Pudding

Do you prefer a pudding or a starter?  Avoiding a starter to keep room for pudding, or forcing down that dessert and risk seeing it again later in the most disgusting way. Sweet tasty goodness or a healthy prawn cocktail. What is the etiquette in this situation?  I’m not sure,  but I’m guilty of forcing down all three settings, pudding is always my favourite.

Sitting here scraping the rich creamy cake of my plate I resist the urge to stick my tongue out and lick it.  Too many people watching, too much judgement.

Dinner with a friend, this is what tonight should be.  Things are not always what they seem. Watching Lou scrape  her bowl clean of custard, life was about to change. I now know that leaving things unsaid is the worst plan.  If you have something important to say, you must say it. Unless its going to hurt them, weigh up your options carefully.

Sharing

Telling Lou about Frank should have been easy, so why was I eating and not sharing. Friendship should be a good thing. There shouldn’t be painful questions. I should be able to just tell her but how?

I have known Frank longer than Louise. We met at Birchwood Secondary, he was popular, always with the same group of tough kids. Tall, wavy brown hair, and a handsome smile. Many girls fancied him, but I never trusted him.  He had a calm swagger that set him apart. Some would say that he had the ‘gift of the gab”.  Me, I didn’t like his cool cockiness.

Working for a local newspaper, I now often had my nose in other people’s business.  Incidents of burglary in the area have increased dramatically and the police seem to be doing very little about it.  Interviewing the old lady, a known gossip working in the sweet shop, and often referred to as ‘Miss Marple’  she had named two of her suspects.  I know these two and they were friends with Frank at school. Alarm bells are ringing in my head.

Questions

Lou and Frank have been together for nearly two years and in that time, he has gone from one dead end job to another.  Now he is working in a furniture warehouse but has somehow just proposed to her with a shiny diamond ring.  I’m not a jeweller but I know this is not a cubic zirconia. How did he afford it? He couldn’t, unless he had savings but Frank has never struck me as the sort of man to plan ahead.

Looking at my friend I can see she is happy.  Talking about her wedding and future plans, how could I spoil this with suspicions? Maybe I should talk to the police first.  Thinking  all this over, Lou suggests more pudding and then asks me an unexpected question.

“How much would you earn selling furniture?”

I thought for a moment, “It’s retail, maybe about £1000 a month after tax and national insurance.”

“So expensive jewellery and a new car, doesn’t seem right does it?”

“Does Frank save money Lou?

“Don’t think so, do you remember Joe? I think you were at school with him.”

“Yes, I know him, bit of a thug at school.”

“Jess, he still is.  I think I’ve got a problem.  I want to marry Frank but things are not adding up, he is also so often making excuses to not be at home”

Taking Lou’s hand, I now tell her my thoughts, maybe pudding would make this conversation easier.

Frank

In and out of work for years, but always active in the gym, Frank now had it made, if it wasn’t for the bunch of thugs he called his mates life would be easier.  Lying to them and lying to Lou to protect her, he had no choice. Joe had always been the ring leader of their gang and he had turned it from playful boy trouble to crime.  Hiding his true interests to his mates had been hard and he hadn’t told Lou as he didn’t want her hurt.

Volunteering for months and now a recent recruit to the police force, Frank had been put undercover in a furniture warehouse.  Employed to watch Joe and monitor the tricky goings on of the warehouse manager.  Supply and demand but the figures were not adding up.  Far too much money was changing hands and things were not as they seemed.  Introduced by Joe, Frank knew he needed to investigate further.

The salary had been welcomed and he had soon purchased a ring for the love of his life. His next thoughts were a car, but they needed to pay for their wedding.

Louise

Watching Louise, I could see she didn’t want to believe me.

“Jess I can agree that Joe might be a true thug, but not Frank. Something is going on but it can’t be this.  That lady didn’t say Frank did she?  You could be putting two and two together and making five.  Frank is taking care of himself, exercising, but I know there is more to this.”

“Well how do we find out?”

“You’re the journalist, think, and don’t just go on what  ‘Miss Marple’ says.

Pudding and talk

A week later  we are sat in another cafe.  More creamy delicious pudding, and life has moved on.   Louise has made Frank talk to her after giving him an ultimatum. She needed the truth.  After finding out he was working for the police and not selling furniture she felt relieved. Frank hasn’t told her more, just that he has already said enough and needed to keep her safe.

I am happy for Lou but still wondering about Joe and Frank and the rest of the story. Wanting my friend to be happy and hoping that Frank really has finally sorted himself out. A career as a police officer suits him well, but i’m sure he will not be discussing this anytime soon with his thuggish friends.

Written for Write the story  on Writers Unite!

For more see –  The Lord of Hillcroft Manor