The Fierce Brave Gang – Chapter Twenty Eight
Robyn and Jess asked Zoe if she'd like to come to the cinema and then for a meal, with them on the week of the trial.
"I don't think that's a good idea. In fact it's a bloody stupid one" was Zoe's sharp reply, "Can you not see how it would look to everybody else if I go out enjoying myself – or at least pretending to enjoy myself – when I'm due in court? And what would we be drinking? Water?"
"A glass of wine might help you sleep better" Jess tried to be kind.
"Oh yes. Like I can really sleep at all anyway! Just bloody leave it, will you?"
Robyn and Jess admitted defeat.
The truth was that Zoe was sinking into an abyss of her own fear and misery. She kept hearing Coral Markham's cutting voice:
"Why did you not go straight to your door in a taxi, Ms Hanna? I put it to you that you were drunk and didn't know what you were doing that night. Maybe you encouraged my client and then got cold feet?"
Mr Jordan had given Zoe time off for the week of the trial. He trusted her to make up for her lost studies when everything was resolved. Max went to see her, desperately wanting to convince her that he was trying to understand how she felt.
"She's not here, Max, love. She got in touch with her lawyer this morning- she's dropped the charges and she's gone to stay with Alison for a while."
Alison was Zoe's elder sister who had treated Zoe, and sometimes Max, to cinema visits when Zoe was younger. They'd always got on well.
"When will she be home?"
"I don't know, love. Look, come inside and I'll make you a pot of tea."
"Will you give me Alison's address?" Max was hopeful.
"Can't, love. Zoe doesn't want anybody to know her whereabouts. But I will give you a phone number. If she talks to you, that's fine, but if not, can you promise not to harass her?"
Max promised.
Alison was friendly enough on the phone but had to tell Max firmly but kindly that Zoe didn't want to talk to anybody for a while.
Zoe was the subject of discreet gossip for a while at the College. Ella was glad that her dad would be safe now, and she could go home to him again, even though Mrs Beauchamp, Miss Freeman and their little 'family' had been more than kind to her.
Those involved with 'Thorns' were working harder than ever, both in the theatre and at College. End of term exams had taken priority over rehearsals, which had been suspended for a week, which meant that rehearsals were on an even tighter schedule than before. Dylan had taken Dervla for a walk one night and had come home to find Ben asleep on the sofa with the script for 'Thorns' lying on his chest. Everybody was running on their last dregs of energy.
Louise was invited over to supper by Cal one evening although it was more of a guilty move on his part. He knew – or thought he knew – that Louise was really into him, but just couldn't summon up anything but feelings of friendship for her.
"I'll do the dishes" Ethan volunteered, and Louise had offered to help. Cal knew it was probably bad-mannered of him not to offer to join them, but just wanted to lie back in his chair and forget everything for ten minutes.
Ethan had filled up the bowl a little over-generously with washing up liquid. As he plunged his hand in to retrieve a dish, a small shower of foam flew out and landed on the tip of Louise's nose. It was too much for Ethan. He wiped off the foam from her nose and then began to kiss her. At first she struggled a little but couldn't help her feelings. Within seconds she was kissing him back.
Cal realised that Ethan had forgotten to take the glasses into the kitchen, and rounding them up, walked into the kitchen just in time for see his girlfriend and his brother kissing. And the worst thing, Cal felt guiltily, was that he himself didn't feel a thing either way.
"Oh God, Cal, I'm so sorry-"
Cal knew he should have spared Louise's feelings and played the guilty party. But he just smiled sadly.
"Let's face it, you and him go together better than you and I ever did."
With that, he walked out of the kitchen. Louise hadn't exactly wanted a punch-up between the brothers but had at least wanted a lecture from her supposed boyfriend. Not this indifference.
Despite that, she could hardly help feeling euphoric. Ethan was actually a brilliant kisser.
Then they both groaned.
"Oh, God, Jess."
Miss Freeman hadn't forgotten that she'd promised to let her class perform a play that they'd written themselves. Iain had recruited Jack to help him and they'd decided on Rumplestiltskin.
"We can't have that bit at the end when he gets mad and tears himself in half. Some of the girls might faint. Miss Freeman might faint."
The thought of an unconscious Miss Freeman horrified both little boys so much that they worked hard to find an alternate ending.
Jack, who had been cast as Rumplestiltskin, leaning on a stick and wearing a huge cloak and hood, gave a moan of sorrow as Alicia, as the Princess, yelled his name at him.
"You have won, Princess. I must now go back to my hovel and bother you no more."
Jack shuffled off. Then Alicia shouted:
"Wait!"
Jack shuffled back.
"You may visit the Palace and see the baby once a week if you promise not to make trouble" Alicia said seriously.
"Oh thank you Princess!"
Miss Freeman had to clamp her lips together so she didn't burst out laughing at the kids' sugar-coated version of the story. But she clapped long and hard afterwards.
It was Iain's proudest moment.
The Summer Break came and there were afternoon parties for the Tinies and an evening one for the College students. Max couldn't bear to go to the latter. A party without Zoe would be miserable as hell.
The Tinies stood at the school gates, waiting to be picked up and taken home.
The week when 'Thorns' played in the New Theatre finally arrived. Several disasters occurred during the dress rehearsal. Cal, after being word-perfect for most of the rehearsals, dried up and had to be prompted. Robyn said her opening lines too quickly and they were drowned out by the wood creatures' 'chattering' noises. The kids were embarrassed until Robyn reminded them that she'd been the one to speak too soon. Ben managed to fall over at one of the key emotional moments of the show, and Ethan got the punch-line to one of Rathbone's witty songs back-to-front which killed the joke altogether.
They expected a huge reprimand from Mr Kendal but he assured them all that this was nothing compared to some dress rehearsals that he'd attended.
"I messed up" Ben said to Taylor, who had been allowed to attend the dress rehearsal because Mr Kendal had wanted members of the public to see it and had offered free seating to friends and families.
"Ah, you just had a little trip, that's all. You were great apart from that. I cried when Kieron died."
She suddenly gave a little gasp. Julia was standing across the road, just staring at them. Ben hugged Taylor closer and stared Julia out.
"Take no notice, darling" he reassured her. But the cool July air suddenly felt icy on his spine.
"I don't think it's worth getting the police involved, Ben" Dylan said. A decision he was to regret later.
Max made another call to Alison, who was sympathetic and polite, but wouldn't bring Zoe to the phone.
"She's not ready, Max."
"Well, could you just tell her that if she wants to go to see 'Thorns' at all this week, I'll buy her a ticket."
"Max" Alison said clearly, though her tone was gentle, "She won't be home this week or even this month. It's too soon for her."
Max realised it was going to be a long, painful wait.
(
