by Nikki Ashton
Kelvin nodded and quietly let himself out, rubbing Alfred’s head as he passed him in the hallway. Alfred wandered up to Bets and sniffed at her limp hand hanging down. He could sense that she didn’t want to play, but licked her fingers gently. Bets moved back on the sofa, curling her feet under her. She held a cushion to her stomach and stared at the emptiness of the flat. Before long, Alfred jumped up and pushed himself into the gap between Bets and the back of the sofa. Bets manoeuvred around until she was looking at him and the tears slowly started to crawl down her face, splashing onto the little dog’s head.
“Oh Alfred, I feel…” Sighing heavily Bets realised that she didn’t know how she felt. She laid her head on the cushion, next to Alfred’s, and now closed her eyes. She slept restfully for three hours with Alfred by her side.
The funeral, a week later, was a strange day for Bets. She had only been with Stuart a short time, but their feelings for each other had been real. She was angry that no one seemed to acknowledge her. His family didn’t seem to know who she was, there was no loving reference to her in the eulogy, and it was as if their relationship had never existed. Kelvin had been brilliant, so had Kerry and Charlotte, but particularly Kelvin, probably because he was feeling the same sense of loss.
Apparently, Stuart had been rushing to his dinner meeting when a junkie approached him, asking for change, as he got off the tube. Stuart had given him a couple of pounds, but had said that he needed the rest of his change for the tube journey back to his hotel. The junkie didn’t like this, and had started to have a go at him. Stuart, who was in a rush, decided to ignore him and had walked away, infuriating the junkie even more. He stabbed Stuart, straight between the shoulder blades. The junkie was so out of it that he didn’t even attempt to get away, and he was arrested almost immediately. Stuart died on the way to the hospital.
On the Saturday morning after the funeral, Bets had decided to tidy up, to try to keep her mind off things. She was leafing through some magazines, deciding whether to keep them or not, when a piece of paper floated across the floor, Bets picked it up, instantly recognising the writing as that on the card with her roses; it was from Stuart.
Bets,
I’ve left you sleeping while I go off to the big city to do some business, but I just wanted to leave you this note. It will be strange not to spend tonight with you, cuddled up next to me, but you can be sure that I will be thinking about you, and counting every minute. I didn’t want to wake you again to tell you this, because you looked so beautiful, but I think that I might just be falling in love with you. This last two weeks have been wonderful, and it’s all down to you. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Lots of hugs and kisses.
Stuart xxx
Bets hugged the piece of paper to her chest, as tears slid silently down her face and landed on to the magazine on her lap. Everyone left her, Mum, Dad, Barney her rabbit when she was six and now Stuart, she was never ever going to get close to anyone again.
While Bets was finding the note from Stuart, Charlotte was on a shopping spree. She realised that she really should start her Christmas shopping, but the desire to spend money on herself was far too great, particularly after the previous day’s events.
An hour spent at Stuart’s parent’s house had been enough for Bets, she couldn’t cope with how grief stricken his parents and sister were, and as Bets had told Kerry, it had reminded her of her parents’ funerals. So, the four of them had been sitting in The Gander for about an hour and a half, in a silence peppered with sighs. Kelvin drained his glass and stood up to get another round in.
“Same again everyone?” he asked.
Bets shook her head. “No I don’t think so Kelvin, I feel miserable enough as it is, anymore, and I think I will end up bursting into tears.”
“Orange juice?” questioned Kelvin, disappearing as Bets nodded her head.
“Maybe that would be a good thing, crying I mean,” said Kerry as she smoothed down her black skirt.
“Have you still not cried since the day it happened?” Charlotte seemed concerned; it wasn’t good for anyone to bottle things up. She felt sure that it would be worse for Bets, with the amount of personal loss that she’d already had to deal with.
Bets shook her head. “No I haven’t, I just feel too numb to do anything. I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to react, if the truth be known. It’s not as if we were together very long, is it?”
Charlotte put a comforting hand on Bet’s shoulder. “Bets, I don’t really think that there is any special etiquette in these situations; it doesn’t matter how long you were together. You liked him and should be able to grieve how you want to.”
“I think that it’s proven one thing,” said Kerry, “and that’s that life is too short.”
Then Kelvin reappeared with a tray of drinks and laid it on the table. “I got us all doubles, and put vodka in your orange juice Bets. I've got plenty of tissues.”
Silently, they all reached for their drinks, carrying on as they started for the next hour and a half, before rather drunkenly wending their way home.
When Charlotte had woken that morning the feeling of melancholy, experienced in the pub the previous day, still hung over her. This was when she decided to hit the shops, and bend her plastic. She had been in Chester for an hour when the headache started to kick in. She wasn’t sure whether it was a hangover or the heat in the shops, but it didn’t really matter. She needed painkillers. Charlotte picked up two boxes from the shelf, and decided to have a wander through the store, maybe she could buy some new cosmetics. As she ambled along, swinging her wire basket, she remembered that Rachel, one of the Consultants, was getting married next week, and that they would be dressing her up on Friday. Smiling conspiratorially, Charlotte made her way to the counter where the condoms were on display; you couldn’t have a hen without about ten condoms hanging from a makeshift veil. She picked up two packets of fine ribbed, multi-coloured ones and threw them into her basket. Swinging around to go back towards the cosmetics counter she was suddenly faced with the broad shoulder of Niall Devine.
“Hello there, doing some shopping are yer?” he asked, nodding at her basket, a small smile upon his lips. “I presume that you’re not taking any chances.”
“What?” Charlotte asked, somewhat bemused, and now also looking at her goods.
“Painkillers and condoms, and two packets of each, he must be quite demanding, that fiancé of yours.” Niall looked over Charlotte’s shoulder, showing no apparent interest in her expected response.
“If you must know,” Charlotte said petulantly, “I have a headache now and the condoms are to hang from a veil made from net curtain. One of the girls at work is getting married next week.” She stared at Niall intensely, daring him to look away again, but his attention was now all on her.
“Don’t feel that you have to explain to me, I was only joking. You know what a joke means, don’t you?” he asked, folding his arms in front of him.
Charlotte was now fuming, oh so what if he was a client, he wasn’t being particularly professional or respectful to her was he? “Of course I do, but to be honest I wouldn’t have put the two together, you and joking. Now if you don’t mind I have other shopping to do.” Charlotte stormed off, jostling the rest of the shoppers, her cosmetics forgotten she went to pay. Waiting in the queue, Charlotte slowly turned around, nonchalantly trying to spot Mr Devine again in the crowd, but he had disappeared.
“Prat,” she muttered to herself, while pulling her hair up into a messy bun.
Another hour, two dresses, one trouser suit and a pair of boots later, Charlotte was ready for something to eat and drink. As she began to make her way across to her favourite pizza place, she heard her name being called. Spinning around she spotted Tom, waving frantically at her from a shop doorway. He quickly ran across and kissed Charlotte on the cheek.
“Hello Sis, what are you doing here?” he asked. Charlotte didn’t answer, but nodded towards the bags in her hands. “
Oh spoiling yourself are you? Had any lunch yet?”
Charlotte shook her head and smiled, aware that Tom was about to sponge a free lunch. “No, just going, would you like to join me for pizza?”
Tom frowned and dug his hand deep inside his pocket. “I’d love to, but I’m skint. I’ve bought this pair of trainers,” he said, tapping the bag in his hand. Tom only ever took just enough money with him when shopping, otherwise he had been known to spend a whole week’s wages on a shirt or pair of trousers.
“Go on then I’ll shout your lunch. What are you doing anyway, Saturday is your busiest day, why aren’t you in the shop?” Charlotte shoved a couple of her bags into Tom’s hands.
“Cameron has just jetted over for a few days, so said that I could take the day off.” Cameron was Tom’s boss who spent most of his time in Magaluf, with his partner Brian.
“So my beautiful sister, what have you been buying yourself then?” Tom asked, as he slipped an arm around Charlotte’s shoulder, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh nothing much, just a few bits,” replied Charlotte, gently pinching his waist with her spare hand. “I felt the need to spend. That's all.”
“So Mr Devine, your watch should be here by Wednesday, is that okay?” The shop assistant asked, as he looked expectantly at Niall.
Niall didn’t answer; the couple in the street outside seemed to be distracting him. "Mr Devine is that okay?”
“Oh sorry, Wednesday did you say? Sure that’s fine.”
Chapter 12
“Charlotte, it’s me Kelvin.” Kelvin quickly checked through the window, hoping that Kerry was still talking to their neighbour.
“Hiya, how are you?” Charlotte asked, sensing that the reply was not going to be particularly positive.
“I'm not too bad, considering. Have you seen Bets this week?”
“No, I can’t get her on her mobile or home phone, and I’ve called around twice but there is no sign.”
“Maybe she’s gone away for a few days. Listen, sorry to change the subject, but you know the conversation that you had with Kerry a couple of weeks ago, in our kitchen?”
“Yes, what about it, are things any better?” Charlotte winced; she knew the answer really.
“No, nothing has changed. I know we said that it would take time, but it’s getting worse if anything. She’s leaving Esme nearly every day with her mum or mine, and she’s still spending money as though we’ve got a never-ending supply.”
“Oh, Kelvin, I’m sorry. I thought that after our chat, things might improve.”
Kelvin sighed deeply on the other end, obviously at the end of his tether. “The thing is, she is now spending more and more time with that tart from across the road. She’s become a real party animal in the last week, out every night. I assume with Caroline, until well past closing time.”
Charlotte realised what Kelvin was getting at, but surely he knew Kerry better than that.
“She wouldn’t do anything Kelvin, if that’s what you are worried about, she loves you too much. You know how high her morals are, especially regarding marriage vows.”
“I know Charlotte, and I do try to trust her, but her attitude does make me wonder. She wants to know how I dare question where she’s been, but come on, any man would question his wife coming home gone midnight on a week night.” Kelvin rubbed his chin in despair, taking another look through the window.
“Oh God,” groaned Charlotte. “Do you want me to try to talk to her again?”
“I hate to put this on to you Charlotte, but I don’t know what else to do. She’s not speaking to me anyway because I’ve taken her credit card away.”
Charlotte tried to think quickly of the best plan of action; it needed to be quick. “Okay, are you playing football this afternoon?”
“Yes, two o’clock, why?”
“I’ll come around then, look Kelvin, we will get it sorted; I promise.”
“I know, but at what cost.” Kelvin sighed.
“Try not to worry, and I’ll speak to you later, bye.”
Charlotte had tried to sound positive, but she wasn’t wholly sure that this could be sorted out, not soon anyway. She had to try though, for both Kelvin and Kerry’s sakes.
Charlotte pulled up outside Kerry and Kelvin’s semi-detached house in one of the leafy avenues on the outskirts of town. She loved this house and had been with Kerry when she had first spotted it in the estate agent’s window. She knocked on the door, slightly nervous about what to expect. They had been friends forever and Kerry had always been the stable one, the sensible one, not at all like she was being now. When the door eventually opened Charlotte was surprised by what she saw. Kerry had never been shy about her figure, but being bigger than Charlotte and Bets she had always dressed extremely carefully and expensively, accentuating her ample bust and bottom. But, today her rules of fashion had totally gone out of the window. Kerry was wearing something that Charlotte could see Bets in, a short leather skirt and tight logo T-shirt emblazoned with “apprentice trollop." The skirt didn’t look too bad, but the whole ensemble just wasn’t Kerry.
“Hi, what are you doing here?” Kerry asked, as she held the door open wider.
“Charming greeting I must say,” quipped Charlotte, trying to lighten the mood, yet all the time mesmerised by Kerry’s appearance. Not only were the clothes awful, but she had flouted every bit of guidance that Bets had given to them both on make-up. She was wearing totally the wrong colours for someone of her complexion.
“I assume that you’ve come to lecture me, it seems to be the only reason why you ever come over these days. Anyway, I’m going out soon.” She banged the door shut behind Charlotte, her abrasive tone startling her friend.
“Why, where are you going, somewhere nice?” Charlotte sat down on the chair, next to where Esme was playing. She bent down, and gently rubbed her goddaughter’s head.
“Don’t start; you’re as bad as Kelvin. I’m going to the pub with Caroline from across the road.” She pointed to a scruffy house opposite.
“What nineteen years-old Caroline; Pat’s daughter, from across there?” Charlotte incredulous, nodded her head towards the lounge window. Caroline was well known as the local “good time girl”.
“Yes and so what? She’s good company. At least, she doesn’t badger me every minute, asking what’s wrong. Oh, why don’t you get lost Charlotte?”
Esme looked up on hearing Kerry’s raised voice. Charlotte was startled at how quickly Kerry was losing her temper.
“Hey, just calm down will you? What’s got into you, you’re not nineteen you know. Don’t forget you will be thirty in January.”
“Yes, and your point is?”
“I’m all for staying young Kerry, but this is ridiculous!” Charlotte cried, pointing a finger at Kerry’s attire.
Charlotte hadn’t wanted to go in hard, not this soon, but she instantly knew that the soft approach wouldn’t work. She had tried that before?
Kerry stood up with her hands on her hips. “Who do you think you are, telling me what to do with my life? Who is the one with the husband and baby, not you that’s for sure? Keep your nose out, okay?"
“No I won’t, because I’m telling you for your own good; you won’t have a husband and a baby for much longer. Please Kerry, just go and see someone who can help you.” Charlotte paused slightly, trying to work out the best words. “Or at least be honest with Kelvin, and tell him if you don’t want him anymore.” Her voice was almost a whisper now. “You owe him that at least.”
Kerry’s eyes were shining, at first Charlotte thought with anger, but then she realised that they were unshed tears.
“How can you ask me that Charlotte? Of course I still want him, I told you before how I felt. I thought that you understood.”
Charlotte shook her head slowly. “I know what you said, but you have made no attempt to do anything about it, so no; I don’t think I do understand you. I’m sorry Kerry, but I really don’t know why you would want to throw awa
y what you’ve got.”
Kerry stared, unblinking, ahead. “Well neither do I,” she whispered. “I get fed up being stuck in this house every day. I just think that life should be more than washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning. Look at poor Stuart; you are a long time dead, so why not have a good time now?”
“Kerry, it’s more than having a good time. You could do that with Kelvin, with us. It’s you, and how you are feeling, and how you are treating people. It's not like you.” Charlotte turned towards the door. The lack of expression on Kerry’s face made her realise that she may as well be talking to a brick wall.
“Maybe this is the real me.”
Charlotte stopped, her hand resting on the door handle. “I don’t think so Kerry, but if that’s what you want to believe, then go ahead, throw your life away.” Charlotte moved back into the room to kiss Esme before leaving, a deep sadness engulfing her.
As Charlotte was about to get into her car, she saw Kelvin coming around the corner on his bike, he stopped as he got near to her.
“How did it go?” he asked, hopeful that she had been able to talk some sense into his wife.
Charlotte shook her head. “She’s not interested Kelvin; basically, she’s intent on having a good time and sod the consequences. I do know that it isn’t you specifically, she still loves you and wants you.”
Kelvin’s eyes glimmered for a second, but then the frown reappeared. “Well that doesn’t really change how she is making me feel. I suppose that she is still going out with Caroline?” Charlotte nodded in reply. “Well I told her before I went out, if she goes she shouldn't come back,” Kelvin said, playing distractedly with the seat of his bicycle.
Charlotte gasped involuntarily. “And do you mean that?” she asked, grasping hold of Kelvin’s hand.
“If it’s the only thing that will get through to her, then yes. What do you think?”