Friends With Benefits...CH10...A Visit From Mrs. Peacock

The lift bell dinged and Mrs. Peacock stepped out, took a quick survey round the department. It was a quiet morning, the customers trickled in and out, and

Stephen welcomed his 1030 coffee break. All eyes shifted to Mrs. Peacock and the staff spoke in whispers. Whenever she showed up, there would be

trouble. She noticed that neither Stephen nor Betty were present on the sales floor.

"Cor! What does she want? She makes my blood run cold," said Mr. Lucas,"You can see why he's the way he is, a wife like that."

"Hold your tongue, Mr. Lucas!" warned Mr. Grainger, "This is none of our business."

"Shh...shhh...she's like Medusa, she'll turn you to stone! If we don't look, maybe she'll go away," mused Mr. Humphries.

"Where's Stephen?" she sneered. her eyes fixed on the Gents' counter.

"He's having his coffee break in the canteen," Mr. Grainger offered.

She dashed from the sales floor toward the canteen, passing Betty in the hall and nearly colliding with her. She shot Betty a dirty look and continued on.

"Oh, Crikey! What does she want?" Betty thought. Betty turned round as Mrs. Peacock entered the canteen.

Stephen read his paper and sipped his coffee.

"Stephen!" Mrs. Peacock shrilly called.

He coughed, almost spilling his coffee down the front of him.

"Vivienne! What are you doing here?" he stammered.

"I've left messages for you. Why haven't you returned my calls?" she demanded.

"I got you message loud and clear on my birthday. I've tried to call, but you've had the number changed."

"Please come home. I don't want a divorce." she almost sounded convincing.

"You moved another man into my home and threw me out..." His voice trailed off.

"He stayed one night, on the couch."

He thought of his night on Betty's couch and how that ended. He exhaled loudly.

"Stephen, I was just trying to get your attention..." she pleaded.

"You've succeeded beyond your wildest dreams."

"Usually if I threaten divorce, you come crawling back and we make up and you take me out for a nice dinner somewhere."

"Not this time," he was certain.

"Well, Dear. I know whom you've been playing house with, Stephen. I can have her implicated in the divorce, drag her through the mud and the court. You

come home and you can keep your East End dirty little indulgence. I'll give you an uncontested divorce," she played her cards well.

"I'm not contesting it. You're getting the house and half of my income.."

"My solicitor took some lovely pictures of you and her. The ones of you two snogging at the launderette are priceless!" She played her Trump card.

He blanched, eyes wide, nostrils flared, sucking in his breath. He steamed. He couldn't let his Betty be wrung out and hung out to dry.

"I've got to get back to work. My coffee break's over. Good bye, Vivienne." He stormed out, clenching a fist. She smiled, self-satisfied.

"Did she say anything?" Betty asked Miss Brahms.

"No, she just looked around like she had gone mad, asked where Captain Peacock was and then went to the canteen."

"I passed her in the hall. Good night! She shot me a look that would convince a freight train to take a gravel roadway." Betty shook her head.

"Blimey! She does have a cold stare doesn't she? Makes one understand why Captain Peacock doesn't mind the late hours and the stupid meetings.

Anything's got to be better than facing that lot every night!" Miss Brahms make a face.

"Shh..shh...shh...here he comes. Don't let him catch us gossiping; he looks to be in a right state!" Betty immediately went to counting scarves.

Mrs. Peacock strode to the lift, giving the floor one last scan, and upon seeing Betty, narrowed her eyes.

Stephen returned to his place on the sales floor, not looking at Betty. Mrs. Peacock disappeared behind the closed lift doors.