by June Tate
He sat on a chair. ‘How very cold you sound, Kay. You wouldn’t think we’d been married and had a child.’
‘But now we’re not!’
‘And that’s it, is it? Don’t you have any regrets at all?’
She made the coffee and handed it to him. ‘Regrets, me? How strange you think that I’m the one who should feel sorry when it was your womanizing that caused our divorce in the first place!’
‘You don’t pull your punches, do you? All right, I admit it was my fault, but we could have worked it out.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! You will never change.’ She leaned against the kitchen sink. ‘Now I no longer have to wonder who you’re with because it doesn’t matter any more.’
‘You’ve changed, Kay. You’re so different.’
‘Well, John, one of us had to … and yes, I am a different woman. I am in charge of mine and Susan’s lives now, and if I’m honest, they’re much better than before, so I suppose you did us a favour!’
He gazed at her, not knowing what to say for a moment. ‘You’re not legally free for another six weeks.’
She just laughed scornfully. ‘I can wait.’
‘And what then? Will you start dating other men?’
‘That is none of your business! Now if you don’t mind I need to get on.’
He had no choice but to collect his belongings and leave. After he’d put the suitcases into the boot of the car, he climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine and just as he put the car into gear, another car pulled up. A tall, well-dressed man climbed out and walked up to the front door.
John waited to see what happened and was more than a little surprised to see Kay let the man inside. Who the hell was he? He drove away, still wondering.
Kay had been surprised to open the door to Edward Harrington. She’d thought it was her ex-husband who’d perhaps forgotten something.
‘Edward! Come in.’
‘I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unannounced,’ he said, ‘but I’ve had a hell of a day and just felt the need to see you.’ He pulled her close and kissed her.
Kay felt all the tension from her previous meeting melt away as she returned his kisses. Letting out a deep sigh she said, ‘Of course not. I’m always happy to see you. Would you like some coffee?’
‘That would be lovely. Where’s your little girl?’
‘Mother’s taken her to Brownies.’
‘So we’re alone?’
She nodded. ‘Completely.’ She saw the intensity of his gaze. ‘Never mind the coffee,’ she said and held out her hand. They walked up the stairs together.
Sixteen
John Baker drove away, silently seething. There was no man in Kay’s life, she said – she had lied! So that’s how she could be so cold towards him. It hadn’t taken her long to find a replacement!
In his present mood he failed to see the irony of the situation. It had always been he who had someone on the side, but now it was his ex-wife who was stepping out and he didn’t like it one bit! He drove back into town and pulled up outside a nearby pub. He needed a drink.
Sam and his two mechanics had had a long day and they were tired. As they locked up the garage Sam said, ‘Come on, you two, let’s go to the pub and have some food and a pint. My treat.’
The Spa Tavern was one the boys used frequently. It was unprepossessing but served good bar food. They walked in and ordered a pint of beer each and chicken and chips for three. Taking their beer with them the three men found an empty table and sat down with a sigh of relief, knowing their day was over and they could relax over a decent meal.
Sam took out a packet of cigarettes and lit one. At the same time he gave a cursory glance around the room and was surprised to see Connie’s boss sitting at the bar, alone. He hoped the man wouldn’t see him because the last thing he wanted now was a conversation about car racing. He just wanted a drink with his mates and some food.
They were halfway through their meal when John Baker saw Sam as he downed the dregs of his drink, got off his stool and walked to the gents. The sight of the driver infuriated him, and he’d had enough alcohol to highlight his mood. As he stood at the urinal, his temper didn’t improve. He was filled with spite. Spite about his wife entertaining a man in his house and, who knows, maybe his bed, and then spite against the man who was taking his place with young Connie, who had, like his wife, turned her back on his advances. He washed his hands and left the gents. He hesitated for a moment only, then he walked towards Sam’s table.
Sam saw him coming but continued to talk to Tom in the hopes that the man would walk past without speaking. It was not to be.
‘Good evening, Mr Knight. I’m surprised to see you here.’
Sam smiled. ‘Hello. Just taking much needed sustenance after a heavy day. You know how it is.’ He noticed the slight slurring of Baker’s speech, realizing he’d been in the bar for some time.
‘Not seeing young Connie tonight then?’
There was something in the other man’s tone that made Sam wary. ‘No, not tonight.’
‘Never mind, she’ll be worth waiting for.’ His mouth tightened into a narrow mean line. ‘You may be a winner on the racetrack, but as far as Connie’s concerned, I got there in first place!’
Sam got to his feet in a flash, eyes blazing with anger. ‘How dare you talk about my girl like that!’
He moved towards Baker, but Harry caught hold of his arm and pulled him back in his chair as Tom got to his feet, took John Baker firmly by the arm and manhandled him out of the pub. Once outside he spoke. ‘You had no right to say that,’ he said. ‘It was very unwise of you.’
John, now pleased with himself, grinned broadly. ‘Oh, I have every right. She’s not the little innocent your mate thinks she is.’
‘Now you just shut your mouth before I do it for you!’ Tom stood over him menacingly, and Baker shook off his hold.
As he staggered away, he called back over his shoulder, ‘Sam Knight needed to know, that’s all – and now he does.’
Tom watched him to make sure he wasn’t going to make more trouble and, taking a deep breath, returned to the bar.
‘What else did he have to say?’ Sam demanded.
‘Nothing. The man was drunk. Take no notice.’ He sat down, glancing briefly at Harry, who just raised his eyebrows.
Pushing his unfinished meal away, Sam got to his feet. ‘I’ll see you two in the morning.’
When they were alone, Tom told Harry what Baker had said to him outside.
‘Bloody hell!’ exclaimed Harry. ‘He’s put the cat among the bleeding pigeons and that’s a fact.
‘Well, it’s none of our business. It’s for Sam and Connie to sort out.’ He grimaced. ‘I do hope it doesn’t spoil things for those two; they’re so right together.’
‘How would you feel if you were in Sam’s place right now?’ asked Harry.
‘Not good.’
‘Exactly!’
Sam walked to the park and sat on a wooden bench, stunned by what he’d heard. What made it even worse was that he believed Baker. The old saying ‘a drunken man speaks a sober mind’ kept racing through his head. It wasn’t the first indication Connie’s boss had made that something was amiss. He remembered an earlier conversation where he’d said Connie needed a lot of attention and had told Sam to ask her what he meant. He remembered her excuse. She had lied to him! What a fool he’d been to protect her innocence … as he thought.
He remembered when they had first made love. He’d been puzzled that there had been no show of such innocence, but sometimes with young girls this was so and he’d dismissed it. Why wouldn’t he?
He closed his eyes in an effort to shut out his disappointment. But all he could think of was Connie in Baker’s arms – making love. It was not a pretty thought. What was he going to do about it? How could he feel the same about her now? He slowly shook his head. His thoughts were driving him crazy. He rose from the bench and walked home.
Kay Baker
lay back entwined in Edward’s arms, beneath the sheets. The heat from his naked body against hers. She didn’t know when she had felt so happy. She gazed into the blue eyes that were looking at her and ran a finger across his mouth.
‘Mmm,’ she murmured, ‘that was so good.’
He chuckled softly. ‘I’m so happy to know that I please you.’
She rolled on top of him and slowly kissed him. ‘I’m happy to put it in writing if you like.’
‘Well, Kay darling, a good reference never goes amiss.’
Laughing she said, ‘Would you like that cup of coffee now? Only, Susan will soon be home from Brownies.’
He held her even tighter. ‘That’s such a shame as I’m so very comfortable, but it wouldn’t do for your mother to find us in bed together.’
She rolled off him. ‘You don’t know my mother!’
They were sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen when Susan rushed in followed by her grandmother, waving a new badge in her hand.
‘Look, Mummy, I got a badge for my knots tonight!’ She stopped when she saw Edward. ‘Hello! Would you like to see my badge?’
‘I certainly would,’ he said. And proceeded to inspect it carefully.
Kay introduced him to her mother.
He shook hands with her and then said, ‘Thank you for the coffee, Kay. I’ll be in touch.’ He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, then said goodbye to the child and Kay’s mother.
‘I’ll call you,’ he said as Kay let him out of the front door.
When she returned to the kitchen, her mother smiled at her. ‘What a lovely man! I do hope we didn’t come home too early?’
Kay felt her cheeks flush.
‘I see we didn’t, I am so pleased for you. Come along, Susan, let’s get you undressed and in the bath whilst Mummy gets us something to eat.’
Connie climbed out of bed on Sunday morning and stretched. She hadn’t heard from Sam at all during the week which was unusual. She assumed he was too busy – after all, he’d warned her of such times. She’d walk to the garage this morning and see if he was there.
When she arrived outside, she couldn’t hear any noise at all. The radio, which was usually blaring out, was silent, there was no banging or sounds of work in progress, but Sam’s motorbike was parked outside and one door was slightly ajar. She entered.
‘There you are!’ she exclaimed.
Sam was sitting on an upturned box, staring into space. He just looked at her, without speaking.
‘Are you all right, darling?’ she asked.
‘No, I’m not, since you ask.’
The coldness in his voice surprised her. He’d never ever spoken to her like that. Usually, his tone was warm and loving. It was as if there was a solid wall of ice between them, and she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t feel able to put her arms around him, as was her habit.
‘Whatever is wrong?’ she asked with some trepidation.
He looked straight at her, his jaw set. ‘You lied to me, Connie!’
She felt her stomach plummet.
‘You led me to believe you were an innocent young girl, and I believed you, but you lied. How could you do that to me?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I was not the first man to make love to you after all. John Baker had you first!’
She felt the bile rise in her throat. Oh my God, he knew! She closed her eyes for a second, her mind racing to find the right words – and failing miserably. She tried to fight the tears which began to fill her eyes. She blinked rapidly.
‘I’m sorry, Sam, really I am. I didn’t tell you in case I lost you.’
His gaze didn’t waver. ‘He’s not only so much older than you, but he’s married, for God’s sake! Didn’t you ever consider his wife?’
There was no further point in lying, she thought. Better to get things out into the open. After all, what choice had she? ‘To be honest, no, I didn’t. I was nineteen, young, impressionable. He was smooth, sophisticated. I was flattered by the attention … and one thing led to another. But I ended it with him as soon as we met. I love you, Sam. Please believe me!’ She brushed a tear from her cheek. ‘Please don’t let this spoil things for us.’
There was such an expression of sadness in his eyes; she thought she’d break down altogether. ‘Nothing can ever be the same, Connie, don’t you see? I loved you, trusted you. I cared about you being a young innocent young woman. I loved that about you and the fact you trusted me to take care of you, when all the time …’ He couldn’t carry on.
‘Don’t you still love me?’ she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
‘I don’t know how I feel about you at the moment, and that’s the truth.’
‘Oh, Sam,’ was all she could say.
‘You’d better go home, Connie.’
‘But I can’t leave things like this!’ she cried, gesticulating madly with her hands as if imploring him to say something positive.
‘I’m sorry, but I’ve got to have time to think. Go home, please.’
She had no choice and walked slowly to the door, where she paused. ‘I do love you, Sam, with all my heart, and I pray you can forgive me for deceiving you. I’ve grown up since I met you and I now know what’s important in my life – and that’s you, Sam. Nothing or no one else!’
She walked down the street, her shoulders hunched in rejection, the tears now flowing, unhindered. Her life in ruins.
Seventeen
Gerry Cooper was in a major panic. All work on the building site had ceased ever since Edward Harrington had called to inspect the work in hand, and Gerry thought his scam was about to be discovered. He’d been given the job of ordering the materials for the building. All he’d had to do was take the order form to the suppliers and hand it over, but he’d hatched upon a scheme with one of the workers there. They’d ordered the supplies, but using inferior cement and girders that were lighter and cheaper, pocketing the difference between them and Jake Barton. Jake had acted as a lookout for any trouble from Harrington in case he’d discovered their plan and earned a cut of the profits for so doing. Until yesterday, things had run smoothly. Now the scheme had been discovered and Gerry was trying to find a way that wouldn’t implicate him.
He had no choice but to warn his associate at the suppliers, who had immediately given in his notice and left Southampton without telling Gerry.
Edward, when he suspected the reason for the discrepancies, had called in the police and had instructed the workforce to go over the building, testing everything that had been used on parts of the building that had already been constructed.
The results were catastrophic!
A meeting had been called at the Civic Centre, where everyone at the top of the committee dealing with all the building, past and present, had been called. It was only then that Edward was able to give them the bad news.
‘The unfinished building is unsafe, gentlemen. We will have to dismantle everything and start again!’
There was pandemonium around the table. Cries of, ‘That will cost thousands!’
Another said, ‘We don’t have the budget to rebuild!’
And so it went on.
Many tried to apportion the blame. ‘Who is responsible for this? Surely someone is at fault for letting such a thing happen?’
All eyes looked at Edward.
‘Gentlemen, whoever planned this did it with great precision. My foreman had no reason to doubt that the building materials delivered were not the ones that had been ordered. After all, he followed my instructions to the letter. The invoices were clearly marked to supply the goods we had talked about whilst going over the plans. As far as we were concerned, there was nothing amiss. I have called in the police to look into it. Whatever happened, it was when the invoices left our hands. When everything was delivered it was checked against the invoices and the number of items tallied. What we didn’t know was that the actual supplies had been tampered with.’
There was more huffing a
nd puffing from those around the table as Edward said, ‘Unfortunately, the council will have to cover the cost of dismantling the building as we cannot leave it standing as it is.’
The committee had no recourse here and had to agree, but it was a very frosty atmosphere in the room as they left after the meeting.
Edward let out a deep sigh and walked to his office. Standing by the window, looking out at the cars, and at the pedestrians going about their daily lives, he was dispirited. He took great pride in his work, and if anything was wrong, it reflected on his professionalism. He’d been proud of this rebuild. It was for a block of offices built on two floors to be used by the council. Much-needed space for the staff. It had been simplistic in design but with his usual flair – and now it would have to be destroyed! Who could have done such a thing? Had this remained undiscovered, at some time in the future the building would have collapsed, perhaps causing fatalities. Well, the police were now making their enquiries, and he prayed they’d find the perpetrators of such scandalous behaviour!
He sat at his desk. The one good thing in his life at the moment was Kay. Thank God for her! At least when he was with her, he could put all these worries out of his mind for a short while. He smiled softly as he thought of little Susan and her badge for tying knots. Could he envisage taking on another man’s child? He had to contemplate such a move if his relationship with Kay was to grow and mature.
He was falling in love with her, of that there was no doubt. Already he could see her living in his house, cooking in his kitchen, curled up with him on the settee before a log fire. Sharing his bed. He wanted her in his life on a permanent basis, but he would have to wait. After all, her divorce was so recent. She deserved a bit of freedom, time to make up her mind about once again taking on the trappings of marriage. Well, there was no rush; he’d been single for a long time, and another few months wouldn’t matter. In any case, he had to get this present situation sorted first, before making any personal plans of his own.
Jake Barton and Gerry Cooper were in Jake’s kitchen poring over their predicament.
