by S M Mala
‘I don’t know.’ Leon stood up and took a sip of his beer. ‘I don’t know anything, anymore. I thought things were good. I felt happy for the first time in years. I’m in love with a wonderful woman who adores my child, and who my child is besotted with. Why can’t I be happy?’
There was a knock on the door, and he knew it was Esme.
‘Don’t let mum say something stupid, please?’ he asked his dad, who shrugged. ‘She was good enough to let her in on what Bennylita was planning. Esme shouldn’t be involved.’
‘But she is.’
Walking to the door, he opened it to find her in her overalls.
She looked sexy and was smiling.
‘Did you have a job today?’ he asked, stepping closer. ‘I thought you said you weren’t busy.’
‘An emergency door handle repair by someone who shouldn’t be let loose with a drill,’ she replied and peeped in. ‘Can we go straight back home?’
‘My dad wants to say ‘hello’.’
‘And your mum?’ She grimaced. ‘Is she okay?’
‘I’m fine!’ his mother said brightly, walking up to the door. ‘You must come in. Would you like a drink?’
‘No thanks,’ she said and Leon could see Esme felt uncomfortable.
‘I’m more stable than I was the other day,’ Barbara said, pulling the door wide open. ‘The past few weeks have been a little bit stressful. Please come in.’
Leon noticed Esme quickly glance at him before wiping her feet and walking through.
‘Esme!’ shouted out Mali, running up to her. ‘Daddy, I would like a pair of dungarees like Esme’s.’
He watched Esme pick the child up and kiss her cheeks.
‘Have you been good today?’ Esme asked Mali, who nodded. ‘And you had a nice time?’
‘I not be naughty. I am a very good girl,’ she said, full of authority. ‘Can we go home?’
‘We certainly can,’ she replied, putting her back down. ‘Have you got everything?’
‘Nearly!’ she shouted, running out into the garden.
‘Esme, how lovely to see you,’ his father said, going forward and kissing her hand. ‘May I say, your overalls suit you.’
‘Oh, stop drooling over her, Stan!’ Barbara said and cleared her voice before speaking in a hushed tone. ‘Has Governor Reeves come back with anything? A proposal? A refusal?’
‘Knowing Oscar, he probably has people working on it now, for damage limitation. I have asked a few people to help so hopefully it’ll get sorted.’
Leon noticed Esme glanced away.
‘Who have you asked?’ he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. ‘You’ve been pulled enough into this. I don’t want you getting drowned with Bennylita’s nonsense.’
‘Steph is looking into it for me. She knows people, so she says, and I need to get some more information. I’m not being held to ransom on a lie. It’s not fair to you or me.’
He hugged her.
That’s all he wanted to do, was hold her in his arms. Then he realised she was embarrassed by his public display of affection, stepping back.
‘It’s not that I don’t approve,’ his mother said, looking tearful. ‘I want my son to be happy, and I worry, that’s all. I worry about all my children.’
‘Steph?’ Stan said, looking like he was trying to remember something. ‘That name rings a bell.’ Leon looked at Esme, who seemed a little startled. ‘Lucia mentioned a friend called Steph.’
‘Oh?’ Leon said, knowing this wasn’t the time to say.
‘Yes, a good friend of hers is called Steph,’ his dad continued.
Gulping hard, he smiled at his parents then at Esme.
‘Steph is Auntie Lucia’s lesbee friend!’ announced Mali, running back into the corridor with her bag. ‘She’s Mr Alfie Reeves’ grandmother.’
‘Oh shit,’ mumbled Leon, grabbing Mali and walking to the door.
‘Lesbee friend?’ his mother said.
‘Yes, it’s a type of insect, isn’t it?’ smiled Stan as Leon saw Esme duck her head and walk away. ‘Is she a bee keeper?’
‘Got to go!’ Leon said, rushing out and towards Esme’s van.
‘Lesbee?’ Barbara said, thinking hard. ‘And your mother in law?’
‘Ex,’ Esme said and let out an uncomfortable laugh. ‘Another story for another day.’
Buckling up Mali at high speed and seeing his parents were looking puzzled, they got in the van and drove off.
‘Is Steph a bee keeper?’ asked Mali, looking at him as Esme started to laugh.
‘Put it this way,’ he said giggling. ‘I’m not sure she’ll get over it knowing Lucia prefers a girl’s sting to a boy’s.’
‘I’ll speak up for you!’
Alfie looked furious. ‘He has no right to tell you to move away, no right at all!’
They were waiting for Steph on Sunday to have lunch in their favourite restaurant.
‘I don’t think he approves of Leon. Now with this woman trying to get money from him, to stop going to the press about me, he’s a bit stuck. She has shafted so many people.’ Esme filled their glasses with wine. ‘Alfie, are you okay? Did that incident change your life? Do you think I’m a bad mother? I had no idea; I didn’t. I wish I could kill him now.’
‘Dad has no right to question your ability to be a parent. I came out unscathed.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Mum, I’m not an idiot and the man knew had he touched me, I’d have cut off his bollocks. I would have spoken up.’
‘And he never touched you? Tell me Alfie. I need you just to say if he did.’
‘Stop it,’ he said, holding her hand tightly. ‘It’s not the reason I went with Vincent because he was much older. I liked him then, but not now
‘I have lots to tell you,’ Steph said rushing and sitting down. She took Esme’s wine glass, knocking back the contents. ‘I might have found a way to stop that Mrs Grimshaw from trying to destroy our lives.’
‘My life’s fine, thanks for asking,’ smiled Alfie, filling up a glass of wine for his grandmother. ‘How’s Lucia?’
‘Most excellent!’ she replied, getting flustered as she reached into her bag and grabbed some papers. ‘How’s your mother, more to the point?’
‘I’m fine,’ Esme whispered, forcing a bright smile before being unable to hold it for more than a second. ‘This is a bit of a mess and we’re playing into that woman’s hands. Not to mention Oscar’s.’
‘You know he asked me to rethink my relationship with Lucia, don’t you?’ Steph said, snorting back her laughter. ‘God help us if he does end up running for President. He’ll send us off to Siberia, just to make sure we stay out of trouble.’
‘He asked mum to move away, and he’d help set her up somewhere else,’ Alfie whispered, gently touching Esme’s arm.
‘Where he’ll keep you under lock and key.’ Steph then smiled. ‘That’s not going to happen.’ She sipped her drink. ‘And how’s Leon?’
‘A bit confused and upset. This accusation of being an unfit parent is bugging him and the implication of me. Bennylita seems to have to the upper hand based on hearsay.’
‘I ran a check on her and her husband like I mentioned. Oscar isn’t the only one with connections though I did ask him, and he was a little hesitant. I think he’s holding back on something. He’s a shifty so and so. You know there’s the possibility that Angus Grimshaw is not the father of her son, don’t you?’
Esme gasped and started to get upset, thinking the same would be of Mali.
‘But,’ was all she could say before starting to cry. ‘Don’t say that Leon’s not her father. That man mentioned Bennylita wasn’t sure and-.’
‘No, no! Don’t cry. Leon is Mali’s father that I know for sure.’ Steph shoved a tissue in Esme’s face. ‘That child, poor thing, was conceived on the pretence of Bennylita wanting to have a baby, only knowing too well she had no intention of sticking around.’
‘She planned it?’ Alfie asked, s
itting up and was all ears. ‘Isn’t that illegal?’
‘Pregnancy is useful for some, and a weapon for others. Unfortunately, it was rather lethal against Leon.’
‘Where does that leave Leon and Mali? You need to tell us more.’
‘All in good time,’ Steph said, smiling at Esme and then at Alfie. ‘I would never let anything happen to our little family. We have the right to be happy. But I need you to do something for me, Esme, and you might not like it.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I spoke to Ralph.’
‘Really?’
‘He said you called him and he’ll support you. What I need from you are a few things.’
‘Okay?’ Esme asked, confused with what Steph was up to.
‘Talking to a few people you don’t like.’
‘Like whom?’
‘This is a little strange.’
Leon was sitting in his van with Esme next to him. They were parked outside the hairdressers where Melanie worked. ‘I don’t think this is a good idea.’
‘It’s the only idea. And I need you with me.’
‘Why didn’t you ask Ralph?’
‘Because I will ask him to be a witness, considering he was in my living room when it happened. Most importantly, I need Melanie to explain. We know she told you one thing, me another and Barbara heard what she really thought. This will show it was Bennylita trying to cause trouble.’
He stroked her cheek and smiled. For a few days, since she met Steph and Alfie for lunch, she had been on edge. He knew something was up. When she didn’t know he was looking, Leon sensed she was upset about something; then Esme would just hug and kiss both Leon and Mali.
‘I love you,’ he whispered. ‘I don’t want you to get involved.’
‘I want us to be a family,’ she replied, turning to look at him. ‘We need to get rid of all the obstacles first.’ Esme frowned. ‘You look worried.’
‘She’s got a temper on her,’ he whispered, and held her hand. ‘Esme, you’re pretty wonderful, do you know that?’
‘Let’s see if Melanie thinks so too.’
As they both got out of the car, he was surprised to see his mother walking down the road.
‘Oh,’ he said, looking at Esme.
‘Did you tell her we were visiting?’
‘No.’ Leaving Esme, he went towards his mum and smiled. ‘This is a surprise.’
‘I know you texted Melanie saying that you wanted to meet. Her mother told me and she seemed quite annoyed. I thought it was best I came.’ Then she peeped around him. ‘And you’ve brought Esme.’
‘She’s the one that’s being unfairly accused of hurting Mali. Her family are working hard to sort this out, so please be nice.’
‘I am nice,’ his mum said, getting agitated. ‘But I’m also furious with that witch and what she’s trying to do.’
‘Why are you here?’
‘You’re my son and no way am I letting that woman tell lies on you and Esme.’ Then Barbara marched off towards a coffee shop nearby. ‘You’re meeting her and her mother in here.’
‘Her mother?’ He nearly choked and noticed Esme smiling beside him.
‘I think she wants to see who broke her daughter’s heart,’ Esme said, before whispering. ‘And plundered her solid, steel fanny.’
‘God, this can’t get any worse!’ he groaned as they walked into the small coffee shop.
Leon remembered it from when he was a child. It was called a tea shop then but now, as with everything, coffee was the way forward.
Soon as he saw Melanie, his heart sunk, especially when she noticed Esme and her face creased into anger.
‘What’s she doing here?’ Melanie asked, standing up. Next to her was a portly woman with an identical nose to Melanie’s. She pursed her lips and gave his mother the filthiest of looks. ‘She assaulted me!’
‘Let’s go about this in a calm manner,’ his mother said through gritted teeth. ‘Can we do that?’
Leon glanced around at the nearly empty place and sat down, opposite Melanie. Esme positioned herself next to Barbara.
‘Barbara,’ Melanie’s mother said.
‘Dorothy,’ came the equally terse response.
‘Melanie, we need your help,’ Esme said, her voice quite gentle. Leon didn’t want to look at her, just in case he smiled, and Melanie got mad. ‘Whether you agree or not, some weeks ago there was an incident with Mali where you smacked her.’
‘No, I didn’t!’ she said, starting to cry and turning to her mother. ‘These people! They’ve made it all up!’
‘I know darling,’ her mother replied, looking angrily at all three of them.
‘Unfortunately, you did,’ continued Esme and now Leon could see his mum was starting to bubble with anger. ‘This is being used against Leon, to demonstrate he’s not a good father, and someone has accused me of hitting that child, which we know isn’t true.’
‘I reckon you did and pointed the blame at me!’ Melanie said, wiping her tears away. ‘All because you wanted him!’
That’s when all three women, except Esme, looked at Leon. His mother in horror and the other two in anger.
‘I wanted Esme for a long time because I knew I was falling in love,’ Leon gulped back as his mother gave him a weak smile.
‘You do understand that it is my word against yours and Mali’s,’ Esme continued, letting out a little sigh. Then she hesitated. ‘And Ralph’s.’
‘Ralph would never say anything against me,’ she snarled at them. ‘Never!’
‘Ralph will because I’ve spoken to him. He knows the difference between right and wrong. All I ask is you admit what you did.’
‘Never!’
‘I see.’
Leon’s heart was starting to sink, and he could sense they were going to fall at the first hurdle.
‘If you don’t agree, then I will have no choice but to go to the police to report you for child abuse,’ Esme calmly said. He heard his mother gasp loudly, as did Dorothy. ‘I took photos of Mali and the bruising. She told a lot of people you hit her. Also, I will make sure that the local newspapers find out about the child-friendly hairdresser who likes to beat up on the customer’s children and grandchildren.’
‘You wouldn’t!’
‘I would,’ Esme said, standing up as the waitress came over to them. ‘Here’s the card of my family’s solicitor who will be in contact with you. You can deny it, but you and I know the truth.’
She walked out, leaving them all sitting at the table.
Leon wasn’t quite sure what to think.
He didn’t expect Esme to do that.
‘She’s such an old, black bitch!’ snarled Melanie.
‘That type of woman always is,’ her mother added.
‘Don’t you dare speak of her like that! She’s a wonderful woman for wanting to help my son!’ his mother said threateningly to both women. ‘If you don’t do as she says and co-operate, you’ll find Dorothy, I know many other things about you and your family that I could easily let slip. Believe me, I will! Kosher my arse!’
Then she got up and walked out.
It felt like he was frozen to the chair.
‘I love you!’ Melanie said, starting to sob. ‘You used me.’
‘I’m sorry if that’s what you think,’ he said, standing up. ‘Please tell the truth, that’s all we want.’
‘I only went with Ralph to be closer to you!’ she bawled, creating a scene as her mother hugged her. ‘I love you so much. We would have been perfect!’
‘Thing is; I don’t think we would have.’ He turned to walk out. ‘You don’t like the colour of my girlfriend’s skin, let alone my child’s. How imperfect is that?’
‘Why?’
Leon looked at Esme then at Steph. ‘I don’t think giving Bennylita the time of day is a good thing.’
Two days after meeting Melanie, Esme knew she had to move forward with Steph’s plan. They were in Steph’s kitchen as Lucia and Mali were playing
in the living room. They could hear the little girl laughing loudly.
‘Meet up at a neutral place, like here, and no-one is the wiser,’ said Steph, half smiling at Leon. ‘You know, you’re a handsome devil.’
‘I think we have to surprise Bennylita and get her to see what she’s doing is wrong.’ Esme glared at Steph. ‘Stop flirting with him.’
‘She won’t want to meet up,’ he shrugged. Esme realised Leon wasn’t being helpful. ‘I know what she’s like.’
‘I don’t think you do,’ mumbled Steph as Esme gently nudged her to keep quiet. ‘A woman in need of money never acts in the way you would expect. How well did you know her before you got together?’
‘Steph!’ Esme could see the older woman was on a roll. ‘Leave him alone!’
‘We slept together on the first night, and that was it,’ he mumbled, looking out of the window. ‘She moved in with me within a fortnight.’
‘You’re quick!’ laughed Steph.
Esme realised he had been slow with her. She wondered if it was down to the fact she was less appealing. It wasn’t something she wanted to dwell on.
‘Then six months later she’s pregnant and I thought that was perfect, I did. But it wasn’t.’
‘Did you know at the time she was sleeping around?’ Esme’s mouth dropped open, as did Leon’s, when they both heard Steph’s comment. ‘While she was carrying your child?’
‘Steph, don’t do this,’ Esme said, standing up and going towards Leon. She squeezed him arm, hoping he wasn’t going to get upset. ‘She hurt him enough.’
‘And she wants to hurt him more,’ the woman said before sighing.
For the first time, Esme could see his real pain.
‘You’re not going to lose your child, mark my words,’ Steph said, standing up. ‘And neither is Esme going to be torn to pieces regarding how she looked after Alfie. We are a new family, and we should stick together.’
‘What have you got planned, Steph?’ Leon asked, touching Esme’s hand and grabbing it tightly. ‘Whatever you or I do, we can’t hurt Mali. She’s the most important thing.’