by Tara Ford
“She’s a nightmare. Makes everyone jump out of their skins.” Hayley reached into a bottom cupboard and pulled out a multi-pack of assorted crisp flavours. “And she won’t touch the crisps if she’s not the one to open the packet.” Hayley found a packet of cheese and onion crisps and returned the rest to the cupboard. “She finds it highly amusing when everyone almost falls off their chairs in fright.”
Tiff stifled a giggle. “Oh dear. Perhaps you should warn everyone beforehand.”
“Huh,” Hayley rolled her eyes, “tried that one. It’s like she waits until everyone has forgotten and then she makes an almighty pop with them, showering anyone who might be nearby with sprinkles of disintegrated crisps.”
This time Tiff let out a chuckle and placed a hand over her mouth, unsure of the level of annoyance that Lilly might be creating. “Sorry,” she said, desperately trying not to laugh again.
“Oh, don’t apologise, it used to be funny,” Hayley continued “but it’s become a little annoying having to pick up all the crisp crumbs around her chair.”
“Does she come round here a lot?”
“Oh yes. We can’t get rid of her at the weekends sometimes. We don’t mind too much, she’s a wonderful, dear old lady really.”
“She’s amazing. Ninety years old…”
“Almost,” Hayley pointed out.
“Almost,” laughed Tiff. “And she seems to have all her faculties about her.”
“Oh, she has. A bit too much really. She can be a danger to herself sometimes.” Hayley lowered her voice just as the sound of the front door opening filtered through from the hallway. “She’s outlived all three of her children – such a shame for her. She’s so tough on the outside but I think, deep down, she’s a wonderful woman.”
“Oh gosh. That must have been very hard.”
Hayley nodded her head agreeably as footsteps could be heard moving along the hallway.
“Hi babe,” came a woman’s voice, a second before she appeared in the dining room doorway. “Where shall I put these?” Holding up two bottles of Prosecco, the scantily clad woman grinned. Her perfect, voluptuous figure was enhanced by a low-cut, lemon mini-dress that barely covered her thighs, patent black shoes with five-inch heels and a small black, silk rose in her long blonde hair. “Hi,” Georgie said, grinning at Tiff. “We meet again.”
“You’ve met Tiff before, have you?”
“Yes – just this morning.”
“What have you been up to?” asked Hayley, peering at Georgie’s cheek.
“Oh – you know.” Georgie brushed three fingers across the graze on her face. “Buster the bruiser…”
“He’s had you over again?”
Georgie nodded her head and darted her eyes quickly, towards the kitchen window. “Wayne out there is he?”
“Yes – go through. We’ll be out in a minute. Just getting Lilly’s crisps.”
Placing one of the bottles on the table, Georgie picked up a plastic tumbler and carried it out to the garden with the other bottle.
“Right,” said Hayley, smiling weakly. “Shall we go back outside?”
“Yes, of course.” Tiff couldn’t wait to go outside now. She wanted to see where Joe was and also keep an eye on Georgie. The woman’s titillating attire suggested that she was all-out for some attention from the opposite sex.
“Sorry it took so long. Couldn’t find them.” Hayley placed a bag of cheese and onion crisps in Lilly’s lap. “And no scaring anyone.”
“Oh no dearie. Would I?” She gave a cunning grin.
“Yes – you would,” replied Hayley in jest, before gently squeezing Lilly’s shoulder and smiling at her warmly.
On the far side of the decking, Joe was still chatting to Wayne and John. Georgie had joined them and was standing directly opposite Joe. She laughed. She drank. She posed. She teased. She flicked her long hair from side to side. Tiff was sure that she eyed Joe with a glint in her eye.
Tiff watched with a distrustful eye and a brewing jealousy.
Chapter 10
A few minutes of torture had trickled by. Tiff couldn’t tear her eyes away from Georgie. She had to be discreet in her scrutiny though. She couldn’t allow anyone to sense her jealousy. Her innate insecurity.
Seated next to Lilly again, having been ushered to the beanbag by Hayley, Tiff listened politely to the friendly chatter between the elderly couple from number two, Lilly, Hayley and her sister-in-law, Karen. Tiff didn’t know what they were talking about really. Or care too much. Now and again she smiled respectfully or nodded at what she thought were appropriate moments. However, her mind and eyes were elsewhere.
“Another Pimms Tiff?”
Startled by the direct question, Tiff snapped back from her furtive surveillance. “Oh, yes. Thank you.” Passing her empty tumbler to Hayley, she was surprised to see that she had finished her drink entirely. She had unknowingly sipped the punch while being distracted and intrigued by the frivolities going on in the corner of the garden, by the side of the barbecue. The three men were having a jolly good laugh, along with Georgie. They had all weighed the woman up, from top to toe. Tiff knew it. She’d watched each and every one of them. Including Joe.
“Are you OK?”
Again, the direct question shook Tiff. Looking up she smiled falteringly. “Yes, I’m fine thanks. Would you… err… like me to help you with those?”
Hayley nodded her head and passed two tumblers to Tiff. “Let’s get these filled up and then we can come back out here.”
“OK,” Tiff replied, resignedly.
As they entered the dining room, the peal of the doorbell surprised Tiff.
“Come in,” shouted Hayley, “the door’s open.”
Tiff immediately recognised the young couple as they walked through the door, laden with cans of beer and cider. Dressed far more casually than their usual attire of smart suits and briefcases, the couple smiled weakly.
“This is Alfie and Kelly, from next door,” said Hayley. “Hi you two – finished work for the day?”
The couple nodded in unison and stood in the middle of the dining room looking awkwardly shy.
“Let me get you both a drink,” said Hayley. “Try some Punch first, before you start on yours.” Hayley began to dart around the room collecting clean glasses and more plastic tumblers. “Have you met Tiff? She’s just moved in to number four.”
“Hello,” said Kelly, quietly. “Nice to meet you.”
Alfie nodded an acknowledgement and peered out of the patio doors, into the garden.
“Hello,” said Tiff, trying desperately not to slur her words, “I’ve seen you a couple of times – going off to work in the mornings.”
“Oh yes – that’s all we do. Six days a week, most of the time.”
“What do you do?” asked Tiff, genuinely curious.
“We run an estate agent – in the town.”
“Oh, I see. So do you work together?”
Kelly nodded her head and smiled. “Yes, all the time. Live, work, sleep, eat and breathe together.”
Detecting a hint of sarcasm in Kelly’s voice, Tiff smiled awkwardly. “Must be very difficult. I mean, it must be hard work running an estate agent.”
“You get used to it.” Kelly shrugged her shoulders.
Alfie had already taken his cans of beer and exited the dining room. He was heading for the corner of the garden where most of the noise was coming from.
“Thanks,” said Kelly, taking a tumbler of punch from Hayley. “Is Lilly here?”
“Yes, she’s in the garden – go through.” Hayley grinned, “Watch out – she’s got her crisps.”
Kelly let out a short burst of laughter and left the room.
“They seem like a nice couple,” said Tiff. “Anyone else coming from the close?”
“No – think that’s it. I did ask Gary and Sarah, at number one, but they’re busy tonight. Their eldest will be six, tomorrow. Think they’re having a sleepover for him tonight and then off out for the d
ay tomorrow.” Hayley scooped more punch into a fresh tumbler and passed it to Tiff. “Take it slow,” she giggled, “you’ll be on the floor at this rate.”
Embarrassed, Tiff took the drink, peered into the tumbler and pulled out a slice of cucumber. “I’ll suck on this for the rest of the night then.”
Giggling to herself, Hayley continued to fill another four tumblers. “You’re funny – I can see we’re going to get along really well.”
Tiff nodded her fuzzy head. “Yes – so can I. Let me take those out for you.”
Doing her very best to walk normally, Tiff carried two drinks out and passed them to the elderly couple, Tom and Jean. She glanced across at the small crowd, gathered by the barbecue. Joe was oblivious to her whereabouts and totally engrossed in a conversation with Georgie. Tiff had to join them. Show her face. See what they were talking about. Reluctantly returning indoors, she picked up two more tumblers and took them back outside to Lilly and Karen. Then, hearing her name being called from the kitchen, she went back inside.
“Sorry Tiff… would you mind just giving me a quick hand with this?” The mountain of baps and finger rolls had been moved from the table and were piled up on the kitchen worktop. “While I’m slicing through this lot, would you stir the onions for me?”
“Yes, of course.” Actually this was the perfect place to stand. While stirring the fried onions, Tiff could see Joe through the kitchen window. She could watch the interactions between him and Georgie. His face was lit up with smiles and laughter and he looked like he was having a fun time. Georgie had her back turned slightly, yet Tiff could tell that she was laughing too. By the way she flicked her long hair back and tilted her hips, Tiff knew she was flirting as well.
“Are you sure you don’t mind doing that?”
Hayley’s voice had interrupted Tiff’s deepest thoughts once again. “No, no. Not at all. Sorry – I was daydreaming.”
“Joe seems to be getting on well with everyone.”
“Yes – he always does. He’s a very sociable person.”
“And so are you.”
Tiff was really beginning to like this woman. She was her kind of person. “I’m quite shy really.”
“Me too. I was so nervous about you two coming.” Hayley giggled as she sliced through the bread rolls. “I’m OK once I’ve met someone for the first time though.”
“Yes, I’m the same.” Tiff turned the onions over as they began to brown. The smell was making her feel quite hungry. “I’ve met almost everyone on the close now.”
“Oh, have you?”
“Yes – Cyril and Betty, next door to us. Are they coming?”
“No, I… I didn’t invite them.”
“Oh, OK.” Tiff sensed an awkwardness in Hayley’s voice.
“Your other neighbour? Alvin?”
“Absolutely not. No, he’s not coming either.”
It was now obvious, that there was a contemptuous tone to Hayley’s voice.
“I’m guessing that you don’t like him.”
“I don’t care either way to be honest. I have nothing to do with him. And I don’t have much to do with Cyril and Betty either. I’ll say hello if I see them but that’s it.”
“We liked Cyril and Betty when we met them. They invited us into their house for tea and cake. Amazing house they’ve got, you know.”
“I bet they have. Cyril’s very hardworking and Betty just looks the type to be a perfect housewife.”
“She is.” Tiff smiled warmly at the thought of Betty’s endearing cake-making skills and hospitality.
“It’s awkward for me,” Hayley said, resignedly. “I have to think of Georgie.”
“Oh, OK.” Tiff deliberately sounded nonchalant. She had to pretend she knew nothing of the goings-on in Sycamore Close.
“They don’t get on. Georgie had a falling-out with them a couple of years ago. It’s awkward for us but we do like Georgie.”
“Yes, she seems like a very nice lady,” Tiff lied.
“She’s got her faults…” Hayley peered out of the window to the barbecue crowd.
“I suppose we all have.” Tiff was curious as to why Hayley liked Georgie so much. “So… what about Alvin, next door? What is it that you don’t like about him?”
Hayley shrugged her shoulders and rolled her bottom lip down. “Again, it’s more to do with Georgie. I wouldn’t say that I don’t like him. I don’t really know him to be honest.”
“Oh – has something happened between Georgie and him then?”
“Not sure what’s going on really. One thing I do know for sure though is, she absolutely hates him.”
“Hates him?” Quickly, Tiff snapped her mouth shut. “Oh dear… why does she hate him?” Visions of the garden shenanigans flashed through her mind. How could Georgie hate him? Tiff could not reveal what she’d seen. It could not get back to Joe that she had been watching Georgie. Spying on the neighbours from her craft room. No, that sounded awful. She’d only been living there a month and already she’d probably seen far more than anyone could imagine. What would the neighbours think if they knew what was really going on and that Tiff had actually witnessed some very bizarre behavior and kept it all to herself? What would anyone think if they knew how obsessed Tiff had become with the view from her craft room. What would Joe think?
“He’s so nasty to her, apparently. I only know by the things she tells me.”
“Why is he nasty to her?”
“He asked her for a date, after her husband left her but she turned him down. Since then, he’s been sending her nasty messages now and again and generally being an arsehole.”
“I see,” Tiff replied, vacantly. Actually, she didn’t ‘see’ at all.
Suddenly, Tiff pulled herself upright and focused her gaze on the sizzling onions. Stirring them frantically, she had an awakening. A horrifying realisation. A sickening understanding. Had she actually witnessed a rape that night in Georgie’s garden? She felt queasy and more uneasy than before. What should she do now?
The food was ready. Wayne had brought trays, full of cooked meats, into the dining room while Joe and the others continued to chat. The rolls were cut and the onions were fried. Just like Tiff’s brain.
Everyone began to filter into the dining room, grabbing a paper plate as they passed by Hayley. Tiff stood by the pan of onions, serving spoon in hand, attempting to look busy, sober and casual as Joe eventually walked through the doorway.
“There you are,” Joe said a little guiltily. “Where’ve you been? I thought you were with me when I went outside.”
Tiff grinned falteringly. “I’ve been busy, helping Hayley get things ready.”
“You’re getting on well with her then?” Joe whispered.
Tiff nodded. “She’s really nice.”
“Are you in charge of onions?” He smirked and winked an eye, before leaning over and softly kissing her cheek.
“Looks like it. So what have you been doing in the garden? Have you had a chance to talk to anyone much?”
Joe looked into her eyes, a puzzled expression on his face. He peered round at the guests milling around the dining table and then turned back to Tiff. “Yes, of course I’ve had chance to chat to people – haven’t you?”
“Yes… so… what have you been talking about with…?” Tiff shot a reproachful look at Joe.
“You mean with her?” Joe flicked his eyes sideways, indicating to Georgie, who was standing at the far end of the dining room with an empty plate in her hands.
“No, I mean with anyone.” Tiff darted her eyes around the room to make sure that no one was listening to their conversation. “I just wondered if you were having a nice time here, that’s all?”
Reaching down for Tiff’s hand, Joe took it and stroked it lovingly. “I am… and you should be too.”
Pulling her hand away, Tiff smiled falsely. “Yes, I am – everyone’s lovely.” Lowering her voice, she whispered, “I do like Hayley – she’s really nice.”
“They’re a
ll a good bunch,” Joe replied in a hushed voice, “Wayne’s as funny as you like.”
Tiff nodded her head and grinned. “Onions?”
“Let me get my burger first.” Winking an eye, he turned away and headed back over to the dining table.
“Come on Tiff,” shouted Hayley. “You don’t have to serve them as well – let everyone get their own.”
Placing the spoon back into the pan of onions, Tiff walked over and took a plate from Hayley. “Thanks. I’m hungrier than I thought actually – I’ll just grab a burger.”
“You’ll have to eat more than that. This lot has got to be cleared before anyone can go home tonight.”
“Yes – that’s true,” called Karen from the other end of the table as she picked up a roasted vegetable skewer. “She won’t let you leave until, either the table is clear or you’re prepared to take a doggie-bag home with you.”
Several of the guests laughed and nodded their heads agreeably.
“How’s your face?” Tiff peered at her drink on the table. She felt better, having eaten a cheese-burger, hot dog, plate of salad, coleslaw and homemade potato salad. She was practically sober again and slightly bolder than her norm.
Joe had gone back out to the garden with everyone else. When Tiff had returned from the downstairs toilet she was surprised to see Georgie standing alone in the far corner of the dining room nibbling away on a cheese straw.
Georgie placed a hand on her cheek as if she was remembering how she got the graze below her eye. “Oh… it’s fine. Tough as nails, me.”
“Did you say you were walking your dog through the woods?”
“No – I didn’t,” Georgie snapped.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I got the impression you went for a walk across the fields, out the back.” Tiff began to retract from her words. “It’s a lovely area. I bet there are lots of nice places to walk a dog around here.”
“Suppose.” Georgie’s unfriendly gaze was unnerving. “If you like walking dogs.”
“I’ve never had one myself. Think I’d prefer cats – they can do their own walking.” Tiff let out a small, chancy giggle.
