‘Remember, play it cool.’ Alicia paused outside the lounge door to give Donna a last tweak. ‘Whatever he does, whatever he says…’ She made let it go over your head signs, then gave Donna a nod. ‘Ready?’
‘Ready.’ Donna nodded determinedly back.
‘Right.’ They reached for the double doors together, Alicia sashayed in, while Donna — coolly — peeled herself away from her locked door, stepped around it, then sashayed for all she was worth.
So where was he? She stopped mid-lounge, glancing surreptitiously around. The room was pretty packed. The last thing she wanted to do was end up sitting by him.
Ah, there. How sweet. Her eyes alighted on Jeremy in cosy conversation at a corner table. Well, Leticia was conversing. Jeremy was hanging rapt on her every word. Definitely an eager little beaver, wasn’t he? Not like Jeremy, at all. Perhaps he really was smitten. Donna curled a lip and wondered whether another room might be more comfortable — in another pub.
‘Right, best foot forward.’ Alicia caught hold of her elbow. ‘Drinks, I think are called for. If we have to spend time in Jeremy’s nauseating company, we might as well try to enjoy it. And remember, if he comes out with his usual dire tripe, just play it low key…’
‘Cooee! Donna!’ came a familiar voice. ‘Woo-hoo, Dons, over here!’ Simon gesticulated wildly from across the lounge.
Well, that was really low-key. Donna rolled her eyes, then rolled them some more as Alicia waved manically back, then dashed over to him as he was halfway towards them.
‘Simon, you did it,’ she screeched, clutching his hands and jiggling up and down like a Take That fan in the front row of a concert. ‘You did it! You did it!’
‘Yes. Yes.’ Simon beamed and jiggled up and down with her, then stopped. ‘Um, I’m only tying the knot, Alicia,’ he said, glancing at her worriedly, ‘not getting a Knighthood or anything.’
‘Well, I think it’s sweet,’ Alicia said, glancing at Donna, then nodding at Jeremy. Ah. Donna got the drift. Jeremy didn’t hold with things not normal, they being gays, lesbians, three-legged dogs, people with disabilities, disadvantaged people, women, and was looking highly uncomfortable. Well done, Alicia.
It did beg the question, however, why was he here? Accepted, it might just be a coincidence, but why was he still here was what Donna was wondering. Jeremy wouldn’t be likely to tolerate Simon’s company for one second, without good reason.
Oh, no. Now, they were coming over, which meant she’d have to speak to him.
‘Jeremy, long time no see,’ Alicia gushed, as he approached. ‘Not long enough, unfortunately. And… Oh?’ She frowned, looking Leticia up and down. ‘Well, you’re not the one he was with in town. Is she, Jeremy?’
Alicia looked at Jeremy questioningly.
Jeremy looked at Alicia murderously, his chestnut brown eyes hardening to little black coals. Donna had seen that look before.
Leticia was looking quite upset, she noticed and couldn’t help feeling a teensy bit sorry for her.
Alicia, oblivious to Jeremy’s warning signals, trundled on. ‘So how long have you two been together, um?’ She turned to Leticia expectantly.
‘Leticia.’ Leticia smiled stoically. ‘Quite a while,’ she answered Alicia’s question vaguely.
‘Over a year,’ Donna supplied, her sympathy evaporating.
‘Really?’ Alicia exclaimed, pseudo-surprised. ‘So you met before Donna and Jeremy split up, then? Well, kudos to you, old girl, for sticking with him,’ she hurried on, before anyone could comment. ‘Despite his, um, little problem, I mean. Not that I’m knocking Donna. God knows, she tried, but, she’s not very worldly, our Donna, when it comes to men’s, shall I say, predilection to wander. Are you, Donna?’
Donna closed her eyes and prayed for someone to beam her up, then peeled one slowly open. No, no good. Jeremy’s eyes were still boring nastily into hers. ‘Alicia,’ Donna pointed to the table, ‘shall we go and, um —’
‘Still persists in thinking that fairy tales exist, poor girl,’ Alicia went on. ‘You know, one woman – one man, kiss the frog and he turns into Prince Charming. Didn’t work with Jeremy, unfortunately. Each to their own, though, hey, Leticia?’
Jeremy slammed his pint glass down on the nearest table. ‘Very good, Alicia,’ he seethed. ‘Move over Jo Brand. Mind you, she’d have to move over, wouldn’t she, you being so…’ Jeremy dragged derisory eyes slowly over Alicia’s breasts ‘formidable.’
‘Oh, ha-de-ha, ha. Is that really the best you can do?’ Alicia returned the look. ‘Come on, Donna, the air’s a little acrid around here.’
Alicia hooked an arm back through Donna’s. ‘Let’s go and find more salubrious company and leave Lettuce to her slug.’
‘In which case, you might want to leave Donna behind. I’m not even sure she knows how to spell salubrious,’ Jeremy drawled. ‘Must admit I’m impressed you’ve managed to work out how to switch on the home computer, though, Donna.’
Jeremy let it hang, looking at Donna pointedly.
Donna paled.
‘We dropped in on Matt,’ Jeremy said, matter-of-factly, ‘didn’t we, Leticia?’
Leticia offered Donna a small smile. ‘I thought… We thought it was about time he did,’ she said, looking almost human.
‘He told me we’d find you here when I said I needed a little word,’ Jeremy went on, smiling his executioner smile.
‘Another drink, darling?’ he asked Leticia, pausing as he stepped past Donna, his breath suddenly so hot on her cheek it sent a chill down her spine. ‘You’ve put my stuff on eBay,’ he whispered menacingly. ‘Take it off, or you’re dead.’
Swallowing hard, Donna turned to glance after Jeremy as he headed for the bar, and locked eyes with Simon.
‘Did he just say what I think he did?’ Simon asked, his eyes narrowed.
Donna didn’t answer, but her expression must have said it all.
‘Bastard.’ Simon growled. ‘Right.’
Fuming, Simon turned as Jeremy came back. ‘Jeremy, how could you?’ he wailed, so overtly and over-the-top gay he could out-camp Graham Norton. ‘You’re supposed to be Nathan’s accountant, not his bitch on the side.’
Jeremy balked. ‘What?’
‘You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you? Oh, God, how could you, after all the things you said. The things we’ve done?’ Simon threw his arm theatrically across his brow.
Jeremy laughed disbelieving, then looked around, almost squirming with embarrassment, as the conversation in the lounge quieted to a hush. ‘He’s nuts,’ he muttered, making to walk past him. ‘On cocaine or something.’
‘You said I was the only one.’ Simon thumped himself dramatically in the chest. ‘You said you loved me, you absolute…’
‘Piss off, faggot,’ Jeremy snarled.
Simon leaned in as Jeremy shoved past him. ‘You know what they say about bullies and queer-bashers?’ he stage-whispered, his tone now quite serious. ‘In denial, sweetie — which probably explains your problems in bed.’
Oh, no. Donna froze.
Jeremy didn’t say a word. Nothing at all. Just punched poor Simon square in the jaw.
Chapter Twelve
Mark hated pub brawls, especially on Saturdays. The worst element of the football crowds, more often than not, out of their heads, hurling glasses along with obscenities. He had a feeling he was going to hate this one a hell of a lot more. Chrrrist! He spotted the VW as he pulled up in the car park, left his door wide and ran through the foyer.
Scanning the lounge, he immediately registered that Donna wasn’t in the vicinity and that one extremely agitated ‘male Caucasian’ was being restrained by bar staff, while another guy was being hauled away from him by onlookers.
‘Right, back off.’ Mark planted himself squarely between the two. ‘You, sit down,’ he instructed the less animated of the two.
‘Come on, Nathan. Sit down, like the officer says, hey?’ One of the crowd attempted to steer the man to a seat.
‘I have to go to Simon.’ The man pulled away.
‘Sit,’ Mark repeated. ‘And you,’ he addressed the other ‘gentleman’ who was spitting fury, along with liberal profanity. Mark had seen his sort before. In fact, he was pretty sure he’d had a run in with this one before, ‘calm down, unless you want to get nicked.’
‘Me?’ The guy looked incredulous. ‘It’s that fucking effeminate little queer, you ought to be nicking,’ he spluttered, nodding towards the other guy, who’d finally allowed himself to be seated.
‘Sit down, please, sir,’ Mark suggested politely, pointing the guy towards another chair. ‘And watch the language, or you’ll be up on a charge of public affray before you can blink.’
‘Typical,’ the guy snarled, but complied, at least, and headed for the seat. ‘The snivelling little coward who starts it scuttles off to the toilets with the girlies, while decent people…’
Mark stopped listening. That’s where Donna was. He glanced urgently at Phil, who got the gist and took over.
Five seconds later, Mark banged open the door to the Gents, that being closest, then seeing it was empty, he headed straight into the Ladies. Then stopped.
‘Donna? Jesus, what the? What happened, Donna?’ Mark caught her by the forearms and turned her away from the sink, where she was rinsing what looked to be a gallon of blood from a tea-towel.’ His gut churning, he scanned her face, her shoulders, her arms; turned her hands over.
She was covered in the stuff. But where the hell was it coming from?
‘For Christ’s sake, Donna… Are you hurt?’
She didn’t answer. She just blinked, bewildered. In shock, Mark guessed, but dammit was she hurt was what he needed to know? And where was the frigging ambulance?!
‘Donna, talk to me.’ He guided her away from the sink, the sopping wet towel dripping watery blood down her white top and jeans as she went. Mark swallowed back his panic. ‘Look at me, Donna. Tell me where you’re hurt,’ he asked gently. ‘Can you do that?’
Donna met his gaze at last, her eyes seeming to finally focus. ‘I’m not,’ she said shakily. ‘It’s not me.’
Thank Christ.
‘Simon…’ She pulled away from him, turning to a cubicle. ‘Alicia…’
Alicia? Mark followed her, relief flooding through him when Alicia looked up from where she sat on the cubicle floor. Concern fast on its heels when he saw the state of the guy she had her arm wrapped around.
Jesus, that was going to need stitches. He crouched down to survey the large gash to the side of the guy’s head. Yep, and some.
Mark reached for his radio. ‘What happened?’ he addressed Alicia, the guy obviously being well out of it.
‘Jeremy happened.’ Alicia shot angrily. ‘He was threatening Donna.’
Jeremy? The husband? Mark shook his head and got to his feet. The idiot outside, of course. He knew he’d seen him before. ‘Bastard,’ he grated.
‘Correct,’ said Alicia. ‘Hold on, Simon.’ She turned to the injured man. ‘The ambulance will be here soon.’
Mark eyed Donna, worried for her, confused, but most of all so furious he was having trouble restraining himself. He ought to go out there and wipe the floor with the pathetic little creep.
‘It was nothing physical,’ Donna assured him, hoisting up her shoulders. ‘Just nasty threats he’s not big enough to back up.’
‘Right.’ Mark nodded tightly. ‘Well you just point him in my direction if he makes any more threats. I’ll show the bastard nasty.’
****
Donna watched Jeremy, wondering what she ever saw in him, as poor Simon was being wheeled to the ambulance, Nathan finally allowed to go with him, while Jeremy… He seemed to be gloating. Even with a burly policeman standing over him — she offered Mark’s partner a smile of gratitude, Jeremy was still sitting there as if he was a cut above.
God, he was a piece of work.
‘Boyfriend off to lick his wounds, is he?’ Jeremy taunted as Donna collected her bag,
Mark was at her side in a flash, stepping between her and the spineless man she should have gotten shot of years ago. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked, glancing from her to Jeremy.
Donna nodded. No matter what had happened between them, Mark did care about her. She knew that to be true. There was no mistaking what she saw in his eyes.
‘I’d have thought you could do better than that snivelling idiot you were with, you know, Donna.’ Jeremy couldn’t resist, as she turned away.
All said for Mark’s benefit, Donna had no doubt. He really was pathetic, wasn’t he? He didn’t want her, but didn’t want anyone else to want her either, was that it?
‘That’s enough.’ Mark shot him a warning glance.
‘Really are scraping the barrel, aren’t you, Donna, running around with anything in —’
‘That’s enough!’ Mark moved fast, grabbing Jeremy by the collar and hauling him to his feet. ‘Shut up, sunshine’ he warned him angrily, ‘if you know what’s good for you.’
‘Mark, leave it. He’s not worth it,’ his partner cautioned him.
Her heart wedged in her mouth, Donna’s eyes flicked between them. Stop, she willed Mark, knowing there was a line he might step over and be in terrible trouble. Knowing also, as she saw the unmistakable glint of victory in Jeremy’s eyes, that that might be exactly what he’d been trying to engineer.
Mark narrowed his eyes, searched Jeremy’s for a heart-stopping moment, then, apparently having got his measure, decided his partner was right. ‘Do him, Phil,’ he said, giving Jeremy’s collar a demonstrative twist before dropping him.
‘Was that supposed to impress me or her?’ Jeremy snarled, shooting Donna a contemptuous glare as he fell clumsily back to the chair. ‘Well, I hope she’s worth being brought up on a charge of harassment, sunshine, although I seriously doubt it.’
Mark glanced at Donna, back to Jeremy, then turned away, the look on his face one of utter disgust. ‘Come on,’ he said, taking Donna gently by the arm and leading her towards the door. ‘Phil will make sure he gets what’s coming.’
‘Jeremy Matthews,’ Donna heard Mark’s partner behind them, ‘I’m obliged to ask you to accompany me to the station.’
‘Yerwhat?’ Jeremy gasped, his regal tones flying straight out of the window. ‘On what charge?’
‘Ooh, now, let me see. Causing a public affray. Assault with intent. Damage to public property…’
****
Alicia skidded towards the foyer as Mark and Donna came out. ‘Nathan’s gone with Simon in the ambulance,’ she said breathlessly. ‘We’re following on… assuming she’s all finished here?’ She looked at Mark questioningly.
‘All finished.’ Mark smiled, looking much more his gentle self. Donna was glad. She liked him that way. ‘You can go into the station and give a statement later, Donna.’ He looked at her, concern clouding his China blue eyes. ‘You will do it, though, won’t you?’
‘Bet your arse, I will.’ Donna notched up her chin.
‘Good girl.’ He nodded, obviously relieved.
Girl? Donna’s mouth twitched into a smile. Funny though, she felt like a girl in his company. Not a pathetic, dependent-on-a-man sort of girl. A pretty, floaty, strong, feminine in-the-best-possible-way sort of girl.
He made her feel okay to be her, amazingly. ‘Thank you,’ she said, so wishing things could have turned out differently between them.
‘Any time,’ he assured her. ‘I’m here to serve. If you need me, call. Okay?’
Donna nodded. He was just doing his job. Not riding his red and white charger to her rescue specifically, but still, she was grateful. He’d handled Jeremy magnificently. The bully got what he deserved, a taste of his own.
‘I will. Bye, Mark. And thanks, again.’ Donna smiled, and waved, which she felt would be slightly less formal than shaking hands.
‘Bye,’ he said, hesitated, then brushed her cheek with such a tingling soft kiss, Donna was quite sure she could charge her dodgy car ba
ttery on her own. Oh, sh… ugar! The AA man! What must he be thinking?
‘Mark,’ she said as he turned to go back inside, ‘about earlier…’
Mark turned back, looking confused.
‘The AA man,’ Donna elucidated.
‘Ah.’ Mark’s expression darkened.
‘He isn’t… We aren’t, um…’
‘He was chatting her up,’ Alicia interjected. ‘Men do, you know.’ She gave Mark an arch look and hooked her arm through Donna’s. ‘Come on, honey. Poor Simon will have been and gone if we don’t get a move on.’
Donna glanced at Alicia miffed as they headed for the VW. ‘I wish you hadn’t said that.’
‘What?’ Alicia looked at her, the picture of innocence. ‘A little jealousy never hurt.’
‘No, just like a little flattery never hurt.’ Donna gave her an unimpressed glance. ‘In any case, Mark’s involved with someone, remember? So there’s not a lot of point trying to make him jealous, is there?’
‘Yes,’ Alicia went around to the driver’s side, ‘which means you’re absolutely not interested in him.’
‘Exactly.’ Donna plodded around to the passenger side.
‘Right.’ Alicia smirked over the roof. ‘You can take your hand off your cheek now, Donna. His kiss won’t get washed off. It’s not raining.’
‘Ha, ha.’ Donna smiled flatly, opened her door, then groaned as Leticia appeared, scurrying across from where she’d been blending in with the trees.
‘Donna, can I have a word?’ she asked.
Wonderful. Donna sighed. The last person in the whole world she wanted to speak to right then was Leticia.
‘Well, it will have to be a quick one, Leticia,’ she said. ‘We’re on our way to the hos… Oh.’ She trailed off, noticing Leticia’s face, which looked a bit blotchy.
‘There’s something I wanted to tell you,’ Leticia said worriedly.
Oh, Lord. If she was pregnant, Donna absolutely did not want to know.
‘And I know it won’t make things any better, considering what’s happened.’
Somebody to Love: Sigh With Contentment, Scream With Frustration. At Time You Will Weep. Page 15