tongue.
Sitting on the finely embroidered silk eiderdown which adorned the bed in her parents’ bedroom in Godalming, Vicki began to shake uncontrollably as the silence tormented her for she was unable to gauge Rhys’s reaction. Was he pleased to hear from her? Was he angry? Was he shocked? Was he upset? All of these things, perhaps? She just couldn’t tell and tears welled up in her eyes. They had spoken only two words to each other in three and a half years and their effect was killing them.
Rhys finally got a grip of himself and managed a barely perceptible ‘Vicki?’ into the receiver. It came out as a question though he already knew the answer.
Vicki ran the back of her hand across her eyes and stifled a sniffle, feeling a sense of relief that Rhys had not come over all angry or slammed down the phone on her. Deep down, she knew he wouldn’t. He wasn’t the type.
‘I hope you don’t mind me calling you. It’s been, well, such a long time and, well, it’s just nice to hear your voice again.’
Vicki had not rehearsed what she would say. She decided to go with the flow and make it feel as natural as possible. Despite their problems when they were together, they had never failed to converse easily with each other, unlike Vicki with Tommy or with previous boyfriends, where evenings out often resulted in stilted chat and long periods of tortuous silence. She put her trust in the belief that talking to Rhys would be just like the old days. She hoped so anyway … desperately.
‘I’m just, well, in shock you’ve called. I never imagined in a million years you would,’ Rhys replied, his tone underlining his surprise. ‘I, uh, don’t know what to say if I’m honest. I’m speechless.’ He hesitated, still unable to take in that it was Vicki on the line. But just as Vicki was about to say something, he resumed in that calm, concerned way of his that was so familiar to her. ‘I’m so glad you did. It’s wonderful to hear your voice again.’
Vicki’s whole body shivered. No one would ever make her feel as special as Rhys did. ‘The same with you,’ Vicki concurred, wiping more tears from her eyes and blowing her nose. Her emotions were running high and wild. Just knowing that Rhys was so clearly delighted to hear from her made her want to break down in sheer happiness.
Rhys could not fail to pick up the obvious tremor in her voice and the blowing of the nose only served to confirm that Vicki was crying. He was much calmer now, coming to terms with the knowledge that Vicki was actually on the other end of the phone. His composure had returned and he felt in control of himself. The blockage between his brain and his tongue had been smashed into oblivion. Vicki, however, was struggling and Rhys’s innate goodness only wished her to feel comfortable and at ease.
‘Hey, Vick, there’s no need to cry. What’s there to cry about? Come on, you’re a big girl now, everything’ll be alright. It’s only me, not some nutcase like Idi Amin.’ Rhys felt so much love for her that all he wanted to do was envelope her in his arms and give her the reassurance she needed. He heard a sniffly chuckle on the other end of the line and smiled. ‘That’s better.’
‘Yeah, it’s just, you know, well, so long that, I dunno, it’s just got to me a bit. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry but what do I know?’
Rhys smiled. ‘Well, there’s a lot of crying going round at the moment what with the news about Elvis. You’ve probably caught some of it.’
Vicki chuckled and sniffled once more but she, too, was regaining her composure and in fact experiencing a warm glow inside at the knowledge that Rhys was friendly and concerned … loving even. Any nerves she had were gone for the moment. The mention of Elvis shook her out of her emotional state as her thoughts turned to the King.
‘Isn’t it terrible news? I can’t believe he’s dead. Just awful, it is. Even Mum’s walking round in a trance.’
Rhys noted the last comment. Was Vicki calling from her parents’ home? He let it pass for the moment. ‘Yeah, just shocking. It’s one of those occasions when you’ll always remember where you were when you heard the news.’
‘Unless it’s you and JFK, of course,’ Vicki interrupted playfully.
Rhys sniggered, feeling pleased that Vicki had remembered his comment all those years ago during their stroll around the park in Pontypridd. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Hopefully my brain cells will be in better working order in future.’
Vicki smiled. ‘Well, I was sitting at the kitchen table in Godalming when I heard. My mum burst through the door with the news. Dad and Fiona just sat there open-mouthed, not knowing what to say. Same as me, actually. Just terrible, it was.’
Vicki had answered Rhys’s curiosity. She was at her parents’ then.
‘I hope your mum and dad are well, by the way?’
‘Yes, they are, thanks. Yours?’
‘The same, thanks. They still smoke like chimneys; I guess some things will never change. How’s Fiona? She still with Jeremy? She married yet?’
‘Ah, don’t go there! I’ll be here all week if you want to know about Fiona’s love life. But no, she’s not with him anymore, thank God.’ After a slight pause and in a manner that made Rhys jump, Vicki hollered, ‘ARE YOU LISTENING, FIONA?’
There was no response other than the click of a line being cut.
‘What was all that about? I nearly fell off my sofa?’ Rhys asked in puzzlement.
‘Well, it’s just I’m in my parents’ bedroom and I’m sure the nosey parker’s listening in on the phone downstairs. She’s the only one in at the moment.’ Rhys was about to speak when Vicki carried on, deliberately leaving the implication that not everything was going well between her and Tommy. ‘Yeah, I don’t think my parents ever thought their two girls would be back home at our ages.’
Vicki waited for Rhys’s reaction, scrunching up her face. Even he would pick up on this revelation, surely? There was no response. All Vicki could hear was silence. Rhys’s brain whirred wildly, trying to make sense of her comment. The delay was beginning to unsettle her so she thought she’d give him another nudge. But before she could, Rhys broke in tentatively. ‘Umm, did I hear you right that you’re back living at home?’
‘Yeah, I am. I’m not with Tommy anymore. We’re getting divorced.’ Vicki waited for Rhys’s reply but once again there was silence. She added for accuracy, more than anything, ‘Well, I’ve asked him for a divorce, let’s put it that way.’
Rhys was stunned. The receiver trembled in his hand and rigor mortis seemed to have set in around his mouth. The silence on the line was deafening. Vicki swallowed twice, her throat suddenly dry, and she licked her lips. She was in trepidation as to how Rhys would react, that’s if he was still on the line, for the silence appeared to last forever.
‘Rhys?’ There was no answer. ‘Rhys? Are you still there?’
After another short delay, Rhys finally responded, unable to disguise his shock and surprise. ‘Yeah, sorry, I’m just, you know, umm, taken aback, I suppose. I could never have imagined anything like that.’ There was a further delay before he added genuinely, ‘I’m sorry, Vicki, it didn’t work out. It must be really tough and I feel for you. I hate to think of you going through a bad time.’
It was a lovely, kind thing to say, full of concern for her, so typical of Rhys, Vicki thought, and a lump formed in her throat. He was also treading warily. Rhys understood immediately the implications of this news, only underlined by the fact that Vicki had called him up. She was trying to rekindle their relationship, he was certain, and he knew he would find it nigh on impossible to resist her. It was his ultimate desire to be with Vicki again, a seemingly impossible desire that now, incredibly, appeared
possible once more. But instead of elation, he felt nervous, ill-at-ease and full of doubts. Was Vicki just vulnerable coming off her failed marriage? What did she really feel for him? Could he go through the sheer gut-wrenching agony of rejection again? And, at the end of the day, wasn’t he just a nightmare to her?
‘That’s really kind of you to say, Rhys,’ Vicki replied, a tear in her eye.
‘I had an inkling things might not be right when I met up with Karen the other day. She implied it wasn’t going too well between the two of you but I never thought it would come to this. There’s been nothing in the newspapers, has there?’
‘No, not yet, but I’m sure there will be soon. I only told Tommy two nights ago. I’m bracing myself for when the press comes knocking but it’ll all blow over quickly enough.’
‘How did he take it?’ Before Vicki could respond, Rhys added frantically, ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t be asking personal questions like that.’
‘No, that’s okay. Badly, if you want to know, very badly,’ Vicki replied, running her fingers lightly across her right eye which made her flinch. She wanted to reveal more but thought the better of it.
Another brief silence ensued as Rhys considered delving more deeply. It was none of his business, he decided, however, so he let it pass. Instead, he changed the subject. ‘I’ve got to say I had a hell of a shock when I saw Karen in Cardiff. I was worried she was going to gob on me.’ Rhys heard Vicki laugh, which triggered the same from him.
‘You’re right there. She’s really into punk. I couldn’t believe it myself when I saw her. When she came up to London the other day, she dragged me down to that punk shop on the King’s Road. Sex, it’s called. Pretty subtle, uh? It was chaos in there. I felt right out of place in my boring old clothes. Karen wanted me to buy some ripped fishnets and T-shirts. I couldn’t get out of there quickly enough.’
‘So you’re not a punk rocker then?’ Rhys asked in a happy voice.
‘No chance! When you see me next, you won’t notice much difference.’
Inadvertently, Vicki had raised the issue of meeting up again. She had wanted to build up to it carefully but it suddenly came out and she scolded herself, screwing up her face and going quiet. Rhys picked up on her silence and went quiet himself. It was not lost on him once more that Vicki clearly wished to see him again.
‘Well, I hope not,’ he finally replied in a calm voice. After another momentary delay and plucking up courage, he ventured, ‘You’re pretty damn gorgeous as you are.’
Vicki swelled with ecstasy, her mouth stretched from ear to ear in utter joy, feeling as beautiful as the three Charlie’s Angels all rolled into one.
‘Well, thanks. That’s really nice of you to say so. Karen tells me you’re not looking so bad yourself.’
‘I try’ was the best Rhys could reply, modestly.
‘She tells me you’re doing really well now, what with you owning the Supreme and your own flat. It’s wonderful, I’m so pleased for you.’ Just as Rhys was about to respond, Vicki threw in, ‘Oh, and I hope you don’t mind my asking her for your number by the way.’
‘No, not at all, of course not.’ After a pause, Rhys carried on, but his tone was more measured. He was feeling sensitive and the thought occurred to him that Vicki might only be interested in rekindling their relationship because he had attained a degree of success rather than because of him as a person. This possibility worried him. ‘Yeah, I’ve been really lucky. You remember Christos and Eleni? Well, they sold me the place but more importantly gave me the confidence and belief that I could run it properly and make a living out of it. They helped with the bank and everything. I owe them a lot.’
‘Yeah, Karen told me,’ Vicki replied, her pride in Rhys coming through in spades.
‘There’s so much to do, though. Mandy’s run off her feet, the chef, Mario, too, but I love it.’
Without warning, Vicki’s stomach lurched and she did not immediately reply. It was the first time another girl had been mentioned and the jealousy struck hard. Who’s Mandy? She’s clearly someone who works for him but was there anything else in their relationship? Things had been going well and Vicki did not want to ruin the phone call or become upset by discovering that Rhys was seeing another girl. Consequently, she did not delve more deeply. She would have to know at some stage, there was no doubt about that, but not now.
‘Yeah, I can hear it in your voice,’ Vicki answered admiringly though her tone was rather flat.
‘What about yourself, Vicki? Karen did tell me you’d stopped working.’
‘Ah, that’s another story, but I’ve got high hopes they’ll take me back in some position or other. You remember Brenda? Well, I’m still in touch with her and she’s trying to pull a string or two for me. Fingers crossed.’
‘Yeah, fingers and toes crossed here as well. It was a shame you left ’cos I know how much you loved that job. Hopefully they’ll offer you something, they’d be mad not to. You watch, you’ll be President Mitchell before you know it, I’m sure, though you might be a bit older than I originally thought before you make it. None of us are getting any younger, you know!’
Vicki smiled and swelled with confidence once more. Rhys knew how to touch all the right spots to make her feel fantastic. How she missed his encouragement and belief in her abilities.
‘Thanks, Rhys, I hope so, though I wish you hadn’t reminded me how old we’re all getting.’
‘Time’s just flying by,’ Rhys clichéd with an air of exasperation. He hesitated before adding forlornly in a low voice, ‘Though the past three and a half years have been never-ending.’
Vicki waited a few seconds before replying in a voice as soft and warm as the faintest of breezes on a Caribbean evening, ‘I know.’
Another brief period of silence ensued as they thought about the lost years they could have had together. They did not need to say anything, the silence said it all, and they longed more than anything to hold each other in their arms.
Rhys recognised how difficult it must have been for Vicki to pick up the phone. She could have fallen flat on her face and he admired her for her courage. Accordingly, he realised that it was now only right that he took up the initiative. ‘God, Vick, there’s so much to catch up on. I still can’t believe I’m talking to you, it’s like I’m in a dream world.’
‘Yeah, same here. Just to hear your voice again is wonderful.’
Rhys smiled. ‘It would be great to meet up, you know. I’d love to see you again,’ he suggested calmly. He had not the slightest flicker of doubt that she would agree.
Vicki’s heart skipped a beat and instinctively she raised a hand to cover her mouth as an inadvertent yelp found its way between her lips. She had hoped so much he would ask. ‘I’d love to.’
‘I’m thinking about your dad’s phone bill as well,’ Rhys joked and Vicki laughed. ‘I’m only really free on Sundays now. The evenings are okay for me as well but why don’t we get together this Sunday coming if you’re around?’
‘Sunday’d be great. What shall we do then? I don’t mind coming up your way.’
‘Thanks. You still got the MG then?’
‘Yeah. She’s been gathering dust in the garage here but started first time this morning.’
‘You’re not going to swap it for a Marina then?’
‘Christ, no! They’re always breaking down, I hear.’
‘Well, at least they go,’ Rhys threw in with a chuckle. ‘The Allegro doesn’t even start, stupid square steering wheel or not!’ They both laughed. ‘I tell you what, why don’t you drive up here for say eleven o’clock? The forecast is for warm and sunny weather so maybe we can go for a walk on Clapham Common and get a drink and some lunch at The Windmill?’
‘That sounds perfect, Rhys.’
‘When you arrive at the Supreme, just go round the back and you’ll find the steps up to my flat. It should be easy enough parking as it’s Sunday.’
‘Great. I look forward to it.’
‘Same here,�
� Rhys replied before adding, ‘a lot.’
Vicki smiled. ‘Me, too.’
They said their goodbyes and replaced the receivers. Vicki flung herself back on the bed and grabbed a pillow which she hugged tightly to her chest. She had the widest of smiles etched across her face and rolled left, then right, and then left again in her excitement, squeezing the life out of the pillow.
By contrast, Rhys sat as still as a waxwork on the sofa. He, too, was excited, ecstatic even, but he remained wary. There was so much he needed to know first before he could contemplate another relationship with Vicki, but he knew deep down he would not be able to resist her. Sunday would be a momentous day, he thought. After three and a half desperate years, he would be seeing the love of his life again. He wished it was tomorrow. The next three days would be torture, though paradoxically, a delicious one.
A couple of minutes passed by and the whiff under his armpits reminded him of the shower he had been meaning to take. He blew out his cheeks and stood up, but, almost immediately, the phone rang again. He fixed a curious gaze on it as if he were Jimmy Carter receiving a call on the hot line from Brezhnev. Had Vicki forgotten to mention something? Had she remembered she had something else lined up on Sunday? Gingerly, Rhys picked up the receiver. ‘Hello?’
‘Thank God for that! You’re off the line, finally!’
Rhys relaxed. ‘Oh, hi Mum. Sorry about that.’
‘You’ve been on the phone for ages. Anything interesting?’
Decade Page 23