Part 12 (1/2)

Could she forgive what they had done, and so keep her marriage and her and Martin's lives together as best she could? Or should she leave the marriage, and turn her back on both of them?

Perhaps the kind and proper thing for her to do would be to let Martin go his own way, if that was what he truly wanted.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

SCRAMBLING UP FROM the carpet, Martin took another peek through the lounge window.

'Stop worrying!' Paula tugged at him. 'I expect she's decided to stop over at Kathleen's after all.'

'I hope you're right, but I'm not sure of Lucy's intention.' In a lower voice he added regretfully, 'She hardly talks to me these days.'

'So do you want me to go?'

'You know I don't.' He grabbed her into his arms. 'You little witch! I'm sorry I ever let you in. I should have sent you packing.' Grabbing her to him, he kissed her long and hard. 'Truth is, I can't seem to get enough of you.'

'Is that a bad thing?'

'For us, no. For Lucy, not so good.' Not for the first time, he felt a pang of conscience.

Paula wrapped herself about him. 'Do you want to end it?'

'You know I don't.'

'So ... do you want us to make a life together?'

'Yes, but it's not easy, is it?'

'Just tell her!'

Martin thought he would find it hard to be that cruel, and evaded her suggestion. Running his two hands over her bare skin, he said, 'Look, I have to be up and away at six tomorrow. Watch out for me later on.'

'I could stay here with you tonight.'

Martin was adamant. 'No, Paula. We have to be careful until it's all out in the open. Think about it: Sam might suddenly decide to come home from Anne's, and for all we know, Lucy could be on her way as we speak. You know what a homing pigeon she is.'

Paula laughed. 'Homing pigeon? OK, tomorrow then.' Getting up off the carpet, she collected her dress from the arm of the chair, slid it over her head and shoulders and wriggled into it. 'Do me up, will you?'

When Martin grabbed her by the waist, she started squealing and laughing, and then they were fooling about, he trying to zip up her dress and she wriggling away.

Having secured the zip, Martin then grabbed his trousers and pulled them on, Paula doing everything she could to stop him from securing his belt. 'Aw, come on ... we've got time.' She was all over him.

Martin pushed her off. 'Like I said, I'll see you tomorrow.'

'When exactly?'

'I'm not altogether sure. I've got that big roofing job on, and I can't leave it unsafe. It'll probably take me up to midday before I secure it. So, let's say I'll be with you around one o' clock. That'll give us a good hour together before I need to get back.'

'Suits me. But we need to talk, Martin,' Paula reminded him. 'You never did give me an answer about making a life together.'

'OK. Like I said ... tomorrow. We'll talk then.'

Paula was not ready to leave. 'Are you really throwing me out?' she whined.

'Yes, I am!' he told her, though he was enjoying the attention.

Sensing his weakness, she clung onto him.

'Paula ... no!' Each time he pushed her away, she came back at him, playfully teasing and laughing, until Martin threw himself into the fun.

Lost in the moment, neither of them heard Lucy let herself in through the front door.

Entering the front room, Lucy was shocked to see them rolling about on the carpet. For one moment she stood in horrified silence. Then filled with an uncontrollable rage, she ran across the room. She grabbed Paula by the arm and yanked her upright, forcing her out of the room and down the hallway to the front door.

She screamed at her, 'Shame on the pair of you ... carrying on like wild animals and in my house! You're disgusting!'

'Get your hands off me!' Paula fought like a wildcat. 'It's not my fault if you can't keep hold of him. The truth is you'll never be able to keep him. You're not right for him and never were. If he hadn't been forced into it, he never would have married you!'

Lucy gave as good as she got. 'You're no better than a woman of the streets. No, I take that back ... because even a woman of the streets would have more decency than to break up her sister's marriage.'

'Huh!' Kicking and struggling, Paula laughed in Lucy's face. 'If your marriage is broken, all I can say is, it couldn't have been very strong in the first place!'

Ignoring her spiteful remarks, Lucy continued, 'I'm ashamed to have you as a sister and, as much as I desperately miss Mum and Dad, I'm thankful they're not here to see what a shameless tramp you are!'

Struggling to break free from Lucy's iron grip, Paula yelled at her, 'At least I've got the guts to go after what I want. You, though ... you're too timid to strike out. You're too scared and worried ... and while you're hiding away, life is pa.s.sing you by. One day soon you'll turn round and you'll be old. Do you hear me? You'll be old before your time!'

She laughed in Lucy's face. 'You think I've stolen your man, do you? Well, trust me, he didn't need stealing. You see, it was him who came after me the first time.'

She yelled out, 'Tell her, Martin! Tell her what you told me that you've never loved her ... that you always wanted me. Tell her, Martin!'

Never before had Lucy been in such a rage. Her heart was beating so fast, she could hardly breathe. She felt like a different woman; capable of anything.

In a clear, decisive voice she informed Paula, 'From now on, you are not welcome in this house.'

'Huh! That's not what Martin told me.'

'Well, I'm telling you now. What the two of you have been up to is bad enough, but how could you so easily forget that we've only just buried our mum and dad?' She fought to keep back the tears. 'From now on I don't have a sister. Do you hear me? I don't know who you are any more.'

Breaking away, Paula ran off, cursing as she went. Seeing Lucy in such a temper had shaken her. Now, though, she took pleasure in hurting her. 'You're mad! You can't even see what's right in front of you. Martin doesn't love you. He loves me. We love each other. But you wouldn't understand, would you ... because you're unlovable ... and cold. Those are Martin's words, by the way, not mine.'

She took great enjoyment in the flush of pain that flitted across Lucy's face. 'Y'see, Lucy, it's like this: Martin needs the kind of partner who sets him on fire. No one would ever blame him for wanting a real flesh-and-blood woman in his arms!'

'Get away from here!' Lucy went after her. 'Don't ever let me catch you round here again ... do you hear me?'

Paula was already out of reach, her manic screams echoing through the darkened streets. 'Get used to it, Lucy, girl! You've lost him! He doesn't want you any more. He wants us to live together, d'you hear? Martin asked me to move in with him.'

These cruel words brought Lucy to a halt for a moment, her face bleached white with anger. But this was no time for tears. This was a time to stand up for herself, and to h.e.l.l with the consequences.