Twenty - One

Vanessa hurried indoors and dumped her bag in the hall. She knew her mother was out at her amateur dramatics rehearsals. But Nicky was at home because she could hear pounding music coming from her bedroom. She hurried into the living room, thumbed through the phonebook on her mobile, found Mariaa’s number and called. While she waited for the connection, she glanced upstairs through the open door to make certain the coast was clear. When she heard the ringing tones, she became more wound up.

‘Hello, Maria speaking.’

She sounded as if she was talking through a mouthful of food.

‘It’s Vanessa here.’

‘Oh hi, Vanessa. Can I call you back? I’ve just sat down to eat and it’s...’

Vanessa interrupted her. ‘I want to know what’s going on..’

Genuine surprise from the other end. ‘Sorry?’

‘You know what I’m talking about.’

‘Sweetie, intuitive I may be, telepathy I don’t do.’ Maria tittered at her own cleverness.

‘I was taking some photographs in Dunorlan park today.’

There was a slight pause, then Maria recovered. Her voice was sweetness and light. ‘Yes, it was a lovely bright day. Bit cold, but it was sunny.’

Vanessa ignored it. ‘I was using a telephoto. I got a lovely shot of two lovebirds, clinging to each other as they walked by the lake. Then I recognised you both.’

Maria laughed. ‘Well, we’re both over the age of consent. And it’s a free world.’

‘But why Jason, of all people?’

‘I felt sorry for him.’

‘Felt sorry for the scumbag! What are you playing at, Maria? The guy’s a creep. A wanker!’

‘I think he’s sweet. When we played that trick on him, I felt so guilty. Like I wanted to mother him.’

‘It looked like you were doing more than mothering him this afternoon.’

‘Well, he’s quite sexy. I mean, you must know that, Vanessa. You went to bed with him.’

‘Yes, along with dozens of other girls.’

Maria sighed loudly and deliberately. ‘Look, Vanessa, d’you mind if we talk about this another time? Only I’ve...’

Vanessa was determined Maria wasn’t going to get off lightly. ‘I’m sorry, Maria, but I went to a lot of trouble to set Jason up like that. And he treated my sister pretty badly. The photos of him in drag will be in circulation by next week. No one will take him seriously again. Or anyone who goes out with him.’

Maria’s voice suddenly had a harder edge to it. ‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong, sweetie. Jason happens to be a Rocky Horror Show fan, and those photos will just show what a cool, fun-lovin’ guy he is.’

Vanessa screamed down the phone. ‘Why are you doing this?’

‘I might ask you the same. What’s all this revenge stuff?’

Vanessa clicked off the phone, hurled it across the room, making sure it had a soft landing on the sofa, then burst into tears. She jumped when Nicky spoke.

‘Vanessa! What’s wrong?’

Vanessa could feel herself going red. ‘Oh, nothing. Just trouble with my coursework.’

***

‘Haven’t you got your front door key? Marjorie said, noticing how haggard Ted looked as he stood framed in the doorway.

‘Yes, but I thought...’

‘Oh, come in,’ Marjorie said impatiently. ‘Honestly, Ted, you bring on half this trouble on yourself.’

She closed the front door and Ted put his suitcase down. Marjorie put on what she thought was her softest, most forgiving, expression. It came narrowly close to Gloria Swanson’s pose when she was expecting Mr. De Mille’s close-up.

‘I’m sorry, Ted,’ she whispered. ‘Let’s patch it up.’ She offered him her little finger. Ted entwined his own pinkie in hers and together they chanted: ‘Make friends, make friends, never, never break friends.’ Then Marjorie pulled him towards her and he bounced lightly off her protruding stomach.

‘Ooh, what’s that?’ he said, after giving her a dutiful kiss.

‘The baby. He just kicked you.’

‘He?’

‘Donald called him a “he”. Donald says he’s looking forward to playing football with him in the park.’

Ted stared at his wife, desperately trying to keep his expression deadpan.