The Letter (2 page)

‘Stand up,’ he commanded.

Tina was puzzled by his tone, but did as she was asked.

Rick raised his hand and whipped it sharply across her face.

‘Don’t ever make a fool of me again.’

With that, he stormed out of the bedroom and spent the night slumped in the hotel lounge surrounded by empty glasses. It was days before Rick would tell Tina what exactly her transgression had been. Apparently he hadn’t liked the way she had danced with one of his work colleagues. She had looked at him too provocatively and had flirted with him in front of all their guests. Tina couldn’t even remember the guy, let alone the incident, but it was the start of Rick’s paranoid fixation that Tina was coming on to every other man she met. Tina often wondered if she should have left him the very next day. But she was a romantic at heart and wanted to give her fledgling marriage every chance to succeed. She was sure the incident was a one-off, and Rick allayed any doubts the next day when he presented her with a bouquet of flowers. Such was his remorse and contrition that Tina had no hesitation in forgiving him immediately. It was only a few days later when Tina noticed a card buried amongst the flowers. She smiled to herself as she pulled it out and read the words. ‘With fond memories of our beloved Nan.’ The bugger had stolen the flowers from a grave in the churchyard!

Now, four years later, they stared at each other for a second longer before Rick released his grip.

‘Thanks, love.’ He smiled. ‘Now be a good girl and fetch me a brew.’

Tina exhaled with relief and rubbed her crimson wrist. Ever since that wedding night incident, she had vowed she was not going to be a victim. No way was she going to be one of those battered wives who made excuses for her husband’s vile behaviour. There had been many times when she had threatened to leave, but she always backed out at the last minute. Rick was so repentant and humble and, of course, promised never to raise his hand to her again. These days, though, he was drinking a lot more heavily and his outbursts were more frequent. The time had finally come where she could stand it no longer. The problem was she had nowhere to go. She had no family and although she did have a couple of close friends, she could never impose on them to the extent that they would have to take her in. Although it was her wages that paid the rent, there was no way Rick would leave voluntarily. So she had started an escape fund. She needed enough money for the deposit and a month’s rent on a new place and then she would be free. That was a lot more difficult than it sounded. She rarely had any spare money left to save, but no matter how long it took, she was determined to leave Rick. The old coffee jar she kept hidden at the back of the kitchen cupboard was filling up nicely, and she now had just over fifty pounds. But, with rent on even the most basic bedsit commanding £8.00 per week, plus a deposit of at least £30, she would need to save a lot more before she could make the break. For the time being, she would make the best of it, staying out of his way as much as possible and trying not to get him riled.

She carried Rick’s tea upstairs, together with
The Sporting Life
tucked under her arm.

‘Here you are,’ she said, trying to sound breezy.

There was no reply. He was fast asleep again, propped up on the pillow, mouth open, a cigarette balanced precariously on his bottom lip. Tina picked the cigarette off his dry, cracked lip and stubbed it out.

‘For Christ’s sake! You’ll kill us both,’ she muttered.

She set the tea down and pondered what to do. Should she wake him and incur his wrath? Or should she just leave the tea on the bedside table? When he woke up it would no doubt be stone cold, which would be sure to send him into a rage, but by then she would hopefully be at the shop and out of harm’s way. The decision was taken out of her hands as he stirred and forced his eyes open.

‘Your tea’s there,’ Tina said. ‘I’m going to the shop now. Will you be OK?’

Rick pushed himself up onto his elbows.

‘My mouth’s as dry as a camel’s,’ he sniffed. ‘Thanks for the tea, love.’

He patted the quilt, indicating for her to sit down.

‘Come here.’

That was what life was like with Rick. He was an evil, spiteful bully one minute and an angelic choirboy the next.

‘Sorry about before. You know, about the ciggies? I wouldn’t hurt you, Tina, you know that.’

Tina could scarcely believe her ears but it was never a good idea to contradict Rick so she merely nodded.

‘Look,’ he continued. ‘Could you do me a favour?’

She let out a small inaudible sigh and raised her eyes to the ceiling.
Here we go.

‘Could you put a bet on for me?’

Tina could bite her tongue no longer.

‘Do you think that’s a good idea, Rick? You know how tight things are. With only me earning, there’s not much spare cash for things like gambling.’

‘
With only me earning,’
Rick mimicked. ‘You never miss a chance to get that in do you, you sanctimonious cow?’ Tina was momentarily startled by his vicious reaction but he was not finished.

‘It’s the Grand National, for Christ’s sake! Everybody has a bet today.’

He reached down onto the floor, picked up his trousers from where he had discarded them the night before and pulled out a roll of banknotes.

‘There’s fifty quid here.’

He tore off the lid of his cigarette packet and wrote the name of a horse on the back. ‘Fifty pounds to win.’

He handed her the money and the lid of the cigarette packet. Tina was stunned.

‘Where did you get this?’ She held up the roll of notes.

‘Well, it’s not really any of your business but, since you ask, I won it on the horses. There you see, who says it’s a mug’s game?’

Liar.

Her head was swirling and she felt her neck begin to flush.

‘This is more than a week’s wages for me Rick.’

‘I know. Aren’t I clever?’ he replied smugly.

She clasped her hands together as though in prayer and brought them up to her lips. She tried to remain calm as she blew gently through her fingers. ‘But this money could pay our electricity bill or our food bill for a whole month.’

‘Christ, Tina! You’re so boring.’

She fanned out the notes in her trembling hands. She knew then that she was not physically capable of handing over such a large amount to a bookie.

‘Can’t you put it on?’ she begged.

‘You work next door to the bloody bookies, I’m hardly putting you out.’

Tina could feel the tears starting to sting but she had made up her mind. She would take the money and discuss what to do with Graham, the bookie. She had taken money from Rick before for a bet and not put it on. The horse had inevitably lost and he had been none the wiser. However, Tina felt she had aged about ten years during the course of that race and this time it was different. The stakes were so much higher.
Fifty pounds for Heaven’s sake.

Suddenly and inexplicably, Tina found herself in the grip of panic. She felt the heat rise from her toes to the back of her neck and she found it difficult to breathe. She backed out of the bedroom, muttering excuses about having left the toast under the grill, and ran downstairs to the kitchen. She climbed up onto a stool and reached into the back of the cupboard, feeling around for the coffee jar containing her escape fund. Her fingers found the familiar-shaped jar and she pulled it out and clutched it to her chest. Her hands trembled as she tried to unscrew the lid. Her sweaty palms could not get the grip she needed and she groped around for the tea-towel. Finally the lid yielded and she peered inside. There was nothing but a few coppers left. She shook the jar and looked again as though her eyes had deceived her the first time.

‘Bastard!’ she cried out. ‘Bastard, bastard, bastard!’

She started to weep, the huge sobs making her shoulders heave.

‘Thought you could pull the wool over my eyes, did you?’

She jumped and spun round to see Rick leaning in the doorway, another cigarette hanging from his lips and wearing only his greying, tea-stained vest and grubby underpants.

‘You took it! How could you? I’ve worked all hours to save that money. It’s taken me months.’

She slumped down onto the floor and rocked back and forth, still clutching the almost-empty jar. Rick strode over and dragged her roughly to her feet.

‘Pull yourself together. What do you expect when you hide money from your own husband? What are you saving for anyway?’

To get away from you, you controlling, drunken, manipulating waste of space.

‘It was supposed to be a....surprise, you know, a little holiday for us. I thought a break would do us both good.’

Rick pondered this for a second and then relaxed his grip on Tina’s arm. He frowned doubtfully.

‘A nice idea. Tell you what, when that horse romps home we’ll have a belting holiday, maybe even go abroad.’

Tina nodded miserably and wiped her eyes.

‘Go and get yourself cleaned up. You’re going to be late for work. I’m off back to bed, I’m knackered.’

He gave her a kiss on the top of her head and headed back upstairs.

Tina stood alone in the middle of the kitchen. She had never felt so wretched or desperate in her life, but she made a decision. She was not going to put that bet on. That fifty pounds was hers and no way was it going to be wasted on a horse race, Grand National or not. She took the money and stuffed it into her purse. She took a cursory look at the name of the horse Rick had written on the cigarette packet.

Red Rum.

You’d better not win, you bugger.

*

Tina arrived at the shop and fished in her handbag for the keys. In spite of the notice on the shop door asking people not to, someone had left a sack of old clothes on the doorstep. It was inconceivable to Tina that anyone would actually steal clothes that had been donated to charity, but it had happened on several occasions. Even in these gloomy economic times of strikes and power cuts it was still surprising to her how low some people would stoop. She hoisted the bag over her shoulder, unlocked the door and went inside. After two years of working here the smell of the place still caused her to wrinkle her nose. Second-hand clothing had an odour all of its own and was the same in every charity shop or jumble sale you went to. Mothballs mixed with stale sweat and biscuits. Tina put the kettle on for the second time that morning and opened the sack of clothes. She pulled out an old suit and held it up to give it the once-over. It was very old but incredibly well made and of a quality the likes of which Tina had not encountered before. It was an unusual greenish colour with a very faint gold stripe and made entirely of wool.

The bell rang on the shop door causing Tina to halt her examination.

‘Nice suit, err...lovely colour. No wonder they wanted rid of it!’

It was Graham, the bookmaker from next door.

‘Morning. I’m surprised you’ve got time for idle chit-chat today,’ she teased.

‘Yeah, busiest day of the year for me, but I’m not complaining,’ he replied, rubbing his hands together. ‘Nigel’s opening up so I’ve got a couple of minutes.’

Tina gave him a warm hug.

‘Well, it’s nice to see you.’

‘How are you today then?’

It was a loaded question. Graham knew full well the circumstances of her domestic situation. He had commented on her bruises or split lip on more than one occasion. He was always so kind and Tina could feel herself beginning to wobble. Graham took her elbow and guided her to a chair.

‘What’s he done this time?’ he asked, tilting her chin and scrutinising her face.

‘I hate him sometimes, Graham, I really do.’

He pulled her into his arms and smoothed her hair. ‘You deserve so much more, Tina. You’re twenty-eight years old. You should be settled in a loving marriage by now, perhaps a couple of kids...’

She pulled away, her mascara-streaked face searching his. ‘You didn’t come to help, then.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Graham cradled her head again. ‘Tell me what’s happened.’

‘You haven’t got time for this, today of all days.’

But Tina knew Graham would always have time for her. He had been hopelessly in love with her since the day they met. Tina loved him too but only as a dear friend. At twenty years her senior, she saw him as a father–figure and besides, he already had a wife, and it just wasn’t in her nature to steal another woman’s husband.

‘He wants me to put a bet on.’ She sniffed and Graham pulled out his crisp, starched handkerchief and handed it to her.

‘Nothing new there,’ Graham said. ‘He’s one of my best customers. And it is Grand National Day.’

‘That’s what he said. But this is different, Graham. He’s talking about fifty pounds!’

Even Graham baulked at the amount.

‘Where on Earth did he get that kind of money?’

‘He stole it from me,’ Tina sobbed.

Graham looked confused as well he might. ‘From you?’ he asked. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I’ve been saving up, Graham. Saving to plan my esc....’ She stopped abruptly. She didn’t want to go down that road with Graham right now. He had offered her money in the past, but she had refused. She still had some pride and self-esteem left.

‘It doesn’t matter what I’ve been saving for, the fact is it’s all my money and he wants me to put it on a horse in the Grand National.’ Her voice rose with the incredulity of it all.

Graham wasn’t sure how to respond but the bookie in him spoke first.

‘Which horse?’

Tina glared at him in disbelief.

‘Does it matter? I’m not doing it.’

‘Sorry, Tina. I was just curious that’s all,’ he hesitated. ‘But what if it wins?’

‘It won’t.’

‘What’s its name?’ Graham insisted.

Tina sighed and rooted in her handbag for the cigarette packet which she handed to Graham. He read the name and exhaled gently.

‘Red Rum!’ Graham nodded his head slowly. ‘He’s got a chance, Tina, I have to be honest. It is his first National, but he may yet start as favourite. There’s a big Australian horse though, Crisp. I think he’s likely to be up there too.’ Graham put his arm around Tina’s shoulders. ‘He’s got a chance, Tina, but there are no guarantees in the National.’