Desperate Measures (18 page)
‘Betty’s kids are just leaving,’ Paula said as she turned away from the window. ‘I expect she’ll be down soon.’
‘You said she knows you’re here, so I’m sure she will.’
Paula plonked herself on the sofa, ‘Cor, Val, it’s gonna be great. When I move in with Cheryl, I won’t be stuck in me room. She said we’re sharing the whole flat.’
‘It sounds wonderful, and a proper home.’
‘Yeah, and to think I nearly turned her down. She even talked about buying a telly and—’
A knock on the door interrupted Paula, and when Val opened it she said, ‘Hello, come on in.’
‘Hello, Paula,’ Betty said as she walked into the room.
Treacle ran over to her; after scooping him up, she sat next to Paula. ‘My son has just told me that he’s getting married. I should be happy, but John is on his way to his father’s to celebrate the news and I feel left out, like an outsider.’
‘I’m sure he doesn’t want you to feel like that,’ Val consoled. ‘You’re his mother, an important part of his life.’
‘He’s got Ulrika now, and though he rings me once a week, I hardly see him.’
‘Did you see more of him before he met Ulrika?’
Betty’s brow creased in thought. ‘No, I suppose not. Oh, it isn’t Ulrika. It’s the thought of him being all pally with his father and Mel.’
Paula hated to see Betty unhappy and reached out to clasp her hand. Her own life had changed for the better now. Ian Parker was behind bars, she was making friends at work, and now, to top it all, she was going to live in a real home again. Deep down, she wished it was Betty she was going to share a flat with, but living with Cheryl was next best, and better than being stuck alone in a bedsit. ‘I’m sorry, Betty,’ she said.
‘Oh, take no notice of me,’ she said as her hand tightened in reassurance around Paula’s. ‘Now come on, let’s talk about something else. How did you get on this morning? Is everything packed?’
‘We forgot to take any boxes, or newspaper, so there’s loads left. We’re going back tomorrow night, but it means I can’t come round to rehearse your plan.’
‘Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for that.’
‘Will your son be at the Christmas party?’
‘I don’t know, but I’m sure his father will invite him.’
‘Let’s hope he is–and when he hears what I’ve got to say, he’s sure to turn against him again.’
Betty’s eyes lit up. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
Pleased that she’d managed to cheer Betty up, Paula now said, ‘Here, and talking about Christmas, it’s nice to think that me and Cheryl will be together in a flat.’
‘Paula,’ Val cautioned, ‘even if Cheryl finds a flat quickly, you can’t bank on the sale going through by Christmas. With vacant possession it can be done in weeks, but more often than not, it takes a couple of months.’
‘Oh blimey, that means I’ll still be stuck in me bedsit.’
‘No, Paula, I insist you spend Christmas Day with me, especially as I know it’ll be your birthday.’
‘Your birthday?’ Betty cried. ‘Oh, that’s lovely. I was going to suggest that we all spend Christmas together and just hope that Cheryl isn’t on duty. I’d love to cook dinner–and if you don’t mind sleeping on my sofa, Paula, you’re welcome to stay.’
‘Mind! Of course I don’t mind,’ Paula cried. Life was certainly on the up and the thought of spending Christmas with Betty, Val and Cheryl made her happiness complete. It was strange, really. Before Betty had come onto the scene, she’d seen quite a bit of Cheryl and Val. They’d been friends and she’d grown fond of them, but Betty had added something to the mix–a feeling that they were now a family.
Cheryl wasn’t feeling the same as she finished the last piece of ironing. She no longer regretted offering Paula a home, and now her doubts had been dispelled she was in fact looking forward to it. The only thing was she wanted to move out of the area, to be long gone before Ian Parker came out of prison. There was a fear that she couldn’t dispel–that when released he’d come looking for the woman who’d falsely accused him of rape.
Not only that, she wasn’t happy with Betty’s plan. Yes, she’d been hurt, had suffered financially, but her plan had nothing to do with getting a better settlement.
Cheryl hung her ironing in the closet, still thinking, still worrying. The plan for Paula had made sense. The man who raped her had got away with it and deserved to be punished. It had enabled Paula to move forward, to stop living like a hermit, afraid to go out at night for fear of bumping into him. Likewise, the plan for the dealer who had cheated her made sense. She had got her money back and now had the means to buy a place of her own. Justice had been served. Betty though just wanted to see her husband brought low, and as for Val, even if she could ensure that the man who ruined her career lost his job, it wouldn’t make any difference. It wouldn’t get her the job back. It was too late for that. In fact, if they both got the revenge they sought, what good would it do? Other than perhaps a sense of satisfaction, it wouldn’t make any difference to their lives. Neither of them would be any better off.
Cheryl shook her head with impatience. Betty and Val were living in the past, eaten up by unhappy memories. Surely it would be better to let it all go, to move forward with their lives? She had listened to Betty’s plan, annoyed with herself for not speaking up, telling them how she felt. At least this time she didn’t have a part to play, but doubted she’d get off so lightly when it came to Val’s plan.
Her mood low, Cheryl now sat on the side of her bed. She just wanted it to be over, to be able to get on with her own life again, to plan for the future in a new area and, with any luck, a new job. If she took up midwifery she’d be more or less her own boss, but was it what she really wanted? The money she now had offered her choices, and something that had been at the back of her mind now forced its way to the front. It would be so worthwhile, but would she be able to raise the money? Could she do it? Yes, maybe, but one thing was sure, she couldn’t do it alone.
Cheryl had arranged storage for the furniture, and over the next ten days occasionally met Paula at Charlie’s to pack it all up. It was mid–November, but at last they were finished and, sighing with relief, Cheryl said, ‘That’s it, Charlie, all done, but your house looks so spartan now.’
‘Don’t worry about it. You’ve left me enough to get by on until Saturday.’
‘The storage company van will be here at eleven. Is that still all right?’
‘Yeah, that’s fine. I’ve found a bed for the night with a mate, so that just leaves me budgie.’ He then turned to Paula. ‘When Keith ran me home with more boxes, I told him you were taking the budgie. He said it’d be a bit of a job lugging his cage on a bus, so offered to give you a lift.’
‘Keith? What, Keith at work?’
‘Yeah, and it was good of him to offer.’
‘But you shouldn’t have done that, Charlie! I’d have sorted something out.’
‘Well there’s no need now. He’s gonna drop us off here, and then take you on to your place with Charlie.’
‘But…but that means I’ll be alone with him in his car!’
Paula’s fear was palpable, and Cheryl wished she could help. ‘I’m so sorry, Paula, but I’ve already agreed to stand in for one of our nurses until eleven.’
‘Paula’s got nothing to worry about. Keith might be a bit mouthy, but he’s a nice bloke.’
‘But, Charlie, he’s always trying to chat me up and…and he might try it on.’
‘I’m sorry, girl. After what you told me I should’ve realised you’d be a bit skittish.’ He scratched his head. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll come on to your place with you.’
‘Oh, thanks, Charlie.’
Cheryl glanced at her watch and seeing it was nearly ten she said, ‘Paula, I think we should go now.’
They both put on their coats, but then Cheryl took a small package from her handbag, holding it out to Charlie. ‘Thank you so much for giving me all your lovely things. I know you don’t want anything, but well, I’ve got you a little present.’
‘Blimey, girl, you shouldn’t have done that,’ Charlie said as he took the package. With gnarled fingers he opened it, and seeing the gold cufflinks his voice croaked, ‘They’re smashing. Thanks very much.’
‘I don’t suppose I’ll see you now before you go, so goodbye, Charlie. Good luck and have a safe journey.’
‘Me mates are throwing a bit of a party for me in the Railway Arms on Saturday night. If you can make it, you’d be more than welcome. You too, Paula.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t, but thanks for the invite.’
‘Me neither,’ Paula said, as they walked to the door, ‘but I’ll see you at work in the morning.’
‘Bye, Charlie,’ they both chorused, and as he closed the door behind them, they hurried along the street.
‘It was nice of Charlie to invite us, but a pub on a Saturday night ain’t my cup of tea.’
‘I felt the same,’ agreed Cheryl. ‘Come on, I’ll walk you to the bus stop.’
‘There’s no need. I’ll be fine.’
‘You always say that, but as usual I’ll ignore you.’
‘Well this time, don’t hang around until a bus turns up.’
‘We’ll see, but I’m glad the packing is out of the way. I can concentrate on finding a house now.’
Paula grinned as she linked her arm through Cheryl’s. ‘Oh, a house now is it?’
‘Yes, if I can get a mortgage, but as a professional with a huge deposit, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Look, there’s a bus and if we run you should be able to catch it,’ Cheryl urged, glad as they dashed along Northcote Road that it brought an end to the conversation. She wasn’t ready to reveal what she had in mind yet. There was so much to think about, so much to find out before she’d know if it was really viable.
At the same time in Val’s flat, Betty yawned. ‘I think it’s bed for me.’
‘Would you like a cup of cocoa first?’
‘Oh, go on then. I won’t say no.’
When Val returned with the drinks, she found Betty dozing. ‘Wake up, sleepy head.’
‘I was only resting my eyes.’
‘Yes, you always say that, but you can fall asleep at the drop of a hat.’
Betty absent–mindedly stroked the dog’s head. ‘Work again tomorrow…I must admit that these days the job is getting me down.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘It’s being on my own all the time, that and the endless round of cleaning.’
‘Why don’t you look for something else?’
‘Like what? It’d just be another cleaning job, and at least where I am now I’m more or less my own boss.’
‘You could try for a job in a shop.’
Betty looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Yes, I suppose I could, but I’ve no experience.’
‘How much experience do you need to work behind a counter? It’s just a matter of serving people and taking the money.’
‘I’ve never used a till.’
‘You’d soon learn.’
‘Yes, I think I could. After the things I’ve done lately, learning how to use a till should be a doddle. Oh, dear, I seem to be picking up some of Paula’s words–what I meant was, it should be easy.’ Betty chuckled, then picking up her cup of cocoa she drank it down, smacking her lips with appreciation. ‘That was lovely, but if I don’t go now I really will fall asleep.’
‘All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Val showed Betty out, washed the cups, and then took Treacle for his last walk. On her return she went to bed, the dog jumping up to claim his spot beside her. Val threw an arm around him, thoughts drifting. Like Betty, she too was dissatisfied with her job. The filing system was all but complete, and after that she had no idea how she was going to fill her days. What little typing there was didn’t take long, and other than answering the telephone, she’d be left twiddling her thumbs. Oh, if only she was still in sales, even as a rep, but thanks to Mike Freeman there was no chance of that. Once again she thought about ways of getting revenge, but as usual she came up with nothing. The frustration was driving her mad.
Val finally gave up and, hugging Treacle closer, she finally drifted off to sleep, but in the night her torturous body betrayed her. Treacle moved away as Val thrashed and turned, dreaming that she was in Mike Freeman’s arms, their love–making passionate.
Paula was struggling to fall asleep too. She couldn’t stop thinking about Keith. He’d have no idea why she was frightened to be alone with him in his car; would wonder why Charlie was coming with them, but she wasn’t about to tell him the truth. She and Charlie would have to work out an excuse. But what?
Finally, giving up, Paula impatiently threw back the blankets. She shrugged on her dressing gown, and then went down to the communal kitchen. Her nose wrinkled as she opened the fridge, frowning at the sight of mouldy cheese, and the fact that her bottle of milk was half empty. Some rotten sod had nicked some again, but fed up with trying to catch the culprit she just poured what was left into a saucepan and set it on the filthy gas cooker. As she waited for it to boil, her thoughts drifted to Betty and all the information about her husband she had to remember. It felt that her mind was saturated, that she wouldn’t be able to take anything else in, but there was no stopping Betty from trying to drum in even more.
When the hot drink was made, Paula rinsed out the saucepan but, unable to bear the thought of sitting in the dirty kitchen, she carried the mug of milk up to her room. At least she wouldn’t be in this stinking house for much longer, and the thought cheered her as she sat on her bed. But in the meantime there was still the problem of Keith and her unwillingness to be alone with him in his car.
When her drink was finished, Paula scrambled under the blankets again, deciding that the problem would have to wait until morning. She’d have a word with Charlie and maybe he’d come up with something. If she could have chosen a father, it would be someone like Charlie, and Paula knew she was going to miss him.
Behind closed lids, unbidden, the image of Keith now arose again. He wasn’t good looking, but she liked his cheeky smile, the way he made her laugh, along with his pointless chat–up lines. If she could ever face going out with a bloke again, it would be someone like Keith, someone who could make her laugh, Paula mused as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Her last conscious thought was that, even though Keith was nice, it would be years before she could face a date again.