Give Me Tomorrow

by Jeanne Whitmee

  ‘I’m sure we can do better than that for you, madam,’ she said.

  The woman shook her head. ‘Oh no, I’ve set my heart on this one,’ she said. ‘And don’t you worry: I shall recommend your shop to all my friends.’

  She changed back into her own clothes as I packed up the hideous dress, feeling Camilla’s fury just waiting to erupt the moment the customer left the shop.

  As the tinkling notes of the Wedding March door chime died, she started spitting venom.

  ‘What on earth did you think you were doing?’ she stormed. ‘That – that awful woman will tell everyone she bought the dress here. My reputation will be ruined!’

  I raised my eyebrows. ‘Well, it was for sale. And she was a very satisfied customer.’

  ‘Do you honestly think I want her kind of customer?’ Her eyes flashed. ‘If I’d been here I would have put her off. I was going to take that wretched thing home tonight,’ she said. ‘I wish I’d done it weeks ago. I should have burnt it!’

  ‘Well, you didn’t, and now it’s sold and you’ve got the money for it,’ I told her blandly.

  Her eyes narrowed. ‘You did it on purpose, didn’t you?’

  I smiled at her. ‘Well, you did ask for it,’ I said. ‘You and your high-handed ways. If you think you can speak to me as though I’m your inferior and get away with it, you’ve got another think coming!’

  ‘How dare you!’ Her face turned a peculiar shade of puce and as she spoke, flecks of spit landed on my jacket. ‘Get out of my shop this minute. You’re dismissed! Do you hear me? Get out!’

  ‘Not until you’ve paid me,’ I said, standing my ground. ‘If you refuse, I shall take it further and we don’t want to ruin your reputation even more, do we?’

  Practically fizzing with anger, she went behind the desk and opened the till, snatching a handful of notes she almost threw at me. She was flexing her fingers as she glared at me, and I looked at the long scarlet talons and decided that it was time to make my exit before she scratched my eyes out. As I left the shop I glanced at my watch. If I caught a bus now I’d be right on time for my date with the Daily Sphere.

  The meeting was more than successful. I made the most of Paul Fortune’s scam and the mess he’d landed me and everyone else in. The editor was enthusiastic and offered me a full page spread in the Sunday edition, complete with photograph. It meant that everyone I knew would get to hear of my humiliation but the fee I managed to negotiate more than made up for that. When I got back to the bedsit, I texted Di.

  Thanks to your brill idea I’m on the up again. See you soon – Lou.

  After I’d pressed ‘send’ I sat looking at my list of contacts then, on impulse, I highlighted Mark’s number. He’d given up trying to contact me and now I knew why.

  Congratulations, Mark! I tapped in. Love, Lou.

  At least he’d know I was still thinking of him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Susan was washing up her breakfast things on Sunday morning when the phone rang. She pulled off her rubber gloves and went into the living room to answer it.

  ‘Hi, Mum, it’s me, Karen. Have you seen the paper this morning?’

  ‘No, I haven’t been up very long. I’m still in my dressing gown. Why?’

  ‘You do have the Sphere, don’t you?’

  ‘On Sundays, yes, I have to confess that I like the sensational stories they publish.’

  ‘Well, there’s none as sensational as the one on page three,’ Karen went on. She sounded excited. ‘Just go and get it, Mum. Have a look now while I’m on the phone.’

  Mystified, Susan picked up the paper from the coffee table and unfolded it, Spreading it out, she turned the pages. There, on page three, the face of her stepdaughter smiled up at her. Louise! But what…? She scanned the headline and the story beneath and gasped.

  ‘Well – have you found it?’ Karen sounded impatient at the other end of the line.

  ‘Yes, I’ve found it. It says that the show she was supposed to be opening in turned out to be a huge confidence trick.’ Susan was still running one forefinger down the page. ‘Oh my God! It also says that she put – it says here – her life savings into the project and that she’s lost the lot!’

  ‘Have you been holding out on us, Mum? Did she tell you any of this last time she was with you?’

  ‘No. Just that there was a problem and that there’d be a delay with the opening.’

  ‘She’s such a liar, Mum.’

  Susan was shaking her head. ‘It must mean that she’s lost everything that her father left her. She wouldn’t want to admit it, would she? Poor Louise. What a terrible blow for her.’

  ‘Mum! You can’t be serious. She richly deserved this. She’s a nightmare. You know she is.’

  ‘I know she has an unfortunate habit of upsetting people but you have to admit that this is something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.’

  ‘Want to bet?’ Karen said, half to herself. ‘Well, I just hope that she isn’t going to descend on you again, taking advantage of your good nature. Promise me you’ll say no if she rings and asks you to take her in again.’

  Susan bridled. ‘I’m promising you nothing of the sort, Karen. I shall do as I think fair and right when and if it arises.’

  ‘Well, on your own head be it. Don’t say you haven’t been warned, Mum.’

  ‘I won’t.’ Susan waited a moment then asked, ‘Is everything all right there – with you and Simon, I mean?’

  ‘Of course. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Don’t be naïve, Karen. You know perfectly well why I’m asking. Have you resigned yourself to staying at home with Peter?’

  ‘No, not completely. I’ve said I’ll do the odd spot of tutoring. Not full-time, of course. Just when they’re stuck for someone.’

  ‘And is Simon all right with that?’

  ‘Mum – I’m not a slave. Simon is my husband, not my keeper. I do wish you’d update to twenty-first century thinking.’

  ‘Perhaps it’s not me you need to convince,’ Susan said. ‘Anyway, thanks for ringing, Karen. I hope you feel that Louise’s stroke of disastrous bad luck has vindicated you in some way. I’ll have to go now, I need to get dressed.’

  Susan sat thinking for a few minutes after hanging up. Louise had been so convinced that this play was her big break-through. She must be devastated. On impulse, she lifted the receiver again and dialled Louise’s mobile number. After a few minutes Louise answered.

  ‘Hi, Susan.’

  ‘I’ve just seen the article in the Sunday Sphere,’ Susan said. ‘How awful for you and all the rest of the cast. You must be so upset and disappointed. Did you know about this when you visited last time?’

  ‘Well, yes, I did actually.’

  ‘And you never said a thing. How are you managing, dear? Did you lose all your money?’

  ‘Quite a lot of it, yes, but don’t worry, Susan. I had a temporary job and the paper paid me well for the article. Of course, everyone will know now that I ended up with the proverbial egg on my face, but never mind.’

  ‘Have they caught this man – this Fortune person?’

  ‘No and I’m not holding my breath that they will. He’s left the country and covered his tracks pretty well.’

  ‘Do you have a place to stay? Will you be able to find another job?’

  ‘I’m staying with Dianne at the moment. We’ve made up our little quarrel. My agent, Harry, put money into the show too and it’s put him out of business so I have to find a new agent.’

  Susan sighed. ‘Oh dear, what a disaster for you all! Louise – have you heard any more from your birth mother?’

  ‘No and I don’t want to. That’s a closed chapter as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, if she’s read the article, she will have lost interest in me by now. Thanks for ringing, Susan. I appreciate your concern.’

  ‘Not at all. You know where I am, don’t you, if you need me?’

  ‘Yes, and thanks again. It’s nice to know there’s someone o
n my side.’

  ‘What about your young man – the one you told me about? He was in the show too, wasn’t he?’

  ‘Yes, he was, but that’s all over, Susan.’

  ‘Oh. I’m sorry to hear that, dear.’

  Susan hung up with a sigh. Whatever Louise had done in the past, it was certainly catching up with her now. She thought briefly of the rebellious child she had taken on all those years ago when she married Frank. Louise hadn’t been easy to bring up, especially once she reached puberty. There was a time when it seemed that she would never have a normal life, but somehow she’d put all the distress she had suffered in her youth aside and made a life for herself. It was true that she’d become a difficult and unpredictable woman, but she’d suffered so much in her young life that Susan tried to make allowances. Maybe the trauma and the underlying sense of loss would never leave her.

  It was two days later that Karen rang again.

  ‘Mum – can you do me the most amazing favour?’ She rattled on before Susan had time to reply. ‘The things is, this agency, you know the one that offered me the job, need me to do some work for them today.’

  ‘And you have no one to babysit?’

  ‘Not at such short notice. It would only be for the morning, Mum. I’d be so grateful.’

  ‘Does Simon know?’

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

  ‘I’ll take that as a no, then.’

  ‘What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him. I really haven’t got time to discuss it now. Can you have Peter or can’t you, Mum?’

  ‘I suppose so. When and where do you want me?’

  ‘I’ll pop him round to you on my way. Have to go now. See you soon.’

  Karen’s visit was swift and brief. She handed a bewildered-looking Peter over unceremoniously. ‘I’ve left the buggy downstairs by the front entrance,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It’s a lovely morning so if you take him to the park I’ll meet you there – say, by the café at one o’clock. OK?’ And before Susan could confirm that this was convenient for her Karen was already halfway down the stairs.

  Peter popped his thumb into his mouth and looked up at his grandmother. ‘Mummy gone.’

  Susan bent to pick him up. ‘Yes, darling. Mummy’s gone but she’ll be back again soon. Have you had any breakfast?’

  His little face brightened. ‘Poddidge?’

  ‘Yes, Granny’ll make you some porridge and then we’ll go to the park, shall we?’

  As Karen had said, it was a lovely morning and Susan let Peter walk beside the buggy down to the lake. She’d brought stale bread and they bought a bag of corn which Peter delightedly threw to the ducks. They went to the playground and Peter went on a swing – a baby one this time – and sat on Susan’s lap for a gentle ride on the roundabout. At the café they each had an ice cream, after which Peter began to look decidedly sleepy. Susan put him into the buggy and tucked his blanket round him, and by the time they had walked across the park to the bowling green, he was fast asleep. Grateful for five minutes’ respite, she sat down on one of the benches to watch the elderly men playing their sedate game. The warm sunshine made her drowsy too and her eyelids had closed when suddenly she heard someone say her name.

  ‘Susan.’

  She opened her eyes to find Ted standing in front of her. ‘Good morning, sleepyhead.’

  Her heart leapt and she felt the warm colour stain her cheeks. ‘I wasn’t asleep,’ she said. ‘It’s just the sun. It’s very warm and – and dazzling.’

  ‘Of course it is.’ He chuckled and sat down beside her. ‘Young Peter looks cosy.’

  ‘Yes.’ She sat up straight. ‘I – we were just going, as a matter of fact.’

  ‘Back to the flat? Mind if I walk with you?’

  Susan glanced surreptitiously at her watch and sighed. It was almost half past twelve. Karen would be here in half an hour. She couldn’t go now. ‘No, not back to the flat,’ she told him. ‘Karen is picking Peter up at the café at one o’clock. I was going to walk across there in a minute.’

  ‘Then I’ll come with you.’ He looked at her searchingly. ‘That is if you’ve no objections.’

  ‘There’s really no need,’ she said stiffly.

  He laid a hand on her arm. ‘Susan, please. Surely at our age there’s no need for us to keep up this …’ He shook his head. ‘Whatever you want to call it.’

  ‘No – well.’

  ‘I’ve missed you very much these last weeks.’

  She turned to look at him. ‘I – thought you’d found a new – companion.’

  He smiled. ‘The lady you saw helping me on the allotment was a fellow gardener’s wife,’ he explained. ‘They saw me struggling to keep your plot going as well as mine and offered to help.’

  Susan bit her lip. ‘Oh. I see.’

  ‘There’s a lot you don’t see, my dear,’ he said. ‘And that’s all down to me. I should have been more upfront with you. My only excuse is that I didn’t want to frighten you away. If you’ll just let me …’

  ‘How did you know I’d be here today?’ she asked him.

  ‘I didn’t.’ He smiled. ‘Believe it or not, I come here every day in the hope of running into you.’

  Susan stood up. ‘I’m sorry, Ted, but the time’s getting on. I have to go. Karen will be waiting.’

  He stood and faced her. ‘Then may I?’

  ‘I suppose so – if you must.’

  ‘Oh yes, I must,’ he said with a smile. ‘I really must. If you only knew how much courage it took to speak to you just now.’

  Susan said nothing as she rose and began to push the buggy, but she was slightly mollified by Ted’s humility as he walked silently beside her.

  Karen was already waiting. Her cheeks were glowing and she looked happy.

  ‘Thanks so much, Mum,’ she said as she took the buggy’s handle. ‘I’ve enjoyed this morning so much. Tutoring is so rewarding. They’ve asked me to continue. It’s for a boy who’s broken his leg in an accident and as he’s taking his GCSEs next year, they don’t want him to fall behind.’ She kissed her mother and hurried off. Ted had been standing to one side and now, Susan felt him looking at her. He touched her arm.

  ‘Lunch? Please say yes, Susan.’

  She relented. ‘Well – I normally only have a sandwich. They do quite nice ones here at the café.’

  He nodded. ‘Then a sandwich it shall be – for both of us. You pick a table out here in the sunshine and I’ll go and get them.’

  He returned with an assortment of sandwiches and coffee for them both. She looked at him.

  ‘I never thanked you for the flowers you brought me,’ she said. ‘And I owe you an apology for my stepdaughter’s out-spoken remarks.’

  He shook his head. ‘Don’t give it another thought.’ For a few minutes they ate in silence then he said, ‘Susan, I owe you an explanation and I’m determined that you shall hear it. It’s all a bit convoluted and you’ll have to bear with me but—’

  ‘You owe me nothing, Ted,’ she interrupted.

  ‘Oh, but I do,’ he insisted. ‘There are things I have to tell you, if only for my own peace of mind.’

  ‘All right.’ She looked around. The tables were filling up now and two elderly women at the next table were clearly listening to their conversation with interest. ‘But let’s finish our lunch first and find a quiet spot.’

  They finished their sandwiches in silence, then got up and walked slowly down to the lake. She waited for him to begin and it was obvious that he was nervous and hesitant.

  ‘First, I must confess that it’s true that I’m still married,’ he said at last.

  She stiffened. ‘You gave me the impression that you were a widower.’

  He looked at her. ‘I’m sure I never actually said so.’

  ‘Maybe not, but …’

  ‘Meg and I have been married for more than forty years. We were both very young when we married, especially Meg, and I’m sorry to say that she cheated on me from v
ery early on in the marriage. She had an endless stream of affairs, none of which lasted for long, and like a fool I always forgave her and took her back. But eventually she met someone and fell seriously in love. They ran off together – went to live abroad. I filed for divorce when it became clear that she had no intention of coming back to me but for some reason she refused to cooperate. I thought it must be because she was still unsure about her new relationship, but eventually that thought petered out and I began to pick up the pieces and make a new life for myself. I thought that eventually she’d want to marry her new partner and agree to a divorce, but the years went by and it never happened.’

  ‘Do you know where she is now?’ Susan asked.

  He gave her a wry smile. ‘Oh yes. I know where she is. Four years ago, Meg’s partner got in touch with me quite out of the blue. He told me that she had developed dementia and he could no longer have – as he put it – the responsibility of her. He informed me that as I was still her husband that duty now fell to me.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Susan stared at him, appalled. ‘But – how many years had you been apart?’

  ‘Almost thirty.’

  ‘But surely, isn’t there something about a marriage being null and void after a certain period of desertion?’

  ‘Desertion is grounds for divorce, yes, but I never applied to divorce her on those grounds.’ He shook his head. ‘And I could hardly do so at that stage.’

  Susan shook her head. ‘So what happened?’

  ‘Her new partner brought her back to me and just left. He handed her over like an unwanted pet and disappeared over the horizon. Naturally, she didn’t understand. She didn’t even remember who I was. Life was sheer hell – not only for me but for her as well. Eventually, my only alternative was to get her into a care home. I chose the best I could afford and she’s still there.’

  Susan felt chastened. ‘Do you visit her?’

  He shrugged. ‘Occasionally, though she doesn’t recognize me.’

  ‘Oh, Ted! How awful. I’m so sorry.’