Inseparable Bond (52 page)

Jennifer
hesitated as she retrieved the toast, which had just popped up from
the toaster.

‘That would be
nice, dear, but I arranged to meet Elizabeth Pollard in town. She
had asked if I would give her some advice on curtains for her
lounge,’ she replied.

‘Who’s
Elizabeth Pollard?’ George asked, inquisitively.

‘She’s from
the Women’s Institute, they have just moved to a large house on the
south bay,’ she replied, hesitation and nervousness quickly
overcame her as she frantically wiped the work surface, avoiding
eye contact with George.

He looked down
at his breakfast, pausing as he wondered if she was being truthful
about her arrangements, at the same time annoyed with himself for
mistrusting her.

She carried
her cup of tea to join him at the table.

George looked
up at her as she buttered her toast as Walter waiting anxiously by
her feet for the crusts of the bread she carefully sliced off for
him.

George still
felt betrayed and greatly disappointed after she had lied to him
the previous day. He looked across the table at her. Her dark brown
eyes sparkled with amusement as Walter reached up to her, munching
the toast with his small paws resting of her knees as she spoke
quietly to him while stroking his tiny stretched back.

She finished
her toast and tea and reached for her raincoat from behind the
kitchen door. George cleared the table and began to wash the dishes
as Jennifer gave him a slight kiss on his forehead as went out of
the kitchen door and down the front garden steps. She briskly
walked down the steep slope into town, looking over at the peaceful
sea.

The excitement
of her brother’s release from prison washed over her, giving her a
spurt of energy and youthfulness as she freely walked to the shops,
breathing in the strong sea air as she approached the estate agents
office.

Before they
issued her with the keys, she had to complete direct debit payments
for the monthly rental, electricity and council tax, which would be
debited from her private account on the first of each month. A coin
meter supplied the gas.

Although she
had not received a call from her brother, she went about her task
of furnishing the flat, determined to make it presentable for when
he arrived. She excitingly carried her purchases backwards and
forwards from the shops to the flat, fortunately being situated
amongst all the major retail outlets.

She had
ordered a new refrigerator, a gas cooker and hood, a new
three-piece suit, a colour television set and a smart hi-fi system,
all to be delivered the next day. She had shopped extravagantly and
spent over £3,000.

She scrubbed
and cleaned the kitchen until it glistened with modernity.

She could not
let go of this overwhelming intense joy that furnishing the flat
was giving her, the knowledge that in the next couple of days she
would be seeing John on the outside and not just in the depression
of the prison visiting room.

Once she had
cleaned through, she displayed the bath towels on the window sill
as the water ran with tremendous, gushing enthusiasm from the great
broad central chrome tap, and climbed with difficulty over the side
into the great claw-footed tub which she had previously scented
with some bath essence she had purchased along with other bathroom
items.

As the water
closed over her tired limbs and the bubbles clustered around her
small nipples in decorative rings, she lay back surveying the
bathroom and imagining how lovely she could make the flat once the
larger items had been delivered.

She sighed
first of all with the whole incredible thought of it, but was full
of optimism and enthusiasm as it seemed to her that her heart, or
her soul, was leaving her tiny body and floating above the water in
which she lay.

Realising the
time she had spent in the flat, she quickly climbed out of the
bath. The hot steam dampened her hair. She quickly dressed back in
her green twin-set and plaid skirt covered by her grey
raincoat.

She looked
around the flat before closing the door behind her.

The October
air was unusually balmy and she was able to walk back up to the
house without her raincoat, which she placed over her arm under her
handbag.

She had
purposely bought some food items for the house to justify her
lengthy shopping day and hopefully ward off any suspicion.

George was
sitting at his desk in the study as Jennifer struggled through the
front door laden down with her heavy shopping bag.

George came
through to greet her, kissing her on the forehead as he took the
coat off her to hang behind the kitchen door. He looked dowdy,
serious, resentful and dull after being left alone all day, but
couldn’t help but notice Jennifer’s happiness and she seemed
ravishingly beautiful and radiant as she enthusiastically prepared
the vegetables for the evening supper.

‘You were a
long time in town, dear,’ he asked her.

‘Yes, the town
was very busy, but I didn’t rush, I had lunch down by the harbour
and went for a stroll around the castle grounds as the weather was
so lovely for this time of the year,’ she replied.

You seem to
have had a most enjoyable time,’ he said, with a curious
expression.

‘Yes, it was
fine,’ she replied.

They ate
supper and went through to the lounge. Jennifer switched on the
television, which George had found unusual. He had noticed her
acting strangely over the past few days, becoming very involved
within herself, seeming content and happy in her own company. They
had previously shared everything in the short time of their lives
where they would argue and accept, tolerate and disagree, and enjoy
each others banter, without the disturbance or distraction of a
television set.

The silence
between them was profound as Jennifer gazed at the television,
stroking Walter who was precariously perched on her knee.

After supper,
they would normally chat in gaiety, which became infectious, and
their enthusiasm undeniable despite their ages.

George racked
his brain, wondering what had caused the change in his beloved
Jennifer. He had done everything possible to avoid her needing to
step out of the normal day-to-day routine of their lives, even by
employing Molly to assist with the cleaning so there were no
housewifely duties to weigh her down.

He wondered if
Walter had taken her love and admiration away from him as she
adored the little puppy and the affection was clearly
reciprocated.

He had dealt
with many divorces while being a solicitor, witnessing many
terrible silences of married people, the hatred underneath the
polite conversations, the narrow eyes as one or other of the
couples had left his office in Blackpool after the mocking laughter
as they retold George their experiences of a decaying
relationship.

He began to
think that she had tired of his companionship, although she had not
voiced her determination to free herself from the confines of the
relationship.

‘Shall we go
for a walk along the esplanade dear? It’s a lovely evening,’ he
asked, to break the chilling silence of the room.

‘Yes that
would be nice, I’m sure Walter would like that also,’ she replied
as she heaved herself out of the chair.

The sun was
setting over the horizon on the peaceful sea; a light breeze blew
across the beach as they walked slowly looking through the windows
of the grand houses as they passed. George looked smart and
distinguished, his hair was immaculately cut, greying at the sides,
and wearing a trilby hat and a jacket that fitted beautifully, in
soft cashmere.

Jennifer
tucked her arm into his as she stroked the soft material of his new
jacket, finding the cashmere surprisingly sensual against her
skin.

They sat on a
bench to watch the last rays of the setting sun in the distance.
Jennifer cuddled up to him as she pulled her collar high over her
neck against the chilling breeze, taking in deep breaths of his
scented aftershave which she found sensually appealing. She looked
up at him and smiled pathetically. He placed his arm around her
tiny shoulders and squeezed her tightly as they both fixed their
eyes on a fishing boat steering into the harbour followed by a
trail of seagulls swooping and diving over their daily catch which
littered the decks.

The following
morning the rain bashed against the bedroom window as Jennifer lay
in bed contemplating how she would be able to return to the flat to
receive the items which were to be delivered.

Jennifer had
never had to think for herself over the last eight and a half years
as George would organise all the daily routines, allowing her to
live as each day came, avoiding any inconvenience or disruption to
her day.

Once she came
downstairs, George came straight to her side, putting his arms
around her waist and gently kissing her on her forehead.

Breakfast was
laid on the table, along with a mountainous display of fresh
flowers placed unceremoniously in a large vase. She gave him a
questioning look, which was countered by the laughing expression in
his eyes as he pulled out a chair for her.

George had
felt embarrassed and guilty of his previous thoughts and was in
desperate need to make amends in the hope of retuning her focus on
their idyllic life.

He had
realised that Jennifer had sold her ancestral home and he had
somehow convinced himself that the problem had been through him
asserting his ownership of the present house, resulting in her lack
of independence and security.

He had laid
awake most of the night, his mind in turmoil until he had realised
that could be the only conclusion to her sudden change of affection
towards him.

‘I need to go
over to Preston today, Jennifer,’ he said.

‘Preston, why
do you need to go to Preston all of a sudden?’ she asked,
inquisitively.

‘I only
realised the other evening while working at my desk and looking
through details of the house and various investments, that I must
change my will in order for you to benefit from the house and
contents,’ he said.

‘Well, why do
you need to go all the way to Preston?’ she enquired.

‘Roger
Bellingham has been my solicitor for years and I need to go to his
office to draw up the details as soon as possible, so thought today
was the best time.’

‘Well, all
right, dear, if that’s what you feel you want to do, it’s very kind
and considerate of you,’ she said, looking directly into his eyes.
‘Are you ill, do you think you are going to die, what has brought
all this on?’ she asked.

‘No, I’m not
ill, not that I know anyway, and if anything did happen to me, what
would happen to you, I appreciate you have your own finances, but
my son has his own house and would have no use for a house at the
other side of the country,’ he said.

‘What time
will you be back?’ she enquired.

‘I’m not sure,
but why don’t you come with me, it will make a change to have a day
out for the both of us,’ he asked excitedly.

‘No, I don’t
think I will. Molly is due in today and we need to clean the
upstairs of the house,’ she replied.

Jennifer had
not anticipated such an easy exit out of the house without
questioning looks or interrogation on returning late. It was an
ideal situation. She made George a pack of ham sandwiches and a
thermos of tea for his journey.

He quickly
changed into a smart pinstriped suit, grabbed his briefcase from
the study and walked out to the car as Jennifer carried his packed
lunch, placing it on the centre console of the car.

She waved him
goodbye and quickly ran inside as Molly arrived at the back
door.

‘I’ll be out
most of the day, Molly, it’s just the upstairs which needs to be
done today, I’ll be back late so help yourself to some lunch before
you go,’ she said hurriedly. She quickly grabbed her coat and left
through the front door.

Under the dark
skies, she walked along the coastal path into town, wondering
mischievously if any other couples in the houses she passed had
made similar secretive arrangements as she hurried along, oblivious
to any passers-by.

She had
planned her day with accuracy. She would clean the flat until 2
o’clock before leaving to call John from the call box opposite the
toilets. He would hopefully be waiting by the prison phone
expecting her call. She would then return to the flat to take
delivery of the large items she had purchased the previous day, and
should be home before six, in time to prepare a meal for George on
his return.

She entered
the small and dingy flat; opening all the windows to release the
foul smell of damp and stale body odour from the previous tenant.
After frantically cleaning the inside of the windows, she commenced
hanging the bright floral curtains in the bedroom, although not
made to measure, they certainly improved the room and afforded
privacy.

The old sofa
wobbled from side to side as she stood on the armrest reaching
dangerously to attach the curtains to the sitting room window
enthusiastically.

The flower
arrangements she had made the previous day brightened the room, but
the carpets required a good vacuuming, but couldn’t be done until
the hoover had been delivered along with the refrigerator and
cooker.

Fortunately,
the deliverymen had agreed to take away the old items before they
brought the replacements up the narrow and steep staircase.

She
frantically cleaned the chipped windowsills and stained skirting
boards, attaching light bulbs and lampshades, precariously standing
on any sturdy item she could find.

At 1.30 she
left the flat, locking the door securely behind her, and walked
down to the telephone box, stopping at the bakery on the way to
purchase a small pork pie which she ate as she approached the
telephone. Her heart was beating the closer she got, literally
thumping in her ears through extreme excitement at the thought of
hearing John’s voice and anticipating his arrival.