Karen didn’t take it, wondering instead, when he had the time to come and plant this little ‘gift.’
He hunched his shoulders. ‘At least look before you reject me.’
Moonlight caught the links of her slave band as she reached for the bag. Inside fluttered the creamy pages of a thick, dusty paperback. When she pulled it out and looked at the cover her hands began to tremble. ‘Where did you get this?’
Pete scratched the back of his neck. ‘There’s a bookshop near my workshop. They’re closing down so I went in. Not for me, but, you know . . . some of my friends like books.’
She stroked the weathered cover, then opened it. The musty scent of aged paper billowed up on a cloud of dust. ‘This is a first edition.’
‘I know. The guy in the shop said that’s a good thing. I just thought you’d prefer this cover to the newer looking ones. They seem tacky.’
Karen looked again at the battered copy of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Her fingers trembled as she turned the delicate pages. ‘I loved this book as a child.’
‘I know. You told Dan, really, but I remember. We were sitting in the kitchen at Dan’s old place. You made this weird, lumpy pork thing and called it meatloaf. It looked disgusting, but tasted amazing. You’ve not made it since.’
Karen grinned at the memory. ‘I must have used every scrap of meat left in the fridge. I can’t even remember how I did it.’
He stared into her eyes. ‘It was gorgeous.’
She clutched the book to her chest. ‘Thank you, Pete. This is really sweet of you.’ With a quick step forward, she hugged him. An impulsive move for sure. She’d never touched him that way in the past, but the gesture of the book and his uncertain expression brought it out of her.
Pete relaxed beneath her touch, running his hands down her back. ‘I wanted to do something for you. I wanted to show you that I’m just as good.’
Warning bells clanged. She tried to pull back, but his grip tightened, both hands now holding her against his body.
‘I’m just as good as Dan, Kaz. Why can’t you see?’ He pushed his lips to hers, fighting to part them with a thrust of his tongue. The taste of lager exploded in her mouth and she jerked her head back with a cry.
‘Pete, get off me.’
He gripped tighter. ‘Just give me a chance. I can control you too. That’s what you want, isn’t it?’ Another kiss. This time he held the back of her head with one hand and pinned her arms with the other. His tongue wormed in.
Karen squirmed, jerking her head from side to side. Nothing. She may well have punched an elephant for all the effect it had. Panic seared through her. Breathing quickened.
‘Get off!’
His free hand left her arms and slipped beneath her blouse, grabbing for her breasts. She drew her leg back, ready to kick him.
‘Now what’s this then?’ A voice speared out of the dark.
Pete thrust her away so hard, she stumbled and fell. The book flew from her hands and landed in the grass.
Robert stood in the open doorway, a fat, unlit cigar hanging from the side of his mouth.
Pete swallowed hard enough to be heard over the thud of music from within. ‘I—’
‘“You—” “you—”’ Robert mocked. ‘“You” what?’ He tilted his head so the brim of his hat left a thick shadow across his eyes. ‘Thought you’d manhandle mi girl while nobody was looking?’
‘It’s not like that,’ snapped Karen. She got as far as her knees before he thrust a hand in her direction, a silent order to shut up.
‘Well, I see you, boy,’ Robert continued. ‘I know a man who likes the ladies—I’m one myself. But mi girl there, she not for you. She got more class than the likes of you or I.’
A crimson flush crept up Pete’s neck and jaw. He opened his mouth but no words came out. In the end he puffed up his chest and growled low at the back of his throat. ‘Class? Yeah, real classy giving a blow job on the kitchen floor with guests less than ten feet away.’
Karen felt like he’d slapped her. She scrambled to her feet and shoved him in the chest. ‘You were watching? What’s wrong with you?’
‘That’s what you like isn’t it? An audience? Sharing? I don’t see why all these other people can be involved but I’m not good enough to—’ he looked away.
Silence loomed, broken occasionally by the low boom of bass from the speakers within.
‘Baby-girl, what is this idiot talking about?’
‘Shut up, Papa!’ As she finished speaking, Karen had no idea who was more shocked, Robert or herself. But the word was out now and she couldn’t take it back. She faced the easier target. ‘Pete, we need to talk about this, but not now. Do you understand? Not now.’
He wiped his mouth. ‘When then? You never talk to me any more. Every time I’m in the room you make an excuse to run. I’m not the one who hits you, so why am I the monster?’
The world shrank to a tiny dot. Low buzzing filled her ears. Karen gasped, but the breath caught in her throat to leave her dizzy and light-headed.
Robert swelled like an overripe fruit. He jerked the hat off and tossed it on the ground. ‘Hits you? Who? Does he mean the skinny little Silver Fox in there?’
‘Shut up! Fuck, just go away, Robert, please.’ Switching back to his true name meant nothing. They both knew it.
‘Is that man hitting you?’
‘Go away!’
He gave a curt nod. ‘Go away, you say. I’ll go, but we’ll talk. No one hits mi baby-girl, understand? I’ll break their spine first.’
‘Papa, please!’ Desperation changed her pleas. ‘Leave me alone.’
‘We’ll talk,’ he muttered. ‘And I’m watching you, too.’ With a last hard glare at Pete, he returned to the house.
Pete stared at his toes.
Karen slapped him, one solid crack to the side of his face. ‘What the fuck?’ she roared. ‘Are you insane? Do you go blurting everybody’s sexual deviances to their parents?’
‘Sorry, I—’
She hit him again. ‘No, Pete. No ‘sorry’. I have too much going on right now to stand here and hold your fucking hand while you crush on me. This is the way it is: I’m with Dan, not you. The relationship Dan and I have is exactly that, his and mine. What we choose to do with it is none of your fucking business, is that clear?’
‘But he’s so selfish. It’s always about him—does he even care what you want?’
She hit him a third time, a full punch that made her entire hand throb. ‘Fuck you,’ she snarled. ‘You don’t get to ask that. Get out. You’re not going back in there, just leave. Use the back gate.’
‘Karen—’
‘Get out! And take your book.’ She whirled away from him, yanking open the door in time to hear a loud shout came from the living room and the crunch of breaking glass.
Chapter Six
Dan
Dan reached the door to the kitchen as Cindy arrived on the other side. She saw the tea, frowned and shoved him back into the room. The door slammed. ‘What’s going on with you and Karen?’
He put the mug down and shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘Nothing. Why?’
‘She’s out there moping like a kicked puppy. I know you guys have your problems, all couples do, but I can’t handle seeing her like that. She’s like a sister to me. If you’ve done something, I swear I’ll rip out your pubes and use them to stuff a cushion.’
‘Colourful and direct as ever, Cindy. I haven’t done anything. If she hasn’t told you herself then she’s not ready for you to know.’
‘Bullshit. She tells me everything.’
‘Maybe she needs time to deal with it first.’
‘Was it Robert?’
Dan’s hands tightened in his pockets. ‘You know about him?’
‘Of course.’
‘She told me he was dead.’
Cindy’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. ‘Yeah? Fucked up.’
‘I know.’
‘She sometimes might wish h
e was—the way he treats Charlaine—but the creep is very much alive. And he’s taken a shine to your mother.’
He raised his hands. ‘I’m trying not to think about that. Apparently space-cakes squeeze the racist dowager right out of her.’
‘Well something had to loosen her up.’ She grinned. ‘Come on, Dan. Tell me. Maybe she’s testing you. Maybe she did it on purpose. She must know I’d ask. I’m supposed to be getting tea for Sam.’
Dan nudged the mug towards her. ‘Then why don’t you take it and stop pestering me into telling you things I shouldn’t?’
‘Did she say don’t tell me?’
He hesitated.
‘Exactly. Tell me. I’ll find out eventually.
Dan glanced at the door, drumming his fingertips against the counter. ‘You can’t tell anybody else.’
‘Fine, just tell me what’s wrong with my friend.’
‘Charlaine has cancer.’
Cindy froze. She barely breathed. ‘Fuck off.’
‘I’m serious.’
‘Damn. That woman is the healthiest human being I’ve ever known. No wonder Karen’s a mess. Why aren’t you sending everyone home?’
‘She told me not to.’
‘Always the idiot.’ Cindy leaned against the counter and trailed her finger through a puddle of wine. ‘You’d better look after her, Dan. She’s going to need you.’
He bit his lip over a scathing response. Instead he said, ‘I look after her just fine.’
‘Then why are you here while she’s out there?’
Too much. Every barb, every threat of violence, no matter how comic, finally became too much. He leaned down, using their height difference to his advantage. ‘Because I just ordered her to give me a hand job and now she needs recovery time.’
A slow smile claimed Cindy’s lips. She stared at him for long, intense seconds before backing off. ‘Maybe you do know her. Forget I said anything. Pervert.’ With that last jab, she grabbed the mug of tea and swept out of the kitchen.
Dan exhaled and wandered over to the fridge. He opened it and gazed inside without seeing. The air swirled over his face and arms until goosebumps peppered his skin.
The kitchen door opened and an unfamiliar face looked through. He paused in the doorway before giving a brief thumbs up. ‘Great party, man.’ The man slouched away.
Dan slammed the fridge shut and sat at the table. In his mind’s eye he saw Karen again, face streaked with tears. He longed to hold her, to kiss her soft cheeks and wipe away the glimmering drops with the pad of his thumb.
But I can’t. She won’t let me.
On his feet again. Stopping at the site of their latest mini scene to relive her delicate touch.
‘Fuck it,’ he snarled, stomping from the kitchen and back into the living room. He aimed straight for his father, seeking comfort in his calm and unflappable exterior.
Julian met him with a pat on the back and a small smile. ‘You okay, my boy?’
‘Fine, Dad. Where’s Mum?’
‘Somewhere. Probably snooping the rest of your walls and carpets.’
Dan grunted, but said nothing. He had no fear of her finding anything she shouldn’t; everything was very well hidden. ‘The spare room isn’t ready yet, but if you tell me when you want it I’ll make the bed.’
‘No, no, we aren’t staying here. Maxine booked us a hotel.’
Dan paused his scanning of the crowd. ‘What?’
‘We figured you’d want some alone time with Karen.’
‘That’s never bothered Mum before.’
Julian smiled. ‘She’s paying a bit more attention to my ideas at the moment. Besides there’s a tea room close by and she’s adamant we have brunch there.’
Dan laughed. ‘Thank goodness. I couldn’t cope if I thought she actually wanted to give me space.’
‘She loves you, Daniel. That’s all.’
He thought again of Charlaine’s devastating news. He caught sight of her from the corner of his eye and promised never again to whine about his mother. Who knew how long he’d have her. She was far older than Charlaine and less health-conscious, despite her airs and graces.
‘I know, Dad.’ He clapped his father on the shoulder and turned, in time to meet Robert marching in from another room. He stumbled as the bigger man barrelled into him, chest first. He skipped back to avoid crushed toes.
‘You been hitting mi daughter, big man?’ he snarled.
Dan felt sick. He looked up—and up—into those narrowed eyes and tried to wet his mouth enough to speak.
Robert’s sheer bulk forced him against the snack table which creaked under his weight. ‘Well? Talk to mi, yuh piece of filth.’
Dan found his voice. With effort. ‘No.’
‘Really?’
‘Of course he doesn’t.’ Julian stepped forward, his hands raised palm out. ‘Where would you get a ridiculous idea like that?’
‘Stay out of this, snowy. I’m talking to this skinny creep.’
‘This ‘skinny creep’ is my son.’
Dan touched his shoulder. ‘It’s okay, Dad. I’ve got this. Robert—’ One look at the bigger man’s face changed his approach. ‘Mr Owusu, I don’t know what you’ve heard or who you’ve been speaking to, but I’ve never hurt your daughter. Ask her yourself.’
‘I just came from her. She said otherwise.’
‘Karen did?’ He failed to keep the shock from his voice. ‘That’s ridiculous. There must be some mistake.’
‘You calling mi girl a liar?’
‘No, I—’
‘Me then?’
‘No!’
‘I won’t be called a liar to mi face. Not by the likes of you.’
Stars exploded in front of Dan’s eyes. The world tipped upside down and he caught a vague impression of a fist flying passed his face before he hit something hard. It gave beneath him and dumped him on the floor along with food and half-full cups of beer and fizzy drinks. A smashing sound, then a wash of thin, red liquid washed over his chest and shoulder. Impact against the floor jarred his neck and back and a stab of pain raced up and down his spine. His fingers brushed a sharp edge.
What the . . .
When he next opened his eyes, he saw dozens of shoes and a pair of shiny black boots an inch away from his nose. Someone screamed. A shrill voice cried ‘Don’t!’ Another sound, like a roar, rolled over him, then the air exploded with loud voices. The scent of crushed grass and mud filled his nose and the black boots slammed down near his face.
A dull rush of pain lanced up and down the right side of his jaw. The world began to blur. Sounds of a scuffle filtered through, then a filthy pair of steel toe boots appeared, battered and dotted with white paint.
Distantly, Dan knew those shoes and their owner, but the buzzing in his ears prevented him from naming him.
He rolled onto his back and saw the shattered remains of the snack table. A frantic voice called his name. Something grabbed his legs and pulled. The debris vanished and bright light speared his eyes.
‘Dan!’
‘What?’ An explosion of pain blossomed in his jaw. He didn’t try to speak again.
Then Karen appeared, her beautiful face fuzzy and uneven. He reached out to touch her and saw his fingers perform the same wobbling, blurring dance.
‘Dan, can you sit up? Can you see me? How many fingers am I holding up?’
He blinked. ‘Six.’
‘On one hand? Shit, Dan, try again. How many?’
He squeezed his eyes shut then looked again. The world swam. Colours bled into each other. Then, with a snap, the images rocked together into one solid whole. ‘Two,’ he said with confidence. As the word left his mouth, his jaw creaked in protest, fresh pain spreading from his chin to the top of his head.
‘Oh, God, that hurts!’
‘Shh, don’t talk. Come on, stand up.’
Several hands tugged his sleeves. He stood and found Karen beneath his arm, supporting his weight. His father stood opposite, holding
the other arm across his shoulders.
‘What happened?’ he managed, blinking through waves of pain.
No answer. Just a sea of stunned faces.
‘Talk to me.’ On his feet, his thoughts were less foggy. He looked up. Remembered Robert. But the big man was nowhere in sight. But he could hear him. Shouting. Threatening. Calling his name.
Suddenly his jaw didn’t hurt so much. ‘What happened to Robert?’
Karen tightened her grip on his waist. ‘Pete kicked him out.’
‘Pete? Why? What happened?’
‘He punched you, Dan. I think you were actually out of it for a second or two. I’m so sorry. This is my fault.’
‘No . . .’ That didn’t seem right. ‘You didn’t do anything.’
‘If Pete hadn’t run in I don’t know what would have happened. Robert was going to kick your head in.’
Dan remembered the black shoes so close to his face. The scuffed work boots.
His stomach gave a little flutter.
‘I’m taking you upstairs.’ Karen walked on, forcing him to join her, slow, but steady. By the time they reached the door, Dan’s vision was no longer blurred. Only then did he notice the silence in the room.
Almost silence.
The music no longer played and the living room was thick with tension. But through it all, on the edges of his hearing he heard soft laughter. With effort he turned his head.
Sam sat on the sofa, a steaming mug in her hands. Her shoulders bucked as she tried, without success, to keep the giggles in. Beside her, rubbing her shoulders, sat Cindy, for once, utterly serious.
Could this evening get any more fucked up?
Upstairs, he let Karen lower him into bed.
Julian tugged off his shoes. ‘Don’t let him fall asleep, my dear.’ He brushed off his hands and smoothed back his hair. ‘He’s a tough lad, but so is your father. Look out for concussion. Keep him awake for at least an hour and watch his eyes. If he gets dizzy or sick call me, okay?’
Karen wiped her cheeks with the flat of her palms. She spoke clear and firm, but Dan knew her well enough to recognise the tremor in her voice. ‘I’ll look after him.’
‘Dad,’ he began.
‘No.’ Julian raised his hand. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow. Maybe in the afternoon? I’ll make sure everyone leaves and then I’ll lock up. You stay here.’
Second Base Page 5
