Born Bad

by Josephine Cox

  Impatient, he began to stride on ahead, with Rita quickening her step to keep up.

  ‘Like I said, his wife is seven months pregnant, and she was rushed to the hospital in the early hours … something isn’t right, apparently. He rang about ten minutes since, to let me know.’

  ‘Something gone wrong, eh?’ Mac sympathised. ‘I’m sorry about that, but no doubt everything will turn out all right, eh?’

  ‘I hope so, yes.’ One of her greatest regrets in life was not having children, and Mac so loved them. ‘Anyway, with autumn just around the corner, I thought I’d take the opportunity to get outside. The thing is, I haven’t done any gardening since you took Andy on, and I do miss it so.’

  ‘If you want me to finish him, you’ve only got to say the word.’

  ‘Good grief, no! That would be an awful thing to do. You know he only recently lost his driving job, and they had a really hard time for a while. In fact, that could be what’s caused the trouble with the baby … maybe the upset was too much. Oh no, Mac! You can’t even think of finishing him.’

  ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Rita, will you stop rabbiting on! It was just a suggestion, that’s all, and besides, I’ve had enough nagging today to last me a lifetime!’

  ‘Oh Mac, I’m sorry – really I am.’ It made her feel bad when he was in a mood.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he heaved a great sigh. ‘No, it’s me that should be sorry. I’m tired, that’s all. It’s been an exceptionally heavy week, what with taking on that new project on the seafront, and travelling miles to check up on other, ongoing projects. Today was tedious, catching up on paperwork, answering phone calls and contacting planning officials and such. When the phone wasn’t ringing in my ear, the secretary was in and out of the office. “Do this … do that … Mr So-and-so called – it’s urgent, he wants you to contact him” …’

  Rita gave a little groan. ‘Goodness, it makes me feel tired just listening to you.’

  ‘So now you can understand why my head is all in a spin.’

  Turning to look at her, he caught hold of her hand. ‘Like you said, what I need is a strong cup of coffee, a long, lazy slouch in the armchair, then a good meal, and I’ll be right as rain. Okay?’

  She smiled. ‘Okay.’

  Once inside the house, Mac went upstairs to change out of his suit and into a pair of comfortable trousers and a short-sleeved linen shirt, while Rita busied herself making him a snack to tide him over before lunch.

  ‘Rita! You know what?’ All excited, Mac came rushing into the kitchen. ‘I’ve had an idea.’

  ‘Really? I thought you intended giving your brain a rest?’ she joked.

  Throwing himself into the chair, he reminded her, ‘It’s Friday.’

  ‘Yes, dear, I do know that.’

  ‘So, we have the entire weekend before us.’

  ‘It would seem so, yes.’

  ‘Right. So how would you like to go and see the family – Don, Nancy, Brian and the children?’

  Rita was surprised. ‘It’s a long drive to Heath and Reach. I thought you needed to relax? Besides, it wasn’t so long ago that we saw them.’

  ‘True, but it’s been a good while since I saw Don, and the Merc could do with a good long run.’

  It would be so lovely to see Sammie again too, he thought … before the child was gone, and the woman emerged. Once that happened, the magic was never really the same.

  Her attention caught by the idea of going away, Rita had a different suggestion. ‘If you really want to go away, why don’t we go back to Suffolk where we spent our first anniversary? We could stay at that lovely old manor house that was turned into a hotel. We always said we’d go back, but we never did. Oh Mac, it was so beautiful!’

  For a long moment it was as though Mac was miles away in his mind, as he sat deep in thought, shoulders sunk and his two hands wringing one into the other.

  ‘Mac! Did you hear what I said?’

  He was visibly startled. ‘Oh no! Er, yes, I did. And I have no wish to go back to Suffolk, at least not yet. It’s just, I thought it might be nice to go and see my brother and his family. Oh, I know we can’t stay there, because there isn’t any room, but there is a suitable hotel just down the road in Leighton Buzzard. Still, if you don’t want to come, I’ll go on my own. It will do me good … blow the cobwebs away, if you know what I mean.’

  The idea of him going away without her was unthinkable and hurtful to Rita. ‘When did you want to go?’

  ‘Now.’ Clenching his fist, he stamped it on the table. ‘I’ll pack a bag, just enough for two nights, and I could be away down that drive before you know it.’

  ‘All right then, but I’m coming with you.’

  ‘You don’t have to.’ In fact, he was really looking forward to taking off on his own. Every day of his life he was surrounded by people, and though he was deeply fond of his wife and would always take care of her, she was not the most scintillating of company. Besides, there had been times when she had been positively jealous of him spending a quiet moment or two innocently chatting with Sammie.

  He knew how badly his wife had wanted children and maybe she thought he was showing too much love to Don’s granddaughter. But Sammie was special. How you could not delight in her company?

  He reassured Rita. ‘Honestly, darling, if you’re not too keen on coming, I won’t mind. It’ll only be for a couple of nights.’

  ‘No, Mac! I want to come.’ Having realised how serious he was, she began to panic. ‘But what about lunch? It’s already in the oven.’

  He laughed out loud. ‘Let’s be wild, shall we?’ he suggested. ‘Let’s just turn the oven off, and I’ll throw it all in the bin.’

  Rita was horrified. ‘That’s so wasteful.’

  ‘So, let’s be wasteful … just this once, eh?’

  ‘Alright then. If you say so.’

  She had never really understood him, she thought sadly. He was often unpredictable; his moods could be dark or light-hearted, and at other times – like now – he truly seemed a little mad.

  Gulping down his coffee, Mac took a bite out of his sandwich before discarding it altogether. ‘You go and pack us a few things,’ he told his wife. ‘I’ll see to the oven and stuff.’

  Infected by his enthusiasm, even Rita was beginning to get excited. ‘I’ll need to sort out my hair,’ she said, ripping off the ribbon which had held it back. ‘Oh, and I’d best leave a note for Peggy when she comes to clean.’

  Mac wasn’t sure about Peggy. ‘Tell her to make sure she doesn’t leave the back door open like she did last time. If it hadn’t been for the gardener, we could have come home to find the place stripped to the bone! If you ask me, she’s getting too old to be cleaning this big house.’

  ‘That’s unfair.’ Rita sprang to Peggy’s defence. ‘It was the first time she had ever left a door unlocked,’ she argued, ‘and she’s not too old. In fact she’s only four years older than me.’

  ‘All right! If you want her, then keep her, but tell her she’ll be for the chop if she ever does that sort of thing again. Now go and get yourself ready … go on!’ Putting on the oven gloves he slid the tray of food out of the oven and for a moment the wonderful aroma of the plump cod chunks made his stomach roll with hunger. ‘Sorry, but you’ve got to go!’ With grim determination he marched them out to the bin, where he lifted the lid and tipped them all away.

  That done, he returned to the kitchen and quickly tidied up, then he went from door to window through the downstairs, checking the locks and securing the place.

  Going to the office, he sat at his desk, picked up the telephone receiver, and dialled his older brother.

  The phone rang for so long that he began to get agitated; he couldn’t cope with the idea that maybe the family had gone off somewhere. At the height of frustration, he was about to replace the receiver, when suddenly Don answered. ‘Hello!’

  ‘Don?’ Mac smiled at the way Don always seemed to talk two decibels louder when on the telep
hone; he wondered if maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was a tiny bit deaf. ‘It’s me – Mac.’

  ‘Oh! Mac, how are you?’

  ‘I’m better now it’s Friday and the week’s over. Honest to God, Don, it’s been a nightmare of a week.’

  ‘Well, there you go. That’s what happens when your main aim in life is to make money.’ Don chuckled. ‘You’ll never change, it’s in your blood. You’ve always been a go-getter, and I’ve always been jealous as hell, but you’ve got it and I haven’t, and I suppose that’s the way of it. Still, while I’m content and settled, there’s you still flogging away, making another pile, and when you’ve made your first million, you’ll no doubt be looking for your second.’

  Mac had to concede that, because it was true. He was born with a mission, and that mission was to make money, but right now, at this moment in time, he saw it as more of a curse than a blessing.

  ‘You’re right in one way,’ he told Don, ‘and you’re wrong in another. First of all, after the taxman’s done with me, I might make my first million. But at some point I definitely mean to retire.’ He gave a wry little laugh. ‘As you know, I’ve been saying that for the past four years.’

  ‘Aw, don’t go fretting about it.’ Don was proud of his younger brother’s achievements, but there were times when he did genuinely worry about him. ‘I’m sure you’ll know when the time is right to put your feet up. Just don’t pop off before you get a chance to enjoy your money. It would be a crying shame to leave most of your hard-earned fortune to the Chancellor of the Exchequer!’

  ‘Well, thanks for that little gem.’ Mac gave a groan. ‘I’ll certainly bear it in mind.’

  ‘Good. Now then, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?’

  ‘First of all, what about you and the family – are you all well?’

  ‘So far as I know, yes.’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘It means I can’t speak for the others, but as we speak, Brian is outside trimming the hedges, with Lottie “helping” him, Nancy is out shopping, David is off somewhere with his new girlfriend, and Sammie … well, I’m not sure where she is, but I think she’s upstairs in her room. So, all in all, the family are fine. I mean, you only saw them a week or so ago.”

  ‘So what’s happening with college?’

  ‘Colin who?’

  ‘No!’ Mac burst out laughing. ‘College, you daft old bugger. I thought David and Sammie were seriously thinking of going to college!’

  ‘Oh, right. Sorry, this phone’s playing up.’ Don knew well enough that his hearing was not what it used to be, but would he admit it? Not in a million years!

  ‘Anyway, as I was saying, David has day release to study at the local tech for his job qualifications. As for Sammie, as usual, she’s caught up in a big argument with her mother. Nancy wants her to do a shorthand typing course and get an office job, but Sammie wants to relax a bit first – get out of the classroom and earn her keep some other way. With the pair of ’em being strong-minded and stubborn, it’s a job to know who’ll come out on top. Brian is saying nothing, and I for one, am keeping well out of it.’

  ‘So, it’s a case of wait and see, eh?’

  ‘That’s it. Anyway, what are you up to? And why the phone call? It’s not often you manage to pick up the phone just for a chat.’

  ‘I’m ringing to say that Rita and I have decided to take a little break.’

  ‘Oh yes? Thought you’d just come back from holiday. Off to foreign parts again, are you?’

  ‘Not exactly. We’re coming down to see you and the family. I intend booking a room in the Swan Hotel in Leighton Buzzard. We stayed there once before, if you recall?’

  There was a pause, then Don replied, surprised, ‘You mean to say you two are coming here, to see us?’

  ‘Well, that’s the general idea. I’ve had a pig of a week and I’ve been a bit short-tempered with Rita, so I thought I’d take her away for a treat. Coming to see you will cheer her up no end. That’s all right with you, isn’t it?’

  ‘Of course. Goes without saying we’ll all be happy to see you both.’

  They concluded the conversation, and while Mac was delighted to relay the gist of it to Rita, Don remained curious as to the reason for this sudden visit.

  When he saw David and his girlfriend Patsy coming up the path, he anticipated his grandson’s reaction. Sorry, lad; but I’ve a feeling you won’t much like what I have to tell you, he thought. He was well aware of David’s feelings towards Mac. For some reason, no matter how much Don sang his younger brother’s praises, David had never taken to him. He had told Don once that his great-uncle gave him the creeps – then apologised for saying something so unpleasant about his grandad’s brother.

  Waiting for the two of them to get inside the door, Don greeted David with the news. ‘Your Uncle Mac and Auntie Rita are coming to see us this weekend.’

  David’s face fell. ‘Oh no!’ The last person he wanted to see was his Uncle Mac. ‘It wasn’t all that long since we were at his house. What’s he coming here for?’

  Don made a face. ‘Don’t ask me. Maybe they just want to remind themselves of how the other half live.’

  David was horrified. ‘They’re not staying with us, are they? They can’t! There’s not enough room.’

  ‘No, they’re not staying with us – though if they were, I would hope you could show just a little enthusiasm.’ Don was none too pleased at David’s remarks, especially in front of this young girl who had only recently been introduced to the family.

  ‘I’m sorry, Grandad,’ David said. ‘I know Uncle Mac is your brother and all. It’s just that, well, he makes me feel …’ finishing the sentence with a lame shrug of one shoulder.

  ‘Putting aside the fact that Uncle Mac has never been anything but considerate towards you and this family,’ Don said sternly, ‘your Aunt Rita will be delighted to see you … you being her favourite and all.’

  ‘I know.’ David was suitably remorseful – though deep down he remained wary of his Uncle Mac, especially after that curious incident outside Sammie’s bedroom. He had managed to convince himself that what he had witnessed had not been suspicious. It was not intentional. ‘So if they’re not staying here, where are they staying?’

  ‘They’ve booked a room at the Swan Hotel.’

  David felt the need to inform his girlfriend, ‘Aunt Rita is a really sweet person. She never sees any wrong in anybody,’ he grinned, ‘especially me. Uncle Mac’s all right too – a real high-flyer, he’s wealthy and everything, and it’s not that I don’t like him.’ He wasn’t sure how to put his feelings into words. ‘It’s just, he makes me feel insignificant, if you know what I mean.’

  Maybe it was petty jealousy. Maybe Mac was too much of an icon to live up to. Maybe he resented him being able to make piles of money while his own dad, Brian, found it hard to make ends meet.

  Whatever the reason, try as he might, he could not warm to the man, not in any way, shape or form.

  ‘I have an aunt like that.’ Patsy was a sweet little thing with long blonde hair and baby-blue eyes. ‘Auntie Barbara is tall and slim, and always looks amazing whatever she wears. I’ll never look like that … ever. I’m too short and a bit plump.’ She made a face. ‘It’s not her fault, but honestly, I can’t stand the sight of her.’

  David grinned, while Don laughed aloud. ‘Out of the mouths of babes!’ he said, with a knowing grin. In a minute, he decided, he would amble off into the front room, where he would settle himself down with the local paper.

  ‘Well now, Mac and Rita coming to see us, eh? That’s put the cat among the pigeons,’ he chuckled. ‘David wasn’t at all happy about that. Nancy will be dead chuffed though. She’ll be covered in smiles the whole time they’re here. Brian will be pleased an’ all. Like always, he’ll be tapping Mac’s brain, desperate to find the secret of how to make a million.’

  Don had a sneaking suspicion that Brian was just the teeniest bit e
nvious of Mac’s success.

  Ah, but then it’s only natural for one man to be envious of another, he thought. He wouldn’t be human otherwise, would he?

  Just as Don had predicted, Nancy was thrilled to bits. ‘Oh, that’s wonderful!’ Dropping her shopping bags on the kitchen table, she could hardly contain her delight. ‘Funny thing, that,’ she remarked thoughtfully. ‘I was only thinking of them as I came up the drive.’

  ‘Really?’ Don teased her. ‘Was that because you were missing the luxury of their grand house, and being spoiled by having a cleaner come in to clear up after you? Or maybe you got too used to being a lady of leisure, is that it?’

  Nancy bristled. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll have you know, it’s none of those reasons. If anything, it’s coming back here to you and your sorry sense of humour, that’s what it is!’

  Stung by her sharp tongue, Don backed off. ‘Only joking, love,’ he said hastily. ‘Anyway, I’ll be in the front room if you want me.’

  While he hurriedly buried his head in the newspaper, Nancy muttered as she threw the groceries into the cupboard. ‘Huh! Only joking, indeed! The very idea! Does he really think I need a big house and servants to keep me happy?’ Secretly though, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have anything she wanted; to click her fingers and be waited on, or to go on holiday anywhere in the world whenever the fancy took her. Oh, and to dine out if she didn’t feel like slaving over making a meal. How great would that be?

  ‘Hello, daydreamer.’ Covered in brambles and leaves, with his heavy boots clattering on the tiled floor, Brian stumbled into the kitchen. ‘Miles away, you were, and by the way you were stuffing that cabbage into the cupboard, I wasn’t sure whether to come in or not.’

  Nancy forced a smile. ‘I didn’t see you in the garden.’

  He grinned amiably. ‘You didn’t see me, because I was grappling with a creeping clematis that had its tentacles round my neck. I could have been strangled and lying there for weeks before anyone found me!’

  Nancy smiled. ‘Don’t be daft. Anyway, what do you want?’