by Edie Baylis
“I won’t,” Maggie muttered automatically. She had no intention of it. She felt even sicker and more shakier than ever. She leant back unsteadily against Dan as rising waves of light-headedness engulfed her.
“What’s the matter with you?” Dan snapped. Another woman he liked swooning over that fucker no doubt.
Maggie took several deep breaths in an attempt to normalise her escalating pulse rate. “I need another drink, Dan,” she whispered. This was too much. Was she back with him? Oh fuck. Those two back together again?
Maggie was well out of her comfort zone, even more so now and she wasn’t sure whether she could keep up the pretence of handling it.
JANE HAD LOVED BEING on Seth’s arm once more. The feel of his strength next to her felt as it always had. Wonderful.
Reminding herself they’d both moved on she forced herself to break away from him once they’d reached the bar after wading their way through all the people wanting to acknowledge them.
Jane took the drink Seth passed to her and smiled. “I’d best go and mingle. Have a good night, Jim.”
Walking away, Jane could feel Seth’s eyes burning into her back. She knew he was scrutinising her. Why was his gaze drilling into her if he’d moved on?
Seeing Maggie the other end of the bar, Jane took a deep breath and quickly walked in that direction. “Hey Mags,” she said as cheerily as she could manage. “Dan, hi. Didn’t realise you two knew each other?”
“Hello Marie,” Dan smiled, eager to maintain his professionalism. Maybe if she took him seriously then she’d put in a good word for him with Bill and get him properly in around here.
“J... erm, Marie, I’m glad you’re here. Can I talk to you for a moment?” Maggie blustered, grabbing Jane’s arm. “Privately?”
Dan frowned. How did Maggie know Marie?
Jane smiled. “Can you excuse us for a moment, Dan?” Not leaving him any time to respond, she led Maggie off in the direction of one of the dressing rooms, knowing that tonight they would be empty.
Forcing herself not to glance in Seth’s direction as she passed him at the bar, Jane nevertheless felt his stare quite clearly burning into her. Seth, don’t. Just don’t. PLEASE!
“Jane, what the hell is going on?” Maggie said as they walked towards the door.
“Sssh!” Jane hissed. “I’m Marie, remember! Don’t fuck up.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Maggie garbled and followed Jane into a small room off the main corridor. As the door closed behind her, she clutched at her arm once more.
“What the fuck are you doing with Seth?” Maggie yelped, her voice so high-pitched it sounded like a strangulated scream. “You’re back with him aren’t you? I knew it. Fuck! God Jane, have you told him about the baby?”
Jane put her hand up to silence Maggie. She didn’t need this right now. “Whoa! Now hang on Mags. Hold your horses! No I’m not back with him and no I haven’t said anything about the baby.”
“He’s definitely not dead then?” Maggie squeaked.
“Definitely not,” Jane said quietly. “But get this - he thought I was dead!”
“You?”
Jane nodded. “I know. It’s all insane.”
“Oh God Jane, you’ll end up with him again like you always did. It’s all going to go horribly wrong.” The panic in Maggie’s voice was escalating. “I can’t go through it all again.”
“You can’t go through it all again?” Jane laughed hollowly. “Funnily enough, nor can I, Maggie. It’s not going to happen. Besides, he’s moved on, as have I.”
Maggie frowned. “He hasn’t moved on. He hasn’t moved on at all. I saw the expression on his face when he walked in with you. The way he looked at you. The way he’s always looked at you. Oh God Jane, he hasn’t moved the fuck on at all and nor might I add, have you!”
Although Jane’s heart surged hearing Maggie’s words, it didn’t make any difference. It couldn’t.
Maggie raised her eyebrows. “You will end up back with him, I can tell. I know you. You always go back to each other. Only death could keep you apart and even that seems to have managed to evade you both!”
“Listen,” Jane hissed. “You as well as I know it’s not something that can happen and you’re not being very helpful here,” she folded her arms and scowled. “Furthermore, since when have you been with that Dan?”
Maggie fiddled with her hair. “On and off a while now.”
“I don’t know much about him, apart from that he’s the general lackey around here,” Jane said then stopped, realising her comment had most probably sounded horribly bitchy. She wasn’t trying to be. She was on edge. “Hey,” she grabbed Maggie’s arm. “You haven’t told him about me, have you?”
“NO!” Maggie exclaimed. “Of course I haven’t!”
“The thing is, Mags,” Jane muttered, “we’ve come close a couple of times. Me and Seth I mean. I shot this guy and Seth...”
“You shot WHO? What the...” Maggie screeched.
“Shut up! You stupid or something?” Jane hissed. “Just a guy. Long story. Anyway, Seth turned up. Something almost happened between us, but it didn’t.”
Maggie stared at Jane. Nothing had changed. Nothing at all. This was not good. And now everyone was here. It was a disaster waiting to happen and she didn’t know what to do about it. Or worse – what she could do about it? Very little it seemed because as usual, everything was out of her control.
Feeling even more stressed, Maggie failed to think through what she was about to say before she spoke. “Sally was bloody obsessed with him,” she raised her arms in exasperation. “Now I mean I had no idea this Jim she lived with was Seth and obviously nor did she. I mean, she knew fuck all about him.”
“Wait a minute,” Jane interjected, things starting to fall into place with what Maggie had said before. “You’re telling me this Sally or whatever her name is, was shacked up with Seth?” Her eyes narrowed and her mind began working overtime. Oh yes, he’d definitely moved on hadn’t he!
Angrily Jane began rummaging in her bag. She needed an upper. Her blood felt like it was boiling in her veins. To think Seth had such a bee in his bonnet thinking her and Ben were an item, the hypocritical two-faced bastard!
Setting up a couple of lines on the dressing table, Jane quickly snorted one through a rolled-up note and offered the second to Maggie.
“Sally was living with him, yes,” Maggie shook her head in response to the coke. “I thought the guy was a head case the way she said he behaved.”
She watched Jane hoover up the second line. “He sounded well fucked up. Hadn’t ever kissed the poor cow in the two years they’d been together. Treated her like shit as well.”
“And you didn’t notice this Jim was my Seth?” Jane snarled.
Maggie flinched. “Jane, I never saw him. He’d left her by the time I knew her, but she got grief from him every time she bumped into him. He went to live with Dan in the end and told him nothing either. He’s still there. I know that because I have to put up with the screaming from the bloody tarts he brings back!” Realising she probably shouldn’t have said that, Maggie felt sick.
“So your friend, this Sally, was living with Seth and then he moves in with your boyfriend and you’re expecting me to believe you’d never fucking seen him?” Jane growled.
Her patience was wearing thin. Why did everyone feel the need to lie? She’d been better off not being involved with anyone. It was always the bloody same.
“But it’s true!” Maggie pleaded. “You have to believe me. I’ve been trying to work out this Jim’s involvement with Digger, but now it all makes sense.”
Jane had had enough and didn’t believe a word. “Oh save it, Maggie!” Grabbing her bag, she walked towards the dressing room door, her face like thunder.
“But it’s TRUE!” Maggie whined. “Sally’s left town.”
“Good fucking job,” Jane snarled, raw jealousy surfacing regardless of her promise to herself.
“But she thinks I’
m involved with all the shit that went on in the past and was threatening to involve the police when she left,” Maggie squeaked. “I don’t know where she’s gone.”
Jane slammed her bag down on the surface. “You told her about everything?” she screamed incredulously.
“Not everything...” Maggie spluttered.
Springing forward, Jane pinned Maggie against the wall by her throat. “You stupid COW! You’re a fucking liability! Always have been. What were you thinking of?”
Maggie began to cry. “I-I didn’t think she’d react like that. I was trying to warn her off stalking Jim, I mean, Seth. And stop her getting involved with Digger. She was obsessed. I didn’t know it was him did I?”
Releasing her grip from Maggie’s throat, Jane gave her a withering stare before turning and walking from the room.
PHIL HAD BEEN WATCHING Seth closely and had been all day. He’d seen the way he’d looked at Jane and knew things were at risk of going wrong the minute he’d seen him walk in tonight with her on his arm.
Since that point, Seth’s full concentration had been solely on her, his eyes following her everywhere she went. He couldn’t allow this again. It had been a shock for all of them discovering Jane was still alive, but he hadn’t pulled Seth back to sanity and gone to all the trouble to ensure he was out of the frame just for him to go back down the same road.
Phil watched Jane move across the room, her face like thunder. Continuing past, she carried on until she was stopped by Digger who handed her a drink and engaged her in conversation.
Phil glanced towards Seth, seeing unsurprisingly his stare was fixed on Digger and Jane. When Digger led Jane to the dance floor, Phil could taste Seth’s anger bubbling like a cauldron.
As Seth pushed himself away from the bar, Phil quickly approached. “Seth,” he hissed. “I know what you’re doing and it’s got to fucking stop. Now.”
Seth’s eyes swivelled around angrily. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growled, tipping his pint into his mouth.
“Oh yes you do,” Phil spoke quietly in Seth’s ear. “When I found out about Jane’s miraculous return, you promised me faithfully you wouldn’t be going after her.”
“Yes I did and I’m not,” Seth replied through gritted teeth. “We spoke and she’s moved on. As have I. You don’t need to worry, Phil. It’s all in hand.”
Phil leant on the bar and fixed a smile, nodding at various people walking past. “But I am worrying, Seth. Do you think I’m fucking blind? I can see you can’t keep your eyes off her and that she’s driving you mental.” He needed to get this into Seth’s skull. “You can’t do this again. Not after everything that’s happened.”
“I’m not!” Seth hissed.
“You’ll fuck things up. Again.’ Phil glared into Seth’s eyes. ‘I won’t pick you up this time.”
“You won’t need to. Now fucking leave it, Phil,” Seth growled, watching Digger very carefully as he danced with Jane. Holding her close. Too close. Get the fuck off her.
Pushing himself away from the bar, Seth purposefully walked away from Phil in the direction of the Gents. He needed to get out of here for a moment before he lamped someone.
FIFTY FOUR
ELIZA WELDED HERSELF once more to Seth’s side and placed her hand on the satin lapel of his jacket. “Yes please, babe,” she purred, holding out her empty champagne flute.
Seth scowled. He really hadn’t helped his case by kissing Eliza the other night to piss Jane off. He didn’t know why he’d bothered because it hadn’t elicited any reaction anyway. All he’d achieved was getting Eliza wrapped around him again.
Feeling another hand caress his thigh, Seth turned to his other side and forced a smile at Chantal. He wasn’t interested. How could he be interested now Jane was back?
Angrily scanning the packed room again, he couldn’t see Jane or Digger. Was he with Jane? Jealousy and rage surged up though him once again. There was something niggling in the back of his mind about all of this, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it and now Phil was on his case too.
Suddenly spotting Jane walking slowly through the room, his senses were on full alert. His gaze roamed over the tight red velvet of the dress clinging to every perfect curve of her body and his throat constricted. He was well aware virtually every man’s eyes in the room were on his wife.
Wife. Their vows all those years ago hadn’t meant anything to Jane had they?
The coke Seth had done in the toilets buzzed angrily in his brain and he could feel his nerve endings jerking in response to the pained inner turmoil he was experiencing.
Jane was in conversation with a well-dressed man Seth half-recognised as a member of Miller’s firm. Bill wasn’t on bad terms with that lot, but it wasn’t a secret when they learnt of Carter’s demise they’d be offering out for at least part control of the patch. They’d have to be watched carefully. Very carefully indeed.
Seeing Jane smile at the handsome man, Seth’s insides churned yet again and when her eyes suddenly moved and met his, his stomach lurched worryingly. With complete cold contempt she locked gazes with him and then turned away back to the copper-haired man.
Smiling coquettishly, she placed her hand on the man’s chest as she spoke. Watching the man whisper something in Jane’s ear, Seth saw her laugh and his anger flared. She was doing it to rile him.
Quickly turning back to Chantal and Eliza, Seth flicked on his charming persona like a light and smiled widely. He wasn’t bothered remember? “Let’s get you those drinks then ladies.”
“SO HOW DO YOU KNOW Marie then, Maggie?” Dan pressed. He’d asked her three times now and she was still being evasive. “What’s going on? I saw you disappear with her and then you came back in a right state.”
Maggie wrung her hands and stared off into space, wishing she could just leave. In fact, she wished she’d never come.
“Why are you lying to me?” Dan yelled far too loudly.
Maggie glanced around, aware his voice had drawn the attention of several people standing close by. Oh Christ, this was going from bad to worse. “Dan, stop it. You’re embarrassing me!”
“Embarrassing you? You’re the one who’s hiding things,” Dan raged, the shed load of beer he’d put away giving him the belief that if he kept on, he’d get the required information out of her. Plus he’d just about had enough of being treated like this by everyone.
“Everything ok, Maggie?” Seth drawled, walking past with a new bottle of champagne. “I thought it was you. Long time no see.”
Paling to a ghastly shade of white, Maggie forced her face to move into an expression she hoped resembled a smile. “Se... Jim, hi! Can’t believe it’s you!”
“Catch you later,” Seth smirked and then nodded at Dan. “Hey Dan, you’re a dark horse. Keeping this one under wraps huh?”
Dan found himself unable to react and watched numbly as Jim returned to Eliza and Chantal. He turned to face Maggie. “So you know him as well then? Even though you pretended you didn’t? I thought as much,” he snarled.
“I, erm...” Maggie blustered. What the hell did she say now?
“Have you fucked him too?” Dan screamed.
“WHAT?” Maggie cried. “No! Of course not!” This was getting ridiculous.
Dan nodded towards Digger who was staring intently in Maggie’s direction. “What’s going on, Maggie? You seem to know all of these people, but won’t tell me how,” he spat bitterly. “And now it appears you know Marie too?” He was losing his temper.
Eliza suddenly appeared from behind and put her arm around Maggie. “Oh, that’s not really Marie...” She smiled sarcastically. “Did Maggie not tell you, Dan?”
Maggie paled further. “Eliza! Hi...” Seeing Eliza was drunk and wore her familiar vindictive expression on her overly-painted face, she knew she was going to get in serious shit if she didn’t get this woman away from Dan and fast.
“Haven’t seen you in ages!” Maggie gushed and grabbing Eliza’s arm, attemp
ted to steer her back towards the bar.
Eliza shrugged Maggie’s hand off contemptuously and returned her plastic smile. “Oh, but you have Mags, have you forgotten? I was just saying to Dan here, I’m surprised you haven’t levelled with him.”
Eliza pressed herself close to Dan, her breasts squashing tightly against his chest. “I would have thought you’d have been the first she told...”
Maggie was frozen to the spot and her mouth would not move however much she wanted it to. She felt like screaming. Eliza wouldn’t would she? She wasn’t that stupid, surely?
Although flattered Eliza was pushing her ample assets against him, Dan clearly recalled the night he’d spent in Eliza and Chantal’s company. Hopefully she wouldn’t mention it. Besides, at this precise moment in time he was more concerned as to what she’d been on about regarding Marie.
Eliza turned to Maggie and smiled maliciously. “Oh Maggie, don’t look so worried. Me and your Dan only had the one night of fun. It wasn’t anything serious now was it, babe?” She began stroking Dan’s arm.
Dan shook Eliza off and frowned. He knew Maggie was staring at him with betrayal and hurt plastered across her face. What the hell was Eliza playing at? “What were you saying about Marie?”
“Oh come on, you’re joking right? You know full well Marie isn’t who she says she is, don’t you?”
Maggie nearly choked and spat her drink back into her glass. “ELIZA!”
“What’s up Maggie?” Eliza turned back to Dan. “Yes, Marie’s actually called Jane. She calls herself Marie because she wants to keep it quiet that she’s been in the nick for years. I was surprised she’d been released so soon to be honest,” she continued whilst Dan stood listening in amazement. “But then she got away with killing Seth didn’t she?” Eliza let out a high-pitched tinkling laugh. “Except she didn’t...”
“Who the fuck is Seth?” Dan questioned, not quite sure whether both Maggie and Eliza were winding him up.