Read Online The Full Legacy by Jane Retzig - Free Book Online Page B

– I’m sorry, you’ve caught me at a bad time. Can I phone you? Tomorrow sometime, at home?’
    ‘Yeah – yes.’ Tears were log-jamming in my throat. I felt like a kid, forced to wait, wanting it now .
    ‘I don’t think I have your number.’
    ‘No.’ I recited it to her and she noted it – repeating the digits back to me.
    ‘I will ring back,’ she said. ‘Thank you for calling.’
     
    I collapsed in my seat. She’d barely even recognised me. But she was at work and I had waited six days.
    I could have wrecked the studio, I felt so wound up.
    I didn’t though. I had a client to make amends to.
     
    Now that I’d made the phone call, I did it admirably.
     
    ‘Something’s wrong, isn’t it?’
    The relieved Mrs Shaw had gone. Even Michelle looked exhausted now. She massaged her temples.
    ‘I’m okay,’ I said. ‘I’m just a bit on edge. I met someone at the weekend and I’m not sure how it’s going to work out.’
    Michelle stared at me. ‘Glory hallelujah... Is it a boy or a girl?’
    ‘A girl, of course!’ Well, a woman actually, but there was no way I was ever going to get Michelle using politically correct language....
    ‘No “of course” about it chuck. I mean, just look at Tom Robinson... Anyway, I bet she was supposed to be phoning you this afternoon, wasn’t she?’
    ‘Kind of, I thought she’d be in touch, one way or another. It was a misunderstanding.’
    ‘And now you’ve rung her and it’s all sorted?’
    ‘I don’t know. I hope so. She’s going to ring me tomorrow.’
    ‘What’s she like?’
    Good question. I hesitated... ‘I don’t know actually. She’s a bit mysterious.’
    ‘Ri...i..ght?’
    ‘She’s dark, nice looking. Probably about thirty-ish.’
    ‘ And?’ Michelle made winding up motions. ‘For goodness sake Gill, it’s like trying to get blood out of a stone getting you to talk in sentences.’
    ‘She’s married.’
    ‘Gill – you’re a fuck head!’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Well, don’t come running to me when she decides to stay with her husband.’
    I could see her point. After everything I’d been through with Corinne why on earth would I get myself involved in this?
    She wasn’t about to get all moral about it though, which was a relief. She was looking at her watch instead and already thinking about her own family. ‘God, I hope David’s fed the kids,’ she yawned. ‘I’m knackered.’
    Secretly, and much as I loved them and my role as their honorary auntie, I thought Michelle mollycoddled her children. By the time I was nine, the same age as Kirstie, her youngest, I was perfectly capable of opening a tin and sticking a bit of bread in the toaster. I knew better than to say it though.
    ‘You get off,’ I said glumly. ‘I’ll finish clearing up here.’
    ‘Sure?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Thanks love,’ she smiled through her exhaustion. ‘Look... you know I’m only looking out for you don’t you?’
    ‘Yes... I know.’
    ‘If you must keep seeing her, please be careful. Don’t get in too deep.’
    Too late!
    ‘I’m a big girl,’ I said. ‘I can look after myself.’
    Michelle scoffed. ‘Yeah, right!’ she said. ‘I wish I had a tenner for every time I’ve heard that one.’
     
    She was right, of course, about Turner. She was going to hurt me and I knew it. I kicked myself all round the studio as I packed up for the night.
     
    I was just setting the burglar alarm when the phone rang. I wondered whether to ignore it, but then I figured it might be important.
    ‘Gill?’ said the man’s voice on the other end of the line.
    ‘Vijay?’... Vijay worked at the lab... ‘ You’re working late tonight, aren’t you?’
    He sounded edgy. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Look Gill, you know the job you brought in on Tuesday?... I think you’d better come round and take a look.’
    ‘Now?’
    ‘Yeah – I think so.’
    There was something wrong, clearly. My stomach did a back flip.
    ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I’m just shutting up shop.