Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird

‘If you like.’ Anything to just get rid of her, he thought.

‘I’ve made a decision. There might be some misery-guts who won’t like it, but that’s tough titty, mate! ’Cause when they do the announcement, I’m gonna stand up there and tell everyone what a wonderful man Jack is.’ She paused. ‘Except he won’t dance with me! And I don’t think that’s nice, do you?’

‘No. That’s a terrible thing.’

‘What would you call a man who refuses to dance with a woman?’

‘I’d call him a rotter.’

At which she collapsed in fits of laughter. ‘You know what, David!’ she screeched. ‘You just called yourself a rotter. What are you like?’

She didn’t even notice as he made his getaway. Tomorrow, he fully intended to tell his friend that he would never do another staff party! Though when he glanced back to see Jan fawning over every man as she passed him, he actually laughed out loud, ‘Women!’

Still giggling, Jan tottered towards the glass doors. She even did a little jig as she wound her wobbly way through the dancing couples. ‘Don’t mind me!’ she said, knocking them about like skittles. ‘A bit of fresh air, that’s what I need. Then I’ll be right as rain.’

In the middle of the dance-floor, while the couples swirled about her, she paused a moment to rummage in her bag, looking for cigarettes and lighter. ‘Damn and bugger it, can’t find nothing in this bloody Tardis. Come out, you little sods!’

Having located the said items, she continued on her unsteady course towards the glass doors, which led to the large area of decking and the garden below.

The company had created this extravagant recreation area to impress the customers, and it had proved to be money well spent. Salesman–customer consultations could take place here, and it was a pleasant spot for the staff to have a sandwich and drink at lunchtime, on the rare occasions when the sun shone. Or even to have a crafty cigarette if there was no one using the facility for business purposes. And when there were organised functions such as a new car launch or business promotions, the decking area had proved to be invaluable.

From her hiding-place behind the fencing, Molly watched as Jan threw open the doors, then positioned herself against the wooden railings as she shakily lit a cigarette. She took a long, lazy drag, held the smoke in her mouth for a moment, then blew it out in a perfect circle of smoke. ‘Hey . . . Wow! Look at that!’ Thrilled when the halo hovered before her face, she blew another, then another. Like a delighted child, she poked her finger into the centre of each and every smoke-ring. Laughing aloud, she blew more, faster and faster, until she was surrounded by a haze of smoke-rings. And as they shrunk into varying shapes, she was beside herself, falling about, breathless with laughter.

A moment later, her laughter was cut short when Molly took hold of her by the shoulders and spun her round. ‘Think you’re really clever, don’t you?’

Assuming the stranger had seen her wonderful smoke-rings. Jan bosted, ‘Yea! I bet you couldn’t make more than me.’

Molly shook her by the shoulders. ‘Don’t you come the innocent with me! I saw you kissing Jack. You’d better keep your hands off him. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

With the daylight fading and the booze having a delayed effect on her, Jan found it hard to focus. ‘Who the hell are you? What makes you think you can tell me what to do?’ She struggled to get loose, but Molly had her in a tight grip.

‘Did you hear what I said, you silly bitch? Leave my man alone!’

‘If you mean Jack, he’s not your man . . .’ She stared Molly up and down. ‘Ah, yes! I know who you are now. You’re the big-mouth troublemaker who embarrassed him in front of everybody.’ In the face of trouble, she was beginning to sober up, though she still felt sick. ‘You’d best face it, lady. You and Jack are finished . . . for good!

‘Shut your stupid mouth! You’re wrong – there’s no way we’re finished.’

‘What?’ Jan could give as good as she got. ‘After what you did the other day, I shouldn’t think he ever wants to set eyes on you again. Jack is done with you. And if I fancy my chances with him, it’s none of your damned business.’

Molly gave her a shove. ‘I’m telling you for the last time. Back off!’

‘Says who? I don’t take kindly to warnings, and besides, this is a private party. You’ve got no right to be here. Bugger off, before I call security!’ With a stomach full of booze and a head that felt three times its size, Jan had an overwhelming need to be sick.

When Molly slapped her hard across the face, it came as a shock. Furious, Jan hit out with everything she’d got – fists, feet and knees. Soon the two of them were writhing on the floor – until Jan brought up the contents of her stomach, the sight and stench of which sent Molly diving for cover. ‘You filthy animal!’ she screeched, disgusted.

Suddenly, Jack was there calling for someone to help Jan inside. Taking Molly by the arm, he demanded, ‘what the devil are you doing here?’

‘I’m here to make up with you, Jack,’ Molly whined. ‘I know I’ve been an absolute cow. I should never have burst into the showroom like that, and I’m truly sorry. I want us to get back together, Jack. At least, let’s talk about it properly. Away from here.’

‘As you may have realised,’ said Jack curtly, ‘this party is to celebrate my promotion. In a short time, there’ll be a presentation, and I can’t just go swanning off with you, Molly. Especially when I know, from past experience, it would be a waste of time anyway.’

Molly was desperate, ‘It won’t be. Honestly. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I miss you so much, I’ll do anything to have it all as it was before. Please, Jack.’

Jack was sorry that she was genuinely upset, but he knew Molly, and he knew the score. However, because he still had feelings for her, he listened to what she had to say. ‘So, what happened to Mal?’ he asked. ‘I thought you had a thing going with him. Weren’t you getting married?’

‘It was just me being angry with you, Jack. It didn’t mean anything.’

‘Does Mal know that?’

‘Yes,’ she lied.

‘And you’re ready to come up north with me?’

Her hesitation gave him his answer, but he asked again. ‘It’s a straightforward question, Molly, and I would like a straightforward answer. Are you, or are you not, ready to move up to Lancashire with me?’

But still she wouldn’t give him an answer. ‘Well, it’s obvious that nothing has changed,’ he said. ‘You have no intention of giving an inch. You want to keep your house, your job and your life here, which is your choice. But I have a choice too, and now that I’ve made it, I’m not about to change my mind. It seems that while you’re prepared to give up nothing, you want me to give up my plans – hand back my promotion and turn my back on the only hope I’ve ever had of getting at the truth of these nightmares.’ His voice was heavy with regret as he told her, ‘I really thought you would be behind me all the way, Moll. If you truly love me, like you say you do, then you wouldn’t be trying to put every obstacle in my way, instead of helping me.’

Realising every word he said was the truth, Molly began to panic. ‘No, Jack! You need to hear what I’m saying, that’s all.’

‘Oh, I am, Molly. I’m hearing you loud and clear. I still love you – I can’t deny that. But I’m not prepared to dance to your tune for the rest of my life. Can you understand what I’m saying, Molly? Do you even want to understand?’

‘Please, Jack.’ The tears began to flow. ‘Don’t do this to me.’

It hurt Jack to see her this way, but he knew he was right to leave, to do what he had set out to do. ‘I’m sorry it’s come to this, but at least let’s part on good terms, eh?’

Molly looked up at him, at that familiar, handsome face, with those sincere, kindly eyes, and knew she would never find anyone like him again. ‘I can’t uproot myself, Jack,’ she said. ‘I’ve worked so hard for what I’ve got, and I can’t let it go.’

Jack gave a sad little smile. ‘But you can let me go, eh?’

‘No, Jack. You’re the one leaving. Not me.’

‘Yes, Molly, that’s very true, but I have my reasons, as well you know – better than anyone.’ His voice softened, ‘So, it looks like the end of the road for you and me. I’m sorry about that, Molly. Really, I am.’

Without a word, Molly reached into her handbag and gave him back his key. She turned away with a parting jibe: ‘You could never have loved me, or you wouldn’t be leaving me behind.’

He watched her go, and his heart was heavy. There was no denying that they had deep feelings for each other, but try as they might, they could not find a way to be together. And that was the hard truth of it.

Downhearted, he made his way back inside.

Outside, Molly lingered for a while, half-tempted to go after him, yet reluctant to do so. Instead, she found herself accepting that their relationship really was over. She felt bitter and used, hoping that he would come to regret his decision to leave her behind.

So many questions flitted through her mind. Why was it that every time she found a man she truly cared for, he always left her sooner or later?

She asked herself, ‘Is it me? Is there something about me that puts men off?’ For the life of her, she could not understand it. ‘I reckon I’m good-looking, and I keep myself smart. I’ve got a good job with prospects, and I’m nobody’s fool. I stand up for myself and I make decisions. So, why do they always leave me?’

She felt sorry. Sorry for herself. Sorry for her predicament, and her failures. But it was not her fault. None of it was her fault. ‘I’m coming up to thirty, and I need someone to be with me . . . to share my life and do the things I like to do.’

Being without Jack scared her.