A Secret Schemer (19 page)

‘Well would you ask her why
she’s sending these messages to me then Kate?’

‘Naturally, are you sure you
haven’t been bothering her again?’ Kate fired back at him.

‘I’ve never bothered your
daughter Kate; it was the other way round.’

‘You took advantage of her
though didn’t you Archie!’ Kate shouted

Time for me to intervene I
think. ‘Kate why don’t you go home and speak to Jodie, I’ll help
Grace with the meals until you return.’ I suggested softly.

‘Are you sure, I’m so sorry
Lucy.’ Kate’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

‘I’m positive Kate, however
before you go I would let Archie send you copies of the messages,
if that’s ok with you Archie.’

‘Sure if you give me the mobile
number.’

By the time Kate had left and
Archie had gone into the bar I spent a while with Grace sorting out
the lunch time menu specials. Then I sought Jena out so I could
discuss my weird dream. While I was explaining my night time
escapade I watched the frown appearing on Jena’s face. ‘You look a
tad uneasy Hun.’

‘Not uneasy as such Lucy, I’d
say more bothered about you, first not sleeping and second the
dream, a rather odd dream.’ Jena explained. ‘Have you heard from
him since you went out for the meal?’

‘Yeah he sends me a message
every day.’

‘Would that be a repeat message
Lucy?’ Jena adds with a touch of sarcasm.

‘I must admit they don’t vary
much, mostly saying he’s working hard.’

‘When are you seeing him
again?

‘I would imagine Sunday
lunch.’

Jena raised her eyebrows in
despair then slowly shook her head, as I walked away from her.

As orders started to come in
from the restaurant I tied my hair back and donned a white apron,
then me and Grace got stuck into serving. It was a couple of hours
before Kate returned, by the look on her face it was difficult to
decide if the news was good or bad. ‘Most of the rush is over Kate,
so shall we have a cuppa when the restaurant closes?’ I ask
tentatively. As I’m sure she doesn’t want to discuss Jodie in front
of Grace.

‘Yeah that’s fine Lucy, and
thanks again for covering for me.’

I went into the office and
carried on with my paperwork, personally I’ll be delighted when
this Jodie scenario is well and truly over. Not only is it causing
Kate stress, it’s not doing the rest of us a lot of favours,
especially Archie. I know he should never have slept with her;
nevertheless it must be extremely difficult to turn down an
opportunity when it’s offered on a plate. There’s no way I’d have
her back here to work, even if she vowed she’d changed her ways
(leopards and spots comes to mind). Kate knocked on the office door
armed with a mug of tea. ‘Can you spare a few minutes Hun?’ She
asked softly.

‘Of course Kate, let’s go
through to the restaurant.’

‘I’ve spoken to Jodie and I
still can’t believe how blunt she was, my parents are so upset they
were speechless. She says she missed her monthly and another one is
due now, Lucy she is so blasé about the whole situation, I’m not
sure how to handle her. She wants Archie to pay, all she did was
rant, in the end mum told me to come back to work and she would try
to speak to her on her own.’

I’m waiting for the floods of
tears, however they didn’t come. Kate looks as though she’s full of
anger. They do say the worm turns and maybe her daughter’s
rebellious behaviour has tipped her over the edge.

‘To be honest I wanted to shake
her, she’s never been brought up to behave like this. What the hell
do I do Lucy?’

‘Not having kids of my own, I
would say take her to the doctors to confirm her condition for a
start. Then you’ll know if she’s telling the truth or is it just
another wind up because Archie didn’t want a relationship with
her.’ What I actually wanted to say was that Archie had rejected
her, however I thought it may have been too harsh a word, being as
he is not in favour.

‘Yeah I’ll make an appointment;
I just couldn’t stay in the house with her, especially with my
parents being so upset.’

‘Bottom line Kate do you
believe her?’ I ask tentatively.

‘For sixteen years I’ve brought
her up to be honest, lately though I feel I don’t know her. So my
answer is, I haven’t a clue.’

‘In these circumstances maybe
it would be better for Jodie to speak to an outsider, perhaps she’d
open up then.’

‘What you mean a counsellor?’
Kate asks quizzically.

‘No actually I’m thinking of
Jena, she is an excellent diplomat, if anyone can help Jodie she’s
the one. The way I see it you’ve nothing to lose, and everything to
gain. The trouble is with you and your parents you’re all too close
to her, an outsider like Jena could be just what she needs.’

‘Would Jena do it and if so how
could I initiate it?’ Kate probed.

‘Leave it with me Kate; just
get her to the doctors.’ I assure.’ Let me know when she’s seen the
doc and then I’ll set it up.’

‘Thank you so much Lucy.’

‘Nothing to thank me for, we’re
friends aren’t we.’

My next port of call was the
bar, to inform Jena that she was now installed as our in house
counsellor. I know from old that Jena will enjoy this, as she loves
a challenge. She is definitely the right person to confront Jodie,
as Jena is level headed and empathic. As I mentioned to Kate
earlier she or her parents were far too closely connected. I truly
believe Jena will get her to open up, and if my hunch is correct
the girl will be relieved to spill it all out.

Jena wasn’t at all surprised
when I told her I’d offered her services. With that arranged I
headed upstairs to my flat, as I was about to open the lounge door
I heard Tim’s bedroom door open. Stepping backwards into the
passage I called out. ‘Going somewhere nice?’

His foot was on the first stair
as he turned around to face me, he looked startled. ‘Oh sorry Lucy
I didn’t see you there.’ He mumbled.

Truthfully I was unaware if
he’d heard me or not, nevertheless he had that sheepish look on his
face that was becoming all too familiar. As he appeared lost for
words I probed a little more. ‘Late meal is it?’

‘Oh..Oh no I have to meet a
work colleague for a coffee and a chat, I’ll call into the bar
tomorrow if that’s ok darling.’ With that he ran hastily down the
stairs. Now why do I think he made that excuse up on the spot,
especially saying he was meeting a work colleague, knowing then I
wouldn’t ask to join him. Am I making far too much of his
demeanour, is my imagination running away with me, with Jena’s help
I must add. Maybe the guy likes his own space, as he’s previously
said he’s lived alone for years. Adapting to living in a public
house could be slightly unnerving. I’m finding the situation
bewildering, he’s not the only one who’s lived on their own for
years, in pubs with staff maybe, although I’ve never actually lived
with a guy. To be honest I’m not now, we may live under the same
roof though as single people. Once in the lounge I checked the time
and it was eight fifteen, I’d done this automatically as I knew
that I would listen for his return. Curiosity was over whelming. I
sent Jena a message stating that if I was wanted would she ring me,
as I was upstairs in the flat. I contemplated going into his room
again, although I deemed he wouldn’t be gone that long being as I’d
seen him leave. Here am I acting like the lodger in my own pub, get
a grip Lucy Ross I berate myself. How have I ended up in this
predicament, I certainly didn’t envisage this happening when I took
the tenancy. Me, Jena and Kate, we were all up for trying out the
dating site, it’s worked well for Jena. Kate drifts from one
calamity to another, and as for me I haven’t a clue what you’d call
it. Tim’s a charmer, easy on the eye, and on the odd occasion when
we spend time together he can be good company. What’s it all about?
I moved over to the window and gazed dreamily at the city lights,
as I looked to my left I could see Big Ben and the Ferris wheel
towering above the buildings. There was traffic queuing at the
lights in the street below, horns blasting in anger for no apparent
reason. Loud music boomed noisily from car windows and countless
people were darting in and out of the traffic. Planes soaring
overhead on the flight path to Heathrow airport, all of these
sounds become a part of everyday life in fact you rarely notice any
of them. The city I love, my concrete jungle….My mobile burst into
action bringing me back to reality. It was Jena saying why don’t I
stay upstairs as she’d lock up. So I stretched out on the sofa and
switched on the TV, after endlessly switching channels I settled
for a DVD. As I relaxed my eyes were drooping and before I knew it
I had drifted off to sleep. Sometime later I woke to the sound of
footsteps on the stairs. In the darkness I fumbled to find my phone
and check the time, only to realise it was one o’clock, surely that
wasn’t Tim just come in. By the time I’d slipped into the hallway
there was not a sign of anyone, moving close to his door I could
hear sounds emanating from within. So once again he’d been out
late, my issue with tonight is the fact he lied. At around eight
o’clock he was going to meet a colleague for coffee, five hours
later he arrives back. baffled as to his whereabouts yes I am,
resentful of his lies. If I’d had a couple of glasses of wine I
would hammer on the door and sort this out now. However I haven’t
so I walked back into my bedroom and slammed the door in anger, and
for the first time since I’d moved into this pub I locked it….Even
though I was angry I felt utterly exhausted and within minutes I
fell once again into a dream filled sleep….I was running down the
stairs behind Tim as he left the pub, it was dark and he seemed to
be in a great hurry. I was finding it difficult to keep up with
him, he suddenly turned into a side road, and there was a pub to
the side. I knew it was a pub as I could see the sign swinging in
the breeze, I could see a word ‘Ye’ however that was all. Tim
quickly vanished to the side of the building, where was he, there
was an alleyway and it was so dark I stumbled along and had to
touch the side wall to keep my bearings. I came upon an alcove and
as I focused on the surroundings I could see two people in the
shadows, it was far too dark to figure out who they were, although
I knew it must have been him. Then in a flash they were gone, and
the alleyway was as sullen and dark as a dungeon….I was roused from
my reverie by the sound of rain pelting noisily on the windows.
Once again the previous night’s events were foremost in my mind.
How I’m going to deal with them is another question. My dreams are
disclosing that it’s plausible he has another woman in his life.
Can I believe what I’m seeing in my dreams…. Tim is himself a
visionary; with his slapdash scheme of becoming a millionaire by
the time he’s forty (which is now a couple of months away). My
anger has subsided somewhat, nevertheless I have no intention of
ignoring his exploits of last night. Now it is time to devise my
plan of action….

Chapter 25

Jena is meeting up with Jodie
today, Kate was unable to make a doctor’s appointment before next
Monday, and so clarification of a pregnancy will have to wait until
then. I believe it’s a good idea for them to meet today whatever
the outcome maybe. Archie is uneasy about the situation and the
whole scenario is casting a gloomy cloud over the staff, as most of
them are aware of what is taking place. Again my plan of action has
been shelved until this mess is cleared up. Going into the kitchen
I approach Kate. ‘What time is Jodie due in?’ I ask
tentatively.

‘About three o’clock Lucy, I
thought that would be a better time for Jena.’

‘Yes it will be, as the bar
should be a lot quieter.’

When Jodie arrived Jena was in
the kitchen waiting for her. ‘Hi Jodie, do you fancy a hot or cold
drink?’ She asks.

‘Cold please.’ Jodie replies
bluntly.

‘Well let’s go through to the
restaurant and I’ll get us a cool drink.’ Jena had made sure that
Archie would not be working this afternoon. Once settled at one of
the small tables, Jena poured them both a glass of fresh orange
juice. ‘We won’t be disturbed in here Jodie, so what’s happening
with you then?’

‘I suppose you know
everything?’ Jodie muttered.

‘It is irrelevant what I’ve
heard Jodie, I want you to tell me how it is with you, in your own
time. I’m not here to judge you.’

‘When I came here to work, well
help my mum out really, I saw Archie and I thought he was hot. He
came in the restaurant one time for a meal and I took a couple of
pics on my mobile.’

‘Did he know you’d taken the
photos?’ Jena probed.

‘I’m not sure but he smiled at
me when he went back into the bar, so I thought he liked me.’

‘Ok so what happened next?’

‘I showed the photos to my
mates at school and they thought he was hot, and then they kept
asking if I’d done it with him.’

‘Did that make you feel
pressured Jodie?’

‘Not at first, but they kept
asking and saying they would have done it with him by now. They
said I was scared, so I started sending him text messages. I wasn’t
allowed in the bar really, though I went in there a couple of times
just to see him.’

‘Did he respond to you being
there?’ Jena asked cautiously.

‘He just smiled, so I took that
as he liked what he saw. My mates kept telling me to send him sexy
pics.’

‘So did you send him sexy
photos?’

‘Yeah, ones I took myself.’

‘Did he respond to them?’

Jodie began to look anxious, so
Jena knew she must reassure her. ‘Hey it’s ok honey all I want to
do is help you, believe me I’m not judging you.’

‘No he didn’t respond, well he
sent me a text and asked why I’d sent the photos.’