The Feud

by James, Amanda

  He presses his ear to the door just as the bell rings again. Then he hears a muffled, ‘Matt? Matt, it’s Jess!’

  Oh no. Why can’t she take a bloody hint? He almost wishes it was Bob and the team instead… almost. Matt opens the door. ‘Hi, Jessica.’

  Not waiting to be invited in, she waves a bottle of wine and a big brown paper carrier bag at him and pushes past. ‘I saw you in town earlier, shouted you, but you didn’t hear. I didn’t know you were back from visiting your folks.’ She makes a beeline for the kitchen as if she’s a homing device. ‘Anyway, I took a chance that you’d not eaten yet and got us a Chinese.’ She sees the unchopped onion on the board with the knife by its side. ‘Oh, good. Just in time!’

  Matt can’t cope with a full-on missile attack this evening – well, at any time really. But how the hell can he say no now? She’s already taken off her coat and stuck some plates in the oven to warm. ‘Er… I’m not that hungry, actually, Jess–’

  ‘Nonsense!’ She turns to him, her black bob swinging, red lips stretched into a huge smile revealing those pearly whites. ‘Everyone knows that Chinese isn’t too filling.’ She holds up the bottle of wine. ‘Now. Where do you keep your glasses?’

  An hour later, despite his reservations, Matt is kind of enjoying the evening. Jessica has taken his mind off things a little, even if they did talk about it briefly until he changed the subject. She’s caught him up on what’s been happening at school and he’s been asking about his favourite pupils. Apparently, some of the kids believed the stories, but most said because he was such a cool teacher, they thought he must have been set up somehow by a bad person, as Deborah and Jessica had mentioned in assembly. Matt’s heart swelled with gratitude at that.

  Jessica divides the last of the wine between their glasses. ‘I know you changed the subject earlier, and you haven’t been returning my calls… but I do want to help, you know? I know you didn’t get yourself into that state, and totally believe you that someone set you up.’ She raises her glass to her lips and regards him over the rim. ‘Deborah says she thinks it must have something to do with Lavender “oddball” Nancarrow.’

  Even though he agrees, he doesn’t like Jessica poking fun at Lavender. ‘Yeah, but she’s a vulnerable woman, manipulated by her evil witch of a grandmother. And thanks for your support, by the way. I didn’t call you back because I’ve been in a dark place. Still am to an extent really.’

  Jessica reaches across the table and covers his hand with hers. ‘Poor Matt. Of course you are… I hope I’ve managed to cheer you up a bit this evening.’

  He gives her a brief smile and withdraws his hand to pick up his glass. ‘You have, thanks.’

  ‘I was worried you wouldn’t be back, given what happened and that your relationship with Lavender is over.’

  ‘Relationship?’

  Jessica raises her perfectly groomed eyebrows and fixes him with her green catlike stare. ‘Well… yes. Deborah tells me you were over at her house for dinner that evening.’

  ‘It was dinner – once. We hadn’t got as far as a “relationship”.’

  ‘Hmm. But you wanted one, yes?’ Jessica takes another sip of wine.

  ‘No… yes, I don’t know.’ Matt rakes his hair. ‘It’s irrelevant now anyway because she’s obviously up to her eyes in it. Her and Morvoren.’

  ‘Is that why you came back? To try and prove it, get reinstated?’ Jessica sits back, crosses her legs, and he’s treated to an expanse of thigh as her skirt rides up.

  He looks away and into his glass. ‘That’s the plan… I’m not sure about the getting my job back bit, but a job in teaching, yes.’ He drains his glass and gets another bottle from the fridge. He pours more for both of them as she’s getting a taxi, apparently. It’s Saturday after all tomorrow. ‘It does seem a bit more hopeful now too, because Lavender confessed her grandmother tricked her into believing I was a paedophile and a wife beater.’

  At this, Jessica gasps and is all ears. He fills her in about what Lavender told him the day before. Not the bit about her being molested by a teacher, but all the rest of it. It’s a relief to share what he knows and the wine’s helping to loosen his tongue.

  ‘So she’s definitely behind it then. It’s obvious!’ Jessica says triumphantly when he’s finished.

  ‘No. Morvoren’s behind it – but yes, I think Lavender was instrumental in drugging me. The stripping me bit too – but I’m not sure how two slight women, one being almost eighty, could manhandle a dead weight into a car. I’m six foot two and nearly fifteen stone.’

  Jessica licks her lips and gives him a look which can only mean one thing. He feels like a prize bull. Her gaze intensifies, it’s like she’s pulling him closer with her eyes… She does have stunning eyes. ‘I think you need my help, Matt,’ she purrs. ‘I’ll go round and see the old crone. The young one too. See what I can find out.’

  Matt shakes his head. That’s the last thing he needs, Jessica striding in and stirring up a hornet’s nest just when he’s getting close to tipping Lavender into a confession. Why did he have to open his big mouth and tell her everything just now? Because he’s lonely and wants comfort, that’s why. ‘No. I know you’re being nice and want to help. But I want to do this my way… and on my own. But thank you.’

  He stands and picks up the empty plates and cartons, but she stops him by taking his arm and leading him into the living room. ‘I’ll sort the dishes – you just stoke the fire and relax on the sofa. You’ve had a rough few weeks – let me take care of you, hmm?’ She pats his shoulder and goes back to the kitchen.

  Matt jiggles the poker in the fire and does as she suggests. He closes his eyes and stretches his legs out to toast his toes in front of the leaping flames. It’s not been a bad evening, actually. At least he’s not had to spend it alone for a change. A few minutes later he feels the weight of Jessica sit beside him on the sofa. She’s very close, as he can smell her perfume and hear her breathing. Matt keeps his eyes closed. Perhaps she’ll take the hint and get that taxi… It must be gone ten by now. Then her lips brush his and his eyes fly open.

  ‘What are you doing?’ He moves away slightly, looks into her deep green eyes inches from his own.

  A slow, seductive smile. ‘Isn’t that obvious?’

  He starts to protest, but her mouth stops his words and a quick hot tongue flicks against his own. Matt feels the heat of her hand stroke down his belly and come to rest on his thigh. No… This isn’t a good idea. With huge effort, he pulls back. ‘Jessica, I don’t think–’

  ‘No. Don’t think, Matt. Just let your instinct guide you… Give in to me.’ Jessica’s eyes are full of lust and her mouth’s so close, so inviting. He closes his eyes and does as she asks.

  Chapter 21

  Matt wakes to the smell of toast and coffee. There’s someone moving about in the bedroom. He rubs his eyes and wonders if he’s still asleep, then last night smacks into his head like a wrecking ball. Jessica. He slept with Jessica. Shit. What had he been thinking? She’s wrapped in a towel and pulls the curtains back. Matt yanks the covers over his head and his stomach rolls. He hadn’t been thinking, had he? At least not with his head.

  ‘Wakey wakey! Toast and coffee for you, sir.’ Jessica pulls the covers from his head and sets a tray at the end of the bed. ‘Come on. Sit up and eat… We need you to build your energy back up, don’t we?’

  Matt heaves himself up and gives her a weak smile. ‘Thanks.’

  She sticks her bottom lip out. ‘You seem a bit lacklustre this morning. A big change from last night. God, it was amazing!’ A lascivious smile, and then she sinks her even white teeth into a slice of toast.

  Matt avoids her eyes, takes a sip of coffee. Amazing? Was it? Flashes of her naked body come back to him in various positions… She’d done all the work – he’d been lazy, until he’d sent his mind elsewhere. Elsewhere to Lavender. Lavender’s eyes looking down at him, her mouth on his body, her hair stroking his chest as she’d moved lower. Then he’d taken
charge… tightly closing his eyes to keep Lavender in his head. That was both unexpected and unfair on Jessica. But then, he should never have slept with her, should he? It only happened because she’d caught him at a low ebb, and it had been a very long time since he’d had a woman in his bed.

  ‘Cat got your tongue?’

  He smiles again, unsure of what to say.

  She nods at his uneaten toast. ‘I was going to make bacon and eggs but you’ve no bacon. Not enough eggs for scrambled really, so…’ She looks at him sidelong... ‘I’m rambling, aren’t I? I’m a morning person. Seems like you’re not.’

  Matt bites into his toast. ‘It takes a while for me to wake up.’

  She lets the towel slip to reveal full, pert breasts. ‘I can wake you up when you’ve finished that, if you like.’

  He has to stop this right now… She drops the towel completely now and slips into bed beside him. Matt puts the tray to one side, gets out of bed and puts his robe on. ‘I’m so sorry Jessica… but I think last night was a mistake. I’m not ready for a relationship, especially not with all this going on.’ He shoves his hair back and folds his arms, gives her what he hopes is a kind smile.

  Jessica pulls the quilt up to cover her breasts. Her face is on fire, her eyes flashing with fury. ‘Well thank you very much! Pity you didn’t say all that last night.’

  Matt turns his back, sits on the edge of the bed. ‘Yes, it is a pity. I’m really sorry.’

  ‘So am I. Seems like you took what you wanted and then just dumped me in the morning… typical bloke.’

  Eh? That was hardly fair. She was the one who did all the running. Matt sighs. ‘I did say I didn’t think it was a good idea. Actually, I didn’t get that far, because you jumped on me… told me not to think about it.’

  ‘Whatever.’

  Matt walks round the bed to face her. ‘Hey. Let’s not fall out. We had a great night together, but can we just leave it for now?’

  She looks up at him, her bottom lip trembling. ‘For now? Does that mean there might be a chance for us in the future?’

  Why does she have to make it so difficult? He shrugs and gives her a quick smile. ‘Who knows? Let’s just see.’ Then he goes to the bathroom and turns the shower on. With any luck she’ll be gone when he’s done. What a mess. As if his life’s not in enough turmoil without this. But he only has himself to blame, doesn’t he?

  Twenty minutes later he comes out of the bathroom and tiptoes to the foot of the stairs to see if the coast is clear. The cottage is in silence and there’s a note next to the kettle.

  Matt,

  I made a quick exit. I’m walking into town and getting a taxi home from there, as things are very awkward between us. I hope there will be a chance for us when you’ve sorted your life out. You know where I am. Jess xxx

  Relief fights with shame in his head and shame just gets the edge. He hates hurting people and letting her down gently has resulted in her thinking there might be a future for them. Why can’t he just sort himself out? He needs to be firmer with people and more decisive in what he’s doing. Thinking of which, he’s going to organise those spy cams right now. Then he’s going to see Lavender and demand that she tell him everything. Otherwise he’ll bring the police back to her door, then she’ll be sorry.

  * * *

  Lavender opens the door a crack, shading her eyes from the late afternoon sunshine. ‘Hi Matt. I’m a bit busy right now.’

  ‘Really? This won’t take long.’ He pushes the door open and, ignoring her protestations, marches into the living room. If Morvoren’s here she’ll get it with both barrels. She’s not. Shame. He’s in the mood for a showdown.

  ‘You can’t just barge in here!’ Lavender grabs her phone from the sofa. ‘Leave now, or I’m calling the police.’ There’s a tremor in her voice and Matt can tell she’s bluffing.

  ‘Go for it. The more the merrier.’ He flops down on the sofa, puts his feet up on the coffee table. ‘I’m sure they’d be delighted to hear all about Morvoren’s lies.’

  Lavender holds the phone to her chest and then sets it down. She walks round to face him. ‘Okay, I won’t call them. But as I said, you can’t just barge in here like this, Matt. I’m shocked that you would… I didn’t think you were so aggressive.’

  Matt gives a humourless bark and springs to his feet. He’s absolutely incredulous. ‘Are you for real? After what your grandmother did to me, with your help.’ He stabs a finger through the air at her. ‘Because you must have helped her, Lavender. You have the cheek to stand there and accuse me of being fucking aggressive!’

  Lavender’s lip trembles and her eyes fill. She slumps into the armchair and begins to sob. Matt wants to say sorry – it’s not in his nature to be such a bully – but he can’t. He needs answers, and so it’s just tough if she’s upset right now. After a while she grabs a tissue and dabs her eyes. ‘You should leave, Matt. You’re scaring me, and I have nothing to say to you.’

  ‘Oh, I think you do, young lady. I won’t hurt you, but I need answers and I’m not leaving until I get them.’

  Lavender just shakes her head and looks hopeless. Broken.

  Matt decides to try a softer approach… He’s a trained teacher, after all, and has learned that being too shouty doesn’t always work when dealing with difficult situations. Scared children often retreat, and Lavender looks exactly like one at the moment.

  ‘Look, Lavender. Try to put yourself in my position. You tell me Morvoren told you hideous lies about me and lo and behold, I wake up naked in my car the very morning after I spent an evening here with you. The other day at the shop you were beside yourself with remorse, but stopped just short of confessing. My heart goes out to you for what happened to you in the past, and the way that bitch of a woman manipulated your emotions. You’re a victim as much as I am. But if you tell me the truth, I promise we’ll think of a way to keep you out of trouble with the police. Morvoren can take the fall. She deserves nothing less.’

  ‘I have washed my hands of her. She’s poisonous.’ Lavender wipes her eyes and blows her nose.

  This gives Matt heart, but he must handle it carefully. She’s avoiding the confession – slowly, slowly catchy monkey. ‘Rightly so. How did you find out that everything she’d told you about me was a lie?’

  ‘I had my suspicions last week. She seems to be totally obsessed with you, even though you left the village. Also, there’s a man here that she’s trying to get me matched up with as if I’m a prize at a fair! Lots of plotting with this guy and his family behind my back.’ Lavender tosses her hair, her eyes flashing, deep purple flecks in their depths. ‘Can you believe that? I was starting to feel totally controlled by her.’

  Matt nods. ‘I can believe it actually.’ He tells her about his encounter with Jamie’s dad at the bakery. Relief swells in his chest at the knowledge there’s nothing between Jamie and Lavender. He needs to keep a check on it. The woman sitting opposite might be his heart’s desire, but she helped to ruin him too.

  ‘Intended? I’m his fucking intended?’ Lavender slaps the arm of the chair. ‘How dare he. How dare they all! It’s flaming medieval…’

  ‘Yeah. That’s my thinking. Bloody outrageous… So how did you find out about the lies?’ Matt adds the last bit as he sits back on the sofa and crosses his legs, hoping to draw her into a false sense of security.

  Lavender sighs and mirrors his pose. ‘I found her “source”, or the guy related to her. It’s John, Maureen the school secretary’s dad. Seems like Gran found out about you from him but twisted all the information she had about you.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘Not just twisted it – altered it beyond all recognition. John was so shocked when I gave him my version. He said Maureen thought you were a great teacher and hates what’s happened to you.’

  Matt nods, leans forward, his elbows on his knees, and gives her a direct stare. It’s now or never. ‘And what exactly did happen to me?’

  Lavender shakes her head and covers her mouth with her hand as if sh
e needs extra help to keep the words in.

  ‘Come on, Lavender, do the right thing. As I said, we’ll think of a way to keep you out of trouble. We might have to bend the truth, but I’m willing if you are.’

  She sits staring into his eyes for the longest time, then she sticks out her chin, says, ‘Yes, you deserve the truth. I can’t see as how I’ll be kept out of trouble, but it’s the right thing to do. I put a sleeping potion in the wine I made. Once you were out, Gran came round, and Jamie – though I didn’t know he was coming. Another bargaining chip, I expect, when they spring the fucking marriage arrangement on me.’ She sighs. ‘Anyway, he stripped you and Gran did the lipstick smudges. She stamped some on with a little rubber lip thing that she found in an art shop. I didn’t see you when you were naked, if that helps.’

  Matt flops back and covers his face. At last! But how the hell can he keep her out of trouble and still clear his name? It will take some thinking about. And that shithead Jamie was involved. It stood to reason. He clears his throat. ‘Thank you for being honest… I knew someone else must be involved, because you and Morvoren couldn’t have lifted me into my car when I was out cold by yourselves. Who drove me into town?’

  ‘Jamie. I was going to in the original plan, but he said he’d do it.’ Lavender’s eyes have filled again, and tears spill over onto her cheeks.

  ‘Right…’ Matt stands and walks towards the kitchen. ‘I’m going to make us a cuppa and we’ll put out heads together, work out what our story should be.’

  An hour and a half later, they have fleshed out a story. The only one that might work, but it still doesn’t put Lavender totally in the clear and Matt hates it. He runs the story again in his mind as he watches her open a packet of biscuits for their second cup of tea. They will say Morvoren encouraged Lavender to be friendly to Matt, as she decided it was high time the old feud was put to bed, because Lavender confessed to her that she liked Matt, but was worried about what her gran would say. She was really pleased Morvoren gave her blessing. Morvoren said Lavender should invite him to dinner, and even supplied her with home-made non-alcoholic wine… In the wine was the love potion that Morvoren had used years ago on his grandfather, when unfortunately, the wrong woman benefitted. Now there was a chance to put right the past…