by Paul Gait
Subconsciously she followed her usual route. She wasn’t taking in the views today. Just a plod.
‘And of course there’s the honour of the Regiment which could be besmirched if it leaked out. Therefore it must be protected at all costs,’ she thought disrespectfully. ‘Christ it stinks. Everybody knows it goes on and nobody does anything to stop it.’
She passed the hospital buildings without registering where she was.
At least the angst of not knowing whether he had been killed whilst abroad was now gone. But his depression had really overshadowed the forgotten anniversary card.
She put her hand up to her cheek where he’d hit her. It smarted. ‘I must remember to put some blusher on to hide it,’ she thought.
Liz remembered the anniversary card that she’d bought for him. A tear ran down her face and splashed on to her running top.
‘I must remember to give him the card when I get back,’ she thought.’
When she returned home William was up and sitting in a chair.
‘Oh I didn’t expect you up yet. You’ve barely had an hour. Do you feel better?’
‘No, not really,’ he grunted.
‘Oh well, in that case I might as well go in to work. Oh by the way, here’s your anniversary card,’ she said taking it from the cupboard drawer. ‘Happy belated anniversary,’ she said and placed a kiss on his forehead.
Oh do you have to go? I thought we could…’ He couldn’t find the right words. ‘No you’re probably right.’
‘Sorry William, I don’t see the point with you in this mood. Anyway I promised the Landlord if I could, although it’s not my usual rota, I would cover the bar for him…ironically it’s his wedding anniversary and they’re going out for a lunchtime meal. It’s the only time they can leave the pub.’
She filled up at the thought of her own disastrous anniversary and abortive plans for William’s homecoming. She rushed past him in to the bathroom to shower.
She showered quickly, donned her usual black polo shirt and slacks and went back into the lounge. William was still sitting where she’d left him. She went over to kiss him. He grabbed her wrist and looked into her face.
‘Please don’t go,’ he pleaded.
‘I’m sorry William, but I promised. ‘I’ll be back about 3:30. Why don’t you try to get some sleep. I’m sure you’ll feel a lot better,’ she said kissing him on the cheek. He let go of her wrist and she went out through the front door leaving him gazing at the envelope in his hands.
William desperately wanted her to stay but didn’t have the energy to persuade her otherwise. Slapping her had soured their relationship. This drove him even deeper in to despair. The blackness filled his mind. Where would it end?
Liz went to the pub and was greeted by a delighted Landlord who was standing by the bar.
‘Oh thank you Liz for coming in on your day off, especially as I gather William is home from Afghanistan. I owe you.’
‘That’s OK George, I know how important it is to celebrate these anniversaries,’ she said. The irony of her words did not escape her.
Is that a mark on your face?’ he asked, looking at her cheek.
‘Oh that, it’s from when I went running earlier. I ran into a bush,’ she mumbled. I put some extra blusher on it that’s all.’ She screamed inside. This was exactly what the army wives did, made excuses for the abuse.
The Landlord and his wife duly departed for their meal delighted that she had turned up.
CHAPTER 18
It had been a week since William’s return home and he was slowly improving, but not fast enough for Liz’s liking.
She had continued going to work in spite of William’s insistence that she stayed home with him, but she felt so depressed being around him and needed to get out.
But today Liz had a dental appointment and was consequently late getting into work. George had been understanding and had covered the bar in the meantime.
Frank was already sitting at the bar and was looking mournful when Liz arrived.
‘Thank goodness for that. For one moment there I thought I’d upset you and you weren’t going to speak to me,’ he said beaming.
‘No, I had a dental appointment. Usual?’ she asked spotting his near empty glass. She was already feeling happier in his presence.
‘Aren’t you going to give me a birthday kiss?’ Frank asked as Liz handed him his pint.
‘Oh is it your birthday today?’
‘Yes, 21 again,’ he lied.
‘Yeah right!’ Liz said sceptically. ‘Well congratulations. If I’d known I’d have bought you a card.’
‘It’s a bummer having to work on my birthday though,’ Frank complained.
Liz leant over the bar and intended giving him a quick peck on the cheek but Frank had other ideas. He moved just as she was pursing up and put his arm around her neck and gave her a full mouth kiss, which she didn’t resist too much. Finally she pulled back and he let her go.
‘Well, happy birthday,’ she gasped, her head all a flutter.
‘I’m having a sort of party later on. Do you want to come?’ he asked smiling.
‘Well I’d like to but…it’s difficult,’ she muttered, thinking about William at home.
‘No buts. It’s a date,’ he said.
‘I…no I can’t. Really. I’ve already got something planned,’ she said quickly.
‘Well after the dance the other week I thought… you know. I’d become your number one priority.’
Liz blushed at the mention of their brief intimacy and became flustered. Excusing herself she disappeared into the kitchen. She leant against the worktop trying to regain control. Her mind was in a whirl, her heart beating wildly. She was at a crossroads in her life and she didn’t know what to do.
At home her husband was clearly suffering from some form of stress disorder whereas in the bar was a fun guy offering the opportunity of excitement. Forbidden fruit, perhaps more. What should she do? What should she do? Risk having an affair and destroying their long term marriage? Well William clearly didn’t think it was significant as he had dismissed their anniversary as being unimportant anyway.
She suddenly felt emboldened. What the hell. It would be fun and she could stop it going too far anyway. After all, he was only inviting her to a party. There would be lots of other people there too. She’d be OK, she convinced herself.
Liz strode out of the kitchen, her decision made. ‘Sorry about that I had to check on something in the oven.’
‘So long as it wasn’t a bun,’ he joked and regretted it immediately as she glowered at him.
‘Well, have you decided whether you’re coming to celebrate my birthday or not?’
‘Yes, of course. It will be fun,’ she heard herself say.
‘That’s great. Got to get back,’ he said, looking at his watch. Quickly downing his pint he added, ‘I’ll pick you up if you like?’
‘Well I’m not sure.’ Liz’s mind was in a whirl. Although he now knew where she lived, she couldn’t get him to pick her up from home. ‘Pick me up by the Rotunda,’ she directed.
She felt a buzz of excitement and heard herself ask. ‘What time?’
‘That’s great. How about 7.30?’ He flashed a knowing smile at her. ‘See you then.’ Frank slipped off the stool and almost skipped joyfully to the door. ‘See you later.’
As Liz gazed at the closing door she was already regretting her decision. What would she tell William?’ she pondered.
Liz drove back home feeling excited by the prospect of a secret dalliance with Frank. His invitation to the birthday party made her feel wickedly coquettish. So on the way home when she stopped to buy him a birthday card she also bought herself some sexy underwear.
She was trying to be cool and downplay Frank’s attention of her. But the common-sense part of her brain wasn’t working. Instead she felt like a schoolgirl with a playground crush, flattered that someone was showing an interest in her.
‘After all, William wasn’
t interested in her or anything else at the moment,’ she argued. ‘Well it wasn’t like it was going to be a serious affair. Just a bit of fun. Yes, that’s all. Just a bit of fun,’ she convinced herself. She would go for a laugh.
CHAPTER 19
It took almost a week for William to get his composure back and feel strong enough to leave the flat.
During that time alone in the flat William’s mood had worsened. He was full of self-pity. He couldn’t sleep because the recording of Pete’s final actions kept playing over and over in his head.
If only Pete had checked the wires himself as he usually did, rather than relying on Williams judgement, perhaps he’d be home celebrating the end of the campaign. Instead, Pete had trusted that William had accurately sussed it out. With disastrous consequences. The bomb maker had clearly got to understand the way they collaborated and had deliberately misled them.
He refused to seek any medical help or speak to any of his colleagues.
Now at last he felt ‘human’ enough to show an interest in their relationship. He picked up the anniversary card she’d given him a week previously and slowly ripped it open. His normally steady hands were still shaking as he slid his finger under the flap and pulled out the card.
Liz normally sent his cards to wherever he was posted. However, he’d told her of their return to the UK and possibly that he and the card might pass in transit, so she’d held on to it.
It was her normal humorous type of card. On the glossy front cover a cartoon woman with arms crossed standing by a toilet.
The words said ‘You’re my favourite husband so long as you leave the seat down and don’t fart in your sleep’.
He smiled. She had written inside. All my love to my hero. Can’t wait to get you home. She’d obviously kissed the card and left an imprint of her lips in lipstick. He lifted it to his own and kissed the lip signature. He felt a pang of affection.
He recalled the other homecomings when they’d showered together and energetically made up for lost time, afterward dozing off in each other’s arms in the marital bed. His recollections stirred some positivity in his mind and he vowed he would make up for the lost week.
The small flat was dark and gloomy and making him feel claustrophobic. He needed to get out and get some fresh air. Somehow his guilt was easier to bear.
He got dressed quickly and made his way to the front door. He looked in a small porcelain jar where Liz normally kept a spare front door key. As he dug into it he saw a shiny chain.
‘She’s obviously treated herself to a new bracelet,’ he thought.
He pulled it out to admire it then saw the name ‘Frank’ engraved on it. He did a double take.
‘What the hell! Is she two timing me?’ he wondered. ‘Perhaps she picked it up in the park. There’s obviously a simple explanation, surely?’
He put the bracelet back into the jar and retrieved the spare key he’d been looking for.
He left the flat and walked into the town centre gloomily staring at the pavement, Pete’s death and the mystery bracelet whirling through his mind.
It was a surreal feeling to be walking through the beautiful Montpellier gardens unarmed, whereas only a few weeks previously he had been armed to the hilt and constantly on alert for insurgents at every corner. He felt naked, exposed.
In this current genteel environment it was difficult to think that he had been doing delicate defusing jobs in impossibly hot desert temperatures with the threat of been shot at any time.
People were going about their business without an apparent care in the world. They didn’t know or probably didn’t care about the sacrifice that had been made in their name. He knew that out in the desert kids would still be stepping on IEDs, dying, losing limbs. The insurgents would continue their struggle to impose their preferred way of life. Nothing had changed, except Pete was dead and for what?
He made his way to the Copa bar in the blocked off Regent Street and ordered himself a pint of bitter. There was nothing like a pint of British beer from a pub. He had often met Liz there when she was working on a set at the nearby Everyman Theatre.
He carried his glass outside on to the terrace and watched the shoppers and workers in their lunchbreak scurrying back and forth.
The first pint went down and didn’t touch the sides. He felt the beer buzz after he’d had only half a pint. He remembered he’d had little to eat during the day. So when he got the next pint he ordered a lasagne. He had no intention of getting wasted and wanted to be back home when Liz returned from the pub.
Perhaps he’d buy her the flowers he’d forgotten for their wedding anniversary and to say sorry for slapping her.
He felt ill at ease recalling the incident. He had never hit her before, but she’d goaded him by disrespecting Pete’s death and…but what about the bracelet? His logical brain switched in. No, he mustn’t jump to conclusions. There might be a perfectly understandable explanation.
After he’d finished his second pint and eaten the piping hot lasagne, he made his way to a flower stall in the Promenade and bought a bouquet of flowers for £30. As he carried the flowers through Imperial Gardens on his way back to the flat he felt very self-conscious. People looked at him. Women smiled. He wasn’t sure if the flowers would help make up for his uncharacteristic assault on his wife. He hoped it would. He went back home and waited.
PART TWO
Excavation
CHAPTER 20
Frank made his way happily back to work pleased with himself and the prospect of a date with Liz. He was supposed to have completed digging six inspection holes for the surveyors to complete their site surveys. However, his ‘unavoidable’ delay due to the call of several pints and chatting Liz up in the pub had taken longer than he planned. After all, it was his birthday.
When he got back to the old airfield, his business partner Joe, was waiting for him and tamping mad.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ he demanded.
‘What’s it to do with you what I do in my lunch break?’ Frank slurred, the beer buzz giving him courage.
‘A lot. This job, this contract and my frigging house, that’s what. We got the contract for geotechnical surveying because we’ve got a good reputation. I don’t want you bleeding well jeopardising that. Remember, this is your firm as well as mine.’
‘Alright, keep your frigging hair on. I’ll finish it before they arrive.’
You’ll never finish all of them and put the side supports in before they arrive. I should have never trusted your judgement.’
‘Look, if you get out of my way and stop whinging I can get on with it.’
At which stage he pushed the other out of the way and climbed into his JCB.
‘You’ll be the death of me you will,’ Joe shouted over the top of the revving engine. ‘I want it done by four o’clock and don’t stray off the marks. There are high pressure oil and water pipes down there. We don’t want any more disasters. The insurance company won’t cover us again if you cock up.’
‘Oh piss off and let me get on,’ Frank shouted, annoyed that his happiness was being overshadowed by this petty work issue. ‘The more you talk, the less I’ll get done.’
‘Four o’clock, hear me? Joe shouted, ‘And don’t get pissing off before I bring them back here.’
‘Yes, yes. Now get out the way.’
As Joe disappeared off site Frank went into hyper drive to complete his tasks in time using the back hoe to dig out the holes and by 3:45 he was nearing his target.
‘There you go my son. Five holes done and sides shored up. Just a few more shovels of this final one and the jobs a good ‘un’. I think we can get away without shoring this one. Although I got to admit the ground does look a bit soggy. I’m sure it’ll be firm enough for them to do their quick inspection. I ain’t got time now if they’re coming back for four.’
As he manoeuvred the bucket for the final time, the hoe scrapped against something.
‘Oh what the hell was that? Isn’t th
at always the way.’
Frank gazed into the hole and at the bottom he spotted a large metal object that his digging had uncovered.
‘Oh shit!’ Don’t say there’s an unmarked pipe down there. I’m sure I’m in the right place…unless he marked it out wrong of course. Oh balls, I’d have completed it in ten minutes too.’
At that moment his mobile rang; he recognised Joe’s number. ‘Yes, hello Joe. What is it? Yes it’s me…yes I’ve nearly done…what, what do you mean they can’t make it today? I’ve worked like a ding-bat to get this lot done.’
Although he made a token protest he was actually feeling a great sense of relief that he could examine whatever it was he had unearthed.
‘Oh, by the way Joe…Joe you still there? Bleeding useless phone…crap signal around here…Hello, oh he’s gone. All that rushing around and they won’t be coming until tomorrow after all,’ he bleated.
Before he put his phone away he decided to send a text message to Liz.
‘Enjoyed the kiss, look forward 2 more 2nite. See you at 7.30. LOL Frank xxx’
Smiling to himself, he put the phone into his back pocket.
What Frank didn’t know was that Liz had left her mobile at the flat on charge.
‘Well I suppose the pubs still open.’ Frank thought, looking at his watch. ‘Although the lovely Liz only works til three. Whatever, I’ll make up for it tonight,’ he said, already fantasising about their next encounter.
‘I suppose I’d better see what’s down here first. Hopefully it’s just an old oil drum they used for refuelling the planes.’
Frank dropped an aluminium ladder into the 10 feet deep hole and climbed down with a spade to examine the mysterious object. He was surprised to feel the bottom of the ladder sink down into mud as he climbed down. Clearly the ground was marshier than he thought. As he alighted from the ladder he noted several of the rungs had disappeared into the ooze.