Part 15 (2/2)

'Don't take it like that.'

'How do you expect me to take it? Your sister obviously thinks I'm not good enough for you not like the saintly Francesca.'

Mark turned pale. 'She didn't say that.'

'No? What do you call it, then? She even accused me of being after your money.'

He sighed. 'She gets a bit resentful sometimes about my inheritance.'

'Did your uncle leave her out of his will?'

He nodded. 'I told you; he didn't leave a will.' He reached for my hand. 'Let me take you out to dinner. We'll go somewhere nice to make up for everything.'

'No.' I s.n.a.t.c.hed my hand away. I couldn't believe he'd stand there and let his upstart of a sister insult me without a word in my defence. 'I obviously count for very little as far as you're concerned. Anyway, I'm too tired and too disappointed. This has been the day from h.e.l.l and I just want it to be over.'

I couldn't sleep. Not that the sofa was uncomfortable. Cathy had grudgingly supplied me with a duvet and pillow, but she hadn't offered either Mark or me anything to eat and my stomach wouldn't stop rumbling. I couldn't get Paul Fortune's ma.s.sive con trick out of my head. My dreamed-of chance of success. All I had ever worked and prayed for, not to mention Dad's legacy all gone in a puff of smoke. It hurt like a knife twisting in my heart. And as if that wasn't enough, there was Mark's betrayal. If he really loved me, why hadn't he put me first and told his bossy sister where to get off?

At last, in spite of the hunger pains and the disbelief of what was happening to me, I dozed off into a restless sleep in the early hours, only to be rudely awakened by two boisterous children jumping on me.

'Who are you? What are you doing in our flat? What's your name?' They shrieked questions at me, whilst bouncing all over the sofa. I sat up and gathered the duvet round me, fleeing in the direction of Mark's room. In the hallway I was stopped by Cathy.

'Where are you going?'

'I need to shower and get dressed,' I told her.

'Not in Mark's room,' she instructed. 'You can use the bathroom.'

'But my clothes my luggage is in there.'

She sniffed. 'I'll get it for you.' She went into Mark's room and emerged a minute later, holding out my suitcases as though they were something she was putting out with the bins.

'Is Mark awake?' I asked.

She shook her head. 'No, and I'd be obliged if you'd allow him to sleep.' The two brats joined her and she slipped an arm round each of them. The girl put her tongue out at me. 'I'll be taking the children to school by the time you're finished.'

'Really?' I looked at them with distaste. 'Well, let's hope they learn some manners there. They certainly haven't been taught any by you!' I picked up my cases and walked towards the bathroom.

She aimed her final shot at my retreating back. 'I'd quite like you to have gone by the time I get back.'

'With pleasure. I can't wait to get away from here!' I slammed the bathroom door and sat on the edge of the bath, despondency sweeping over me afresh. Were things ever going to get better?

I took a cab to Charing Cross Road and climbed the stairs to Harry's office, leaving my suitcases in the lobby. Sally ushered me in and Harry began speaking the moment I walked in.

'Louise I can't tell you how sorry I am about all this.'

'Not nearly as sorry as I am,' I interrupted. 'We've all been well and truly stuffed and there's nothing we can do about it now, but I'm not here for a post-mortem, Harry. I'm broke. I need a job and I need it now.'

He winced. 'I know, love, but look at it from my point of view. It's the end of May. All the summer shows are booked about to open any day now.'

'Then find me something else,' I demanded. 'A touring play anything. You know how versatile I am.' I leaned towards him. 'You owe me, Harry. You owe me big-time.'

'I know, love, and I feel for you, honestly.' He a.s.sumed a pleading expression and spread his hands. 'But I can't work miracles, can I?'

'Well you'd just better try,' I told him. 'You're supposed to be my agent and you've lost me a shed-load of cash and landed me in an unholy mess. If I don't hear from you in twenty-four hours, I'll make sure that everyone in the business knows about this scam you were involved in. And I still haven't made up my mind whether to sue you or not. Right?' I got up from my chair and stood glaring at him.

He shrugged resignedly. 'OK OK.'

I was lugging my suitcases back into the street when my phone rang. I put the cases down and fished it out of my handbag. It was Mark. I switched the phone off in disgust.

Back in Stoke Newington, I tapped on my ex-landlord's door. No, I couldn't have my old room back. He'd already let it. But he did have one on the floor above (sloping ceilings and a dormer window). Only problem was, it wasn't available till the week after next! Did I want it? Its only advantage was that it was cheaper than the one I'd vacated. An offer I was in no position to refuse.

'By the way, you owe me a couple of weeks' rent,' he reminded me with a smile. 'Oh, and I nearly forgot. You had a visitor yesterday,' he added. 'She said she was your mum.'

Chapter Twenty.

As Susan put her key in the lock, she heard the telephone ringing. Dumping her shopping on the floor, she rushed to answer it.

'h.e.l.lo, Susan Davies speaking.'

'Mum, it's me, Karen. I wondered if you could have Peter for me this afternoon?'

'Of course, love. Are you all right?'

'Yes, fine. It's just that I've got an interview.'

'I see. Well, just bring him round when you're ready.'

'Thanks, Mum. You're a lifesaver.' She paused. 'Mum I had a text from Louise this morning. She had the cheek to ask if she could come and stay for a few days. I told her absolutely no, not after last time. If she rings you-'

'She asked to come home?' Susan interrupted. 'But I thought she was down in Bournemouth, about to open this musical.'

'Well, she's obviously not,' Karen said. 'She didn't go into any details. Anyway it's irrelevant to me. All I care about is that she stays away from us. So, Mum, if she rings you, don't be an old softie again and say yes.'

'I wonder what's gone wrong,' Susan mused.

'Mum! Are you listening? You won't let her come and walk all over you again, will you?'

'What? No oh, I don't know, Karen. I'm making no promises. We're all she's got and ...'

'Yes, and she plays on the fact that you're a pushover! Promise me, Mum.'

'What time did you say you'd bring Peter round?'

'About two. Did you hear what I said?'

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