by Mel Sherratt
‘I am so horny,’ Austin said, unzipping his trousers. ‘I might come here and now if I don’t get inside you soon.’
Becky pushed him away. ‘No, there’s plenty of time for that.’ She sat forward and took him in her mouth.
‘Perfect,’ he replied. Austin groaned as Becky took him deeper. He looked around the room. It was exactly how he imagined it would be: tidy, clean and modern. And orderly, like her life: Cathy Mason didn’t stand any nonsense from Becky. And it seemed that Becky really respected her.
Suddenly he thrust forwards. ‘Fucking bitch!’ he shouted as he reached orgasm.
Becky wiped her mouth and glared at him. ‘Fucking bitch?’ she said, a little miffed.
Austin grinned. ‘Did I say that? I meant oh, fuck. You certainly know how to give great head, Becks.’
Satisfied with his answer, Becky lay back on the bed. ‘Now, my turn,’ she smiled coyly, her index finger in her mouth.
Austin grinned. ‘I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate.’
‘I had such a good time tonight,’ Matt whispered to Cathy as they stood on her doorstep. He stroked her hair away from her face and then kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Again.’
Cathy smiled at him. ‘Coffee?’ she asked as she unlocked her front door.
‘If it means another half an hour in your company, then yes. I just need to use the little boy’s room.’
Cathy dived away from his searching hands and into the kitchen. The house seemed quiet as she filled the kettle with water. She stopped to listen afterwards but there was nothing. Then again, it was only just after ten o’clock. She knew both Jess and Becky had gone out before her.
Matt came back. His arms circled her waist and he ran his tongue over her neck. She shivered at his touch. It didn’t go unnoticed.
He turned her to face him. ‘Even though I enjoy coffee, I was wondering if you’d fancy making me breakfast soon.’
Cathy’s heart felt like it had located into her throat. She could almost hear the roar of it inside her head.
‘I’d really love to,’ she said. ‘But…’
Matt stuck out his bottom lip. ‘But,’ he pressed himself up against her so she could feel his erection, ‘look what you do to me.’
‘Typical man,’ Cathy muttered.
‘I –’
She looked up at him with a grin. ‘Only kidding.’ She thought back to Josie and Liz’s advice. Then she kissed him. ‘It’s because of the girls.’
‘Oh!’ Matt’s smile was back.
Cathy pressed her finger to his lips. ‘Give me one minute?’
She ran upstairs. As she had suspected, both Jess and Becky’s rooms were empty. For a moment outside her own bedroom door, she hesitated. Then she pushed it open. The room as ever was tidy but she left it like that. It was too soon.
Matt was sitting on the settee in the living room when she went downstairs. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
‘It couldn’t be better.’ Cathy closed the curtains and then, very bravely she thought afterwards, went to sit on his lap. He smiled as his hands slipped around her waist again.
‘The girls are out at the moment but we need to be prepared in case either of them arrives home sooner than usual.’ In one swift move, she pulled her T-shirt over her head and threw it to the floor. ‘I can’t offer you my bed because –’
‘I wouldn’t ask,’ Matt replied, his voice soft.
‘– it’s too soon.’
His hand slid up behind her neck and he pulled her towards him. ‘This will do fine,’ he whispered before his lips touched hers again.
Two hours later, Jess and Becky were home and in bed. They’d spent a fair bit of time ribbing Matt before they’d left him and Cathy in peace to fool around again. Now they were trying to say goodbye on the doorstep.
‘I need to go,’ Matt said as they kissed again. ‘It’s late and if I stay here much longer, I’ll have to stop over. And what would the neighbours say then, Cathy Mason?’
‘I don’t give a stuff what the neighbours would say, Matthew Simpson.’ She kissed him again.
‘But you should be setting a good example for those girls of yours.’
‘I do set a good example for them.’ She ran her tongue suggestively over his top lip and he groaned. They kissed again.
Matt broke free. ‘I’m going now.’
Cathy stepped forwards. ‘I’ll walk you to your car.’
‘It’s only down the street.’ He kissed her again. ‘Go in and I’ll call you tomorrow.’
As soon as she closed the door, Cathy ran to get her phone. Feeling like she was fifteen again, she texted Matt a quick message and grinned as she thought of him reading it outside.
Matt laughed out loud when he read the message. Cathy had certainly blown more than his mind! He texted back a reply and then searched out his car keys. A noise made him turn quickly but before he could focus on anything, he was hit from behind, a sharp knock to the back of the head. He fell to his knees. An elbow came down on his back, followed by a fist upwards into his face. He bent forward to protect himself as he was kicked in the stomach. Instinctively he curled up into a ball, trying to guard himself from the punches raining down on him.
Finally, it stopped. In the silence of the night, Matt struggled to get his breath.
‘Keep away from her,’ his attacker spoke. ‘And if I hear you mention this to anyone, I’ll get you again and next time I’ll finish you off.’
Matt tried to speak but there was too much blood filling his mouth.
‘Get in your car and drive away. And don’t come back here or I’ll be the death of her. Do you understand?’
Matt retched as he was kicked in the stomach one last time.
‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’
‘Yes!’ Matt pushed himself to his feet. Holding onto his chest, he staggered to his car, fumbled with the lock and clambered in. As he drove off, he could see the silhouette of his attacker, a black shadow that would look the place in any crime drama. The shadow was still there when he turned out of Christopher Avenue.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Cathy woke up the next day feeling like the proverbial cat that had lapped up the cream. She stretched out lazily: the grin on her face wouldn’t subside. Matthew Simpson had brought back so many feelings that had long ago disappeared after Rich had died. She felt lustful, tingly and contented even. Like Sleeping Beauty, she’d been awakened from a very long sleep. Yet still she felt guilty.
She reached over to the framed photograph beside her bed and brought it closer. She ran a finger over the sharp jut of Rich’s chin, looked into eyes that sparkled out from the image. It had always been her favourite photo. Rich seemed so happy, so… so alive, just like she was now.
‘Please don’t hate me,’ she whispered. ‘It’s been such a long time without you. And I – I think you’d like Matt.’
She put the photo back before jumping out of bed. Then she sent a text message to Matt. After she’d taken a shower, she checked to see if he had replied but there was nothing yet. Impatient for an answer, she sent another and then went downstairs. She’d most probably see him soon anyway. She was due at the community house in an hour.
Before that morning’s session, Cathy was searching out pens in the stationery cupboard.
‘Need any help today?’ she heard a voice behind her.
She turned to see Liz and handed her a box and two note pads. ‘An extra pair of hands will do. Are you coming to join my session?’
‘I am indeed.’
‘Great.’ Thinking back to their previous conversation, she couldn’t help grinning but, alarmingly, she felt her skin start to redden.
‘You’re blushing!’ said Liz. ‘And by the look on your face… have you been up to something with our lovely maintenance officer?’
‘Nothing that hasn’t been done before. And you were right. It was like riding a bike.’
‘You were definitely riding then?’
Cathy blushed eve
n more. She hid a yawn as she checked her phone but there were still no new messages.
‘You’re not waiting for him to text you?’ Liz sniggered.
‘Yes. Honestly, I feel like a teenager again.’
‘I wish I’d made more use of mobile phones in my teens. It would have been so much fun to send and receive love messages.’ Liz sighed. ‘But, knowing my luck, I’d probably have been dumped by text.’
‘It is good, I suppose, but it still leaves you hanging around waiting for a reply. I sent a message this morning and now I’m checking my phone every two seconds to see if he’s got back to me. It’s mad!’
‘Perhaps he’s in a meeting. Or maybe he doesn’t do texting. It’s definitely more of a woman thing, don’t you think?’
Cathy’s phone beeped. Both women gasped in anticipation. But Cathy tutted as she read who the message was from.
‘That bloody Jess!’ She shook her head in annoyance. ‘I told her she had to help me out this morning. She’s now saying she can’t make it because she has to go into town. But she’s sending Becky in her place. Un-bloody-believable. I can’t even dock her any wages for not showing, either – as well she knows. I’ll have to think of something else. She can’t keep getting Becky to help out. It’s only making coffee and doing a few dishes. It’s not hard graft.’
‘Well, I’d far rather work with Becky than Jess,’ said Liz. ‘She’s a pleasure to be around, really gets stuck into whatever you give her. And talking of which, I’ve got a few hours working on the counter at Pete’s Newsagents on the square. It’s not much but I can fit it in around Chloe’s school hours.’
‘That’s great news, Liz.’ Cathy snapped her phone shut. ‘I just wish I could engage the same enthusiasm out of Jess.’
Becky had sent a text message too. She’d replied to Austin’s ‘where are you’ by telling him she was in Davy Road. Moments later, she heard a car pull up alongside her. Austin had commandeered Danny’s heap when he’d been put on remand.
‘Hey, gorgeous. Fancy a lift somewhere?’
With a smile, she slid into the passenger seat and threw her arms around his neck. He kissed her before starting the engine.
‘Where are you off to so early?’ he asked.
‘I’m covering for Jess at the community house.’
‘You shouldn’t have to do her dirty work. Let someone else help out.’
‘There isn’t anyone else. And I don’t really mind.’
‘It’s not your problem, though?’
Becky caught her breath as she felt Austin’s hand creep up inside her skirt. ‘But I don’t think it’s fair on Cathy that she has to do it all.’
‘I’m lonely,’ he whined. ‘I was hoping that you might keep me company. That’s why I came to find you.’
‘Can I meet you afterwards?’
As Austin withdrew his hand, she felt a curtain come down between them.
‘I suppose I’ll have to occupy myself then,’ he sulked.
‘It’s only for three hours.’ Becky checked her watch. ‘I should be there until one but I’ll try and get off before, if you like.’
Austin didn’t reply. They were only a street away from the community house now. Becky was stuck. If she didn’t turn up, she’d get the wrath of both Cathy and Jess. But if she didn’t spend time with Austin, he’d go into a sulk and maybe wouldn’t want to meet her later.
She reached across to touch his cheek but he pulled his head away.
‘I’ll see if I can do two hours instead of three,’ she suggested.
Still he didn’t reply. He turned the corner and the car screeched to a halt. Becky shot forward in her seat.
‘Okay, okay. You win.’ She raised her palms then let them fall heavily in her lap. ‘I’ll come with you.’
Cathy’s phone beeped and she reached for it again. Sighing heavily, it took all of her strength not to sling it across the room. Instead she began to stab at the keys as she sent back a reply.
‘I take it that isn’t Matt either?’ Liz asked, trying hard to hide a smirk.
‘No. Becky isn’t bloody coming now.’ Cathy pressed the send button before looking up. ‘Honestly, kids these days.’
‘Shall we go to your place?’ Becky suggested casually to Austin. She was aware of the way his mood could change so quickly with a few choice words but she was curious too. Every time she’d suggested it so far, he’d refused.
‘It’s given out a good day.’ Austin glanced up at the sky through the window. ‘I’ve got a blanket in the back. I’m sure we can find a quiet spot somewhere.’
‘Are you ashamed of me?’ she blurted out.
‘No.’
‘Then why won’t you tell me anything about yourself?’
‘Nothing to tell. Been nowhere, done nowt.’
‘But you clam up when I mention family. Or friends. Or… where do you live?’
‘I told you, not far.’
‘But why the big secret? You never –’
‘For fuck’s sake. Stop with the questions!’
Austin slammed on the brakes and took a sharp left. He screeched up the narrow street, crashing over speed humps, barely missing parked cars on either side. Becky held onto the door handle as he flew around another bend.
‘Austin! I –’
The look he gave her silenced her immediately. The dark cloud had descended again. She held on for dear life as she waited for it to pass.
A few minutes later, he turned into the car park of the White Lion and drove round to the back. He parked the car with a yank of the handbrake.
‘What have you come here for?’ she asked. ‘I thought we were going to lie out in the sun.’
Austin smiled then, as if none of the past few minutes had happened. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and turned towards her. ‘Come on,’ he said.
Becky scrambled out of the car, running to keep up with him. He pulled back the metal sheeting at one of the boarded up windows. She could see an opening small enough to crawl through. She looked at him incredulously.
‘You live here?’
‘Nowt wrong in it.’ He mistook her wide-eyed look for one of disapproval.
‘No, I think it’s cool,’ she replied. ‘It’s probably where I would have ended up if I hadn’t been caught by that copper and sent to Cathy’s.’ She lifted her foot. ‘Give us a leg up.’
Austin clasped his hands together and she stepped onto his palms. One quick push up and she was in. She jumped down onto the seating and then onto the floor. Austin was through after her before her eyes had adjusted to the gloom.
He grabbed her around the waist. ‘Are you scared of the dark?’ he whispered into her ear.
‘Should I be?’
Becky pressed her body against his. He kissed her, pushing her backwards as he did so. She felt her feet slide over the odd beer mat. Before she knew it, her back was against the bar. She hooked one toe behind the trip rail. Austin had his hands inside her top, and then it was over her head and across the floor. She blanked out what it might have landed on – or in.
Suddenly, she heard a noise and stopped. ‘What was that?’
‘Only the rats.’
‘Rats!’ She pushed him away and began to stamp her feet.
Austin grinned. ‘Relax, I’m winding you up. There’s no one here but us.’
His lips found her neck and moved down her chest as she gazed around the room suspiciously. Her eyes were more accustomed to the dimness now: tiny shafts of light coming through some of the smaller windows here and there. The floor was covered in dirty red carpeting. Crushed velvet curtains hung redundant in front of the windows, the stools around the many tables sat as if waiting for opening time and the regulars to troop in. Apart from a layer of dust, Becky reckoned the place would clean up pretty quickly. She wished it would open so that they had more choice on the estate.
She heard another noise.
‘What was that?’
‘I told you. It’s an old building.’ Aust
in pulled down the zip to his jeans. Becky placed her hand over his as he undid his button.
‘How do you know there’s no one else here?’
‘There wasn’t when I left this morning.’
‘But you got in through the window. Couldn’t someone else do the same?’
‘I thought you said the place was cool.’
‘From the outside, yes. It gives me the creeps in here, though.’
Austin took her hand. ‘If it makes you feel better, we’ll check the rooms.’ He headed towards a door on the right. ‘Kitchen first: bedroom last.’
After a successful session with the teenagers in The Den, Cathy was clearing the room when her phone rang. Disappointed to see it wasn’t Matt, she grinned when she saw who it was, knowing that she’d be calling to get all the juicy details of her date.
‘Hi, Jose, what’s up?’
‘You don’t know then?’
‘Know what?’
‘You haven’t heard from Matt this morning?’
Cathy checked her watch: it was just gone midday. ‘I texted him earlier but I haven’t had a reply.’
‘Oh.’ Now Josie sounded really confused. ‘Maybe I’d better tell you then.’
‘Tell me what? Is Matt okay?’
‘No, he was beaten up pretty bad last night.’
‘But I was with him last night!’ Cathy’s blood ran cold. ‘He left around quarter to one, I think. Oh, God. How bad is he?’
‘Pretty messed up by the sound of it but he says it’s only superficial. He called in sick this morning, said he’d most probably be off for the rest of this week.’
Cathy leaned on the wall. ‘No wonder he didn’t reply to my text.’ Then another thought struck her. ‘He’s not in hospital, is he?’
‘No, he’s at home.’
‘I’ll ring him now and see if he answers. If he doesn’t, I’ll call around. No, I already have his address. Thanks for letting me know.’
As soon as she cancelled Josie’s call, Cathy rang Matt’s mobile. It went unanswered before finally switching to voicemail.