Flings and Arrows (28 page)

The bus ride had been even worse. A bunch of teenage boys had openly stared at her, whispering and nudging each other. Before getting off at their stop, one of them had shouted a parting shot.

‘Where’s the Halloween party?’

They’d all guffawed with laughter. Then they’d grouped outside on the pavement clearly debating what to do next. The bus had hovered on the side of the road, rocking gently from side to side as a new influx of passengers spilled through its doors. Steph had willed the bus to hurry up and get a move on. The boys had been nodding at each other by this point. And then one of them had reached into a rucksack for something. Steph had stared at them through bloodshot eyes. The automatic doors had flapped shut and the bus lurched off. But not fast enough. Suddenly a plastic Coke bottle had bounced off the window making Steph jump. The boys had hooted with laughter, openly jeering. One had given her a middle finger by way of a farewell salute. It never ceased to amaze Steph how mindless some members of the human race were. She wondered what the boys’ parents were like. Perhaps they stood around on pavements outside pubs, heckling passersby. Steph had stared at the spotty ringleader. And then a small, rebellious part of her had taken the bait. She’d crossed her eyes and poked her tongue out, holding the pose until the bus had bounced round a corner and the boys were gone from sight. Stupid little twits. Steph had dug in her handbag for her compact mirror. Then she’d taken one look at the witch in the mirror and started crying again.

And now Steph was standing in her hallway. The walls folded around her, like comforting arms. Home. Her sanctuary. She dumped her handbag on the hall table. The lights were off downstairs. Only the fake candelabra shone on the landing. Steph wondered if Tom was home. It wasn’t yet ten o’clock. She crept up the stairs in her stocking feet. As she passed Tom’s room she could hear soft murmurs. Her son was talking to somebody. On the phone? Seductive laughter followed. Female this time. Steph presumed Tom had that girl in there. Melody. Seconds later the bedsprings began creaking wildly. Oh God. That was all Steph needed to listen to. Was there no getting away from people bonking?

Steph pushed open the door to her bedroom. The bed had a damp towel slung across it. She stared at it and wondered where Si was. Well, clearly not with Dawn. Probably that other little hussy then. Amanda. At the thought of Si with another woman, Steph could feel herself getting upset again. She started to undress. Seconds later she was stripped to her underwear. And then Steph caught sight of herself in the mirror. She stared at herself clad in the flashy new bra and knickers. Who had she been kidding? Of
course
she’d bought the underwear for Barry’s benefit. But had he wanted to see it? Good heavens no! Steph was fairly positive that if she’d stripped to her undies and offered to dance erotically on Barry Hastings’ telephone table, he’d
still
have remained impervious to her charms. She couldn’t begin to compete with that...that... blow up doll that had been sprawled across Barry’s bed. The tart. Trollop. Steph clenched her fists and gnashed her teeth. Well stuff Barry Hastings. And stuff Dawn.

Next door, Tom’s headboard was now banging against the wall. Melody was groaning. The sound infuriated Steph even more. A mammoth menopausal flush was starting up. Steph could feel the heat searing through her, mixing with red hot fury. It coursed through her veins. Her entire body was glowing. Any minute now she’d have steam pouring out of all her orifices. She might even self combust. Her bra and knickers would burst into flames –
poof!
Steph tore off the offending underwear. She couldn’t bear it. In fact, she was going to get rid of it. Right now.

Oblivious to her nakedness, Steph strode over to the window and wrenched it open. Balling the bra and knickers up, she tossed them out into the night. Bloody things. She slammed the window so hard she thought the glass would rattle out of the frame. Grabbing her nightdress, she flounced off to the bathroom to wash off her wrecked make-up.

As Steph scrubbed at her skin, she decided to banish tonight’s disastrous events from her thoughts. And no way would she admit what had happened to Si. He was out having a super time with the lovely Amanda. Let him think she’d had a fabulous time too. The rotten swine. Steph slapped face cream all over her cheeks. Her skin shone under the bathroom light. A blotchy mixture of pink and red. She looked like she had some sort of tropical disease. Tom and Melody were now reaching a noisy climax. Had they no dignity? Suddenly the mattress and headboard ceased all noise. Silence prevailed. But what was that? Steph cocked her head and listened intently. A diesel engine. Si’s van. He was home.

Steph shot out the bathroom and dived under the bedcovers. Her hand reached for the bedside lamp and flicked the switch. The room plunged into gloom. She didn’t want a barrage of questions from Si when he came through the door. She would feign sleep. She heard the van’s engine splutter and die. A second later the driver’s door clunked shut. A brief pause and then the front door opened. Steph willed herself to lie still. She could hear keys being slung on the hall table followed by the sound of slow, steady footsteps on the stairs. She forced herself to breathe in time with each footfall.

Chapter Sixty One

The following morning, Si awoke soon after eight o’clock. He stretched and luxuriated in knowing he didn’t have to get up for work. The job at The Nut and Squirrel was finished. Tomorrow, Monday, he would meet Terry at The Malt and Shovel for the next contract. Si mentally wiped his brow. Thank God he’d kept his job. He was aware that he’d pushed Terry’s patience to the limit with his private life impacting upon his working life. Hopefully none of the staff at The Malt and Shovel would be middle aged sirens trying to ensnare middle aged plumbers.

Si reflected back on the events of last night. He’d expended buckets of nervous energy on his plan. It had been a resounding success. Dawn had sent him a second text message just as he’d driven into Jessamine Terrace. Incredibly, she and Barry Hastings were an item! Si was both relieved and pleased that the two of them were so smitten with each other. That meant Steph was firmly out of any romantic couplings with Barry Hastings.

When Si had let himself into 42 Jessamine Terrace, the house had been as quiet as the grave. He’d put his keys down on the hall table along with the large box of chocolates he’d bought at the newsagents. That was when Si had spotted Steph’s handbag. Taking her mobile phone from his pocket, he’d carefully tucked it deep within the bag’s folds. All traces of the texts he and Dawn had colluded in had been removed from the messaging and call log records.

When Si had crept into the bedroom it had been in darkness. He’d observed the small mound on one side of the bed. It had looked like Steph was curled up in the foetal position. He had crept silently around the edge of the bed. He had known Steph was feigning sleep, but let it go. Nothing was to be gained by talking late at night on top of the shock and drama she’d endured. Si didn’t like himself for what he’d done, but at least with Barry Hastings off the scene he had a chance to repair his marriage.

Si now looked at the bedside clock. Five past eight. He would do his best to make up for all the upset Steph had gone through last night. In fact, he’d start right now. He swung his legs out of bed. Quietly, he padded downstairs to the kitchen. Busying himself with the kettle and toaster, Si set about preparing a breakfast tray. He was going to give Steph a romantic start to the day. Tea and toast in bed. Ten minutes later he made his way out of the kitchen. At the bottom of the stairs he paused. Balancing the tray precariously on the palm of one hand, he picked up the box of chocolates from the hall table.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he saw that Steph was awake. She was still curled up, the duvet tucked under her chin. Her eyes were puffy and she looked worn out. She blinked a few times as he approached her side of the bed.

‘Morning,’ Si said.

‘You sound very chipper.’ Steph sat up and propped a pillow behind her back.

Si made some space on the bedside table and set the tray down. ‘Yes. I guess I am. And you?’

Steph looked at Si. Her face was a mask. ‘Fine.’

‘Good,’ Si smiled.

‘What’s this all in aid of?’ Steph took the tea and toast from the tray.

‘It’s Sunday. So why not? Lazy day and all that.’

Si perched on the edge of the bed next to Steph. He took a bite of his toast. For a moment neither of them said anything. Si studied his plate while he munched. In his peripheral vision he could see Steph staring miserably at her toast.

‘Thanks,’ she said eventually. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’

Si shrugged. ‘I wanted to.’

‘Did you, um–’

Steph paused, seemingly unsure how to phrase what she wanted to say.

‘What?’ Si asked.

‘Did you have a nice time last night?’

Si swallowed and made a face. ‘So so.’ He took another bite of toast.

Steph nodded. She took a tentative sip of tea. Her toast remained untouched.

‘And you?’ he asked. ‘Did you have a good evening?’

Steph opened her eyes wide and made a funny gasping noise. ‘It was...different,’ she concluded.

Si nodded. ‘That’s how my evening was too.’

A small pause. ‘Not sure if I’ll repeat it though.’

‘No. Me neither,’ Si agreed. ‘Oh. These are for you.’ He picked up the massive box of chocolates and put them on the duvet next to Steph.

‘My favourite,’ Steph observed. She hesitated a moment. ‘Why did you buy them?’

‘Does there have to be a reason?’

‘I’m surprised that’s all. You know. After me going to Barry’s,’ she trailed off.

‘I bought them because I love you.’

There was a lengthy silence. Si was disappointed that Steph
didn’t
say the magic words back. Still, at least she wasn’t saying that she didn’t love him.

‘Are you going out again today?’ Steph asked.

‘Yes.’

Steph’s shoulders sagged. ‘That’s nice. Anyone I know?’

Si finished the last of his toast. ‘Yes. You know her very well as it happens.’

Si watched Steph’s body stiffen. Her body language told him that she didn’t like the idea of him going out with somebody else. That was heartening. Now she was trying to look nonchalant.

‘Can I ask who she is?’

‘You can indeed. I’m going out with you.’

‘Me?’ Steph frowned.

‘Yes. I seem to remember you talking about Sunday lunch. Ring any bells?’

Steph looked blank.

‘With June and Harry? Because he apparently likes us so much?’

Steph’s expression cleared and her mouth dropped open. ‘Oh no.’

‘Oh yes.’

But before Steph could respond any further, the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll bet that’s June bright and early,’ said Si. ‘Come to check we’re still available. Tell you what love, would you mind answering the door. I don’t have a dressing gown and you do. I don’t really want to greet her in my boxers.’

‘Oh I don’t know. Half of Blackfen have seen you in your boxers. Why should June mind,’ Steph sniped. ‘Sorry.’ She hung her head. ‘I didn’t mean to say that. It just–’

‘Popped out.’ Si finished the sentence for her.

Steph bit her lip. ‘I’ll go and answer the door.’

Si watched his wife wrap herself in her dressing gown and pad off across the landing. It was going to take a damn sight more than breakfast in bed and a box of chocolates before things were resolved between them.

Chapter Sixty Two

Tom lay in bed. Melody was tucked into his armpit. Her mouth was open and she was snoring like a pig. Tom mused how somebody so beautiful could make such an unattractive noise. He couldn’t sleep any more listening to her racket. He thought about getting up. Maybe in another five minutes. Despite Melody’s loud grunts, Tom could hear movement next door. His parents were up. And now the doorbell was ringing. There was a footstep on the landing. The doorbell rang again. Melody smacked her lips, farted and turned over. Good God. Tom flapped the duvet cover. That was incentive to get out of bed. And actually, out of the room too.

Tom slipped out onto the landing. The bathroom was occupied. Bugger. That was the trouble with this house. Only one bathroom. Only one loo. He peered over the banister. Downstairs his mother was opening the front door to the bell ringer. Tom was just about to go back to his bedroom when his mother’s audible gasp had him stopping in his tracks.

‘What the hell do you want?’ she was shrilly asking somebody.

‘I’ve had enough,’ said a female.

Tom froze. He recognised that voice. Amanda.

‘
You’ve
had enough?’ Steph snapped. ‘How do you think I feel?’

‘I’ve had enough of being dumped without any sort of explanation,’ Amanda was saying, ‘although frankly I don’t give a toss how you feel. You’re way too old for Si anyway.’

‘How
dare
you speak to me like that!’ His mother sounded apoplectic with rage.

Tom stood welded to the landing. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to rescue his mother but he was also anxious Melody might wake up. What if Melody got wind of what was happening? The last thing he wanted was his girlfriend thumping Amanda. He wouldn’t put it past Mel either. She was one tough cookie. And if Mel thumped Amanda, then no doubt Muscles Mark would show up to thump Melody right back. Tom jumped out of his skin as a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

‘Morning son. Bathroom’s all yours. Although I’d leave it five minutes before going in there,’ Si gave Tom a meaningful look.

‘I want to see Si,’ Amanda screeched. ‘NOW!’

‘Do you indeed?’ Steph asked coldly.

‘What’s going on down there?’ Si looked at Tom.

‘Er, I think you’re about to find out.’ Tom said.

‘Si – is that you?’ Amanda called.

Tom leant over the banisters and watched in horror as Amanda shoved his mother roughly to one side.

‘Now you look here–’ Steph objected as Amanda flew up the staircase.

‘Si? Oh Si!’ Amanda stood on the landing and burst into tears. ‘Please say you love me. Please. I can’t bear it. Mark’s chucked me out. I’ve lost everything. My husband. My home. My lovely sports car.’