Lolly smoothed down her skirt, pleating the material into folds. She held Crystal’s glance and then she spoke quietly, almost reverently, with eyes downcast: “Not insecurity, not this time, no. He was never mine Crystal, not really,” she owned.
When her cousin made to object she held up her hand. “Don’t insult my intelligence, such as it is, Crystal. He may have invited me to live with him in LA, and he may have proposed marriage,” she flicked a speck of non-existent lint from her immaculate wool skirt, “but only when he was drunk, and never in front of witnesses, but that is not the point here, my dear cousin.” She took a deep breath. “It was always your name he called out in his sleep Crystal, not mine,” she acknowledged frankly.
Crystal swallowed hard.
Lolly felt the adrenaline rush hit her brain the second that the words were let loose, she’d been keeping all of this bottled up for far too long and finally she’d managed to articulate exactly how she felt, a heavy burden had lifted from her shoulders as the words had tumbled out of her mouth. Unfortunately, she wasn’t done yet and now she felt more like a freight train on a collision course with a heavy goods vehicle as more confessions burst forth of their own volition, uncensored and raw. “I was distraught the other morning, as you well know,” she declared. “We’d had yet another fight, I don’t even remember what started it now, he’s been distracted and edgy for weeks. He lost interest in me months ago,” her voice caught in her throat and she swallowed hard before continuing, “forever… it seems.” She stared pointedly at Crystal. “Anyhow, I wasn’t thinking straight when I turned up on your doorstep, that must have been obvious, but then later, when I got to Gran’s and I stopped crying and I got around to thinking, it all hit me, I put the pieces together, Crystal, I worked out what has been going on,” she held up a hand and fixed Crystal with an intent look, “correctly for once, believe me. I’m not imagining things this time, you know.”
“What pieces Lolly, what are you talking about?” Crystal asked, alarm escalating as she wondered exactly what Lolly had seen.
“There was half a packet of Marlboros down the side of the sofa Crystal, between the cushion and the base. I know, because I automatically pulled them out as I sat down on the blanket on the chaise lounge.”
Crystal cringed inwardly, but her cousin was still talking. “Phil is always losing the bloody things down the side of the furniture at home and then complaining that he can’t find them, it was a purely reflex action on my part, I’m so used to fishing them out of the furniture wherever we go that I didn’t even think about it or identify the implications until after.”
Crystal’s eyes narrowed, she’d done the same thing herself on more than one occasion.
“There’s no point in fabricating a story Crystal, I was with him when he bought those cigarettes in duty free a mere couple of weeks ago and I know that no-one else in your family smokes, especially not American imports. He even had the grace to blush when I asked him about it the other night,” she pinned Crystal with a stare, “he came clean Crystal, he owned up. What the two of you do together is your own business now, believe me, I couldn’t care less, but think about your family Crystal, before you take this any further, please. The ramifications of this, if the truth leaks out, will be truly horrendous. Rather you than me.” She began plucking at the pleats in the material of her skirt again. “You always did have more ‘bottle’ than me, but you’re playing with fire where Phil is concerned. Jazz will completely flip if he finds out, you know,” she mused. Then before Crystal could comment, “I’m more interested in why, myself. You have Jazz, one of the most eligible bachelors this side of the Atlantic, sexy as hell and faithful to boot, all tucked up at home, and yet you’re fooling around with Phil on the side. Why Crystal, why? It just doesn’t make any sense. Where is he this evening anyhow?”
“Jazz? He’s been in London today, he’s not back yet,” Crystal answered automatically. As to ‘why?’ she considered the question and raised an eyebrow, hadn’t she been asking herself exactly same thing, more times than she cared to remember, over the past couple of weeks? There was no way she could answer her cousin and she wasn’t about to even try.
“Why not?” she parried instead. “We’re both adults, over twenty-one, it’s not illegal, you know,” she mocked. She was more concerned with the fact that Olivia really did know about the whole fiasco in the kitchen; she had even less chance of keeping the nightmare thing quiet now. Trust Phil to cave in the second that he was questioned about it, why would he do that? He was more than capable of fending off Lolly’s half-hearted accusations, if he’d wanted to. She frowned, she needed to buy some time before she said anything else, this was a powder-keg just waiting to explode.
“So, have the two of you broken up for good now then? Is that what you’re trying to tell me Lolly?” she asked instead. All the while, in her mind’s eye, Verity’s cat green eyes mocked at her, unblinking. Faithful? Jazz? She really didn’t know, not now.
Olivia nodded enthusiastically, her face breaking out into wreaths of smiles. “Yup, I told him that I’ve met someone else, and we’re finished. You’re welcome to each other,” she finished in a rush. She clapped her hands together. “Be happy for me Crystal, please? I’ve met a wonderful guy, he wants to marry me and we’re going to have babies together and everything,” she added, nodding earnestly. “You see, Phil means nothing to me anymore, not a thing.”
“Oh, great,” Crystal replied, waspishly. No really, just great, she thought. This was a further complication that she could absolutely do without. Besides, if Phil wasn’t worried about Lolly finding out about their ‘affair’ any more, then there was nothing to stop him from creating havoc in her life with Jazz. He wasn’t the type to fight fair, either, she remembered, as a tiny frisson zizzed down her spine, despite all her good intentions.
It was all a bit too much for Lolly, she’d kept the news to herself for long enough, she couldn’t contain her impulses any longer. She propelled herself sideways along the bench seat and threw her arms around her cousin in a huge girly bear-hug. Crystal was rapidly enveloped in an exuberant Dior-infused fug as her cousin wrapped her arms around her and planted enthusiastic air-kisses on both cheeks, her eyes shining in delight. She had a true lover now, a real flesh-and-blood guy, one who was just crazy about her and he promised her the earth, now that she’d finally ditched Phil. Olivia was through with feeling as if she was second-best, now she knew that she was wanted and desired, she was truly living her life to the full. She’d finally come of age.
She pulled back a bit and stared hard at Crystal, just for a second, should she tell her cousin who she was sleeping with, she wondered. A tiny imp of jealousy reared its ugly green head and she made a split-second decision, No, she decided, she’d keep the information to herself, just for a while, she’d make her wait.
Reg watched silently from behind the bar, what was all that about then? There was something going on there for sure. He’d been landlord here getting on for fifteen years now, he’d watched over Crystal since she’d been a sixteen year old ‘nipper, trying to get her older cousins to buy her drinks. He’d seen her through her college years, provided accommodation for almost every one of the local Hunt Balls that she had been involved with and kept a discreet eye on her family and friends too. This current development didn’t bode well.
Phil was staying in the pub and he’d confided in Reg, plenty, over the last few months. He’d finally split up with Lolly over there for the very last time, less than a week ago. Now the two girls were hugging and doing that prissy air-kissing thing, very false that was. Though it looked like it was Lolly who was kissing Crystal, not the other way around, from what Reg could see. Young Crystal didn’t look too keen on the whole arrangement, come to think about it. There was something shifty afoot.
Phil had stayed on down here in the bar, drinking scotch until the early hours last night, and had finally rolled on up the stairs to bed, blind drunk, after sniffing into his glass for sev
eral hours. He’d been a bit loose with his tongue at the end of the evening, holding a man-to-man conversation with the bar tender, and he’d revealed more information than was polite in Reg’s opinion; things Crystal might want to keep quiet. He’d been a bit of a sorry sight by the end of the evening, sitting by the fireplace staring morosely into the flames and cradling a glass of the finest malt in one strong, fine-boned hand. He was always such a snappy dresser and a chipper, confident chap, for a city-type, Reg thought. He liked the guy to be truthful, he really did.
Reg frowned; he’d heard the rumours about Phil and Crystal already, many times. He knew the history, but others around here might not. With the goings-on of the past few weeks though, the tongues had been wagging again, and not just about Mr Jeremy’s wedding either. The arrival of the ‘show-biz’ entourage and all the hangers-on turning up again, out of the blue along with Ms Saskia seemed to have distracted the worst of the gossip for a while.
Reg straightened the spirit bottles in their optics and began mopping down the bar, he still remembered the fuss there had been last time the family had all got together for a bit of a knees-up; that had been the ‘big’ Hunt Ball, the first party Crystal had arranged when she came back from America. Phil had been chasing Crystal, in those days, followed her back from America, he had. It had been some party, that night; they’d all ended up swapping beds upstairs and all. Reg smiled as he remembered the fall-out from the morning after. He’d found a young Mr Jeremy in Saskia’s bed himself. Jeremy had looked him in the eye, bold as brass, too. Cheeky young beggar he’d been in those days, he remembered.
Well, the upshot of that party had been Crystal moving in with Jazz, Lolly had surprised everyone and run off with Phil and Jeremy had taken up with Saskia, once they’d all sorted themselves out. And now it was all about to kick off again, as village gossip went, what with Mr Jeremy getting married and such, he could feel it in his water, there was trouble afoot, Reg decided.
Hetty wouldn’t be impressed; the family provided employment and stability in this small community, so they also came under scrutiny too. Hetty liked everything to be all proper and above board, she did. Reg could sense the winds of change blowing through the village today and it made him feel uneasy.
Jeremy and Saskia had gone back to The States now, a respectable engaged couple, they were and they’d taken the entourage with them, but Phil had come back here on his own, looking less sure of himself too. Now he’d dumped Lolly over there, or she’d parted with him. Either way, there was something brewing.
Reg flicked the end of the duster at a persistent cobweb hanging down from the ceiling. Then there was Jazz, he’d been coming and going at all hours of the day and night over the past few weeks, and now the two girls had stopped by for lunch and were behaving very oddly. What did it all mean? He’d have to remember to have a word with Bernard about it later, see if he’d picked up any gossip up at the factory. It always paid to keep an ear to the ground, find out where loyalties lay, in a small community like this one. It wasn’t good business to get caught out, family feuds especially amongst the regulars could ruin the atmosphere and affect the takings, big time.
He shuffled a bit nearer, trying to get an ear on the conversation.
“The Alfa is back in the car park again, I notice,” Lolly was saying. “Phil was supposed to be flying back to the States last weekend, but he’s still here. I wonder what’s keeping him.”
Crystal blanched. She had a fair idea. She was going to have to straighten this out with him after all.
Reg moved a bit closer, clearing empty glasses as he went.
“I spoke to my brother on the phone yesterday, he sounded quite frazzled; Saskia is going nuts, she hates it when Phil’s away. She’s working on her own PR for the moment, and you know what a mess she makes of it.”
Lolly raised an eyebrow in response.
“I think Jeremy may have realised just what he’s letting himself in for with Saskia, it’s taken him long enough. I was trying to get some numbers for the reception sorted out, addresses for the guest list and such, but he mumbled something about Saskia not being very co-operative at the moment.”
Lolly smirked, but stayed silent.
“We both need to get Phil back on the other side of the Atlantic and pronto, otherwise the whole bloody lot is going to unravel at the seams, it has ‘farce’ stamped all over it, and by the time it’s finished we’ll be lucky if there’s any wedding left to attend.”
Olivia gave her cousin another hard stare. “Not my problem any longer, and you’ve got what you deserve, so don’t go looking for sympathy from me,” Olivia retaliated sharply, then her expression softened. “What are you going to do Crystal?” she asked, quite kindly. She had no real argument with her cousin, Crystal had warned her about Phil, right from the start, and in this very room too, several years ago. Pity she’d not taken her cousins advice, right from the start, though there were some lessons that you just had to figure out for yourself, she’d learned to her cost.
For response, Crystal picked up her bag and stood up. “What room is he in then?” she asked, as a determined light lit in her eyes.
Reg almost fell over the table that he was trying to clean. Bloody hell, what was going on now? He watched Crystal stalk from the room purposefully, heading for the stairs. He’d seen that look before, heaven help him, poor Phil, he thought.
Lolly sat on the bench seat open mouthed, and watched her cousin depart. She reached for the peanuts in their tiny china dish on the tray, and automatically stuffed a huge handful straight into her mouth, without even blinking. She chewed automatically. Christ, she’d done it now. Perhaps she should have left well-alone.
The unmistakeable growl of the Aston as it pulled into the car park five minutes later set two pairs of eyes rolling in dismay. Olivia’s horror stricken glance collided with the solid dependable concern mirrored in Reg’s own warm reflection and they both began to speak at once.
“Of all the…” began Reg.
“Holy smokes…” stuttered Olivia.
They both stopped and stared at the door.
The lock on the Aston bleeped a warning as Jazz set the alarm. Both occupants of the lounge transferred their glance to the door to the stairs which Crystal had stalked through earlier as the unmistakeable sound of solid dependable footsteps, scrunching their way across the gravel of the car park were clearly discernible throughout the whole room.
Olivia shrugged a slim shoulder. “It’s not my concern, what she’d doing up there,” she commented to no-one in particular. “It’s your pub,” she directed at Reg.
Reg slung the dish cloth over his shoulder and ambled over towards the door. Chances were that they’d heard the Aston too, upstairs. Depending on what they were up to, of course. He’d not want to be in ‘madam’s’ shoes though, if Jazz did catch her out with Phil. For a big man, even Reg shuddered.
He could see the Land Rover parked out there in the car park, clear as day, so he could hardly pretend that Crystal wasn’t here if Jazz asked, and he had no idea if she’d want him to do that anyway. That young lady had a habit of making up her own rules as she went along. No, he’d leave her to sort it out for herself, he decided, that was the only way.
The door to the salon swung back on its hinges as Jazz breezed in with a big smile on his face, expecting to find Crystal curled up on the bench seat with Lolly quaffing Champagne. He guessed he was in trouble, for missing the training session, and he was preoccupied with wondering what it might cost him, to charm his way back into his girl-friend’s good books.
“Oh, Crystal not here?” he asked, crestfallen, as he spotted Lolly sitting on the bench by herself.
“Um, hi Jazz,” Lolly blanched, “she’s just popped out for a moment.” She gabbled, as he approached the table.
Jazz took in Lolly’s agitated hand-wringing and nervous glance flitting from Reg to the stairway door and back again.
“What’s going on,” He asked, not unduly concerned,
as he leaned over to kiss her briefly on the cheek.
The sound of raised voices floated down the stair-well.
“Crystal?” he raised an eyebrow, “and… Phil?” he surmised. “What has he done to incur her wrath now then?” he asked.
“You can ask her yourself,” Reg cut in boldly, before Lolly could comment. “Here she comes now,” he added, as he speared Lolly with a silencing glare. Lolly couldn’t come up with a plausible comment if you wrote it down on a piece of paper for her, the last thing that Crystal needed right now was her cousin telling tales to Jazz. She’d do far more harm than good, and that was a fact.
Crystal breezed through the door with her hair on end and her lipstick smudged, she was still wearing Jonno’s top, pulled on over her jeans and favourite thigh high boots.
Jazz’s pulse tripped, the air seemed to electrify as she walked into the room.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled a slow deliberate grin. If he didn’t disarm her quickly she might just ignite where she stood, she looked really riled up and he wanted her in a good mood, not a bad one, he decided. He’d spent most of the drive back here from the airfield considering the issues which he needed to discuss with Crystal and had decided that it would be best to break at least some of the news here, on neutral ground. Then, depending upon how that conversation went, he would be better placed to know how to broach the thornier issues, the things he was still shying away from discussing with her, even now.
Crystal took a sweeping glance of the room, noting Olivia’s fixed smile and Jazz’s relaxed pose, her eyes sparked in return. She let out a shaky breath and her heart slammed right up against her breast bone. She wrinkled her nose and then slowly let out a low-pitched whistle, safe for the moment, by the looks of it. “Hi, you found me then?” she asked unnecessarily.
“Couldn’t really miss you,” he drawled, as he reeled her in for a kiss. “What’s going on upstairs then?” he asked, quite reasonably, not overly bothered about the answer and still unaware and completely disinterested in the current situation between Lolly and Phil.
Party Girl at Heart Page 14
