Mummy's Little Girl

by Kay Leitch

  They both collapsed with laughter when they got to the car. 'I suppose that's a dead end then,' said Ted eventually, 'I mean if she's been living in Australia all this time she's not going to be much help, I doubt she ever knew Louise.'

  'Yes but that presents us with a real mystery Ted, where the bloody hell has Derek Styles been for the last two weeks…the care home were under the impression that he's been with Faye. Unless she's back in the country at the moment, that's a possibility I suppose. I am actually quite looking forward to meeting Mr Styles tomorrow; he sounds like a nasty piece of work.'

  Ted nodded. 'Reckon he must have really screwed up Vanessa, either with physical violence or mental torture, the poor girls a wreck, Giles was saying she's only just holding it together at the moment.'

  Carla didn't reply, despite how distressed Vanessa had seemed she couldn't forget the calculating look that she had seen in her eyes a couple of times when she had interviewed her that seemed to be at odds with the distraught image she was trying to give off. No she hadn't made her mind up about Vanessa yet; maybe the meeting with her father in the morning would shed some light on things.

  CHAPTER 43 - 2013

  The old man had been shouting for what seemed like hours… days… he had no strength left.

  The prison he was in was dark but there was just enough light to get an idea of his surroundings coming through the gaps in the wooden walls…he thought he might be in some sort of shed.

  There was an old mattress on the floor and foul smelling bucket in the corner that he had eventually had to use to relieve his aching bladder.

  His jailer had left him with bottled water to drink, and a loaf of bread that was beginning to turn green and fluffy.

  He had no idea why he was here. He could only assume that it was a case of mistaken identity, he tried telling that to the enormous giant of a man that had dragged him out of the taxi and into this shed, but the man didn't seem to speak English. He had completely ignored his pleas just quietly and efficiently done his job, he hadn't been hurt, yet, but he knew that if he didn't get out soon, this was not going to end well. He tried to think of anyone that might have a grudge against him, but he soon stopped that because it was dawning on him that there was a great list of people who might want to get back at him…. At first he had thought that someone would be back in a couple of hours to release him, maybe slap him around a bit but as the hours had turned into days he had started to become truly afraid…. Maybe no one would ever come, maybe somebody was going to come but they had been in a crash on the way and he would be found starved to death in a few months time…maybe he would never be found…

  He had been thinking, shit he had nothing else to do…he had been thinking about her. He felt a wave of hatred…fucking bitch…fucking cunt, that's when it had all gone wrong for him, that stupid little slut and her foul unnatural sprog. I mean what did she mean by coming back and spreading her poison…fucking bitch, they had all been doing great, the three of them, they didn't need her coming back ruining everything, saying unspeakable things…about him, after all he'd done for her…fucking bitch…fucking cunt…. Her mum hadn't needed to hear all that rubbish, it's what had killed her he was sure of that…not that she had believed her, oh no how could anyone believe those filthy lies…that he could have been capable of…. No he was sure she hadn't believed one word, but still mud sticks as they say… he had lost her anyway…maybe she was behind this…no she wouldn't dare…would she?

  He started shouting again with increased urgency.

  CHAPTER 44 - TRACY

  'Why do you have to go? Surely they won't mind if you miss it for once,' moaned Simon slowly stroking her back and working his way round to her breasts, his fingers flicked over her nipples.

  Tracy groaned, 'Will you stop that, you know what it does to me, and yes I do have to go, no they wouldn't mind at all if I missed it, but I actually want to go, so I'm going…love me love my cauldron nights I'm afraid', she said nibbling at his lips and rubbing her hands over his hard chest. They were in Tracy's bed where they had spent most of the day giggling and making love and generally misbehaving. Tracy had pulled a sicky, something she NEVER did, because Simon didn't have to be at his new school for a few more days and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could. He was in fact becoming addictive, she wasn't quite sure how she was going to manage when he really did have to leave.

  She determinedly got up and out of bed. Buster was waiting right outside the door looking dejected and miserable and immediately rushed downstairs to the back door to be let out, Tracy followed him to the kitchen, opened the back door and put the kettle on. It was past 3pm and she still hadn't taken Buster out for his run. She felt really guilty she had let things slide since getting together with Simon. The kitchen was a total mess with last night's dishes in the sink and take away cartons spilling out all over the table. The living room wasn't much better, where the evidence of a spontaneous and frantic love making session was strewn all over the floor. Tracy felt her face heating up as she remembered it…they didn't seem to be able to keep their hands off each other at the moment but that certainly wasn't all that this relationship was about. Tracy felt as if she had finally met her soul mate, it was amazing how comfortable she felt with this man, how much they had in common and how much they had to talk about. He had already fitted into her life and she felt like she wanted to guard and protect this precious thing, she was so scared that it would fly away and leave her lonely and depressed again.

  'Get a grip Tracy,' she said to herself, as she started clearing plates out of the sink so that she could fill it with hot water to wash up. It was a good thing that she had a cauldron meeting tonight, for one thing she could talk things through with the girls but also she needed to get some normality back into her life. She put coffee into two of the mugs she'd just washed up and waited for the toaster to pop up. Simon came into the kitchen, he had obviously just had a shower as his hair was wet and he was wrapped in a towel, Tracy licked her lips…coffee could wait.

  Much later Tracy pushed her way through the crowded bar in The Bull, there seemed to be a stag do, or something similar going on tonight, so she took her dignity in her hands as she made her way through.

  'Looking for me sweetheart?' shouted one vastly overweight drunken idiot he grabbed Tracy by the arm. 'You look as if you could handle something big and hard,' this was followed by raucous laughter. Tracy stopped and turned round facing the big mound of blubber, 'Oooh yes come on then big boy…I bet you could show me a good time,' she advanced towards him and he began to look distinctly nervous and then turned and fled to the toilets. All his friends fell about laughing and Tracy with a smug smile carried on through the pub until she spotted Maggie waving madly at her.

  'Oh my darling we saw it all,' she said laughing. 'What a bunch of twats, it is so raucous in here, I'm going to have to make a complaint to Giles, this is really lowering the tone of the place, how are you sweetheart?' she asked Tracy as she found herself a chair, 'I guess from your tired eyes and your glowing expression that things are going well with you and the gorgeous Simon.'

  'Maggie!' said Helen, 'give the poor girl a chance to catch her breath…so Tracy how's it going with Simon?' Tracy burst out laughing, 'Don't worry, I'll just get a drink and I'll fill you in on every gory detail,' and with that she started fighting her way back to the bar again. Giles seemed run off his feet and Vanessa was once again nowhere to be seen, instead there was a new barman who came over to serve Tracy.

  'A large glass of house white please, you're new aren't you, did you just start today?' she asked as he poured her wine.

  'Yes, Giles needed help while Vanessa is ill, so I volunteered, the names Steve,' said Steve and shook Tracy's hand.

  'Tracy,' said Tracy, 'Oh I didn't know she was ill, poor Vanessa, though now you mention it she did have a funny turn at the community hall a few days ago, please give her my best when you see her, um how do you know Giles are you related or something?' Steve
shook his head.

  'Oh no nothing like that, my Dad worked with him years ago in Ashtead, they had a solicitors practice together, and they have kept in touch…Dad just happened to mention that Giles was looking for some help, and I was at a lose end so…' he shrugged his shoulders.

  'Well it's nice to meet you Steve, I expect we'll see a lot of each other, I'm in here all the time,' and with a wave Tracy barged back round to where Helen and Maggie were sitting.

  'Wow have you seen the new barman he's a bit of alright, his name is…'

  'Steve, yes we know, Giles's friend’s son…now spill the beans Trace, tell us all, where did you meet, what's he like in bed, are you crazy about him…come on we need to know,' said Maggie fiercely.

  'Hang on where's Carla, shouldn't she be here by now, I'm usually the late one?'

  'She's going to be late, she called from her car on the way back from Kent, had to go and interview someone or something…stop teasing what's going on, one minute you're 'miss lonely apart from my dog' and the next you have a veritable hunk on your arm.'

  Tracy smiled smugly. 'He is gorgeous isn't he? I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming…I don't know how it happened really though, he started off as the most irritating man I have ever met, and then all of a sudden I couldn't keep my hands off him…luckily he seems to feel the same,' Tracy said contentedly. 'The only problem is that I am becoming seriously addicted to him, it's going to be hell when he has to go, I actually pulled a sicky today just to spend a bit more time with him…so I'm keeping a low profile tonight, keep an eye out for Juno or the head…I'm meant to be in bed feeling sick…'

  Maggie burst out laughing, 'Ha ha instead you've been in bed feeling a big dick you lucky thing. Seriously don't worry Trace, if it's meant to be you will find a way, I'm so pleased for you honey, I always knew that there was somebody out there for you, he seems lovely,' said Maggie. A great roar came from the drunken louts at the bar making Maggie look round. 'Oh here's Carla…over here love, you'll have to fight your way through.' Carla waved back and indicated that she was just going to the bar to get a drink, after a few minutes she came bustling over to their table, raising her eyebrows as she ignored the shouted comments that had followed her.

  'Oh boy do I need this,' she said as she took a huge swig of her drink, 'you would not believe the day I've had.' She told them about the trip to Sevenoaks, meeting the Goddalls and soon had them all giggling, 'I'm not kidding you, if talking rubbish was an Olympic event she would be wearing gold, the woman didn't take a breath and can you imagine Ted's face when she asked him to tell her husband the proper way to trim his beard, I've never seen him so lost for words it was priceless.'

  'Oh poor Ted, it's not like he's not the most awkward person in the world anyway,' said Helen laughing. 'How's that going anyway Carla, is he any better with you now?'

  Carla nodded. 'Actually it's getting much better, he's started calling me by name again at least…he's still a bit formal with me, but there's a definite thawing. I feel really guilty though I know I haven't made as much effort with him as I should have, I mean the poor guy has not long lost his wife, a wife that he adored by all accounts, and I should have been a bit more supportive of him…I'm thinking of inviting him to dinner soon, treat him to a bit of home cooking.'

  'Bloody hell that sounds like a fun evening, I bet James will love that,' smirked Tracy sarcastically. 'Oh I'm only joking love,' she said at Carla's glare. 'You always do the right thing, the kind thing…not like me I'm such a selfish bitch, I mean I keep meaning to have a chat with Giles, he's so obviously unhappy at the moment and I'm meant to be his friend but since Simon and I have got together I'm just too pre-occupied…actually I will make some time tomorrow, now that I've thought about it.'

  'Oh aren't you two just a couple of goody two shoes, leave the sad bastards to it that’s my philosophy,' said Maggie caustically, she turned to Helen, 'you're quiet tonight Hels, what's up?'

  'No nothing I'm fine, just a bit tired really…it is such hard work all this lying and deceiving, and I've not been sleeping very well…guilty conscience I expect…'

  'Is it still going ok with Mike, what about Wills does he suspect anything yet?' Maggie asked.

  'That's just it, he is totally oblivious, and he's not been going out as much so I have to keep finding excuses for being out of the house…all of this is horrible, I never thought it would be so hard…I really like Mike and I think he is quite serious about me. Oh god it's all going wrong I don't want to hurt anybody but I know I'm going to end up doing just that…what should I do?' Helen ran her fingers through her hair, she looked worried and weary, a far cry from the glowing girl of just a couple of weeks ago, Carla put an arm round her.

  'I suppose that depends on what you want to get out of this,' she said, 'I mean if you think you want to cut your losses and be with Mike then you should tell Wills as soon as possible, but if, on the other hand you want to try and work things out with Wills then you need to knock it on the head with Mike, either way love, you need to make a decision…soon…is Wills still messing about with this Sarah woman?'

  Helen looked thoughtful. 'I'm not sure anymore, he has definitely been around a bit more and he's started wanting sex a bit more often…that had completely stopped for a while, but he was so lovely the other night, it made me want to cry…well I did cry actually and…'

  Maggie looked at her incredulously, 'Hang on a second here, this is all very lovely Helen but the man has been cheating on you for weeks, months maybe and now just because he decides he want you again, you start feeling guilty. I say let him feel some of the pain you felt, why should he get away scot free it's not right.'

  'Nobody's saying he should get away with anything Maggs,' interrupted Carla, 'but it would be better for Helen to mend her marriage if that is what she wants, even if the sneaky little shit doesn't deserve it… if you want my advice Helen sweetheart I would confront Wills, let him know that you know…this has gone on long enough and if, as you say, Mike is becoming fond of you, you really need to sort it out before you get in any deeper…that's what I would do anyway.'

  Helen nodded miserably. 'I know you're right Carla, I know that's what I must do…I just need to find the courage…'

  'Well if you do confront him Hels, promise me that you will at least make him squirm, he deserves that even if Carla thinks he should get a prize for dumping sleazy Sarah,' said Maggie with a distinct edge to her voice.

  Helen laughed caustically, 'Oh believe me Maggie he will be squirming so loud that you will hear it from your house, oh I know, I know I need to be brave I've just been too scared. I am such a bloody idiot you are so right Carla but I feel stronger now I've talked it through, that was all I needed to do, make a bloody decision… how rubbish am I? Now who's up for another drink?' After taking their drinks order Helen moved off to the bar.

  Carla turned to Maggie, 'Maggs sweetheart I know that you are still feeling really bitter about the way that Greg cheated on you, but you have got to let Helen deal with this in her own way, she still loves Will anyone can see that and if there is any chance that she can fix things with him then that's got to be the best solution all round…don't you think?'

  Maggie turned and looked at Carla horrified.

  'Oh my god! Is that what you really think of me, that I'm some bitter twisted old woman that doesn't want her friends to be happy, well thank you very much Carla, and just for the record I am not still feeling bitter about Greg, I got over him a long time ago. I just happen to care about Helen and it makes me mad as hell to see her being dumped on…' Maggie wiped a tear from her cheek angrily.

  Mortified, Carla rushed round the table to give Maggie a hug.

  'Maggie! I didn't mean to upset you, I just think that sometimes you are so preoccupied by making Wills pay that you can't see that all Helen wants is to get back to how it was with her and Wills…she really loves him you know and...' Carla began, but Maggie's shoulders stiffened and she pulled away from Car
la angrily.

  'Yes well we all know that if you say it Carla then it must be right, after all what could I possibly know…slutty, always up for a laugh Maggie, how could I possibly have any worthwhile advice to give apart from which sexual positions are the best obviously…' Maggie's voice had risen so loud that one or two other people in the pub were turning round to see what the commotion was about.

  Carla tried again.

  'My god Maggie, what has got into you…you must know how much I respect you, you're one of my best friends…I'm so sorry I spoke without thinking…come on love let's not fall out…'

  Tracy who had been staring opened mouthed at both of them while this exchange had been going on, tried to grab both of them by the hands.

  'For goodness sake you two, you cannot fall out, I rely on both of you to keep me grounded…Maggie come on love, Carla didn't mean anything by it…did you Carla?'

  Unfortunately Carla was losing patience herself now.

  'I've just said that I didn't haven't I…for fucks sake I don't need this tonight Maggie, I have had such a day, I have been working all hours to try and find this fucking killer, I've been getting bloody earache from my bloody boss because I'm not getting results fast enough, I've been looking forward to coming out tonight so that I can spend some relaxing time with my friends and now I have to deal with you having a paddy because I speak my mind, well I'm sorry Maggs but I have tried to apologise if you can't accept it then fine…'

  'Oh no Carla…come on I'm sure Maggie is willing to accept your apology aren't you Maggs?' said Tracy desperately.

  'I have yet to hear a proper apology from Carla, Tracy,' said Maggie stubbornly as she downed her drink and pulled her coat from the back of the chair, 'all I've heard from her so far is how badly done by she is, I'd like to know how that is my fault…anyway I think the evening is over as far as I'm concerned…I'll see you soon Trace,' she blew Tracy a teary kiss, ignored Carla and made her stumbling way out of the pub. Carla could see Helen call to her with a look of concern on her face, but Maggie just waved at her and blew her another kiss as she rushed past.