Perfect Wives

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Those grey clouds are increasing. I think we should get back. Feels like rain’s on the way,’ he said, standing up and brushing himself down.

  Jodi felt awkward. What had she said that was wrong? She’d thought she was the queen of avoiding personal conversation, but it seemed Sebastian took that notion to a whole different level.

  ‘You don’t want to get soaked, little fella,’ he said to Saul.

  ‘I don’t mind,’ he said, slotting his hand into Sebastian’s. Jodi was going to tell him not to be so forward, but the instant smile that spread across Sebastian’s features told her to let it go.

  Saul chattered happily the whole way back. ‘Why don’t you come in and have some coffee?’ he asked Sebastian. ‘Or a mug of the smelly stuff Mum drinks. It’s totally pooey,’ he said, crossing his eyes and pretending to strangle himself.

  ‘It’s a herbal infusion. Saul’s right. It’s utterly vile but you don’t have to drink it.’

  ‘If that’s a promise, I’ll pop in for a few minutes,’ he conceded.

  She unlocked the cottage door and they went inside.

  ‘Wow!’ Sebastian was taken aback. ‘You’ve done an amazing job in here, Jodi. I love it,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks.’ She smiled easily. ‘We love it too.’

  ‘I’m very glad you bought it,’ Sebastian admitted. ‘For so long it was unloved and uncared for. I didn’t get rid of it for the money. I simply wanted it to be brought to life again. You’ve done a wonderful job,’ he said, glancing around appreciatively.

  ‘If you only wanted the place to be loved and lived in you should have said. I’d gladly have taken it for free!’ she quipped. He rewarded her with a twinkly-eyed grin.

  Saul clambered on to the Aga as Jodi made them all a drink. ‘I like living here,’ he said. ‘We never went for walks like that before and there’s nothing but cars in towns. I’m staying at Bakers Valley for ever.’ He nodded firmly.

  ‘I’m glad you like it so much,’ Sebastian said. ‘How about you, Jodi? Are you happy to have moved here?’

  ‘You bet,’ she said, gripping her mug. As her mobile phone rang, her expression changed. ‘Can you excuse me for a moment?’ She walked towards her bedroom.

  ‘We’ll be here being cosy, isn’t that right?’ Sebastian said, ruffling Saul’s hair.

  ‘Well?’ Mac asked icily.

  ‘I told you last time. The gravy train has dried up, Mac. Stay out of my life. I’m not going to allow you to bully me any longer.’

  ‘Bully? That’s a little strong, don’t you think?’ he said, through gritted teeth.

  ‘Leave me alone, Mac.’ She sighed.

  ‘How swiftly you forget, Jodi,’ he sneered. ‘You’re just like all the rest of the conceited actor ass-wipes. You crawled out of the filth you grew up in and didn’t mind taking a leg up when I offered. Now when I come to you for help you slam the door in my face.’

  ‘That’s not true and you know it.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ He laughed bitterly. ‘Maybe your mother was right all along. Didn’t she tell you for years you were a jumped-up little cow? She may have been a drunk and an addict but I’m starting to think she knew you better than you thought.’

  ‘That’s enough, Mac. I don’t have to listen to this crap.’

  ‘What if I were to have a little chat with Saul? Tell him what kind of a mean, nasty woman his darling mummy really is?’

  ‘Mac, you make me sick. Keep Saul out of this. He has nothing to do with any of your lies.’

  ‘Don’t you reckon he deserves to know what you’re really like, Jodi?’

  ‘I’m telling you, Mac,’ Jodi said very slowly. ‘Stay away from my son and keep out of my life. You promised.’

  ‘But you haven’t kept your promises, Jodi. You said you’d love me for ever. But you lied. Your little boy deserves to be warned about you. You’re not fit to be a mother, or have you forgotten already?’

  ‘I’m hanging up now, Mac,’ Jodi said. Her entire body was trembling as she swallowed bile.

  ‘You haven’t heard the last of me, Jodi. You don’t get to push me aside because I’m not good enough for your A-lister lifestyle. Karma has a habit of biting you on the ass, my girl. Get ready to feel the teeth.’

  As he hung up, the tightness in Jodi’s chest was almost overwhelming. Would she ever be free of her past? Maybe Mac and her mother were right. Maybe she didn’t deserve to be free of the shackles she’d been born with. She’d always thought she could make things better and create a wonderful life for herself.

  Her mother’s scathing words and curled lip echoed in her mind. You think you’re better than me. I can see it in your eyes. You ruined my life, ya hear? I was fine until you came along and tied me to this dive. If it wasn’t for you I could’ve been someone … I could’ve been someone …

  The sound of Saul’s chatter mixed with Sebastian’s deep, lilting voice pulled her away from the dull ache that was lurking inside and made her smile. She had a chance to live the life she’d always wanted here at Bakers Valley. She needed to ensure Mac didn’t destroy it all. She just wasn’t sure how to stop him.

  Chapter 13

  It was two days before Hallowe’en and the children were working themselves into a frenzy when Francine pitched up outside Cameron’s classroom. She was living in a nightmare. She’d kept her contact with the school mothers to a minimum. Her nerves couldn’t take the constant barrage of complaints about Cameron. Although everyone had been polite to her so far, she was bracing herself for a massive blow-out from someone soon. She figured it was best to keep a low profile.

  She hated herself for it, but she’d been avoiding Jodi Ludlum like the plague. Her initial plan of making friends now seemed like the worst idea ever.

  As she waited for Cameron to appear, Jodi arrived behind her. ‘Francine!’ she said cheerfully. ‘Long time no see. How are things? I got the flyer about the Hallowe’en party. Jane and I were just walking in together and she was telling me it’s usually a lot of fun.’

  ‘Yes, of course! I do hope I can count on all of you to come along and support it! It’s no fun if people stay away.’ Francine’s eyes were wide and she was speaking too fast. ‘Now, there’ll be the usual games and delicious food, spooky music, wonderful decorations and Lord only knows what else. You’ll be there, won’t you?’ she asked, focusing on Jodi directly.

  ‘Count Saul and me in,’ Jodi said firmly.

  ‘Right, right. Good. Great, in fact. Super,’ Francine said, yanking at her clothing and flicking her hair in agitation.

  Jodi regarded the other woman. Bloody hell, she thought. Francine had lost weight and was drawn and pale. ‘Are you okay? You look a bit frazzled,’ she asked quietly, as the other women filtered away.

  ‘Sorry?’ Francine’s smile didn’t falter.

  Jodi flushed. ‘I didn’t mean to insult you. I haven’t seen you around and I was just wondering if you’re feeling okay. You just seem a little, eh, hassled …’ She put a hand on Francine’s arm.

  ‘Oh, I’m fine! Everything’s great. Just up to my eyes in arrangements, that’s all. First there’s this Hallowe’en party, and then we’re straight into the whole yuletide thing! We have a Christmas ball at the Beech House Hotel, first Saturday in December. It’s our main fundraiser for the year. We donate some money to the local Santa appeal and the rest goes to the school. You’ll be there, won’t you?’

  Francine was talking at a hundred miles an hour. Her head was bobbing up and down so quickly she was making Jodi dizzy and her eyes were so wide she reminded Jodi of the lemur in the movie Madagascar.

  ‘I’ll have to check my schedule but thanks for letting me know about it.’ Jodi thought she’d rather gouge her own eyes out with a fondue fork than go to the ball on her own, but she could deal with that at a later date.

  ‘Fine. See you around,’ Francine said, and turned on her heel.

  ‘Catch you soon.’ The classroom door opened and the children began to stream out. ‘S
aul, come on. Let’s go home.’

  Francine stopped dead and turned back. ‘I’m taking Cameron to the café in the village for a hot chocolate. Would you and Saul like to join us?’

  ‘Thanks for asking us, but I think we’ll go on home,’ Jodi said.

  ‘Oh, do come,’ Francine pressed. ‘Unless you have a prior engagement? It’ll be lovely.’

  A brief silence hung in the air.

  ‘Perhaps another day,’ Jodi said.

  ‘It’ll be really quick and we haven’t had a catch-up for so long! Jane, you’ll come too, won’t you?’ Francine turned to Jane, who was attempting to coax Katie into the car beside them.

  ‘Oh, I need to go to the supermarket.’

  ‘That’s perfect! The café’s on the way!’ Francine shrilled. ‘I need to speak to you both, as it happens.’

  Jodi looked at Jane and shrugged. ‘Sure. But I’ll literally stay fifteen minutes and then I’ll need to get home,’ she said.

  ‘Super! Thank you. My treat, so let’s go. Boys, come along!’ she called out.

  Saul ran to Jodi.

  ‘We’re just going for a quick hot choccie with Cameron and his mum in the village,’ she said, sounding upbeat.

  ‘You come with us and we’ll meet Mum there,’ Francine said, ushering Saul to her car.

  ‘I’ll take the boys down,’ Jodi said.

  ‘It’s fine. I’m on to it,’ Francine called, over her shoulder. ‘Katie, you too. In you hop, darling.’

  Saul stared miserably at Jodi, who shrugged her shoulders. She tossed his stuff into the back of the Mini and slammed the door, wondering why she was about to drive an empty car to the village and have hot chocolate with Francine when she’d already made sandwiches and soup at home.

  By the time Jodi found a parking space in the busy little village street, Francine was already at the top of the queue in the café. Cameron was charging up and down with no regard for the other customers. Katie and Saul were huddled together.

  ‘Come on, darlings, let’s stand here and wait for our order,’ Francine said chirpily.

  Saul ran towards Jodi the minute he saw her. ‘I want to go home,’ he wailed. ‘Cameron was kicking the back of his mum’s seat the whole way here. Now he’s being really naughty. I don’t like it.’

  ‘I know, pet, we’ll stay a few minutes and then we’ll head back. Deal?’

  ‘Deal,’ Saul said quietly.

  As Jodi attempted to join the queue, Francine called, over the other people’s heads, ‘Come up here to me. I’ve ordered you a herb tea as I know you won’t drink coffee unless I make it! Will you have a sambo, or there’s spinach and pinenut quiche, which looks tasty? There you are, Jane! I’ve a latte on the way for you. What would you like to eat?’

  Jodi made her way past the other people in the queue. At first they seemed miffed, but their expressions turned to delighted shock as they realised who she was. Neither Jodi nor Francine missed the elbowing and muttering behind hands.

  ‘Herb tea is fine for me, thanks,’ Jodi said, just above a whisper.

  ‘Well, if you’re sure, Jodi,’ Francine said, emphasising her name to clear any doubt as to whom she might be.

  ‘I’m not hungry, thanks,’ Jane said, as she reached them.

  ‘Fine, fine,’ Francine said, dismissing her somewhat. ‘You two find a table and I’ll be along in a minute!’ She was enjoying being in charge.

  Saul, Katie and Cameron were over near the far corner, so they gravitated towards them. As the mums approached, Cameron yanked Saul into a headlock and began to pull him dangerously towards a solid wall.

  ‘Hey, Cameron! Take it easy!’ Jodi said. ‘Shoving heads into walls isn’t a good plan.’

  ‘That’s too rough. I don’t like it when boys do that,’ Katie said, looking frightened.

  ‘Good boy, Cameron. Come and sit now,’ Francine said, as she balanced the tray. ‘Boys will be boys!’ she said to Jodi.

  Jodi smiled because she felt she ought to, but inside she felt like grabbing Cameron and saying, ‘Don’t strangle my son, you little shit.’ But that wasn’t the done thing and the staring villagers mightn’t appreciate it.

  Jodi was aware that Saul had spent a lot of time on set with herself and Darius. They’d travelled so much that he had never been in constant contact with children his own age. That was one of the reasons she’d moved home to Ireland. But now that she was being forced to tackle rough behaviour and uncomfortable situations with other people’s kids, she felt out of her depth.

  Saul had his father’s sweet nature, although Jodi had noticed he was well able to stand up for himself. He had a confidence in himself that she only felt in front of the cameras.

  Cameron finally let go of Saul.

  ‘You hurt me, Cameron!’ Saul said. ‘If you keep on being mean to me, I won’t play with you.’

  ‘You can sit beside me,’ Katie said kindly, as Saul rubbed his neck. ‘I don’t strangle.’

  ‘You shut it!’ Cameron yelled at Katie.

  ‘Come and sit with your friends, Cameron,’ Francine intervened.

  Jane and Jodi exchanged a brief look as Francine chirped away, seemingly oblivious to her son’s behaviour.

  ‘Doesn’t the hot chocolate look gorgeous?’ Francine said, sounding rather like Mary Poppins on speed. ‘Yummy! Bet you can’t wait to taste it,’ she continued. ‘I must say, the muffins don’t look quite the way mine would turn out, but never mind!’ She encouraged Cameron to sit still. ‘Good boy. Now, you three children do us all a favour and be the best little dotes you can so Jodi, Jane and I can have a lovely chat.’

  Her smile never faltered. Her tone remained upbeat. But her back was ramrod straight and Jodi noticed she was perched on the edge of her seat.

  ‘So!’ Francine continued. ‘Seeing as we’re all here I might as well let you know I’ve decided to give up work. Take a sabbatical for a while.’

  ‘Really?’ Jane said, shocked. ‘Why? I thought you loved working.’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Francine said. ‘But I was made an offer I can’t refuse. I’ll take the very large cheque. Once an accountant, always an accountant.’ She giggled. ‘There are a million and one things I want to do, so now’s my time.’

  ‘Good for you,’ Jodi said. ‘When do you finish up then?’

  Cameron leaped from his chair on top of Saul, sending all the hot drinks flying and knocking Saul on to the tiled floor.

  ‘Saul!’ Jodi screamed.

  The thud, followed by a brief silence, was horrifying. As she pulled him up from the floor, Jodi discovered that her son’s nose was pumping blood and the poor little boy was bellowing in shock and pain. Katie burst into uncontrollable sobs too, holding her hands out to Jane. ‘Mummy, Saul’s bleeding! I want to go home.’

  ‘I want to go home too,’ Saul cried.

  ‘Okay, honey. Let’s go,’ Jodi said, hugging him.

  Jane jumped up and shoved a paper napkin at her. ‘Pinch the top of the bridge of his nose to stop the bleeding. Poor Saul, you’re very brave,’ she said.

  ‘Oh dear! He’ll be fine in a second. Here, let me take him to the Ladies and I’ll have that nose cleaned up in no time,’ Francine said, attempting to take Saul from Jodi’s arms.

  ‘No, thank you, Francine. We’re going home now,’ Jodi said curtly.

  ‘Cameron didn’t mean it, sure you didn’t, Cameron.’ Francine stared at her son.

  ‘Can you pass my bag, please?’ Jodi asked.

  ‘Don’t go – we were having such a lovely time. I’m sure Saul will be ready to play again in a minute if he sits on your lap quietly and finishes his hot chocolate,’ Francine begged.

  ‘No, thanks. We’re going home now,’ Jodi repeated. ‘The hot chocolate is all over the floor along with my son’s blood so I think we’re finished here. Can I have my bag, please, Francine?’

  ‘But it’s such a shame to—’

  ‘Please pass my bag!’ Jodi said, slightly louder.

  Francine d
id as she was asked, and Jodi threaded her way out of the busy coffee shop with the still-sobbing Saul in her arms.

  Katie was clinging to Jane like a baby koala, gulping with shock.

  ‘We’re going to call it a day too. Besides, I have shopping to do,’ Jane said, not making eye contact with Francine.

  ‘Oh, please don’t go. I wanted to go through some of the pointers for the Hallowe’en party!’ Francine said desperately.

  ‘I’ll phone you later. I’m sorry, Francine, but we’re leaving now,’ Jane said firmly.

  Jodi knew Jane was close behind her but she didn’t wait around to have any chats. She just wanted to get the hell out of there and back to the safety of their little cottage.

  ‘I said I didn’t want to play with him,’ Saul said, as Jodi sat him in the car and dabbed at his nose.

  ‘I know, Saul, but that woman doesn’t seem to take no for an answer,’ Jodi said.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Saul looked confused.

  ‘Oh, nothing. Cameron’s mummy just really wanted us to have hot chocolate with them. That’s all.’

  ‘Is he okay?’ Jane appeared at the side of the car carrying Katie.

  ‘He’ll be fine. He’s just not used to rough-and-tumble, I guess. I know people expect all boys to adore it but Saul’s a gentle soul.’

  ‘If it helps, my son doesn’t behave like that ever. And, quite frankly, if he did, I wouldn’t tolerate it. I’m supposed to be her friend so I think I’m going to have to sit Francine down and have some frank discussions with her,’ Jane said.

  ‘These things happen,’ Jodi said diplomatically.

  ‘Yes, but it’s not acceptable when it’s all the time,’ Jane said. ‘All the boys in the class are obsessed with wrestling at the moment. I’ve seen Saul playing it too. That’s about as far as it should go at this age. Messing about in good spirits is one thing, but these constant attacks that Cameron’s carrying out have to stop.’

  ‘I’m certain he didn’t mean to hurt Saul,’ Jodi said.

  ‘See you at the Hallowe’en party on Friday, if not before. Hope you feel better soon, Saul,’ Jane called into the car.