Lily Lawson's Blog: Lily's log, page 15

Three Amigos

By a sparkling and cool lake, my auntie dreamt of more. As Elly and Patty sat in her kitchen and enthused about going to uni an idea formed.

‘Think I might give the local uni a go. Get me out of this rut.’

Auntie Stella took a sip of her wine.

‘Yes, what a great idea. What would you study?’ Patty was googling courses.

Elly rolled her eyes ‘Give her two seconds will you.’

‘It’s ok Elly don’t fret mama ain’t gonna cramp your style.’

‘It’s too late for this year but there’s loads of time for next. Art, Literature, Creative writing, ….’

‘Maybe I’ll mix it up a little do my own thing.’

‘Why change the habit of a lifetime.’ Elly hugged her mother.

‘To Stella’ Patty toasted ‘Let me know if I can help.’

***

Stella pulled Patty aside ‘It’s ok I told Elly.’

‘I am very grateful, you letting us have the flat rent free, I can earn enough to feed myself and pay for books and stuff but my parents …’

‘I know they can’t chip in, one less mouth to feed might help a bit. You’re a good friend to my daughter and one day I might need a lawyer.’

‘One way or another I will pay you back.’

‘Get your degree, make a difference, that’ll do me.’

‘Stella you’re amazing. You need to get yours too.’

***

‘Come on you two, I was hoping to get some dinner sometime tonight so a couple of sous chefs would come in handy.’

Stella and Patty saluted Elly and joined her in the kitchen.

Unbreakable

I won't lie to you. Elly had grown accustomed to good company, she found it wherever she went.

Patty had been her friend for years. They had grown up in the same neighbourhood and gone to school together. Their tight gang had stuck together through thick and thin.

They had one last night together before they went their separate ways. University called them to all corners of the country, but they believed their bond was unbreakable.

Minor Theft

Patty was known for stealing from her friends. Chocolate and sweets would regularly disappear. If they put money down they never saw it again. As she got older her hauls included clothes and whatever else she could get hold of.

Patty thought she was clever getting away with it. She didn’t know her friends knew it was her and they left things out on purpose so she could take them.

Apart from the stealing Patty was fun to be around. She always had a joke or a story and her enthusiasm for life was infectious. Patty was a caring soul who always had time for people, lending an ear or a shoulder as was needed.

Her friends knew why Patty stole their things. It took some detective work but once they knew they couldn’t be angry with her.

Things are not always as they seem.

Marcia tapped Jamie on the shoulder.

‘You might want to see these.’ She handed him an envelope.

Jamie opened the envelope. ‘When were you going to tell me?’

‘What is it? Tell me.’ Layla made a grab for the envelope.

‘It seems Marcia and Gray are already divorced and as they signed a prenup he got nothing,’ Jamie hid his glee behind the papers. ‘Looks like you’ve had a wasted journey Layla dear.’

Layla pulled her phone from her pocket and frantically dialled.

‘Oh, didn’t I say? I dropped him off at the airport this morning. He’s gone to Rio, don’t think he’s coming back, changed his number, wanted a fresh start.’

Jamie stood between them.

‘And what’s with the keys?’

‘I bought us a cabin by Lake Abigail, where we first um…’

‘Why is this the first I am hearing about all this?’

‘Oh darling, thought it might be romantic, running away and all that. We all need a little excitement don’t you think?’

The Fast Lane

‘Why you driving so fast?’

‘We’re being followed.’

‘Gray?’

‘No, Layla.’

‘Layla? That woman I worked with?’

‘There’s something I should have told you. I think she’s working for Gray.’

‘Why would Gray need a waitress?’

‘To follow me and report back.’

Layla’s car screeched past them trying to knock them off the road.

‘Put your foot down!’

‘I’m doing 120.’

The car sped past and blocked the road. With the force of the brakes the spider holding their possessions on the roof came undone casting their belongings across the road.

Jamie and Marcia got out.

‘I’ll handle this.’ Jamie stood feet planted arms folded in front of the car.

‘Thanks.’ Marcia scrambled to get their things and secure them to the car.

Layla slammed the car door and strode up to him.

‘He said you were dead.’ Layla’s finger poked Jamie in the chest.

‘Do you only get paid if I am?’

‘I’ve been paid.’

‘Then why do you care?’

‘No-one gets one over on me.’ she threw her hands in the air.

‘Looks like someone did.’

‘Does Gray know you’re alive?’

‘A man like Gray doesn’t usually do his own dirty work. I paid a minion to give me a head start.’

‘He can’t hold Gray off forever. One call and you’re dead.’ She pointed at him.

‘Or you could kill me yourself.’

‘I don’t want to really.’

‘So why follow us?’

‘I didn’t know Marcia had company.’

‘Ok why follow her?’

‘Gray said she was worth a fortune; they were still married. With her dead before the divorce was finalised, he got all her money.’

‘What about the kids?’

‘Step kids. Not Gray’s either.’

‘So what? You worm your way into his bed? Get him to marry you and take half of everything.’ Jamie opened his arms.

‘Oh darling keep up, I’m already in his bed, this is his ring on my finger. Now I just need a nice little accident, two dead bodies and we’re done.’

‘You’d kill me too?’

‘No offense but no survivors looks better.’

‘Thanks. Why did Gray not kill Marcia himself.’

‘He’s infatuated, poor thing.’

‘And the others?’

‘Paid them off. Told them to disappear. Thought he could get her back. The “murderer” label scared them.’

‘He didn’t try that with me.’

‘No sweets, you’re the real deal, she told him that. That’s why they’re getting divorced.’

‘So, what do we do now?’

‘That’s a very good question.’

Keep on running.

She opened her handbag and tipped the contents onto the floor.

Jamie paced the room. ‘Have you got the car keys? We have to keep moving. If Gray finds us...’

‘I know, I know, give me a minute.’ Marcia shovelled her things back into her bag.

‘It’s your fault we’re in this mess.’

‘I was 16, he wasn’t like this then. I wouldn’t have had kids with a murder knowingly.’

‘Well, here we are.’

‘You could have walked away when you found out who I was, he wouldn’t have wanted to kill you then.’

Jamie ran his hand down her face.

‘Fell in love with you, didn’t I? Couldn’t help myself.’

Marcia kissed his hand.

‘You’re a good man.’

‘A dead one if we don’t hurry. Come on.’

The Runaways

Outside the cabin, the wind howled through the trees, while inside, the old woman's fire was nearly out.

There was a knock at the door. Violet wrapped her blanket round herself. Her cat snaked between her legs.

‘Who are you?’

Marcia reached for Jamie’s hand.

‘I’m Marcia and this is Jamie. We’re looking for somewhere to stay. Can you give us some directions?’ Jamie squeezed her hand.

‘I can’t be doing with them fancy hotel things but if I send you into town someone might help I suppose.’

‘That sounds good.’ They answered together.

‘Its cold out here, you’ll catch your death, perhaps some soup might help if you can chop me some firewood’.

They rubbed each other’s arms, muttering.

‘Ok, no problem.’ Jamie found an axe, chopped some wood and carried it into the house.

***

Violet stood at the stove, her back to them.

Marcia sat stroking the cat.

‘Well get the fire blazing there’s a good lad’.

Marcia nodded to Jamie pulling her coat tighter and rubbing her arms.

‘You on vacation?’ Violet set soup and bread on the table.

‘Something like that.’ Jamie winked.

Marica bit her lip.

‘If we can have those directions we’ll be on our way.’

Marcia gave Violet a pen and paper.

Violet drew a map.

They thanked her and went back to the car.

Violet stroked her cat.

‘I wonder what’s going on there then Ace?’

Ace curled up on her lap and purred.

No 26 Brick Lane

The old house, with its wildly overgrown garden, was silent, secretive. No-one knew the full story of what went on there. She’d gone and that was that. No-one knew where she was.

The ageless Marcia Swinton had lived there forever. There had been children. They’d left and never returned. All anyone remembered was Marcia, she was difficult to forget.

Bobbed hair, expertly manicured fingers, a plain gold chain sat at her throat, a neat watch on her wrist, rings on her fingers. She had a slenderness she maintained from her daily swims in the ocean. Her money contributed to various charities, she never attended events.

It was said there had been lovers over the years, but none stayed the course. Now Marcia had disappeared, and the house was in mourning.

Photo by David McElwee: https://www.pexels.com/photo/old-mail...

‘Where did Jamie go?’

‘Where did Jamie go?’

Who’s Jamie?’ Layla continued to clear the tables.

‘The Chef, you must remember’.

‘There’s been so many, they float in and out, I barely notice’.

She carried the tray to the counter and closed her eyes, took a big breath, and kept going.

‘He was really good, the customer’s loved him.’ Jude started to check the bar stock for the evening rush.

Layla took out her phone and sent a text.

“We’ve really stuffed up this time, this one’s got fans”.

The reply came “I’ve taken good care of it, he will never be found.”

The inheritance

As he flicked through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention. His heart began to thump...

The familiar scrawl meant one thing – she was coming back.

Owen’s childhood was peppered with remembrance of his sister’s letters. They heralded her arrival a week or so before she landed on the doorstep, having some kind of crisis or another. The latest flame was nowhere in sight having scarpered before she them down with her.

Owen’s mother had always tipped up enough for Leah to sort herself out and off she would trot on her next adventure.

Owen’s mother had died leaving her son to deal with everything including his sister. Leah’s inheritance had to be managed by Owen. It seemed this was her announcement she was coming for her first pay out.

He supposed this was as good a time as any to tell her his mother’s secrets. He wasn’t handling this one alone.