by Donna Jay
Once she transferred the caller to the wallpaper department, she sat back at her desk.
“No you don’t.” Hillary hauled her out of the chair and took her place. “Go. I’ll answer the phones.”
“Thanks.” Katie bolted before the tears spilled over. She was an emotional wreck and didn’t want to fall apart in front of her older, and no doubt wiser, workmates.
Her low heels echoed around the narrow corridor that carved a path through the back of the two-story upper level to the staffroom.
Consumed by misery, Katie almost jumped out of her skin when Ron, the paint department manager, poked his head out of his office.
Her hand flew to her chest. “Shit, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Is that any way for a young lady to speak?” His pink shirt and beaming smile failed to lighten her mood.
“No. Sorry.”
“Hey.” He bobbed his head in her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Why so glum?”
She was tempted to tell him her entire sordid story. If anyone understood, it would be Ron. But with only ten minutes to spare, now wasn’t the time to spill her guts.
“It’s nothing.” Katie shook her head.
He put a hand on his hip and waggled a finger, looking every bit as flamboyant as he was. “Girlfriend, don’t bullshit a bull-shitter.”
Oh, to be out like Ron. The thought made Katie burst into tears.
“Come here.” He pulled her into his office and pushed a wad of tissues into her hands. “Tell Uncle Ron. You know I won’t judge you.” His expression of genuine concern gave Katie the courage to open up.
“The year before I left school…three girls assaulted me.”
His eyes went wide, but he didn’t say anything, just nodded for her to continue.
She took a deep breath, inhaling his cologne; something crisp and minty.
“I just ran into one of them. And although I thought I’d put it behind me, seeing her smarmy face brought it all crashing back.”
“Why did they attack you?” Ron eyed her with concern.
“Because they got it into their heads that I’m gay.”
“Are you?” he asked gently.
Having no reason to lie to a person who knew what it was like to be judged, Katie told the truth. “I think I might be. And that scares the crap out of me.”
“You can’t change who you are inside,” his voice exuded compassion. “But you can change how you deal with it.” His eyes sparkled. “Don’t get mad, get even. And you do that by refusing to cower. Embrace what intimidates the bullies.”
“Is that why you wear pink?”
He looked at his shirt as though he didn’t realise it was pink.
“God, no, honey. I love pink, and purple, and all colours of the rainbow. I’d wear black, too, if I loved the colour. I don’t.” He waggled his finger like a pendulum. “To have a hope in hell as coming across as straight, I’d have to change more than my clothes, honey. My soft voice and the way I stroll rather than strut, to name two. And I refuse to do either.”
Ron was so carefree, so unapologetic about who he was, she wanted—needed—to take a page out of his book. “Were you ever picked on?”
“Are you kidding?” He laughed. “Every single day, and not only because I’m gay. I was a runt of a child, raised by a single parent.” He glanced at a photo on his desk Katie had never looked too closely at. The picture was of a woman smiling down at a wee boy in her lap.
“You and your mum?”
“Yes. And although she was a fierce mama bear, I refused to let her fight my battles.”
“What did you do?” Katie asked, hanging onto his every word like a little girl enraptured by a fairy tale.
“I got even.” He jutted out his chin. “One day when Michael, the instigator of most of the bullying, was alone, I snuck up behind him while he was drinking from a water fountain. By catching him off-guard, I managed to twist his arm up his back and knee him between the legs.”
Katie gasped. “You didn’t!”
“I did. He crumpled to the ground like tissue paper, holding his nuts and squealing like a baby. With my foot on his chest, I glared down at him and said, ‘If you ever pick on me again, I’ll drop you in front of your mates.’”
“Did you?”
“I didn’t have to, and I doubt I could’ve if we were face-to-face. It was cowardly of me to sneak up on him. But bullies are cowards, too, and it gave me back my power. They left me alone and moved on to the next poor schmuck.”
The clacking of high-heels made Katie’s heart jump into her throat. “Shit, what time is it? My break must’ve been over long ago.”
Ron held a finger to his lips and gave her a sly wink. “Let’s try one more time, honey, you’ve almost got it. And smile when you say, ‘Welcome to Clarke’s Home Décor.’ People will hear it in your voice.”
“Welcome to Clarke’s Home Décor,” Katie said, trying not to snicker. She had to admit Ron was right, she could hear the laughter in her voice.
A second later, Janet popped her head through the doorway. “Ron coaching you again?” Her smile was warm, her eyes full of affection for the man the admin team adored.
“Yeah, said I needed to work on my greeting.”
“Why don’t you go and do just that?”
Pleased Janet didn’t drill her about why she’d gone over the allocated ten-minute break, Katie slid past her and headed back in the direction of the office.
She hadn’t eaten her sandwich or had the suggested cup of sweet tea, but she’d gained so much more.
Ron’s words echoed in her head. Don’t get mad, get even.
On the way back to her desk, a plan took root and blossomed.
Chapter 10
The afternoon past in a blur. As dark thoughts clouded her mind, all sense of right and wrong fled. A heady feeling of vengeance took its place.
At five o’clock, Katie plastered on a smile. “See you ladies tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you coming to the gym?” Janet picked up her car keys.
“Nah, I promised mum I’d be straight home,” the lie slid easily off Katie’s tongue.
Thankfully, Janet didn’t push the issue.
Hillary kicked off her heels and slipped on her sneakers. “I walk to work and home, that’s enough exercise for me.”
“You live all of five minutes away.” Janet nudged Hillary and they both laughed.
Playing it cool, Katie descended the stairs on the heels of her co-workers. She wanted to bolt, but she didn’t want to alert anyone to the mayhem making adrenaline pulse through her veins.
With each step she took, a needle-sharp pain tingled up her spine. Although unseen, the object causing the exquisite pinpricks made her feel invincible.
Once alone, rather than cross the road to the staff carpark, she sprinted down the alleyway connecting the row of stores. At the backdoor to the café, she sucked in a breath, willing her heart to slow down.
Before she had time to second guess her actions, Katie tapped on the door and pushed it open.
She prayed Margaret had already gone for the day. If not, she’d make her excuses for barging in and go back to the drawing board.
“Sorry, we’re closed,” came a voice Katie would know anywhere. A voice that had taunted her and haunted her.
A huge grin split her face. Shit was about to get real!
“Hey. I thought I’d come say hi. You know, catch up for old time’s sake.”
“Really?” Incredulity laced Cherie’s words. Big green eyes that had wooed all the boys swam with suspicion. “You don’t hold a grudge?”
“Why would I?”
You only tried to violate me with a dildo.
In the blink of an eye, the Cherie from school was back. She eyed Katie like an innocent girl who would believe anything she said. But Katie wasn’t that gullible girl anymore.
Cherie’s gaze raked over Katie, making her skin crawl. “You’ve lost weight. You look great.”
“I just need to cover these slices then we can have a quick catch-up. I can’t stay long, though.”
The second Cherie’s back was turned, Katie grabbed her by the apron strings and tied her wrists together.
“What the…”
“Shut the fuck up.” Fuelled by adrenaline, Katie pinned Cherie between herself and the table. She pulled the letter opener out she’d concealed under her shirt. Fluorescent light glimmered off the sharp edge as she pressed it against Cherie’s throat. “If you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll do as I say.”
“What the fuck? Are you crazy?” Cherie’s voice shook.
“I think I might be, thanks to you.” Katie tugged on Cherie’s apron strings. “Move.”
“N…no.”
Katie clenched her jaw. Her fingers curled into claws, making her feel more animal than human. “I said, move it.” She shoved Cherie in the back.
A shudder rocked Cherie’s body. “Okay,” her voice trembled, and Katie blocked out any sympathy trying to sneak in.
Humming like someone taking a stroll in the park, letter opener pressed to Cherie’s throat, she towed her over to the oven. Gripping the letter opener between her teeth, she tied Cherie to the door handle with her apron strings.
On the opposite side of the room; cooling racks, muffin pans, and cake tins sat on a workbench with slice cutters and various other utensils on a shelf underneath.
Secure in the knowledge Cherie couldn’t go anywhere, Katie strolled across the room and retrieved her implement of choice. A wooden rolling-pin.
Back at Cherie’s side, she leaned against the kitchen bench and stroked the cool, thick length.
“Ever had a real man?” Katie mocked. “I bet Danny was just a boy.” She waggled her pinkie finger.
Cherie’s frantic gaze flicked between the rolling pin and Katie’s eyes. “What are you going to do?”
“Show you what it’s like to be with a real man? Not a boy. It won’t hurt so much if you relax.” Katie mocked Cherie with her own words.
“Katie, please don’t do this. That thing’s thicker than my forearm.”
Not wanting to hear it, Katie swung the rolling pin through the air. It connected with the overhead pots, sending vibrations down her arm. The clang of metal on metal reverberated through the air.
Cherie stared at her, wide-eyed, and Katie revelled in it.
“You have no idea the fear I experienced that day,” she gritted out the words. “I was scared of my shadow for months.” She smacked the rolling pin against the counter. “Fucking months. It hurt to insert tampons and you wanted to shove a toy in me while I was dry?” Venom dripped from her words.
“I never would’ve hurt you, it was all Anita’s idea. Come on. Please…let me go.”
No way, not happening. Not until Cherie had experienced the crippling fear Katie had felt at her hands.
“Mum will be worried,” Cherie whined.
“Boohoo,” Katie mocked her. “Did you spare a thought for my mother when she was going out of her mind for two fucking hours after you ditched me?”
Feeling detached, Katie retrieved a pound of butter from the fridge and nodded at a bottle of cooking oil.
“Because I’m not as heartless as you, I’ll let you pick the lube.” Katie slid her hand up and down the rolling pin. “Oil or butter?”
In the next instant, Katie heard a trickle of water on the floor. Her nostrils flared. “Fuck, did you just piss yourself? You’re disgusting.”
Satisfied Cherie experienced the same fear Katie had, she released her bound wrists and stepped around the puddle. “I have too much respect for Margaret to put her rolling pin anywhere near you. Clean up this mess and get out of my sight. If I ever see you again, it’ll be too soon.”
Shaking like a leaf, Cherie’s lips trembled. “You…you’re insane.”
“Right now, I am, and you have yourself to thank for that.” She reached for a mop and thrust the handle into Cherie’s hand.
While Cherie cleaned the floor, Katie put the rolling pin back in its place and made sure everything was as it should be.
Other than the two of them, no one would be any the wiser to what just went down. Cherie would be too proud to tell anyone Katie had got the upper hand.
“There.” Cherie thrust the mop back at Katie. It was hard not to laugh at the scowl on her face.
“You know, you never did say you were sorry.”
“I know.” Cherie lowered her gaze. She was either stupid or too damn proud for her own good.
Regardless, Katie was done. “It’s been a blast,” her words were laced with sarcasm. “Let me know if you’d like to do it again sometime.”
Nostrils flaring, Cherie yanked open the back door. “Go.”
Katie walked away without as much as a backward glance.
Safely back in her car, she clutched the steering wheel. She felt like she’d had an out-of-body experience and was only just coming back down to earth.
Rather than turn the key, she appraised herself in the rear-view mirror. She looked like the same person who’d left home that morning; same blonde hair, green eyes, round face, dimple on her left cheek. But a monumental change had occurred inside her.
Gone was the vulnerable girl she’d been for months. She no longer feared the day she would run into one of her attackers. That day had come, and she’d come out the victor not the victim.
If she ever crossed Anita’s path, she would decide how to deal with her then. She was the prettiest and the smartest of the three, so Katie doubted she’d be as easily outsmarted as Cherie.
As for Tracy, she couldn’t even begin to think what she’d say to her.
***
The following Wednesday, Katie trudged to the café feeling like she had bricks attached to her feet. With a week to cool off, she didn’t feel as victorious as she had last Wednesday.
Holding the brass bell like a delicate piece of china, she gave it a little shake. A barely audible tinkle made it as far as her ears but not much further.
Where had fearless Katie gone? So what if she had to face Cherie across a counter? She wasn’t afraid of her anymore. That decided, Katie gave the bell a good hard shake.
The door to the kitchen swung open, and Margaret came bustling into the café. “All right, all right, hold your horses.” She met Katie’s gaze. “Sorry, that was rude of me. You’ll have to forgive me. I’m a little short staffed.”
Taken by surprise, Katie’s eyes went wide. “What happened?”
“The new girl quit, said her boyfriend didn’t like her working here.” Margaret shook her head. “What’s wrong with young girls these days?”
A triumphant smile tried to force its way onto Katie’s lips. Fuck you, Cherie. Fuck you very much.
“Oh, listen to me,” Margaret stammered. “I didn’t mean all young people. You’ve got your head screwed on and a good job. Don’t you go letting some young man distract you from being a businesswoman.”
As if that was ever going to happen. “I won’t.”
After counting out Katie’s change, Margaret lowered her voice. “Between you and I, Cherie might’ve done me a favour. The girl wasn’t very bright when it came to numbers. More than once, a customer complained she’d given them the wrong change.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone great.” Katie smiled, hoping she was right. One thing was for sure, Margaret couldn’t do any worse.
“I already have.” Margaret’s eyes lit up. “She starts tomorrow. An older woman who wouldn’t dare let her husband dictate what kind of job she should or shouldn’t have.”
“I look forward to meeting her.” Katie exited the café with a renewed spring in her step.
Chapter 11
December 1986
Before Katie knew it, the year was almost at an end. What happened with Cherie was a distant memory. The woman Margaret had taken
on at the café had excellent customer service skills, and the shop was thriving.
The task of booking a venue for the Clarke’s Home Décors’ Christmas party had landed on Katie’s shoulders, and she didn’t mind one bit.
Collating prices for drinks and a meal had been a challenge she welcomed. What she didn’t like was the question Hillary had just fired her way.
“Who are you bringing as your date?”
A cocktail of hopelessness and anxiety churned in her belly. Trying to come up with a reasonable excuse to go alone, her mind flicked to Valerie in the fabric department who’d sworn off men after discovering her husband had been cheating on her. At least that’s what Katie had heard via the gossip mill.
“I think I’ll go on my own. That way I can team up with Valerie and she won’t feel like the odd one out.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Janet waggled a finger. “You’re not getting saddled with a woman who’ll mother you all night and warn you to stay away from men.”
Grinning, Janet spoke with a plum in her mouth. “Don’t put up with any nonsense, missy. Make sure you find a good man, one who can keep it in his pants.”
“I haven’t met one of those,” Katie answered honestly.
Janet and Hillary flashed each other knowing smiles. When the penny dropped, Katie’s cheeks heated. Way to make herself sound like she was having plenty of sex.
“No need to blush,” Hillary grinned. “I remember what it was like to be a teen. Now pick one of your horny boyfriends and bring him along.”
Rather than explain she was a virgin, Katie relented. “Okay, okay, I’ll bring David.”
With any luck, her brother’s best friend would jump at the opportunity to accompany her. He’d always been sweet on Katie.
The more she thought about it, keeping up the façade of being a couple while discouraging any unwanted advances wasn’t going to be an easy feat.
The idea of a fun night out had suddenly lost its appeal.
***
After dinner that night, Katie dragged the phone up the hallway and closed the door. As soon as she’d dialled Simon’s number, she closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
“Speak to me,” Simon said by way of greeting.
