Winter’s Fairytale

by Maxine Morrey

  ‘I don’t need anyone to defend me, you little turd. Now I suggest you get lost before I show you exactly why I don’t need a man here to beat the shit out of you!’

  Bearing in mind the only punch I’d ever thrown was that one on my wedding day, I was, to a large extent, bluffing. But so long as I talked the talked, I was pretty hopeful that I wouldn’t have to walk the walk. Although, if it came to it, I’d managed to knock a massive bloke like Rob on his arse, so I was pretty sure I could do the same to the wiry framed Peter. Or at least stun him long enough for me to get the hell out of there, which was all I wanted to do right now.

  He looked me up and down again. I glared at him in response and waited for him to make the first move. Finally he stepped back and headed off to his flat, a colourful trail of descriptive language, presumably aimed at me, in his wake.

  I picked up my bag that had fallen off my arm when Peter had yanked me back and slipped it back over my shoulder before mounting the steps and finally reaching my front door. Rob was right. It wasn’t a good place to live. I’d thought my neighbour was harmless but the look in his eyes tonight chilled me. And now I’d pissed him off. I was hoping that, with a bit of luck and some pot, by tomorrow he’d have forgotten it all but there was no guarantee. I kicked off my shoes and padded into the bathroom, emptying the last of the bubble bath into the tub as water gushed out of the taps. I needed to start looking seriously for a new place to live. Tonight. Wearily, I pulled my laptop out my bag and unzipped the case. My hands were shaking from the encounter with Peter but I was refusing to acknowledge any of it right now. Really I should just call Mags, blurt out the whole thing – Rob’s weird behaviour, the horrible moment with Peter, everything – and just unload it. But I didn’t. Mags would worry and want to come round. Or more likely want me to come round to hers so that I was out of the flat, but I was exhausted. I’d not left the studio before ten once this week, as I worked to get the Castle Bride’s toile finished for her first fitting. Heading out into that filthy weather again would take energy I just didn’t have. Besides, the last overground train left in a few minutes and there was no way I’d make it now. I’d locked my door with every single key turn and bolt there was on it and a chair was wedged up against the handle for good measure. I didn’t really think Peter would make any other attempt to try and intimidate me, or anything else, but I wasn’t taking chances either.

  I checked on the bath level and slid down the side of my bed to sit on the thick rug I’d put there which did a twofold job of making it look pretty and hiding a particularly unpleasant stain. Lifting the lid of my laptop, I let a loud and heartfelt groan. A large crack ran across the screen from left to right. Trying the power button, I held my breath. I was good about backing up my machine to the Cloud, thank goodness, but this was a hassle I really didn’t need right now. It had been fine at Rob’s so could only have got broken when it fell on the stairs after Peter yanked me back down. They were uncarpeted, wooden stairs. Not exactly laptop friendly, even when it was in a case. The insides made a grinding noise, followed by an apologetic whirr, then went silent.

  I closed the lid, and stood up. Putting the machine on my dresser I pulled out a drawer, rummaged underneath some French knickers and pulled out a huge bar of chocolate I kept there for emergencies. Taking it I grabbed a towel from the shelf, stripped off my clothes and made my way to the bathroom.

  The next morning I headed back into the city and straight for the electronics department in John Lewis on Oxford Street. I showed the assistant my laptop. He pulled a face and I pulled out my credit card. I called Mags’ eldest brother who was our go-to guy for anything computer-y. It went to voicemail which didn’t surprise me. Brett didn’t really do Sunday mornings. I left a message explaining what had happened and asked him to call me back. To cheer myself up, I stopped off at the haberdashery floor and spent time stroking the fabrics and flicking through pattern books. Just as I was heading towards the escalator, my phone, which luckily had survived the drop last night, began to chirp its little tune. I slipped my hand into the much smaller handbag I’d brought out today and pulled it out.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Izzy? It’s Jenny.’

  Oh no. What’s happened now?

  ‘Hi Jenny. Is everything ok?’

  ‘Yes, it’s fine. I’m just wondering if I could ask you for a bit of advice?’

  ‘Of course. Fire away.’

  ‘Mum and I are at Rigby’s and I’ve found some undies I really like. I’m just not entirely sure as to whether they’re going to work with the dress. I’m a little worried the back might be a bit too high. I was wondering if Mum took a photo and sent it to you if you’d be able to tell from that whether you think it’ll be ok with the design?’

  ‘No, that’s fine. You can do that. But I’m actually in town anyway. If you want I can just come over there. It might be easier for me to know for certain then. They’re not cheap and I’d hate to say yes when it turned out to be no, all because I’d misjudged something. At least this way we could be sure.’

  ‘Oh that would be fantastic! Are you sure you don’t mind?’

  ‘No, of course not. Give me ten minutes.’

  We hung up and I headed down the escalators, and out of the store. Taking a shortcut across Hanover Square, I was soon at the boutique on Conduit Street. Entering, I saw Rob’s mum waiting for me up the end of the shop, looking elegant perched on one of the chairs.

  ‘Izzy darling. You are so sweet to do this. Are you sure we’re not putting you out? Were you at your studio?’

  ‘No. I was buying a new laptop actually. Mine met a bit of a sticky end last night and I can’t afford to be without one. Anyway, that’s all very boring! How are things going here?’

  The excitement flooded back onto Eleanor’s face. ‘We found the most beautiful basque set. I mean, really!’ She lowered her voice, ‘Seriously, I think once Mike sees this, I may well be a grandmother this time next year!’

  ‘Mother!’ Jenny’s horrified voice came from a nearby cubicle.

  Eleanor pulled an ‘Oops! Caught me!’ face but her manner and expression still showed that if the circumstance were to occur, she would be more than happy.

  ‘Can we come in, Jen?’ I called back.

  ‘If it’ll help stop my mother’s imagination racing forward several years, then please do!’

  I laughed and stepped in. Eleanor was right though, the basque was beautiful, not to mention probably well in line with not only Mike’s, but a lot of men’s, ideas as to what women wear. Or at least what they’d like them too!

  ‘It’s gorgeous!’ I said.

  ‘It is, isn’t it?’ Jenny was beaming. After the tears of yesterday, I was so happy to see her enjoying this process once more.

  ‘We just weren’t sure if it would work with the dress.’

  ‘Can I see the back?’

  Jenny duly obliged, leaning forward in her chair so that I could see where the top of the underwear came to. I ran through the design in my head again.

  ‘Right now, the back would probably show a little.’

  I saw Jenny’s face fall.

  ‘Ok. That’s all right. I’m sure there will be something else.’

  ‘Yes, there probably is, but if this is the one you want, we can work with it. The dress isn’t made yet so we can just adjust the design a little to make it work with this. It’s no problem. It would only mean lifting the back of the dress a little, if you were happy with that, just so that it comes to a level a little above this. That gives it space to not peek out every time you move. It won’t change the design of the dress very much at all. You’ll barely notice it. I can just take a couple of measurements now and then we can make any other adjustments to the toile when you come in next week.’

  ‘Really? Are you sure it’ll be ok? I mean, I love this but I love your design for the dress more.’

  I grinned and gave myself a moment to enjoy the warm fuzzies from that statement, and then reassured Jen i
t would be just fine.

  ‘Ok. Then I’ll take it!’ she said to the assistant who had now joined us.

  ‘Wonderful! Just pass it out when you’re ready and I’ll get it wrapped for you.’

  ‘I’ll wait out here.’ I pointed to the chairs and went and took a seat, flicking through the current issue of Vogue whilst I waited for Jenny and her mum to finish. They were soon out and paying for the items.

  ‘We were just going to go off and have a coffee whilst we wait for the boys. Have you got to rush off?’

  I pondered a moment. I didn’t have to rush off anywhere. Brett obviously hadn’t risen from his beauty sleep yet so I was kind of in limbo until he did. Spending a while with Eleanor and Jenny was a nice way to pass the time until he called, but if I was honest, right now I wasn’t all that keen on seeing Rob. The fact that neither woman had questioned me as to why I was no longer coming to them for Christmas showed that Rob hadn’t told them I’d changed my mind – which left me wondering what I was supposed to do now. And then I decided. Sod him.

  ‘No, not at all. I’m just waiting for a friend to call to help me with this thing,’ I hoisted the John Lewis bag, that now contained two laptops, aloft, ‘but until then…’

  ‘Oh good!’

  We left the shop and walked back up the road towards a coffee shop. Finding some free seats, we got our drinks and made ourselves comfortable and were soon chatting away. For all Rob’s accusations of his family being strangers to me, I’d never felt so comfortable, so quickly, with anyone before. It felt good. I felt just as relaxed with them as I did with Rob. Or at least, as relaxed as I’d felt with him until he’d gone all weird last night. The three of us were so engrossed with our conversation that none of us noticed the men walk up.

  ‘You got something then?’ Mike folded his large frame into the chair next to his fiancée, lifted the Rigby & Peller bag up on to his lap and was about to dive into it when Jenny snatched it off him.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

  Mike shifted his eyes, ‘Is that a trick question?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘All right, then I was going to look and see what you’d bought.’

  ‘Exactly!’

  ‘Umm…’

  ‘You’re not allowed to see what I’ve bought!’ Jenny exclaimed.

  ‘Why not? You always show me normally.’

  ‘The key word there being normally. This is for the wedding! You can’t see it yet.’

  ‘I thought that just applied to the dress.’ Poor Mike seemed thoroughly bemused. I glanced up at John and Rob who were laughing. John patted him on the back.

  ‘Don’t worry. Just follow instructions and you’ll survive. It’s worked for me all these years.’

  Mike nodded, clearly taking the words under advisement.

  Jenny leant over and pulled Mike closer, ‘It’ll be worth the wait, believe me.’

  Mike’s grin got wide and he shifted himself and whispered something in his fiancée’s ear that made her blush and giggle. I smiled and concentrated on finishing my coffee.

  ‘Hello Izz! I didn’t know we were seeing you today.’ John Winchester stepped around the chairs and came over to give me a hug and kiss, which I returned warmly.

  ‘We weren’t sure about something with the undies and darling Izzy came to the rescue again.’ Eleanor rubbed my arm.

  ‘Well, I was close by anyway so it wasn’t a big deal.’

  ‘I don’t know what we would do without you.’ John’s smile was warm, ‘Can I get you another drink?’

  ‘No, I’m fine. Thanks.’

  ‘I’ll go and get the rest in then.’ He headed off to the barista and began giving his order.

  Rob had taken a call on his mobile as his dad and I began talking but was now finished and caught my eye.

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘Hello.’

  He took the seat next to me. ‘Looks like you’ve saved the day again.’

  I gave the briefest of smiles. I still wasn’t sure what had got into Rob last night and I wasn’t about to pretend that everything was ok just yet.

  ‘Not really. Just a quick bit of advice.’

  ‘It’s more than that to them.’ He nodded to where his mum and Jenny were looking at a wedding magazine.

  ‘It’s my job.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you did call outs.’

  ‘I was already out.’

  ‘So I understand. I didn’t know you were due back into town today. I’d have offered you the guest room, to save you to-ing and fro-ing.’

  I’d avoided looking at him whilst we’d been talking but I now turned and gave him a look of incredulity. ‘Really?’

  ‘Of course.’

  I held his gaze a little longer and then just rolled my eyes.

  ‘Ok I deserved that.’ he said, leaning closer, his voice quiet beside me.

  I didn’t look at him.

  ‘Can we get past this? Please?’

  Now I turned my head. ‘I’ve no idea, Rob. Can we? The problem seemed to lie entirely with you last night, so I’m thinking that’s probably your call to make, not mine.’

  ‘Can I talk to you outside for a minute?’

  I thought about it.

  ‘Come on, Izzy. Please. At least give me a chance to explain.’ He took a look at the expression on my face. ‘Try to explain.’

  Grabbing my coat, I stepped over my new purchase and headed to the door, Rob following close behind. The rain had stopped overnight and strong winter sunshine had taken its place. But it was all show. There was no heat to it and the wind charging down the street was bitter. I shivered and pulled my coat around me more, folding my hands into it to keep them warm. Rob shifted position and the wind stopped. He was like a human windbreak.

  ‘Better?’ he asked.

  I was grateful for the momentary protection from the weather. But I was still cross with him.

  ‘I’m all right. Considering I’m stood on the street instead of inside a nice warm coffee shop.’ I looked longingly at the steamed up windows we were now stood outside. ‘What is it you wanted to say?’

  ‘You were right last night.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘About me being an arse. You’re right. I was.’

  ‘I know. I was there.’ If he thought he was going to get off easy, he had another think coming.

  He nodded and smiled.

  ‘And don’t smile like that at me either. It might work on a lot of women but not me, and definitely not today.’

  The smile faded on his face a little, replaced by concern.

  ‘Did something happen?’

  I hesitated. If I was honest, I wanted nothing more than to tell Rob about what had happened with Peter last night. Not because I wanted him to do anything about it – I didn’t want him involved at all like that. Somehow I just knew that telling him would make it better. It always did. At least it had, until now.

  ‘No. Apart from you beaming down from Planet Weird last night.’

  He looked at me for a long while. I knew he didn’t believe me but, to my relief, he let it go.

  ‘Yeah. About that. I’m sorry. I felt bad about leading you to get questioned on where you lived and how you came to be there. And then Mum asking you to stay for Christmas? I guess, it just threw me off.’

  ‘And you felt the best response to that was to make me feel as unwelcome as possible?’

  ‘No, of course not. I just panicked.’

  ‘Oh, that’s crap and you know it, Rob! You don’t do panic, so why the hell am I really standing out here, freezing my backside off? Just tell me the truth. I think I deserve that, because at the moment, I have no idea what I did wrong that made you treat me like you did last night.’

  ‘You didn’t do anything, Izz.’ Rob said, his voice soft – well, as soft as it could be in competition with the passing traffic, ‘It was all me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because…’

  I tilted my head. ‘Really?
“Because” – that’s your defence? Well, I’m so glad to see that Oxford law degree is working out for you.’

  He smiled. ‘Smart arse.’

  ‘At least I can put “smart” in front of mine. You’re still just an arse right at this moment.’

  He laughed. ‘Fair enough. I can’t argue with that. Ok, so, the thing is…’ Rob’s initial gusto suddenly seemed to halt.

  ‘Is what?’

  He cleared his throat. ‘Is, that Mum has never been a big fan of my choice in women. Consequently, when she meets one she really likes she has a habit of trying to… engineer things.’

  ‘Fix you up?’

  ‘Yep. And obviously she’s nuts about you which means she’d be nuts about us getting together.’

  ‘Oh Rob. I think you’re reading into things. She knows there’s no way that would ever happen!’

  ‘How can you be so sure?’

  ‘Because…’ I said, allowing the hint of a smile to show for the first time.

  ‘Touché.’

  ‘Because,’ I continued, ‘your mum even stated last night that she knew I wasn’t your type, not having the more “obvious” attributes you tend to go for, i.e. being about seventeen feet tall and looking like they’ve just popped out of a Vogue shoot. She’s not trying to set you up. She’s just being nice to me. Perhaps if you’d kept quiet about how much you disliked my flat, she might not have even thought of it.’

  ‘Oh believe me, she would.’

  ‘Whatever. I still don’t see why you had to be so unpleasant about it all though! It’s nice to know that the thought of being fixed up with me is so repugnant to you, by the way. You really know how to boost a girl’s ego!’

  ‘It’s not that! Of course it’s not!’

  I looked at him, wholly unconvinced.

  ‘It’s not!’ he said, reaching for me. As his hand touched my forearm, I moved it away. I saw a look cross his face.

  ‘What’s wrong with your arm?’

  ‘Nothing. I bumped it last night, that’s all. Carry on.’ I prompted.

  ‘Ok.’ he said, clearly unhappy with the explanation but realising he wasn’t going to get anything else out of me, ‘As I said, it’s not that I think being with you would be repugnant, to use your words. And honestly, if you think I, or any man, would think that, then you must have bumped your head as well as your arm!’