by M A Comley
“You’ll think of something. Perhaps put it down to your parents’ accident, tell him that it’s a recurring nightmare that emerges when you least expect it to.”
“Good idea. I wish I didn’t have to go through them all the same, they’re so draining. They also scare the crap out of me. It’s like I’m back there, reliving the beatings and abuse.”
Trisha touched her cheek. “I can imagine. It’s time to move on. He can no longer hurt you. You have a new man in your life. I’m sure he won’t turn out the same way.”
“How do you know that? Patrick wasn’t always a monster to begin with. That side of his nature developed after a few months.” His face filled her mind once more, and she shuddered.
“Don’t do this, love. The truth is, no one knows what someone is really like until you live with them and truly get to know them.”
“So Matthew could turn out to be the same?”
Trisha shrugged. “Like I said, there are no guarantees in this life.”
“Oh God. How will I cope if Matthew turns out to be like him? Look at his brother’s reaction to me. Shit! You don’t think that’s why the nightmares have started again, do you?”
“If you want my opinion, it’s more likely to be because of the accident today. I’ll be right back.”
Lucy watched Trisha leave and hugged the quilt around her. All she’d ever wanted was to feel safe and loved. She’d felt the opposite with Patrick. Was she wrong to think Matthew could be like him? Was that fair?
Trisha returned with a mug of tea. “This will do the trick—camomile tea, it’ll soothe your nerves and calm you down.”
“Thanks, love. I’m so sorry I disturbed your sleep.”
“Don’t be. I’ll always be here for you, Lucy. Always, day or night, even if you end up moving in with Matthew, call me whatever time of day it is, got that?”
“I couldn’t do that. Anyway, that’s a long way off. I’m not about to jump in feet first with Matthew. I’ve sworn to myself that I will take the time to get to know him, inside and out, before I make the leap and move in with him. Not just him, I mean any man in the future.”
“Good idea. That’s one reason why I haven’t committed fully to Neil, I suppose.”
“Do you think it’s a sign of the times?”
“Possibly. More and more women are keen on remaining single and doing things with their lives, including not sharing them with men. I’m not sure I’d go down that route, I’d miss the sex too much.”
That eased the tension filling the room, and they both laughed and took a sip from their mugs.
“Why does life always have to be so complicated? Do you think anyone escapes the trials and tribulations it dishes out?”
“I doubt it. My mum used to always remind me how lucky I am that I have all my limbs when I used to complain how harshly I’d been treated in the past.”
“That’s true enough, there are always people worse off than we are.”
“There are, however, that doesn’t mean that we have to discount what’s going on with you, that’s not what I was saying in the slightest.”
“I appreciate what you’re saying, don’t worry.”
They finished their drinks, and Trisha kissed her goodnight. Afraid of what the darkness might bring, Lucy left the bedside light on for the rest of the night and fell asleep sometime around three.
She woke just after seven and jumped in the shower.
Trisha was waiting outside the bathroom for her. “You look a lot brighter today.”
“I feel it. What time are you leaving?”
“Eight-fifteen too early for you? I’d like to escape the heavy traffic if at all possible.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Trisha dropped her quite close to the edge of town, and Lucy walked the final ten minutes or so, eager to get some fresh air in her lungs after being cooped up at home the previous day. She’d tried to cover the bruise as much as she could with makeup and had even brought her cosmetics with her to top it up during the day, something that never usually crossed her mind.
Shirley gave her a huge bear hug the second she laid eyes on her.
Lucy pulled back and said, “I’m so sorry to have let you down yesterday.”
“Hush now. It wasn’t your fault. How are you feeling? Are you fit enough to be here?”
“I’m fine. Still got a slight fuzziness in my head, but it’s miniscule to how it was yesterday. I’m fighting fit by comparison.”
“Well, I’m not expecting you to tear around here, just take it easy, that’s an order, okay?”
She mock-saluted her boss. “I will. I’m not an invalid, though, just to be clear.”
“I get that. How about your car?”
“No good. It’s a write-off. Trisha dropped me off on the edge of town this morning. Matthew is taking me car hunting at the weekend.”
Shirley raised her eyebrows. “Wow, you’ve got a real gem there. Is he paying? No, don’t answer that, it’s no concern of mine, and I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Why not? I don’t have any secrets. Matthew offered to buy the car for me, but I said I would pay him back once I get on my feet. Now I’m sharing with Trisha, I have more funds to play with.”
“I could always give you an advance on your wages, you only have to ask.”
“I definitely wouldn’t want that, it would be a slippery slope for me. Thanks for offering, it means a lot.”
“I value you as an employee, Lucy. Promise you’ll ask if you need any extra time off or anything?”
“I will, although I feel bad about you giving up your day off yesterday. What are you going to do about that? Have tomorrow off instead?”
“Nope. What’s one day in the grand scheme of things? I’m just glad to see you fit and well after your scare. Have the police been in touch?”
“Nope, not yet. I’m not sure they’ll be able to do anything really. It’s not as if I could give them any details about the car or the driver—he was wearing a mask.”
“No! Why? Shit! That doesn’t sound good. Do you think he deliberately targeted you then? Oh God, forget I said that. What a dreadful thought.”
“One that I’ve definitely considered. The truth is, I don’t know and I’m not likely to find out either.”
“Another thing bugging me, why didn’t you go to hospital? Didn’t the coppers call for an ambulance to attend?”
“They did. That was down to me. I told the paramedic I didn’t want to waste his time and that I felt okay. I didn’t, but I knew the hospital would’ve sent me home and didn’t want to waste their time, not when the NHS is under so much strain.”
“You’re a better woman than me, love, I’d have been milking it if I were in your shoes. Anyway, sit down. You answer the phone today. I’ll jump up and down as and when the customers come in, you hear me?”
“If you’re sure. Let me make us a drink, though, yes?”
“I never say no, you know that.”
The morning flurry of customers started at around ten a.m., and the phones rang off the hook all morning. It wasn’t until eleven that they had a chance to catch their breaths. It was around this time a delivery driver entered the agency and asked for a Miss Brent.
Shirley smiled and nodded in Lucy’s direction. “That’s the lucky lady over there.”
The driver presented Lucy with a brightly coloured box with a purple ribbon around it and asked her to sign his machine accepting the package. She waited until the man left the shop and then opened the box.
“Oh my God, that’s perfectly exquisite,” Shirley said, coming behind her and looking over her shoulder.
“Isn’t it? It’s…well, it’s breathtaking.” Lucy lifted the gorgeous silver gate bracelet from the velvet interior, and Shirley fastened it on her slim wrist.
“Wow…I thought it was silver, but the label in the box is telling me it’s white gold. Get you.”
“Really?” Lucy asked, flabbergasted. “Bloody hell, what did I do t
o deserve a man like Matthew?” she whispered, casting aside all the dubious thoughts she’d had during the night. He was definitely one in a million, not that she was keen on him spending his money on her—that meant nothing really. It was the thoughtfulness behind the gifts that truly set her heart on fire.
“I’ll make us another drink. I suggest you ring that young man and tell him his beautiful gift has arrived safely. I’ll give you some privacy.”
Lucy’s cheeks heated up. “Thanks.” She searched in her handbag for her mobile and rang Matthew. He answered after the second ring. “Hello, you.”
“Gosh, I’m so glad you called, I didn’t know whether to ring you or not, in case you were having another day off and in bed sleeping.”
“Why did you send your gift to the shop then?”
“Just in case. Oh bugger, don’t ask. I added that address to the order before I bloody realised. Do you like it?”
“I’d be pretty dumb not to. It’s exquisite, or perfectly exquisite is how my boss described it. Why? You’re spoiling me, and there really is no need. In spite of what you think, your money means nothing to me. I’m with you because you make me feel good about myself and…”
“And?” he asked, sounding like an eager child in a vast toyshop.
“And because I love you.”
“Phew! Me, too, I mean, I love you, too. I wanted to show you how much. Don’t prevent me from doing that, please.”
“There’s no need, Matthew. Look after your money. This is far too good for me, it must have cost you a fortune.”
“I wanted you to have something nice to wear on Saturday when you meet my folks. Shit! Not that you don’t already look nice in the stuff you do have. Bugger! I’m bloody screwing this up, aren’t I?”
“No, well, maybe a little. I realise it’s unintentional, though. You’re too kind. Would there be any point in me asking you not to keep spoiling me?”
“Ha! None whatsoever. Are we still on for going car hunting on Saturday?”
“Yes, if you insist. We close at one. Do you want to pick me up from here or shall I meet you somewhere else?”
The door opened, and a bearded man with a deerstalker hat walked in. Lucy noticed he had a limp and lowered her voice a touch while she finished her conversation and the man browsed the brochures for the Middle East.
“I’ll pick you up from there, it’s no bother. I’ve gotta go, I’ll ring you later. Oh, by the way, how are you feeling?”
“I’m good, thanks. I have Shirley fussing over me here today, and Trisha dropped me off this morning. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you guys to fall back on, so to speak.”
“We care about you. Speak later. Enjoy the rest of your day and always remember that I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The man glanced in her direction as she hung up.
“Hello, sir, are you after anything in particular?” She left her chair and crossed the room to join him.
The man ignored her, grunted and flicked through a brochure. She was used to his type; mostly they were timewasters who ventured in out of the cold to have a nosey.
Shirley came out of the back carrying two mugs and set one down on her desk. “Is he all right?” she whispered.
“Yep, I’ve asked. Just a browser.”
“Oh well, his type aren’t going to make us rich, are they?”
Whether the man overheard them or not, he left the shop. He continued to eye the special offers in the window for a moment or two and then went on his way.
Shirley shuddered. “Well, he was a weird one. I’m sooooo glad he didn’t hang around for too long.”
“I agree.”
“How was Matthew?”
“Fine. He told me he loved me. I chastised him for spending so much on me. I told him I wasn’t with him for what I could get out of him. He said he realised that and just wanted me to have something nice for the weekend.”
“How sweet. Wait, what’s happening at the weekend, another gala dinner?”
“I wish, it might be easier for me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lucy chewed her lip and tapped her pen on the desk. “I’m going over there to meet his parents.”
“Whoa! That’s about as serious as it gets. Are you up for that at this stage?”
“I’m not sure is the truthful answer.”
“You’ll be fine. When are you going?”
“On Saturday.”
“Quite an eventful day ahead of you then, what with buying the new car et cetera.”
“Yeah, I can see me having a right tussle with him about that as well.”
“Don’t knock it, kiddo, accept the gifts, if that’s what he wants to do. It’s his money after all. If he wants to spend it on you, then don’t stand in his way. That would be my advice.”
“Noted. I can’t help feeling bad about that, though. I’ve never been one to stay with a bloke for what I can get out of him, unlike some women I’ve known in the past.”
“I hear what you’re saying. You only have to read the bloody newspapers to realise the extremes some women are prepared to go to get their man to place a ring on their finger.”
Lucy chuckled. “Yep, does that make us both cynics of the worst kind, do you think?”
Shirley opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by the door opening and a man and woman entering. She slipped into efficient business owner mode, and within half an hour the couple had spent over ten grand on an exotic beach holiday at a select resort in the Caribbean. They left, and Shirley rubbed her hands together in glee. “Good to see I haven’t lost my touch. Boy, did we need that sale? It’s been a dire April so far.”
“Oh? The phones haven’t stopped this morning. I thought things had picked up a little.”
“Yes, we might have sold more holidays than March, however, their quality has been inferior compared to what we sold in January and February.”
“Ah, I see. I take it you were concerned about that. You should’ve told me, I would’ve worked harder on the limping bloke earlier.”
“It’s fine. I should never burden you with the finer details of running the business, you have enough on your plate to worry about. I’m not an ogre of a boss who has high expectations of the staff.”
“I realise that. Shirley, I would never fall out with you if you ever felt the need to kick me up the arse now and again. Want me to stand on the corner with some flyers or something? Because I will, if that’s what’s required of me to keep my job.”
Shirley took a sip of her coffee and appeared to be mulling over the idea. “Now you’re being plain ridiculous, although, if things don’t pick up soon, it’s definitely an idea to fall back on. Who knows where Brexit will leave us? I thought after being bailed out by that consortium last January that Flybe would be safe, but now they’ve gone to the wall. Lord knows what disruption and heartache that’s likely to cause for the staff and those people who work at the airports who were reliant on their services.”
“It all happened too quickly, didn’t it? It must have been floundering anyway, surely. Mind you, these companies sometimes look for a likely excuse and pounce on it, don’t they? Look at the uproar which has come about since we opted for a Brexit exit. As far as I know, the country is still going strong, isn’t it?”
“We won’t see the effects of Brexit for a little while, I fear. Anyway, enough of this doom and gloom, back to things we can do to bring in extra business, apart from selling our bodies on the bridge in town.”
“Go on, it sounds like you’ve come up with something. You know I’ll give it my all to help this business survive.”
Shirley patted Lucy’s hand. “That’s because you’re a caring and compassionate individual and why I think the world of you.”
“Aww…right backatcha, Shirley.”
“It’s all about the teamwork with us. Right from the word go, I don’t think I’ve ever regarded you as just a member of staff.”
“You’re a card, you are. Don’t force the issue, not this time round. At least get to know them first.” Shirley sniggered. “In all seriousness, I was thinking about putting on an enticing buffet. I have collected a few freebies from some of the travel companies we’ve dealt with over the past year. We could put those in a raffle. Maybe throw in an adventure weekend or something along those lines. What do you think?”
“Sounds like an incredible plan to me. All we need to do is get the people through the door and pounce on them. I could tie a few up and threaten not to let them go until they’ve purchased a holiday worth five grand.”
Shirley opened and shut her mouth rapidly, imitating a fish out of water. “I think we’ll stick to my idea for now, there’s no need to go to those extremes.”
Lucy roared. “You didn’t think I was serious, did you?”
Relief flooded Shirley’s face, and her shoulders slouched. “I did bloody wonder there for a moment or two. You sounded rather convincing.”
“Okay, in all seriousness, I think it’s an excellent concept and one that I’d be willing to get behind. When are you thinking about doing it?”
“It’s going to take a little while to organise, maybe in a week or two, does that suit you? That young man of yours isn’t likely to sweep you away anywhere before then, is he?”
She laughed. “If he does, I’ll make sure he books the trip through us.”
“I have you well-trained, that’s excellent to know.”
The rest of the day was spent bouncing ideas off each other and serving the odd customer in between. Nothing major, a couple of weekends away for two elderly couples, one in The Lakes and the other to Cornwall. Enough to keep the rent going on the agency for the next few months, Shirley said. They locked up together, and she walked a few roads with Shirley to where she’d arranged to meet Trisha. It wasn’t until she was seated in the car that she saw the man with a limp.
