Friday night cont. then Saturday
The task for Chris’s team was a difficult one. They had to
collect any fresh prints or other evidence and even with arc lights it was
probably going to be a wild goose chase. Ali had lost a lot of blood. Polly,
Gary and the killer had carried some of it up the crypt steps on their shoes,
but Chris did not think they could do much with the faint shoe prints, though
they had made a record of Gary’s, just in case.
Gary was true to his word. Cleo was glad to get into the
warm car. Gary wrapped a plaid around her because she was shivering. Her shoes
were clean because she had avoided the blood.
“No wonder Polly was half-frozen,” said Cleo. “The monks
must have worn a lot of clothes in those days.”
“Pure wool, Cleo. Snug and warm. They had themselves sewn
into their winter coms.”
“How do you know that, Gary?”
“Because a doctor visiting such patients told me,” he said.
“They weren’t keen on washing in the winter, and there are people today who
think washing is unnecessary. Many of them wear pure wool that is apparently
able to clean itself. I had an aunt who knitted her own ‘coms’.”
“Quite apart from trying not to think of the way the great
unwashed must stink, I’m trying to work out what ‘com’ is short for.”
“Combinations, Cleo. All-in-ones, like modern baby-grows.”
“Awesome, but I’d rather have a hot shower and clean underwear
every day,” said Cleo.
“I wonder who sewed the monks into their coms,” mused Gary.
“The nuns, I expect,” said Cleo. “Half the villagers round
here are related to one or other of the monks so I expect that they took their
creature comforts quite literally in those days, and I don't suppose they went
without sex.”
“Just through the ventilation holes, you mean,” said Gary.
“No comment on that,” said Cleo.
***
In the meantime they had arrived at the pub. The patrol cops
had resumed their traffic control. Molly was in a state of shock.
***
Cleo and Gary went into the pub and Gary went behind the
counter to et the espresso machine going while Cleo tried to comfort Molly.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” said Molly.
“Yes, Molly, he’s dead.”
“He went off with that little bitch, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did,” said Gary.
“Did you know about them?” Cleo asked.
“I suspected something. Ali denied it, but he was lying,”
said Molly. “He eventually said I should put up with it or he would leave.”
“So you put up with it.”
“Yes,” said Molly. Her fists were clenched. but her eyes
were dry. “I thought it wouldn’t last since Polly had nothing to offer except
her… skinny body.”
“Did you kill him, Molly?” Cleo asked.
“No, Cleo, I didn’t. He must have been dead when I got
there. That little whore was lying underneath him. I don’t think she even knew
he was dead. I did not hang around.”
“So you must have been there just after it happened,” said
Cleo, realising that the scenario she had mapped out was exactly what must have
happened. The only difference was Molly’s insistence that Ali was dead when she
got there. So why had she not challenged Polly?
”What time was it? Didn’t you see anyone?” Gary asked.
“No. Just that girl doing her thing. It must have been about
eleven.”
“He might not have died instantly after all, Molly. He might
still have been making movements himself.”
Molly looked startled.
“But…”
“But what, Molly?” Gary said, serving her and Cleo latté out
of the bar machine.
“He looked dead, Cleo. She was moving. He wasn’t.”
Cleo nodded to Gary. He understood that they were to leave
further questioning for the time being.
“You do understand that you were guilty of leaving him to
die if you thought he was not dead, Molly,” said Gary.
“Leave it, Gary. You can see Molly is not up to answering
any more questions now.”
“Think about that, Molly. The pub has to stay closed until
the forensic team has finished,” Gary ordained.
“The police are coming back early tomorrow because of the
other corpse,” said Molly. “Mr Winter said not to worry. He did not know I had
seen Ali in the crypt.”
“So you didn’t tell him, Molly. You should have,” said Gary,
thinking it could be a reason she would be under suspicion until a more likely
candidate could be found.
“Get some sleep,” he said now. “There are important
questions to answer, but they can wait.”
“Aren’t you going to arrest me?”
“No, Molly. You need to be here and I know you won’t run
away.”
“No, Gary. I trust you and I’ll be here.”
So saying, Molly took herself off her living quarters.
***
Cleo watched Molly close the inside door behind her before
saying what was on her mind.
“We’ll need to know exactly when Molly dropped Gloria off,
Gary. “Maybe my mother noticed something.”
“Would she and what? I don’ think Gloria will have anything
to contribute to the case, except to say when she got home,” said Gary.
***
Cleo and Gary had no idea what Molly could do now. Gary rang
Greg and told him he thought Molly should be watched since she had admitted
being at the crypt at about eleven. They could talk at length on Sunday morning
at HQ. He’d planned his free day and could not change things. He had a date
with Charlie’s hockey team on Saturday morning and was meeting the family for
lunch. Gary expected the rest of the day to be filled with family. Why did
people have to get killed at the weekend?
“That’s the question Chris always ask,” said Greg.
***
Back in the cottage, Gary tried to returned to normality.
“Coffee, Ladies?” he invited as he hugged Dorothy and
thanked her for looking after his little sweethearts.
“No thanks. I’ll go home now,” said Dorothy. “Just drop a hint or two about what is
happening.”
“Ali’s dead and a complete stranger died in the pub. Details
tomorrow.”
“Poor Ali,” said Dorothy. “And poor Molly. He was a bit of a
philanderer, Gary. I heard that he was carrying on with the barmaid and Molly
was putting up with it.”
“News gets around, doesn’t it?” said Gary.
“I’ll wander up there tomorrow and see if I can absorb more
gossip.”
“Don’t ask questions, Dorothy.”
“I won’t.”
“The pub is closed.”
“I won’t go there. That’s not where you hear the best gossip
in Huddlecourt Minor.”
***
“Thanks for supporting me, Cleo,” said Gary. “I’m glad you
came.”
“No thanks, Gary, but my duvet is calling.”
“Get under it, then. I’ll be there when I’ve looked in on
the girls.”
“I’m so glad we have us,” said Cleo as Gary slipped into bed
after stripping off and taking a one minute hot shower.
“That perfume should be banned,” said Cleo.
“Not if it has the desired effect.”
“You said it.”
***
Saturday morning was as hectic
as usual in the Hurley household, with Gary serving breakfast to anyone who
wanted some.
***
“Was it all a dream last
night?” Gary said to no one in particular. The night had been very short and
sweet.
“Another corpse?” said Charlie.
“Two,” said Gary.
“I’m losing count,” said
Charlie.
“So am I, Sweetheart.”
***
Gary was quite glad that
Charlie had decided to get the bus with her chums from the hockey team, Helen
from a few doors down and a new girl named Cecilia, whom even Charlie said
wielded her hockey stick like a tomahawk.
However, Cecilia had not
injured anyone in practice and Miss Plimsoll was going to keep an eye on her
today. The following week, Brass’s eldest daughter was going to be in the
hockey team, Charlie had revealed.
“How do you know, Charlie?”
Gary had asked.
“She’s my age and will be in
my class,” said Charlie.
Female logic, thought Gary.
Presumably the class teacher had told them there would be a new girl and
Charlie had put two and two together after hearing about Brass’s children at
the dinner party.
***
PeggySue had been fractious
since she woke up. Gary was tired, but doing his best to make th e child
chuckle.
“Wait till the twins arrive,”
said Cleo. “You’ll think twice about the joys of fatherhood when there are two
more to get under control.”
“If Charlie was here, she
would know what to do,” said Gary.
“Just give PeggySue a
piggyback up the road and back,” said Cleo. “There’s plenty of time.”
“Any other reason?” said Gary.
“I can’t think of one right
now.”
***
Gary noticed that all the
blinds were drawn at a house not far from the cottage.
“Who lives at 27 Lilac Way,
Cleo?” Gary wanted to know when he got back from his walk having appeased
PeggySue who had now stopped protesting and was sinking her little milk teeth
into a rusk.
Monkton Way, the home of Cleo
and her family, went straight towards Monkton Priory. Lilac Way went off to the
left and curved round to the right to join Lavender Drive, which is where Brass
was going to live.
“I’ve no idea. Why?”
“There’s something fishy about
that house. I think I’ll have to take a closer look.”
“That’s what patrol cops are
for, Gary,” said Cleo. “Phone and get a team to take a closer look then call
you back. We are going to watch the hockey pretty soon.”
“OK. It may be just an
impression I got from the closed shutters.”
“There may not be anyone in,” said Cleo. “The
owner could be on vacation.”
“You’re right, Cleo,” said
Gary. “I feel morbid after that business of the dead guy at the pub and Ali
sprawled on his stomach in the crypt, not to mention the earlier sight of Edith
with her wrists slashed.”
“You’ll feel better when
you’ve switched your attention to the girls stampeding on the hockey pitch,”
said Cleo. ”We’ll have nice family lunch at Romano’s and then come home. Today’s
a very special day. Remember?”
“How could I forget?” said
Gary. “How special?”
“Try announcing our nuptials.”
“It doesn’t get much more
special than that,” said Gary. “We need an engagement hug, my love.”
“Awesome!”
***
Everything went smoothly on at
the hockey match, though the screaming and shouting from Miss Plimsoll did not
actually confirm that. Gary cheered all the way through the match, which the
Middlethumpton girls won easily. No one suffered serious injury.
In the break Cleo found time
to have a word with Miss Plimsoll. It was only a word. Miss Plimsoll had no
time for parents.
Now Cleo saw her again, she
remembered the bossy little woman who had been in charge of games and sports at
the vicar’s garden parties. Strange how little she had appreciated those
parties at the time and now they had gone for ever. The scatter-brained vicar
had been replaced by a hard-headed female curate straight from college, who was
young and ambitious. Fetes on the football-ravaged vicarage lawn would not be a
priority for Mary Baker. Cleo could not envisage any of the village knees-ups
ever being revived.
***
“Penny for your thoughts, Cleo,”
said Gary.
“I was just thinking about
what will happen to events like the vicar’s garden party.”
“No point in being nostalgic.
What happened to the Parsnips is a Greek tragedy with us as the chorus,
watching helplessly from the side-lines. Nothing stays the same.”
“What’s going to happen to the
Parsnip boys?”
“I know what is not going to
happen. You are not going to take them on, Cleo. It’s Beatrice’s
responsibility.”
“Sure, but how they must be
suffering.”
“You don’t need to look far
for people who need you, Cleo,” said Gary. “There’s me, for example, needing
you desperately, and our kids, however many we manage to produce.”
“Are you suffering?” Cleo
asked.
“I suffered enough waiting for
you to make up your mind, Cleo.”
“I mean now.”
“No. I’m not suffering except
from exasperation whenever that butcher guy occupies your thoughts.”
“He doesn’t usually, Gary, but
maybe I should talk to him seriously. I don’t think Robert should walk out on
Edith right now.”
“It’s none of your business,
Cleo. He has to make that decision all by himself,” said Gary. “Robert does not
like complications. That’s why he walked out on you, which was admittedly a
lucky break for us. He could not cope with Edith in her present mental state,
always assuming that she lives, which reminds me that I should call the
hospital again.”
***
A few minutes later Gary had
been able to talk to the ward sister in his official capacity and had
ascertained that Edith was still very weak, but would live.
“At least those boys still
have a mother,” said Cleo.
“One who’ll probably spend years
in prison for her escapades with Robert,” said Gary.
“He might not press charges,”
said Cleo.
“But the prosecution will.”
“In that case, maybe Robert
really should cut his losses and go back to Wales.”
“You can suggest that to him,”
said Gary, “but I think that he when he’s had time to think about things he will
want to stand by Edith, although she hurt him.”
“I suppose that would be true
to character,” mused Cleo.
“Dr Mitchell told him he was
glad he could give him a tetanus shot straightaway. Human bites can apparently
be dangerous.”
“That’s macabre. Not far off
the Dracula story,” said Cleo.
“Edith behaved almost like a
vampire,” said Gary.
“Is she a woman he will want
to spend his life with, Gary? Would you?”
“Certainly not. She molested
him, Cleo. That is not a basis for a relationship.”
***
After what seemed like a whole
morning of mutual massacre, the hockey teams trooped from the pitch, driven on
by Miss Plimsoll, who was in charge until they left the school premises and had
better things to do than nursemaid juniors.
Cecilia had spent most of the
time running around on the left wing with her hockey stick in the air. She had
no idea what was going on. Miss Plimsoll would have a hard job disciplining
her.
Helen was a quiet, phlegmatic,
rather overweight girl off the hockey pitch, but a tough and startlingly
ruthless right full back in her gear.
Charlie was a fast-running
centre forward. She had scored two goals, which helped her team to win the
match.
***
The family met briefly for
hugs at the edge of the sports field. Charlie was instructed to go and get the
grime and mud off. That did not take long (not long enough, remarked Cleo) and
soon the family was speeding back to Middlethumpton city and Romano’s
establishment for lunch.
“It was a good match, wasn’t
it,” said Charlie.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for
the world, Sweetheart. Did you hurt yourself?”
“Of course not, Daddy, and if
I had, would I be telling you?”
***
Romano was delighted to see
them all. He carried PeggySue around for a bit while he organized a high chair
for her, and was generally amenable to all. Dorothy arrived soon after the
family and was heard speaking Italian to Romano, which impressed everyone. And
if 50 percent of her vocabulary was musical in flavour, it certainly sounded
fluent.
Gary wondered where the two
mothers were.
“Powdering their noses,”
Romano told him.
Eventually they reappeared.
Grit Hurley was about the same age as Gloria, tall and olive skinned, with
black eyes and dark brown hair streaked with grey and worn in a plaited knot
around her head. She was elegantly dressed and good looking. It was not hard to
see from whom Gary had inherited his looks.
“Wow” said Cleo, when she was
introduced.
“Lovely,” said Grit, as she
put her arms out to hug her almost daughter-in-law.
***
I was quite obvious that Grit
and Gloria hit it off. Cleo was more than relieved. What if they had ended up
fighting? Gloria could be ebullient, but was on her best behaviour at the
moment; Grit was serene in the midst of this boisterous group. Charlie was
delighted to see her again. Grit was enamoured of PeggySue, who seemed to take
after Cleo but, Charlie commented, had her father’s toes.
Dorothy was solemnly
introduced as a family friend and sleuth colleague of Cleo’s, a friend of Gary’s,
a musician and incidentally an expert brainstormer.
Grit was charmed by everything
and only a little angry that her contact with her son had been more often via
emails than meetings for years. The reason became clear to all when she asked
“How’s your ex, Gareth?”
“My ex-wife sent Charlie home
because she could no longer be bothered with her. Our marriage was over except
for the paper-work a long time ago, Mother, and you know that,” said Gary. “So
stop calling me Gareth, please, and let’s stop bringing my ex into the conversation.
We’ll get on well only if you can get away from that topic.”
“I want to, Gary,” said Grit.
“And I want you to, Mother.
Three years ago I met the love of my life and it has taken me a long time to
convince her that we belong together.”
Cleo had been listening and
now chipped in.
“I was blind and stupid, Grit.
We were having an affair and I actually married someone else, out of pity, on
reflection. But it’s a long story.”
“Cleo didn’t pity me,” said
Gary. “I walked round like a zombie between our trysts.”
“Ouch! That hit the spot,”
said Cleo.
“I was just as stupid,” said
Gloria, anxious to be part of that story. “But now I know better.”
Grit wondered what Gloria
meant.
***
The arrival of the antipasti
put an end to the heart to heart. Charlie concentrated on the hot garlic bread
and PeggySue pulled a face at the garlic smell, but nibbled all the same. The
pasta that followed was declared a hit not least thanks to the curls, twirls
and shells into which it was formed.
Dorothy thought the portions
at Delilah’s bistro were too big, but she nonetheless managed to eat all of one
of Romano’s vast pizzas and talk animatedly at the same time.
Gary helped PeggySue to
negotiate her curly pasta. He was delighted to have all his favourite women
within hugging distance. Towards the end of the meal, Dorothy asked Cleo, who
was sitting next to her, to tell her again what had happened while she had been
baby-sitting because she hadn’t quite believed her ears.
“I’ll tell you more details
later,” said Cleo. “It’s not something Charlie has to hear.”
“I can start investigating the
case later today,” Dorothy offered. “The pub should be open. If it isn’t I’ll
tell Molly not to endanger custom by not opening and look around for more
gossip.”
“That’s a good idea, but Greg
he is in charge of the case and he might not want you to do anything, Dorothy,”
said Gary.
***
Gloria, who knew only what she
had gleaned by eavesdropping during the two hours she had consented to help out
at the shop that morning, explained to Grit that there had been funny business in
the next village. Cleo’s Agency would be involved in the investigation and
wasn’t that just awesome?”.
***
Gary stood up to make his
announcement. Cleo stood up and chipped in while he was still deciding how best
to start.
“What Gary wants to say is
that this gathering is going to be the first and last one of this kind,” said
Cleo.
“Yes. We don’t want to drag things
out any longer,” said Gary.
“But you were getting alone so
well,” said Gloria, looking genuinely concerned.
“No need to be sad,” said
Gary.
“But I am,” said Gloria. “Cleo
has had two really bad relationships. I don’t want her to get hurt again.”
“Oh Mother, don’t be so melodramatic.”
There was a pause during which
Gloria looked stricken and Gary could barely resist the urge to laugh out loud.
“Fact is, dearest almost Mother-in-law,
that your daughter and I are getting married next Saturday,” he said.
“Oh, is that all,” said Gloria
with a sniff. “Here’s me making a fuss again…”
“You didn’t think I would
desert my lovely family, did you?” said Gary.
“I did for a minute,” sniffed
Gloria. “I should have known better.”
***
“You’ll have to get used to
Gary’s teasing, Gloria,” said Grit and went round the table hugging everyone.
It was quite clear to Grit that her son and Cleo were on cloud nine. She was
delighted for them and for herself.
“But the whodunit show must go
on regardless,” said Gary. “I’d better see to it now. My free Saturday is under
attack again.”
***
Gary phoned Chris and then
Greg. The forensic team had finished work and allowed Molly to clear up for
opening.
***
Romano produced a magnum of
Champagne.
“To my dearest friends,” he said
as he opened the champagne with the aplomb of a conjurer.
“All of them!” he added
looking hard at Gloria, who rewarded him with a coy smile and a little nod.
***
When the festivities had been
accomplished, Cleo phoned Molly and discovered that Polly had not been to the
pub that day. If she did turn up, she would be thrown out immediately. Molly
said nothing further about her own plans.
“Dorothy Price will visit you,
Molly,” Cleo told her.” She’ll help if you are busy and you can have a really
good chat with her. We want to support you.”
“Thanks Cleo. It means a lot
to me.”
***
“So you got all that fixed, I
take it,” said Dorothy.
“Considering that Molly could
have stabbed Ali, you are being very diplomatic,” said Gary “Don’t let Molly
think for one moment that she is under suspicion, will you?”
“What?” exclaimed Gloria, “a
stabbing?”
Gary explained in as few words
as possible. Charlie was fortunately sitting at the bar tucking into an
ice-cream and chatting to Romano in Spanish, which he could also speak fairly
well. Romano was reminded of his grandchildren in Calabria.
***
Gloria told Cleo that in her
condition she should not get mixed up in anything sordid.
“What condition, Mother? Being
pregnant has not affected my brain.”
***
Gelato and coffee for the
grownups rounded off an excellent lunch. Gary shared his ice-cream with
PeggySue. Grit watched him appreciatively. Finally, the two grannies declared
that they were going shopping and would drive to Lower Grumpsfield later. Grit
was hoping that Gloria would tell her more about everything. She did not
bargain for Gloria’s talent at filling in her knowledge gaps with invention.
Gary taxied his “other women” home and decided they were all
too tired to do anything but take a siesta.
***
Dorothy had stayed in Middlethumpton to buy herself a new
outfit for the wedding. She would not be outdone by the two grannies, she
decided. After shopping at Verdi’s grocery emporium she would go home and
prepare herself for her meeting with Molly.
Dorothy reflected that it was a shame Robert closed his shop
at lunchtime on Saturdays, but to her surprise he was still in business.
“I have to stay open on Saturday afternoons now,” he told
Dorothy. “All the other shops do and I can’t afford to lose custom.”
“What about …?”
“If you are thinking of Edith Parsnip, the answer is ‘no’.
That’s all in the past. The customers need me, Dorothy, and I don’t want to
lose them to some supermarket or other.”
Robert was talking in such an apathetic tone of voice that
Dorothy decided he was warning her not to interfere. Nevertheless she felt the
need to say something.
“But doesn’t she need you now, Robert?”
“Haven’t you heard what she did to me?”
“Not in so many words,” said Dorothy, who was not expecting
Robert to say any more, “but I can put two and two together, Robert.”
***
There was no other customer in the shop. Robert, who was
normally circumspect and inhibited, said “I’ll tell you then: She bit me in my
genitals, Dorothy. She bit my legs. She raped me. She hurt me physically and
insulted me. Even Dr Mitchell was appalled.”
“That’s horrible,” said Dorothy. “She can’t have been in her
right mind.”
“Whatever mind she was in, if I do not get her charged with
grievous bodily harm, I know the public prosecutor will. Those were almost Gary
Hurley’s words.”
“So she’s back behind bars, is she?” asked Dorothy, who had
already known the whole miserable story, but had not really wanted to believe
it.
“She will be soon and I hope they keep her there.”
“But …”
Dorothy wondered if Robert actually knew what else had
happened the previous day. Should she tell him?
“But Robert, she’s in hospital,” she said.
“A closed mental ward, I hope,” Robert retorted.
“As far as I know, she tried to take her life,” said
Dorothy.
“So she didn’t even get that right,” said Robert, and
Dorothy was surprised that he could be so callous.
Robert grabbed a saddle of lamb and hacked away at the
cutlets with a kind of viciousness that made Dorothy thankful he had the meat
to chop.
***
“I heard a rumour that you are going back to Wales,” she
said,
“I thought about it, but I am not going to run away from my
friends and customers for that woman,” said Robert.
“That’s the spirit,” said Dorothy. “Can you sell me a
shoulder of lamb for tomorrow?”
“I’ll give you one, Dorothy.”
“No you won’t. I can still pay for my food.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” said Robert, who seemed to
have regained his equilibrium. “I’m glad you came in today.”
“So am I. I had no time to buy the Sunday roast and I would
have gone without if you hadn’t been open.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” said Robert.
“Neither did I, Robert.”
My new assistant is starting next week,” said Robert. “You
may know her.”
“Who is it?”
“I got her from the job centre in Middlethumpton.”
“What about Gloria?”
“She’ll be a grandmother soon. I don’t suppose she’ll have
much time for anything else, and anyway, I need extra help here.”
“Gloria is already a grandmother and she has done great
things by helping you to expand your business,” said Dorothy.
It did not escape her that Robert had not forgotten Cleo.
Edith would have been a short-lived relationship anyway, she thought, though
she would have been suitable for Robert had she not behaved so badly. Cleo’s
marriage to Robert was a thing of the past.
“I’m divorced now,” Robert told Dorothy. “The decree came
through a day or two ago.”
So that was why Cleo and Gary could set a date for their
marriage. Cleo had not been very chatty lately. As for Gloria’s job, Dorothy had
seen her making eyes at Romano and had a hunch about that, but she also knew
that Cleo did not really want her mother to work for Robert any longer, not
least because Gloria liked to gossip and Cleo wanted to make the break from
Robert complete.
“So Cleo can get married again soon, can’t she?” said
Robert.
“I expect she can,” said Dorothy, determined not to provide
any information. “Does that upset you, Robert?”
“Not in the least. Our marriage was a mistake.”
“We all make mistakes and it did not seem like a mistake at
the time, did it? Perhaps Edith made a mistake when she was overcome by her sex
drive,” said Dorothy, wanting to comfort Robert but not knowing how to.
“Edith will have plenty of time to think that over,
Dorothy.”
“Try to understand her.”
“I understand her all right,” snapped Robert, suddenly quite
angry. “She’s mentally unbalanced and I can’t have that in my life.”
“Let’s talk about Edith’s problem some other time,” said
Dorothy as fortunately another customer entered the shop.
“Yes. I’d like that,” said Robert.
***
Back home, Dorothy rang Cleo and told her briefly about her
chat with Robert. Cleo was disinclined to discuss the affair.
“Another time, Dorothy. PeggySue needs changing now.”
“Isn’t Gary there, Cleo?”
“Yes, but he’s working.”
“Oh.”
Gary was pleased that Cleo had kept Dorothy’s phone-call
short.
“I damn well hope all the speculation and busy-bodying will
stop when we are married, Cleo. I love Dorothy, but I don’t care much for her
nosey-parkering.”
“She’s upset about Edith, but I’m sure Robert is coping and
Dorothy’s mission to talk to Molly will hopefully help that lady to recover.”
“With Hartley Agency help, I gather.”
“Yes Gary. And I think things will go well with Frank
Wetherby as interim manager. He starts soon.”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Cleo,” said Gary. “I owe a lot to
your agency and Roger praised your work even when…”
“When you thought we were in the way? Is that what you want
to say, Gary?”
“I had strange ideas about women in those days.”
“I noticed, Gary. That’s probably why I married Robert.”
Gary was shocked. Had he really been such a dolt?
“You weren’t eligible in those days, I mean, and you weren’t
the marrying kind. Too preoccupied.”
“Ouch Cleo. You’re being very hurtful! You know why things
were difficult for me. You know I wanted you at my side and in my bed all
through that nightmare determination of yours to please Robert.”
“I love you, Gary, and I know I loved you from the moment we
met.”
“You could have fooled me. I could be excused for thinking
that you only wanted me for sex.”
“Did I make that impression on you?”
“Sometimes, but I was grateful for any attention you gave
me.”
“I just want you to know all the truth, Gary. We’re in this
together, remember?”.”
“Your timing is abominable.”
“I should have rescued you earlier. My timing was
abominable, too.”
“Rescued?”
“Yes, from yourself, Gary.”
“Can we give this heart-to-heart a miss, Cleo? We need to
talk about what’s happening now.”
“OK. I agree. Let’s kiss and make up, shall we?”
“That’s what kids do,” said Gary.
“Kids and us,” said Cleo. “Grown-up kisses …”
“I expect you’ll show me what you mean,” said Gary.
“I intend to.”
***
Quite a while later, Gary, fortified by practical assurances
that this was the right way to go, told Cleo that he was sure Brass would pass
onto the agency anyone he could not deal with. He would not need to be told
that, because Cleo would be sure to pass on her clients if they were criminal.
“I’m banking on interaction,” said Cleo. “Can you take a
break now?”
“Haven’t we just had one?”
“That does not preclude having another one.”
“You’re right. I’ll go to HQ later and sort a few things
out. I need to be seen to be believed!”
"It's Saturday. There won't be many people
looking."
"All the more reason for dropping in,"
said Gary.
Charlie and PeggySue were fast asleep. Cleo and Gary found
contentment in each other’s arms. They would have stayed like that had not the
doorbell rung fiercely.
***
“That was Gloria’s ring,” said Cleo. “I’ll go and let them
in, shall I?”
“I’ll get dressed,” said Gary, thinking he would have a
quick shower first.
Cleo wore her kimono to go to the front door to let the
shoppers in.
The children had also heard the doorbell and Charlie, who
had been sleeping the sleep of the just after her grilling on the hockey pitch
and that big lunch, jumped up to hug the grandmothers while PeggySue shouted until
Gary brought her into the living-room. He hadn’t done much dressing.
“You two been lovin’ again?” Gloria asked, looking pointedly
at Gary’s undressed state.
“Yes,” said Gary. “You know that’s what we do every
afternoon.”
Gloria frowned. Grit heard the reply and was amused. Gareth
was a changed man and yes, she would have to call him Gary to commemorate that
change. Gone was her disgruntled son. In its place was a happy guy with few
inhibitions, a house full of women he loved, and a lot of joie de vivre.
“You can get dressed now, Gary,” said Cleo. “I think we’ve
finished the lovin’ for a bit.”
A wink to Grit told her that the main idea was to put Gloria
in her place.
Gloria was ashamed. “Look what I bought,” she said rather
too loudly, holding up a vast tunic affair for inspection.
“Very nice, Gloria,” said Gary. “It’s about Cleo’s size now,
but only while she has her baby bump.”
“I told her it’s too big,” said Grit.
“My mother does not listen if she has her mind set on
something, Grit.”
“I noticed,” said Grit. “You’re wearing that incredible
perfume again, Gary.”
“So you are,” said Cleo. “I’d better keep my distance.”
“I bought him the first bottle for Christmas when he was
about 17. After that, I always knew when he was going on a date.”
“You never told me
that, Gary,” said Cleo.
“I didn’t need to,” Gary replied enigmatically.
“Gary’s quite a lady’s man,” said Gloria, wanting to join in
the conversation.
“Thanks Gloria, I didn’t know you cared.”
“Well I do,” said Gloria. “Get dressed!”
“Shall I make the coffee first?” said Gary, eager to get
away from what he later unjustly described as the three furies.
“I’ll make the coffee and you get dressed, Gary,” said
Gloria.
“No, it’s my turn,” said Gary, going demonstratively into
the kitchen rather than the bedroom. Gloria followed him, ostensibly to help.
Cleo explained to Grit that Gary played amusing pranks these
days, especially on Gloria, who had once told him she admired his back.
“He never used to do that,” said Grit. “He was such a shy
little boy.”
“He’s over that now,” said Cleo.
“Why doesn’t he want me to call him Gareth?” Grit asked.
“Because the organist of our parish church is called Gareth
and Gary thinks he’s a bit of a twit – he is, too, especially when he’s
preening himself like a photo-model. I’ve seen peacocks do that in the mating
season, but he does it all the year round, Grit.
”We are still talking about the organist, aren’t we?” said
Grit.
***
“I hope you weren’t talking about me, Cleo,” said Gary, bringing
in the cream and sugar and followed closely by Gloria.
“No. About your namesake.”
Groaning, Gary went back into the kitchen.
“Ever since Gary lost his bath-towel and treated you to a
glimpse of his birthday suit, things have not been the same, have they,
Mother?”
Gloria felt very uncomfortable indeed.
“Are you still practising for your nature club holiday?” she
said.
“Sure. We booked a week at a nudist colony in Spain, Grit.
Imagine: no clothes for a whole week.”
Gloria went back to join Gary in the kitchen, perturbed at
Cleo’s attitude to what she thought was scandalous. She kept her eyes averted
from Gary’s back, though she still found it rather beautiful.
“Don’t worry,” said Grit, following Gloria. “Those nature
clubs are full of people who don’t think anything of going naked. They don’t
look at one another with curiosity, Gloria.”
Gary thought his mother had rather succinctly summed up what
Gloria did when she looked at him, dressed or undressed, and was amused at the
idea of a repeated performance of exposure to Cleo's prudish mother, who could
only tolerate the double intenders she had invented herself. He came back into
the living-room, opened the hatch connecting the dining area with the kitchen,
and reached for the coffee mugs.
"You're losing your bath-towel again, Gary," said Gloria,
who had come in with a plate of cookies.
“My mother won't care. She changed my nappies when I was a
baby, Gloria, and you’ve seen it all before, haven’t you?” he teased, giving
Gloria an excuse to escape by asking where PeggySue was hiding.”
“In her cot, Sweetheart. She decided to have another round
of siesta and wanted to be alone for it,” said Cleo.
Charlie had found a film she wanted to watch and was totally
oblivious of everything else.
Gary went to look for his little daughter.
“If she sleeps too long now she’ll be prancing around half
the night,” he explained.
“Spoken like a true daddy,” said Cleo.
***
“Well,” Gloria said to Grit, “you would not catch me at one
of those naked places.”
“I probably wouldn’t go to one, either,” said Grit. “But I
think people should be left to decide for themselves.”
“I’m glad we agree,” said Gloria.
“I would not be a bit surprised if the whole thing was not a
joke,” said Grit.
“The more we talk about it, the more determined we are to
give the nudist camp a try,” said Cleo. She opened her laptop and printed a
copy of the booking confirmation.
“You’d better believe it’s going to happen,” she said,
handing the document around.
“You booked?” said Gloria.
“Sure.”
“I’m disgusted. The club is called “Summer Skin”. How awful
is that?”
Gary reappeared with PeggySue on his arm and his bath-towel
hanging precariously low.
“I did not know you were serious about that naked holiday,
Gary,” said Gloria. She was now quite upset and the precarious position of the
bath-towel troubled her.
“We are looking forward to it,” said Gary.
„I hope you are not going to force the children to go along,“
she said.
“Of course they are all going with us, Mother. They’ll have
fun. Would you like me to book you in, Grit?”
“Thanks, Cleo, I’ll look in my diary and let you know. Can I
persuade you to come along, Gloria?”
“Certainly not, and they should not see their father in that
state,” she added, nodding towards Gary.
Gloria was now very upset.
“What state? We walk around naked all the time here when we
have no visitors,” said Gary.
“But…”
“I know what you are thinking, Gloria,” said Gary. “You have
a wicked mind!”
“Have some coffee,” said Gloria, seriously flustered. “No.
Get dressed first!”
About an hour and several coffees later, Grit said it was
time for her to get home. If her son and the love of his life wanted to walk
around naked, why shouldn’t they? Did Gloria want a lift home? She did and
would be delighted if Grit could stay the night.
“Can I stay, too?” said Charlie, breaking off her television
session.
“Sure,” said Gloria. “Pack your pyjamas and toothbrush and
we’ll be on our way.”
“What a lovely idea,” said Grit. “Charlie and I have lots to
talk about.”
“Come to lunch tomorrow, Grannies,” Gary invited. “My mother
can drive back to Oxford later and I’ll take you home, Gloria. I’ll get dressed
before you come.”
Gary’s promises to take his mother-in-law home in his sleek automobile
always appeased her. She could even turn a blind eye to a half-naked almost
son-in-law if a ride in the red sports car was in the offing.
***
“I’ll be getting a hatchback soon, Gloria. We’ll need a
bigger car for all the little people we are going to transport.”
“Can Cleo have your lovely red car, or is it going to be
sold?”
“Cleo can only have it if she agrees to let you have her
little car, Gloria.”
Cleo looked at Gary in utter astonishment. She would never
have dreamt of suggesting it.
“Are you joking, Gary?” she said.
“No. I’m serious, Cleo. Don’t you think it’s a good idea?”
“Sure. Brilliant,” said Cleo.
“Then it’s settled.”
“Will I need a car if I work … somewhere else?” Gloria
wanted to know.
”Do you have something in mind, Mother?” said Cleo.
Gloria turned coy. To avoid the necessity of explaining, she
asked Grit if that was her proper first name.
“No, it’s not even Gretel or Margaret. It’s Gretchen,” said
Grit. “My father read Goethe and all the other European classics. I’m just glad
they didn’t name me Miranda, or Nora, or Ophelia.
“Oh, that’s awesome,” said Gloria, who had no idea what or
who Goethe and the other women were, except Gretel as in the fairy tale.
***
“What was that about, Cleo?” Gary wanted to know when the
goodbye hugs were over and the threesome had left in Grit’s car for Gloria’s
flat.
“Quite apart from Grit being rather a culture shock for my
mother, I suspect that Gloria plans to work for Romano, but I did not want to
ask her directly,” said Cleo.
“Isn’t a romance with Romano what you wanted for Gloria?”
Gary asked.
“Yes, but I did not know she was such a fast worker!”
“So that’s where you get it from. I’m not going to HQ. It’s
too late, but we could have an early night for a change.”
“How early?”
“When PeggySue is asleep,” said Gary.
“Well, why not?”
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