52. The taste of him – 2017
According to the doctor, a massive heart attack had killed Anton not long after Ursula had left him that afternoon.
She told the doctor it was impossible because she’d seen him at the window when she came back, but apparently she’d been mistaken.
At first, she let herself believe the doctor was right and it had been a trick of the light, or rather the lack of it.
But she’d seen him there again. In fact, she saw him at the window every time she left the house.
Earlier, he’d watched her get into the funeral car with Solly and Cass.
He’d even watched his physical self being driven away in the hearse.
Ursula had thought about asking Solly and Cass if they saw him too, but she was afraid they’d think she’d lost her mind.
Besides, she knew the answer would be no. She was the only one he was haunting.
Bernard Fry and his daughters were at the funeral.
His hair was white now but otherwise he looked well enough.
The wife wasn’t with him. Perhaps she was too frail.
Ursula took selfish comfort from knowing he might soon be losing the woman he’d cast her and her mum aside for.
She hoped he was feeling the pain of it and that he was living each day in fear of it.
It was cruel of her, but she could be cruel too. She’d only lately realised that.
With the service finished, people came over to offer their sympathies.
She accepted their condolences, listened to them heaping praise on Anton, and thanked them for coming.
She was playing her role to the end. She owed him that much.
But always in the back of her mind was the thought that it was the last time she’d have to do this.
Freedom had come at last. Just not in the way she’d expected it. And it had come at a price.
The Fry family were talking to a woman who looked a bit like Cass when she’d been younger.
A relative? Anton’s last lover? She could even be both.
Ursula’s stomach clenched when she realised Fry and his daughters were coming towards her.
She sent an icy stare their way and slowly moved her head from side to side.
One of the daughters picked up on it and turned them around.
‘Thank God for that,’ Cass whispered into her ear.
Ursula looped her arm through Cass’s. ‘Do you know who that woman is they were talking to?’
‘Afraid not. Why?’
‘It’s not important. I just need to speak to some friends, then we can go.’
She found Samuel, Clyde, Marcie and Gordon in a huddle away from the other mourners. They were here for her, not Anton. ‘Thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate it. Will you come back to the house? If you can spare the time.’
‘Ursula, love, we’re all retired. Spare time’s the one thing we’ve got lots of. Of course we’ll come,’ said Marcie.
There were fewer people at the reception than the funeral but still enough to fill the downstairs.
Thankfully, the Frys were among those who’d decided not to come.
Anton hadn’t been at the window when the car brought them back.
Just as well, he’d have hated all these people polluting his passion project with their dirty feet and loud noise.
Andi was in the dining area, making sure plates were piled high and glasses were topped up. She’d come straight from Wales that morning and they’d hardly had time to speak. She saw Ursula and pulled her in for a hug. ‘How you doing, mate?’
‘I’m okay. Where’s the rest of the family?’
‘The kids are in the garden, I think. Not sure about Pab. Probably talking to an investment banker about some get-rich-quick scheme. Sorry. I can call him off if it’s embarrassing.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I don’t think I’ll ever see these people again after today anyway. I’d better go and mingle.’
Samuel was on the stairs, probably looking for the bathroom.
She excused herself from talking to Anton’s partners and followed him up.
The main bathroom door was shut so she guessed he’d found it.
She went to go back down but then she noticed the door to Anton’s office was ajar.
It had been closed since the night they’d taken his body away.
Ursula pushed it further open, expecting to see him frozen in time at the window.
Someone was in there, but it wasn’t Anton.
Pablo had his back to the door and didn’t hear her going in. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have pocketed something from Anton’s desk.
‘Put that back,’ she said, sounding calmer and braver than she actually was.
He swung around, a smarmy grin on his face. ‘Put what back?’
‘Whatever it was you took. I imagine it was Anton’s watch, as it’s the most valuable thing in here.’
He put his hands up. ‘Don’t know what you’re talking about, babe.’
‘Look, Pab, I don’t want to make a scene but I will if I have to. Put the watch back.’
‘Only joking, Urs. Here. Take it.’ He held his jacket out for her to dip into the pocket.
He was toying with her again. Intimidating her.
It would have been easiest to run away and forget the watch but it had meant something to Anton.
He’d kept it for years, and she couldn’t allow Pablo to steal it as if it were no more than something to be pawned for pocket money. She reached for his jacket.
He grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away but he held on, so she let her arm go limp and forced a smile. ‘Stop being so silly, Pab.’
‘Stop being so silly, Pab,’ he said in a ridiculous, high-pitched voice. ‘You know, Urs, sometimes you sound like an old school ma’am.’
He was too close again. His breath smelled of whisky and cheese. She felt her stomach churn. ‘I’d like you to go.’
‘And what else would you like?’
‘Just go.’
‘Spoilsport.’ He lunged and almost fell onto her. The weight of him sent her flying backwards and suddenly she was being pressed against the wall. He rubbed himself against her, his erection pressing into her groin.
Ursula wanted to scream but his mouth was on hers, his tongue pushing between her teeth, the vile taste of him invading her.
She pushed and wriggled and squirmed to get free but he had her pinned down.
She was trapped. Then, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed Pablo and jerked him backwards and before he could fight back, a fist smashed into his face, sending him flying across the room. It was Samuel. He’d saved her.
Pablo was rolling around on the floor, nursing a bloodied face. Samuel stood over him, ready to throw another punch. ‘You want to call the police, Ursula?’
Yes she did, but she knew it would break Andi’s heart. If she believed her, that is. Andi had a massive blind spot when it came to Pablo. Either way, it would spell the end of their friendship and Ursula couldn’t bear that. ‘No. Not this time. But if he ever tries it again, I will.’
Samuel took a step away from Pablo. ‘You gonna get up now, mister, and you gonna leave this house. And if you ever go near this good lady again, you will have more than this old fella coming after you. Yer get me?’
Pablo scrambled up and inched past him out onto the landing. ‘Anton was right about you two all along then.’
Samuel went for him but Pab was too quick. He shot down the stairs, pushed through the crowd, and was straight out the door. He was gone but the foul taste of him was still there on Ursula’s tongue.