by RJ Hunter
She took in his powerful frame, the short, sandy-coloured hair, and the faded scar running down his left cheek.
"Life changes us all, Frank, in one way or another." She replied, forcing herself to smile.
Frank was highly excited that things had been so easy, he hadn't lost the old charm. He ran his eyes over Sally's body, taking in her feminine curves and womanly fragrance. He had to keep himself in check, he couldn't blow it, the situation still required a certain amount of patience and guile. He called Stewart back in, and Sally proceeded to lead them around her home.
The beautiful, mock Tudor house was certainly very different to Frank's garish, modern abode in Kew. He liked Sally's style and the way she had arranged things. Even the furniture was tastefully understated and classy, so different to the leather themed layout he was so used to.
They came to the kitchen, and as they entered, Sally noticed the back door was still open. She had left it like that to allow the floor to dry. Pepys was excited and jumped at Frank, leaving a muddy paw mark on his jacket. This seemed very odd to Sally, as Pepys was normally wary of strangers. Then, as Sally was apologising, Frank made a casual remark.
"I hope you don't mind, but I arrived about ten minutes early, and couldn't resist a look at the garden. So, Pepys and I already know each other."
"Err, no that's quite alright." Replied Sally, wondering why she hadn't heard Pepys barking. "I hope you liked the garden, is it what you're looking for? My late husband did most of the landscaping himself."
"You mean William?" Asked Frank, pretending not to know her husband was dead, after he had murdered him by cutting the brake pipes in William's car.
Sally nodded, and seemed upset even by the mere mention of William's name.
Frank decided not to pursue it.
"It looks absolutely perfect. I've got two dogs myself, they'd just love the garden. Do you know I've really liked what I've seen here today, and could feel very much at home here."
Sally was quite relaxed now, and even rather pleased that she may have found a buyer for the house. They eventually came to the lounge, and Stewart checked his watch.
"Thank-you, Mrs. Peddlescoombe. You really do have a lovely house, and I'll be in touch if there's anymore viewings."
Sally thanked him and led them both towards the front door, but Frank hung back.
"Pity, I couldn't have stayed for a coffee, it smells delicious!" He said.
"I'm sorry, how rude of me," replied Sally, remembering the pot of fresh coffee she had made earlier.
They saw Stewart out and went back to the kitchen, where Frank seated himself at the breakfast bar.
"I've been well informed that you're a very successful business woman in the rag trade, Sally?" He asked leaning back casually.
Sally's nerves had come rushing back, now she found herself alone with Frank.
"I was a couple of years ago," she said, looking away from his constant gaze. "I just help out a bit part-time now."
"Really? Sometimes in business, you have to keep venturing forward especially when times are good."
"Yes, I'm sure you're right, but losing my husband a couple of years ago, had quite a negative effect on me."
Frank was silent for a moment, before standing up and walking over towards her.
"I did want to ask about William earlier, Sally. I'm so sorry."
"It's all right, you don't have to apologise, how could you have known?"
"I admire you so much Sally. You've come through this, not only supporting your family, but running a business, and a beautiful home. You really are quite remarkable"
It was a magnificent point scored for Frank, and he even noticed Sally blushing.
"Thank-you, that's very kind," she said, again backing away from him.
But Frank reached out and put his hand on hers.
"I really am sorry for what happened in the past, Sally. Maybe you could find it in your heart to forgive me?"
"I do look for the good in people, rather than the bad. But, I think we should just stick with the business in hand, Frank."
"That's a very good perspective to have Sally, and yes, I quite understand."
"You look like you've done very well for yourself, Frank. What is it that you do?" She asked, eager to change the subject.
"I own one of London's largest mini-cab and haulage companies, and I have a nightclub in Mayfair." He remarked, in a matter-of-fact manner.
"Okay, I'm impressed." She replied, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Well, it's like anything - you have a dream, and then work hard at it. There's really no reason why it can't happen."
"You're very focussed, Frank. Maybe you should talk to my son, Jonathan. He could certainly do with a bit of your motivation."
They continued chatting for another half an hour, mostly about Sally and Lizzie's business. This was safe ground for Frank, who true to form, was still reluctant to speak about himself.
"It's been a pleasure, Sally. I do hope we can see more of each other, and I'd love to see Lizzie again." Smiled Frank as he finally got up to leave.
Sally was still very suspicious of Frank, despite his new benevolent change of character, and was quite relieved when he went.
"Thank-you, Frank. So do you think you'll buy the house?"
"It's very likely, but I'll talk with my lawyer, and I'll probably have to come back and see it again. Perhaps, you could give me your number, Sally?"
"Frank Gant!" Exclaimed Lizzie. "Frank Gant!" She repeated a second time.
"Yes, Lizzie, he was here this afternoon looking around the house."
"I can't believe it, not after all these years. My goodness, but Sally dear, why on earth didn't you ring me for support?"
"He was only looking around the house, Lizzie. Besides, the estate agent was here too."
Intrigued, Lizzie pulled deeply on her cigarette, and turned her perfectly coiffured head sideways to emit the smoke. Eyes wide, she sat forward, hungry for more information.
"It's very weird about the aftershave smell, Sally. So do you think it just wafted into your house while he was nosing around your back garden?"
"Well, yes, that's the only logical solution I can think of. Mind you, it was rather strong and smelt absolutely vile, so it probably wouldn't have taken very much." Sally laughed and poured herself another coffee. "It was that strong I could have smelt him coming from Richmond Bridge!"
"Sally, you should have detained him here under false pretences, I would have loved to have seen him again. Is he still good-looking?"
"Yes, I suppose he is, in an Oliver Reed sort of way. Very intense, light blue eyes, short cropped hair, big and muscular, and extremely dangerous-looking. In fact, rather scary, I'd say. You certainly wouldn't want to meet him on a dark night!" Sally put her cup down, and poured Lizzie another glass of wine.
"Frank always did have that menacing look about him, but I did rather like him when we were at university, and still wonder if he should have been locked up, or that Pauline?"
"Yes, good point. He says he's changed now, and seems to have done very well with his businesses."
"I knew Frank would do well, whether within the confines of the law, I don't know. Sounds like he's still very much into you, Sally?"
"If you want the honest truth, Lizzie, he scared me." Replied, Sally, opening the box of chocolates that had arrived earlier.
"Maybe he thinks you come with the house. How strange and what a funny coincidence?"
"That's what I thought, but he says that's all it was, just a coincidence." Continued Sally, taking a chocolate, and pushing the box towards Lizzie.
"Do you realise, Frank might be the answer to all of your problems. If he's changed as he says he has, he could be the perfect partner for you?"
Sally wouldn't be drawn into what Lizzie was suggesting, and reached for another chocolate.
"Gosh these are delicious, Lizzie, have another one!"
"I think I will," remarked Lizzie, deciding which o
ne to take. "Where did they come from, my word, they're Belgian and the best."
"I presumed Jonathan sent them, along with the flowers - but there wasn't a card."
"How strange?" Said Lizzie, examining the box in more detail. "These would have cost a fortune, much more Jonathan could afford?"
"Yes, you're right, Lizzie. I think I'd better ask him."
"I bet it wasn't Jonathan. It's blatantly obvious Frank sent them anonymously." Stated Lizzie picking up her wine.
Sally sat back, deep in thought, staring at the chocolates.
"No, of course Frank didn't send them. That's absurd."
"Your naivety never ceases to amaze me Sally!" Laughed Lizzie, gazing at her friend affectionately.
Sally was still quiet, and seemed to have something on her mind.
"Lizzie, I know you've been talking to Jonathan and Laura behind my back. But you're wasting your time. I've come to a decision, and I'm selling the house, and it doesn't matter who buys it."
Lizzie, taking a third chocolate was determined to have her say.
"I've known you for many years, Sally darling, and I think you're making a big mistake. Will you please listen to what your family are trying to say to you."
Sally looked seriously at her friend.
"Penny will be home from school soon, Lizzie, and I don't want her to see us arguing about this when she comes in."
"But that's just it for heaven's sake - you'll be uprooting Penny from school, from all of her friends, and everything she's familiar with. This is her home. You say this place is like a shrine to William, but going back to Falcondale, where you first met him would be foolhardy. I don't understand you at times, Sally. It's like you're trying to rewind a tape of your life. William wont be there. You must stop trying to find him!"
"No, that's not true," replied Sally unconvincingly.
But Lizzie was right, and Sally knew her friend wouldn't give up without a fight.
"Listen, I know William's insurance has paid off your mortgage, and you've still got plenty of money to last you a few years. Take the children off on holiday, and re-build some bridges. Then, when you come back you could get more involved in the business again. There'll always be a place for you, and it'll give you something positive to focus on."
"I'll think about it, Lizzie, but I've already told you, my mind is made up."
"Sally Peddlescoombe, you can be a head-strong mare at times, but please, keep the house, and give up this Wales thing. No good will come of it, believe me."
17. THE VOYEUR
Penny turned into Oxford Park and deliberately slowed her pace. Normally, she would walk home part of the way with one or two of her school friends. If the weather was mild they would look in some of the shops in nearby Richmond, and then go and sit on the green, just chatting, mostly about boys and music. Penny particularly liked Buck's Fizz, Duran Duran and ABC, and today the girls had been keen to buy records, but on this occasion, Penny had been told by her mother to return straight home.
Penny would often think how lucky she was to have a mother like Sally. She was given much more freedom than most girls of her age, and more importantly, Penny was treated as an adult. Sally valued her youngest daughter's opinions and at times, they both looked upon each other more as close friends, rather than mother and daughter. This relationship had really only come about after Laura had gained her place to study nursing at Westminster Hospital. Subsequently, this meant Laura had to move into one of the hospital's nurse's homes in London. This was a tough decision to make, even though Twickenham wasn't a great distance from the capital, it was still too far for her to travel between shifts, and that wasn't even taking into consideration the cost of fares on a student nurse's pay.
So, in her older sister's absence, Penny was promoted to the role of her mother's chief confidante, and sounding board, as well as a much-needed emotional support.
Penny was similar in looks to both her mother and Laura, with the same strawberry blonde hair, only Penny wore hers much longer, and had green eyes, rather than the deep blue of Sally and her sister. Although, it had been said that Penny, with her thinner face was not as stunningly pretty as Laura, she certainly had the potential to match her sister's looks when she begins to mature. Even now at fifteen, Penny's once, stick-like figure had filled out to a shapely 32C-22-34.
As Penny's house, The Birches came into view she hesitated. Like her brother and sister, and of course, Lizzie, she was totally against the idea of selling the house. Twickenham was Penny's home town, and yes she would miss her friends if she moved away, but apart from that, she loved her home, even without her father being there to watch her grow into womanhood.
Now that things were starting to happen, and people were actually coming to see the property, Penny was beginning to get scared. She knew she would have to eventually tell Sally the truth, and now that Lizzie had spoken to them all to gain support for a counter move against her mother, Penny would have to come clean.
She would tell Sally today, she decided, as she went around the back of the house to let herself in. She would say that two of her friends had set their minds on becoming interpreters, and would be off to university straight after their A-levels, which was indeed quite true. Penny would then say, she wanted to join them, and train to become an interpreter as well. This part wasn't strictly true, since Penny had always wanted to work with animals, perhaps, as a veterinary surgeon. However, that wasn't important right now, but the fact that she needed to stay settled in order to pass her exams was important. She could also point out to her mother that by staying in Twickenham she would be much closer to many of the London universities and colleges, which would help prevent all the family being split up and having to live apart.
Penny felt rather pleased with herself and was confident that her argument would help win her mother over, especially if Lizzie was backing her up. However, she also realised just how important going back to Wales was for her mother. It was as if there was something more to it than simply selling up, and making a new start by heading West to become a student all over again. She was also quite intrigued at the prospect of actually seeing the place where her parents had first met, and had even volunteered to go to Wales with Laura for Sally's preliminary entrance interview. Penny added the finishing touches to her plan. She would go to Falcondale, just literally to see it, then she would tell her mother that she didn't want to move there. That seemed far better than the alternative, which was staying with Lizzie while her mother was away. Although Penny loved Lizzie like an aunt, she couldn't bear to watch her downing vast quantities of wine, and go off incessantly about her bizarre fashion creations from the sixties.
Penny could hear Lizzie's loud voice as soon as she reached the back door. She was greeted by an excited Pepys, and stroked him affectionately before dumping her bag, and taking off her school blazer.
Both Sally and Lizzie were laughing. It was strange to hear her mother laugh these days, and it made Penny feel relieved that finally she was showing positive signs of healing after the loss of William.
"Your Mum's got a secret admirer!" Giggled Lizzie, clutching the obligatory glass of white wine and a cigarette in the same hand. "Come over and have a drink with me, Penny, darling, seeing as your mother has gone teetotal!"
"No, Lizzie. I don't want her drinking at fifteen." Protested Sally. "Besides, she'll have homework to do."
"Suit yourself!" Slurred Lizzie. "I used to drink at a much younger age than that. Never did me any harm, just as long as you know your limits."
Penny defied her mother and poured herself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and joined the two older women at the kitchen table to learn more about this mystery man. However, Penny's heart sank when she discovered he had viewed the house and liked it, despite her room being in such a mess.
The telephone rang and cut short Sally's story of Frank's visit. While her friend was out of the room, Lizzie took the opportunity to re-assure the teenager that the war of attrition was showing
good signs. Now it may only need Penny's support to bring about a change of heart on Sally's behalf.
While her mother was talking on the telephone, Penny went upstairs to get changed. As she entered her room, she thought she could smell the hint of a strange odour in the air. It was hard to ascertain exactly what it was, but it seemed to have a sweet essence. Picking up items of clothing from the carpet, she thought for a moment that the smell could be coming from these, especially from her underwear. However, the more she tried to detect the smell, the more her senses became over familiar with it, and the aroma faded. She dismissed it from her mind and continued hanging garments in her wardrobe, before switching on her stereo, and flopping down on the bed.
She couldn't hear her mother calling her over the Flock Of Seagulls cassette she was playing. It was only the loud knocking at the door that finally made her turn the music down, as Sally entered with an astonished look on her face.
"Penny, you know that man, I was telling you about earlier?"
"Yes, that Frank, chap?" Asked Penny, looking just as surprised.
"That was him calling just now."
"Oh, no, please don't say he wants to buy the house?"
"Well no, not exactly. He wants to discuss the purchase privately with me, over dinner!"
"So what did you say?"
"I said, yes!"
Penny got up and went over to hug her mother, knowing she needed re-assurance about what she was going to do.
"Mum, I don't mind, honestly. I just want to see you happy again."
Sally looked lovingly at her daughter, and smiled.
"I feel just like a teenager again, going on a first date. Isn't that silly? Do you think Jonathan and Laura would be upset?"
Before Penny could answer, Lizzie burst into the room, holding up a slinky, tight-fitting black dress, she had just found in Sally's wardrobe.
"Sally, for once in your life, will you stop trying to please other people. Just go and enjoy yourself!" Ordered Lizzie firmly. "Look, you could wear this - you'll be a sensation!"
