Beyond Death (2 page)

‘You can be extremely stupid at times, Claire, even by your standards. Jay wants to make your second anniversary even more special by proposing to you, you Muppet!’

Claire fell onto the sofa, shocked into silence. Her smile spread slowly across her face and she jumped up and started skipping around the room, clapping her hands and laughing. Tash shook her head. She was over the moon for her but regretted her own indiscretion. She also regretted telling the girls at work but Claire was her current priority. She’d done so well keeping the truth from her for this long and she’d fallen at the last hurdle. Now she had to convince her to act as if she knew nothing.

Tash waited for the initial euphoria to wear off and Claire sat down next to her, still giggling and breathless.

‘I take it you’re going to say yes then?’ and Claire nodded.

‘The thing is, I promised Jay that I’d keep it a secret so you’re going to have to act as if it’s a complete surprise otherwise you’ll spoil all his preparations.’

‘I can do that,’ said Claire, ‘but why did he need to tell you?’

Tash knew what was coming and decided to be patient. She hoped Claire didn’t suspect anything; she still felt guilty even though it had happened ages ago.

‘Tash?’

Tash returned to the present. ‘Simple, Claire. Jay wanted to prepare a special menu full of your favourites. He knows that you change your mind about what you like almost on a daily basis so he told me so that he could keep up-to-date and make it soooo special.’

She could see that Claire wasn’t totally convinced so carried on.

‘He wants to make this evening really special for you so he asked for my help. You know what a brill cook and a perfectionist he is and he wanted everything to be just right. You’re having orange and melon for starters, your favourite chicken for main and some sort of strawberry and chocolate concoction for dessert.’

‘I would have preferred one of his legendary soups for starters.’ Claire tried to keep a straight face.

‘You ungrateful...’

‘Got you. Only joking.’ She clapped and laughed. They were always trying to wind each other up and Claire was pleased to have got one over on Tash. She put her minor triumph to one side and turned serious.

‘You guys have gone to all this trouble for me?’ Before she answered Claire hugged her friend and flatmate, silently thanking the gods of fate for her lovely friends and family, but mostly for sending Jay her way.

They stopped hugging and Claire held her at arms length. ‘I promise I won’t let on until we’ve been married for a few years and we can all have a good laugh about it then.’ Both girls had tears in their eyes and Claire got up from the sofa, wiping hers away.

‘I’m going to ruin my mascara if I’m not careful,’ she said, running to the bathroom. She went to her room after leaving the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the dressing table mirror. Her chat with Tash and the fact that she’d worked late meant that she didn’t have enough time to sort herself out. She hastily put on another coat of mascara and pinned back her fringe with a slide. She usually straightened her fringe and let the rest of her hair do its own thing. Jay loved her curls and whenever she told him that her hair was driving her nuts he ran his fingers through it and said that she was beautiful.

‘Love is blind.’ She said out loud and smiled at her reflection, knowing she looked good in her skinny jeans and bustier top. She grabbed her bag and shouted goodbye to her flatmate.

‘I won’t expect to see you later tonight then.’

Claire popped her head around the door and hurriedly said that she’d be back but probably early in the morning as usual for a Friday. It was so much easier in the rush hour to get to work from their flat instead of Jay’s and she often took a taxi home early morning and showered at her own place before leaving for work.

‘I can’t afford to take another sickie and I need to save my days off for Christmas, so I’ll definitely be back. Anyway, if I took extra stuff with me on a Thursday, Jay would know the secret was out,’ she shouted before leaving.

Fair point agreed Tash as she watched her friend disappear through the front door, unaware that this would be the last conversation they’d ever have.

*****

Claire left the train 50 minutes later and made her way out of the station. She usually ignored everyone and everything on the ten-minute walk to Jay’s flat but this evening she wanted to share her happiness and smiled at everyone and everything. She looked around her. Nature seemed to be putting on a special private show just for her and she listened to the birdsong and looked at the beautiful flowers as she passed gardens. Her senses seemed to be heightened and she stopped to look at bees buzzing around lavender bushes at the border of the park. She sniffed and the scent reminded her of her late grandmother’s garden. If it hadn’t been for the money left to her by her grandmother she wouldn’t have been able to afford to move to London and train as a Legal Secretary. Although the company was sponsoring her it had still been a big step to move from her home and retail job to the capital. Her twin brothers had helped her find a place and had introduced her to Tash, who worked for the same company as Jim and had advertised for a flatmate. If she hadn’t made the move she would never have met Jay. Claire looked up to the late summer sky and muttered a thank you, imagining her grandmother could hear her – she wanted to thank everyone this evening. A few youngsters playing football in the park stopped to look at the mad woman who was talking to the sky and Claire laughed self-consciously and carried on her way, thoughts turning to her future. Her evening classes would be completed the following month and her five-year plan was to get promoted within the next year and to start a family when they’d been married for about a year. She would like two or three children within that five-year period but knew that Jay wasn’t a lover of big families. She was sure she could get him to see things her way and continued smiling to herself as she reached the house. She looked up at it before approaching the door. Jay’s flat on the third floor wouldn’t be big enough when they married, especially when they started a family, so they would need to move. It should be sooner rather than later thought Claire, because she wanted to stamp her individuality on their own place wherever that might be. She knew she was getting ahead of herself so tried to contain her excitement. Plenty of time for that later she thought as she pressed the buzzer.

‘Who is it?’ he said over the intercom and Claire loved the fact that his voice quickened her pulse still, even after two years together.

‘It’s me and I’ve forgotten my key again. Sorry.’

She heard him laughing and the click signalled that he’d unlocked the outer door. She entered and walked up the stairs, composing herself so that she didn’t give anything away.

It was pretty obvious that something was going on as soon as she entered the flat. Even though it was still light outside there were candles throughout the lounge and Jay had opened out the small dining table and a candle was lit in the middle. They kissed as if they hadn’t seen each other for weeks not one day, and Jay handed the love of his life a glass of champagne.

‘Happy anniversary, darling. This is the second of many.’ They clinked glasses and Claire looked around.

‘Someone’s been very busy and all for our anniversary?’

He nodded and winked. ‘You know you’re worth it, Claire. Now go and sit down so I can spoil you.’

She looked up to the ceiling and for the third time that evening thanked her lucky stars for the day she met this man. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve this happiness and was amazed that the physical side of their relationship was still electrifying. Their love life was out of this world and made her two previous serious relationships seem like kids stuff. She looked at Jay. The man she loved was gorgeous, kind, could cook and didn’t mind doing household chores, and he adored her as well. Life was perfect.

‘Okay?’ Jay could see the expression on Claire’s face and knew that this would be a night to remember. She smiled in reply and he put the plates on the table and nodded his head in its direction.

The orange and melon was delicious and left plenty of room for the main event.

‘Shall I clean up as we go while you’re sorting the main course?’ she asked.

‘You just stay where you are, darling I don’t want you to lift a finger tonight,’ he said and Claire smiled in reply.

As he’d expected, she loved the main course and he pushed the plates to one side once they’d both finished. ‘More champagne?’

‘Don’t mind if I do, babes.’ She pushed her glass forward and he recharged both. He looked at the woman he adored and decided the time was right for the question but Claire had other plans.

‘Jay, before you serve dessert I just wanted to give you this.’ She bent to the floor and picked up a wrapped package. ‘It’s only a small anniversary present but when I saw it I knew it was exactly right for you.’

He opened the package carefully so that the paper didn’t rip, and was delighted when he saw what was in the box.

‘A genuine Swiss Army watch, waterproof to what…’ he scanned the leaflet, ‘two hundred and fifty metres. Claire, it’s perfect, exactly what I’ve always wanted.’

The watch was tough and would be great for all his outdoor pursuits. He left the table and grabbed hold of her, picking her up and swinging her around.

‘Thank you, darling. It’s great.’

‘Put me down I’m going to be sick.’ He put her down but enveloped her in a big hug. His smile disappeared as quickly as it had arrived and, solemn faced he released her.

‘Please sit down. There’s something I need to say.’

Although she knew this was coming Claire felt the butterflies dance in her stomach and she started shaking. She returned to her seat and looked at her boyfriend. He took her hand.

‘You know I’ve loved you more or less since the first time we set eyes on each other don’t you?’

‘What do you mean, more or less?’ she said and Jay laughed, thinking it typical of her to latch on to the negative.

‘Okay, it wasn’t until the second date that I was one hundred per cent sure but by then I knew I wanted to spend my life with you.’

Satisfied, she didn’t interrupt further.

Letting go of her hand, he knelt on the floor on one knee and produced a small box. He opened the box and smiled.

‘Claire Sylvester, will you marry me?’

Claire was laughing and crying at the same time and quickly reached inside her bag for a tissue to wipe her eyes and nose.

‘Yes, oh yes. Of course I will.’

Jay slid the solitaire on her finger and the ring was a perfect fit.

‘Tash?’ she asked and he nodded, lifting his fiancée to her feet.

They kissed, slowly and then hungrily, as if nothing else in the world existed. Dessert was forgotten as he led her to the bedroom where they made love urgently at first then leisurely the second time, savouring each and every moment and the exquisite hidden places of their bodies. Both still awestruck at the intensity of feeling.

Exhausted and totally satiated, they slept the sleep of the dead.

*****

Ron was absolutely knackered. He’d agreed to do a month of night shifts for his mate Ken who was also his boss. Ken had told him that he was short of reliable taxi drivers but Ron had found it hard to believe as the recession meant that loads of people were applying for few jobs, but he’d convinced him.

‘Look, mate. I know that for every vacancy we get twenty applicants but that’s only because they have to apply,’ said Ken, ‘not because they want to.’ He went on to say that the firm might go bust and that Ron could lose his job if that happened.

‘It’s only for a month until we train the new guys. Then you can go back to days and the occasional night shift.’

Ron had reluctantly agreed but was having problems adjusting to his new routine and seemed to be always tired. The extra money would be handy to give Val the holiday she’d always wanted, though. She’d been distant and snappish recently and, whatever was wrong, he wanted to put it right and celebrate their 25
^th
wedding anniversary in style. He’d spoken to Libby their oldest, and she’d agreed it was a good idea. Their son Carl didn’t have a clue what was going on and Ron was happy to keep it that way.

The night had been quiet so far and Ron had snatched forty minutes sleep before the radio brought him back with a jolt.

‘You there, Ron?’ Sheila sounded pissed off and Ron answered straight away.

‘Of course I’m here.’

‘Answer your damn calls then. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for ages.’

‘I had to answer a call of nature actually.’ Sheila knew Ron was lying but didn’t push it.

‘I’ve got a pick-up from Richmond Avenue - girl named Claire. Can you do it?’

Ron nodded to himself. He’d picked up Claire on previous occasions and taken her over the river. She was a lovely girl, originally from Yorkshire and down to earth. A good laugh and also a good tipper.

‘That means I won’t be able to pick-up Mrs Cooper later, though.’ Mrs Cooper stayed over with her daughter every Thursday night and liked to get up early and return home before visiting her late husband’s grave where, she’d told Ron, she hoped to join him in the not too distant future. She lived near Ron and it was convenient that she had become his last fare before he knocked off on a Friday morning.

‘I’ll get Mike to cover,’ said Sheila and Ron smiled to himself. Sheila wasn’t a bad sort. She knew he was saving to give Val a good holiday and young Claire’s fair would earn him more than the old lady’s. Every little helped as they said.

‘Okay, no probs. I’ll be there in,’ he looked at his watch, ‘fifteen minutes max.’ They hung up and Sheila relayed the message to Claire.

*****

It had been a perfect night and Claire wished she could play hooky and stay in bed with Jay all day. She snuck back under the duvet after calling for the taxi and Jay was still sleeping. She looked at his relaxed face and body only half covered by the quilt. Smiling in memory of how skilled he was with that body, she gently put the quilt over his exposed arm and torso and lightly kissed his cheek, not wanting to wake him.