Part 28 (1/2)
' Dont do that. You need to stay hidden. This might turn ugly. Right in the middle of the High Street, too. Lets hope she wont make a scene in public.
Aunt Julia was forging on. 'I remember that the last time I had occasion to reprimand you for mistreating your wife you very cleverly managed to throw the blame back at me for not giving you a chance to explain your actions properly. I would not care to make the same mistake again so perhaps you could enlighten me as to why Jenny appears to be weighed down with boxes that are obviously much too heavy for her, while you are not?
He could have explained hed dropped his off at the Rover and come back for mine. He could have shown her how light they were. He could have relieved me of my load. He didnt do any of that. He made a big mistake.
'I dont have to explain my actions to you, Julia. Now, if youll excuse us ... He took my arm.
I noticed that Aunt Julias concern for my well-being had not led her so far as to relieve me of any of the despised boxes. Or even to say 'h.e.l.lo.
And b.l.o.o.d.y Francesca was here somewhere. I seriously considered flinging my boxes to the ground and walking off.
'I wouldnt, advised Thomas. ' Those boxes are all thats preventing this situation deteriorating into a public brawl.
'Why?
'Have you seen your face since this morning?
'Id forgotten all about it. It doesnt hurt at all.
'You look like the poster child for battered wives. Hang on to those boxes whatever you do.
I started to turn away. The car wasnt far. Id leave them to it.
Then Francesca, bless her, put her elegantly shod foot right in it.
'Oh, Jenny, you do look funny with all those boxes. Russell furiously grabbed the top three or four.
I could see again. There was Francesca. And Aunt Julia. And half of Rushford walking past very slowly so they could get an earful. And the other half staring into the nearest shop window, apparently enthralled by the display of surgical trusses, incontinence pads, and a special offer on stair-lifts.
But back to the current crisis.
Russell, grabbing the boxes, caught a glimpse of my face, closed his eyes briefly, and muttered, 's.h.i.+t.
I had no sympathy. Id been with him all afternoon and hed only just remembered? He was on his own.
Aunt Julia, thank G.o.d, was temporarily speechless. I hoped by the time shed regained her composure, she would realise the embarra.s.sment of a public scene and content herself with telling tales to Uncle Richard.
Another pig soared majestically into the stratosphere.
'Its up to you, Jenny, said Thomas. 'Deep breath, focus, and go.
I took a deep breath, focused, and went.
'It was an accident, Aunt Julia.
'Another one?
'He wasnt even there. I fell in the pond.
'Not making things any better.
'You fell in the pond? Which pond?
'The Duck Pond. At the ... bottom of the lane. I was rescuing a cat.
'Which cat?
'The cat in the pond.
'Why?
Now I was baffled. 'What?
'Why? Why were you rescuing the cat?
'Because it was in the pond. I thought Id made that clear. I wish people would listen to me.
'You let your wife fall in a dirty pond?
'I wasnt there. Believe me, Julia, Im with you on this one and when you see the cat, youll know why.
'So you hit her because she saved a cat?
'No! I mean I didnt hit her at all. Ive never hit a woman in my life. Not even Francesca. It was the cat.
'Oh dear.
'Youre telling me the cat hit her?
'No one hit her. She fell over a tree.
'You said she fell in a pond. You need to get your story straight, Russell Checkland.
'The tree was in the pond.
'And where was this again? A mangrove swamp in Florida?
I realised Id started to shake. Id never done that before.
'Jenny? said Thomas, concerned.
I made a huge effort to get some control over my life.
'Its all ... right, Aunt Julia, weve just been ... sh I couldnt get any further. The word 'shopping refused to budge.
I tried again. 'Art stuff.
'Oh? said Francesca, sharply. 'Youve started painting again, Russell? You didnt tell me.
'Nothing to do with you, Francesca. You walked out, remember? Left me high and dry.