Love or Money?

by Carrie Stone

  Felicity deliberated in her head. There was no doubt about it - she was shocked. Selfishly, part of her had taken it for granted that her mother would always be single. Hearing that there was now a man in her life wasn’t a familiar experience or even a welcomed one. Looking at Glenda’s anxious face and noticing her beginning to pick at her nails, made her take stock. Her mother deserved happiness and love in her life; Felicity knew all too well that being alone and feeling unloved led to a cold and unhappy existence. Her mother had never looked so radiant and young. She didn’t want the anxious Glenda to return. Whoever this Bill was, he was certainly doing her the world of good - and who was she to interfere with that?

  “I’m happy for you. Truly I am. It’s about time you had someone to share things with.” Felicity bit down on her lip as her mother’s eyes welled up with tears.

  “Do you really mean that, love?” Glenda asked, dumbfounded.

  Felicity nodded her head. “I do. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, all of these years on your own.” She tried to lighten the mood a little. “Besides anyone who can get you looking this good within such a short space of time deserves a medal.”

  Glenda giggled; she felt as if a huge weight that had been resting on her shoulders had been lifted. She knew that Felicity wasn’t entirely comfortable with the news, but to have her daughter’s blessing was the most important thing she could have wished for.

  “So are you going to leave me in suspense or are you going to tell me a little bit about Bill then?”

  Now it was Glenda’s turn to slump in her seat and wonder where to begin. Filling her daughter in on Bill and their developing relationship, she was happy to note that Felicity didn’t pass a single judgment or negative comment. Instead, her daughter listened and smiled as she detailed the highlights of her past two months.

  “I can’t believe you’ve waited eight weeks to tell me about this. Honestly Mum, you could have told me sooner.”

  Glenda reluctantly broke away from the conversation to take the heated pie from the oven. “I know, but it wasn’t the right time, love, what with the Dan situation and then you going to Australia. There just didn’t seem to be an appropriate moment.”

  Deep down, Felicity knew that her mother was right. Would she really have been so accepting of the relationship if she’d known about it sooner? She couldn’t be sure that she would have. She knew that a lot of her new found acceptance was directly thanks to Owen. He’d taught her so much in their small amount of time together.

  “When do I get to meet Bill then?” she asked, taking a bottle of wine from the fridge and pouring two glasses.

  Glenda dished the pie onto two plates and took them to the table. “Well, maybe you’d like to meet him tomorrow if you’ve no plans? Perhaps the three of us could go for lunch?”

  Felicity humoured her mother by agreeing eagerly. It was obvious from the way in which her shoulders dropped in relief that she and Bill had been planning the lunch in advance. Even so, she was looking forward to meeting the man in person. From what her mother had told her, he seemed to be kind-natured and thoughtful.

  Admiring the home made pie that Glenda had set down in front of her, she felt a sense of contentment. She was happy to be home in her familiar surroundings and spending time with her mother. She just wished that Owen was there to share her experience. She knew that Glenda would love his sense of wit and depth of knowledge. She could imagine he’d laugh at the pristineness and perfection of her home, not to mention Glenda’s gentle but dozy manner.

  Silently reproaching herself for daydreaming, she pushed him out of her thoughts, instead tucking into her food and listening with growing concern as Glenda began to fill her in on Zara’s situation with Steve…

  “Please babe, just listen to me. I can explain.” Dan put up his arms to protect himself as he narrowly avoided the candle burner flying through the air towards him.

  “You piece of scum!” Stacey screamed at him irately, pacing the bedroom floor like a wild woman. “I cannot believe I have been telling everyone how much I’m looking forward to marrying the man of my dreams. And all of this time, ALL of this time, you’ve been screwing around behind my back.” Collapsing in a heap on the floor, she began to sob loudly.

  Dan withdrew into the hallway, running his hands anxiously through his hair. How could she have seen the texts? He thought he had deleted them. Unsure what to do, he picked up his jacket hooked over the stair banister and headed out of the house. There was no point trying to reason with Stacey in the state that she was in. He’d never seen her so angry towards him. It was disturbing.

  He closed the door quietly behind him, feeling around in his jacket pocket for his wallet and regretting the moment he’d decided to leave his mobile in full accessible view of Stacey.

  “That’s it - walk away, just like you always do. You coward.”

  Swivelling his head in surprise toward the upper part of the terraced house, he felt his face drain of colour as Stacey shouted abuse at him from the open bedroom window.

  “Babe, shhhh. Calm down. Everyone will hear” he said anxiously, trying to locate his house keys to get back through the front door. Although they didn’t live in the best of areas, he didn’t want their neighbours on the estate knowing all of their business. Especially his indiscretions.

  “I don’t care if everyone hears what a cheat you are!”

  Anger building at her total lack of respect for him, Dan managed to get the door key into the front lock and pushing open the door forcibly, rushed up the stairs toward the bedroom.

  “What on earth are you playing at, Stacey?” Pushing past her, he wrestled the window closed despite her resistance. “Don’t go shouting our problems into the street” he said furiously.

  “What am I playing at?” Stacey cackled at the irony. “Shouldn’t it be what have you been playing at?!”

  Dan grabbed Stacey’s wrists as she pounded her fists violently against his chest. “Babe, I can explain. Just listen to me. You have to calm down.”

  He lost count of how many more times he had to repeat those words before Stacey finally succumbed to his grip and let herself be guided into his arms, her body-racking sobs slowly becoming quieter as he held her close and shooed her.

  Trying not to let his panic show, Dan wondered how long he could keep Stacey pacified. He had just experienced a whole new side to her and it was a side that made him wary. Where had his obliging, kind and meek Stacey disappeared to? Hell has no wrath like a woman scorned. Could Stacey be that woman? He hoped never to have to find out.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Spotting a seat in between an elderly man and a thin Indian woman, Sylvia rushed towards it as soon as the Tube doors opened. She’d been on her feet for most of the day and as she took her place between the two commuters, she felt grateful to have a chance to relax. The past two days had been a whirlwind - it had been such a relief discovering the results of the CVS test. Although she’d felt that the chance of the baby being Dan’s was slim, it had still been a shock seeing the analysis in print. The blood tests had confirmed there was almost no likelihood of Dan being the father. It was most certainly Phillip’s baby.

  Putting her hand across her barely visible bump, she thought back upon Dan’s reaction to the test results. His tone of voice had been more than elated when she’d imparted the outcome. She was surprised by this, he’d seemed so unemotional and cold toward the whole experience that she assumed he wouldn’t have cared either way whether the child was his or not. He’d made it consistently clear that he wanted no part of her pregnancy, so she hadn’t expected him to be so affected, even if it was for the wrong reason. Obviously he had cared more than he’d let on.

  Still, they’d agreed to keep the entire subject under wraps for the sake of both of their relationships and Felicity’s friendship. She sensed Dan still held a candle for Fee and she didn’t want her actions coming between her and her friend. She couldn’t forgive herself for doing the unthinkable and slee
ping with her friends love interest. It was a shameful secret she would take to the grave. She knew Dan felt the same; Felicity would never give him a second glance if she was to ever discover their rendezvous. It didn’t bear thinking about. She was happy to put Dan and her thoughts on the matter into the past. Finally she could move on from her mistake.

  Her thoughts flicked to Felicity. She’d been delighted to get a call from Fee the previous day; she’d been so wrapped up in her own dramas that she hadn’t got around to reading the email informing that she was returning home from Australia sooner than planned. She couldn’t wait to see her. She knew that her baby news would be the last thing Fee would be anticipating from her, especially since the last time they’d properly spoken she’d shared her uncertainties about her relationship with Phillip. She smiled to herself, thinking of Phillip. He was going to make such a good father. Despite her previous worries, she’d known that if the baby was his that she’d be a very lucky woman.

  He had made such an improved effort with their relationship since finding out she was pregnant. It was hard to believe that he was the same man who had been scared to commit to her for the past six months. The baby had changed everything and now that she was certain Dan was out of the picture, she could concentrate on her new family. It also meant they could finally begin telling people their news.

  The recorded announcement blared out the next station from the overhead speaker and Sylvia stood up carefully, grabbing onto the metal handrails for support as she made her way to the Tube door. She hoped that the light drizzle of rain that was in the air when she’d left work had eased off.

  She’d always been so grateful to live such a short distance from the Tube station especially in the wet weather. Compared to most people working in London, her commute was far from hardship, but Phillip had raised a valid point about their living situations; they couldn’t continue splitting their time between two properties. With a baby on the way they needed to consider a permanent base together. It saddened her to think that her spacious open aired apartment was soon to be a memory.

  She was only in her early thirties, but within the space of a few weeks her life had been transformed. She was no longer a carefree singleton waiting for her on-and-off relationship to crash and burn – it was a very surreal feeling to be suddenly in a more connected relationship with a baby to seal the bond. It was a feeling that she rather surprisingly liked.

  She disembarked the Tube and walked toward the narrow exit tunnel with the other fast-paced commuters. Her partying days were finally drawing to an end and life was taking on a new way forward.

  “That’s a nice top on you, love” Glenda remarked, eyeing Felicity’s smock top beneath her cropped blazer and silk scarf.

  “Thanks. Owen bought it for me in Cairns after I complained I didn’t have anything casual or loose for daywear.” Felicity picked up her large shopper bag full of gifts and headed towards the car.

  Glenda swiftly changed the subject before her daughter had a chance to relive her feelings and emotions for Owen again. She walked to the passenger side of Fee’s car and waited for her to unlock it, getting in.

  “Zara’s really looking forward to seeing you. I’ve decided I’m going to take Daisy for a McDonald’s whilst you two catch up.”

  Felicity carefully backed the car out of her driveway. “Thanks for coming along and offering to look after Daisy and the girls. Not that I mind having them there, of course, but it will be nice just Zara and I having a chance to catch up properly.”

  “Exactly, that’s why I offered. God knows, she could do with a friend right now.”

  Felicity concentrated on the road ahead; it felt strange to be driving again after two months of taking public transport in Australia. “I still can’t get over what’s been going on with those two.”

  Glenda shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Had she been wise telling Fee all of Zara’s fears and worries about Steve? Part of her wished she’d left it for Zara to do the telling herself. What if Fee reverted to her usual ways and brought up the subject?

  “Well, love, like I said, it’s best you don’t mention that I said anything. They seem to be getting on okay again at the moment. So let’s hope it stays that way.”

  Felicity smiled and shook her head in amusement, picking up on her mother’s sudden change in disposition.

  “Don’t worry; I’m not going to say anything. Anyway I was thinking that perhaps I could offer to babysit for them whilst I’m not working. You know – give them some space to have a meal or something before the baby arrives.”

  Glenda swivelled her head in shock, pulling her seatbelt away from her body and angling herself to look at Fee.

  “Really, love? What a wonderful idea. I’m sure Zara would love that. Will you be okay with the girls though?”

  Felicity laughed. “Of course I’ll be okay. I might not have babysat for them all before but I’m perfectly capable. I’ll just put some movies on and maybe paint their nails or something. I’m not the unmaternal person you all seem to think I am.”

  Glenda turned her attention back to the road. She’d noticed such a big change in her daughter’s attitude to life since her return, it was taking a little getting used to.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Guess who is pregnant? Sylvia! She phoned me yesterday, I couldn’t believe it. I had thought things were over between her and the TV presenter Phillip. I’m so happy for her. She sounded so excited.”

  Glenda glanced at her daughter in surprise. She hadn’t realised the two women were still keeping in regular contact. “That’s lovely news. I’m pleased you two are friends again. Let’s hope it works out for her and her partner. There are too many single parent families these days.”

  Felicity drew in a sharp breath and Glenda braced herself as the car jutted mid-way through a set of traffic lights in the busy high road.

  “Goodness.” She reached out automatically steadying her hands on the dashboard as the car slowed down. “What happened?” she asked looking at Fee’s ashen face.

  Felicity looked in the rear view mirror and tried to catch another glimpse of what she’d just witnessed. Aside from the familiar dark hair retreating into the distance, she couldn’t make out anything further.

  “Steve.”

  Glenda looked at Fee in confusion. “What do you mean, Steve? Zara’s Steve?”

  Felicity slowly pulled the car into a quiet side street and switched off the engine, turning to her mother in shock. “Yes! Didn’t you see him? Walking along with a blonde woman. They were both laughing and he had his hand on the small of her back.”

  Glenda shook her head dismissively. “You must have it wrong, love. That couldn’t have been Steve. He’s just started a new building project the other side of London. Zara said he’s working today, otherwise I wouldn’t be needed to babysit, would I?”

  “Don’t tell me what I saw. It was most definitely Steve and that most definitely was not Zara.” Felicity said angrily.

  Glenda curled her lip in distaste. “Oh, Christ, I wonder if it’s that Catherine woman?”

  “Well by the looks of things, whoever she was, he was certainly very comfortable in her company.”

  Both Glenda and Felicity fell into silence, not knowing what to say.

  Glenda cleared her throat. “And you’re certain that he had his hand on her back?”

  “Yes, on her back and he was wearing a shirt and trousers. He looked smart.” Felicity sighed. “Which is more than I can say for his usual appearance.”

  Glenda tutted disapprovingly. “Come on, Fee, you can’t make this personal. I know you don’t like Steve, but it could have been harmless. For all we know, Zara might have asked him to take care of a business matter. That could have been a family solicitor. We’ll probably arrive at hers and she will tell us all about it. Let’s not assume the worst.”

  Felicity bit down on her lip and considered Glenda’s response. She had a fair point. Perhaps she had over-reacted. There was likely to be an expla
nation. As much as she didn’t like Steve, he wouldn’t openly cheat on Zara, would he? Especially given that she was eight months pregnant….

  “Ok, well let’s go to Zara’s and then you can casually ask about Steve’s whereabouts today and we will know for sure.” Felicity started up the ignition and put the car into reverse, trying to calm herself.

  Glenda felt a dreaded sense of foreboding at her daughter’s instructions. From what Zara had mentioned to her previously, she had an uneasy feeling that she was about to open a can of worms. Looking out of the window, she tried to ignore her suspicions and to concentrate on her afternoon ahead with Daisy and the girls.

  Zara opened the door and broke into an ecstatic grin, trying her best to rush forward to hug Fee. Instead, she only managed two steps in her heavily pregnant state before Felicity reached her.

  “Oh my goodness, look at you!” Felicity said, hugging her friend tightly and standing back to observe her. “You look beautiful! Huge but beautiful!” she laughed, patting Zara’s large pregnancy bump affectionately. “Hello, baby, Auntie Fee is back.”

  Zara laughed and returned Fee’s tight hug. “I have missed you so much. I can’t believe you’re back! You look stunning, so radiant.”

  Daisy walked up behind Zara’s legs and Fee bent down to scoop her up, kissing her on the cheek. “Hello, gorgeous. Look at you, all pretty in pink.” She tickled Daisy’s belly and set her back down.

  “Let’s get inside then and get the kettle on. So much to talk about!” Zara said, leading the way through her terraced house into the kitchen.

  Following her, Felicity discreetly looked sideways at her mother catching her eye and replied “Isn’t there just.”

  Glenda hovered in the kitchen doorway, avoiding looking at Fee. “Zara, I’m going to go straight off, love.” She unhooked Daisy’s coat from the stand in the hallway. “We’ll leave you two in peace to catch up. I’m going to treat Daisy to a McDonald’s, if that’s okay with you?”