“Marty, you-”
“I did nothing. Now just sit down and listen.”
Unthinkingly, she plopped back down onto the sofa. “How could he have known?”
“Wherever he is, Baker takes photos of everyone and everything in the hope he’ll unwittingly capture something good. He happened to be at the pub that night taking his usual photos and snapped us. Someone from the wedding party identified you as...” Again he hesitated.
Belle swallowed hard past the lump of humiliation in her throat. “The Other Woman?”
There was silence for several seconds before he answered. “I’m sorry, honey.”
Holly ran back into the room, ripping open the newspaper in her hand. “I bought this on my way here, but I haven’t looked at it yet. What page? Is it this paper?” Holly looked at Belle. “What page, Belle?”
Hand tight on the receiver, Belle said, “Four.”
Sitting beside her, Holly spread the paper out across her lap. Ignoring the voice on the other end of the phone, Belle held it loosely against her shoulder as Holly flipped the pages.
And then there it was, the photo of her and Marty at the pub. She looked uncertain, he looked confident, and the large typed words underneath boldly proclaimed ‘The Other Woman!’
“Oops.” Holly looked at Belle. “Guess everyone will know now.”
Belle could only stare at the newspaper in horror. She lived in a large town, only about half of the people really knew her, but now, the whole damned town would know that it was she who had stormed the wedding.
That she’d lost her virginity to Trevor.
That she’d been such a fool, and it didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon.
Discarding the phone on the sofa, she stood up and walked to the window, staring outside half in expectation that every gossip in town would be parked outside her house, waiting for a glimpse of The Other Woman.
It was quiet. A woman walked past pushing a pram, cars passed, but no-one else was in sight. But for how long? Now that her photo was out there, now that everyone knew…
Her throat tightened, the hot blush prickling along her skin, and she wrung her hands. Oh God, the shame to her parents.
“Belle?” It took several calls before she became aware that Holly was standing up with the phone receiver in her hand and a worried look on her face. “Belle, are you all right?”
“What?” Nodding and biting her lip, she turned around from the window.
“Oh shit, Belle, don’t cry.” Holly gestured to the phone in her hand. “Marty, he…”
Belle took a deep breath, her gaze falling on the damning photo and words in the paper at Holly’s feet, and she couldn’t stop the tears from welling up.
“Damn it.” Bringing the phone to her ear, Holly spoke quickly. “Look, she’s - yes, she is upset, I - no, she won’t come to the phone.” Holly glanced up and Belle shook her head. “She’s a little teary.” Seeing Belle shake her head violently this time, Holly amended, “No, she’s not. She says. I don’t know - no, she won’t come to the phone, I just told you - look, Marty, I’ll look after her, she’ll be fine.” Holly’s eyes widened as she saw a tear well over and slide down Belle’s cheek. “Oh crap, Belle, don’t cry. Don’t - damn it, Marty, no! She doesn’t want to talk to anyone - look, I have to go, all right? Bye!” Holly dropped the phone back on the holder and rushed around the coffee table to where Belle was standing, wrapping her arms around her and drawing her close. “Hush now, Belle. It’s all right.”
Clutching her friend, Belle sniffled. “I don’t…oh God, Holly, my Mum and Dad will see this!”
“Well, it’s not as if they don’t already know about it.” Holly patted her back.
“But now everyone will know. Everyone will know it was me.”
“Half the town knew anyway, sweetie. This just kind of confirms it.”
That was no real comfort and Belle couldn’t stop the humiliated tears from falling. The phone rang insistently but they both ignored it.
After several minutes during which time Holly just patted her back in comforting silence, Belle finally got control over her emotions and pulled away, pulling up the hem of her t-shirt and drying her eyes on it.
Hands on Belle’s shoulders, Holly studied her face and nodded. “Okay, the t-shirt does the job. Your cheeks are dry.”
Belle sighed. “Oh, Holly.”
“Oh, nothing. This is a storm in a tea cup.” At Belle’s indignant look, Holly amended, “Okay, maybe not a tea cup, but a tea pot. Belle, worse things have happened.”
“Not to me!”
Holly sighed. “No, not to you.”
“My parents will be embarrassed, my boss - Oh God, I might not have a job! Holly, what if Mary fires me?”
“Mary won’t fire you. She’s too proud of you for slapping Trev’s lights out. Besides, we all know what a perv she can be.” Holly led Belle back to the sofa, pushed her down onto the cushions and handed her the tea cup. “Now take a good, long drink and just settle, okay?”
Taking a deep swallow did kind of help, Belle had to admit, but when she glanced at the window she couldn’t suppress a shudder. Oh lord, sooner or later she had to go out and look people in the face. Humiliation, here she came.
Holly only left once she was sure that Belle was okay, and even though Belle appreciated her friend’s concern, she really wanted to be alone and it was with relief that she shut the door behind Holly.
Returning to the lounge, she found Cleo hiding under the newspaper on the floor, her tail twitching out from under one end and her little pink nose peeking out the other end.
Laughing, Belle gave her tail a gentle pull and Cleo’s paws came out from under the paper, trying to grab her. After play-fighting with her for a few moments, Belle gathered her up into her arms and buried her face in Cleo’s coat. “Ah baby, you don’t care that your Mum is the scandal of the town, do you?”
Cleo’s answer was to bat her cheek lightly and then lick her.
Smiling, Belle set her on the sofa and started to pick up the scattered newspaper. When she picked up the piece containing her photo, she couldn’t help but notice the protectiveness of Marty’s stance. Then again, he’d known who she was and his concern could have simply been for his parents if the truth ever got out that she’d been staying with them.
In the act of screwing up the newspaper, a thought struck Belle.
Mr and Mrs Lawson. Oh no, they’d know now. Her mother’s best friend. Closing her eyes, Belle took a deep breath, trying to battle the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Good manners dictated that she ring the Lawsons and apologise. Then again, why would she? Sitting back on her heels, she chewed her bottom lip. They hadn’t been at the wedding - apart from Marty - and they hadn’t seemed to be great friends or anything with Trevor or his bride’s family. Or maybe they had and…
“Crap.” Standing up, she crumpled the newspaper in her hands and strode out to the kitchen to hurl it into the bin. Hand on one hip, she leaned against the kitchen counter and debated what to do. Forget it? Call them? Apologise? Hide?
No, hiding was what she was doing at the moment.
What if they had been good friends of Trevor’s?
Heaving a sigh, she picked up the phone and dialled the Lawson’s phone number. It was with relief that she heard the answering machine click on and coward that she was, she left a message.
“Hi, this is Belle. I’m sure you’ve seen the newspaper by now and know what I did. I just wanted to say I’m sorry it happened while I was staying with you. If this causes you any problems…” She paused, biting her lip, then continued with a sigh. “Anyway, I’m really sorry.” Hanging up the phone, she dropped her forehead onto the counter with a faint thunk. “Idiot. Idiot idiot idiot. Why did you ring? It’s not as if they even care. Why didn’t you think first?”
A soft paw came snaking under her arm to tap her nose and she lifted her head to find Cleo crouched beside her on the counter, h
er little face inquisitive. Smiling, she smoothed Cleo’s fur on her back and massaged behind her ears, the welcoming purr filling the kitchen. “Ah, Cleo. My own true loyal kitty.” Picking her up, she snuggled her close. “Let’s go watch a horror DVD. I need something spooky to take my mind off things.”
And to take her mind off the fact that sooner or later her parents were going to ring. Coward again, she flicked on the answering machine before she sat down. A good thing she did, because it wasn’t long and the phone started ringing. A message from her parents, who reassured her they loved her and not to worry about the photo, a message from Mary stating that she was looking forward to Belle coming back to work (bless her), one from old Mr Burtho who wanted to know if she was free tonight for dinner (that made her shudder), and one from old Mrs Mixen who wanted to know if she could visit sometime to talk about ways to capture a man (that didn’t even bear thinking about). To really make her day, there were also two heavy breathers.
And then came the message that startled her.
“Belle.” Marty’s voice came through loud and clear. “I’m worried about you. Answer the damned phone.” He paused and she stared in fascination at the phone she’d put back on the little table near the window. “Look, call me.” He gave his number and rang off.
Chewing one fingernail, she stared at the silent phone. Call him? Why? It wasn’t as if he really knew her, and why was he so worried? Did he think she’d spill everything? What there was to spill, it wasn’t as though there was much left, she’d already told the entire state that she’d slept with Trevor and then proceeded to make a fool of herself by crashing the wedding. There wasn’t much left to tell.
Not wanting to hear anymore, Belle turned the answering machine off and unplugged the phone from the wall. Silence was what she needed, silence to sit and dwell - no, she corrected herself sternly - silence to watch her movie in peace, just her and Cleo with the world locked outside.
Her own little haven.
Popping the tab on the can of Diet Coke, she settled back on the sofa to lose herself in zombies.
“Now,” she told Cleo, hand feeding her some cheese off the cheese and biscuit platter she’d prepared earlier for herself and Holly. “Those people have more to worry about.”
Shame Trevor couldn’t have been turned into a zombie. She’d have a good excuse then to smack him in the head with something really hard.
Shaking her head at her morbid thoughts, she slid down further into the sofa and kicked her heels up onto the coffee table. For an hour and a half, she was determined to forget that the world and its problems existed.
Chapter 5
Taking a deep breath, Belle walked into the supermarket with Holly on her heels.
“Right,” said Holly. “Where’s that shopping list?”
“I think everyone’s looking at me,” Belle muttered.
“Oh for - give it to me.” Snatching it from her hand, Holly glanced down the list. “Hey, this is all comfort food.”
“I need it.” Glancing sideways, Belle saw one of the women from her street looking directly at her while whispering to her friend. “Oh geez.”
“You don’t need this crap food.” Grabbing a trolley, Holly shoved the handle bar into Belle’s hands. “Now come on. Fruit and veggie section first.”
“Maybe I don’t need to buy food just yet.” Belle could feel her cheeks burning.
Holly looked back over her shoulder. “When, then?”
“Next year?”
“Nice try.” Shaking her head, Holly strode away, her black boot heels clicking briskly on the tiled floor.
Not wanting to be left behind, Belle obediently trotted after her. She swore she could feel everyone looking at her and when she glanced around several times, there were indeed a couple of people looking at her, but it didn’t seem too bad. Maybe Holly was right, maybe she was making too much of it. After all, it wasn’t as though she’d done something so terrible, was it?
Holly proceeded to swap Belle’s comfort food list with much healthier choices. Oranges, bananas, grapes and strawberries went into the trolley, followed by an assortment of veggies.
The youth loading lettuces onto the bench gaped at Belle before grinning knowingly and looking away.
“You know, phoning in an order would make much more sense,” Belle suggested.
“No.” Holly continued down the aisle to the meat section.
“I don’t need meat,” Belle said. “I have plenty in the freezer.”
Holly looked at her.
“Honestly.” Belle made the scout salute.
“You weren’t a scout.”
That just made Belle think of Marty doing the exact same thing. “True.”
Following Holly around the corner of the aisle, Belle came to a halt when her trolley crashed headfirst into another trolley. “I’m so sorry.”
“Belle?” Mrs Mixen smiled widely.
Belle groaned silently.
“Just the girl I want to see. You know, dear.” Mrs Mixen leaned forward, her big bosom pressing against the low-cut blouse she wore. “We are two of a kind.” She winked.
“Oh, I-I don’t think-”
“Oh yes, dear.” Straightening, Mrs Mixen beamed. “I used to bed the boys when I was younger. My dear, I was a little bit of a…” She giggled, which just didn’t sound right coming from an elderly woman who was old enough to have great grandchildren. “Well, you know what I mean.”
“Not really.” Desperately, Belle tried to edge past.
Mrs Mixen stopped her by the simple process of cutting her off with her trolley. “Mind you, I was a lot younger when I -” Her words were mercifully cut off by a burst of loud music coming from a nearby mobile phone.
Normally Belle hated that kind of thing, but right now she was relieved. “Oh yes, well, I must go and-”
“Dreadfully loud music.” Mrs Mixen glared at the man, who ignored her and spoke on his phone. “Anyway, as I said dear, I-”
The specials announcement drowned out her words.
Holly appeared from around the corner of the aisle, her eyes widening when she saw Mrs Mixen. She must have seen the desperate look on Belle’s face because she immediately hurried up. “Belle, are you coming?”
“Yes, I-”
“I was just saying,” Mrs Mixen said loudly. “Before I was so rudely cut off by mobile phones ringing and that damnably loud announcement, that I wasn’t as old as Belle when I lost my virginity.”
Belle’s mouth dropped and a hot blush seared through her cheeks. Around them several shoppers she recognised as acquaintances watched avidly.
Holly recovered first. Grabbing the trolley, she said brightly, “How interesting! Now we must go. Belle, move.” She jerked the trolley away from Mrs Mixen’s.
Relieved and horrified all at once, Belle spun her trolley into another aisle and hurried down it.
“Slow down!” Holly grabbed the trolley and dug in her heels.
“Are you kidding me?” Belle ran a hand across her burning cheeks. “Did you hear what she said?”
“Sure. She started being a slut early in life.” Holly’s lips twitched. “And hasn’t stopped since.”
“That’s not funny, Holly.” Belle could barely look at the woman who leaned past her to get a jar of coffee.
“From my POV, it is.”
Belle glared at her.
“Okay, now come on, Belle. This is no time to play the shrinking violet. So what if Mrs Mixen says she lost her-”
“Don’t say it.” Biting her lip, Belle shuffled aside as someone else tried to get a packet of tea right behind where she was standing.
“Whatever. Get over it, girl, you can’t hide forever. Now forget about her and let’s keep going.” Holly gave the trolley a shake. “Now.”
Rolling her eyes, Belle obeyed. To be fair, the rest of the shopping trip wasn’t so bad, only a few people appeared to whisper about her as she passed while most everyone else ignored her, too busy with their own things,
but she wasn’t sure she’d have braved the supermarket if Holly hadn’t been with her. Not yet, anyway.
They made it through the checkout and were loading the bags in the trolley when several teenagers passed, saw her and started giggling.
Great. Belle glared at them, which made them look hurriedly away and giggle even more. She turned her glare to Holly.
Holly held out her hands. “Hey, you’re going to have to learn not to be so sensitive sometime. You might as well start now.”
“Fine. You’re right. How bad can it get anyway?”
Out at the car park, Holly helped her put the shopping into the boot before she stepped back. “Right, you’re set for a couple of days. Now I have to meet Lou and go to his parents place.”
“Thanks for coming shopping with me.” Smiling ruefully, Belle patted her arm. “Really.”
“No worries.” Holly smiled. “I know you’d do the same for me.”
“You wouldn’t care as much.”
“True. Plus I gave my cherry to Bobby Monroe back in high school. That’ll never grow back.”
“A little too much information.” Belle shut the boot.
“But you stayed up with me drinking red cordial and eating ice cream with sherbet sprinkled on it until the sun came up while I cried.” Holly smiled.
“Wild times.” Belle grinned.
“Exactly.” Holly sobered. “So, you going to be all right?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just being an idiot.” Belle unlocked the driver door. “This’ll blow over and everything will be like it was before.”
“Exactly.” Holly stepped back. “Now I have to go. Cook yourself something nice to eat and I’ll call you later.”
“Thanks Holly. You’re a good friend.”
Holly waved and moved off to her own car.
Belle started to get into the car when she noticed a piece of paper under her windscreen wiper. Reaching around, she plucked it out and sat down in the driver’s seat while unfolding the paper. For several seconds she wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but then she groaned. On it was a phone number along with ‘Need Your Virginity restored? Call now!’ written on it.
The Lawson Boys: Marty Page 12
