Beautiful Curses: Book One (7 page)

“Around eight. Beth’s bringing me home when her mum finishes work. She wants to see Spencer again anyway.”

“Tell her she’s welcome regardless. We enjoy seeing her. I better get back and leave the house before it smells like a cow shed. Thanks for packing the decorations away today and for um ... taking that message.”

“That’s alright. I’ll see you tonight.”

Jo put the phone back in its cradle and stood for a moment. There was something odd about the call from Dan. And Sarah was acting weird. Jo gave a small shrug. It was probably nothing. She went back into the lounge to play with Jack, shaking those uneasy feelings from her mind.

As Beth drove up the drive to the farm, Jo noticed Spencer’s car parked near the outbuildings.

“I feel a bit sorry for James. Spencer’s obviously made him go to an early movie so he could catch you,” Jo said grinning.

Beth rolled her eyes. “I won’t stay long. I just want to tell him I can come on the trip.”

“I'm really glad your mum agreed. It wouldn’t have been any fun without you.” Jo could just imagine how moody and grumpy Spencer would be, making them all miserable.

When they entered the house, it was quiet and dark, apart from the opera concerto playing in the lounge. Peter had obviously settled in for the evening and Sarah must be in the study with the door closed.

The girls looked at each other and Jo shrugged. “Maybe they did go out after all. I wonder whose car they took?”

Beth followed Jo into the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. They were both cold as the heater in Beth’s car only worked on the low setting. Jo went to take milk from the fridge and noticed her note had gone.

After making the drinks, they sat down in the family room and Jo flicked on the telly, finding an old black and white classic she and Beth had already seen. They settled in and quickly got immersed in the story. When the movie finished Jo looked at her watch, it was nearly ten.

Beth stood up. “I can’t wait any longer, mum will be expecting me. Can you tell Spencer the good news and that I’ll catch up tomorrow?”

“It’s a bit odd. I was sure he’d be here,” Jo said, curious as to where he’d gone.

“Maybe they couldn't get into an earlier session and James really wanted to see the film. I’m sure they'll be back soon. Don’t come out, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Beth put on her coat ready to leave when the phone in the hall rang.

Jo wondered who it might be, not many people rang so late. Knowing Pete wouldn’t hear the ringing over his music, she left Beth to answer it.

“Hey,” Spencer said gruffly, sounding irritated.

“I was beginning to worry. Where are you?”

“We had some problems.”

“What problems?”

“Have you got a few hours?”

“I guess.”

“My car wouldn’t start so Ella gave us a lift into town. I explained about Beth coming over and she promised to collect us outside the coffee shop at eight. While we were waiting she rang to say she’d been held up and would be there at nine. Then we caught sight of Ella's friend Mason. I thought they were out together, so I asked him where she was. He said he hadn’t seen her, so I rang her mobile to find out what was going on. She said she was about to leave Mason’s and would pick us up in twenty minutes. That was forty minutes ago. I know she’s not with Mason but I don’t know why she’s lying. I rang to see if you had any idea who she might be with, or where she might be.”

Jo didn’t know, but this seemed odd. Even for Gabriella.

“Well, if you've spoken to her she must be alright. I'd just ring again, or do you want me to come and get you.”

Beth walked into the hall, her coat buttoned and her bag over her shoulder. Jo grimaced at her.

“What's going on?” she mouthed.

“Beth’s here do you want to speak to her?” Jo asked Spencer, while looking at Beth.

“Definitely,” he answered.

Jo gave Beth the phone.

She frowned as she put it up to her ear. “Hiya, is everything alright? … Do you want me to come and rescue you? … I’ll ring mum and explain. Where are you? … I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Beth ended the call and turned to Jo. “I’ll go and get them, can you ring mum? Just tell her what happened and she should be okay with it all.”

“Do you think she’d let you stay the night? I promise to protect you from my big brother. It’ll be really late when you get back and if you stay we can make plans for the trip.”

“Sounds good. Tell mum I’ll be home first thing in the morning but I can come home tonight if she wants,” Beth said over her shoulder, before opening the front door and disappearing into the dark night.

Jo decided to make a pot of coffee. She’d already called Beth’s mum and amazingly she agreed to let her stay the night. Spencer must be using all his charms on her, she normally took a lot more convincing.

Beth had given Sarah some of her aunt’s coffee for a Christmas present and Jo knew it would take over an hour to brew just right, thinking the timing would be perfect, but half an hour later she heard voices and the front door shut. Beth was always a cautious, so Jo had no idea how they’d got back so quickly, until Gabriella walked in.

“Oh, hey, you’re up late, are you making us coffee? It’s freezing out there tonight,” Gabriella said as she strolled into the family room, took up her favourite position on the sofa and began unzipping her high heeled boots.

“Hi, Um … I thought you got caught up somewhere. Where’s Beth?”

Spencer walked in with James in tow, looking aggravated. “She’s not here. Ella decided it’d be better if she drove us home. She showed up two minutes after I called you and it was too late to let Beth know.”

“But what about Beth?”

Gabriella flicked her hair over her shoulders. “I sorted it. Mason wanted to stop for a coffee. He said he'd be happy to pass on the message to Beth. Anyway, it’s late and freezing. I’m sure Beth’s mother would want her home.” Gabriella pulled at her boots, and tucked her stockinged feet up underneath her. “Now what about that coffee … James would you like one?”

James gave her a brief glance. “No thanks. I think I might call it a night.” He started to take his coat off and turn toward the door.

“Yeah, me too. I’m tired,” Spencer reiterated and followed James out of the room.

“Well Jo, looks like you and me. Can you make sure you use skim milk and only add one sweet and lo? Oh and I want to catch the late movie, you weren’t watching anything were you?” Gabriella laid her head back and flicked over the channel, not bothering to wait for Jo’s reply as she returned to the kitchen.

Spencer’s pleading voice on his mobile was the first thing Jo heard when she came downstairs the next morning. She just happened to wander into the den to find her book, and caught his one sided conversation …

“…
Beth I’m so sorry. It was Gabriella’s fault.

“… My car’s at the garage being repaired, so I wondered if you could meet me at the supermarket. Peter will drive me in. Jo told me your mum said you could come.”

“… Beth?”

“… So you're angry and you don’t want to see me today?”

Thunderous footsteps followed the end of their conversation. Jo didn’t have a chance to make a speedy exit. Spencer appeared before she could dodge him.

“Hi Spencer, you’re up early,” she said collecting a magazine from the table.

“Yeah, I suppose,” he said plonking down in one of the sofas, and throwing his mobile on the side table.

“Everything okay?” Jo asked tentatively as she moved to stand in the doorframe.

“I’m not sure. I don’t think Beth’s very happy with me this morning. She doesn’t want to see me today.”

“Because of last night?”

“I guess. But I really thought Gabriella bringing us home would have saved her a whole lot of trouble. Not the other way around. I don’t get it.”

Jo didn’t get it either. Beth was the most passive person you’d ever meet. In fact she hated conflict so much she avoided watching it on television and reading about it. Jo could see her physically cringe whenever she had to witness any school yard confrontations.

Spencer rested his head in his hands. “I suppose I’ll just have to leave her alone. Maybe I can borrow Peter’s car and go into town to get the supplies. Might distract me,” he muttered. “I’ll ring her later, she might have calmed down by then.”

“Can I get you some tea? Might cheer you up a bit.”

Spencer managed a smile. “Yeah, tea would be great, thanks Jo.”

If Jo thought Spencer looked depressed earlier, that was nothing compared to the look on his face when he arrived home with James an hour later. They had gone into town to shop for their trip, but walked in empty handed.

Jo stopped unpacking the dishwasher, surprised by Spencer’s ghostly white face. She had never seen him look so agitated. Jo glanced at James. He shrugged and raised his eyes, not offering any answers.

“What’s up?” she finally asked Spencer.

Spencer filled a glass with water and drank it in one gulp. “Beth. I found out what’s wrong,” Spencer said slamming down the glass and folding his arms.

“What?”

“Well, I still really don't get it …”

“Get what?” Jo asked again.

James mumbled something about checking his emails and walked out of the kitchen leaving them alone.

“I just saw Beth in town, she was having coffee with that Mason kid, you know Gabriella’s friend.”

“Mason?”

That didn’t sound right. Beth didn’t like Mason. Not after he kissed her one day. Thought he was being funny and showing off to his friends. He’d apologised later, but Beth had been wary and avoided him ever since.

“After he told Beth we’d gone with Gabriella, she offered to take him home. And then he offered to buy her a coffee, to say thanks.”

Spencer’s pale complexion started to make more sense. The way he felt about Beth and then seeing her out with Mason must have messed with him.

“Right, well that sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? I mean it’s just a coffee.”

“Oh yeah. I’m not worried about Mason. It’s more what Mason told me.”

“Told you?”

“Beth left to go to the auto teller. While she was gone, Mason asked me about London, and about the model I was dating. He said he’d seen a photo of us together. Actually, to make it worse, he congratulated me on hooking up with such a hot looking girl.”

“You mean, Lisa? The one Ella teased you about?”

“No, she’s not a model.” Spencer scrunched up his nose. “She’s too short, and … too ... um ... well proportioned.”

Jo raised her eyes. “So, which model was he talking about?”

“That’s the point, there is no model. I’ve never dated a model, let alone had my photo taken with one.”

“Right … so you think Beth knows about the photo and that’s why she’s mad.”