Guess Who I Pulled Last Night?

by Nikki Ashton

  Disturbing Charlotte from her thoughts, Bets suddenly threw off the duvet and jumped up from the sofa. She was restless with all this thinking and talking about Stuart. She didn’t like the fact that she thought about him a lot and couldn’t seem to dismiss him from her mind; well, she didn’t want to think about him anymore today. Because it made her head hurt.

  “I’m bored, let’s go down to the Gander for a quick one,” she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the fire. “Maybe not, what shall we do instead?”

  “Nothing,” said Charlotte lowering her feet to the floor, “because I’m going home now.”

  “Oh, okay. I’ll see you on Wednesday then when you come for your leg wax.”

  Charlotte grimaced. “Hmm, and don’t forget that we are going bowling that night with some of the girls who work for Paul. You are still coming aren’t you? Only Kerry has cried off, again.”

  “Yes, I’ll be there I’ve not got anything else to do.”

  “Well that’s because you haven’t really got any friends, other than me and Kerry.”

  Bets licked her tongue out at Charlotte. “Very funny, so I’m a Billy no mates, but at least I can get myself a fella.”

  “Bye darling,” said Charlotte sarcastically, “see you soon.”

  And with that Bets was left alone, with only Alfred for company.

  Charlotte was right in some respects, thought Bets; she didn’t have many friends. She knew a lot of people through her job as a beautician, but her really good friends she could count on one hand. She often wondered whether being an only child had something to do with not making friends easily - speaking her mind on several occasions was probably the most valid reason. Her mum often said it was good that Elizabeth was plain speaking; no one would ever be able to bully or walk all over her. Her dad on the other hand worried that she came across as being rude, which Bets secretly thought that she did most of the time.

  Left alone in the flat she began to think about Stuart again and decided enough was enough, and that next time she saw him she would make her move; she was fed up of being alone and people feeling sorry for her. She was fed up of being invited to the Price’s or Kerry’s for Christmas lunch and having to pull her own cracker, and she was fed up of only being responsible for Alfred. She was ready for something more in her life. It was time to stop being scared and go for it. Bets had coped with the loss of her parents by working hard, and had turned a one roomed beauty salon above a greengrocer’s into a luxurious salon with three treatment rooms, a tanning room and a sauna. But now the business practically ran itself and she was lucky enough to have two honest and reliable girls working for her, so she didn’t have to work as hard as she had done over the last few years. Yes, she realised she was now at an age where she should think about moving her life on; but not today, maybe tomorrow when she didn’t feel quite so hung over.

  Chapter 3

  Kerry and Kelvin lived on the other side of town to Charlotte and Bets, because of this Kerry often felt she missed out on quick cups of tea and girly chats, but deep down she knew that wasn’t true. It was to Kerry that the others went for advice and to tell their secrets, before telling the other one. Because she was married with a baby she had become the unofficial mother hen; a role that she really quite enjoyed at times. She knew her life was different; she had other responsibilities and she loved Kelvin and Esme more than anything. Sometimes she missed the old single days, but then she would think about what she had and realise that she was being silly.

  Kerry had met Kelvin at high school and they had been childhood sweethearts throughout the third year. Then Kelvin’s hormones kicked in, and he discovered that some girls weren’t like Kerry and would let you feel their knockers if you asked them nicely. So ended a beautiful romance. Kerry wasn’t too bothered because she had discovered the boys’ school across town - in particular the sixth form - and in any case if Kelvin had been a little more persistent she would have most definitely let him feel her knockers.

  They met up again while the girls were out celebrating Bet’s 25th birthday. They had been to a local Italian restaurant and had decided that they would re-live some old memories and go to the Filthy Gander. It was now a “fun pub," and that night – according to the poster on the window outside - was an “Old Skool 90’s night." The girls sat at their usual table, well it was in the same place, although Charlotte was convinced that she could make out CP 4 JD ’95, scratched into the veneer. Charlotte reminded the girls that JD was Jamie Daniels, the peanut in the ear patient, whom she had fancied like mad at the time. Suddenly, R Kelly blasted out from the DJ’s console.

  “Ah ace, c’mon girls!” screamed Kerry, who was the first up for Bump N Grind. “Do you remember Kelvin Johnson and I used to dance to this at Meir Street Disco?” she shouted above the noise.

  “Yes I do, and I remember Mr Brandon told you to stop dancing provocatively as you were only thirteen,” replied Charlotte. “Do you remember how much hair gel Kelvin used to wear?”

  They carried on dancing for a while, the old tracks bringing back memories of school discos and furtive snogging with boys from the sixth form, when suddenly a look of astonishment crossed Bets’ face.

  “OH MY GOD!” she screamed, pointing over at the bar. “Look who’s over there!”

  “Who?” Charlotte and Kerry chorused.

  All three suddenly screamed and ran in the direction of two men who had also spotted them; the aforementioned Kelvin and his best friend at school, Russell.

  “Bloody hell, I haven’t seen you three in years, how are you?”

  “Fine, we were just talking about you.”

  “Where’s all the hair gel?”

  “Hello Russell, how are you? You haven’t changed a bit.”

  “Cheers, I saw your brother last week.”

  Everyone spoke at once, desperate to find out what the others had been doing. Kelvin suggested that they all went somewhere quieter to talk about the old days, so off they all trouped, chattering away.

  Once they all had a drink in their hands different conversations were struck up once more, Russell talking to Charlotte and Bets, while Kelvin chatted to Kerry.

  “So what are you doing with yourself? I’d heard that you’d moved to Newcastle and got engaged.” Kerry asked. She sipped her drink, looking intently at Kelvin over the rim of her glass. Suddenly and unexpectedly her heart started to hammer in her chest. Not bad, she thought: his hair, which was still golden blond, highlighted the blueness of his eyes, and she could see from his biceps that he worked out - not so much that he was muscle bound, but just enough to make him look sexy and strong. He also seemed taller than she remembered, and those dimples were so cute. She hadn’t seen him since the day that they had left high school, but even after nearly nine years he still gave her an adrenaline rush. This time though it was a much sexier feeling, not the same as when she was thirteen and trying out French kissing for the first time.

  “Yeah, I did. It was a girl from up there who I met on holiday in Corfu. I moved up two years ago, but got back a couple of weeks ago.”

  Kerry blushed as Kelvin’s voice brought her back to the present day. “How come you came back then, is she with you?” She coughed nervously.

  “Nosey as usual; no she’s not with me, it didn’t work out. Mainly because I caught her in bed with someone, one of my friends actually.” Kelvin replied.

  Kerry gasped. “Did you punch him then?”

  “It was a she, so no I didn’t.” He smiled, waiting for Kerry’s reaction, but she didn’t speak. “You can say something you know, I’ve got used to the idea.”

  “But that must have been dreadful.”

  “Well I suppose it was better than finding her with another bloke. I mean, I can’t really compete with a woman can I? Anyway, enough about me, what about you what have you been up to the last eight years?”

  They carried on talking, reminiscing about school and about what had happened to each of them over the years. Everyone
noticed, but they were too polite to point out that they felt excluded from Kerry and Kelvin’s private party. By the end of the evening, Russell invited them to a get together that he and his new wife were throwing, so they eventually parted promising to see each other then.

  “Well, well,” said Charlotte once they were outside. “So, was that old magic still there then Kerry?”

  “Yes it was nice to see him, but that’s as far as it goes.”

  “Yeah, right,” snorted Bets. “I would lay money on the fact that you’ll be wearing something nice and new to the party, what do you think Charlotte?”

  “Oh most definitely I do,” agreed Charlotte.

  During the week leading up to Russell’s party, Kerry decided to take up a severe beauty regime, and became a regular visitor at the salon where Bets worked at the time for different treatments. She became so obsessed that on the day after having her nails manicured, she refused to type any letters. Fortunately Mr Jervis, the solicitor for whom she worked as a secretary, knew what an odd person she could be at times, and where else could he get a bilingual, typing wizard who made coffee like Kerry?

  “Going to a lot of trouble for a crap house party, aren’t you Kerry?” Charlotte called over the top of the changing room cubicle.

  “What do you mean? There’s nothing wrong in looking your best,” she replied through gritted teeth, as she tried to pull up the zip on the expensive trousers. “It’s no use; you’ll have to get me the size 14 pair.”

  “Here, I brought them with me; I didn’t think they’d fit.” Charlotte threw the trousers over the top and received a smaller pair, followed by a hanger, in return. “What I mean is, beauty treatments, new trousers, new boots and new cleavage showing blouse.”

  “Ooh, that’s better. I just fancied some new clothes, and anyway I’m always showing my cleavage.”

  “Hmm, I know, it’s famous all over town.”

  “Well, will I do?” Kerry asked, thrusting open the curtain.

  Charlotte looked at Kerry with her head cocked to one side. Kerry wasn’t as slim as Charlotte or as nicely toned as Bets, but she was that rare breed of woman who was pretty confident about her body. With her solid bottom and ample bosom, she exuded sex appeal.

  “Oh I reckon you’ll do, you’ll have him eating out of your cleavage before the nights out.”

  “Huh, don’t know what you mean,” she said, and pulled the curtain across the cubicle once more.

  That evening as they arrived at Russell’s house the party appeared to be in full swing. As Bets and Charlotte admired the house Kerry added more lip gloss to her already oil-slicked lips.

  “Well come on then,” she said, rushing up the driveway, “we don’t want to be late.”

  Kerry knocked on the door twice, and was just about to knock again when it was thrust open by a red faced and drunk looking Russell, wobbling on the doorstep.

  “Wahey, hello there…Clare, quick come here, come and meet my old school mates.” He grabbed a rather large, pretty woman away from a throng of people enjoying a drinking race. “Clare meet Charlotte, Bets and Kerry, girls meet my missus, Clare.”

  Clare smiled and pulled them all into a huge hug. “Nice to meet you girls. Give Russell your coats and bottles and I’ll sort you some drinks out, then perhaps you’ll be nicely tiddly Kerry by the time Kelvin gets here.”

  “But…” stammered Kerry as they were pulled away into a packed kitchen towards the booze.

  Ten minutes later, glasses in hand, the girls had started their usual party process of splitting up into a pincer movement. This way they could observe the other guests, ready to swap notes later. Back at the base camp of the booze table, Charlotte was already back when Bets arrived.

  “Well he’s okay over there,” Bets sneakily nodded in the direction of the fridge, “…the one with the leather trousers on.”

  “No way, he’s far too camp, and probably old enough to be your dad, and who wears leather trousers these days? What about him over there?”

  Bets almost choked on the peanuts she was shovelling in her mouth. “Please be serious, anyway he’s with that skinny bird in the lounge,” Charlotte looked at her quizzically. “The one that looks like Deirdre Barlow?”

  Charlotte nodded in recognition. “Where’s Kerry by the way?” she asked.

  Bets nodded in Kerry’s direction as she approached them. “So what about you Kerry, spotted anything useful, or hasn’t he arrived yet?”

  Just then a gust of wind from the hallway signalled that someone else had made an entrance.

  “Yep, I think I have. Listen if I seem busy later just get a taxi without me.” With that Kerry marched off in the direction of the latecomer, to be swept up into his overcoat and given a warm, welcoming kiss on her glossy lips.

  “I see Kelvin has arrived then,” said Charlotte, frowning. “I suppose we’ll be splitting the taxi two ways then.”

  “Lucky bugger, the rest of them here are pretty rank to say the least,” replied Bets grumpily. “Come on, we might as well get drunk and see who can add to their Ugly Bloke list.”

  That had been almost exactly five years ago, and Kerry and Kelvin had been blissfully happy ever since - sickeningly so, according to Charlotte and Bets. They were engaged within six months and married eighteen months after that and then, two years later on Boxing Day, Esme Kate Johnson was born.

  “You know, Esme,” whispered Kerry, looking down on her sleeping baby, “your mummy is very lucky. She’s got you and she’s got Daddy and a lovely home and…” Kerry sighed looking out onto the grey October day, “…I celebrated three happy years of marriage in September. I have got three more months still on maternity leave, got the two best friends that anyone could have…so why do I feel so sad?”

  Chapter 4

  It was cold and grey outside, and although Charlotte wasn’t out of bed yet, she could tell because the tip of her nose was icy. She looked at her bedside clock; it said 6:45 a.m., the green figures urging her to get up. Charlotte was a real creature of comfort and would have loved to stay there a while longer, all warm and cosy (except for her nose), but she couldn’t, the urge to go to work was greater. As she showered and dressed, Charlotte smiled to herself. When she had been a teenager working at St Gregory’s there would have been no competition - her bed would have beaten work hands down - but not now, now she was dedicated to helping Paul create his empire. She didn’t know why she had changed so much, perhaps being a slacker had just been a teenage thing, or perhaps it was because she loved her job now. On the other hand, as Tom her brother always pointed out; it was because she was a sad old spinster with nothing else to think about. Charlotte quickly pushed the thoughts from her head and carried on getting ready.

  An hour later she was pulling onto the car park of Palmer Insurance, looking at the building and feeling proud to be a part of it and its beginnings. It wasn’t a huge company, but was still impressive, employing around forty people, whom she would soon be responsible. Charlotte shuddered with the cold, as she carefully stepped through the puddles towards the main reception, wishing that it was summer again.

  “Morning Debbie; cold isn’t it?”

  Debbie was about to put a call through to someone, so nodded in agreement. “John, its Mr Avery from Hollness Steel…sorry Charlotte, yes it’s freezing in here so I’ve got my thermal socks on over my tights.” Debbie thrust a foot out from under the desk.

  “I’ll get that heater sorted for you today; Rob can check it for you." Charlotte took the letters that Debbie was holding out to her with icy fingers, and started to make her way through the row of desks behind the reception area.

  “Oh Charlotte, before you go, there has been a Mr Devine on the telephone for you,” Charlotte frowned quizzically. “He said that he was from Johnson and Cathcart Engineering,” explained Debbie. “It’s the big engineering company that relocated to Manchester from Luton; anyway, he wants to meet with you to talk about us taking over their insurance.”

  “He�
��d be better speaking with Paul if it’s a big contract.”

  “I suggested that, but he said that you had been personally recommended by a Mr Grant Beddows, so he wants you to call him back.”

  Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She turned away, putting a hand to her head as if she was trying to remember the name; of course, she remembered the name, how could she forget? Trying to compose herself before turning back to Debbie, Charlotte took in deep breaths.

  “Err, Grant Beddows you said, erm let me think.” Charlotte stared at the wall, trying to clear her mind, but all she could think was how much she hated Grant, even after all this time. Quickly pulling her thoughts together, Charlotte turned back to Debbie. “Yes, I think I know who you mean. Well, you’d better give him a call and arrange an appointment then.” With that she turned and strode towards her office.

  As she walked into the warm office, Charlotte gave a watery smile to everyone. She didn’t want them to know how sick she felt, or that her palms were sweating, or that her heart was beating out of her chest.

  “Morning all,” she almost whispered.

  “Morning, huh, huh, Charlotte,” Bobby the accountant, greeted her with his usual annoying dry cough. Few people at Palmer’s liked Bobby as he was a bit of a moaner. He wore Cuban heeled boots to give him extra height, but all they did was provide him with an unusually stooped walk as he made long strides to try to balance on them; hence his secret nickname of Short Arse Sheriff.