Richer Ground (13 page)

Her mum brought her things home from Rick's and picked her up at nine on Thursday night.

“What's the matter Ali love? Had a little tiff, have you?” She asked gently.

“I'm fine. Just ill.”

“No you're not. It's something else... Rick was all stony silence when I asked how you two were doing.”

“Oh God, leave me alone, Mum. Please.” She gave her a desperate look.

Her mum sighed, heavily.

“Whatever's going on, it's brilliant timing Ali. Look, I'm going out to get Rick a present and a card early tomorrow with Debs. Might get my nails done too. Wanna come with us, if you feel better?”

“No. What's the point.”

“Are you actually planning on going to this party? Because how the hell are we going to get him there otherwise?”

“You know something, I don't care anymore.”

“Ali... Listen my girl. You suggested this party for him. You could at least deliver the guest of honour, for God's sake. What goes on after that is up to you.”

“Okay, okay! I'll get him there, okay... stop going on...”

“Will you, though?”

“Yes!”

“Right, well make sure you do. I've put some time and effort into things, and Jasper's stumped up a fair amount of money.”

She dragged herself out of her miserable apathy. Her mum was more than cross with her.

“Mum, I'm sorry... And I will come out tomorrow.”

She was suddenly possessed with an idea. A black idea. Let him see how common she could be. She knew he loved her curly dark brown hair. Well tough, the curls were going. They were far too cutie pie for a twenty two year old anyway. She needed a change. A stronger statement look. She definitely didn't fancy green, but another colour, maybe... peroxide blond or black or maybe even traffic light red? Something show-stoppingly, hit him in the face, common.

The three of them shopped for a gift. It was hard to buy for the man who had everything. Especially hard, as she was so angry with him. She settled on the most expensive bottle of Hugo Boss after shave that she could afford. Cards bought, they went off and had their nails done. After that, her mum and Debra returned to Rick's, and Ali sat in the queue for the no-appointment hairdresser. Her mind was boiling away with the need to extract revenge, on herself. Finally, after a half hour, it was her turn.

“What d'you want doing, love?” Kevin, the middle aged but trendy male hairdresser asked her.

“Dye it bright red. And straighten it”

“Semi permanent?”

“No. Permanently straight and permanently bright red.”

“That'll cost 'ya. Seventy quid at least. Shouldn't really do the two treatments at the same time, you know. It's not good for the condition.”

Like I give a fuck...

Let it all fall out. The bald look might be interesting. It'd match her lack of hair down under.

“I'll take the chance. Make sure I stand out in a crowd Kevin, okay.”

She sat staring mindlessly as he plastered her hair flat to her head with a straightener solution. After a lot of flattening, neutralising, soaking and rinsing, the deed was done. The corkscrew curls had finally disappeared. Then he covered her poker straight hair in her chosen shade of bright red dye, trimmed the ends by an inch, and shortened her fringe a touch.

She looked in the mirror in shock as he finished drying it all off with a big paddle brush and hair-dryer.

She didn't look like herself anymore.

Which she supposed was the whole point.

Her statement look wasn't a great improvement.

Red. Straight. Stupid. Useless. Common.

His words had obviously got to her and had struck a deep nerve. She'd knew she could never be like him, or even pretend to be.

She paid the hairdresser and gave him a generous tip and a forced smile of thanks. Kevin had given her exactly what she'd asked for after all.

Might as well go the whole stupid, common, useless hog. No point in half measures.

She went off to Superdrug and brought a fuchsia pink, stroke-on hair highlighter, some overly bright makeup and huge false eyelashes. Then she went off to Top Shop where she found a shocking pink off the shoulder blouse with an equally shockingly high price tag, due to the fact it was pure silk.

None of this was really her at all... She may be an Essex girl, but she wasn't typical of one, apart from the accent.

But so what. She didn't care.

It was a disguise. Something to hide behind. A shocking, bright, very different look that she was sure he wouldn't like at all. And nor did she.

She got home and dabbed in the pink hair tint before she lost her nerve.

She chatted on the phone to Joss, mainly about her now reconciled love life and Tom, her cheating boyfriend. She confirmed the arrangements to meet at Jasper's on Saturday. Everyone had to be there at seven pm latest. She was bringing Rick over at a quarter past.

She sent him a text early Friday evening in a quiet moment at the bar.

“We need to talk. I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow. Let's have dinner at least.”

A short “OK” arrived five minutes later.

Her heart was dying.

As she looked in the mirror, before she went to bed, she hated her stupid red hair and the pink bits. Her mum very obviously hated them too, based on the big gasp, the tut-tutting and eye rolling she'd received. And Radleigh had simply laughed out loud and rechristened her ginger nut, which instantly became 'nuts' for short.

It was the big reveal moment.

She came out of her room and swept downstairs, resplendent in pink.

Pink shorts, pink blouse, red and pink hair, pink nails, and tons of makeup, mostly pink, with a touch of blue for contrast. Her high heeled black shoes and clutch purse just about saved her from looking like a candy floss.

Her mum was sitting by the window, beautifully dressed in a black silky dress, her hair piled up high on her head elegantly. She looked classy and expensive. The exact opposite to Ali, in fact.

She was nervously waiting for Jasper to pick her up, fiddling with her dress and jewellery.

She looked up as Ali came in the room.

“Oh my word...” her mum said, looking her up and down with wide eyes.

“You look really lovely Mum,” Ali said, going across to her and pressing her cheek to hers. She didn't want to cover her in fuchsia lipstick.

“So do you, love.” Her mum patted her arm affectionately.

“Ha ha... No I don't.”

“It's grown on me and you know, it actually suits you. It's fun and young and flirty. And very pretty. I'm a little biased because I love pink.”

“You really think so?” Her heart warmed to her new self a little.

“I do, and you've got such lovely legs, why not show them off. You know, I never realised how short shorts could get!”

She gave her a quick hug as Jasper arrived and she left the house.

Alista's cab was due in fifteen minutes.

She sent him a text.

“Be ready.”

“Already am.” Came back the quick reply.

She sat in the back of the cab with her card and gift. The cabbie drew up outside, and she told him, for the third time not to mention anything about a party. She got out and waltzed up the drive, trying to feel confident and failing completely. The door opened when she was half way there, and he came out and locked the door.

Her heart stopped. He looked too handsome, too beautiful.

Perfect hair, black suit, pink shirt, dark pink tie. At least they matched each other in the colour sense. Her breath caught in her throat and she came to a stop.

His eyes opened like saucers as he walked up to her side.

“Happy birthday,” she squeaked breathlessly as she soaked up his overwhelming looks.

He was staring openly at her pink overkill, his eyes darting around her rapidly.

He hated it. She could tell.

“Thanks very much...” he muttered hoarsely.

They climbed in the cab and set off.

“Where are we going?”

“To your Dad's, to pick him up. He wants to come with us.”

“Oh that's just great. Might as well get our talking done now then.”

“I'd like to have got you something better, but as you've got everything, and I'm broke...”

She slapped his present and card in his lap.

He laughed loudly and unpleasantly. “I guess you are after spending all that cash on ruining yourself.”

“It was cheap. Charity shop and home dye kits,” she lied.

“It shows.”

“Why don't you open your present, it might occupy your brain and stop you being nasty for a second.”

“I'll open it later.” he put it on the seat next to him. “Ali... what happened to the curls, did they die of a broken heart?” he mocked sadly, as he picked up a strand of fiery red and a pink streak.

“No, I wanted a change. You know, out with the old... It's my new look. For my new life.”

“I don't like the sound of that.”

“I'm not going to argue with you on your birthday.”

“Fuck my birthday. What about us?”

“You haven't spoken to me for days Rick. Is there any us left?”

“You didn't speak to me either. I was angry that's all. I was hoping we'd get over it.”

“Well it doesn't look like it, does it?”

They sat in silence for a minute as they drew closer to Jasper's.

They pulled up outside Creag Dhu and she paid the cabbie and got out. They headed towards the door and he pulled her back for a moment, taking her hand in his.

“Come on, lets go in.” she tugged at his hand, impatient to get it all over with, so she could leave.

“Don't I get a birthday kiss first?” He asked, staring at her with appealing eyes.

She pecked his cheek and then rubbed off the fuchsia mark.

“No, I want a real one. With a lot of feeling and passion.”

“You've got over the disgusting hair, clown make up, and dreadful outfit then?”

“Ali, the whole new you is even more beautiful than ever.”

“You said I'd ruined myself and that I looked cheap.”

“You could never ruin yourself in my eyes. You're beautiful inside and what's on the surface is the icing on the cake. And I say lots of things I don't mean when I'm cross. It's a terrible habit of mine. You need to get used to my evil tongue and learn to ignore it instead of running off all the time. We could have avoided all this misery if you'd stood your ground and told me off. I give you my permission to slap me really hard later, if it makes you feel better.”

“I might just do that...” she smiled a little through the blur of tears that she was desperately holding back.

“So, do I get a real kiss?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like never before. She hoped no one opened the door, because they'd be treated to a very heated eyeful of her wrapping her long bare leg around him and her hands down his pants, rubbing his backside in a frenzy.

“I've missed you so much...” she whispered against his mouth.

“Not as much as I've missed you.”

“More... a lot more...”

“Uh-uh... No way.”

They kissed some more, until she broke away, light headed, and forced herself to get on with the show.

“It seems I've lost my appetite. Let’s go back to mine,” he said as she pressed the doorbell and took his hand.

“Oh no Richer. Your dad would kill me. I promised...”

The door opened and they went inside.

He stood in shock taking in all the silent people standing smiling at him. And then they all erupted singing that age old song...

“
Happy Birthday to you....
”

His face darkened and he glared at her. She suddenly realised, he might not like surprise parties... She'd never considered this rather crucial point.

She puffed with relief as he gave her a bashful and very cute grin. She grinned back as she pinned an 'I am 30' badge on his lapel, tied a silver helium 'Birthday Boy' balloon around his wrist and gave him a little peck on the cheek.

“Ali, you little minx. I love it. Now I'm over the shock.”

“I'm pleased you're pleased.” She squeezed his hand, smiling all over her face.

He lifted her off her feet and gave her a long smoochy kiss while he twirled her around, holding the cheeks of her dark pink, satin covered backside possessively.. This must have been a great source of entertainment based on the cheering and Radleigh's ear splitting whistling.

She came down from cloud nine and began to introduce him to her very Essex bro, who insisted on saying 'like' at the end of every sentence, no matter what. Then her tiny white haired nana Zita who was obviously besotted with him already and kept stroking his arm and hand. Next came her very large auntie Nat, Uncle Phil, and their two very large sixteen year old twin daughters. Finally, her friend Joss and her cheating boyfriend, Tom.

He then introduced her to his ancient and very proper Grandma Lottie and his cousin, his wife, and their three children, and then uncle James, a globe trotting bachelor. Finally she was presented to his gang of hooray pals... Henners, Wills and Pete. She was passed around like a parcel, being air kissed and waist hugged and ass patted by all three of them as they haw-hawed enthusiastically. They were actually quite sweet, she had to admit.

They were going to enjoy this party. The both of them. And afterwards, they were going to enjoy each other even more.

Jasper hit the table several times with a spoon to get everyone's attention as Champagne was handed out to the twenty odd guests by the caterers. He began a very embarrassing fatherly speech about his son's past indiscretions. He was already a little merry on the sherry, Ali suspected. The toast complete and the father and son hugs and backslapping done, Jasper moved on to other things.

He pulled her mum to his side in a tight hug and she blushed quite a bright shade of pink.

“While the family is gathered, on this landmark occasion, I'd like to make an announcement.”

Alista's heart was beating like mad.

Oh no... Surely not that kind of announcement?

“After a whirlwind courtship, I have asked Claudine to marry me this evening and much to my amazement, she said yes. I simply cannot imagine what a wonderful and beautiful woman like her, could possibly see in me, but I am eternally grateful nonetheless. So... Claudine and I are, as of this moment, engaged. The wedding will be next month.” He then gave her mother a rather fruity little kiss which made her blush even pinker.

You could have heard a pin drop. All the jaws in the room were on the floor. Richer broke the dreadful, shocked, unending silence with his congratulations and some more hugs and everyone suddenly came alive with theirs. Her mother caught her eye and Ali walked over and gave her a big hug as her mum flashed her rather huge, bright blue, sapphire ring at her..

“Oh Mum...It's lovely and such wonderful news... really, really wonderful...” Ali gushed, with tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks.

She hugged Jasper and gave him a big kiss on the cheek and he hugged her back enthusiastically, picking her off her feet.

“How's my little Alista? Haven't seen you for a while.”

“Been too busy, haven't you?” she pointed out, flashing her eyes at her mother.

He guffawed in his usual raucous way.

“You're looking even more stunning than usual my dear. Something's different about you... But I'm not sure exactly what.”

She had to laugh at that.

Rick pulled her close and they spent an intensely moving time, dancing close together to his favourite brand of girly music.

“Is it acceptable to sleep with your step brother to be?” He whispered in her ear.

“I'm sure it's fine. Anyway, I don't care. We did it first.”

They were inseparable all evening.  Everywhere he went, she went, and vice versa, like they were tied at the wrist.

“It looks like your brother's found a new close friend all of a sudden...” Rick said, pointing out Debra sitting on Radleigh's knee. She gave Rad a serious glare and he gave her a wink back, as he stroked Debra's bare leg with his finger, in a very blatant sexual manner.

“I'll speak to him later. He's too free and easy with himself, I'm not sure it's a good idea.”

“No, leave them alone. They look like they're enjoying themselves. Let them get up to whatever they like. She probably needs some male attention...”

“But I'm worried about her, you don't know what my brother's like...” She didn't want to give details of her brother's recreational preferences and hoped he'd been honest with her and she never needed to.

“She'll be fine. And we can't watch her every move, can we?”

“I suppose not.”

“Forget about everyone else. You just concentrate on me... Focus nice and hard.”

“Mmmmm... focus hard on you, eh?”

“Can we sneak off for a minute? To the study?”

“It's your party, I guess you can do what you like...”

She trotted off behind him, into the study, and he closed and locked the door, pulling her close. He swept into action, kissing first her mouth, and then her neck until her whole body was alight...

“Oh Richer...” she moaned, as his hands delved down the back of her shorts and he squeezed her behind.

He ran his thumb across her cheek.

“I love you to pieces Ali. I was so hurt after you ran off.”

Her heart exploded... he'd said the L word, kind of.

“I love you to pieces too. And I'm so sorry about losing the earring.”

“My rant was way over the top.”

“It was definitely a rant and a half. And you're not a stuck up bastard at all. You're too lovely for words.”

He gazed into her eyes and she gazed into his.

“So...” he said.

“So...” she said.

“Coming home later... to carry on the birthday celebrations at our house?”

“Oh,
our
house is it?”

“It sounds a lot better than my house. Besides I like sharing it with you, particularly the bedroom.”