Chapter 21 #2
‘You should be careful, you know, Mum, especially if there’s a chance Dodgy Dick and his cronies are out of prison.’
‘Florrie’s right, Paula,’ said Ed.
‘Trust me, lovey, Dodgy Dick and the like are the least of my worries right now.’ The look she gave Ed puzzled Florrie, and she wondered if he’d noticed it, too.
‘Oh?’ Florrie couldn’t imagine what she was about to hear next.
‘So, when I get outside, I see this tall woman with one of them big cartons of eggs in her hand, and she’s yelling at a man who seems to be telling her to stop – no idea who he was; I’d never seen him before, maybe a holidaymaker.
Anyroad, she chucks a couple of eggs at him and he scarpers off down the road with egg running all down his head and his arm as he’s still shouting at her to stop. ’
‘What?’ Florrie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘Who does that sort of thing? Surely, that’s classed as an assault?’
‘Stella’d be able to tell you,’ said Ed.
‘Mmm, she would,’ Florrie agreed, picking up her tea.
Paula heaved a sigh, her eyes still puffy from crying.
‘But they weren’t the only people out there shouting.
’ She paused as if thinking how best to present what she had to say next.
She pulled an apologetic face at Ed before continuing, ‘I’m afraid your parents were there, too.
They were having a huge argument, and this tall woman somehow seemed to be involved in it as well; they were all really going for it, hammer and tongs, as they say – like you heard for yourself. I’m really sorry, lovey.’
‘My parents? But I thought my father was still in London, and that my mother had gone to join him.’
‘Well, they were both in Micklewick Bay this evening, large as life, I’m afraid.’ Paula’s expression fell.
A thought flashed through Florrie’s mind. ‘Mum, did this tall woman happen to have dark wavy hair, and was she wearing a brightly coloured velvet coat?’ She sensed Ed turn his head to her, felt the weight of his gaze.
‘She did, and I tell you what else stood out about her, she had a kind of American accent – it wasn’t very strong, but it definitely had a bit of a twang to it. Could’ve been Canadian, I suppose.’ Paula glanced between them. ‘Why? Do you know who she is?’
Ed tipped his head back and groaned.
Florrie switched her gaze to Ed. ‘Luella,’ they said in unison.
‘Luella? Who’s Luella?’ asked Paula, her forehead creased.
‘My ex,’ said Ed, dragging his hand down his face.
‘Your ex?’ Paula sat up straight. ‘Why would your ex be in Micklewick Bay? And why would she be chucking eggs at the bookshop window?’
‘Good question,’ Ed said wearily. ‘Before you ask, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with me. My parents are the reason she’s here, whatever bonkers reason that may be.’
‘But how did Dad end up unconscious on the pavement?’ asked Florrie. She didn’t want to go down the route of trying to get her head around what Ed’s parents and his ex were plotting, she needed to know about her dad.
‘As I said, Ed’s parents were arguing and shouting, going at it, right hammer and tongs style.
From what I could gather, your father was furious with your mother for something she’d done, but I couldn’t make out what.
He just kept yelling that whatever it was they were arguing about was her fault.
I’ve never seen two people look so angry with one another. ’
Ed shook his head in dismay. ‘I’ll bet I have.’
Paula gave him a sympathetic glance. ‘Anyroad, I went over to them and asked them – very politely – if they would mind keeping the noise down on account of Jack and Jenna’s reading, and…
’ She flicked her eyes to Ed. ‘I’m really sorry to have to say, lovey, but they turned on me then, yelling all sorts of awful stuff.
The language was strong enough to make your hair curl. ’
Florrie winced – she knew from what Ed had said of his parents, they didn’t like being told what to do by anyone.
‘I’m so sorry, Paula, I don’t know what—’
Paula placed her hand on his arm. ‘It’s not your fault, lovey, none of this is.
’ She swallowed, taking a moment. ‘Anyroad, the next thing I know, Charlie appears beside me, even though I’d told him to stay put.
He asks your parents and this Luella what all the shouting’s been about, and tells them that they’re out of order for yelling and swearing at me.
The next thing I know, I hear your dad say he’s feeling dizzy, and he topples over which is when he hit his head.
I tried to catch him, but I was too late.
I’ll never forget the sound of his head hitting the ground for the rest of my life, it was…
’ Her eyes filled with tears and a loud sob escaped her mouth.
‘And now poor Charlie’s in intensive care. ’
Florrie felt emotion leap in her chest. ‘Oh, Mum, that must’ve been awful for you.’ She took her mum’s hand, squeezing it tight as she fought against her own tears. ‘Just take a few minutes before you carry on; have a mouthful of tea.’
Paula nodded as Ed reached for the box of tissues on the table and handed it to her. She smiled her thanks at him.
Dabbing her eyes, Paula continued, ‘You’re right, it was awful seeing your dad like that.
It wasn’t at all what I expected to happen.
Anyroad, the loud bang you heard was Dawn driving off and hitting the metal rubbish bin when she mounted the pavement – driving like a lunatic, she was.
Peter and Luella ran off down towards the station straight after.
Didn’t bother asking if your dad was okay, or if he needed an ambulance.
Didn’t seem to care. And now, here we are,’ she finished with a shrug.
Ed hung his head. ‘I’m so sorry, Paula. I don’t know what to say. If my parents hadn’t been shouting and carrying on with Luella, Charlie wouldn’t be in intensive care. I can’t help but feel responsible.’
‘It’s not your fault, Ed. No one’s blaming you, so there’s no need to apologise. You’re an innocent party in all of this, just like the rest of us. But I do think the stress of all the shouting caused his dizziness at the time.’
Florrie had to agree. She reached over to Ed with her free hand, wrapping it around his. It was an unfortunate state of affairs and she couldn’t begin to understand how he must be feeling.
‘I can’t bear that they’re responsible for Charlie being in here, indirectly or not.
’ Florrie noted the hard tone in Ed’s voice, which matched the steely look in his eyes that she’d never seen before.
‘What sort of people are they? And it’s all about trying to sabotage our wedding so they can get their hands on the bookshop.
I’m ashamed I share their DNA. But that’s it, I’m done with them.
Finished. Once I’ve told them what I think, I never want to see either of them again – nor Luella, for that matter. ’