The Estate_Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

by Karen Woods

  Gary looked up as his mother came rushing back into the room, panicking. “Diane’s here. Sit up straight then and look respectable. She won’t want to marry a slob, will she?” Nicky was all in a panic. She’d taken the news quite well that she was going to have a grandchild. Alright, her son was young but at least he would settle down and not be in constant trouble as he usually was. She was sick to death of the dibble knocking on her door regarding his criminal activities. This was a god send really, now he had a job and would marry a respectable girl.

  Diane walked into the reception room with her parents at her side. John nudged Gary in the side. “It’s show time. Come on let’s get you hitched.”

  Diane’s dad, Jack, walked over to Gary and shook his hand. “Have they called your name out yet?”

  Gary shook his head. “We have ten minutes yet.”

  Vanessa was dabbing a tissue into the corner of her eye. She kept kissing Diane on her cheek and breaking down crying. Melanie walked over to Gary and smirked. “It’s your big day, lad. There’s no turning back now.”

  They started laughing and Gary was giving out his usual banter. “Fuck me, it’s nice to see you dressed up. You’re usually in jeans and trainers. You look quite feminine for a change and not like a big butch lesbian.”

  Melanie was wide-eyed. “I always look nice Gary. You just see me when I’m dossing that’s all.”

  John looked Melanie up and down. Gary was right, she’d changed from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan overnight. Her hair was curled slightly and her make-up was on point. She was still using the bright blue eye shadow and now she’d added a bit of rouge on her cheeks. Gary couldn’t take his eyes from Melanie. He was about to say something to her but stopped at the last minute. An older lady came out of a room and shouted their names. The wedding party stood and entered the small room. It was a nice room, a few flowers scattered here and there. John was Gary’s best man and Melanie was Diane’s bridesmaid. It was only right that they both attended this special day.

  John sniggered as they walked inside and whispered into Gary’s ear. “There’s no going back after this you know?” Gary was burning up, he hated any fuss and he was wishing it was over. The ceremony was about to begin. John looked over at Diane and caught her eye. The secret they shared was in both their eyes. They held the look for a few seconds more and then looked away. Diane wore a knee length white dress. It was cheap and cheerful and nothing special. If you looked closely you could see her baby bump. Vanessa was always pulling her dress out from near the stomach area and making sure nobody would be any the wiser. Of course, she’d told a few of her friends that her daughter was getting married, but she never said a word that she was with child. No, she kept that to herself. This was her business and nobody else’s.

  The service began, and the registrar spoke a little about love and how special it was. They were nice words really, if only everyone who’d stood here in the past had kept to them the world would have been a happier place. Melanie smiled over at John and wondered if they would ever get married too. He was her world, the only man she could ever see herself loving. Maybe he would ask her one day.

  Vanessa was on edge, fidgeting, wafting her hand in front of her face. “Get the bloody ring on her finger,” she whispered under her breath. Here it was, at last. Vanessa stretched her neck, wanting to see the ring slide on her daughter’s finger. She let out a sigh of relief. The deal was sealed, they were now man and wife. Vanessa could hold her head up high in the neighbourhood and stop the gossipers dead in their tracks.

  Melanie cheered as the couple kissed each other. Jack, snivelling, held his wife’s hand. “She’ll be alright, won’t she?” he asked her.

  “Of course, she bloody will. They’re living with us for the time being so nothing much will change.”

  John walked over to Gary and shook his hand. “Well done pal. Good luck and all that.”

  Gary was relieved, he was starting to relax. His mum Nicky was crying and this was a memory she would savour forever. Vanessa had made some food back at her home and the plan was for everyone to go back there for a bite to eat. It was nothing much, just a few beef-paste sandwiches, pork pies and pickles. Soon it was all over, Diane and Gary were now married.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  John sat with Donny as he counted the money. He’d been working with him for a while now and he was earning a right few quid. Donny shot eyes to the door as he heard someone knocking. He quickly shifted the money from the table and made sure nothing illegal was on show. Donny stood and walked into the hallway, he was scratching his balls and, in a hurry to see who it was. John sat back in his seat and tried to listen. The front door slammed shut and Donny was talking to someone.

  As he walked back into the room he nodded his head over at John. “This is one of my workers too, he’s a good lad . You two should get on like a house on fire.”

  John’s jaw dropped, he was speechless. His heart was pounding inside his ribcage and his fists started to curl into two tight balls at the side of his legs. Donny introduced them. “This is Lenny and you’ll be working with him.” Lenny snarled over at John and walked further into the room.

  “Nar, I won’t be working with that ginger cunt, he’s the one who lit the bonfire with Melanie’s brother inside it. You must have heard about it.”

  Donny knew the story well but wasn’t aware that Lenny was the one who’d started the fire.

  Lenny plonked down on the sofa and defended himself. “That was fuck all to do with me. And who are you calling ‘a ginger cunt’. Carry on and me and you will go in the garden and sort this out once and for all.”

  Donny could see they were both ready to knock fuck out of each other and separated them both. “Whoa, calm the fuck down. If you two have beef, then let’s sort it out.”

  John was game as fuck and he was already taking his jacket off as he spoke. “I’m not sorting anything out with him, Donny. Melanie would shit a brick if she knew I was having anything to do with this tosser.”

  “Listen up, you dickhead. Do you think I want to work with you either? Donny, I’m going to get going. Let me know if any work comes up for me. I can’t work with this prick.”

  Donny had to think on his feet. He didn’t want to lose either of these boys, they were both earners in his eyes and so he had to come up with something. “Just sit down for a minute. You two can earn a right few quid here if you put this behind you. It was years, ago right?”

  Lenny nodded. “Yes, we were kids.” John didn’t take his eyes from Lenny, he was a snidey bastard in his eyes and he knew he could throw a punch at any given moment, his eyes were all over him. “John, we both had beef with each other. It was a gang fight that’s all. I’ve done a lot of growing up since then. So, if you can move on, then, so can I.”

  What was up with Lenny, this was out of character for him. Had he mellowed? Had he changed? Donny twisted his head back to John, his eyes wide open. “He’s right you know. You can put it all behind you both and move forward.”

  John’s ears pinned back, and his cheeks were on fire. This lad had made his life a misery in his childhood, bullied him, bullied his friends, and here he was trying to put it all behind him as if nothing had ever happened. Could he be trusted? Was he telling the truth or was this just a big cover up to get him onboard? John shook his head. “Sorry Donny, it’s not going to happen. I’ll work as I have been doing, on my own.”

  “Fine by me,” Lenny growled at him, “it’s probably for the best anyway. The guy’s still a prick by the sounds of him.”

  John stood. Who the fuck did this ginger prick think he was talking too? He’d punch his lights out if he carried on with his big mouth. Donny sighed. “Right, no worries. Lenny, you come back later and I’ll sort you out with some work.”

  Lenny stood and nodded his head. “No worries, I’ll catch you later.”

  John completely blanked Lenny and waited until he’d left before he spoke. “Donny, that guy is bad news. On my life,
he’s a wrong-un.”

  Donny looked confused, he’d been to jail with Lenny and couldn’t see where he was coming from. “I think he’s sorted. He’s an alright lad. Do you think I would be having anything to do with him if he was on top?”

  John was pissing in the wind, Donny had already made his mind up and as far as he was concerned Lenny was one of his workers.

  Melanie sat with her mother and twiddled her thumbs. “Mam, do you think I should go back to college and do something with my life. I feel like I’m just sat here every day doing nothing. I should have a career by now, something to earn me some money.”

  Her mother plonked down next to her and sucked hard on her fag. “If that’s what you want to do then go for it. I never had the chance to have a career because I was firing kids out. I did think about it but every time I was ready to do something life took over and I never did anything about it.”

  “That’s a shame mam, you would have been good at something, because you’re clever, aren’t you?”

  Her mother sat up straight, proud she was. “Yes, you’ve heard me on the quiz shows on TV I always get the answers right. I should apply to go on one shouldn’t I. Imagine it, me on the television, your dad would have kittens.”

  Melanie was giddy. “Do it mam, you might even get picked. You can win loads of money, a new kitchen, a car, even a holiday.”

  “Oh, I’d love a holiday. A few of my friends have been to Spain and they said it was amazing. The weather is great too. I would get a decent tan, wouldn’t I?”

  Melanie was excited. “The next time a quiz show is on TV let’s get the address of where to apply and put your name forward for it.”

  Her mother smirked and squashed her cigarette out in the ashtray. “I will. I would have to get a new dress and have my hair done. I mean, I couldn’t go on TV like this could I? I look a bleeding disgrace.”

  This was all just talk of course, it would never happen, they always had the same conversation when they needed cheering up. Melanie had always been good at new styles, she looked her mother up and down and reached over and touched the side of her hair. “Why don’t you let me have a go of styling your hair. I have got some bleach upstairs, I could put you a few blonde streaks through it, it’s in fashion, loads of the older women have it done. Look at my hair, everyone always comments on it.”

  “Yes, you’re lucky I never made you change it back to your natural hair colour. I went berserk when I first seen it, do you remember?”

  “Of course I do, you grounded me for ages,” she chuckled.

  Her mother sat thinking, debating. After a few seconds she answered her. “Alright, let’s do it. It’s about time I started looking after myself. You better not mess it up. I’m trusting you.”

  Melanie hurried upstairs to get all the products ready. Maybe this was her calling in life, hairdressing could be the career she was searching for.

  Melanie worked for hours on her mother’s hair. She’d washed it and trimmed the dead ends off. The hairdryer was on full power and her master-piece was nearly completed. Diane had come round and was sat watching, her stomach was twice the size now. She looked like an egg on legs with fat cheeks and a double chin. Marion looked over at her and started a conversation. “Have you got all you need for the baby now?”

  “No, I’ve got a few bits, but I still need to get the pram and a few other things. My mam and dad have been buying stuff so hopefully when Gary gets paid we can go out and get the rest of the stuff that we need.”

  Melanie chirped into the conversation. “When I get some money, I’ll buy you something nice. I’m the God mother so I need to step up to the mark, don’t I?”

  Diane was having a hot flush and wafted her hand in front of her face. “Nobody has mentioned all the other things that go with being pregnant. I’m pissing like a donkey and these hot flushes are doing my head in. Honest, I can be sat there freezing one minute and the next thing my body is on fire. My boobs are like two big great water melons and fuck knows what has happened to my waistline.”

  Marion burst out laughing. “Welcome to motherhood, my dear. Have you got stretch marks yet?”

  Diane held her head to the side, she wasn’t sure. She lifted her t-shirt up and showed her stomach area to the girls. “Do you mean these big red lines?”

  Marion nodded. “Yes, they’re stretch marks alright. Just pray they don’t go over your legs and thighs.”

  Diane was horrified. “They will go, won’t they?” Diane was naive.

  “No love, they will be with you for life now. I’m covered in them.”

  Diane quickly covered her stomach and screwed her face up. “Are you having a laugh or what? What happens when I want to wear a bikini, how can I do that with all these horrible marks on my body?”

  Marion shrugged her shoulders. “You don’t love, you have to wear a full swimming costume. That’s what happens when we have babies, our bodies suffer.”

  Melanie squirmed. “I’m never having a kid. I want to keep my body how it is.”

  Diane forgot where she was and just blurted it out without thinking. “Well, stop having sex then and you won’t have any babies.”

  There was an awkward silence as Diane covered her mouth with her hand. Marion turned to face her daughter and she was snarling. “Are you having sex with that John, don’t lie to me because you clearly are. Diane has just said it.”

  Melanie wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She had to tell the truth, there was no way she could lie. Her mother was on the ball and didn’t miss a trick. “Mam, John has been my boyfriend for ages now and we love each other. I was going to tell you when the time was right. I just never found the right moment. Anyway, thanks to gobby cow sat there, you know now.”

  Diane cringed. This new information was a shock to her system. Since when had John said he loved Melanie, she’d never mentioned this before. “They all say they love you until they get inside your knickers,” Marion advised, “no disrespect to you Diane but I bet Gary said the same thing to you and look what happened.”

  Diane was offended, and she fought back. “Marion, I’m a married woman now. So, it shows Gary loved me. Why else would he have married me?”

  Melanie’s mother never held anything back and she give it to her straight. “He married you because your dad was going to put him ten-foot under if he didn’t, that’s why. Don’t tell me you don’t already know that?”

  Marion was harsh, she was shooting straight from the hip. Diane burst out crying and tried to defend her corner. “You don’t know anything about me and Gary, you’re just presuming that’s the way it is when clearly it isn’t.”

  Melanie patted her mother’s shoulder from behind her. “Diane had known Gary for years. She’d always fancied him and he liked her too. Maybe they weren’t in love to start with but they are now and that’s all that matters. So, can we move on and change the subject?”

  Diane was still upset; her hormones were all over the place and she didn’t know if she was coming or going. Melanie sprayed the last bit of hairspray on her mother’s head and stood back looking at her creation. “There you go mother, go and have a look at that in the mirror. I think it’s taken years off you. All the women are going to be lined up outside here for theirs doing too when they see what I’ve done with yours.” Melanie was right, this woman looked younger. Marion walked to the mirror, her jaw dropped. “Well, fuck a duck. It looks amazing,” she went closer to the mirror. “My skin looks better too doesn’t it. I feel eighteen again!”

  The girls looked at her reflection and studied her. The new hair colour suited Marion for sure. Just a few shades lighter than her own natural hair colour was all that it had taken. Marion was skipping about with excitement. “Oh, wait until your dad sees it, he’ll think I’ve got a new man or something. He still gets jealous of me you know. He’d never admit it, but he does. I remember when I told him about the local butcher giving my extra sausages in my order one week. I swear, he never comes shopping wit
h me and the following week he was by my side eyeballing the butcher. He was ready to knock his block off. Men are like that, they get very territorial about their women. Wait until he sees me, he’ll be shocked.”

  Melanie rubbed her hands together. “Right, let me do your make-up and then you’ll have had a full make-over. And, before dad comes home go and put a nice outfit on and let’s see if he notices any changes.”

  “Your dad won’t notice a single thing. I could do a naked cartwheel in front of the TV and he wouldn’t bat an eyelid.”

  The girls burst out laughing and Diane nearly pissed her knickers through laughing too much. Melanie winked over at Diane. “Mam, do you and my dad still do it?”

  Diane sniggered and sat back waiting for the answer. She wished she could have spoken to her own mother like this, she was jealous of Melanie’s relationship with her mother. Marion lit a cig up and sat back down on her chair. “Of course, we still have sex. Bleeding hell we’re not dead yet. It might not be what it used to be, but we still have a go at it. It’s kind of a jerk and a squirt these days though. We just don’t get the time anymore.”

  “Mam how is that possible. My dad has a massive beer belly and he’s nowhere near as fit as he used to be. He’s out of breath if he runs upstairs never mind anything else?”

  Diane agreed. “Yeah, surely he needs to be in good shape to give you a good seeing too?”

  Marion sniffed and licked her lips slowly. “Just because we are getting old it doesn’t mean we can’t have decent sex. For your information me and your dad are like rabbits when we get the chance. We still find each other attractive, even after all these years.”

  Melanie was surprised, “But, you two argue all the time and I’ve heard you calling him a big, daft, fat bastard, so how does that work?”

  “Married couples always argue. It doesn’t mean that you don’t still love each other. Marriage is a partnership and sometimes when your dad is being lazy and not pulling his weight I have to give him a kick up the arse to remind him what his role is. Most men are like that. At first they help around the house and then they think they can start to be lazy. Well, not on my bleeding watch. I tell him straight. If he doesn’t do his chores then I’m not doing mine. And that means no sex. Oh yes, I go on sex strike if he’s not stepping up around the house.”