The Quilt (14 page)

Joanne
felt distracted by the mornings unravelling of her life.  Her concentration was limited and she struggled to apply herself even to something as simple as the Tucker’s affairs.

Within an hour of her arrival at the office and within two hours of discovering Stephen in bed with another woman, Joanne sat stiffly in front of her employer’s desk listening to his reprimand. 

He rattled on angrily
, his face was flushed red and a vein bulged and throbbed dangerously in his temple.  His voice rose and cracked as he criticised her inability to get into work as scheduled in the morning. 

Joanne apologised and listened politely.  Perhaps, if she controlled herself, he would run out of energy and she would be allowed to retreat back to the safety of her office. She had no intention of explaining the circumstances or reason for being unpunctual to this repulsive man. Instinct told her he would find satisfaction in her predicament.   

She was finding it
hard to stay focused as he continued irrationally.  He seemed to be rewording the same message over and over again.  Slightly different each time, degrading, insulting trying to belittle and to humiliate. 

Perhaps it would be easier to excuse
herself for the afternoon.  She hadn’t taken any sick days despite several occasions when she probably should have stayed at home.  She could book herself into a motel until things settled down and she could find the time to locate somewhere more permanent to stay. 

Kelvin had said her appointments had been delegated to some
one else for today.  It occurred to Joanne this move seemed a little excessive.  Why would he clear her work load for the entire day? Was he going to release her from the firm?  Terminate her employment?

Suddenly alert she registered his voice had dropped to a whisper.
Joanne focused, she looked up and was greeted by a sly smile.  Kelvin had readjusted his position, propping himself against the huge, polished desk and she hadn’t even noticed. Her attention had wandered to things that appeared to be more urgent a few minutes ago.  He now stood relaxed and arrogant, elated that Joanne had not objected to his position.

She uncomfortably dropped her gaze
and found his bulging crotch at eye level.

“
Joanne, answer me. Do you not realize how hard it is for a new graduate to find a position like this?”

W
hat position he was referring to? Employment or something related to her sitting at eye level with his fly?  He was obviously enjoying the power this situation gave him.  He smiled and watched Joanne struggle to manoeuvre her chair back slightly.  It grated on the hard wooden floor. 

Was she misreading the situation?  Joanne felt increasingly uncomfortable with his proximity.  The stench of his body made her want to recoil and his expression made it an effort to contain her anger.

“You are grateful for the opportunity you have been given aren’t you, Joanne?”

Joanne grappled
for words to put an end to this conversation, a reason to excuse herself without further jeopardizing her employment and the words to help her regain control over the direction he was steering her.   

She needed to be careful, she r
epeated the word, breathe.  If Joanne mishandled herself and lost control she could find herself looking for alternative employment as well as a new place to live. 

Joanne’s thoughts drifted again.  How had things changed so quickly?  A few hours ago she was in a relationship that she was willing to commit her life to.  She had a long term tenancy on a beachside studio an
d was looking forward to an evening walk down a stretch of isolated sand and watching the gulls ride the thermal waves above her.   

Was that only a few hours ago? 
She willed herself to stay focused. 

The
bulging crotch had slipped closer.  In fact, to her horror, it was now positioned only a few inches away from her face.

The last thread of control
slid away.

“W
hat the hell do you think you are doing?”

Her voice sounded high pitched and distant.

The crotch retreated quickly out of
harm’s way.

“You are bloody lucky you haven’t been up on a sexual harassment charge
before now.”

She sounded more controlled, more rational and more dangerous.

The crotch retreated to safety on the far side of the huge desk.

“In fact
, I think that would be an appropriate option for me to consider.”

Joanne looked directly at her employer his yellow tinged eyes regarded her with distaste.  He searched
her face, judging and weighing her up.  He watched her expression intently as his tongue played along his dry lips.  He focused his professional cunning on analysing this unexpected outburst. 

Was it a genuine threat, was she to be taken seriously or could he
disregard her objection completely?  The bitch looked confident. 

Hold your nerve
, Joanne.  There is no going back from here. 

“
How would your lovely wife enjoy hearing about how you grab at your female staff?”

“How would she react to your behaviour today?”

Kelvin made up his mind.  Yes, she was to be taken seriously; but he could still intimidate the little cow. She needed employment.  She needed him. He advanced on her threatening, keeping both fists balled tightly at his sides.

“Are you intending to physically assault me Kelvin
?” 

Joanne stared
unblinking at the man walking towards her.  He ignored her question.

“You are not suggesting I have acted inappropriately are you
, Joanne?”

His voice was low and calculated
.  He had found control again.

“That is
, exactly, what I am accusing you of Kelvin.”

“I am a res
pected and established professional in this town.  I am a senior partner in the firm that has employed you. Who the hell would believe a newcomer running around with unsubstantiated irrational accusations?   Who would believe a junior staff member over someone with a reputation such as mine?”

“I have served this community for nearly forty years!  What evidence do you have that could possibly cast doubt on my professionalism or
my integrity?”

A tiny bead of doubt registered in his eyes and as it did Joanne grabbed at something that had previously seemed unrelated.  Was this the reason pretty Carol in reception had
become withdrawn and surly?

“
Carol in reception.”

The words fired from Joanne like a bullet.

That was all she needed to say.  She had accounted for the recent change in Carol’s mannerism.

Joanne saw a
look of panic flash over the ugly jowls and Kelvin flushed to a deep crimson, anger turned to dangerous and barely contained rage.  His voice dropped and his knuckles showed white under his clenched fists.

“You don’t exp
ect to continue working for my practice after today do you Joanne?”

Joanne narrowed her eyes;
she would not allow this man to intimidate her.  She had nothing further to lose. 

“
Kelvin, I do not intend to continue working anywhere near you. My files are up to date.  Each folder contains accurate notes and my diary has scheduled all follow-up appointments well in advance.  Claire is an efficient secretary.  She is very capable of helping whoever takes over my clients if they have any questions.”

“I assume
that should I require a work reference at any time it will be given freely and fairly and without prejudice.”

“Of course
, Ms Kyle.”  

Kelvin Wade suddenly looked ancient.  A wizened skeleton slumped in an oversized chair.  Unfortunately
, the final card still belonged to him.

“Now get the hell out of my office
and the hell out of my life,” he spat.

For the second time
that morning Joanne slammed a door shut behind her.

Joanne walked to her car and began to shake; the adrenalin flooding her body like a wave. 

She
collapsed into the driver’s seat and dialled the office starting to speak before Carol had even uttered the firm’s standard greeting.

“If that prick ever touches you or anyone else
in the office again I want you to ring me immediately. If there is even the smallest complaint about Kelvin Wade’s conduct I will file charges that the bastard will never recover from.  Do you understand?”

Carol said yes
, but her voice sounded cautious.

“I have resigned
due to an unexpected family emergency.”

Joanne continued.

“If I could remain here and make sure Kelvin faces a harassment suit I would.  Unfortunately, this cannot be my priority at the moment.  That doesn’t mean he should be allowed to continue.  My cell phone number will remain the same.  Please write it down as it will probably be erased from the firms stationary.”

Carol
sniffed, her voice was small and nervous. 

“Thank you
.”

Joanne continued.

“Carol, I need a favour and I need you to be discrete.”

“Of course
, Joanne.”

“I have some things that I need to organize today.  If Stephen rings please tell him I am in a meeting or
at lunch.  If he was to actually turn up at the office, please tell him I am either in court filing documents or having the car serviced.”

“I would prefer not to explain
myself but it is important that Stephen is not aware that my employment has ceased with this firm.”

A wave of physical sickness settled in the pit of Joanne’s stomach.  Sh
e looked down at her hands. They felt clammy and cold.  Her whole world had imploded in a matter of hours.  She needed to get away, she needed to think constructively.

Stop indulging and pull yourself together.
  There was nothing to be gained by crumpling into a sobbing heap in the firm’s car park.  Losing rational direction was not going to help her navigate the way through what still promised to be a difficult and draining day.

Joanne
had just put the key in the ignition when her phone rung abruptly and vibrated across the passenger’s seat. 

Predictably it was Stephen
, his mobile number illuminated in the tiny screen.  He would only be slightly concerned at this stage.  His vanity would lead him to believe she would be home as usual tonight, eager to listen to his excuses and find security in his reassurance.  The wine would be uncorked and the music soft and seductive.  Joanne reached across and turned her phone off.   At least the call confirmed he was away from the studio.

The drive back to the s
tudio she had shared with Stephen only took a few minutes without the back log of traffic to contend with.  How could a place you called home for months suddenly feel cold, soulless and unfamiliar? 

Joanne stood in the doorway listening to the waves as they cra
shed on to the sand below.  The sea was rough and unsettled; stirred up by the promise of an approaching tropical storm.  The air carried the familiar sting of salt.  Her walk tonight would have been brisk and refreshing.  She loved the feel of the ocean when it became angry and her hair was whipped away in the wind.  Would she ever experience living like this again?  A dull regret held her fixated for a few more minutes.

Joanne
gingerly walked into the studio.  She was an intruder entering the home of a stranger.  Is this what a burglar felt just before he robbed someone of their possessions and security?  Silence enveloped her as soon as the front door clicked shut and locked out the sound of the waves.

She jumped as the landline rung twice before being connected to
the answerphone.  She stood silently and listened to the frantic voice.

“Joanne
, are you there?  Please pick up.  I have been to the office and Carol said you were at the court.  I went there, but no one has seen you.  Why is your mobile off?  Joanne, I need to explain things.  It’s not what you think.” 

He cursed again just as the recorder switched off.
  The answer machine was full.

Joanne
quickly packed up a few basic and personal belongings. Ironically, her life when she had initially moved to Nelson crammed into two tidy suit cases, today she stood holding the handle of one tatty bag.

She slipped off her engagement ring and placed it carefully on the dresser. For a moment she allowed herself to indulge in memories. She picked up the charcoal, still lying on the pillow where it had fallen that morning.   The face stared back with sad almond eyes, its single tear mirrored her emotions.

Joanne
turned and walked away from the home she had created.