by Jo Meadows
Sure enough, in no time at all Emily was out of it, giving Lynnette and Leo time to discuss the past week. They always seemed to do this on the journey home. Sometimes they would talk for just a few minutes and other times, it could last for ages depending on how the week had gone.
Lynnette often felt a little guilty because the talk always revolved around her Mum, what had been said and the way she’d behaved during their visit. It seemed odd that there they would be discussing her Mum’s behaviour but, her Mum did have a way of saying things and sometimes her behaviour towards her Dad could be awful. Lynnette sometimes became angry with him because he never seemed to stick up for himself. She had spoken to him about it on a number of occasions but he would always dismiss her worries and say that she knew how her Mum could be and that it was easier to let her have her say, and her way, rather than fight back. Over the years, the result of this was that Georgina came across as always being right and that whenever a decision needed to be made, even over something as trivial as the volume level of the television, she would make it. She rarely asked her Dad for his opinion on anything and if he offered one, it was usually dismissed out of hand. Lynnette knew that her Dad loved her Mum unconditionally but she worried that her Mum’s behaviour would eventually sour their relationship. Sometimes, looking at her Mum’s behaviour, she wondered if she loved her Dad at all.
‘Well I suppose that wasn’t too bad was it?’ she asked Leo.
‘No, I suppose it wasn’t. I thought your Dad was in fine form when we went to the pub. Who would have thought your Mum would have allowed him to have the ribs? She probably hated that, but, good for him.’
‘Yes, I’ve no doubt she’ll have a word or two to say about that if she hasn’t already.’
‘I hope his hand gets sorted out, it didn’t look too good when he went to see the nurse. I suppose the antibiotics will see to that though so he should be fine.’
‘No doubt Mum will take charge of his pills and make sure he takes them. She does that with all his medication you know.’
‘No I didn’t know that but I guess that’s par for the course with her,’ laughed Leo. ‘He seemed quite bothered when the nurse asked him why he hadn’t been in for his annual health checks you know.’
‘Yes, I know, he was going to talk to Mum about the letters that apparently went missing. Anyway, he’s had his checks now and hopefully that’s all sorted out. Thanks for taking him down there by the way, did you have a chance to have much of a chat with him while you were together?’
‘Only a little, you know how your Dad is, everything’s fine and you know he probably wouldn’t tell me if things weren’t. I did get the impression that he gets a bit fed up at times though; usually when your Mum’s had a go at him for something or other. I think she’s on at him quite a lot these days and it obviously gets to him.’
‘I’ve told him. He needs to stick up for himself. If he doesn’t, she’ll just keep on being the way she is and keep getting away with it. He seems to go along with her on everything and it’s as though he’ll do anything for an easy life. Anyway it’s up to him, we’re never normally there and he’s the one that’s got to live with her. It’s terrible isn’t it? Here we go again; we do this every time on the way home. She just gets to me so much. Am I an awful person or what?’
‘No Darling you’re not. You’re a lovely person who’s concerned for the welfare of her poor old Dad who’s become trapped in some kind of living hell.’
‘What?’ said Lynnette, a little alarmed.
‘I’m only joking, I’m sure your Dad will be fine. They’ve been together for what? Absolutely ages, I’m sure he deals with her in his own way when they’re on their own. What we see is probably all for show on her part and he goes along with it, as you say, for an easy life.’
‘You’re probably right but I’d hate to think that he gets a load of grief just because we’re there. She can be really bad sometimes and you wonder where it comes from. I actually heard her swear at him the other day; god knows what that was about. I’ve hardly ever heard her swear, she must have been really mad.’
‘You’ve got it right there; mad! That’s what she is and she’s taking poor old Dave down with her,’ laughed Leo.
‘Stop it, you’re terrible Leo,’ laughed Lynnette. ‘I suppose the week went okay all things considered. Emily seemed to be alright; I always worry that she might be bored and miss her friends. I know my Mum and Dad love her and they always seem really happy to see her but they don’t go out of their way to make sure she has a good time. I suppose that’s down to us really but they don’t offer to take her anywhere by themselves, do they?’
‘From what we’ve just said I don’t suppose Dave has a say in what they do, but would you want Emily left alone with your Mum for very long? Besides, other than the arcades and the beach, there’s only the cinema and I don’t think there were any kid’s films on this week.’
‘You know what I mean; they just carry on with their normal routine. She has her cup of tea at seven in the morning, gets up and has breakfast and then it’s off to the shops for the paper. They have lunch at a quarter to twelve and, if we hadn’t taken them out, it would be a cup of coffee at three and tea at five. Then it’s time to settle down, watch the news and the soaps and it’s in bed by half nine. At least they sleep in separate rooms so my Dad can go to bed when he likes. But, you know he has to give her a cup of tea in bed every morning, at seven on the dot? So there’s no lie-in for him.’
‘You’re kidding!’ said Leo. ‘I might have to try that when we get home, but the other way round of course, and I’d prefer coffee please.’
‘You know what you can do sunshine. You’d think though, with us only visiting once a year, she’d want to try and make it a bit special if not just for Emily. Don’t you agree?’
‘Yes, but we enter her realm while we’re there so why should she go out of her way for us? I mean, I don’t want to be rude about your Mum but she doesn’t have much imagination when it comes to her menus does she?’
‘No, that’s true. She thinks a couple of party packs of sausage rolls and some cakes are special enough. Even that’s done as though she’s trying to make a point, it’s as though she wants to make it obvious that we’re not worth going out of her way for, if you know what I mean. God I’m waffling again, that’s how much she gets to me, there’s got to be a name for the way she is and for the way she makes me feel.’
‘Oh well. At least that’s that for another year Darling, duty done. Let’s get home and then relax with a nice chilled bottle of wine. You know you shouldn’t try to analyse your Mum too much, you’ll end up going crazy. Just be happy that they both seem to be healthy and relatively happy. And don’t worry about your Dad either, I’m sure he’ll be fine, and, he’s big enough to take care of himself.’
‘I suppose you’re right. Roll on next year.’
Unfortunately, little did she know but it was to be much less than a year when Lynnette would find herself making the long journey back to Calthorpe.
Chapter 4
Well, thought Georgina as she walked towards the shops. I wonder if my little talk with Emily will have any effect. She’s young enough to take on board what I said, and at her age she’s unlikely to give away our little secret. Mind you, children can slip up and Lynnette’s no fool, I’ll have to have a think about a suitable response if questions start to come my way. I’ve no need to worry mind; everything I ever say is always for the best of all concerned. Besides, Emily needs a little direction if she’s anything like her mother. Lynnette was always a bit headstrong and always wanted everything explaining; she just wouldn’t accept that what she was told to do was for her own good.
‘Good morning Georgina.’
‘Oh hello Susan, good morning, sorry I didn’t see you, I was in a world of my own there for a minute. How are you today?’
‘Fine thanks. Did you and David have a nice time with your daughter and her family visiting? I assume they’ve go
ne home now?’
‘Thanks, yes we did, and yes, they went home yesterday. It’s lovely to have them here but it’s such hard work what with little Emily racing around all the time. And, as they only come every now and then, I always like to make their visits a bit special by putting on nice meals and buying them little presents. You know what it’s like.’
‘You’re so good to them Georgina, I hope they appreciate the effort you go to. When my lot come it’s business as usual and if they want something special they can bloody well go out and buy it for themselves, ungrateful buggers,’ said Susan with a laugh. ‘Oh well, must be going, I’m glad you had a good time, say hello to David for me, bye now.’
‘Alright, I will do, bye Susan.’
God I hate that coarse, awful woman, she thought as Susan walked away. How does she know we had visitors and what business is it of hers anyway? Nosey cow! Say hello to David for me indeed; if David hadn’t spoken to her all those years ago when they’d first moved here, she wouldn’t think she was some kind of friend. That’s one of the problems with living in a small community; everyone seemed to want to know your business. That’s probably one of my few regrets about coming to live here, she thought. The place is full of low-life, nosey idiots. I must stay switched on and have my wits about me when I’m out and about, that way I could avoid these mindless meetings and pointless conversations.
There’s one thing I suppose, at least ugly Susan, I love to call her that she chuckled to herself, just like “a lazy Susan”, a big rotating food server; at least she’s brought my thoughts back to David. I really must work out what I’m going to do about him. I know I shouldn’t jump in, I nearly got caught out with the glass, but if I leave it too long he’ll end up getting away with half of what he’s done.
I know, she thought, I’ll take care of his antibiotic pills just like I take care of the pills he takes for his cholesterol. Although David didn’t realise, he hadn’t had a cholesterol pill for a couple of years now, not because he forgot to take them, but because Georgina had substituted them for little vitamin pills. I’ve seen the antibiotics; they look just like those small aspirins you can buy, what were they, oh yes, 75mg or something. I’ll get some of those, the non-dissolvable ones, she thought, he’ll be none the wiser but when his hand doesn’t heal quite so quickly, it will give him something to think about. In the meantime, I’ll give some thought to his real punishment; it needs to be something notable and worthwhile and something he won’t forget in a hurry.
***
David took the coffee he’d made for himself, turned on the television and sat down in his armchair. He had plenty of time before Georgina would be back. That was a good week, he thought to himself. Little Emily was gorgeous and he always missed her when they’d all gone home. I hope they manage to get back to visit us soon, a year seems such a long time.
Yes, overall it had been a good week. That lunch in the pub with the ribs; they’d had such a laugh, even Georgina had seemed to have a good time. Mind you, he was quite surprised that she had, that kind of thing really wasn’t her cup of tea. If they’d been on their own there’s no way she’d have entertained going in the pub in the first place and as for “finger food,” Jesus! And, her face when we were all covered in sticky sauce, what a picture. He’d expected a little come-back on that one but it hadn’t materialised. Perhaps our discussion about the missing letters and my health checks made her realise that I wasn’t too happy. I should do that more often, it might make her think and she might back off a little.
‘Busy are we? Go on then, I’ll have a cup of coffee, let’s live a little,’ said Georgina, making him jump.
‘Sorry love, I didn’t hear you come in,’ David said, getting up as though he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. ‘I’ll get you one now. I was lost for a minute there thinking about how much fun it was having Emily here. I do hope they don’t leave it a whole year before they come back.’
‘Yes, it was fun wasn’t it? I’m sure they’ll be back sooner than a year, after all Leo said they’d see if they could didn’t he? I suppose it depends on his work and the school holidays of course.’
‘Fancy a biscuit with your coffee?’
‘No thanks. Where are your antibiotic pills? I thought I’d look after them for you to help make sure you don’t forget to take them.’
‘They’re just by my chair there,’ said David. ‘Thanks, I’d forget my head if… What’s the rest of that phrase?’ he laughed.
‘If it wasn’t screwed on, or in your case screwed up.’
‘What?’ said David, sounding puzzled.
‘Joke David, Joke! You wouldn’t know a joke if one slapped you in the face would you?’
‘You’re too quick for me Georgie my love.’
‘David, don’t call me that. We’re not kids anymore and don’t think I don’t know why you call me that.’
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean Georgie,’ David said smiling.
‘Stop it. If you’re thinking what I think you are, you can think again. We’re well past all that nonsense and you know it.’
‘Yes Darling, but you still love me don’t you?’ he said as he went to get the coffee.
‘Of course I do David,’ said Georgina with a smile as she picked up the antibiotics.
***
A couple of days later David was in the garage at his workbench. He was trying to glue a small ornament that Georgina had found broken on the hearth that morning. At first, he’d thought he was going to get the blame for it, but Georgina had got it into her head that Emily had broken it and not said anything. David didn’t agree and had said that Emily was a good girl and she would have owned up to it if she’d done it. Georgina hadn’t been happy with that and had told David that, as usual, he would side with anyone rather than her and that she was sure Emily could be a sneaky little madam when no-one was looking. Rather than cause any more fuss or risk upsetting Georgina anymore, he said he would try and repair the ornament and quickly got out of the way.
Fixing the ornament was a simple enough job but David was having a real problem gripping anything with his hand. He was sure it was getting worse not better; surely the antibiotics should be kicking in by now, he thought. Sure enough when he looked inside the dressing, the wound looked red and swollen. I’ll need to keep an eye on that, he said to himself; I’ll take the full course of tablets and go back to the nurse if it’s not okay by then.
Back in the house, he quickly put the ornament back on the hearth, hoping that Georgina wouldn’t notice the bad job he’d made of repairing it. That was not to be however, and, as soon as she spotted it she went mad.
‘What on earth have you managed to do to this?’ she shouted. ‘It’s a right mess! If you couldn’t do it you should have said and thrown it out. I’m not having that in my living room.’
‘Sorry, I tried my best.’
‘Tried your best, you’re bloody hopeless!’
‘Steady on,’ he said becoming annoyed. ‘Calm down, it’s only a cheap ornament; we can get a new one.’
‘Don’t tell me to calm down! And Oh! That’s alright though isn’t it? It was only cheap, and we’ve got money to burn; let’s just get a new one. That’s not the point is it? Emily should be punished for breaking it and especially for hiding it from me!’
‘We’ve talked about that; we don’t know that it was Emily, do we? It didn’t cost us anything anyway, it was a bingo win. I think you need to stop shouting, take a minute and listen to yourself. You’re going way over the top Georgina.’
‘Stop shouting! Way over the top! How bloody dare you, you pathetic little man,’ she screamed, and with that she slapped him hard across his face and stormed out of the house only pausing to grab her purse.
After the door had slammed and she was gone, David sat down heavily. His heart was thumping in his chest and he was shaking like a leaf. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Georgina hardly ever swore and, in all their married life, neither of
them had struck the other, not even in fun.
What on earth had got into her? It must be more than the silly ornament; it was only a bingo win after all. What bothered David the most was the speed with which Georgina had gone from being normal to flying into a rage. God, she scared the hell out of me, he thought. I’ve never seen her like that; I didn’t know she had it in her. And, why did she seem to think that Emily was to blame for the ornament? It was as though she had it in for her or something. David was thoroughly confused and he wasn’t sure what to do for the best. At some point she will be coming back through the door, he thought, and she’ll either still be mad or hopefully, she’ll have calmed down. I hope she’s calmed down, God knows what will happen if she hasn’t, he thought, gently massaging his cheek.
***
Well, he certainly didn’t see that coming did he? I bet that woke him up, thought Georgina, smiling to herself as she walked down the street. I quite enjoyed that but I’ll have to watch myself, I nearly got carried away. I never realised how it would feel hitting someone; actually, that was great! And it was David! All these years I’ve put up with him and all I needed to do was slap him every now and again. No, think about it. It’s been alright; I’ve had quite a lot of fun over the years, setting little traps and then giving him a hard time when he fell into them.
Of course, it hadn’t been Emily that had broken the silly little ornament. Georgina had done that that morning by accident and, in her usual way, not willing to let her fallibility be seen; that she was capable of clumsiness like everyone else, she’d decided that she could get some mileage out of it with David. He was bound to defend Emily after all and that was to be her trigger for the ensuing row; a quick way of dishing out some well-deserved punishment. Now, I just need to carry on keeping him in his place, she thought, the last thing I need is for him to get on his high horse and start complaining about being an abused husband.
