Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? (35 page)

“Well, someone who is strong yet doesn’t mind being looked
after occasionally, bright, independent, and beautiful and a good body, which obviously
goes without saying.  Although I must stress that the last statement is
not a direct comment on my siblings – now that would be sick.”

Bets laughed as she spooned coffee into two mugs.  “No
one could accuse you of being shallow, could they Tom?”

Suddenly, Tom let out a shout, making Bets spin around. He
was holding his thumb tightly.

“Aah, oh shit, I think I’ve sliced my thumb off with a
knife!”

“Stop being such a girly and let me have a look.  Here
dry your hand on this.”  Bets threw Tom a clean tea towel, and turned to
take some plasters from a drawer.

Holding his hand in hers, Bets studied the injury.  She
realised as soon as it had been dried, that the knife had barely touched
it.  It merely scratched the surface, despite the beads of blood turning
the washing up water a deep shade of claret.  As she wiped his thumb
again, Tom looked up at her, his face close to Bets'.

“Proper Florence Nightingale, aren’t you?” he whispered
close to her face.

Bets smiled into his beautiful eyes.  “Hmm now shut up,
and hold still while I try to put a plaster on your severed thumb.” She tried
to get the plaster to stick, but sighed impatiently.  “Oh, it's still wet,
just a minute.”  Holding his hand loosely in hers, Bets gently wiped his
thumb with the tea towel, her fingers lingering on his.

Tom moved his head closer so that Bets could feel his breath
upon her face, the sweet smell of wine mixed with his aftershave.  
Tom licked his lips, as he looked directly into Bets' eyes.

“Did I mention that a good nurse is also a must for my
women?”

Staring back at him, Bets shifted her feet.  “No you
didn’t, what about a dog lover, is that a priority too?”  She now moved
her head closer, so that their lips were almost touching, both experiencing
feelings of nervousness and anticipation.  They held each other’s gaze for
what seemed like an age, but it was only seconds.  Then slowly they moved
closer together; an intoxicating thrill passing them.

“Oh, who’s that?” Bets jumped as the doorbell
shrilled.  They both coughed and shuffled, shaking themselves from the
moment.

“Here, put this plaster on, and I’ll get the door,” Bets
said, not looking at Tom.

As she walked to the door Bets rubbed her face with her
hands, acutely aware of what had just been about to happen, and what the
consequences of that would have been.  Tom was the very handsome,
extremely sexy, little brother of her best friend.  The bell rang again,
this time in two short, sharp bursts.

“Okay, okay, I’m
coming.”  Bets flung open the door. “What’s the hur…oh…Charlotte it’s you,
come in.”

Charlotte rushed in looking flushed and smiling, not what
Bets had expected judging by their earlier telephone conversation. 
Charlotte smiled widely, looking from Bets to Tom, who had now appeared in the
hallway.  Her brother and friend, not noticing the grin from ear to ear,
dropped their heads like naughty children who had been caught smoking behind
the bike sheds. Charlotte in turn did not notice their red faces, she was so
caught up in other things.

“Guess what?” she asked, grinning broadly.

Tom smiled at her, and smoothing the plaster down on his
thumb, went over and kissed her gently on the cheek.

“What’s that then?”  He quickly looked across at Bets.
He too was sensitive to what may have been about to happen; that is if
Charlotte hadn’t saved them from a fate worse than death.

“Kerry is back,” Charlotte exploded.

 “When did she get back, where has she been, does
Kelvin know?”

Charlotte held Bets at arm’s length, waving her hand at
her. 

“Calm down, she got back today. She's been in Wales and
Kelvin was the one who found her.  Apparently, there is more to it, but we
are to go around there tomorrow night, and she’ll tell us all about it.  I
can’t believe it can you?”  Charlotte now pulled Bets back into her chest
once more.

Tom, feeling in the way slightly, coughed in the
background.  “Err look, I’ll go back to your house Charlotte, leave you
two to catch up.”  He moved to an armchair, to pick up his coat from where
he’d left it.  “Thanks for dinner Bets, it was fantastic, and I’m glad
that Alfred is getting better.”

Bets, anxious not to drive him away, put her hand out to
stop him.

“You don’t have to go. He doesn’t have to go, does he
Charlotte?”  She turned to Charlotte, who had wandered into the lounge to
look at Alfred.

“Nah, but listen, I’m really tired anyway, so I’m going
home.  I just wanted to give you the good news in person, so you can stay
if you want to Tom, or you can catch a lift with me, whatever.”  Charlotte
walked back to Tom, and put an arm through his, not noticing the furtive
glances between him and Bets.

“No, I’ll come with you.  I don’t need to stay. I've
seen Alfred, and we’ve eaten dinner; why would I stay?” Tom spluttered.

“Yeah, why would he?”  Bets shuffled and distractedly
played with the light switch.

Charlotte, still on cloud nine, didn’t pick up any of the
vibes.

“Okay, come on then.  My house or your house, by the
way, you didn’t tell Mum I was back, did you?”

Tom shook his head.  “No, so its back to your house.”

“Good,” Charlotte sighed.  “I don’t think I could take
an inquisition tonight.  Let’s go then squirt, and leave Bets to get her
beauty sleep.  I’ll ring you tomorrow.”  She leaned across, and
pecked Bets on the cheek.

Tom smiled sheepishly, shrugged his shoulders, and followed
Charlotte to the outer hallway.

“Bye both of you, see you soon,” Bets called from the
doorway.

Once the door was closed Bets heaved a huge sigh of relief
then, shaking her head, she went back to the kitchen to try to find some more
wine to steady her nerves.

In the car, Tom was fairly quiet, mostly due to Charlotte’s
constant chatter about Kerry being home, but he was also thinking about tonight
and him and Bets.  There was no denying that she was a beautiful woman, with
a body to die for, she was strong and independent, yet this evening she had
shown just how vulnerable she was.  She made him laugh. She loved animals,
and she had a brain, she…God, he could go on and on listing all of her virtues,
all of them matching the qualities that he looked for in a woman. However, she
was his sister’s best friend, and he’d known her practically all his
life.  She’d had as many one-night stands as he had, she was insecure, and
she got extremely drunk, very quickly. She could be a bitch at times, and she
was right, people did tend to drop dead around her. So why over the last couple
of months had he found any excuse to visit or telephone her?  Tom knew
that initially it had been to try to cheer Bets up after Stuart’s death, but
then he had started to enjoy her company, and that wasn’t the reason
anymore.  But, all that time he had still only wanted to be friends, but
now tonight the shit had really hit the fan.  They had nearly stepped over
the line, and they would have to be very careful not to lose sight of the fact
that they were just friends, and that it would be best for them to remain
so.  After ten minutes, Charlotte pulled up outside her house and
manoeuvred into a parking space.  She turned to Tom and belted him on the
arm, not lightly.

“You are not listening to me, are you?” she asked.

Tom rubbed his arm, and screwed up his face in pain.

“Yes, you said that you can’t wait to see Kerry
tomorrow.” 

Luckily, he had caught the last little piece of the
conversation, just before Charlotte had hit him.  He decided to change the
subject though, before Charlotte questioned him further.

“So, are you going to tell me what went on in Kent, why you
came home early?  I gather it has something to do with that Irish fella.”

Charlotte scuffed him again, but this time more playfully.

“Niall is his name, and yes it does have something to do
with him, come on, and I’ll tell you inside.”

An hour and two cups of tea later, Charlotte had filled Tom
in on everything that had happened over the last two days.  He felt
desperately sorry for her, realising what a wrench it must have been for her to
leave him there, without saying good-bye.

“So, what happens now, are you going to try to contact him?”

Charlotte shook her head, vigorously.  “Nooo, no way, he’s
got a family to think of now.  I couldn’t forgive myself if my contacting
him jeopardised it all for him,” she paused taking a sip of hot tea.  “No
matter how he feels, or should I say what he maintains he doesn’t feel about
Ingrid, the thought of being a father must excite him.  Anyway, much as it
pains me to say so, it wouldn’t be fair on Ingrid either.  Mind you, she’s
hard and calculating, I’m sure that she’d cope,” Charlotte muttered, bringing
her mug to her lips once more.

“You are only getting his version on what she’s like
Charlotte; she may be a very nice person.”  Charlotte shook her head, as
Tom spoke.  “Come on be fair.”

“I am. I haven’t just got Niall’s version. Paul thinks that
she’s a witch as well.  Apparently, she had one of our consultants in
tears last week, all over some little misprint on one of the insurance
documents.”

“Yes but that’s business.  I would imagine a woman in
the world of engineering has to be strong,” said Tom, acting as devil’s
advocate. 

He was also concerned that Charlotte was seeing Niall as
some sort of Knight in shining armour, that could do no wrong; and yet he did
wrong. He'd broken Charlotte’s heart.

“Well maybe you’re right, perhaps I am being too harsh on
her, but it doesn’t matter does it. She's got Niall, and I haven’t.” 
Charlotte placed her mug on the coffee table and started to yawn.  “God
I’m tired, yet I’ve been in bed nearly all day.”

“Did you sleep though?” Tom asked, looking at the greyness
under her eyes.

“No, not really.  I just kept playing things over in my
head, wondering whether I did the right thing spending the night with him, or
whether I should have come straight home the moment I set eyes on him in the
hotel.  Then again, it was a pretty good night.”

Tom groaned and buried his head in a cushion.  “Ugh,
too much information thank you.  They are not pleasant pictures that I’m
getting inside my head at the moment.”

Charlotte began to laugh.  “Huh, the audacity of
you.  Pictures in your head, you should be so lucky. I've had to listen to
you, and your bimbos since you were old enough to know where to put it.”

“You liar,” Tom spluttered.  “I’ve always been very
discreet with my lady friends.”

“Hmm, so that’s why mum thought Mariah Carey was singing off
key on Top of The Pops. It took Dad ages to persuade her not to call the BBC to
complain, all the time it wasn’t Mariah but Wendy Downey howling like a banshee
upstairs.”

A smile of recognition passed over Tom’s face.  “Oh
yeah, Lassie.”

“Poor Mum has hated 'Hero' ever since.”

“Do you know that she wore a vest?”

“Who, Mum?” Charlotte asked, perplexed.

“No, Wendy Downey.  I bet her boobs are down to her
ankles now.  The best chest I ever went out with was Melanie Charlesworth,
the lads and I used to call her Mammary Charlesworth.  God, she was
fantastic. She used to do this thing where…”

“Stop!” shouted Charlotte, holding her open hand up in front
of Tom’s face.  “I know already, if you are talking about the thing with
the Maltesers?”

Tom nodded.  “How did you know?”  He looked puzzled
and worried, all at the same time.

“Because one hit me on the back of the head once when I was
in the back garden, it came flying out of your bedroom window at the speed of
light.  The blow nearly sent me flying.”

Tom coloured slightly, as he silently reminisced about those
carefree days, of long college holidays.

“Anyway, I’m going to bed, all this talk of sex is making me
tired.”

“You mean you want to go to bed and dream about
Niall.”  Tom stood up, and pinched Charlotte’s cheek gently.

Charlotte didn’t answer his question.  “Do you fancy
staying for a couple more days, just to keep me company?” she asked, yawning
again.

“For you, I'll do anything, but on two conditions.  One
you promise to make me lamb chops for tea tomorrow, and two you go and get your
hair cut.”

“My hair isn’t that bad is it?” Charlotte asked, running a
hand through it.

Tom nodded solemnly. “’Fraid so, it’s all frizzy and your
fringe makes you look like Cousin It from The Adams Family.  Did you wear
a bobble hat during your love making with Mr Irish Man?”

Charlotte hit Tom on the same arm as before.  “Pig,
you’ve really hurt me,” she muttered, like a sulky child.

“What, as much as when the Malteser hit you?”

Charlotte started to giggle.  “Go on, go to bed before
I batter you.”

“Like you could, I could fell you, with one whiff of my
feet.”

They continued up the stairs, bantering with each other and
still shouting as they reached their respective rooms, and then for another ten
minutes, until Charlotte could keep her eyes open no longer.  Tom,
however, could not sleep, and tossed and turned for another two hours, thinking
about Bets, who happened to be doing exactly the same thing in her flat ten
minutes away.

Kerry and Kelvin had rung Sheila, Kerry’s mum, as soon as
they had arrived home the previous day.  She had raced around immediately
to see her daughter and granddaughter, whom she had missed dreadfully. 
After spending a few hours listening to Kerry’s story, she realised that her
daughter, and son-in-law had a lot of things to talk about, and a lot of time
to make up for.  She offered to look after Esme for a couple of days, to
give Kerry and Kelvin some time alone, which so far they had spent in bed.

Kelvin leaned upon his elbow, and stroking Kerry’s hair from
her face, looked down on her.

“God, I’m so glad that you’re safe. I can’t stand the
thought of what that idiot could have done to you,” he whispered.

Kerry smiled and stretched up to kiss him.  “Don’t
let’s think about it today, I just want to try to get back to normal.”

“I know, but sweetheart it isn’t going to be that easy is
it?”  Kelvin sighed deeply.  “We need to talk about why you went
away, and how we are going to get back to normal.”

“Hmm, I know.”  Kerry stroked Kelvin’s face gently,
glad that he had come looking for her, and happy that they were back
together.  "I need help, to get over whatever was happening to me
before I went away.  I don’t even know what was happening to me, so I
can't explain it to you.  All I know is that I felt really sad, and couldn’t
stand being close to anyone, even you.”  Kerry dropped her head
shamefully.

Kelvin tilted her chin up with his finger.  “Hey, that
doesn’t matter now, what matters is that we’ve made some headway; we are back
together, in every way.”

Kerry giggled, as Kelvin squeezed her bare behind.  “I
know, I’d forgotten how good it could be.”

“Seriously though, how are we going to make sure it doesn’t
happen another time?  I couldn’t stand it if you felt like that
again.  You know it was one of the worst times in my life. I could see how
unhappy you were, but couldn’t help you, because you wouldn’t let me.  The
most awful part was seeing you let yourself be dragged down.” Kelvin’s eyes
darted to the window, towards Caroline’s house across the road.

“Look, you can be sure that won’t be happening again. 
I can’t explain that at all.   I hated every minute of it and don’t
know why I carried on doing it.  I’m sorry baby, but I knew that it was
hurting you, but it made me even more determined to go out with her.”

A look of hurt swept across Kelvin’s face, but it was
quickly replaced by a smile.  “Stop beating yourself up about it, it’s
over now and with some help we can put it behind us.”

“Yep, you’re right.  I’m going to ring the doctor later
and book an appointment.  I’m sure that she will put me onto the right
people; Counsellors I suppose.”

“And you are happy to do that, see a Counsellor I
mean?  Only when we’ve broached the subject before it hasn’t gone down
very well.”

Kerry smiled and kissed the palm of Kelvin’s hand.  “I
wasn’t willing to face up to things then, but I am now. I know there’s
something wrong, and that I've been suffering from some sort of
depression.  I have to do something about, and if seeing a Counsellor will
help, then that’s what I’ll do, okay.”

Kelvin nodded. “Okay.  Anyway, its two o’clock, don’t
think it is about time we got up?  Charlotte and Bets will be here for tea
at six. We need to go shopping and get some food in.”

Kerry looked at him with a glint in her eye.  “We could
order pizza in.”

Kelvin nodded enthusiastically, before disappearing under
the duvet.

Charlotte had slept quite well the previous night, although
when she had gone to the loo at about three o'clock, she noticed the glow from
a lamp under Tom’s door, and she could hear him moving around in his bed. 
She hoped that he wasn’t worrying about her; he was such a sweet brother who
cared deeply about how his sisters were feeling. He would take on the world for
either of them.

Charlotte had eventually got out of bed at nine o’clock, and
straight after breakfast, had gone down to her hairdresser to see if by any
remote chance, there was an appointment available.  It must have been her
lucky day because, after only having to wait about an hour, she felt human
again; her hair was lustrous and shiny once more.  As she caught sight of
herself in the mirror Charlotte realised that now her hair had been cut, she
could see her eyes, but she was surprised at how dark and dull they were, surrounded
by grey circles, a definite sign of some well needed pampering.  She would
call and see Bets for a facial before going around to Kerry’s house for tea.

“Hi, any chance of fitting me in for a facial, before we go
to see Kerry?”  Charlotte asked gaily.

Bets didn’t manage to raise much of a smile as Charlotte
breezed into the salon, but simply turned her mouth up at the corners. 
“’Spose, I’ve just had a cancellation for my last appointment.”

Charlotte grinned. “How lucky is that, twice in one day,
perhaps my life is changing for the better.”

Bets shrugged her shoulders. “What are you on about?”

“I managed to get a cancellation to have my hair done
too.”  Charlotte pointed at her hair, but Bets just shook her head and
turned toward her treatment room, expecting Charlotte to follow.

“Man trouble I expect, she’s been less than happy all day,”
whispered Jane, one of Bet’s assistants who had now appeared at Charlotte’s
side.

“I heard that,” called Bets from her treatment room. “Get
folding towels, and stop gossiping to my friends, unless you want the sack.”

Jane smiled good naturedly. “See what I mean.”

Charlotte knew Bets only too well, and had to agree with
Jane. A man was definitely involved. Bets had that man troubled look upon her
face.

As Charlotte walked into the treatment room, Bets was
placing a towel on the bed.  She looked up and nodded toward the bed,
indicating for Charlotte to lie on it.  She worked in silence, interjected
with the occasional heavy sigh, taking off Charlottes existing make-up and then
setting about her facial.  Eventually, after about ten minutes, Charlotte
found the quiet ear shattering, and spoke.

“So, do you want to know about Kent then?” Charlotte asked,
waiting to tell all, even if the response was negative.

“Yeah, go on then,” said Bets, through thin lips.

It was now Charlotte’s turn to sigh. “I would have expected
you of all people to want to know all the gory details.”

Bets stopped her fingers working on Charlotte’s face. 
“I do. I do.  Go on spill the beans.”

Charlotte told her everything, because they had no
secrets.  She explained her own feelings for Niall and how it had been
leaving him there, fast asleep in her bed.  Finally, her mood slightly
broken, Bets leant down and kissed Charlotte lightly on the top of her head.

“What was that for?” Charlotte prostrate on her back, raised
her eyes in her head, in Bets' direction.

“I’m sorry for being such an old bitch this afternoon. 
You’ve had a horrible time. It must have been awful for you?” Bets sighed.

“Yep, it certainly was,” replied Charlotte mournfully.

There was a heavy silence as Bets' breathing got deeper
above Charlotte’s head.  Charlotte guessed that she was trying to say
something.

“What is it Bets, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing is wrong.  Just...well how did you know
that you loved him?  Was it sudden, or did it creep up on you?”

Charlotte thought about it for a few seconds before
answering.  “Well I suppose I can admit it now, but I fancied him like
mad, right from the moment that I met him in Paul’s office, but as for loving
him, well I don’t know really.  I think I started to get deeper feelings
for him after we had that first kiss, they were festering away inside me, and
then I knew for definite after we had lunch in his house.  I was so happy
when he said that he was going to leave Ingrid, and I think not wanting to kiss
him that day proved how I felt.”

Bets stopped rubbing Charlotte’s temples.  “How do you
work that one out?” she asked.

“I know it sounds pathetic, but I think that if I’d just
fancied him, then I probably would have ended up in bed with him that
afternoon, but because my feelings were deeper than that I wanted it to be
special.  When I kissed him, I wanted him to be mine and not someone
else’s.  I didn’t want it to be a one off.  Does that make sense, or
am I talking like an absolute fool?”  Although Bets had stopped working,
Charlotte kept her eyes closed, as pictures of Niall flitted past her closed
lids.

“Yes it does make sense, sort of.  But, I really liked
Stuart, and I slept with him straight away.”

“No you didn’t.” Charlotte now opened her eyes, and leaning
up on both elbows, turned her head towards Bets.  “I suppose the fact that
you flirted with him all summer, without even a kiss, doesn’t count does it?”

Bets realised that what Charlotte said was true.  With
most men there wouldn’t have been any flirting, it would have been straight to
bed; with Stuart…well it was different.

“Anyway to be honest,” Charlotte continued, lying back down,
“I’m not sure whether you had got beyond the stage where you’d fallen in love
with Stuart.  I think that if things had been different, you probably
would have, but not at that point in time.  God, listen to me, you know
how pointless my love life has been, so no, don’t listen to me.  You shouldn’t
base anything on what I have to say about love, I’m just a hopeless romantic.”

Charlotte felt above her head, and found Bet’s hand, giving
it a gentle squeeze.  Something was definitely troubling her for them to
be having this conversation.  Bets rarely uttered the “L” word, never mind
asked questions about it.

“You may be a hopeless romantic Charlotte, but you’ve always
been true to your feelings.  You know; you may have actually gone about
this love and romance thing the right way.  When you’ve fancied a quickie
with someone, you’ve had one, and got on with your life, and when you’ve been
in love, you’ve gone for it full pelt and been happy. Then again, there was
Grant of course, oh and Niall and oh...what was his name from the
hospital.  You know the dim witted one, tight with his money.”

Charlotte grinned, as Bets muttered away to herself. 
“I guess you no longer think that I know what I’m talking about.”

Bets laughed.  “God, you’re right, you don’t know what
you’re talking about.  You’ve only ever had five sex-based relationships,
because Paul’s friend doesn’t count with his little problem, and then three men
whom you’ve been totally in love with, they all turned out to be no
hopers.  No, I’m not taking your advice it could land me in
trouble.”  Bets sighed heavily, once more.

“Listen,” Charlotte chuckled. “Phil from the hospital
doesn’t count. I was young and impressionable and only thought that I was in
love.  I was infatuated with Grant and mistook it for love, and as for
Niall, well if circumstances were different I know that we would be
together.  What I feel for him is love, because at nearly thirty years of
age, I feel much more in tune with my emotions than ever before.” 
Charlotte’s eyes misted over with tears, as she thought about their lost life
together.

Bets snorted disdainfully. “Whatever!”

“Don’t you snort at me,” scolded Charlotte.  “I mean
it. We’re too old to be playing games.  If you love someone, then you
should tell them, and if you want a quickie you should tell them.”

“Maybe, but what if you don’t know what love is?  What
if you are frightened that you are going to pick the wrong option?  For
example, what if you declare your undying love and then realise that all you
wanted was a quick shag, with no strings attached?”  Bets held her head in
her hands, getting oil in her hair.  “Ooh I hate this relationship crap. I
honestly wish that I was asexual and didn’t give a sod about it.  I’m so
scared that I tell this guy “I think that I’ve fallen in love with you, how do
you fancy a relationship?” to have him turn around and say, “Oh, I’m sorry
love, you’re really nice and all that, but I only wanted to have a grapple of
your tits."  I mean, that would be really embarrassing, wouldn't
it?"  Bets began to wipe her hair with a spare towel, mumbling about
now having to wash it again before she went out.

Charlotte was intrigued about where all this was coming
from, Bets hardly ever opened up like this, unless she was absolutely legless.

“This guy you’re talking about is there someone in
particular?” Charlotte asked intrigued.

“No,” Bets snapped rather too quickly, throwing the towel
into a washing basket next to the bed. “He’s just pretend, now shut up for a
few minutes while I try to do my job.”

The evening spent with Kerry was a very happy one, all of
them ecstatic about being reunited after the last months of torment.  Once
the pizza had been devoured, Kelvin made himself scarce, realising that the
three friends needed some time alone to talk openly.

“So, are you glad to be back then?” Bets asked, as she pulled
her feet under her on the sofa, and hugged the large mug of tea to her chest.

Kerry smiled from ear to ear in answer to the
question.  “Oh yes, I can’t tell you how much, especially now I know that
everything is going to be alright with Kelvin and I.  I can’t believe that
I was so stupid, and stormed off without hearing what he had to say; it could
have been disastrous, we could have lost everything.”

Charlotte kicked Kerry’s foot gently with her own. 
“Hey you, it's not all your faults. You've both done silly things, but the main
point is everything is going to be fine now,” she said, smiling warmly at
Kerry.

“Yes, you’re right I know you are, but I still can’t help
worrying about what might have happened.  Anyway, I’m going to see the
doctor tomorrow. I booked the appointment today.  I’m going to ask for
some help, you know someone to talk things through with.”