The Runaway Woman (4 page)

‘No, Lucy! You don’t understand! Anne needs you right now. With me having been called to sort out an urgent situation, don’t you think it’s your responsibility
as her mother? Anyway,’ he explained angrily, ‘I’ve already asked Maggie, and she can’t do it. She’s been summoned to a meeting with her son’s head teacher … something to do with him having punched another boy in the school grounds yesterday.’ He was growing impatient. ‘Look, Lucy, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to come over now! I can’t leave until you get here.’

He gave an almighty sigh. ‘And besides,
with due respect, Lucy, I reckon my work might be just that bit more important than yours. At least you and Martin and Sam are all working, while I’m the only one earning in this family.’

Lucy was shocked. ‘You don’t need to remind me of my responsibilities, Les. Nor my and Martin’s financial arrangements. As you well know, my family has always been my first priority. And if Maggie is busy, and
there is no one else to help, then of course I’ll come over. But, however much you feel the need to rush off, you must stay with her, until I get there. Tell Anne I’ll phone the boss now, and explain why I won’t be coming in today.’

‘Thanks, Lucy. Be quick, though, won’t you? I should have been on the road by now.’

As she dialled the factory number, Lucy was decidedly nervous. Luckily, the boss
was in a meeting, but her secretary was very reassuring. ‘I’m sorry your daughter’s ill, but don’t worry,’ she told Lucy, ‘the boss will understand.’

Lucy gave a sigh of relief as she replaced the receiver. In the last few months she had taken a considerable amount of time off from work; mainly because of hospital appointments when she had broken her foot some weeks back. Then there was that
time when she looked after little Luke while Les and Anne went away to try to mend their marriage.

Worried about money, Les had started working every hour he could. Anne, however, became restless and uncomfortable about that, and began making life difficult for everyone. There were then arguments, which became so bitter, they were even talking about splitting up.

In the end Lucy had stepped
in with some advice, which was something she rarely did. She’d suggested Anne and Les went away by themselves to sort it out, and they had leaped at the chance.

A fortnight later, they were home and more in love than ever. Lucy had been overjoyed to have her little grandson to stay for two weeks. Even so, she had been worried about losing her job, but Martin had reassured her. ‘There is no way
they’ll sack you, girl!’ he’d said heartily. ‘You work too damned hard for that!’

Luckily, he was right.

Although flustered by the morning’s events, Lucy lost no time in organising herself. Within minutes of phoning her place of work, she was down the street and climbing onto the bus, almost before it drew to a halt.

‘Trying to kill yourself, are you, Lucy Lovejoy?’ After
working the same route for nigh on twenty years, Johnny, the bus conductor, knew every regular who travelled on his bus. He was a cheery sort, a favourite with the passengers, because of his bright and cheeky smile.

Lucy hurried down the gangway and quickly seated herself. With a great deal playing on her mind, she chose to sit as far away from the door as possible.

A few moments later Johnny
came to collect the fare. ‘You don’t seem your usual cheery self,’ he remarked carefully.

‘My daughter was ill in the night,’ Lucy confided in him. ‘Unfortunately, her husband had to leave for the North this morning … an emergency to do with his work. So I’m off to keep an eye on Anne and the baby.’

‘By, you’re a good sort.’ Johnny gave an encouraging smile. ‘From what I understand, folks are
always able to call on you, knowing you’ll help if you can.’ Lucy often confided in him, whenever the bus was quiet, and this morning there were few other passengers. He recalled how some time back, Lucy had been concerned about the fragile state of her daughter’s marriage, but then, with Lucy’s help and encouragement, the marriage had been saved.

There was even one occasion when his own spirits
were low, and he had asked Lucy’s opinion. She had kindly offered some good advice, making him realise that he was working far too many hours, covering for his workmates when they were away, and snatching overtime whenever it was offered.

Lucy candidly pointed out that he appeared to be at work more than he was at home, which did nothing for his health, or his family life.

Johnny had seen the
truth of it, because though he and his wife had more money in their pockets, they never seemed to enjoy it. The occasional weekends away had come to a stop, and after work he was too tired to chat with her, so little by little, their conversations and spontaneous laughter had dried up; with their marriage rapidly heading the same way.

Johnny was ever thankful for Lucy’s straightforward warning,
and he firmly believed that her husband was a fortunate man to have this darling woman, with a heart of gold. From what he knew, she never shirked her many responsibilities, and cared for her family like no woman he had ever known.

Johnny suspected that, with her kind and thoughtful nature, Lucy might allow herself to be walked over. There were times when he sensed that she herself was in need
of help and comfort. Sadly, though, it seemed there was no one there to offer it.

As the bus slowed down for the next stop, he excused himself and rushed to welcome the passengers on board.

Deep in thought, Lucy absent-mindedly followed his progress to the door. Then, momentarily closing her eyes, she allowed her thoughts to drift back to when she was a wide-eyed and innocent schoolgirl; until
Martin came along and took her innocence. Although to be fair, she had been a willing partner.

Life was so unpredictable, she mused. It could be kind, or it could be incredibly cruel. From the minute you were born, you found yourself on a fast-moving roller-coaster. However much you wanted to get off or change direction, you were swept along, sometimes unwillingly.

It was a sad truth that you
were never in charge of your own destiny, because circumstances constantly changed and spiralled out of your control. Strangers intervened along the way, and people you knew and loved could also change your life for good or bad. Somehow, and without you realising it, strangers and others often led you down a path you might never otherwise have followed. In the end, you could lose sight of your chosen
destination and, try as you might, never find your own way back.

‘Hey!’ Johnny was gently touching her on the shoulder. ‘If you want to sleep on my bus, that’ll be an extra shilling,’ he chuckled.

‘I wasn’t sleeping,’ Lucy promised, her weary spirits lifted. ‘I was just thinking.’

‘Oh, really? Well, in my experience it’s never a good idea to think too much. It could bend your brain, and apart
from that, you’ll give yourself a headache.’ Giving a wink that made Lucy smile, he moved on.

Lucy sat up and casually looked out as the bus route passed her sister’s house. She glanced at her watch, thinking it odd that the bedroom curtains were still closed …

She was startled when Johnny spoke in her ear. ‘Didn’t you mention that was where your sister lives? Paula, isn’t it?’

‘You’ve got
a good memory!’ Lucy replied. ‘I’m sure she was due to start her new job at the petrol station today … early shift, she said. But just now I noticed the bedoom curtains are still closed. She’s either had a late night out with her pals, and is still sleeping it off, or she’s changed her mind about the job.’

‘Or maybe she just forgot to open the curtains,’ Johnny suggested.

Lucy nodded. ‘I hope
you’re right. Yes, maybe that’s what she’s done. She’s a good sort, really, and we get on well, but there are times when she’s her own worst enemy. Her late nights and devil-may-care attitude have already lost her two jobs. How she is ever going to sort out her life, I don’t know.’

She made a mental note to pop in and see her sister soon. She would feel much better once she knew Paula was all
right.

‘Hey, Paula!’ Martin was lazing in bed when Paula went across to the window to peek out.

‘You’ll never guess who I just saw,’ Paula teased him, turning with a wicked little smile on her face.

‘I don’t care who you saw,’ he replied, ‘because whoever it is, they’re spoiling my fun. Come back here, wench. I’m not done with you yet.’ His hungry gaze swept her slim, naked
body. He loved her firm, toned figure and pert little breasts. When he took her in his arms, nothing else mattered; especially not Lucy who, compared to her sister, seemed old and shapeless before her time.

He did hold a measure of affection for Lucy. After all, the two of them had been together a long time … maybe too long, he mused.

Paula laughed as she hurried to the wardrobe. ‘Sorry, lover,
but your time’s up. You’ve had your fun, and now it’s time to go!’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I should have started work half an hour ago, so now I need to get there. I’ll have to drum up some sort of apology and smile nicely at the manager.’ Her manner grew serious. ‘Honestly, Martin, I really can’t afford to lose another job.’

Seeing that his fun was definitely over for today, Martin reluctantly
slithered out of bed and began to pull on his trousers. ‘OK, you win. But you will make it up to me some other time … won’t you?’

‘Of course.’ Keeping her distance, she flirted with him as he dressed. ‘You know very well that goes without saying,’ she told him softly.

Martin picked up on what she had said earlier. ‘So, who did you see just now through the window?’

‘I saw your wife … my dear
sister, Lucy,’ she answered mockingly.

‘What! You saw Lucy? Oh my God! Was she at the door?’ Shocked, he quickly buckled up his trouser-belt and yanked his shirt on. ‘Is she downstairs?’ His voice shook. ‘Quick! Get rid of her!’

Paula enjoyed seeing him panic. ‘Calm down,’ she giggled. ‘She was on the bus. Just as I looked out, she was already turning away. So don’t worry, our sordid little
secret is still safe.’

Shaken by the possibility that Lucy might discover what he and Paula were up to, Martin slumped onto the bed. ‘What the hell is she doing on the bus? She should be at work, not gallivanting about on the damned bus.’

Paula shrugged. ‘Don’t ask me, because I’m sure I don’t know.’ She decided to wind him up further. ‘I suppose she could be coming to see me even yet. Maybe
she’s got off at the bottom of the street and she’s on her way here right now!’

‘For pity’s sake, head her off. I’ll sneak out the back.’

Paula laughed. ‘Relax! Lucy wouldn’t be coming round here now – she knows I’m starting a new job today – and even if she did find out we were carrying on behind her back, she’d probably forgive us.’

‘Huh! You wish!’ Martin was now hurrying to the door. ‘She
might be soft-hearted, but there is no way she would forgive us. Lucy might not have much going for her but, as you well know, she would be devastated if she found out we’d betrayed her.’

A teeny bit jealous, Paula was suddenly curious. ‘If you had to choose between me and her, who would you choose?’

But Martin wasn’t listening. ‘I don’t understand. Why isn’t she at work? You know what a stickler
she is for keeping time. So, what’s going on? Are you sure it was Lucy on the bus?’

Just then the telephone rang and he almost leaped out of his skin.

‘Stay there!’ Paula threw on her dressing gown, and ran down the stairs.

Nervously, Martin crept to the door to listen, greatly relieved when he realised that the caller was Paula’s new boss, asking why she was not yet at work.

‘I’m sorry, sir,
but I had a burst pipe in the kitchen. I’ve managed to get the plumber here, and I’ve asked a neighbour to come and stay until he’s finished. I should be with you in about fifteen minutes.’ She put on her sweetest little-girl voice. ‘I know I should have called you, but it’s been frantic. I’ve been so worried, I just didn’t have time to call and explain.’

There was a pause, while Paula was listening,
and then Martin heard her promising, ‘Half an hour at the outside, yes, and I’ll work the extra time if you want me to. Yes, all right, thank you.’