by David Barry
‘This morning ... I was waiting to use the bathroom, and she was in there ages. I thought I could hear her crying. Is Chloe in trouble again?’
‘I don’t think so. I think this is your mother’s problem.’
‘What’s wrong with her?’
Without realizing he was doing it, Mike stroked and patted his beer stomach. ‘Well, we’re none of us getting any younger. I expect she’s just going through that time of life.’
***
‘You look terrible,’ Donald told Ted when he met him outside the Opera House pub. ‘Fleas keeping you awake, are they?’
Ted shivered and scratched his head. ‘Don’t joke about it. I think I’m infested.’
Donald took a giant sideways step away from him. ‘Well, don’t come near me.’ Then, seeing the hurt, bewildered expression on his friend’s face, he added, ‘Come on - crack your face. It can’t be that bad.’
‘It’s a hell-hole. I don’t get any sleep.’
Donald smiled warmly. ‘Cheer up! I’m here to tell you your worries are over. You may have sunk to the lower depths, but now you are reinstated. And it’s all thanks to Uncle Donald.’
***
Dave slapped a bundle of paper money onto the kitchen table. ‘Feast your peepers on that then. What a sight for sore eyes.’
Mary gave him a lukewarm smile. ‘I’m very pleased for you.’
‘Cheer up, sweetheart - it’s not every day I get a yankee comes up. There’s over two-hundred there. I’ll get the kids a treat. We can go out, soon as they get home from school.’
Mary stood at the kitchen window and stared out at the neglected garden without replying. After an awkward silence, Dave sighed and said, ‘Come on, love - when it’s half term, you can come up to Blackpool for the week. The kids’ll enjoy it. You will, an’ all.’
‘I just wish you weren’t going.’
‘We’ve been through all this. I’ve got to go. I’ve signed the contract.’
Mary turned to face him. ‘You seem to think I’m exaggerating about Ronnie.’
‘No, I don’t. But it’s a lot of water under the bridge. People change. Time being the healer, an’ all that.’
‘Not Ronnie. The bastard’s consistent.’
‘I thought you said he was unpredictable.’
‘He’s consistently unpredictable.’
Seeing a slight twinkle in Mary’s eye, Dave laughed and came towards her. ‘Is that a little smile I can see?’ He put his arms round her. ‘I love you. You know I wouldn’t let anything happen...’
The doorbell rang.
‘Saved by the bell,’ said Mary, smiling now as she thought of the dishevelled return of her sons. ‘They’re home early for a change. I’ll go.’
She walked down the hall, wearing her most welcoming smile, and threw open the front door. Her smile vanished instantly and it was like being punched in the stomach. He stood leaning nonchalantly against the porch, wearing that same arrogant expression she could never forget.
‘Hi,’ said Ronnie. ‘I hope I haven’t called at an inconvenient time.’
Twenty
Jenny sat in the staff canteen with Graham, discussing the “Pran situation” yet again. She stirred her latte thoughtfully, sipped the spoon, then shook her head at Graham.
‘I mean, what was that outburst all about? Talk about over-reaction. Stupid prat.’
Graham pursed his lips. ‘He’s weird with a capital W. Uncommunicative.’
Jenny shrugged and turned her hands upwards on the table, as if Pran’s attitude was beyond her comprehension. ‘I like to think of us as a friendly team, but, when something like that happens, you feel you need to keep your distance from your staff. You see Martin, the team leader over there...’
Graham started to turn round.
‘No, don’t make it obvious - he’ll know we’re talking about him. Well, rumour has it that he told one of his managers not to have lunch with his staff. You’ll lose your credibility as a manager, he said.
Graham adopted a horrified expression. ‘But that’s terrible. It’s so ... so gradist.’
Jenny shook her head. ‘Yes, but when you get pompous idiots like Pran shouting his disapproval across the office, it makes you wonder if you shouldn’t keep your distance. They lose all respect for you otherwise.’
Graham examined his fingernails thoughtfully. ‘At least we don’t have any problems with anyone else on the team. D’you suppose it’s because he’s - how can I put this? - because he’s got a chip on his shoulder?’
Jenny nodded emphatically. ‘A lot of them have, if you catch my meaning.’
‘Still,’ said Graham, with a small shrug, ‘I can’t fault his work. He’s very efficient. But it’s his manner, and the bad atmosphere he creates in the office.’
‘He should lighten up.’
‘It’s his personality, I suppose. He can’t help being a miserable sod.’
Jenny looked around the canteen before leaning in to Graham. ‘I mean, I try to be inclusive, as I know you do, Graham. That’s why I’ve arranged a team building awayday next month.’
A new member of their team hovered near their table, trying to catch either Graham or Jenny’s eye.
Jenny leaned even further in to Graham and dropped her voice. ‘Oh look out! Bandits at ten o’clock. It’s that new Admin Assistant looking for a table. I can’t cope right now. If she comes over, tell her we’re sorry, we’ve got an important agenda to discuss.’
Graham looked out the corner of his eye at the new assistant, then looked relieved. ‘It’s OK. She’s found an empty table.’
Jenny smiled at Graham and sipped her coffee.
***
Mary opened her mouth, tried to speak, but her thoughts were jumbled. Ronnie watched her carefully, his manner deliberately laid-back, his smile calculating, enjoying her discomfort.
‘Hello, Ronnie,’ she muttered, after an uncomfortable silence.
Ronnie’s grin widened. ‘What would you say if you could speak?’
‘Still using the same old lines, Ronnie?’
‘Good ole reliable. That’s me.’
‘Oh, yes. So reliable, you go off to America for years.’
‘Now don’t start, baby. You were the one who got a court order preventing me from seeing the kids. So there didn’t seem any point in sticking around.’
Mary’s eyes narrowed as she stared suspiciously at her ex. ‘So how d’you find out where I’m living now?’
Ronnie tapped the side of his nose. ‘We have ways. Where are the kids?’
‘They’re not home from school yet.’
‘You don’t let them walk home on their own. Isn’t that dangerous?’
The school’s at the end of the street. A hundred yards away.’
Ronnie frowned thoughtfully. ‘Even so.’
A short stab of fear sliced into Mary’s heart. ‘The order ... the court order,’ she began burbling. ‘It still stands, Ronnie. You can’t expect...’
He put up a surrender hand to stop her. ‘Whoa! It’s a lot of water, baby. Can’t we let bygones be bygones? People change, you know.’
‘Not that much. Except your hair’s grey now.’
Grinning, Ronnie ran a hand over his close-cropped hair. ‘It’s all the worry of missing you, babe.’
Mary stared at him, deadpan. He hadn’t changed that much physically, apart from his grey hair, which had once been jet black. His eyebrows were still coal black. He was suntanned, and his neck was thicker, bullish, as if he worked out regularly. Apart from that, he was still exactly as she remembered him, conventionally handsome, although his eyes were rather small.
‘You got my letter and postcard?’ he asked.
‘You warned me you were coming.’
He chuckled, knowing what she was thinking. ‘I didn’t mean to keep you in suspense, sweetheart. If I’d known you were going to worry...’
‘You knew damn well I’d worry, Ronnie. More psychological tricks?’
Ronnie pantomimed innocence elaborately. ‘May I be struck down dead if I tell a lie. I was detained on business. Had to take a trip to Mexico. But I’m here now.’
Mary sighed. ‘Yes, you’re here now.’
Dave, having heard most of this conversation from the kitchen, decided it was time to put in an appearance. Ronnie raised his eyebrows when he saw him.
‘Well, well, well. Is this the new boyfriend?’
Mary introduced him and the two men shook hands briefly.
‘You might as well come in and have a cup of tea or coffee,’ said Dave. ‘Then you can see the kids.’
He avoided eye contact with Mary, who was trying to flash him a warning. But Ronnie noticed it and grinned cockily at Mary as he entered.
***
Pran sat opposite Jenny in her office, and shifted uncomfortably in the silence as she flicked through the pages of his appraisals. His foot bumped against the desk and she looked over the papers at him.
‘On the whole, you’ve not done too badly, but some of your box markings are a bit on the low side. There are some areas causing deep concern.’
Pran coughed lightly before speaking. ‘Can you be more specific?’
‘It’s your communication skills, or rather your deficiency in this area. You seem to be withdrawn and surly. And your negative attitude creates a bad atmosphere in the team. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about something. But let’s face it, that’s fairly typical of...’
She stopped speaking, caught herself just in time, and concentrated on reading the appraisal. Pran uncrossed his legs, and leaned forward across her desk.
‘Typical of what?’
She refused to look at him, staring at the document. ‘Let’s talk about the previous box marking.’
Pran could feel himself burning with anger. ‘What were you going to say just then? Let me guess. You were going to say that’s fairly typical of an ethnic minority person, weren’t you?’
She stared at him over the paper. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I was going to say that it’s fairly typical of someone with a negative attitude.’
Pran stood up and glared down at her. ‘You liar!’
She exaggerated her shock-horror. ‘Sorry?’
‘You haven’t even got the guts to say it.’
He started to leave the office.
‘Just a minute,’ she began. ‘We haven’t finished your...’
He slammed the door so hard behind him, the glass shattered in the door. As he strode across the open plan office, staff stopped working to watch him. There was no going back now, he realized. He had burnt his boats. Well and truly. And he dreaded going home to tell Alan he had walked out of his job.
Twenty - One
Vanessa hurried indoors and dumped her bag in the hall. She knew her mother was out at her amateur dramatics rehearsals. But Nicky was at home because she could hear pounding music coming from her bedroom. She hurried into the living room, thumbed through the phonebook on her mobile, found Mariaa’s number and called. While she waited for the connection, she glanced upstairs through the open door to make certain the coast was clear. When she heard the ringing tones, she became more wound up.
‘Hello, Maria speaking.’
She sounded as if she was talking through a mouthful of food.
‘It’s Vanessa here.’
‘Oh hi, Vanessa. Can I call you back? I’ve just sat down to eat and it’s...’
Vanessa interrupted her. ‘I want to know what’s going on..’
Genuine surprise from the other end. ‘Sorry?’
‘You know what I’m talking about.’
‘Sweetie, intuitive I may be, telepathy I don’t do.’ Maria tittered at her own cleverness.
‘I was taking some photographs in Dunorlan park today.’
There was a slight pause, then Maria recovered. Her voice was sweetness and light. ‘Yes, it was a lovely bright day. Bit cold, but it was sunny.’
Vanessa ignored it. ‘I was using a telephoto. I got a lovely shot of two lovebirds, clinging to each other as they walked by the lake. Then I recognised you both.’
Maria laughed. ‘Well, we’re both over the age of consent. And it’s a free world.’
‘But why Jason, of all people?’
‘I felt sorry for him.’
‘Felt sorry for the scumbag! What are you playing at, Maria? The guy’s a creep. A wanker!’
‘I think he’s sweet. When we played that trick on him, I felt so guilty. Like I wanted to mother him.’
‘It looked like you were doing more than mothering him this afternoon.’
‘Well, he’s quite sexy. I mean, you must know that, Vanessa. You went to bed with him.’
‘Yes, along with dozens of other girls.’
Maria sighed loudly and deliberately. ‘Look, Vanessa, d’you mind if we talk about this another time? Only I’ve...’
Vanessa was determined Maria wasn’t going to get off lightly. ‘I’m sorry, Maria, but I went to a lot of trouble to set Jason up like that. And he treated my sister pretty badly. The photos of him in drag will be in circulation by next week. No one will take him seriously again. Or anyone who goes out with him.’
Maria’s voice suddenly had a harder edge to it. ‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong, sweetie. Jason happens to be a Rocky Horror Show fan, and those photos will just show what a cool, fun-lovin’ guy he is.’
Vanessa screamed down the phone. ‘Why are you doing this?’
‘I might ask you the same. What’s all this revenge stuff?’
Vanessa clicked off the phone, hurled it across the room, making sure it had a soft landing on the sofa, then burst into tears. She jumped when Nicky spoke.
‘Vanessa! What’s wrong?’
Vanessa could feel herself going red. ‘Oh, nothing. Just trouble with my coursework.’
***
‘Haven’t you got your front door key? Marjorie said, noticing how haggard Ted looked as he stood framed in the doorway.
‘Yes, but I thought...’
‘Oh, come in,’ Marjorie said impatiently. ‘Honestly, Ted, you bring on half this trouble on yourself.’
She closed the front door and Ted put his suitcase down. Marjorie put on what she thought was her softest, most forgiving, expression. It came narrowly close to Gloria Swanson’s pose when she was expecting Mr. De Mille’s close-up.
‘I’m sorry, Ted,’ she whispered. ‘Let’s patch it up.’ She offered him her little finger. Ted entwined his own pinkie in hers and together they chanted: ‘Make friends, make friends, never, never break friends.’ Then Marjorie pulled him towards her and he bounced lightly off her protruding stomach.
‘Ooh, what’s that?’ he said, after giving her a dutiful kiss.
‘The baby. He just kicked you.’
‘He?’
‘Donald called him a “he”. Donald says he’s looking forward to playing football with him in the park.’
Ted stared at his wife, desperately trying to keep his expression deadpan.
Twenty - Two
Simon felt uncomfortable in his father’s presence and regressed, moodily slouched against the kitchen cupboard, sucking the tip of his thumb. Thomas, being that much younger, held no grudges and found comfort leaning against his father’s chair.
‘Yup!’ Ronnie said, a paternal arm draped around his young son’s shoulders. ‘It sure is a lotta water under the bridge.’
Mary stared at him coldly, hating him for intruding into her new life. ‘You even sound like an American,�
� she said, deliberately needling him.
Dave threw her a warning look.
Ronnie’s amiable expression froze, and his eyes flickered, but it was only for an instant, like a small wisp of cloud masking the sun, and the easy-going manner of his performance returned smoothly. He cast his eyes round the kitchen, like an estate agent making an inventory, and they finally came to rest on Dave.
‘What is it you do, sport?’
Dave hesitated briefly before replying. ‘I’m a comedian.’
‘No kidding.’
‘Well, quite a lot of kidding, actually.’
Dave hadn’t intended this as a put-down, but Ronnie took it that way. ‘Successful?’ he asked pointedly.
‘I get by.’
Ronnie looked critically at the state of the kitchen. ‘Must be tough.’
Unthinkingly, Mary rushed to her lover’s defence. ‘Dave’s got lots of work coming up at Blackpool soon.’
Ronnie’s eyes narrowed, and his smile was far from friendly. ‘How long you away for, sport?’
Dave glanced at Mary, knowing how vulnerable she was feeling. Ronnie stared at him, waiting for an answer. ‘A couple of months,’ he mumbled.
‘That can’t be much fun for your partner. Or are you two married now?’
Mary shook her head. ‘We’re all going up to Blackpool.’
Ronnie frowned, and feigned a puzzled expression. ‘What about the kids’ school?’
Mary spoke quickly, trying to cover her nervousness. ‘During the school holidays, I mean. And I can probably keep them out of school one extra week.’
Ronnie knew he’d found a weakness and pursued his advantage. ‘When are you leaving, Dave?’
‘Next week.’
Mary could have kicked herself for being so stupid, for telling Ronnie about Blackpool. Her mind raced, trying to think of something to repair the damage. ‘And next week’s half term, so we’ll definitely be going up then.’
Ronnie grinned confidently. ‘But you’ll have to come back soon after. They can’t miss out on school. And all that time you’ll be stuck here on your lonesome.’
His words were heavily loaded and Mary felt a crawling fear and her mouth was dry. ‘I ... I’ve got Simon and Thomas to keep me company.’