The Girl in the Rug

by K Leitch

  ‘I will look after myself,’ Daniel said belligerently. ‘How do you think I made all this dosh…you’d be amazed at what some people will give you…and all you have to do is be nice to them and stuff. It’s not like it’s hard work or anything…and sure as hell no one else is going to help me so why not…’

  Andy thought about that for a moment. ‘Maybe I could make some money too…do you think old Tutt might have some jobs for me Daniel…then when mum get’s out, I can let her have some money so she doesn’t have to have those men round all the time…’

  Daniel suddenly pounced on Andy knocking the wind out of him. ‘Look I shouldn’t even be talking to you about it…if Tutt ever found out he’d kill me…and you must never tell anyone…ever…okay? You’ll be fine, your mum will come and get you…even if she doesn’t, that lady from your school will make sure you’re ok.’

  Maya had been to see Andy at Marshall Street a few times and she was even trying to arrange for him to spend some time at her house in the not too distant future.

  ‘It’s not the same for me,’ Daniel went on, ‘my Mum’s long gone and I wouldn’t want to see the nasty bitch ever again anyway…even if she did get out…which she won’t…’

  ‘Yeh but I’d still like to get some money Daniel…’ whined Andy. ‘I can be nice to people…and then I could get away…and Nellie wouldn’t be able to find me.’

  ‘Yeh well may be you could earn some money,’ said Daniel shrugging his shoulders, ‘I suppose it doesn’t make any difference who does it…but you don’t say anything to Tutt…I’ll ask him and if he’s got something coming up then who knows.’

  Andy’s face lit up, ‘Really?’ Daniel nodded. ‘Thanks Daniel…I won’t say anything…when are you going to ask him?’

  ‘Oh bloody hell I don’t know do I?’ Daniel shouted irritably, ‘when I see him I suppose…and don’t keep on about it or I won’t ask him…now shut up and let me read will ya.’

  Andy shut up and lay back down in bed. He couldn’t imagine what jobs Mr Tutt would have for him to do, but if all it entailed was to be nice then he thought he could manage it. How brilliant if he could save up as much money as Daniel, then maybe he could find Mum and they could go away somewhere. Nellie wouldn’t be able to find them if they moved away would he.

  ‘Daniel,’ Andy began again.

  Daniel just groaned, ’What now,’ he replied exasperated.

  ‘I could always ask Tutt myself…if you are too busy like…’

  Daniel jumped onto Andy’s bed shouted into his face, ‘Listen you stupid dickhead,’ he said angrily. ‘Stay away from Tutt ok…he is one fucked up bastard, and never be anywhere alone with him ok?’

  Andy gulped and nodded.

  ‘I will ask him…’ Daniel went on, he paused and added, ‘you might not like what he wants you to do anyway, some of the kids don’t like it…you have to get undressed and that and some of the stuff’s a bit weird like…but I just think about the money and then it doesn’t seem so bad. Sometimes you get presents…Luke Hadley got bought a PSP, not a crappy one either, top of the range and some games. So even if you don’t like it…it’s worth it for the money I reckon.’

  Andy was completely bewildered, he had no idea what Daniel was talking about, but he nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yeh I reckon so too,’ he said and went back to dreaming about how pleased Mum would be when he showed her his money.

  CHAPTER 38 - MAGGIE

  Maggie spotted Tracy wheeling Tilly’s buggy up her drive and was waiting at the door for her by the time she got there.

  ‘Oh darling I am so glad you could come round,’ she said giving her a hug and peering down at the sleeping Tilly.

  Tracy put her fingers to her lips and quietly wheeled the buggy into the warmth of Maggie’s kitchen, parking it near the window and creeping away from it dramatically.

  ‘She’s just dropped off,’ she whispered as she sat down at the huge table. ‘I can’t believe my luck I thought she would be awake all morning, mind you after the hoops she made me jump through last night I’m not surprised she’s knackered.’

  ‘I thought she was sleeping through now,’ Maggie said, as she put some fancy cakes onto a plate and set them on the table.

  ‘Oh Maggie you complete cow,’ said Tracy looking longingly at the cakes, ‘I was so determined that I would start my diet today, I only had a low fat yogurt and half a cup of muesli for breakfast this morning.’

  ‘Oh sorry love if you are being good…’ Maggie went to take the plate away.

  ‘Don’t you dare!’ said Tracy loudly, before putting her hand over her mouth as she remembered she was meant to be being quiet. ‘Step away from the cakes Wendover,’ she whispered loudly, pulling the plate back and taking a delicious looking chocolate confection from it.

  Maggie giggled, ‘I don’t know why you bother love,’ she said, ‘your curves are gorgeous and you’ve got a man that appreciates them, so why do you keep starting diets. Give yourself a break, life is for living and enjoying all of its pleasures…and eating a nice cake now and again is one of the scummiest pleasures of all…’

  ‘Yes well that’s all very well for you to say Mrs “I’ve never had to watch my weight in my life”, but if I don’t watch it I’ll be as wide as I am round and that is so not a good look, however having said that…’ she bit into the cake with relish, ‘after the night I had last night I deserve a treat.’

  Maggie chose herself a cake and for a minute the girls just indulged in a sugary pleasure.

  ‘I thought she was going through the night now,’ Maggie repeated, between bites.

  ‘Well she is usually…’ Tracy said between bites, ‘but I had left bloody ‘moomoo’ at Louisa’s and she just wasn’t going to be pacified with panda. I ended up pacing round the bedroom with her till about three this morning until she finally gave up and dropped off…absolute nightmare.’

  ‘Oh you poor thing…’ said Maggie wiping sugar from her hands, ‘I thank the lord that my baby rearing days are long gone, how the hell we put up with it and still stay sane I do not know. Still at least you can get ‘moomoo’ back today, so you’ll get some sleep tonight I suppose…’

  Tracy looked a bit sheepish, ‘Well I don’t know if I want to go back there today actually,’ she said pulling a face.

  ‘Why not…I thought you were getting on fine with Louisa?’

  ‘Yes I am,’ Tracy said hastily, ‘it’s just a bit embarrassing…’ she told Maggie about the row and the nasty atmosphere. ‘So you see I feel like I caused the row somehow…although I can’t think how but…’

  ‘What do you mean atmosphere…what kind of atmosphere?’ asked Maggie.

  ‘Oh I don’t know, it was just like we were all getting on really well, Louisa had just asked Simon and me over for a meal and I was asking Tim about the party…you know the one at the Robinsons. Oh I didn’t tell you did I, I saw Tim leaving the party looking very dapper in his dinner suit…’

  ‘I see,’ said Maggie giggling, ‘spying on the gorgeous Mr Boulter now…Traceee…really.’

  ‘No it’s not like that,’ Tracy laughed, ‘I was woken up by the noise if you must know, I’m surprised you didn’t hear it Maggs. Anyway I went into Zack’s room because I have a clear view of the house from there and I saw them all leaving the party…and that’s when I saw Tim.’

  ‘Oh and he hadn’t told Louisa he was going to a party…no wonder they had a row…’

  ‘No, she knew he was going, in fact we were teasing him a bit about the dinner suit. I was saying how sexy they are in a sort of James Bondish way…’

  ‘So what was the problem then…if she knew he was at the party?’ asked Maggie bewildered.

  ‘There wasn’t a problem about that,’ Tracy said taking another cake, ‘it was when I mentioned the children…after that you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife I’m telling you… awkward.’

  Maggie looked blankly at Tracy who had a lump of strawberry butter cream on her cheek.

&
nbsp; ‘No I’m sorry love you’ve lost me…what children, what are you talking about? I thought this was a party for businessmen…all boys together sort of thing,’ she leaned over and wiped the strawberry mess from Tracy’s face.

  ‘Ooops thanks Maggs,’ said Tracy giggling again, ‘Yes it was an all male do…but we saw some children being loaded up into a white van. Simon and I…I think they were the caterer’s kids. Maybe there was a room they could sleep in or something, but I said to Simon, you’d think they could have got someone to watch the kids rather than take them to work with them, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘Well that’s all a bit strange don’t you think?’ said Maggie. ‘Are you sure they belonged to the staff? I mean I’ve thrown many a corporate do myself over the years but I’ve never had caterers bring their kids with them, I wouldn’t use them again if they did. It’s not a proper environment for kids to be…especially late at night…I find that really weird Trace.’

  ‘Well I did too I suppose,’ Tracy whispered as she crept over to the buggy to check on Tilly. ‘But I couldn’t see any other reason for them being there.’

  ‘So what did Tim say?’

  ‘Ha, well that’s when it all got a bit tense, he said he hadn’t seen any children and he supposed they must have come with the help…and then there were so many bad vibes flashing between Louisa and Tim that I felt really awkward…so I made my excuses and left. Only of course I had forgotten ‘moomoo’ and that’s when I went back and heard them taking chunks out of each other. So I’m thinking I’ll treat Tilly to a new ‘moomoo’, I’m just hoping there are still some left in the shop.’

  Maggie laughed, ‘Oh my god Trace you absolute coward…’

  She would have gone on but at that moment the front door opened and Maggie could hear Dom and Maylee arriving.

  ‘Don’t look now but you are about to meet the bane of my life,’ she whispered to Tracy, just before the pair came through into the kitchen.

  ‘Tracy,’ said Dom with a huge smile when he spotted her, ‘how lovely to see you…it’s been an age.’ He came over and gave Tracy a big hug.

  ‘I know,’ said Tracy when she could breathe again. ‘How are you doing Dom…I’ve heard of course that you are now running ‘Glory Interiors’ that must be fun.’

  ‘Oh I’m loving it,’ Dom said giving his mum a big smile. ‘Although I’ll enjoy it even more when my darling mother stops giving me advice.’

  ‘Oh Dommiieee,’ said the rather orangey coloured woman that had followed Dom into the room. ‘It must be hard for Maggie to see her baby all grown up and running her business for her, of course she still wants it done her way…it must be strange not to be making all the decisions and stuff…’ she trailed off and came over to Tracy with an outstretched hand. ‘I’m Maylee by the way…Dom’s other half, better half some might say…’ she finished with a giggle shaking Tracy’s hand.

  ‘Oh yeh sorry Tracy, you haven’t met Maylee have you,’ said Dom as he poured out a couple of coffees.

  ‘Nice to meet you Maylee…oh shit,’ she added when there was a wail from the buggy as Tilly, startled awake from her nap had woken in a bad mood.

  ‘Oh sweet,’ cooed Maylee when Tracy picked her up out of the buggy and tried to shush her.

  ‘She reminds me of Jukie when he was that age,’ Maylee said with a wistful expression on her face, ‘although he was super good…never made a sound,’ she raised her voice pointedly over Tilly’s screaming.

  ‘And of course he was super intelligent too…so forward for his age…everyone said so. This doctor that we went to once said he’d never seen a child as forward as Jukie…so that just shows you doesn’t it.’

  Maggie avoided Tracy’s eye. ‘Well he certainly is a cutie I can tell you that Tracy, and was so well behaved when he was here last weekend. I could hardly believe my eyes when I came downstairs and he was getting himself dressed and then he went looking for the cereal so that he could get his own breakfast and he is…how old Maylee?’

  ‘Just turned three,’ said Maylee proudly, ‘yeh well he doesn’t like to disturb me in the mornings…I’m not a morning person Tracy, you know how it is, so it’s better if he learns to sort himself out in the mornings I say.’

  ‘You look very tanned Maylee,’ said Tracy changing the subject, ‘been away anywhere nice?’

  ‘Oh lord no,’ laughed Maylee, ‘this is from ages ago. I had a weekend away with some girlfriends, just to Magaluf you know. Although the fuss Domie made about it you’d think I’d run off with some fella. I said to him, Domie I never even touched up a waiter…and I mean in Magaluf that’s just like leaving a tip isn’t it…he can be very jealous my Domie can.’

  Dom came over and gave her a hug; ‘Well you shouldn’t be so gorgeous should you?’ which made Maylee shriek in delighted protest, ‘Oh so it’s my fault is it.’

  Tracy thought it was time she went home so she gathered her things together and Maggie walked her to the front door.

  ‘She is priceless Maggs,’ said Tracy still giggling, ‘how do you manage to keep a straight face?’

  Maggie grimaced, ‘Oh easy love…I just remember the other side of her, the one that’s got my boys at each other’s throats.’

  Tracy grimaced, ‘That’d do it…oh how frustrating Maggie that was one of the things I was going to talk to you about, but now their home I suppose it will have to wait till another day. Oh and Duncan that was the other thing…how’s it going with Duncan?’

  Maggie laughed and tapped the side of her nose. ‘Aha,’ she said, ‘I have a cunning plan that I think might work, but I’m not going to tell you…you will just have to wait and see…’

  ‘Oh poor, poor Duncan, not that he doesn’t deserve everything he gets,’ Tracy giggled. ‘But I have to say Maggs you seem a lot more upbeat about the whole thing this week.’

  ‘Yes well, my gorgeous sister Ruthy always says to try and find the positives in any situation and so I am trying to do just that and I have to say it’s working. For instance Maylee might be a trouble making spiteful little cow, but on the positive side she is very entertaining and Dom seems to have a smile on his face most of the time so…’

  ‘And what about Duncan…what are the positives there?’ asked Tracy.

  ‘Just the fact that it has made me take a long hard look at myself I suppose,’ Maggie said with a wry smile. ‘I have been so spoilt for so long Trace, always assuming that I can have anything I want…without too much effort on my part. Well this will teach me that not everything is going to drop into my lap…some things I’ve got to fight for, and believe me I intend to fight all the way for this…Duncan is so special you know.’

  Tracy threw her arms round Maggie, ‘Bloody hell Maggs if there was anybody that deserved to find happiness it is you…you are the kindest person I know and whatever it is you’ve got planned for him…well I just hope Duncan starts seeing sense…the stupid idiot.’

  ‘Oh god I hope so Trace I really do…anyway I’d better let you get on.’ She was just about to close the door when she remembered something. ‘I think I might speak to Carla about those kids though Tracy, you don’t mind do you…only it’s bothering me, I can’t think of any good reason why they would be there.’

  ‘No you go for it love…’ Tracy said manoeuvring the buggy down Maggie’s front steps, she turned when she had reached the drive. ‘And do you know what, I think I will pop back round to Louisa’s after all…you are right, it would be too silly for words to go and buy another ‘moomoo’ just because I feel a bit awkward. They probably had no idea I heard them arguing anyway…yes I’ll go now I think, on my way home…see you love, thanks for the cakes.’

  Maggie waved her goodbye and then went back into the kitchen, she talked to Dom and Maylee for a while and then decided to go and visit Martha at the pub. She completely forgot about phoning Carla to tell her about the children until much later when she was lying in bed…oh well she’d do it in the morning.

  CHAPTER 39

  Louis
a Boulter sat in front of her computer answering her emails with one eye on her husband. After their horrendous row the day before they were still skirting around each other a bit, Louisa had ended up apologising as she always did. Tim seemed to have the knack of making her feel in the wrong even when she knew she wasn’t, becoming more and more indignant and upset until she inevitably backed down and made peace, as had happened yesterday.

  The difference this time was that Louisa had absolutely no intention of letting it go, she just needed Tim to think that she was so that she could do some investigating of her own. She was not going to let another scandal threaten her career as it had a few years before; she had told Tim at the time that there would be no more chances and she intended to stick to her word.

  They had been in New York at the time, when she had been approached by a rather nasty individual who had told her that he had proof that Tim had been interfering with a thirteen year old girl. Louisa had dismissed him as a chancer trying to get money out of her, but he had produced photographs of Tim and the girl together. She had confronted Tim about it and, after denying everything for the first hour and then blaming bad alcohol for the next…he finally admitted that in a moment of madness he had slept with the girl…still claiming though that she had come on to him.

  Louisa could still remember what the girl looked like…she was a baby, a baby with soft blond curls and sad scared eyes. She later found out that the girl had been sold to the highest bidder at a corporate function…a function where other children had been sold for sex to other men. Tim had learnt his lesson he had said…he had been tempted and not been strong enough to resist the encouragement from the other men. Louisa had paid the man $200,000 for his silence and the photos and they had returned to England to start again…a clean slate Tim had said.

  Not long after Louisa had fallen badly whilst on a climbing holiday, her ropes hadn’t been secured properly and she landed awkwardly breaking her spine and making her useless from the waist down. Tim had been amazing almost moving into the hospital to be with her and making sure she stuck rigorously to her physio routine; she didn’t know how she would have coped without him. It was due to him that she was able to continue her singing career, even though she could not perform live on stage anymore, he arranged for her to meet with recording companies and since her accident she had sold three times the number of CDs, making her one of the most sought after classical artist in the world.