The Debt

by D A Latham

  A horrible realisation dawned.

  I hadn't taken my pill for four days.

  He must've felt me freeze. "What's the matter?" He mumbled.

  "I've not taken my pill."

  He raised his face from my neck and kissed me on my lips. "Morning after pill. Get it from Boots tomorrow."

  "I'll have your Mum with me," I hissed.

  "Oh, she won't mind. She had four boys remember? She's marched more girls to the chemist than she could count." He resumed his position in the crook of my neck. I liked his weight on me.

  The next morning, I woke early and rolled over to see an angelic, sleeping Andy laying on his back, his arm carelessly resting on the pillow. He appeared younger, more relaxed than he'd been when sleeping at the bedsit. I slipped out of bed and went hunting for his bathrobe or a shirt to put on.

  I padded down to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Sitting at the island, I allowed myself to daydream about living there, sharing his beautiful house, his big, friendly family, and his successful life. I thought about his declaration the night before with a big, dopey grin on my face. If he loved me as much as I loved him, everything else could pale into insignificance. The only thing that could part us would be if I was sent to prison, the thought of which made my stomach churn.

  At around seven, I made Andy a bacon sandwich and loaded a tray with coffee, juice, and his breakfast and took it up to him. As I placed it on his bedside table, he stirred, and then opened his eyes. As soon as he saw it was me, he smiled. "Good morning beautiful," he muttered, before spotting the tray. "I am being spoilt this morning." He picked up the juice and drained the glass.

  "Thought I'd better make myself useful. What time do you need to leave for work?" I handed him his coffee.

  "I'll wait till Mum gets here. Aaron may have been bailed by now. I'll know more once I've spoken to Dad.

  I frowned, "Surely if the truth's out there, backed up by forensics, there'd be little point him bumping me off? I mean, I'm sure he doesn't want another murder charge added to the list."

  "Quite possibly. It depends on whether they've charged him or not. In the meantime, I'd like to take as few risks as possible."

  Monica arrived at precisely nine o'clock, dressed immaculately in a smart trouser set and lightweight jacket. Inside, I died a little, given I was wearing my one and only outfit and my hair was held in a tiepin due to Andy only possessing a comb.

  "I've made a list ready. I just went round my dressing room noting everything in there. It's amazing how much women amass isn't it?" She smiled brightly at me. "Now, Andrew, I need an idea of our budget. Your dad warned me about getting carried away, told me to clarify it with you first."

  I could see Andy blush at being put on the spot. "I don't know how much it all costs," he whined. "Just... knock yourselves out."

  "I really think you need to specify," I pointed out, "can we spend a thousand? Two thousand?"

  "Twenty thousand? Thirty thousand?" His mum chimed in, shocking me. I didn't expect anything near that amount.

  Andy was visibly uncomfortable as he muttered to his mum, "Don't go over fifty eh?" My mouth dropped open, and the familiar sensation of being out of my depth washed over me.

  "I don't need anything near that amount, I can go to Primark and get a whole wardrobe for a thousand quid, really. They do jumpers for three pounds each." I was babbling. His mum frowned at me.

  "Don't be silly, let's go spend his money. Andrew won't mind treating you, will you?" She turned to him.

  "Course not," he said, trying his best to sound happy about it. "No bargain basement stuff either Sal, best of everything, remember?"

  We all left the house together, Monica and I in her sporty, red Range Rover, and Andy in his BMW, which he said he'd leave at the station. As the gates closed behind us, I glanced around nervously, but nobody was there. "Bill's playing golf with the chief inspector this morning," Monica told me, "He objected to bail yesterday, on the basis that Aaron and Marcus both had the means to leave the country, and of course, put your life in danger. We should be safe, but keep your wits about you, just in case."

  We got to the shopping centre before the shops opened, so nipped into Costa to form a plan of action. I confessed the pill situation to Monica, who seemed unfazed and just added it to her list, promising to get me an appointment with their doctor first thing next morning for replacement pills or a shot. I relaxed and concentrated on her shopping list. She really had thought of everything.

  We were in John Lewis buying a pair of straighteners when Monica's phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket and checked the screen before answering, whispering that it was Bill. I stood awkwardly, not wanting to eavesdrop, but desperate to hear the news. Eventually, she clicked her phone off. "We have to get you back by five, the police want to speak to you again."

  My face fell. I wondered what Aaron had said.

  "Bill thinks they're gonna drop all charges. The police didn't find a single fingerprint of yours on the steering wheel, and none of the flakes in the footwell of the driver's side came from your shoes. They've charged Aaron with your attempted murder, perverting the course of justice, as well as driving under the influence, and manslaughter. Looks like you're in the clear."

  "What about the drugs they found in my purse?"

  "Given that you had none in your bloodstream, I think they'll accept that Aaron planted them. They know Bill would demolish them in court over it. Marcus has been charged and remanded in custody. Apparently they found a significant amount of cocaine in the safe at Lakeswood."

  I let out the breath I'd been holding. "To think, all that was going on around me and I didn't have a clue," I muttered. "I'm so sick of being the naive, gullible one. I wish I was a bit more streetwise." She patted my arm. "I know Andy's well off... He did make his legitimately, didn't he?"

  She laughed. "Of course he did. Our law firm has been in the family for three generations, so we were comfortable before Andrew joined. He had the brains to become the collection agency for card debt, positioning the firm to be number one in that field. How he made all that money may be morally questionable, but it's certainly legal. He's done extremely well."

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to question you," I said, cringing at how I'd sounded.

  "I don't blame you after what you've been through. You wouldn't want to be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, now would you?" I shook my head, glad that she'd understood.

  Monica was a whirlwind, whisking me from shop to shop, ticking purchases off her carefully-prepared list. We stopped for a quick lunch in Carluccio’s to refuel. "We'll have this, then do another drop off to the car," she said, before pulling out her little glasses to read the menu.

  I surveyed the array of bags. We'd already dropped one lot off. I'd never spent so much in my life. "Do you know what we're up to, budget wise?" I asked. I'd lost track. She shook her head, seemingly unconcerned.

  "I'm not sure whether to have the linguini or the gnocchi. You really shouldn't worry about it Sally. Andrew confessed what he'd done to you, so you should let him make it up to you."

  "I feel like a charity case," I muttered. "I'll have the tagliatelle if that's OK."

  "I don't think he sees it that way. He sees it as being given an opportunity to take care of you, something he should have done at the start. I'm appalled at his behaviour. Rupert told me Andrew instructed you to sign on, letting you panic over a £350 rent bill. Ridiculous behaviour."

  The waiter came to take our order. I was relieved Monica didn't order a bottle of wine, although she asked if I wanted a glass. She stuck to mineral water as she was driving. As we waited for our food, I asked her what Andy had been like as a child. I felt as though I didn't really know him properly, so prompted her to fill in the blanks.

  "I love all my boys," she began, "but Andrew was always the beautiful one. He was always self-contained though, in his own little world. He didn't need praise like Matthew, or mothering like Rupert. Phillip needed constan
t stimulation or else he'd get bored easily. No, Andrew was just content to amuse himself, play with the others when it suited him, and walk away when it didn't. He was bright though, found schoolwork too easy, found everything too easy really. Girls flocked round him from the age of about fourteen, hanging around outside our house. The other three used to get a bit disgruntled about it, probably because Andrew never really took much notice of the girls, picking them up and dropping them without a care."

  "He was with Charlotte a long time though?" I asked.

  Monica laughed. "Mainly because she was as cold as he was, plus she wasn't there most of the time. Travelled a lot for her work, which suited them both I think. I knew she wasn't the one for him, mothers know these things. We were all relieved when they split."

  "Andy said you didn't like her," I remarked.

  "She didn't even try and make him happy. I'm a bit old-fashioned I suppose, but I do believe a relationship should be a partnership. I never saw her make the slightest effort to be nice to him, or the family. My boys are all close, so I figure when Bill and I have gone, they'll always have each other to lean on if needs be."

  "Maybe some people just don't appreciate a family. Not having one is far worse."

  "Andrew told me what happened to yours. It's such a shame. Girls need their mums as they grow up. Charlotte just didn't understand how close Andrew is to his brothers, she was scathing about him meeting up with them."

  "Meeting his brothers? What could possibly be wrong with that?" I asked.

  "Goodness knows. I think she knew he didn't love her, so she wanted him on a short leash the whole time. Drove us all mad, ringing constantly, checking up on him."

  "Where is she now?" I asked. Monica just shrugged.

  "Last I heard, she'd married some investment banker. Met and married him within three months. I'm not sure if she thought Andrew would be jealous, but he was delighted. No, I've never seen him fall in love until now. Poor boy was a wreck when you left him. Came round for lunch all mopey and unshaven. I was terribly worried until Rupert ratted on him."

  "I understand why he did it," I told her.

  "I understand it, but I still slapped him upside his head, as the boys say, and gave him a stiff telling off. He might be all grown up, but he still listens to his mama."

  We both giggled. I. Just. Loved. Her.

  The afternoon was another whirlwind, with footwear, casual clothes and underwear on the agenda, before we raced back to the car at four in order to be back at the house for when the police arrived.

  The traffic on the M25 was appalling, and we only just made it back on time. Andy and his dad were already sitting in the lounge chatting to two coppers. "Sorry, are we late?" Monica asked, looking pointedly at the large clock that said five to five. The copper shook his head and stood up to greet us.

  "PC Bentlock and DC Thomas. We were early. You must be Miss Higgs?" We shook hands. I sat down next to Andy, who seemed quite relaxed. I began to shake. "The forensics have come back now and there is no evidence that you ever drove that car, plus one of the group walking with the deceased has come forward and said quite categorically that she saw you in the passenger seat as Mr Pryce drove off. He has been charged with numerous offences, and I'm pleased to confirm that all the charges against you have been dropped."

  "What about the drugs planted in her bag?" Asked Monica.

  "Again, none of Miss Higgs’s prints are on it, but both Mr Pryce's and Mr Brooke's are. No charges will be brought against Ms Higgs. You will however be called as a witness."

  Andy was gently rubbing my back as I relaxed, relieved beyond belief. For some inexplicable reason I wanted to cry. The stress and tension of the past few weeks got the better of me. I managed to bottle it up until the policemen left, but the moment I heard the front door close, the tears became unstoppable, which was embarrassing with Andy's parents present. Andy pulled me into a hug while Monica fished around in her bag for a tissue, handing it to me before announcing she needed to bring the shopping in. I think Bill was grateful for an excuse to escape.

  "Hey, why're you crying?" Andy asked.

  "I don't know," I admitted, which sounded stupid. The poor man was probably sick to the back teeth of my copious waterworks. "I think it's just relief and stress. I've been so scared."

  "I know baby, I have too," he said, which surprised me. He'd seemed so confident I'd be exonerated that I hadn't expected him to have his moments of doubt. "I was so scared he'd be let out on bail, that they'd be slow to build the case against him. I just couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you. I'm just glad my dad was on the case; he can pull strings like nobody else." He took the tissue from my hand and began tenderly wiping my tears. "Now, I've got two more surprises for you, so I want to see your beautiful smile."

  "I think we spent too much," I blurted out. "We lost track."

  "The best of everything, remember? I really don't care how much it costs. I just want you to feel loved and cared for, although I do hope you bought good lingerie."

  I smiled at him. "Of course, top of my list." I heard the front door slam and Bill muttering about being a pack pony.

  "I'm putting the kettle on," Monica yelled. "Do you both want a cuppa?"

  "Please," Andy yelled back. "Come on, I want to see all these new things you've got."

  "My surprises?" I reminded him.

  "Oh yes, if you check your account, you'll find Ms Gadd has paid out. I did some serious arm-twisting. She settled on thirty-five grand. Rupert cancelled her investigation after supervising the transfers to both you and your colleague."

  I flung my arms around him. "That's amazing news!" Then of course it hit me. "My bank card's at Lakeswood."

  "Ah, now, about that. Dad mentioned a couple of things to his friend at golf, so the search officers liberated your phone, laptop, and bank card, as well as your birth certificate and photo album. They couldn't get any more out I'm afraid as it wasn't strictly... the done thing."

  I kissed him hard. It felt like Christmas, only better. "I can't believe you did that for me. I can pay you back for the clothes and stuff."

  His expression hardened. "No way. I don't want it."

  We were interrupted by Monica, "Tea’s ready. Great news about your old boss isn't it? Bill’s just told me. It's another chapter closed, so you can move onwards."

  Seeing all the bags laid out on the kitchen floor was a bit of a shock. We'd been offloading into the car all day, so I hadn't really got a grip on how much I'd actually bought. Andy, of course, made a bee-line for the Rigby and Peller bags, nosing at the lovely underwear I'd purchased. Monica rolled her eyes.

  "I've ticked off about half of the list, we ran out of time, so I suggest we go back tomorrow after the doctors," she said.

  Andy frowned. "Doctors?"

  "Replacement pills," I muttered, hoping Bill wasn't listening. "Tomorrow would be great. After that, I need to start looking for another job."

  "No, you don't." Andy was scowling. "Have a break at least, you could do with a rest."

  I ignored him. "Bill, do you know what happened to Aaron's dogs?" I asked.

  "I think his mother's looking after them. Apparently she was in the house when they raided it."

  It was a relief knowing Roxy and Bruno were being cared for. I wondered if Gerry and Jed had been sacked. So much had happened that it was starting to feel like another life.

  Monica and Bill left soon after, leaving Andy and I with the piles of bags. As soon as we were alone, he snaked his hands around my waist and kissed me. I melted into him, tired from both the shopping and all the crying I'd done. "Why don't we eat out tonight? It's still early."

  "I should sort through all these bags first."

  "I'll help you later. I'm starving and I think we have a lot to celebrate."

  CHAPTER 16

  We held hands as we walked through the golf course to a little pub in Old Hill that had a small restaurant attached. The first signs of spring were all around us as w
e skirted the fairways, giving us both a very real sense of optimism. I'd changed into a pair of new jeans and a cashmere jumper that felt luxuriously soft and warm under my new coat. Even my hair was glossy and sleek, thanks to new top-of-the-range straighteners.

  Andy seemed to know a lot of people as we waited in the bar for our table, introducing me to various acquaintances and friends. I watched as he chatted happily about the rugby on telly that weekend. A few of the women looked me up and down a few times, no doubt curious as to whom I was, and how I'd nabbed the gorgeous Andrew McCarthy.

  After being seated and ordering, he dropped a bit of a bomb. "You really don't need to work, I'd prefer it if you didn't," he said.

  "Why?" I asked.

  He thought for a moment. "The last two jobs you had, they didn't work out so well. I just thought you might like to take some time out from getting yourself in trouble."

  "I knew you'd get sick of my fuck-ups," I said dejectedly. He leaned over to grasp my hand.

  "How can you possibly say that? You're beautiful, kind and compassionate, you have a great wardrobe of outfits, a handsome boyfriend who loves you beyond all reason, and more importantly my mother adores you. I really think you need to change the record now. You've got no debt, money in the bank and nothing hanging over your head. I'd call you one of life's winners myself."

  I blinked, trying to take it all in. He was right, all my life I'd been the poor little orphan girl with the scars. It was time to re-write my inner monologue. I'd already come a long way, thanks to his love, no longer caring who saw my forehead or knew about my leg. It dawned on me that I was un-self-conscious sitting in the restaurant, a million miles away from the awkward girl he'd taken to Chapter One. I'd transformed into the sort of girl the old me would've been watching, marveling at her sense of belonging, envious of her hair, clothes and poise.

  "Thank you," I said. I couldn't have loved him any more than I did at that moment.