CHAPTER 6 - TALKING ABOUT BRIAN…MEL
MEL & LINDSAY’S HOUSE - SATURDAY MORNING
MEL
I grab Gus’s jacket from the hook and start to gather his things for a walk. I need to get out of the house.
“Mel where are you going? We have things to discuss!” Lindsay comes downstairs in full combative mode as if this isn't her fault!
“Amazingly enough, I really don't want to discuss how your stupidity has caused us to rely on Brian more!”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh come on, surely you are joking?! We have only my salary to rely on this month and then less when you go back after your suspension…”
“Speak English, I hate it when you speak attorney!”
“Sidney is not going to pay you while suspended and he won't pay you a manager salary for doing an assistant’s job. English enough for you! I was going to take Gus for a walk but since you're up, you can look after them for the day. Also, send the day care place an email to say he won't be in for a month. Hopefully they will keep his place until you go back to work. I’ll be back when I’m back before you ask. I’m so fucking fucked off!”
I don't wait for a response and slam out of the door. I was going to drive anywhere but decide to walk and an hour later, I find myself at the new food store that has just opened called Delicious Foods.
It looks so good in here, I can imagine Brian having an account here and scowl. It is huge and I find myself looking at the pastries.
“Mel? It is Mel right?”
I turn in surprise at hearing my name and frown, the woman smiles. “Imagine me standing in front of a Rolls Royce Phantom in my approximation of a chauffeur’s outfit…”
“Oh Ruth! How are you?!”
“All good, you?”
I look at her trolley with a hint of envy. “Fine. How about you?” She doesn't respond but just has a ghost of a smirk playing round her lips. “Oh who am I kidding, I’m fucked off and…”
“No Lindsay?”
Her interruption throws me and I shake my head. “Come on then.” And before I can stop to think, I find myself being guided to the checkout desk. Within ten minutes, we are sitting in her rather gorgeous truck and driving to where I have no idea.
“So shall I play 20 questions or you just gonna tell me what’s got you twitching like your g-string is back to front?”
I blink rapidly at that image and burst out laughing. “Where the hell did that come from?!”
“Okay, your way it is. What is that you do?”
“I’m an attorney. Lindsay works at…”
“Bloom Gallery. I picked her up from there last week with Mitchell…”
“You mean Michael?” She nods then concentrates on the road. “So you don't tend to remember the names of people whose nose you almost break?”
She rolls her eyes. “Is that all? I was hoping for at least a fractured skull.”
“Well he did say that he had to stop the cabbie from going after you because you slammed the door so hard…”
“Remind me to thank him for his act of heroism.” She drawls before pulling up outside a beautiful condo. “House sitting for a friend, you coming?”
KITCHEN
“Wow what a wonderful place.” I sigh, looking around. “What does your friend do?”
“Runs a B&B, Heavenly Retreats…”
“The one that is in New York?” She nods and continues putting the shopping away. “I would love to go there! But with two kids…”
“There’s one in Pittsburgh, near the lakes. It’s doing great, as you can tell.”
“Really? I didn't know that.”
RUTH
“Mmm. Want a coffee?”
“Please, black no sugar.” She sits down, sighing.
Oh for the love of God, get on with it!
“What would you do in this situation? My friend is in love with someone but they want someone she absolutely hates to be the father of her child?”
“Why would she pick someone her partner hates? How is that loving them?” She looks at me in surprise. “But at least that didn’t happen and if it did, I would wonder why she insisted on it? But the one thing I wouldn’t do is blame the guy for being the father. It’s not his fault.”
“How isn’t it his fault?” She retorts sharply.
“Well unless he fucked her, then she couldn’t get pregnant without either doing it herself or having her partner or someone help her. And if it was the partner, then they can’t bitch and moan because by helping, they said yes.”
She sits back for a few minutes. “But now they are beholden to that guy for everything!”
“How?”
“He is keeping hold of the purse strings so they can’t live the lives they want to. Even though he doesn’t have his fucking rights.”
“Then why don’t they just go do what they want to do and say fuck him? Go live their lives. Since he has no say.”
“Well the thing is…” She shifts in her seat.
Finally!
When she finishes, I look at her in annoyance and she sees that. “They can’t go to him for money and shit but then say he can’t have a say. It’s not fair! Ask your friend how they would feel if it was the other way around?”
The look on her face says everything…that hit a nerve, didn’t it?
“I-I will. I need to uh...” She stands and drains her coffee.
“Let me give you a lift.” I grab my keys and head to the garage.
“Oh my God!” She gasps.
“Milady.” I open the Porsche with a flourish. “Perks of house sitting. Oh and that’s for you.”
I hand her a bag from Delicious Foods and start the car.
INSIDE MEL & LINDSAY’S HOUSE
LINDSAY
I have been trying Mel and Michael ever since she walked out but nothing. I watch as a Porsche pulls into our driveway. Very nice! My jaw drops when Mel gets out and she waves at the driver and is carrying a bag from the new food emporium.
Before she can use her key, I wrench open the door. “Where the hell have you been and who the fuck was that?!”
“Gus!” Mel calls and he comes running to her. “Look what momma got for you.” She takes him to the stairs and carefully pulls out a creamy mini cupcake that makes my mouth water.
“I asked you a question Mel!”
“You ready?” She pulls out another cupcake and Gus nods. “When I get to three, we eat…one, two, two and a half…three!”
They stuff the cupcakes in their mouths. Gus is giggling. “Okay. So what do you want to do tomorrow?” She asks as if I haven’t spoken.
“Want to see daddy.” Gus replies.
“Okay we can do that.”
What?!