by Nikki Ashton
“And you are happy to do that, see a Counsellor I mean? Only when we’ve broached the subject before it hasn’t gone down very well.”
Kerry smiled and kissed the palm of Kelvin’s hand. “I wasn’t willing to face up to things then, but I am now. I know there’s something wrong, and that I've been suffering from some sort of depression. I have to do something about, and if seeing a Counsellor will help, then that’s what I’ll do, okay.”
Kelvin nodded. “Okay. Anyway, its two o’clock, don’t think it is about time we got up? Charlotte and Bets will be here for tea at six. We need to go shopping and get some food in.”
Kerry looked at him with a glint in her eye. “We could order pizza in.”
Kelvin nodded enthusiastically, before disappearing under the duvet.
Charlotte had slept quite well the previous night, although when she had gone to the loo at about three o'clock, she noticed the glow from a lamp under Tom’s door, and she could hear him moving around in his bed. She hoped that he wasn’t worrying about her; he was such a sweet brother who cared deeply about how his sisters were feeling. He would take on the world for either of them.
Charlotte had eventually got out of bed at nine o’clock, and straight after breakfast, had gone down to her hairdresser to see if by any remote chance, there was an appointment available. It must have been her lucky day because, after only having to wait about an hour, she felt human again; her hair was lustrous and shiny once more. As she caught sight of herself in the mirror Charlotte realised that now her hair had been cut, she could see her eyes, but she was surprised at how dark and dull they were, surrounded by grey circles, a definite sign of some well needed pampering. She would call and see Bets for a facial before going around to Kerry’s house for tea.
“Hi, any chance of fitting me in for a facial, before we go to see Kerry?” Charlotte asked gaily.
Bets didn’t manage to raise much of a smile as Charlotte breezed into the salon, but simply turned her mouth up at the corners. “’Spose, I’ve just had a cancellation for my last appointment.”
Charlotte grinned. “How lucky is that, twice in one day, perhaps my life is changing for the better.”
Bets shrugged her shoulders. “What are you on about?”
“I managed to get a cancellation to have my hair done too.” Charlotte pointed at her hair, but Bets just shook her head and turned toward her treatment room, expecting Charlotte to follow.
“Man trouble I expect, she’s been less than happy all day,” whispered Jane, one of Bet’s assistants who had now appeared at Charlotte’s side.
“I heard that,” called Bets from her treatment room. “Get folding towels, and stop gossiping to my friends, unless you want the sack.”
Jane smiled good naturedly. “See what I mean.”
Charlotte knew Bets only too well, and had to agree with Jane. A man was definitely involved. Bets had that man troubled look upon her face.
As Charlotte walked into the treatment room, Bets was placing a towel on the bed. She looked up and nodded toward the bed, indicating for Charlotte to lie on it. She worked in silence, interjected with the occasional heavy sigh, taking off Charlottes existing make-up and then setting about her facial. Eventually, after about ten minutes, Charlotte found the quiet ear shattering, and spoke.
“So, do you want to know about Kent then?” Charlotte asked, waiting to tell all, even if the response was negative.
“Yeah, go on then,” said Bets, through thin lips.
It was now Charlotte’s turn to sigh. “I would have expected you of all people to want to know all the gory details.”
Bets stopped her fingers working on Charlotte’s face. “I do. I do. Go on spill the beans.”
Charlotte told her everything, because they had no secrets. She explained her own feelings for Niall and how it had been leaving him there, fast asleep in her bed. Finally, her mood slightly broken, Bets leant down and kissed Charlotte lightly on the top of her head.
“What was that for?” Charlotte prostrate on her back, raised her eyes in her head, in Bets' direction.
“I’m sorry for being such an old bitch this afternoon. You’ve had a horrible time. It must have been awful for you?” Bets sighed.
“Yep, it certainly was,” replied Charlotte mournfully.
There was a heavy silence as Bets' breathing got deeper above Charlotte’s head. Charlotte guessed that she was trying to say something.
“What is it Bets, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing is wrong. Just...well how did you know that you loved him? Was it sudden, or did it creep up on you?”
Charlotte thought about it for a few seconds before answering. “Well I suppose I can admit it now, but I fancied him like mad, right from the moment that I met him in Paul’s office, but as for loving him, well I don’t know really. I think I started to get deeper feelings for him after we had that first kiss, they were festering away inside me, and then I knew for definite after we had lunch in his house. I was so happy when he said that he was going to leave Ingrid, and I think not wanting to kiss him that day proved how I felt.”
Bets stopped rubbing Charlotte’s temples. “How do you work that one out?” she asked.
“I know it sounds pathetic, but I think that if I’d just fancied him, then I probably would have ended up in bed with him that afternoon, but because my feelings were deeper than that I wanted it to be special. When I kissed him, I wanted him to be mine and not someone else’s. I didn’t want it to be a one off. Does that make sense, or am I talking like an absolute fool?” Although Bets had stopped working, Charlotte kept her eyes closed, as pictures of Niall flitted past her closed lids.
“Yes it does make sense, sort of. But, I really liked Stuart, and I slept with him straight away.”
“No you didn’t.” Charlotte now opened her eyes, and leaning up on both elbows, turned her head towards Bets. “I suppose the fact that you flirted with him all summer, without even a kiss, doesn’t count does it?”
Bets realised that what Charlotte said was true. With most men there wouldn’t have been any flirting, it would have been straight to bed; with Stuart…well it was different.
“Anyway to be honest,” Charlotte continued, lying back down, “I’m not sure whether you had got beyond the stage where you’d fallen in love with Stuart. I think that if things had been different, you probably would have, but not at that point in time. God, listen to me, you know how pointless my love life has been, so no, don’t listen to me. You shouldn’t base anything on what I have to say about love, I’m just a hopeless romantic.”
Charlotte felt above her head, and found Bet’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Something was definitely troubling her for them to be having this conversation. Bets rarely uttered the “L” word, never mind asked questions about it.
“You may be a hopeless romantic Charlotte, but you’ve always been true to your feelings. You know; you may have actually gone about this love and romance thing the right way. When you’ve fancied a quickie with someone, you’ve had one, and got on with your life, and when you’ve been in love, you’ve gone for it full pelt and been happy. Then again, there was Grant of course, oh and Niall and oh...what was his name from the hospital. You know the dim witted one, tight with his money.”
Charlotte grinned, as Bets muttered away to herself. “I guess you no longer think that I know what I’m talking about.”
Bets laughed. “God, you’re right, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve only ever had five sex-based relationships, because Paul’s friend doesn’t count with his little problem, and then three men whom you’ve been totally in love with, they all turned out to be no hopers. No, I’m not taking your advice it could land me in trouble.” Bets sighed heavily, once more.
“Listen,” Charlotte chuckled. “Phil from the hospital doesn’t count. I was young and impressionable and only thought that I was in love. I was infatuated with Grant and mistook it for love, and as for Niall, well
if circumstances were different I know that we would be together. What I feel for him is love, because at nearly thirty years of age, I feel much more in tune with my emotions than ever before.” Charlotte’s eyes misted over with tears, as she thought about their lost life together.
Bets snorted disdainfully. “Whatever!”
“Don’t you snort at me,” scolded Charlotte. “I mean it. We’re too old to be playing games. If you love someone, then you should tell them, and if you want a quickie you should tell them.”
“Maybe, but what if you don’t know what love is? What if you are frightened that you are going to pick the wrong option? For example, what if you declare your undying love and then realise that all you wanted was a quick shag, with no strings attached?” Bets held her head in her hands, getting oil in her hair. “Ooh I hate this relationship crap. I honestly wish that I was asexual and didn’t give a sod about it. I’m so scared that I tell this guy “I think that I’ve fallen in love with you, how do you fancy a relationship?” to have him turn around and say, “Oh, I’m sorry love, you’re really nice and all that, but I only wanted to have a grapple of your tits." I mean, that would be really embarrassing, wouldn't it?" Bets began to wipe her hair with a spare towel, mumbling about now having to wash it again before she went out.
Charlotte was intrigued about where all this was coming from, Bets hardly ever opened up like this, unless she was absolutely legless.
“This guy you’re talking about is there someone in particular?” Charlotte asked intrigued.
“No,” Bets snapped rather too quickly, throwing the towel into a washing basket next to the bed. “He’s just pretend, now shut up for a few minutes while I try to do my job.”
The evening spent with Kerry was a very happy one, all of them ecstatic about being reunited after the last months of torment. Once the pizza had been devoured, Kelvin made himself scarce, realising that the three friends needed some time alone to talk openly.
“So, are you glad to be back then?” Bets asked, as she pulled her feet under her on the sofa, and hugged the large mug of tea to her chest.
Kerry smiled from ear to ear in answer to the question. “Oh yes, I can’t tell you how much, especially now I know that everything is going to be alright with Kelvin and I. I can’t believe that I was so stupid, and stormed off without hearing what he had to say; it could have been disastrous, we could have lost everything.”
Charlotte kicked Kerry’s foot gently with her own. “Hey you, it's not all your faults. You've both done silly things, but the main point is everything is going to be fine now,” she said, smiling warmly at Kerry.
“Yes, you’re right I know you are, but I still can’t help worrying about what might have happened. Anyway, I’m going to see the doctor tomorrow. I booked the appointment today. I’m going to ask for some help, you know someone to talk things through with.”
“What do you mean?” Bets asked, a look of concern spread across her face. “You can always talk to the two of us, you know.”
“I know Bets, and I really appreciate that you are always there for me, but I think this time I need a professional. It's not just advice on men and clothes that I need.” Kerry leaned forward and gave Bets' hand a squeeze.
“It’s probably best to talk to someone not involved, anyway,” Charlotte added.
“Yes, but after what Owen did, I need to make sure that I get whatever help is necessary, to help me to forget.”
“Well, I do think that you are being remarkably calm about the whole thing,” Bets said, taking another mouthful of tea.
“Hmm, Kelvin is worried that I’m too calm and bottling things up. But, I’m sure that things will work out with the right help. Well less of my misery, what about you two, how are your love lives?”
Charlotte, and Bets both burst into spontaneous laughter.
“What bloody love life?” snorted Charlotte, going on to spend half an hour filling Kerry in on the situation with Niall.
“Oh Charlotte that is so sad, and he’s getting married on your birthday as well,” whispered Kerry, involuntary tears pricking her eyes.
“Hmm I know the irony of it all. Never mind, I’ve just got to get on with my life and hope that he is happy in his own way; I’d hate for him to be sad.”
Bets smiled kindly at her, amazed that Charlotte could be so compassionate. Then suddenly her smile turned into a frown, as Charlotte changed the subject to Bets’ love life.
“Anyway, let’s ask Bets about this mystery man she thinks she could be in love with.”
Kerry, getting excited, started to bounce up and down on her chair. “Yeah, spill the beans Bets, who is he?”
“There is no-one, I told you that it was a hypothetical situation,” Bets stared hard at Charlotte, daring her to say anything more. “I was merely commenting on how difficult I would find it to know whether I was in love, or not, that’s all.”
“Yeah right!” came Charlotte’s derisive response.
“I was!” Bets exclaimed. “You tell me, what man you have seen me with lately.”
Charlotte thought about it momentarily. “No, I don’t suppose I have, except Tom of course, but he doesn’t count.”
“E-e-exactly,” stammered Bets.
“How is Tom, by the way, is he still with that Isabel girl or is he onto his next conquest?” Kerry asked, desperate to catch up on anything that she had missed.
Bets had to bite her tongue, to stop herself from answering Kerry’s question. She couldn’t let them know how much she had been seeing of Tom, and how much she knew about his business; if she did the two best criminal minds in Cheshire were bound to deduce who the mystery man was. Suddenly, Charlotte began to speak, saving Bets from any embarrassment.
“No, he hasn’t been seeing Isabel for a few weeks now, but he has got a date tonight.”
Bets nearly spat her tea across the room. “Oh, who with and where?” She tried to sound casual, but luckily Kerry and Charlotte didn’t hear the desperation in her voice.
“Some girl who went to the shop to buy her boyfriend a shirt, would you believe it?”
“Yes, I would,” Kerry giggled, used to Charlotte’s tales of Tom’s conquests.
“By the time he’d finished with the sales patter, she’d spent nearly two hundred pounds and asked him out on a date.”
“So he didn’t ask her then?” Bets asked, her heart beating faster by the second.
“No, he said that he wasn’t flirting with her, but you know Tom. He can’t help himself.”
Bets managed a small laugh, as she vigorously nodded her head. “Yes, yes I do. Where have they gone to, on this date?” She needed more information, but then felt silly; it wasn’t as if she was jealous or anything.
“Oh erm, the Black Lion I think he said. You know the one on the country road that takes you out to the old castle. I suppose that they don’t want to risk being seen by the boyfriend.”
“He doesn’t change does he?” Kerry smiled, realising how much she’d missed this type of evenings, even before she went off. “So,” she continued, “nothing else has happened while I’ve been away?”
“Oh Bets, tell Kerry about Alfred.”
An hour later Bets was positively itching to get away, she had attempted it for the last forty-five minutes, but each time she had started to make a move Charlotte had thought of something else that they needed to tell Kerry about.
“So, that’s agreed then, Charlotte. We'll go for a drink on your birthday,” Kerry gushed, excited about the prospect of a night out with everyone. “We'll get Amanda, Dave and Tom to come as well. We can go for a few drinks and then for a curry, what do you think?” Kerry certainly had the bit between her teeth, and wasn’t going to let go until Charlotte agreed to her plans.
“Okay, but you don’t have to take my mind off things you know. I will be okay I promise,” laughed Charlotte.
Bets grinned through gritted teeth, moving her bottom to the edge of her seat. “She knows that Charlotte, just ag
ree, or we could be here all night.”
Charlotte gave a conciliatory nod.
Bets sighed in relief. “Good, anyway I’m going to have to go,” she announced standing up. “I’ve got a really busy day tomorrow.”
Kerry and Charlotte sat with mouths open in amazement. Bets never cared how busy the next day was going to be, or how early she had to get up; she could keep going until the wee small hours.
“What?” Charlotte glanced at her watch. “It’s just nine o’clock, we’ve only been here three hours.”
Bets would normally agree. Three hours wasn’t half long enough to gossip, particularly after weeks of not seeing each other, but tonight it was too long.
“I know, but I’m really tired, and I still don’t like to leave Alfred with Charlie for too long, and I’m sure Kerry could do with an early night, eh Kerry?” she winked exaggeratedly at Kerry.
Kerry giggled. “Not really, we’ve been in bed most of the day actually.”
Bets, looking at a giggling Charlotte and Kerry, could sense another conversation coming on.
“Look you two, I’m going to have to go, are you coming Charlotte or will you get a taxi later?” she barely paused for an answer. “A taxi, okay fine, I’ll see you soon, bye.” She stooped to kiss them both on the cheek, before she bolted from the house, down the drive to her car. She didn’t know why, but the road to the old castle was beckoning her to it.
Inside Kerry let the curtains drop back into place, once she finished spying on her friend.
“So what do you think, a meeting with the mystery man?” she asked.
“Yep, I think so, but I can’t for the life of me think who it could be.”
As she made her way along the winding country roads towards The Black Lion, Bets was beginning to think that she was going senile. She had convinced herself, practically to the doorstep that it was stupid to go looking for Tom, but some indescribable force was pulling her in his direction. What did she hope to see from outside a pub, in a dark country lane anyway? Why on earth was she going there, they hadn’t even kissed, a near miss maybe, but that was all it was? The kiss, that hadn’t happened, had been troubling Bets all day, no matter how hard she tried not to think about it pictures whizzed through her mind, always ending in the same way with a long, fantastically amazing kiss. She endeavoured to make the images end with her slapping Tom across the face, but they just wouldn’t.