Suspicious Minds

That damn man was there again! Jack flung his scythe down in frustration and glared back at the farmhouse where Cliff was parking his dark blue delivery bike. Every time he turned his back these days Cliff seemed to be either going in or coming out of HIS house. He really wished that Zac had never retired then he wouldn't have to put up with that smarmy git popping in and out all the time. Cliff glanced over and called out a cheery "Hiya" and waved a hand. Jack gritted his teeth and forced himself to wave back. To think they'd been friends once, part of a group of friends that had all gradually paired off and married. Cliff had seemed all set to marry Ann but Jack had stepped in and won Ann's hand instead. They'd been married twenty years this month and Jack still couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Cliff still had feelings for Ann.

Looking back on the years of their marriage this ambivalent feeling towards Cliff loomed large. He and Ann had had some spectacular arguments about Jack's antipathy towards Cliff in the first few years of their marriage. He knew he was being stupid but he couldn't help himself. Ann had eventually given him an ultimatum and, as he loved her so much, he had agreed to stop blaming Cliff for his own insecurities. It made things easier when Cliff had eventually married too and moved away to Forget Me Not Valley. Both marriages had been fruitful and Cliff was godfather to Jack and Ann's eldest daughter, Molly and he was godfather to Cliff and Jill's eldest son, Joshua.

Things had changed though and Cliff was now a widower and living back in town. Ann had immediately taken him under her wing inviting him round for meals. The kids all loved Uncle Cliff and the more settled he became the more Jack became uneasy. This last month Cliff had been around even more than usual and he got the uneasy feeling that something was going on. There were interrupted conversations whenever he came into a room and guilty looks. Their phone bill showed multiple calls from his farm to the one in Forget Me Not Valley and Cliff's place in town.

Damn it, enough was enough! Jack leapt over the low fence around the field and made for the farmhouse. He could hear their voices laughing and joking and the jealousy rose like bile in his throat. He aimed a flying kick at Cliff's delivery bike and it went flying, sending its parcels all over the yard. There were some ominous sounds but Jack ignored them. He flung open the door snorting like a bull.

"Jack!" Ann leapt to her feet, startled at his sudden appearance. Cliff half rose too but then stopped at the sight of Jack's face.

" Don't give me that false innocence." Jack snarled. " I know your secrets."

" What are you talking about?" Ann asked.

" I know all about it." Jack went on, " So don't try to lie to me. All those phone calls. All those meetings. I know all about it."

" I'm sorry Jack." Ann sounded so calm. " We didn't mean for you to find out like this. We knew you'd be upset but we thought we could make you understand, didn't we Cliff."

" I don't know how you could do this to me," Jack yelled. Ann placed her hand on Cliff's arm and Jack winced.

" We hoped you wouldn't find out until after Molly's birthday," Ann went on. " We know she and Joshua are still a little young for marriage but they really do seem to love one another."

" Molly and Joshua?" Jack was confused.

" Of course," Cliff answered. " What else?"

" What about all those meetings you two have been having?" Jack snapped. He was so bewildered now.

" Oh, Jack," Ann sighed. " Cliff has been helping me chose an anniversary present.

" Anniversary?"

" Yes, our anniversary, you silly man." Ann's voice was growing angry. " It's our china anniversary and I thought it would make a great present if we had a new dinner service."

" A dinner service?" Jack echoed.

" Yes," Ann went on, " Cliff helped me choose the pattern. I bought a porcelain dinner service, thirty six pieces."

" It's beautiful," Cliff enthused. " I have it outside. I'll go and fetch it"

" Don't you think it'll be great? We'll have a party, invite all our friends and announce Joshua and Molly's engagement." What do you think Jack? Jack? JACK!"