The Bronze Lady (Woodford Antiques Mystery Book 2) (15 page)

Chapter 36

Tuesday 26
th
January, 6.30pm

Rebecca and Christine had not spoken since their lunchtime get-together the week before. This was not unusual, with their individual families and other commitments to concentrate on the two friends could easily go for several weeks without communicating with each other, and they had different likes and interests to occupy their leisure time, and even went to Zumba sessions on different days of the week.

But this time the circumstances for the silence were different. Rebecca was unsettled by her friend’s behaviour towards her, and it had caused her to question her own certainties about herself. Was Christine right to start thinking about Rebecca’s future love-life? Although she wasn’t just thinking about it, Christine had acted on it. That was the part which upset Rebecca the most; someone else as close as she thought Christine was to her putting into motion something which directly affected Rebecca’s life whilst having nothing to do with Christine’s.

Christine was someone Rebecca admired. Paul’s treatment of her during their marriage knocked her almost as low as a person could get, and yet she had turned her whole outlook on life around and was one of the most positive and balanced people Rebecca knew. Rebecca was one of only a handful of friends who were willing to stand by her during the worst of years; when Christine hated herself so much that she would lash out cruelly at anyone who threatened her own fragile equilibrium.

It hadn’t been easy. There was one occasion when Christine had been ranting in her kitchen about how awful her life was, how terrible her future was, and complaining about Paul and Monica (the woman Paul left Christine for, and later married, before repeating his pattern of cheating so they too are now divorced) and their happiness, when Rebecca ventured a suggestion about how she coped with her own challenges and Christine had slapped her down. Not literally, but viciously spelling out to Rebecca that she, Christine, did not view Rebecca as a person who should be dishing out advice on how to be content and happy. It had been a harsh thing to hear from someone as desperately unhappy as Christine was, and Rebecca had taken a little step away from her friend at the time, understanding the reasons for her behaviour but vowing not to attempt to help her again by offering advice. Neither would she ever confide in her in ways she had previously, or share her inner most fears and insecurities. The trust which had developed between them over their years of friendship was irretrievably damaged that day.

The two women continued to socialise occasionally together, sometimes meeting in the Woodford Tearooms for a coffee or lunch, at other times easily pairing up for various school events where they had children in the same classes. But Christine’s easy dismissal of Rebecca’s belief in herself had permanently scarred their friendship. Rebecca wasn’t sure that Christine even realised the damage she had done to the bond between them, and despite plucking up the courage on numerous occasions to talk to Christine about it, her friend’s attitude towards her that day had put up a barrier which prevented Rebecca from having the confidence that her distress would be fairly heard. There was also the question of what such a discussion would achieve were it to be addressed. Would Christine understand Rebecca’s upset and as a consequence feel even worse about herself? Rebecca’s own self-belief was unaffected by Christine’s judgement of her, but her respect for Christine was severely dented.

Years later Christine confided in Rebecca that she had contemplated suicide on a particularly bad night around that time, when the children were staying with their father and his new bride. An empty house at night is possibly the worst place to be alone with your own thoughts when you are as miserable as Christine was, and used to having young children around you to care for and be responsible for. The whole vision of her future had been shattered, and she didn’t know who she was any more, or what her role in life should be. Even the thought of her children wasn’t enough to keep her from killing herself because she honestly thought they would be better off without her; she didn’t think she had anything useful to offer them. It was only because she became bogged down in the practicalities of which method, where, and how awful it would be for the poor person or people who found her body that she didn’t go through with it. Rebecca understood the causes of her friend’s hurtful comments towards her at the time, and forgave her friend almost immediately.

But she never forgot them.

It was a strong lesson about trust for Rebecca to learn, and more recently she wondered if it was why she had been able to take the news of Cliff’s incredible deceit relatively well. Certainly her father’s desertion of the family when she was a teenager contributed to Rebecca’s strength of character. He announced he was leaving, and walked down the garden path, out of the gate at the end, and that was it. Rebecca, her sister Annette, and their mother Jackie watched him go. Neither Rebecca nor Annette knew why he left, and if Jackie understood she chose not to explain. For the next few months and years Rebecca witnessed her mother turning a devastating incident in her life to her advantage. Her mother was both her inspiration and source of support when times were hard. There were days, however, that Rebecca wished life didn’t have to be filled with these stabs to the heart in order for peace to be achieved.

Now as she sat at a table in the bar of The Ship Inn waiting for Christine to come and join her for a rare evening together, she wondered if finally the time had come to bring up the subject of the hurt from all those years ago, or whether to leave well alone. If it was still on her mind then maybe it was meant to be brought back out into the open?

‘Hi Rebecca!’ Christine appeared by her chair and leaned in for a welcoming hug. ‘You look gorgeous, I couldn’t believe it when you said you were going to have all your lovely long hair cut, but this style really suits you, and looks fabulous.’

Christine was right. Rebecca had always worn her black curly hair long, almost down to her waist, and it had suited her. But her recent decision to have it shortened by a few centimetres so it now hung to just below her shoulder blades gave her a younger, more carefree appearance than before.

‘Oh, thank you Christine! I decided it was time to have my hair a bit shorter and Paula promised me she would cut it in a style which was flattering. I am really pleased with it, I keep swishing my hair and checking out my reflection in windows as I walk by.’

‘Well I think you look really good. And before we go any further I want to apologise for my behaviour last week. I was totally out of order discussing you with Benjamin. And with Dave. I am so sorry, I really didn’t mean to go behind your back or make any assumptions about how you choose to live your life. You do know I am the last person to think we need a man to make our lives complete don’t you Rebecca? I wasn’t thinking, and I am sorry. I know you are perfectly capable of finding your own friends. Your life is none of my business, and I should never have presumed to create a situation on your behalf.’

As Rebecca looked at her friend’s apologetic expression she knew she had been right to refuse to go along with Christine’s plans last week, and that there was no need to bring up the words said in another time, but to enjoy the hand of friendship being offered this evening, and relax in the company of someone who loved her. After all, with hindsight Christine had been right all those years ago, although neither of them knew it at the time.

Chapter 37

Tuesday 26
th
January, 8.00pm

Gemma and Peter walked in to the pub at the same time as Jackie Martin. Rebecca waved them over to the table where she and Christine were just finishing their after-dinner coffees.

‘Come on over and join us. Are you all eating in here tonight?’

‘No, not tonight, although the cheese board looks good, what do you think darling?’ Peter turned to Gemma, who nodded her agreement.

‘Ooooh and a nice dessert wine to wash it down with,’ she grinned. ‘I love your new hair-do Rebecca, very glamorous.’

‘Doesn’t she look gorgeous?’ agreed Jackie. ‘I’m eating, but no alcohol tonight. I am celebrating finally being allowed behind the wheel of my car! Oh I have missed the independence of being able to drive myself around the place.’

‘Oh my goodness, are you driving already?’ exclaimed Gemma.

‘Yes! I have bought myself a car with an automatic gearbox, because a manual one with the clutch and gear stick is too difficult in my weakened state. So, before we get down to the business of eating and drinking, have you made a decision Peter? Would you like to buy my practice?’

Peter laughed at Jackie’s directness. ‘The short answer is ‘Yes’. The long answer is ‘It depends’. Sorry Jackie, we need more time and information to work out the finances and project plans.’

‘Good, I thought you would. I have brought the proposal with me. Have a look at it now, take it away with you, but most of all I am really pleased you are seriously considering it. I know that Martin Spiers from Swanwick vets will make me an offer once it reaches the Brackenshire grapevine that I am retiring, so I am not worried about my future, but I would like to be sure you have had the opportunity to choose yours. Take another week to think about it a bit more. My deadline is March 31st for setting things in motion, but obviously selling the veterinary practice is going to take a lot longer than that.’

‘What will you do Jackie?’

‘Oh, I have plans to buy a small apartment in Portugal. A friend of mine has one and she goes out three times a year, the rest of the time it is rented to holiday-makers. I have booked to travel out with her at the beginning of April with the intention of finding somewhere similar of my own.’

‘That sounds exciting Jackie,’ said Christine. ‘But won’t you miss your children and your grandchildren?’

‘Oh no! I’m not going to be living out there permanently. Just spending a few weeks here and there, enjoying the weather, the food, the wine, the pace of life. There are so many beautiful places to visit I won’t have time to miss anybody. And of course I hope they will come out with me sometimes too,’ she smiled fondly at her daughter.

‘Oh I love Portugal!’ Christine smiled hopefully at Jackie. ‘Is there any chance the invitation is open to friends of your children too, nudge nudge wink wink.’

Jackie laughed. She had always liked Christine, and thought she was good for Rebecca who could sometimes take her responsibilities in life too seriously. ‘I take it you would like to come and stay now and then?’

‘Oooh yes please!’

‘Christine, you are always welcome. With or without Rebecca, although if you could drag her with you at least once a year that would be wonderful.’

Rebecca had never been on holiday without her children, and Jackie thought it was high time she started to find out what adulthood was really all about.

Chapter 38

Tuesday 26
th
January, 9.30pm

Lisa leaned back in her chair and smiled as she watched Robin making their post dinner cup of tea in her kitchen. After all the stress and effort of her previous two relationships, this one was easy, exciting and uplifting. If it wasn’t for the long gaps between their dates it would be perfect. Robin’s work schedule was erratic, and he was often abroad for several days at a time or working on projects elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and would then need to spend a few days in the London office to write reports or make presentations. Lisa worked out they had only met six times since that first date in November, but it felt as though they had been together far more because they were usually able to email or text each other several times a day except when Robin was on a plane or in an area where internet and phone signals were poor.

Both of her children had now met him, albeit briefly in passing when he arrived at their house as they were leaving: Caroline already formed the opinion that he was a bit boring; and Robert said he was going to reserve judgement until he had seen more of him than their fleeting meetings and greetings. Both children were out tonight so Lisa had taken the opportunity for the third time to invite Robin into her home for dinner. She was enjoying having his company all to herself, and wasn’t ready to share him yet, which seemed to suit him too. Unlike her last dating experience Robin seemed only too happy to stay in with her.

Since Gemma had met and now married Peter the closeness the sisters had become used to was altered, and Lisa had been feeling distinctly left out of cosy family get-togethers for several months. Even the family Saturday night fish ‘n chips evenings had stuttered to an end; partly because of the development of Gemma and Peter’s relationship and partly because all four children were often out with their own friends or away from home. Caroline had been seeing her boyfriend for over a year now, and had practically moved in with him, and Robert was spending more and more time at his boyfriend’s house too. Lisa had always known her son was gay, but it had taken him a long time to accept, and even to publicly acknowledge to himself and his family. When he finally plucked up the courage to ‘out’ himself a few months before, at one of the family fish ‘n chip suppers, he was faintly disappointed to realise that it was no surprise to anyone there, and his big news was received with a similar degree of fuss as his cousin Nathan’s announcement that he was buying yet another car because his last one - his fourth in two years - had broken down permanently.

Lisa had stuck to her ‘no sex before the third date’ rule, and they spent those first three dates in The Ship Inn (the Italian restaurant Robin wanted to take her too for their third date was fully booked, so they ended up back on familiar territory), but as soon as she was comfortable to invite Robin into her home she knew they would end up in her bed together.

And they did.

And it was fantastic.

Finally Lisa, at the grand old age of forty two years old, experienced those wonderful exhilarating full-body sensations with a man who wanted to please her and whom she wanted to please. Her only previous experiences had been with her ex-husband, who had been under the strong impression that sex was a competition, and one in which he would set the rules and he would always win. In contrast Robin was skilled and gentle with her, taking his time to discover what she liked, allowing her to learn what he liked, and the entire time making Lisa feel as though she was the most important person in the world to him.

Tonight was going to be particularly special because it would be the first time Robin was able to stay the whole night, before flying out to Dubai the following day for three weeks.

‘What are you smiling about?’ asked Robin, as he brought the mugs over to the table. ‘You look very happy.’

‘Oh, I was just thinking about how wonderful my life is, you know, the usual,’ laughed Lisa.