CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Karen brushed the shoulders of her newly purchased suit, she took a deep breath and checked her briefcase again.
"Everything is there Karen, you look gorgeous."
"Flattery Yvonne, as pleasant as it always is from you will not get me through my first day as manager." Yvonne chewed thoughtfully on her piece of toast,
"Well at least you haven't got to deal with Fenner just yet."
"4 days isn't very long to ease into the role Von before I have to complete the handover."
"Better than nothing darlin'." Yvonne watched Karen check her briefcase yet again, she knew that there was very little she could say to allay Karen's fears and worries. The best thing she could do was show her support and remain calm as Karen's nerves continued to fray beyond recognition.
"I'm going. I'll see you later ok?" Yvonne nodded and lifted her face to Karen's for a kiss,
"Please try and stay calm Karen." Karen picked up her belongings and headed out of the door. Her relationship with Yvonne continued to grow and surprise her, they had every intention of sharing their happiness with others but Karen felt they should wait until she had eased herself into her new role before they made any kind of announcement to their friends and colleagues at Supersavers. The plan for the day was simple, open the store, do everything she had been doing for years, and then coordinate a managers meeting. She'd taken plenty of meetings before, but this would be her first as a store manager. Everyone knew her already, would they expect her all of a sudden to know more? Would they expect her to be different, to treat them differently? God she needed a cigarette!
After Karen had dealt with the mundane matters of opening the store, and checking the previous nights messages she finally walked into what was now her office. Jim Fenner had run the store from his chair, Karen had no intention of continuing that trend. She intended only to be in her office when necessary, otherwise she would be on the shop floor. Jim invariably had kept the blinds on the door and the side window down, Karen now knew why. It turned her stomach thinking about what he had been up to with Shell Dockley. Inappropriate use of funds or not, she would redecorate. She flicked the blinds up, and sat down in the chair behind the heavy desk, by having the blinds up she could see the comings and goings of the warehouse staff and more importantly they could see her. She swivelled her eyes towards the cctv camera monitors, they covered every angle of the store and car park. Glancing at the car park camera she noticed her management staff arriving, early. Their way of showing their support she knew. Nikki, Selena and Helen all arrived together in Nikki's car, she really needed a catch up with Nikki. Things between her and Helen had obviously been sorted out. Helen had cancelled her impromptu leave and they were both back at work with big smiles on their faces. Yvonne arrived not much later, the top down on her car and her sunglasses on. Mark was not far behind, if there was something she felt bad about it was Mark. Once again it would seem he had been overlooked. When it had become clear that Jim's future was untenable Neil Grayling had swept into action. He had approached Karen immediately, impressing upon her the need to keep the store on an even keel, and how appreciative area management would be if she agreed to take on the role. Karen had inquired about Mark but had been told that his role as assistant manager was safe but that there were no immediate plans to promote him beyond that. Yvonne had encouraged her to take on the role, telling her that feeling guilt about Mark was neither productive nor her place. Karen glanced over her typed notes once more, she wanted this meeting to go well.
Nikki and Selena looked over the rotas, both with pens in hand as they made corrections and suggestions. Eventually happy with what had been decided Nikki made her way down the front end towards Helen who was counting the newspapers.
"How are you doing here Stewart?" Nikki crouched down next to Helen who was sitting cross-legged as she counted the number of Daily Mails they had been sent that morning.
"Fine." Helen looked up an amused expression across her face, "Are you aware that you are swaggering?"
"I certainly am not!"
"Oh but you are Wade, you just swaggered down that front end."
"And whose fault is it if I am?" Visions of the night before flashed across Helen's mind and a deep blush spread from her neck up to her cheeks, "you see I have my answer! Can you blame me. You're amazing."
"Nikki!"
"What? You are." Nikki shrugged matter-of-factly, "you need to get used to me saying that because I intend to remind you of that fact every day. Anyway, back to work before one of us internally combusts! I'll be off the floor for an hour or so, it's Karen's first manger's meeting." Helen nodded desperately trying to focus on the job in hand. Duncan and Selena had made themselves conspicuously scarce when Nikki and Helen had returned together from Scotland. They had not spent a moment apart and there were no doubts in either of their minds that they were meant to be together. Helen watched as Nikki laughed loudly at a comment Selena had made, she had noted with a small amount of pride that since Scotland Nikki had hardly lost that smile. She turned back to her task, tutting at herself as she realised she had put three copies of the supplement into the same paper. That would teach her for day-dreaming about Nikki while she was supposed to be working. The same amount of weight had not lifted of her shoulders however, she knew why. Until she told Nikki and Duncan about Cerys there was no way she would be happy. Isn't that what karma was all about? What right did she have to be happy while she nursed a dark secret?
"Knock, knock."
"I've never understood that, why say knock knock when you have just performed the very action, does it not defeat the point?"
"Ok Karen, I didn't really understand much of what you just said, which means you're stressed."
"Yes Yvonne I'm stressed, what can I do for you? And don't raise your eyebrows at me, I'm not Jim Fenner, that kind of entertaining will never happen again in this office."
"Err, I've just gone right off the idea anyway darlin'. Just thought I'd let you know that all the supervisors are ready when you are, ok?"
"Ok. Sorry I'm being a bitch."
"Nah, look you're stressed, it's understandable. Rough with the smooth sweetheart." Yvonne winked, "I don't expect special treatment from the boss."
"That's a shame."
"Oh?"
"Mmm, I was thinking of something very special for later, but if you're not interested…"
"Oh I am going now before I say or do something that will get me, and you actually, into trouble!" Karen laughed, amazing what a few moments with Yvonne did for her, she felt so much better. She reached for the phone and pressed the button to switch the tannoy on.
"Staff announcement, all supervisors to the training room please, thank you." Karen picked up her files and walked determinedly to the training room, she wanted to be there as her staff arrived, this was a new era.
The column of supervisors and managers made their way towards the training room, spearheaded by Nikki and Yvonne. They were both very nervous, but they had every faith in Karen. She was respected, fair, understanding, everything that a manager should be, she would take the store forward and continue its success, they were both sure of that. Karen smiled broadly as her staff filed in, Kris actually sat at the front instead of loitering at the back. Nikki and Yvonne positioned themselves near the front but to the side slightly so as to not put Karen under any pressure. Mark made his way to the front to sit next to Karen in his role as assistant manager. The murmurs of conversation died down as Karen slowly stood and politely cleared her throat.
"Good morning everyone, thank you for being so prompt today. I don't intend to keep you long, I'm well aware of how much work you all have on a daily basis. I wanted to say how happy I am that I accepted the position of manager, I enjoyed very much working here at Supersavers as stock manager and I see no reason why that will change. I believe we have one of the strongest, most hard-working and committed staff bodies in the company, without all of you and everyone out there on the floor and in the warehouse nothing would be possible. As it is I have every confidence that we will continue to make this one of the most successful stores in the chain, in fact my aim is to make this the most successful store in the country." Karen paused to let her words sink in and to give herself the chance to gather her thoughts. Her eyes lifted and met Yvonne's, in them she saw encouragement and belief, imperceptible to anyone but her. "Nothing will change immediately, I don't intend to rock the boat as it were on my first day, however one thing I have already discussed with Mark is the re-instatement of double time for overtime. I feel it is a just reflection of hard work."
"Here, here!" Karen smiled,
"Thank you Kris. You are all good at what you do, I will let you continue to do your jobs the way you see fit. If there is anything you want to discuss, you should know that myself and Mark are always available. If there is something you believe needs to be changed, let us know. This is not a slight on the previous management, we all have different ways of doing things. It's a new era for this store and I want us to move forward together. Ok, well I have said everything I wanted to say, Mark, anything to add?"
"I think you have covered everything Karen, thank you."
"Right, you're all free to get back to your staff, unless you have any questions for us." There was a general mumble of thank you, and the majority of staff began to leave the room. Karen turned to Yvonne and Nikki who unsurprisingly had stayed behind. "Was that ok, I didn't sound too area-like did I?"
"Area-like? That's a new one!" Nikki chuckled, "You were great mate, everyone knows that you want to do a good job, and you want the best for everyone." Yvonne nodded her agreement,
"It was just fine, perfect." Like you, she wanted to add, "I think you got the message across."
"Yvonne's right Karen it was good, now shall I get on with my walk-around?"
"Yes Mark, of course. I have a few calls to make but I'll join you afterwards." Mark left, swiftly followed by Nikki.
"I've never wanted to kiss anyone more than I want to kiss you now! You in a power suit doing the whole manager thing, bloody sexy!" Karen collapsed in the chair,
"Thank you darling, but you know we can't." Yvonne scowled,
"There's a lock on the door…"
"No! I've already said I will not be another Jim Fenner, but it is hard I know. Actually I didn't realise how hard it would be." Yvonne leant on the desk in-front of Karen,
"Mmm, should we just tell everyone then?"
"We will, but one thing at a time, I quite like having you all to myself, and I'm not sure what area managements view will be. They could yank one of us out and ship us off to Brecon with Jim."
"Nah, we're too good!"
"Yes and Jim thought that too. I really don't want to see him Yvonne, the man makes my skin crawl."
"He makes me want to lamp him, if he so much as looks at you in the wrong way Karen, I'll…"
"You'll what? You're very sweet darling in a knight in shining armour kind of way but the fact is you won't be there, and can you imagine the field day he would have if you actually did, how did you phrase it? Lamp him."
"You're mocking me."
"I'm not, I'm just reminding you how it is." Karen sighed, "I need to go and make these calls, lunch?"
"Yeah, meet you in the canteen."
"Oh you know how to treat a girl Yvonne, I'll give you that! See you later." Karen squeezed Yvonne's shoulder as she left the room, leaving Yvonne contemplating what it was going to be like going out with the manager.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Karen's first days as manager flew by, a whirlwind of meetings, shift changes and organisation. Her early fears quickly dissipated as she settled into her new role, she found the support of her staff unrelenting and a source of comfort. She spent as much time as possible, when not otherwise engaged, on the shop floor. The smiles of her staff and the customers she greeted made her believe she had made the right decision. However a dark cloud hovered, a cloud in the shape of Jim Fenner.
Karen sighed and turned to look at the alarm clock, it was 2am and she hadn't slept since she had slipped under the covers at 10.30pm.
"Karen?" Yvonne turned over, rubbing her eyes, "you ok?".
"Fine sweetheart, go back to sleep." Yvonne switched on the bedside lamp and pulled herself into a sitting position.
"You've been tossing and turning since we went to bed, do you think I've been sleeping through that?"
"Sorry."
"Don't be silly, do you want a hot drink?" Yvonne leant over and brushed Karen's hair away from her face, "will that help?" Karen bit her lip and nodded,
"Yeah, it might."
"Won't be a tick." Yvonne gently pressed her lips to Karen's forehead and threw her dressing gown on before disappearing downstairs. Karen listened to the sounds of clattering downstairs, and rubbed her eyes furiously. Damn Jim Fenner! Why the hell was he invading her thoughts at this time in morning, why couldn't she shake the feeling that something awful was going to happen when he came back to Harbourne. Yvonne appeared at the door of the bedroom with a small tray.
"You're too good to me." Yvonne snorted,
"What? Did you expect me just to throw you into a spare room? Right, hot milk and biscuits."
"I haven't had this for years."
"We might be on a winner then." They sat in silence sipping from mugs and nibbling cookies and Karen had to admit she felt much calmer afterwards. She drained the last of the milk and leaned towards Yvonne, who instinctively wrapped her up in her arms.
"Thank you."
"It's ok, you shouldn't give him another thought. You're the manager now, he's coming into your domain. That should make you feel stronger."
"Oh I know, it's just I keep hearing his voice, 'I've got something special planned for you', that's what he said."
"All words Karen, he was just winding you up. Come on, let's get some sleep." They lay back, Karen's head on Yvonne's shoulder. Though she could now feel sleep begin to envelop her, the dark figure of Jim Fenner still loomed.
Nikki rapped sharply on the manager's door, which uncharacteristically, was shut.
"Yes." Even through the wood of the door the strain in Karen's voice was clear.
"Sorry Karen, the scanning errors for this week."
"Thanks Nik." Karen stood to receive the file from Nikki.
"Wow! You look downright gorgeous, in a conventional, business-like, I haven't forgotten you're my boss kind of way!" Nikki paused to take a breath. Karen thanked the lord she had a friend like Nikki, as a genuine laugh escaped from her lips. Karen was wearing a charcoal trouser suit, with a sharp white shirt, simple sounding but quite effective with her newly highlighted hair and still summer tanned complexion.
"Thank you Nikki, I'll take those ramblings as a compliment!"
"Do we know when he'll arrive?"
"No, and we're not likely to either. Jim never felt it necessary to inform his staff about his arrival times when he actually worked here. It's not going to be any different today."
"Mmm, you have a point." Nikki sat down on the other side of the desk and crossed her legs at the ankles. "How are you?" Karen looked up from the file Nikki had given her and arched an eyebrow,
"Yvonne?"
"She's worried."
"I know. I'm fine. Look I'm not ill, it's just a stupid, bloody meeting with another manager." Nikki held her hands up in mock defence,
"Karen, you seem to think this has to be a personal crusade. It doesn't. If you wanted all the managers in the store could be present at your meetings with Jim, you don't have to make it any harder on yourself than it has to be."
"Nikki I understand what you are saying, and I don't doubt your intentions or your professionalism.."
"But?"
"With your history with Jim, and Yvonne's very understandable feelings of protection for me do you honestly think you could sit in a room with him."
"Yes!"
"With him there with a smug look on his face, insinuating all sorts?" Nikki could feel her blood boiling just listening to Karen's all too accurate description of Jim, and she hung her head.
"Ok, you're probably right. We won't be far away though!" Karen nodded,
"Thank you. Now hop it!"
"Yes boss!"
Jim pulled up in front of Harbourne, bitterness burned inside him, and it was all he could do not to spit at the front door of the damn place. To be ousted, and replaced by one of those cows! At least it was Karen, not Wade or even worse Atkins. He walked towards the doors, the knuckles of his hand turning white as he gripped his briefcase. The store was buzzing with activity as he walked in, checkouts were busy, and all the members of staff he could see were occupied with their work. He looked towards the customer service desk, Helen Stewart was on the phone, and Monica Lindsay was talking to a customer. He could just walk past, and why shouldn't he. He'd run the store for years, why should he have to sign in like some random visitor. He began to make his way swiftly past.
"Mr Fenner." Nikki bloody Wade.
"Nikki."
"If you'd like to just sign in, I'll ring up to the manager's office and see if Karen is available." Nikki's eyes fixed on him, dark rings of pure hatred which dared him to answer back to her.
"Of course, force of habit." He turned back around and pulled the visitor book towards him. Helen finished on the phone and replaced the receiver, as she turned she noticed who had arrived.
"Mr Fenner." Since he'd left Helen had privately seethed, over his attempts to smear Nikki, his utter disregard for what he might have done for her career amazed her. Nikki edged past her to call Karen, laying a hand as she did on Helen's hip.
"No need Helen." Nikki whispered out of the corner of her mouth, as their eyes locked momentarily Helen felt her anger disappear. Jim couldn't quite believe what he had just seen, had Wade had turned Stewart! The world was going mad and the store was falling apart in his absence.
"There you go Helen."
"Thank you. Nice suit by the way." Nikki sniggered behind her and Jim looked at them both coldly,
"Mmm."
"Right well Karen's ready, she's been tied up in a conference call most of the morning. I'll take you up."
"No need Nikki I remember the way."
"I'm sure you do Jim, but I insist." Jim acquiesced realising he wasn't going to win. Nikki took the lead, confidently leading Jim towards the back of the store.
"Seen your new store yet Jim? Brecon isn't it?"
"No I haven't and yes it is. Enjoying this aren't you?" Nikki slowed slightly,
"If you mean am I enjoying the fact that your attempt to ruin me failed, and that you have been transferred to Wales, then the answer would be yes, ever so slightly."
"You and Stewart looked cosy, another member of your staff receiving special privileges."
"You really are a bastard aren't you." Nikki hissed, stopping completely and facing Jim, "but you know what, say what you like Jim because did you check the names over the door? Karen Betts and Mark Waddle, not you. I'm still here and so is Yvonne, get used to it." Jim smiled, and stepped closer invading Nikki's space.
"I won't get used to it, this is my store and you and your little pink lady friends have no place here. You think I've finished?"
"I'm not going to have this conversation with you Jim." Yvonne turned a corner and saw Nikki and Jim, in her opinion, squaring up to one another in the middle of the tea and coffee aisle.
"Nikki." Yvonne walked down to join them, "the front end's busy Nik, I'll take Jim up to the office and you get back to the desk." There wasn't a hint of a question, it was an order and Nikki followed it. She looked at Jim as though he was something she had scraped off her shoe,
"Whatever." She stalked off towards the front end without looking back. Yvonne took a deep breath and turned to Jim.
"Haven't lost your touch then. Karen's waiting for you."
"Music to my ears." Yvonne grimaced and turned away walking towards the offices.
Karen waited in the conference room for Jim, she had decided that it would be better venue. Her office though repainted and completely hers now, was a smaller area and would be claustrophobic. The conference room was a large, airy room with large table in the centre, Karen had ordered plants both for her office and the conference room. They had arrived the previous day and made the whole place seem friendlier.
"Come in." Karen responded as a knock on the door indicated Jim's arrival, "Yvonne, thank you. Jim please take a seat."
"Need anything Karen?"
"No thank you Yvonne." Karen smiled and nodded as Yvonne reluctantly withdrew.
"Well Karen you've certainly put your stamp on the place already, it's like a jungle in here."
"The properties of greenery in the workplace are well documented Jim. They cleanse the air, brighten the place up and make people happier. Shall we?" Karen sat down and began to sort through the folders that covered a large amount of the table. Jim sat down unbuttoning his jacket and loosening his tie. The next hour was spent going through reports, projections, budgets, and area targets. Karen had to admit Jim was being perfectly polite, though his ideas were not particularly progressive he knew what he was talking about when it came to the paperwork and he patiently explained answers to all of Karen's questions.
"I think that's enough for the time being Karen." Jim stood and began to pour himself a coffee, "drink?"
"No thank you."
"You look good Karen, the role suits you I think."
"It's a new challenge certainly."
"I move to Wales in a fortnight, I thought perhaps we could go for dinner, say goodbye properly." Karen looked up sharply,
"What?"
"You know, dinner, drinks, conversation."
"Why would I want to do that!"
"I've always admired you Karen, the others they have nothing to you. Wade and her lesbian followers, Atkins and her ego, Kris Yates and that chip on her shoulder. But you. You're just you. It's a shame I'm moving we could have been good I think." Jim had begun pacing around the room, carrying his mug of coffee, an almost wistful look in his eyes. Karen was feeling very hot all of a sudden, she glanced towards the door gauging how far away she was from it. He'd gone mad, surely, nothing he was saying was making any sense.
"Jim, I appreciate you coming here to finish the handover but you must understand that nothing like that could ever happen between us."
"Your divorce came through ages ago."
"Jim! We don't get on, we never have done. Not to mention the fact you have just abused my friends, and not for the first time."
"You're not like them Karen."
"What! Not decent, honest, committed. I'd like to think I have more in common with them than you seem to want to give me credit for."
"You're single, I'm single."
"Please stop it now, and leave."
"Look I should have said something before, maybe this seems out of the blue."
"You think! Look you've said enough. Nothing will happen Jim because we have nothing in common, you tried to ruin one of my friends, you are a small-minded, arrogant, misogynist bastard. I wouldn't touch you if you were the last man on earth!"
"You're making a mistake Karen."
"Oh am I? And what are you going to do about it Jim?"
"You should come out with me and give us a chance."
"I've given you enough reasons Jim, and even if you weren't repulsive because of the reasons I outlined before I'm not single, I'm not available, I'm taken. Now do you get the message, get out!" Karen stood and reached towards the door handle, in a replay of their previous encounter Jim beat her to it. His hand covered hers and he held the door shut,
"Who is it? That weasel Mark? I've seen him slobber over you. He's not man enough for you Karen." Karen laughed hollowly, whilst wriggling her hand to free it from underneath Jim's
"You are man enough I assume? What a joke, move!"
"Mark is it then."
"No! Move Jim or I scream." Jim gripped Karen's hand and used his other hand to cover her mouth.
"Go on try, I just want to know who." Karen shook her head vehemently, "who!" Jim's eyes were black with anger, and Karen was beginning to think he was actually going to hurt her, badly. Jim removed his hand,
"Yvonne."
"What! You as well, a dyke. No not you Karen, no."
"Well it's true" Karen spat, "let me go." As abruptly as he had grabbed her Jim pushed Karen to the ground, he turned and marched out of the room. He headed straight for the exit, he wasn't stupid he knew Karen would call the police. He rounded a corner, colliding with Yvonne.
"In a rush Jim?" Yvonne looked at him curiously, he had a wide-eyed look about him, "what have you done?"
"Oh your little girlfriend's in one piece, but if I were you I'd keep a close eye on her." Jim barged on past and moments later his car could be heard screeching away from Harbourne.
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
Karen gingerly touched her fingers to the gash on her cheekbone, she hadn't seen it yet but it certainly felt cruel and deep.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing sitting up?" Yvonne clattered up to Karen's hospital bed laden with magazines, "you should be resting."
"I'm fine and I want to go home." Karen replied through gritted teeth.
"I know, but you're under.."
"24 hour observation, blah, blah, blah. I want to leave."
"I know."
"You know? You know what? How I feel? I don't think you do Yvonne."
"Karen please."
"Please! That man assaulted me, in my store. I feel like a fool, I feel so.." Karen's anger disappeared swiftly, her voice wobbled and tears began to prick her eyelids. Yvonne perched on the edge of the bed and wrapped her arm around Karen's shoulders. Her waist and ribs were a no go area, Jim may have only pushed her but he had pushed her directly into a desk and a chair. Her cheekbone had caught the edge of the desk knocking her unconscious and her ribs had made contact with the chair.
"Come on, you're in no way to blame for this. He's crazy."
"But I knew!" Karen words were now punctuated with sobs, "I knew he was going to do something he said he would."
"I know, I know." Yvonne soothed, she tried to block out Jim's final words before he left the building.
"Mrs Betts?" Karen sniffed and hastily wiped her eyes,
"It's Miss, actually."
"Oh I'm sorry, I'm Dr Haigh. I need to just check a few things." Yvonne retreated as the doctor checked Karen over. She'd been unconscious for a number of minutes and as much as she wanted to take Karen home and look after her, Yvonne was scared. The best place for Karen was in the hospital, where the doctors could make sure she was alright. She walked slowly down the corridor, pausing only at a machine to get a cup of what purported to be coffee.
After Jim had made his rapid exit Yvonne had wasted no time in getting to the back of the store to find Karen. Pushing open the conference room door had revealed Karen lying prone on the floor, unconscious, and blood pouring from a deep cut on her face. After that everything had happened very quickly. Somehow Yvonne had managed to compose herself enough to ring for an ambulance, she'd then rang Nikki who had raced up from the front end. Making Karen as comfortable as possible all they could then do was wait for help. Karen had come round before the ambulance arrived, and had groggily slumped against Yvonne, her injury and the shock had taken their toll and she had not questioned the decision to take her to hospital. Yvonne rolled the plastic cup between her hands, looking up only because a pair of shiny black shoes stopped in front of her.
"Yvonne Atkins?"
"Yes."
"I'm PC Holland, this is my colleague PC Simpson, you reported an assault."
"Yes, but …."
"Your uniform Miss, gives you away a little, a Miss Wade filled us in at the store and we came straight here. Is Miss Betts in a position to speak to us?"
"The doctor's with her now."
"Right, well we have a picture of Mr Fenner and a warrant is out for his arrest." The young doctor appeared and after being assured there was no medical reason why Karen couldn't talk to them the two officers followed Yvonne to Karen's bedside.
"Well I think we have all that we need, we'll be in touch." Yvonne re-assumed her position by Karen's bed. Karen lay back down, her usual tanned complexion now drained of all colour.
"That was very brave."
"Mortifying, I believe would be more apt."
"No, none of this is your fault."
"Yvonne, please. As much as I appreciate you being here, and I do, believe that. I'm tired, I need to sleep and I can't listen anymore to how I am brave, and strong, and not to blame because at the moment I frankly don't believe any of it." Karen turned her face away from Yvonne, towards the window and bit her lip as yet more tears threatened.
"I'll come and pick you up tomorrow, to take you home."
"I'm sorry."
"Shhh, it's ok sweetheart. You're right I don't know how you feel, but I'm going to do my best to try and understand and I'm going to look after you. Whether you like it or not." Karen turned back over and smiled weakly,
"Thank you." Their lips touched briefly and Yvonne gathered her things together, as she walked away she looked back, Karen looked so small, so broken. It was going to take her some time to recover.
Helen opened the door of Nikki's flat to let Yvonne in.
"We were beginning to worry, there's food in the kitchen."
"I don't think I could stomach anything Helen love, thanks though." Yvonne slumped on the sofa and Nikki appeared with a mug of tea.
"Nothing stronger?" Yvonne looked disappointingly at the mug.
"Look around you, you're lucky there's anything here at all. I don't think that you should be drinking the mood you're in." Helen and Nikki were in the process of packing up Nikki's belongings, with Frances in Cambridge Nikki couldn't afford the mortgage on her own. The flat was on the market and Nikki needed to move out quickly.
"Fair enough." Yvonne sipped the tea, and tried in vain to prevent her hands from shaking, she put the tea down and rubbed them together. "I'm going to kill him."
"Yvonne."
"Don't Yvonne me Nikki, he hit her. More than that he's managed to make her think that in some way it's her fault. I'm going to make him pay."
"The police are looking for him, let them deal with it." Helen as always tried to be the voice of calm, "there's no point you getting yourself into trouble. Karen wouldn't want that."
"What if he'd done it to Nikki?"
"He tried to ruin Nikki."
"Didn't hit her though did he? Seriously Helen, what if Jim had punched Nikki, how would you feel?"
"I can't condone what you're saying, Yvonne." Nikki had been quietly listening to Helen and Yvonne, and as Yvonne looked furiously at Helen she decided it was time to make her opinion known.
"I'd want to hurt him if he hit you Helen."
"See!" Yvonne triumphantly pointed at Nikki, "Nik knows where I'm coming from." Helen shook her head sadly,
"I wouldn't want you to do anything though."
"I know, and that's why I would do everything in my power to control my vile temper. That's why you need to do the same Yvonne. You and me, we're similar. Too used to jumping to the defence of others, we don't even question it anymore. I care more about Helen than anyone in the world, and the thought of someone hurting her – well I understand something of what you are going through. But Yvonne here's the thing, Helen would be devastated if I did something stupid, even in the defence of her."
"Nik, you don't know what you're asking of me."
"I do. I'm asking you to let go of all that anger, because it won't help you. Be there for Karen, do what she wants. I know courtesy of the bastard.." Yvonne smiled at Nikki's description of her ex-husband, "you have the means, and know the people necessary to actually hurt Fenner. That part of your life is over, don't go back to it for the sake of him. Your new life is with Karen." Helen beamed and moved over to Nikki, she took her face in her hands and kissed her gently on the lips.
"I'm so proud of you." Yvonne exhaled loudly and cast her eyes skywards as if looking for intervention.
"When did you become so bloody wise?" Nikki shrugged, wrapping her arms around Helen, who had settled on her lap.
"Partly Stewart's fault, but I've grown up a bit I guess. Look it's hard, I know. You can't change those thoughts that go through your head, but you can stop yourself from doing something you'll regret. Or tell me and I'll stop you!"
"You!"
"Hey, I've been working out!" Helen was relieved the dark tension that Yvonne had brought with her had dissipated, and Nikki had deftly managed to reinstate the bantering that she was so used to hearing between the friends.
Much later with Yvonne settled on the sofa with plenty of blankets, Nikki and Helen lay in bed their arms wrapped around the other.
"You wouldn't do something stupid would you Nik?"
"If someone hurt you, I can't promise I wouldn't want to, but thanks to you I think I've got a reasonable grip on my temper these days."
"Jim must have really lost it."
"I know, I mean we all knew he fancied Karen but she was never even remotely interested. He obviously just flipped, didn't like hearing that she didn't want him."
"The police will find him though won't they?"
"God yeah, slimy toad he might be, criminal mastermind he's not. They'll find him."
It was cold. How did people sleep rough on the streets in the winter? Jim pulled the blanket further around him. He parted the curtain slightly and looked up and down the road, it was all quiet. He wasn't sure how it worked, would local police be carrying a picture? He didn't care, wasn't going anywhere, opening the holdall in front of him he pulled out a well worn photograph. She was beautiful and they should be together, he hadn't meant to hurt her, but she had to understand. They would be together, one way or another, and he'd lie low until he had another opportunity to prove it.