Book Woman

by Ivan B

  “No, you could still call her Mary if you wanted to.”

  Josie was not satisfied.

  “But I could I call her mum if I wanted.”

  “Of course.”

  Josie digested this and Robert said softly.

  “It would mean that you have to do as she says.”

  Josie screwed up her eyes.

  “Even if she says I can’t watch Terr-aagh! Tails.”

  “Especially if she says you can’t watch Terr-aagh! Tails.”

  Josie’s face almost split in two with an enormous smile.

  “Does she know?”

  “Of course, but we wanted to tell you first.”

  He looked at his watch.

  “Look, I know Mary said we should stay here for ninety minutes, but if we catch the earlier boat I may be able to buy her a ring before we met her.”

  Josie jumped up and promptly sat down again.

  “You mean an engagement ring.”

  “Yes.”

  Josie seemed to be thinking hard.

  “And Mary said we were to meet her at Covent Garden, where we went yesterday.”

  Robert was itching to leave to get the boat, but obviously something was on Josie’s mind. Josie suddenly had a fit of giggles, she eventually said.

  “I think Mary knows what ring she wants, we spent ages yesterday looking in a shop window and she was looking at rings, I was looking at ear-rings, they had some dangly sparkly ones.”

  Robert relaxed.

  “I bet they cost a fortune.”

  Josie shook her head.

  “£10.”

  Robert became suspicious

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded.

  “The prices were nicely marked it said ten pounds and no pence.”

  Robert grinned at his daughter.

  “You mean 1-0-0-0.”

  Josie wondered what he was getting at.

  “Yes.”

  He laughed.

  “Jewellers don’t normally mention pence, I bet those were diamond earrings and I bet then were £1000 not £10 and no pence.”

  She sniffed at his response.

  “You’ll see, ten pounds and no pence.”

  He suddenly stopped grinning, if Mary was looking in a jeweller’s window where earrings cost £1000, just how much would they charge for an engagement ring?”

  Mary was waiting for them outside the underground station and Josie rushed up to her.

  “Dad says that you’re getting married.”

  Mary hugged her.

  “Yes we are; are you pleased?”

  Josie bounced up and down beside her.

  “Oh yes.”

  Mary squeezed her.

  “Good, so am I.”

  Robert pointed to a jeweller’s shop.

  “Is this where you’re taking me?”

  Mary laughed and shook her head.

  “Good grief no, it’s far too pretentious.”

  She led them down a back street to a different jeweller’s one with pawnbroker’s balls hanging outside. She pointed to the rings in the bottom right hand corner of the window.

  “The one with the deep crimson ruby.”

  He turned to Josie.

  “You find me those earrings.”

  She ran off up the other end on the window and Robert looked at Mary.

  “It’s second hand, the overdraft will clear and I want to give you the best.”

  “It’s Victorian; the woman who originally had it was engaged in 1899 and died in 1978 just after her hundredth birthday. She only married the one man and wore that ring nearly all her life. They were married for 73 years and lived through both world wars. I’d like a ring with a history like that, maybe I’ll wear it for seventy odd years.”

  He gave a half-laugh.

  “Done your homework then, have you tried it on?”

  She gave him a peculiar look.

  “Course not, you might have bought me a ring when I wasn’t looking.”

  Robert took a closer look at the ring.

  “If that’s what you want…”

  She tucked her arm through his.

  “It is, it definitely is.”

  He gave Josie an anxious glance.

  “You’re sure it’s not because of my overdraft is it, I mean…”

  She elbowed him in the ribs.

  “I’ve just fallen in love with that ring.”

  They walked to the door and Josie pointed at the earrings.

  “See, ten pounds and no pence.”

  Robert laughed; they were not made of diamonds but zirconium. He turned to Mary and said.

  “What do you think?”

  She shook her head.

  “Not a chance, that type of earring should only be worn by bridesmaids.”

  Josie registered disappointment and then a calculating look crossed her face.

  “Will you be having any bridesmaids?”

  “Might.”

  “Could I be a bridesmaid?”

  Mary laughed.

  “Thought you’d never ask.”

  The ring was a perfect fit and after trying it out Mary gave it back to Robert, who looked perplexed. Mary smiled.

  “I don’t want it passed to me like any old bought goods; I want it presented, special like. A girl only gets one chance at this and I intend to make the most of it.”

  He slipped it into his pocket and they left for the Sound of Music, which Josie thoroughly enjoyed after Mary explained that it wasn’t Sister Act and she wouldn’t be seeing Whoopie Goldberg.

  They arrived home just after five o’clock and Mary immediately turned to Josie.

  “Right young lady this is the lie of the land. We’re going out for a meal this evening and it’s going to be very late when we get back. So I want you lying on your bed for an hour, you can read, or watch TV, but it’s going to be a special evening and I want us all to enjoy it.”

  Josie opened her mouth to protest and then shut it for at least ten seconds. She glanced towards the toilet and whispered.

  “Is he going to give you the ring this evening?”

  Mary whispered back.

  “I hope so, and I want you to be there and be awake.”

  Josie eyes sparkled with delight and she tripped off to her bedroom. Mary went and put the kettle on and Robert joined her in the kitchen. He hesitated and then came over to her and kissed her.

  “Where’s Josie?”

  “Lying down for an hour, then we’ll start getting ready.”

  Robert was incredulous.

  “But we’re not due out till just after seven!”

  She smiled.

  “Special evening, special preparations.”

  He made two cups of coffee and idly asked.

  “Good morning?”

  She perched herself against the table.

  “I did something for us.”

  The peculiar tone in her voice made him turn to face her.

  “For us?”

  She nodded.

  “Roll up my right sleeve will you.”

  He wondered where this was leading, but rolled up her sleeve. His eyes then became transfixed on her arm. Halfway between elbow and shoulder there was a one inch blue band of filigree type tattoo round her arm, embedded in the filigree, in calligraphy style font, was the word ‘Robert’. She said quietly.

  “It’s to show you that I mean business and that there’s no going back and to remind me that this is about you and me and seeking love.”

  He sighed.

  “You didn’t have to…”

  She nestled against him.

  “Yes I did, now you know that I’m serious. You can take off a ring in a fit of pique, but you can’t lose a tattoo. You’re engraved on my arm and I’m not walking out on you or us.”

  He squeezed her and whispered.

  “Thank you,” in her ear before looking again at the tattoo, he touched it and she winced.

  “Did it hurt?”

  She g
rimaced.

  “Let me put it this way, I am never, ever, having another one.”

  They would have had a serious canoodle, but the doorbell rang and Robert rolled his eyes upwards.

  “Blast, I bet that’s Stephen, he said he might drop some plans off for me.”

  She kissed him on the cheek.

  “I’ll wait, I’m not going anywhere.”

  She sat on the stool and took a long sip of her coffee. In bed that morning she'd had the idea of the tattoo. She smiled to herself, it had taken nearly two hours, but it was worth it; she was now certain that he knew she did not intend to renage on their nderstanding. She also new that every time she looked in the mirror she'd be reminding herself that she'd given herself to him and their mutual cause of seeking love. She looked up to see a smirking Stephen in the doorway holding a large bunch of white roses. He proffered them to her.

  "By way of apology for the stupid mistake over the bath-lifter."

  She took them from him, sniffed them and smiled; he gave her a 'that's settled then' look and a mock bow.

  “I hope that makes amends.”

  She gave him her best smile.

  “Almost.”

  “Almost?”

  She smiled again.

  “You could finish the job by paying Robert the money you owe him. I believe he’s done the work you wanted.”

  He took half a step back, surprised at her direct approach.

  “It’s not as simple as that; it’s a matter of business.”

  She put the roses down.

  “Like to see you explain it like that to God.” She put on a sarcastic voice. “Sorry God that my best friend’s daughter died of starvation while he was waiting for me to pay him, but it was a matter of business.”

  He gave a nervous laugh, uncertain of her manner.

  “Oh come on, you exaggerate.”

  She too a step towards him and said in an ominous voice.

  “While you are accruing interest on the money you owe him he is incurring interest on the debt you have caused him. That might by good business in your book, but it’s exploitation in mine.”

  He mumbled.

  “I’ll see my accounts clerk when I get back to base.”

  She gave a sly smile.

  “Are they working now?”

  “Of course.”

  She handed him the cordless phone.

  “Then ring them now. ‘When I get back to base’ is in the same category as ‘the cheques in the post’, ‘oh that must be an administrative oversight’ and ‘really, haven’t we paid you yet?’”

  He took the phone from her and she stated in a firm voice.

  “And make it a direct bank transfer, he doesn’t need a cheque from an obscure bank that takes umpteen days to clear.”

  Stephen duly phoned his accounts clerk and Mary stood watching with her hands on her hips. He half turned away from her, but was conscious of her eyes boring into him.

  “Hello Sarah? Stephen here, can you settle the Robert Handly account for me as soon as possible.”

  He listened to the reply and shot Mary a glance, she hadn’t moved.

  “No, do it today please and you’d better do it by bank transfer, we’ve got his account details.”

  He listened again.

  “No, in full and today.”

  He turned the phone off and handed it back.

  “Satisfied now?”

  She gave him a softer smile and said gently.

  “Yes thanks, but remember you and Robert are friends; good friends are hard to find and it would be a shame if your friendship were to be jeopardised by mere money.”

  She turned away and picked up the roses, Stephen fled into the lounge and flopped into an armchair. He looked at Robert.

  “I see what you mean when you say she can be a grouch; she brings a whole new definition to the word.”

  Robert suppressed a smile.

  “What did she say?”

  Stephen looked at him in bewilderment.

  “She’s just extracted all the money I owe you in one session, perhaps I should employ her to collect my debts.”

  Robert’s mouth dropped open and he stammered.

  “She did what?”

  Stephen shook his head.

  “She told me I should pay you, no; she commanded that I should pay you. You’ve heard how a lioness protects her cubs, well I rather feared that she would use her hook to extract my entrails one by one until I coughed up the money, - bank transfer mind not a cheque.”

  Robert started to say something, but Stephen held up his hand.

  “She also rather told me off for allowing money to jeopardise friendship and I must admit that she is right. I rather fear that I put you in a difficult position and believe me I won’t do it again.”

  He paused.

  “Actually I decided that if we pull off the Manchester contract I’ll pay you half of your fee up front.”

  Robert blinked.

  “That’s not your usual business practice.”

  Stephen smiled.

  “Don’t call it business, call it friends working together.” He glanced down the corridor. “And fear of lost entrails.”

  He heard Mary talking to Josie in the corridor and hissed.

  “If you don’t mind I’ll take my leave while I still have some dignity left.”

  He gave Robert a casual wave, called out a goodbye to Mary and made rapid progress through the front door. Robert sat in his chair and pondered on the fact that in the short time he had known her Mary had solved his two major problems, stability for him and Josie, and Stephen’s withheld payment; he wondered what she’d tackle next.

  Mary heard the front door close and resumed her talk with Josie.

  “Go and get your clothes together, party dress, clean underwear and new sandals, and then put them in my room. Then I want you to get your toilet bag and join me in the bathroom.”

  Josie grinned.

  “Are we going to dye your hair again?”

  Mary held out a small package.

  “Not mine, yours.”

  For a moment Josie was speechless, then she glanced down the corridor.

  “But dad said…”

  Mary chuckled.

  “And your dad is right, you’re too young to permanently dye your hair, but this is party dye, it’s not like the dye I use. We put it on tonight and tomorrow – and it will be tomorrow – when you shower it will all come out, least that’s the theory.”

  Josie glanced down the corridor again and whispered secretively.

  “Does he know?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Josie took on a sly look.

  “When I’m bridesmaid can I…”

  “No, definitely not; so don’t even think about it.”

  Josie laughed and shot into her bedroom, Mary ambled down the corridor. Robert was looking through the plans Stephen had bought him. He looked up.

  “Stephen tells me you got him to pay up.”

  She sat on the edge of the armchair.

  “Well I knew that you’d have trouble asking him, you’re too soft. So I decided all for one and one for all.”

  He folded up the plans and grinned.

  “He said that he was worried you were going to use your hook to extract his entrails one by one.”

  She waved her left arm at him.

  “And I would have done!”

  He laughed and she stood up.

  “Josie and I will use the main bathroom and dress in my room, you can use Josie’s shower-room. If you want to extract your shaving gear before we start, you’ve got three minutes.”

  “Well I was hoping to have a bath.”

  “Two minutes fifty seconds and counting.”

  He opened his mouth, but decided that he was beaten. He stood up and went over to her and kissed her hair.

  “Going to be a special evening.”

  She reached up and held his hand.

  “One to remember.”

/>   He gave her shoulders a squeeze.

  “A once in a lifetime evening.”

  They stood for a moment and then Mary said lovingly.

  “One minute forty seconds and…”

  Robert scurried to the bathroom.

  Later, half way through shaving, he stopped to listen. From within the bathroom he could hear Josie and Mary singing, doh a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun, together, he smiled into the mirror and continued shaving. Unbeknown to him Mary was finishing off Josie’s hair transformation, eventually she put the hairdryer down.

  “Now you’ll have to plait you hair yourself, that’s if you want plaits. Josie looked in the mirror and tossed her hair around by shaking her head.

  “Do I have to?”

  “Not tonight.”

  Josie tossed her hair around again.

  “Think I will, it’ll look much better in plaits.”

  “Right, you go and plait your hair and get dressed, and I'm having a swift shower.”

  Josie smiled at herself in the mirror.

  “Do you think daddy will like it?”

  “I think he’ll be struck speechless with wonder. Now go and get dressed!”

  Mary closed the door after Josie had left and had her promised shower. She then tidied up the bathroom, slipped on her dressing gown and made for her bedroom. Josie was already dressed by the time she arrived. Mary smiled at her.

  “It’s up to you, but people normally wear their watch on their left wrist.”

  Josie looked dubious.

  “You and dad wear yours on your right wrist.”

  “Your dad’s left handed and I have no choice.”

  Josie still looked dubious and Mary laughed

  .“Go on then, have it on your right wrist, we'll call it a family trait.”

  “What's a trait?”

  “Something we all do.”

  She smiled and Mary took of her dressing gown knowing what to expect. Josie did not disappoint her; Josie gazed at her arm and virtually shouted.

  “You've got a tattoo - and it's got my dad’s name on it.”

  Mary smiled nervously, for some reason Josie's approval was important to her.

  “What do you think of it?”

  She surveyed it and gently touched it.

  “You must love him very much.”

  Mary relaxed.

  “It’s my way of saying I’ll never walk out on him, or you. Every time I look in the mirror I'll remember my promise to you both.”

  Josie gazed at it.

  “But it’s only got my dad’s name on it.”