Once Bitten

by Oliver, Marina

  'Oh, Justin, you startled me,' she said, and strolled across to him as he got out of the car. 'I was just going to do some weeding.'

  Justin looked at the minuscule plot in the centre of her front lawn. It would take, he judged, about five minutes or less to pull up the few weeds visible.

  'Don't let me stop you,' he said, dragging out his briefcase and locking the car. 'I'm later back than I intended, and panting for a cup of tea or a cold beer.'

  'Why not come and join me? I can do the weeding later. And to tell the truth, I'm bored with my own company.'

  He shuddered inwardly. He had no intention of being the fly in Sadie's spider's web.

  'Sorry, but I have to take the dogs for a walk and then I have work to do.'

  Ignoring her pout he let himself into the house. The dogs greeted him ecstatically, but there was no sign of Judy and the door to Paul's study, which was where she worked, was firmly shut. He hesitated before it. Should he disturb her, poke his head in to say he was back? No, she must have heard the dogs, and if she wanted to talk she could come out. He'd have a belated lunch and then ask her if she wanted to walk the dogs.

  *

  Judy heard Justin's arrival, and stood up from her seat in front of the computer. Then she paused. She had forgotten for a moment her new suspicions. Slowly she sat down again, and stared at the monitor, not seeing the picture displayed there. She must not be too eager to greet him. She must keep her distance until she discovered the truth. Indeed, she must keep her distance even if she could discover the truth, and she still had no idea how she might do that without being able to mention the card either to Justin or Fay.

  Firmly she reminded herself that she wanted no more emotional upheavals, no complications, no more untrustworthy boy friends. Hadn't Mark been enough to scare her off men for good?

  She forced herself to get back to work. She had been printing off samples of her latest designs, and at least that was a routine task which demanded no particular effort.

  When Justin opened the door and came into the room she tried not to show her pleasure.

  'Hi there. I'm sorry I was so late back. Complications I had to deal with. Are you still on for that walk? The dogs seem eager.'

  'Hi. Is that the time? I hadn't realised, I've been so busy.'

  Justin walked across to the printer, which was spilling out a card that had a picture on one half.

  'Wow! Is this yours?' he asked, picking it up carefully. 'I'd no idea how talented you are. Is this a computer design?'

  He sounded genuinely impressed, and Judy felt a glow of pride. Somehow his opinion mattered to her.

  'That one is. I paint as well, and then scan them in. I need to do different sizes, for other things as well as cards. Some of the pictures are suitable to enlarge for table mats, or I can reduce them for drinks mats.'

  'Most of my work, my drawings and sketches, is plain. I hadn't realised the printers could be so versatile with colour.'

  'Paul's is. As a photographer he has to have a top of the range printer, and I'm lucky he said I could use it. Mine back in Manchester isn't nearly so good, which is why I need my friends to do my printing. When I can afford it I mean to buy a printer like this, then I can do short runs of special orders myself.'

  'May I see some of your other designs?' Justin asked, pulling up a chair beside Judy's.

  Judy frowned. She had allowed her enthusiasm for her work to let her greet Justin in a friendly manner, when she had meant to treat him coldly. She offered him a folder containing the cards she had just printed out.

  'These are some of the new ones I've been working on. The rest of my designs are on my website.'

  She was tempted to offer to call it up there and then, and sit beside him while he browsed. His opinion of her work was, she realised with rather a shock, more important to her than that of most other people. Then she told herself not to be silly.

  'Here, I'll write down the URL, and you can look at it when you have time to spare.'

  'Great. Now, shall we take the dogs out? You have been working hard, I can see.'

  Judy hesitated. 'I think I'd rather get this lot finished while I'm in the mood,' she said. 'Then I can look through all of them together.'

  Why that might be important she did not explain. Of course, it was not important. She could finish the printing after the walk, but sudden caution made her reject the prospect of being with Justin, of talking to him while the dogs raced about the common. Her reaction to him just now had warned her she needed to be extra careful in his presence, or she would forget all her good resolutions about keeping her distance, and not permitting herself to fall under the spell of his charm.

  *

  Justin was returning after he had walked the dogs, hoping Sadie's interest in weeding had ended, when he saw her talking to Mark Simmons in her driveway.

  'I'm sure Judy is in,' he heard her say.

  'Then why the devil isn't she answering the door bell?'

  'Perhaps because she has no more to say to you, Mr Simmons,' Justin said.

  Mark swung round to face him.

  'It has nothing to do with you!' he said, stepping hastily towards Justin, his hands clenching into fists.

  'It will have a great deal to do with me if you try to use those fists on me,' Justin said.

  Mark sneered. 'Are you setting those misbegotten guard dogs onto me?' he asked. 'Judy is my fiancée, and I think the way you were treating her yesterday gives me every right to show you what I think of you.'

  So saying, he swung his right fist towards Justin, who let go of the dogs' leads and sidestepped. A moment later Mark was sprawled on the driveway, breathless and blinking in bewilderment as he stared up at Justin.

  The dogs were barking, and Sadie was screaming. Justin glanced at her in annoyance, then looked down at Mark.

  'Perhaps I should just mention that one of my hobbies is judo. Keep away from Judy if you don't want more of the same.'

  'I'll sue you for assault!' Mark said, recovering his breath and beginning to stagger to his feet.

  'You were going to hit him first!'

  It was Judy, who had come out of her house and was trying to calm the excited dogs.

  Justin caught Buster's lead and walked towards her.

  'Let's go inside. We have no more to say to him.'

  *

  Judy's last view of Mark was of him being helped into her house by Sadie, who had ceased screaming and was clucking solicitously over him.

  Justin grinned as he pushed Judy inside the house and shut the front door.

  'Sadie to the rescue. Let's hope he finds consolation there.'

  'No doubt he'll make the most of it,' Judy said. 'He always did lap up female attention. I didn't know you were a judo expert. It must help when he is much bigger than you.'

  'Fat and flabby,' Justin said. 'There was no cause to mention it. Come to that I don't know very much about your unusual skills, either. But I think I need a cup of tea. Had the wretched man been pounding on our door for long?'

  Judy led the way into the kitchen and filled the kettle, then reached down the biscuit tin.

  'About five minutes. He was yelling so much I confess I was afraid he would break the door down. I'm amazed the other residents of the Close weren't all out there telling him not to make such a noise.'

  'They were probably all watching from behind their lace curtains.'

  Judy chuckled. 'Oh no, please not lace curtains! Not in an upmarket place like Cherry Tree Close. Slatted blinds are the correct thing here, if they have anything at all. But I think most of them are out at work, or at Bridge clubs, even taking their dogs for a walk. Did you see Ken Tibbetts?'

  'No, fortunately. I was in no mood for his conversation.'

  She opened the biscuit tin, and made a mental note she would have to replenish their stock when she went shopping.

  Justin sat down, absentmindedly taking two biscuits and breaking one in half to give to the dogs, who were sitting expectantly on eithe
r side of him.

  'Why, when you have made it abundantly clear to Mark that you want no more to do with him, is he so persistent?' he asked.

  Judy made the tea and put two mugs on the table, then sat down facing Justin. She had been wondering that herself, and thought she knew the answer.

  'In the first place, he hates to be thwarted, and he's resentful because I rejected him. We worked at the same school, so everyone there knew I'd broken it off, and that seriously damaged his pride. In the second place, he's appallingly mean with his own money.'

  'You'll have to explain.'

  Judy gathered her thoughts.

  'He was planning to buy a house when we married. He lives in a small flat now, and has been saving his money towards a deposit. He wants a big, impressive house to show off how successful he is. But even a deputy head's salary wouldn't be enough for what he wants, and he could not afford the sort of mortgage needed if he only had the price of his own flat, minus the mortgage he has on it. Property prices have not gone up much the past year or so, and he had been expecting to make a bigger profit on both flats. He thought he could add the proceeds from my flat, you see, which I own outright thanks to my parents.'

  'They bought it for you?'

  'When they went to live in the south of Spain they sold a big house in a wealthy part of Birmingham. Their Spanish villa was cheap, needed work on it, which Dad was looking forward to doing, so they bought Fay and me small flats.'

  'I see. Simmons thought he was on to a good thing.'

  Judy nodded. 'And he would also have my teaching salary to add to his, so he thought he could get the sort of house he wants, a detached four or five bedroom house in one of the better areas, where his neighbours would be professional men, and he could join the local golf club and play with them. He despised the people who lived in our block of flats, many of them had ordinary jobs. Some even worked in shops or did manual work, and he hated even having to nod to them when he met them.'

  'I see. A charming fellow. Why did you stick with him even for two whole years?'

  Judy sighed. 'I really can't think why, now. At first I was flattered, I suppose. He was a deputy head, he was so helpful when I began teaching there, and I knew a couple of the other staff were keen on him. And because we had flats in the same block, which was a pure coincidence, I saw a lot of him, and we gave one another lifts to school. Well, I stopped thinking I loved him months ago. I just wish he could accept it.'

  'Perhaps with Sadie's charms to beguile him he might give up.'

  'If only he would.'

  'Then tonight I'm taking you to the Green Man.'

  Judy shook her head. She wanted to go, but knew it was dangerous to become more involved with Justin when he attracted her so much, yet she had such suspicions about him and Fay.

  'Thanks, but I'd rather stay here. What if he's there?'

  'He won't start a fight, if it's that bothering you. But we might hear something, if any of the neighbours are there. Don't you want to know if anyone saw him? And if any of them are curious, to tell your side of the story? Before he starts spreading his? He seems quite capable of that.'

  The temptation was too much. Judy gave in.

  'OK, but I ought to do a bit more work now. I still have several cards I want to print out.'

  'I'll book a table. Eight o'clock suit you?'

  *

  Justin took the folder of Judy's designs up to his room. He had meant to write a report about the problems he'd found at the sports complex that morning, but instead he found himself absorbed in the pictures. He looked at her website and was even more impressed. She had a considerable gallery of pictures, and he judged she had a rare talent. She was versatile, too. She had painted beautiful landscapes in water colours, gentle and so attractive you felt an urge to go and see the places depicted. Her town scapes were, he judged, in oils, apart from a few which were just black and white drawings. Then there were the animal portraits, some plain, others with a cartoon feel as the cats and dogs, even horses and hamsters, did unlikely things and revealed human expressions and emotions. If only she could get the right sort of publicity surely her business would be most successful.

  When they set off for the Green Man Justin was amused to see that Judy had dressed to impress. If Mark should be there he would get an eyeful! She had on a close-fitting dress in a delicate shade of blue, and high heeled sandals. Unlike Sadie with her vulgar 'look at me' scarlet, Judy's appearance was subtle and demanded a second look from appreciative males while not offending possibly jealous women. She had threaded matching blue ribbon through her dark curls, and wore a simple silver pendant which just hinted at her cleavage.

  After Ken's party they knew several of the people in the pub, and while they ordered and waited for their meal they sat in the bar area chatting to a couple who lived in the Close.

  'That was a brilliant judo move, when you floored that importunate fellow,' Felicity Kaine said. 'Are you a black belt?'

  Justin shook his head. 'No, I didn't carry on with it after college, but I can remember some of the moves, and he wasn't ready for it.'

  'I was on the verge of ringing the police. He was making such a noise, and I was beginning to be afraid of what he would do if Judy opened the door. Fortunately she had the sense not to. You knew him, did you, Judy?'

  'We used to be engaged, and I broke it off,' Judy said briefly. 'He – was not pleased.'

  'Look out, here he is,' Mr Kaine said. 'With the luscious Sadie, too. I'm surprised she's willing to be seen with him.'

  'Well, it's perfectly obvious the sort of woman she is, Reg,' his wife said, an edge to her voice which made Justin smile inwardly. Whatever Sadie's effect on the men, it was clear some, at least, of the women, did not like her.

  The waitress came to tell them their table was ready. It was the one near the window, and when they had to pass Mark and Sadie sitting at one near the door they encountered a black look from Sadie, while Mark pretended to be absorbed in his menu.

  'Let's hope he has to pay,' Justin muttered. 'A reward for her tea and sympathy this afternoon.'

  Judy smothered her laughter.

  'I suspect Sadie will order the most expensive dishes, and Mark will be writhing in agony when he's presented with the bill. He always took me to cheap restaurants, and expected me to pay my share. When he hadn't forgotten his wallet or credit card, that is,' she added.

  'Did he ever pay you back?' Justin asked, his anger at the way Mark had treated Judy only barely suppressed.

  Judy shrugged. 'It's over now. Let's forget him. Tell me more about yourself. Have you never had unsatisfactory girlfriends?'

  Why was she interested? Was it just a way of turning the conversation? Justin suddenly discovered that he wanted to tell her at least some of it. He had never before told anyone of his mistake.

  'I was engaged too,' he said slowly. 'Barbara was working in Oman, where we met. She and I were going to visit India for a holiday when my contract there ended, but she met an American, a wealthy Texan oil man, and she preferred him to me.'

  'I'm sorry,' Judy said softly.

  She really did mean it, he realised.

  He shrugged. 'We met and were engaged within two weeks. I've had plenty of girl friends before, but somehow, with Barbara, I was hooked from the first day. I can't now say why. She was pretty, but not exceptionally so. I suppose she made the best of herself.' Not nearly as pretty as Judy, though, he thought suddenly. 'She was lively, fun to be with, independent. Maybe it was the effect of being out there on my own, her company was too enticing. But it's over now. How is the duck?'

  For the rest of the meal he kept to lighter topics, and when they made it back home wished her a casual good night and shut himself in his bedroom. He had revealed to Judy more of his brief infatuation with Barbara that he had ever before spoken of his girl friends.

  *

  Justin's enthusiastic praise of her new designs encouraged Judy to add them to her website. If she had small orders she could
print them off on Paul's printer. It was only if she expected to sell a large quantity that she needed to ask her friends, Susie and Tom, to print them on their professional machines. She was beginning to wonder if her suspicions of Justin and Fay were correct, and decided that while she would keep him at a distance, she need not shun his company. It would be difficult to explain if she were too cold towards him. So when, while they were having breakfast the following day, he suggested they take the dogs onto the downs for a long walk she readily agreed.

  'There's a house nearby I've never seen, which has some interesting architectural features. If you don't mind, I'd like to visit it after lunch.'

  'That's fine by me,' Judy said.

  'We've both been working hard, we're due a day off.'

  And though he didn't say it, Judy suspected he intended to be out of the house in case Mark tried to speak to her again. He and Sadie had left the Green Man before they had the previous night, and she had no way of knowing whether he had given up trying to make her change her mind or not. Apart from the attraction of visiting this house, and a long bracing walk, Judy felt that giving Mark a day to reflect, once he'd calmed down, might be more effective than all her denials.

  It was a gloriously sunny day again, and many people had taken advantage of it to walk on the downs. The dogs, set free, raced off on their own concerns, thrilled with the new scents. Judy and Justin strolled after them. Later, they found a quiet pub and sat outside enjoying a traditional ploughman's lunch. They had talked during the walk, mainly about their childhood memories, and Justin had not mentioned Barbara until they were relaxing after the meal. Then suddenly he mentioned her name.

  'In some ways I can sympathise with Mark, losing you,' he said. 'When Barbara broke it off with me I was devastated at first. If I'd met her Texan I'd have been very tempted to plant him a facer. And I've never been a violent man. Judo attracted me because it was not a violent sport like boxing. There's more skill involved, rather than brute strength. Mark doesn't have a rival to blame, so he can only vent his frustration on you.'

  Judy wanted to ask if he would take Barbara back, should she return to him, but decided it was too personal a question, one she did not feel she had the right to ask. She did, however, wonder if Barbara had somehow known about Fay, suspected Justin was involved with another woman, and had for that reason broken off the engagement.