Games Lovers Play (11 page)

A look of interest dispelled the one of anger and Jake asked, ‘Really? And what might that be?'

Gerry leaned forward and spoke quietly. ‘Well, it's like this …'

Christmas was approaching. Tyrell and Greens was beautifully decorated throughout the store and business was brisk. Connie's threat to John Baker, it seemed, had worked, as he kept his distance these days, which was a great relief to her. It solved her problem of keeping their relationship a secret from Sam.

Her family now accepted Sam as her boyfriend, and he and her father became firm friends when Sam invited him to accompany Connie to a race meeting one weekend. George Morgan was very impressed with what he saw and was cheering Sam loudly during the final laps of the race as he finally drove over the finishing line, the winner. The older man was full of admiration for the young man, which thrilled Connie, of course.

The final race of the year was over, and now Sam and Connie were able to spend more time together. Sam had a small one bedroom flat in Henstead Court where Connie spent many an evening and occasionally a weekend. She had been quite open about this with her mother, Dorothy, who at first had tried to talk about the dangers to a young girl in this situation.

‘What happens if you get pregnant?'

‘I won't, I promise. We are very careful to take precautions, Mum.'

Dorothy was embarrassed to be given so much information. ‘You are my baby,' she retorted, ‘I don't find it easy to think of you in bed with a man you're not married to!'

‘Mum, I'm twenty now, I'm not a child!'

Dorothy reached out and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. ‘I know, but even when you are middle aged, you'll still be my child. When you have a family of you are own, you'll understand.' She hesitated. ‘Has Sam ever mentioned marriage?'

Connie blushed. ‘We've skirted around the subject. I know Sam loves me, he's told me so, and I know from the way he talks that he sees our future together. He's always talking about what we'll be doing next year … and I love him, Mum.'

Her mother put her arms around her. ‘Just take care. I don't want to see you get hurt, that's all.'

Dorothy had broached the subject when in bed with George, but he wasn't worried.

‘At least she's honest about it instead of lying to us. Sam Knight is a regular bloke. I like him; he has principles. I know he loves our girl; it's obvious when you see them together. He'll take good care of her, don't you fret, and I'm sure one day I'll be giving her away to him as a bride.'

Madge, Connie's grandmother, had different ideas, which she voiced loudly one afternoon as she watched Dorothy work her way through a pile of ironing, much of which belonged to Madge herself.

‘I suppose Connie will be away this weekend again!'

Dorothy just looked at her and carried on.

‘Not surprised you don't want to talk about it, her staying with that man and not being even engaged! Well, I'm at a loss for words, the way you let her behave!'

Folding a petticoat of Madge's, Dorothy raised her eyebrows. ‘You, at a loss for words? Well, that would be a first!'

‘There's no need to be rude.
My
daughter wasn't allowed to behave in such a manner, I can tell you!'

‘No, you're right. You tried to tie her down so much she left home, as I recall!'

‘She found a job in a different town, that's why,' Madge retorted.

Dorothy put down her iron and glared at her mother-in-law. ‘That's what you tell yourself, but you know she did that to get away from you because you were such a bitch to her!'

Madge's mouth fell open with surprise.

‘You know, sometimes I feel really sorry for you. You must be a desperately unhappy woman to behave the way you do. You never have a good word to say about anyone. You have no idea the amount of pleasure you've missed in life because of it.' She picked up the iron. ‘Now if you want me to finish ironing all your clothes, you could get up and make us a pot of tea for once!'

Madge was so shaken by this sudden verbal attack from her daughter-in-law, she rose from the chair without another word.

Dorothy watched her walk into the kitchen and smiled mischievously. It gave her a perverse pleasure to take a rise out of the old woman sometimes. It certainly helped her to cope with the feelings of resentment that were always smouldering just below the surface. They say everyone has a cross to bear in life, and Madge was hers.

On Saturday, at the close of business, Sam was waiting outside the staff entrance for Connie, seated in his Riley, when a stranger walked around the car, inspecting it with interest. He then walked to the driver's side and, as Sam wound down the window, he spoke.

‘Nice car. I saw you race this earlier this year at Silverstone. It was the day of the accident on the track. I was sure the race was yours until that happened.'

Sam climbed out of the car. ‘Nice of you to say so, and I thought the race was mine too, but there you go. Nothing is certain in this life, is it?'

The man laughed. ‘You couldn't have said a truer word.'

At that moment Connie walked out of the door, saw the car and froze. Sam was in deep conversation with John Baker. For one moment she felt faint and clasped at the nearby wall, watching them. They seemed to be having a cheerful conversation as they both were smiling. Taking a deep breath she walked towards them.

Sam saw her first. ‘Hello, sweetheart, this gentleman was telling me he'd seen me race at Silverstone. We've been discussing cars.'

‘Hello, Connie,' said Baker.

‘Oh, you two know each other then?'

‘This is Mr Baker, my floor manager,' Connie informed him coldly. ‘Are you ready to go?'

‘I won't keep you any longer, Mr Knight,' said John with a smile. ‘It was nice talking to you.' He looked at Connie, his eyes glittering, his smile betraying his true feelings. ‘Have a nice weekend.'

Connie climbed hastily into the passenger seat.

‘Seems a decent chap,' Sam remarked as he started the engine.

‘When he wants to be,' she answered somewhat tartly.

As they drove past her ex-lover he just stared at her, his face set in grim lines. There was no smile now.

Connie felt her stomach tighten as they drove away. What was John's game? He'd left her alone for so long that she thought she had made him back off, but now … She could feel the tension in her body as she fretted about the situation.

The tension was still there as later, in bed, Sam took her into his arms and kissed her. He looked puzzled. ‘Hey! What's the matter? You're tighter than a spring.'

‘It's just been such a hectic day in the store,' she lied. ‘You know, the pre-Christmas rush.'

‘Well, we'll have to see what I can do about that.'

But no matter how he tried, he couldn't release the tension, and eventually Connie pushed him gently away. ‘I'm sorry; I guess I'm just not in the mood.'

Sam chuckled softly. ‘You don't have a headache, I suppose?'

She saw the humour and smiled. ‘No, I don't, I'm just weary, that's all.'

He lay back on his pillow, one arm around her. ‘It's that bloke, isn't it?'

‘What?'

‘Well, ever since you saw me talking to your manager you've been different. You closed up. It was like sitting beside an ice cube. What is it about him that makes you feel like that?'

Connie was startled. She had to choose her words carefully now or this conversation could become dangerous.

‘I just don't like him. He's not an easy man to work for. He can be very demanding, and he has made my life difficult sometimes if he's thought I've not been doing something right. Tonight he was trying to be charming. It didn't wash with me, that's all.'

‘Oh, I see. Well, that's understandable. But you know, Connie, in the workplace you have to do your job, which means you don't always make friends.'

‘Are you defending him?' She was angry.

‘Hey! Steady, I'm on your side, sweetheart, always. Just making an observation.'

She snuggled into him. ‘I don't want to talk about him, all right?'

He cuddled her and laughed. ‘I get the message. Now, go to sleep, perhaps you'll feel better in the morning.'

During the Sunday, Connie tried to keep her thoughts of Baker at bay. She played her part well, and they enjoyed lunch out by the Hamble River and the drive through the surrounding country before returning to the flat, sitting in front of the small television Sam had rented, until it was time for bed. This time she was relaxed enough to respond to his love-making, but as she lay in his arms after, listening to his soft breathing as he slept, she wondered just what was waiting for her on the morrow, back in the store. John Baker had surfaced again, and that meant danger to her relationship with Sam.

On Monday morning, Sam drove Connie to work. ‘I don't know what's on this week at the garage,' he said. ‘I have a car coming in this morning, and it needs a lot of work done on it. When I'm free, I'll either meet you from work or call round and let you know.' He kissed her goodbye and opened the car door for her.

Connie hung up her coat, combed her hair and entered the store. She and Betty tidied their goods, dusting the display ready for the first customer. She saw John across the department floor watching her.

At the end of the day, Connie walked through the staff door with a sigh of relief. But as she turned the corner, Baker, hidden in the dark, grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.

‘Nice chap, your boyfriend. The trusting type, I would think.'

‘Don't start that all over again!' she retorted.

He laughed. ‘I got my divorce papers today. My wife is suing me for adultery. She's named you as correspondent!'

‘What?' Connie suddenly felt nauseous.

‘What do you think your boyfriend will think of that? All local divorces are written up in the
Echo.
He won't like that. His friends will taunt him about it no doubt when they read about it. His sweet innocent lady friend, named and shamed.'

‘What proof has she?' demanded Connie. ‘She can't name anyone without proof!'

He shrugged. ‘Maybe she found out about us going to Bournemouth. We were registered as Mr and Mrs Baker, after all.'

She glared at him. ‘You're loving this, aren't you? You can't bear to think of me in the arms of another man. A much better man than you will ever be!'

He was outraged.

She cried out as John grasped her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her through her coat. ‘Is he better in bed than me? Does he make you beg him to take you – as I did?'

Her rage knew no bounds. ‘Yes, and yes again! He's a wonderful lover, and he really loves me! He doesn't just want me for sex like you did.'

His cruel laugh echoed. ‘That's what all men say to get what they want. I said it to you, and you believed me.'

Connie tried to calm down. ‘I was younger then, but I've learned to tell between lies and the truth. You see, I trust Sam. I never really trusted you.'

‘Then why did you meet me so often and come to Bournemouth with me?'

‘Oh, to begin with I was flattered. I enjoyed being kissed and made a fuss of, and I planned to lose my virginity and you happened to be around at the time.'

He looked at her with astonishment. ‘You are very calculating, Connie, which I must say surprises me.'

‘Well, John, you made me grow up rather quickly, and I suppose I should thank you for that. You taught me all I know about sex. You were a good teacher. In that, I was lucky; it could have been someone who wasn't so well practised in seduction.'

He was at a loss as to how to handle this change in his former lover. ‘You have changed almost beyond recognition,' was his only comment.

‘No. Just grown up. Don't think for one moment what you've told me about your divorce will change things between us, John. I won't be unfaithful to Sam, no matter what you try and throw at me. But be very careful, because I could destroy you if I had a mind to.'

As she walked away, she hoped that now he would stop interfering in her life, but the news of his divorce had shaken her. The only concrete proof his wife could have of her being part of her husband's infidelity was if she'd discovered their stay in Bournemouth. How could she possibly know about that? Was he bluffing? If he wasn't and it all came out in the local press, what affect would it have on Sam? Should she confess to him about her relationship with John Baker or wait? She didn't know what to do for the best.

Unaware of the chaos her divorce papers were causing her ex-husband, Kay Baker had taken control of her new life. Susan was now attending nursery school all day, and Kay had secured a part-time job in an office, thankful she'd kept up her typing skills at home. With the maintenance being paid by John for his daughter and the mortgage covered by him – for the moment – the extra money she earned paid for the treats.

Now that she had a job, she was beginning to have a social life. The office of one of the council departments in the Civic Centre was a busy place, dealing with the paperwork required by various divisions incurring works on public and council buildings. It was interesting, and her colleagues were a friendly bunch. A Christmas party was looming, and Kay had been persuaded to go and let Susan sleep over at her grandmother's house for the Saturday evening. Her mother had been enthusiastic for Kay to start enjoying herself.

‘Of course we'll have Susan,' she said when asked. ‘It's time for you to get out and meet people socially. Find yourself a good man this time!'

‘Oh, Mum! I'm just about to get my divorce, and believe me, I'm not looking for another husband just yet.'

‘Who said anything about getting married?' said her mother archly.