Authors: Sarah Elizabeth Ashley
“I’ll see you about ten thirty.” It’s that husky voice
again.
“Did Benito come back to you?” My thoughts turn to last
night when I finally met the mysterious Benito.
“No, he won’t now. Don’t worry about Benito, I’ve told you
not to worry about him!” he says firmly. He stands and walks over to me,
placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. “See you later.”
“I can’t wait,” I whisper.
He smiles at me. “Neither can I.”
I organise a cab for me and the girls to get back to my
home. We arrive and Anna gives Katie the tour. She’s very impressed with her
best friend’s new home. “It’s beautiful, Anna,” I hear her say, “and look at
your room, it’s enormous!” Not that our last home was tiny, but certainly it
was a lot smaller than this.
The girls are deciding where to spend a couple of weeks. I
get the impression from their chatter that California is winning – I can’t say
I blame them really. Katie has to finalise dates with her parents, but it’s
looking like they’ll go early next week, giving them a chance to get their
results and, assuming they have the grades they need, the opportunity to
confirm places at university. I’m pleased that Katie has come down for a few
days, Anna was starting to waver about her degree course, but I think she’s
been persuaded to stick with her initial choice.
I potter around during the afternoon, go through my
wardrobe. There isn’t much in it really, but I suppose it will build over time.
The agency have confirmed appointments for driver and housekeeper interviews,
I’m going to be busy.
I’ve just settled with a magazine when my mobile rings.
Glancing at the screen, I see that the number is unavailable. “Hello.” I answer
cautiously, preparing for a Lewis onslaught.
“Is this Mrs Drake?” the caller asks.
“Yes, who’s calling?” I don’t recognise the woman’s voice.
“I’m calling regarding your husband, Lewis Drake,” she tells
me, sounding official.
“And you are?”
“I’m sorry. I’m Senior Staff Nurse Milton, I’m calling from
Fair Road General. We have your husband with us and he asked me to contact
you,” she explains.
“Oh, well, thank you for letting me know, but we’re
separated. I live in London now.” I have little interest in Lewis and I
certainly won’t be dashing to his bedside, but nonetheless I am interested in why
he is in hospital. “Why is he with you anyway?” Hopefully he’s in for a
personality transplant!
The nurse tells me that Lewis was attacked during the early
hours of this morning. They believe he’d been out and was on his way back to
his car when he was grabbed from behind, that he’s in quite a bad way and has
been asking for me.
“I’m really sorry, but I can’t come back to Staffordshire
now. I’m very busy, and as I said, Lewis and I are separated. I really don’t
want to see him.” I try to be firm.
The nurse presses, almost insisting that I go.
“Look!” I sigh. “I’m sorry that you’re the one that got to
call me but I won’t be coming to see him. In fact, if you want to, tell him
that the bruise he gave me a few days ago is clearing up nicely, and please – remove
my number from your records. I don’t want
anything
to do with that man.”
“Oh, I see,” she says.
“Yes, so now you understand why I don’t want anything to do
with him. How long will he be with you? I would hate to think that him being
laid up there will hold up our divorce.” I must sound so bitchy, something that
previously I would never have done, but Lewis really has ruined me and I just
want rid of him.
“It will be a little while. He has two broken legs, a couple
of fractured ribs and some facial injuries. It was a nasty assault although
there appears to be no motive, he still had his wallet and car. He’s had
surgery but it will be a few days before we get him up.” She tells me the
extent of his injuries, as if I really care.
“Thank you for letting me know anyway.” I hang up. Inwardly
I cheer, although at the back of my mind I think I know that Benito has had
something to do with this.
Scrolling down my call list, I tap James’s number. The call
goes straight to his voicemail. “Hi Boss, call me as soon as you can, thanks.”
Part of me is horrified and another part wants to run around
shouting my head off – bloody marvellous, although that wouldn’t be very nice,
would it?
I sit with a magazine, wondering about Lewis and the
attack.
I bet he was pissed! Early hours of the morning, I bet he’d been with one of
his whore friends. Bound to have been, the nurse said he’d been out and was
making his way back to his car. I suppose I’d better let Anna know, he is her
dad after all.
I move and start to make my way to the stairs when I hear
Anna and Katie on their way down. I glance at my watch and see that it’s
already seven, where did that afternoon go?
“Anna, can I have a word, really quickly?” I call Anna into
the living room.
She’s smiling. “Sure, what’s up?”
“I’ve just had a call from the hospital, at home. It seems
your dad’s got himself into some bother and has ended up there.”
“Oh, what’s wrong with him now?” She doesn’t seem that
interested.
I explain what happened and why he’s there.
“Serves him right,” she says flippantly, and marches off
towards the kitchen. I follow behind her. Katie stands open mouthed and looks
at me.
“Don’t. Say. A. Word!” I look at Katie. “She’s found out a
lot recently, it’s just her way of dealing. You know yourself now what he’s
like,” I remind her.
Katie follows her into my kitchen; I can hear pots and pans
clanging. Anna pops her head out of the kitchen. “We’re making supper, Mum,
want some?” she asks me. Outwardly she really doesn’t appear to give a damn
about her dad, I know it’s just bravado, or at least I think it is?
“What are you making?” I ask, looking at the disarray in the
kitchen.
“Pizza I think, or maybe some pasta, I don’t know!” she
tells me. Well, looking at what they’ve got out it could be anything.
“I think I’ll pass and wait for James later. Don’t make a
mess, I’m meeting potential new housekeepers tomorrow and I don’t want to show
them a messy kitchen – and remember to both pack your bags, you’re off to
Katie’s tomorrow,” I tell them, quietly begging them to keep the kitchen just a
little bit tidy.
“We won’t!” they reply in unison.
I sit and listen to the chatter and laughter coming from the
kitchen. This is a happy house, unlike the one we left. Even though I’ve always
tried to give Anna a happy childhood I can’t say the house was happy.
There’s too much thinking going on! I get up and go into the
kitchen, looks like they decided on pasta. “Smells good.” I open the fridge
door. Glancing over the shelves I choose a bottle of white wine which I uncork
and then pour myself a large glass; it just hits the spot.
“Don’t forget to pack!” I remind them. I can just see it
tomorrow morning – train leaves at just after 9.30, I have visions of clothes
still strewn everywhere at 9.00!
“Have you got enough money in your account, Anna?” I ask.
“Yes, Mum, I’m fine. Don’t stress!” She rolls her eyes at
me. Of course, at eighteen she knows everything!
Don’t stress
, I think to myself,
after what we’ve
been through over the last few weeks
. As I leave the kitchen I hear Katie
and Anna talking.
“What about your dad?” Katie asks.
“What about him?” Anna sounds indifferent.
“Well, what your mum just said, two broken legs… Anna,
that’s serious, really serious, he could have died if he’d got a blood clot or
something!”
“So?” Anna snaps.
“So! He’s your dad, Anna!” I hear Katie raise her voice. Oh
no, this will surely lead to an argument!
“And you know all about my dad, do you, Katie!” I hear Anna
raise her voice. “Before you say anything else about my dad, ask my mum to show
you her back, then you can re-evaluate your opinion of me for not caring about
him. Katie, he’s a bastard of the highest order!”
“But he’s your dad,” I hear Katie argue.
“No, no, no!” I can hear Anna shouting. “Katie, he stopped
being my dad the day he branded my mum with the electric iron!” I hear Anna
storm upstairs, doors slamming and a lot of banging.
Well, I’m trapped now, in my own home. If I go to Katie,
she’ll look at me totally differently and if I go upstairs I’ll face full-on
waterworks! I’ll take the Katie option first, how hard can it be – since Maggie
died it appears that everyone knows my secrets!
“Katie, are you okay? Have you and Anna had words?” I ask
Anna’s friend.
She looks at me, horrified, the huge dark eyes staring
through me. “I’m sorry, Al, I didn’t know why you left Lewis.”
“Not to worry, but it’s not the sort of thing you want
bandied around, is it?” I hope she takes the hint to keep what she knows to
herself.
“No, I suppose not.” She looks down, blushing very slightly.
“No, it isn’t. Don’t give Anna a hard time, she’s only just
found out what her dad’s really like, it’s just her way of dealing with it.
Give her half an hour and she’ll calm down. Shall I finish your supper for you,
and then you can go and get her, bring her down here to eat, okay?” I suggest.
Katie nods, so I finish cooking their supper. I sit with
them while they eat, they’ve discussed the “words” they had earlier and they
have both apologised to each other. For a few moments it was like having two
six year olds around again. Now the tension has passed I listen to the chatter
and laughter. “We’re going out, Mum,” Anna announces.
“Okay,” I say slowly, “but no repeat of the other night,
you’re heading back to Katie’s tomorrow.”
“It’s okay, Al,” Katie says as she helps clear away, “we’re
just going to that wine bar that we passed on the way here, it looks fun.”
“Well, just be careful, please. You’ve got some cash,
haven’t you? Leave your cards here.”
They dash off upstairs to get ready and within an hour
they’re gone.
I’m on my own, and it’s good. I feel calm and I like having
a little bit of time to myself. I potter around, have a long soak in my
coconut-scented bath, wash my hair and shave my legs. Looking down, I’m still
bald there. I make a decision that when it grows back I shall go and have a
professional wax, I really can’t be doing with the itchy re-growth business. I
smile to myself as I look in my full-length mirror; nothing’s changed, apart
from the baldy bit!
It’s a terrible thing to say, and God, please forgive me
these horrible thoughts, but I’m actually quite pleased that Lewis is laid up
and unable to come anywhere near me, or do anything to me. I wonder what
happened and still can’t get Benito out of my mind. It has to be something to
do with him, the conversations I’ve overheard… but who is he? I hope the
bastard suffered!
I cream my legs, stomach and arms as I sit pondering.
Glancing at the clock, I see that James should be here in about forty-five
minutes. He hasn’t phoned me back yet, must be busy.
My stomach tells me that it’s hungry. I bet James has eaten
at the hotel. I try and call him again, but get diverted straight to voicemail.
I don’t bother leaving a message, he’ll be home soon.
I find myself back in my kitchen, pouring another glass of
wine. I sort some cheese biscuits out and cut a few chunks of cheese, just
enough to stop me from feeling so hungry, and take my snack through to the
living room. I curl up on my sofa and flick on the ten o’clock news. I half
watch it, half replay the events of the last couple of months. It’s gone so
fast, like a whirlwind, and I think I’m still a little in shock, still swept up
in the moment. I finish my wine as the news programme comes to an end.
I must fall asleep as I am woken by the sound of my front
door being opened. “Hello?” I croak. I glance at the clock that sits on the
fireplace, it’s 11.45.
“Hi Alex.” James appears around the living room door.
“Hello, I’ve missed you,” I say as I stand and walk to him.
I put my arms around his neck and give him a hug.
“Have you?” he whispers.
“Hmmm. Did you think I wouldn’t?” I question.
“I don’t know what I thought really.”
“Did you get my voice message?” I ask as I head off towards
the kitchen. “Do you want some wine?”
“No, and please. When did you leave it?” He reaches for his
phone, checking the screen.
“Earlier this evening. I had a call from the hospital, back
home. Apparently Lewis has been badly beaten up, two broken legs, ribs and a
general bashing, I think. He asked them to call me, they said he wasn’t
settling.”
“And?” He looks concerned.
“I told them we were recently separated and I wouldn’t be
going to see him. The nurse that called was really insistent, so eventually I
told her to ask him about the bruise he’d left on me.” I recount my
conversation with the nurse.
“Did she give up?” He looks directly at me.
“I think so. But I called you because, well… James, this
isn’t anything to do with Benito, is it?” I ask cautiously.
He looks at me as he takes his glass of wine. He takes a
long drink. “No. I told you Benito wouldn’t get himself involved in anything
like that.”
“But I bet he knows someone who would. Come on, James, it’s
all a bit of a coincidence, you have to admit!” I question. I know who’s behind
this, I’m not stupid!
“Maybe, but Benito doesn’t do bashing. Now, why have you
missed me so much?” He grins.
The subject is closed, I can tell, and it’s pointless
pressing him because I know he will not discuss this further. It’s late anyway
and despite doing very little today, I feel tired. James is too, and it’s not
long before we’re both off to bed. I ring Anna and make sure she has a key,
tell her not to be too late and to come in quietly; from the noise in the
background it sounds like they’re having fun and as she doesn’t sound like
she’s had too much to drink, I’m happy.