Shelley was glad to be back with Resident Dicks All the Boxes even though it was inconvenient to be seeing him on a Friday night. Due to oversleeping until the afternoon, she’d had to postpone her mother’s visit until Saturday.
He leant forward and pulled out the gilded wall mirror from under the coffee table. Near the centre was the mountain of cocaine and on one side, the roads: four colossal lines spanning the length of the entire mirror.
Although Shelley’s nose had acclimatised to the lines he made, her mind had not. She was aware that she needed to restrict the amount she sniffed – unlike the last time when she’d seen him at his London residence. Having only just recovered from her last bout of crack-induced psychosis, she didn’t want another attack inflicted by cocaine.
He rested the mirror on the rectangular table in front of them and handed Shelley a rolled up fifty-pound note. “It’s all yours, sweetie.”
“I’m taking it easy tonight, remember? Just one for me.” Shelley stayed sitting on the azure sofa. She bent over the mirror and snorted one line.
She rested her head in his lap. He stroked her hair from her temple to her neck. It wasn’t like being on a normal job. If she didn’t need to keep the cold bank refilled, it might not have been a job at all because she’d be in a position to see him for free.
“Can I get you another gin and tonic, sweetie?”
“I’m okay for now, thank you.” She smiled up at his narrow face. From that unfortunate angle, she could see right up into his nostrils, all the little hairs.
Her arms felt uncomfortably constrained in the bandages but she’d have to bear it a while longer. Oddly, he didn’t seem to mind that she kept her long-sleeved, button-down dress on. He was sympathetic to her predicament and had told her that this time, she’d be getting a little extra to buy herself a few similar dresses while her psoriasis was active.
“I’ve got a little something for you.” He repositioned her head on the sofa then left the room.
Unlike her, Resident Dicks All the Boxes hadn’t given a false name. It would have helped if he had. Because she was referring to him mentally as Resident Dicks All the Boxes, she worried saying the name aloud while she was high. Convinced it would slip out, she started calling him John in her head. After all, that is what he was – her favourite, but a john nonetheless.
Where was he? Shelley wondered, feeling uneasy. Just before panic set in, she saw him at the doorway. He’d returned with a gift-wrapped parcel.
“Happy belated birthday, sweetie.” He put the square package in her hands. “I hope you like it.”
“Thank you.” Shelley was stunned. Clients had given her gifts before, but never a present for her birthday. This was a first.
“Well, open it.” He smiled.
She pulled on the bow, neatly unfolded the wrapping paper and revealed a black velvet box. She opened the box, which was lined with cream silk or satin (she wasn’t sure which) and resting on that was a gold necklace with a red, pear-shaped pendant.
He took the necklace out of the box and sat down on the sofa next to Shelley. “May I?” he said. Then he turned her round to face the opposite direction. He removed the necklace she was wearing before fastening the new necklace at the nape of her neck.
“Thank you so much,” she said, staring down at the clear, red stone. “I love it... It’s perfect.”
“You’re perfect, perfectly sublime, and rubies are special, Kiki, like you.” He looked into her eyes. “They’re not as hard as diamonds,” he said, passing her the other necklace.
Shelley felt a warmth come to her cheeks. She hoped she wasn’t as blood red as her new pendant. She couldn’t understand why he liked her; she was no longer a blonde, she had bandaged arms and she kept her dress on all night.
“There’s something I want to ask you,” he said. “In the summer I live in America. I have a house in South Beach, in Miami, and I usually have a girl or two come to stay. I was thinking that maybe you’d like to come. I’ll be over there for two months, but you don’t have to stay the whole time. You can come for a week or a few weeks, whatever you like.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I don’t think I can.” The job would be worth thousands, but Shelley couldn’t go. Going abroad was impossible with a heroin habit. Even if she went cold turkey, she still couldn’t leave her other responsibilities.
“I know what you’re thinking.” He placed his hand on her arm and patted it lightly. “Don’t worry, it’s okay. I spoke to a friend of mine, he’s a top dermatologist, and apparently, the sun can heal your psoriasis. Even the sea could help.”
Shelley didn’t have anything to say. What excuse could she give now? She tried to think of a lie but nothing came. The truth – she’d have to tell the truth, but only a small portion.
“It isn’t that.” Shelley turned her head towards the fireplace. “I look after my mum and I can’t leave her.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Is your mother ill?”
“Kind of, she’s got depression.”
“Well she’s very lucky to have you taking good care of her.” He placed his arm around her slumped shoulders. “Can’t you ask someone to stand in for you?”
“There isn’t anyone. Just me and my aunt, and she can’t do any more than she does already.”
Grief coursed through Shelley’s body. Her eyes stung with uninvited tears. There was someone else but he’s gone. Perhaps the truth hadn’t been such a good idea after all. Crying wasn’t in her job description.