The Broken Man (13 page)

‘I know.’ Sally made a face. ‘I reckon I’ve got worms.’

Anne laughed again. ‘What do you want to do next?’

Sally had it all worked out. ‘I know I said I was hungry, but I’d rather not eat till later. And anyway, it’ll be quieter in the café later on. If that’s all right with you?’

‘I’m easy.’

‘OK. So, how does this sound? We’ll finish our ice creams, then we could go on a couple of other rides. After that we could spend an hour on the machines in the arcade, and maybe win a fortune. Then we can go for a swim, and spend an hour or so on the beach, to maybe get a tan before we clean up and finally make our way to the café on the promenade. We’ll relax and enjoy a leisurely meal, before setting off home. How’s that?’

‘Perfect!’ Anne clapped her hands in agreement. Whenever she was with Sally, she always felt lighter of heart.

They sat awhile on the beach wall, chatting and finishing off their ice-cream cornets.

‘Right!’ Having nibbled the small remains of her cornet, Sally wiped her face with a tissue and threw the tissue in a bin. ‘Time for action.’ She set off down the promenade.

Anne quickly finished her cornet and set off at a run to catch up with Sally. ‘Wait for me!’

By 4 p.m., they had seen and done everything they had wanted to. They rode in the flying aeroplanes, and went mad in the crazy bumper cars. They went round and round on the waltzer, and had a wonderful time.

Afterwards, they spent a full hour in the amusement arcade, where between them they won the amazing amount of six pounds.

They had a leisurely swim, and after they had dried themselves off, they persuaded the donkey-man to let them ride on his two biggest donkeys.

‘There you go.’ He smacked the donkeys’ rumps and set them off at a good pace. ‘Enjoy yourselves.’

Sally and Anne laughed and squealed as they bounced up and down. Then the donkeys got spooked and took off down the beach with Sally and Anne hanging onto their manes for dear life.

‘Help! Get me off!’ Sally’s cry caused other holidaymakers to laugh at their antics.

Eventually, the donkey-man came to their rescue. ‘That’s never happened before,’ he said breathlessly. ‘I never knew they had such spirit in ’em.’

Scrambling off the donkeys, the two women were stunned into silence as they made their way up the beach. Then Anne started giggling, and soon they were both helpless with laughter.

Sally’s hair was up on end as though she’d been in a hurricane, and Anne’s legs were raw on the inside where she’d gripped the donkey’s belly.

‘Well, that was fun!’ Sally remarked wryly. ‘It’s the first and last time I ever get on a donkey.’

Anne agreed, but added that she had never laughed so much in all her life.

Afterwards, sore and exhausted, they lay on the towels on the sand, and lapped up the sun.

‘This is the life! I could lie here all day, every day, and never do another day’s work as long as I live.’ Sally sighed.

Anne was also loving the feel of the sun on her bare skin, but time was ticking by, and they still hadn’t eaten.

‘Sally? I thought you were hungry?’

‘I am.’

‘So, do you still want to go to the café?’

‘Course I do!’

‘Do you realise what the time is?’

‘No, and to be honest I’m so comfortable, I don’t care.’

There followed a short span of silence before Sally asked, ‘So what time is it then?’

‘Half-past four.’

‘Oh, crikey! We’d best get packed up and go, don’t you think?’

‘What, go home, you mean?’

‘No, to the café. We’ve still got time.’

‘I’m a bit peckish,’ Anne admitted.

‘Me too.’ Sally groaned. ‘I’m surprised you can’t hear my stomach rumbling.’

Anne made the first move. She stood up, brushed the sand from her body and, wrapping the towel around her, she skilfully removed her swimsuit without displaying her attributes to all and sundry.

Sally, though, standing some distance away, was not so careful. Her towel kind of slipped, and when the two young men playing football along the beach wolf-whistled at her, she gave them a quick flash of her buttocks.

‘Hey, I reckon he fancies me,’ she told Anne, with a naughty twinkle in her eye.

‘Behave yourself.’ Anne knew only too well what her friend was up to. ‘I’m beginning to think I daren’t take you anywhere.’ She had to laugh, though. ‘What would Mick say if he saw you flirting like this?’

‘Mick knows I adore him,’ Sally said dreamily. ‘No one could ever replace him in my heart.
And
he appreciates my sense of mischief.’

Some ten minutes later, as they were trudging along the beach, the football came bouncing their way and landed at Anne’s feet.

‘See, I was right!’ Sally was delighted to see one of the men come running towards them. ‘They did that on purpose, just to get our attention.’

As it was in her direct path, Anne stooped to collect the ball and had her arm raised to throw it back, when the fairer-haired fellow of the two bounded up and reached out as though to take it.

‘Sorry, I hope it didn’t hit you.’ His smile was friendly.

‘No, it didn’t.’ Anne thought he was about to take the ball and leave. Instead, he took the ball with one hand and suggestively slid his other hand down her bare arm. ‘I don’t suppose you and your friend would like to couple up with me and my brother. We could have a bit of fun … if you know what I mean?’ His knowing wink left nothing to the imagination.

Anne shook her head. ‘Sorry. We’re on our way to get something to eat, and then we’re starting home.’

‘Ah, well, me and my brother could do with a bite to eat, so why don’t we make it a foursome? It’ll be our treat.’ Gripping her wrist, he gently drew her towards him. ‘Please, say yes.’

From a short distance away, Sally witnessed the exchange between Anne and the stranger.

Moving closer, she was surprised to hear Anne say, ‘Thank you, but we haven’t actually decided whether or not we will go to the café. We’ve got a two-hour drive before us, and we have to get back.’

Stepping away, she tried to release herself from his hold, but when he gripped her wrist all the tighter she began to feel threatened. ‘Please … I have to go now.’ Making a determined effort, she pulled free from him.

As she made her way to Sally, her heart was pounding. Then she was panicking. Was he behind her?

Turning to see him already heading back to his brother, she gave a sigh of relief and slowed her steps.

Sally was not best pleased. ‘What were you thinking of? He was practically throwing himself at you, and then you frightened him off. Why? I mean, think about it. You haven’t been out on a date in ages. All this time, and you still haven’t found the right man. For all you know, he could have been the one. As for me, I’m already spoken for, as you well know.’

Anne smiled. ‘So, stop looking in the shop window if you don’t intend buying. Mick and you have been married for, what … eight years?’

‘It’s just a bit of fun, but having a bite to eat with two good-looking strangers doesn’t really mean anything, does it? Besides, I was hoping you might strike lucky.’

Sally had witnessed Anne’s nervousness with that man, and she had seen her react like that before when any man got too close. It troubled her.

‘Seriously, I’m only thinking of you, Anne. If you don’t start going out more, and meeting new people, you may never find the right man.’ She tried to lighten the situation. ‘Honestly, anybody would think you were afraid of making a commitment.’

When Anne fell silent, Sally realised that somehow, she had touched a nerve. ‘All right then, forget I said that. Come on, let’s get something to eat, before we head off home.’

Sally continued to chat as they walked down the beach towards the café.

Anne only pretended to listen. She could still feel the strength of the man’s fingers gripping her wrist. It had awakened so many memories. Her tormentor had kept her trapped so often by those very same means except, unlike just now, his iron grip had left indentations on her bruised skin for days after.

Often, that was how the real violence began …

Anne quickened her steps to escape from the beach and the two men, so that Sally had difficulty in keeping up with her. ‘Hey! Slow down.’ Running up alongside, she linked her arm with Anne’s. ‘We’re not in that much of a rush.’

As they hurried along, Sally noticed how pale and nervous Anne was, and how every so often she would glance over her shoulder as though worried someone might be following.

‘Jeez! You’re trembling! Anne, what’s wrong? Did he say something to frighten you?’

‘No, and there’s nothing wrong,’ Anne assured her. ‘I’m just thinking about the drive home and the traffic getting busy.’

‘If it’s worrying you that much, we can leave right now. I don’t mind one way or the other.’

She did not believe Anne’s explanation, especially as Anne was an experienced driver, more than capable, even in the thickest of traffic.

Anne would not hear of abandoning their plans. ‘No, we said we’d go to the café and head off home after that. So that’s what we’ll do. And stop worrying about me, I’m just cold, that’s all.’ She feigned a shiver. ‘I’ll be right as rain with a hot drink inside me.’ Squeezing Sally to her, she forced a smile. ‘I’ve had a really wonderful time today. I’m so glad I’ve got you as a friend.’

‘Me too.’ Sally gave her a little hug. ‘We’re good together, you and me … like sisters, eh?’

‘Yeah.’ As they climbed the steps to the little café, Anne felt guilty. ‘Sally?’

‘What?’

‘I’m sorry for being a pain just now.’

Sally feigned surprise. ‘What? You being a pain? Never!’

They were in brighter mood as they entered the café. ‘Can you get the order?’ Anne asked. ‘I need the loo.’

‘Course. What do you want?’

‘Coffee. And chips, please, with peas and a slice of bread and butter.’

While Anne went off to the toilet, Sally glanced about, relieved to see there were only two other people in the café, because that meant they would be served quicker, and then they could get a start home that much sooner. That would be a good thing as Anne still appeared to be unnerved by that man’s advances.

Sally found a table right in the corner.

‘Can I take your order, please?’ The woman looked to be in her forties, prim and tidy, with a frilly white cap perched jauntily on her dark hair. ‘Is it just the one?’

‘No, two; my friend’s gone to the loo, but she’s left her order with me.’

‘That’s fine.’ The waitress had her pen and notepad at the ready. ‘Drinks?’

‘One coffee, and one lemonade, please, no ice.’

When the entire order was given, Sally settled back in her chair and gave a lazy yawn. ‘Whew! It’s been a long day.’

Five minutes passed, and the drinks were delivered.

Then another five minutes, and by now Sally was growing impatient.
What the devil is she doing in there? The meals will be here soon
.

Picking up the menu, she began to browse through it absent-mindedly. After a minute or so, she replaced it on the table.

In the toilets, Anne washed her hands at the basin, and for a long moment she just stood there, deep in thought.

Leaning against the towel rack, she lowered her head and closed her eyes. She had so much on her mind, what with that stranger this morning, and then the man at the beach. She gave a whimsical smile: he must have thought she was a bit crazy, the way she backed away from him as though he were a mass-murderer.

Her smile slipped away. What was it about today? It was meant to be a fun time away from everyday life. But two incidents had deeply unnerved her. Two incidents in the space of one day.

Over the years she had done everything possible to put it all behind her, but now, because of two strangers, she was taken back, mind and heart, to the most unhappy and frightening time of her life.

For what seemed an age, Anne remained in front of the mirror, anxiously murmuring to herself. One minute she would be staring at the floor; the next, she was nervously glancing about.

‘You got Sally really worried,’ she chided herself. ‘You’d better get your act together, my girl. Or one of these days, they’ll be coming to take you away.’

Leaning forward, she placed her hands on the edge of the basin, her eyes closed and her heart palpitating.

‘Edward Carter!’ She whispered his name over and over. ‘Edward Carter … Edward Carter, the monster who ruined my life. Never again will I be able to trust any man. I’ll never get married, and I will never have children. Oh, I would have loved to have children, but now I can’t. Thanks to him!’

Clenching her fist, she punched the wall. ‘I hope you rot in Hell! I hope you suffer like you made me suffer. I pray that you will never have any peace in the whole of your miserable life!’

Unaware that Sally was standing in the half-open door, she began crying; softly at first, and then she was sobbing helplessly.

‘Who’s Edward Carter?’ Sally’s voice cut softly through Anne’s pain.

‘Oh … Sally!’ Swinging round, Anne was shocked to see her friend standing there. ‘He’s no one … just someone I once knew …’ Hurriedly wiping away the tears, she was devastated that Sally might have heard everything.