The Jurys Of Number Two
Kay Jury looked around at the disaster that was
usually her living room.
Tansy, her two year old was having a sleep and looking
cherubic into the bargain.
Life was not all roses being a single mother and as
much as she adored her daughter...time out would have been nice occasionally!
Kay and her ex-husband had lived in a large and ornate
nineteen thirties town house and to the outside world had given a good
impression of being the ideal couple. Unfortunately though once their baby
daughter Tansy had been born, the perfect husband had not enjoyed playing second
fiddle to the little mite.
This had resulted in Kay being the not very proud
owner of many black eyes of iridescent colours. There had been bruises where
nobody else could see, oh yes, Mr David Jury had been clever enough to hide some
of the injuries.
Any love that Kay had held for her husband disappeared
at a rate of knots and after an acrimonious divorce and custody battle; Kay and
Tansy had been able to afford the flat at Rowland's Park.
Three mornings a week Kay worked as a cashier in the
local store. It worked well, Kay thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting to
people and young Tansy attended the small pre-school nearby.
A social life apart from her work in the store, just
didn't feature for Kay. She was only twenty-six and had many married friends but
just didn't have the time or the inclination to go out and meet new people of
either sex.
On the rare occasion that Kay felt life was dealing
her a bad deal, she did wonder if she would ever meet anyone.
She was a survivor and luckily her ex husband,
although a brute, gave her a generous monthly payment.
With her wage from the store and this payment, Kay
managed to live quite well and even had the luxury of a vacation for herself and
Tansy once a year.
One particular morning the store was full of
housewives enjoying a cordial chat with each other whilst stocking up for their
food cupboards.
Kay was managing to replenish a few shelves between
customers when she noticed a beautiful sight coming to a halt outside.
There stood a jet-black and gleaming mean
machine...Kay gazed in awe, her mouth dropping open.
She was still staring when the door opened and in
strode a man with a crash helmet tucked under his arm
"You like it then?" he asked with a friendly
smile
Kay realized that she had been staring and blushed
momentarily.
"My father had a passion For Harleys" she
said her eyes misting over with sentiment.
"He had four of them and I used to help him to
polish them until I could see my face in them"
The man introduced himself as Tom and explained that
he had a bike shop in the town.
Kay had seen it before now and thought was a young man
he was to own a shop like that. After all, there must have been at least thirty
of the most exquisite bikes in the shop...they weren't cheap either.
When Tom had left the shop, Molly, one of the other
workers winked at her.
"You're taken with him aren't you...admit
it?" she teased.
Kay poked her tongue out at her in fun and carried on
her duties. She did have to admit though; it was the first time in a long while
that she had been knocked sideways by a man...a man with a Harley.
After quite a busy day at work, Kay collected Tansy
from the playschool and made her way home.
She met Doug at the door and they passed the time of
day. He did say though, that the new girl Jessica from number two was going to
be asking all the residents to a party and he hoped to see her there.
Once, Kay would have taken him literally and imagined
that he wanted to see her there...as in a date.
Now though she thought of him as a good friend and
only that. Kay had a brain too, she could see that Doug had been making eager
eyes at Jessica and it seemed to be reciprocated too!
She let herself and Tansy into the comfortable flat
and proceeded to cook their tea. Tansy was tired and Kay thought that she would
run an early bubble bath for her little daughter. That would hopefully result
hopefully in a relaxing night in front of the television for her...maybe with a
glass of wine.
Once the very sleepy child was fed, bathed and bedded,
Kay sat down and picked up the local newspaper.
Crime was evidently on the increase and there were
other bits of local gossipy news that failed to raise her heartbeat. Something
definitely made her pulse begin to race though, a picture of the man with the
Harley.
'Local Landowner's Son Opens Store' read the bold
headline.
Kay was absolutely astonished to read that Tom was the
son of Frank Delaney, the wealthiest man for quite a few miles around.
She didn't know why, but she instantly felt deceived.
But why should she feel that way, Tom was nothing at
all to her. He probably looked at all women with that smile that made your knees
tremble, he could obviously afford to. Kay had vowed to steer clear of men with
money ever since the terrible life she had once shared with her ex husband. They
cheated and were all no good, the lot of them. Feeling suddenly despondent and
tired she decided to go to bed with a good book.
At the store the following day, life jogged on in its
usual manner...until he walked in again.
"Hi Kay" he drawled looking at her in a way
that sent her whole body into a toxic shock.
"Would you care to come out for a drink
tonight...no strings, it would just be so nice to spend some time with a
friendly face?"
Kay declined saying that she would have trouble
getting a sitter for that or any other evening.
She thought that for a minute he looked quite
disappointed, but in an instance he was smiling again, quite unabashed at the
refusal.
Molly popped her head around the corner and declared
that she was free that night and would love to sit for Tansy. Kay found herself
being backed into a corner and after a few moments said yes, she would go.
"Why did I agree to do that?" asked Kay
feeling furious with herself.
"If I run after him I could change my mind"
"Men with money can't be trusted...I should know
that!"
Molly frowned at her and turned a shade of guilt-pink.
"You" she said accusingly and then in a
softer tone
"What did you say to him, I know you had
something to do with him asking me out"
Molly reluctantly agreed and said that when Kay had
gone home the previous afternoon, Tom had returned to the shop. He had hesitated
a little before asking whether Kay was married or involved with anyone.
"I only told him that you were single with a
little girl...and didn't get out much," said Molly, just managing to duck a
pretend blow to the head from Kay.
"Oh, and I bet you told him that you were a
baby-sitter too" laughed Kay, not feeling too cross with her friend now.
"Got it in one" answered the accused.
Kay collected Tansy from playschool and walked swiftly
home. It was so long since she had felt the need to really dress up and perhaps
even paint her nails. She still felt a little unsure about going out with such a
wealthy man, after all, what on earth would they talk about, the latest concept
in baby juice perhaps?
Tansy sat on the sofa quite happily while Kay managed
to have a relatively relaxing bath. She gave her nails a manicure and washed her
hair.
' May as well go for it girl' she thought to herself.
Molly arrived at seven with chocolate buttons and a
cartoon comic. She settled down with Tansy and Kay was able to put the finishing
touches to her attire.
Half an hour later there was a rap on the door.
"I'll go" called Molly and let Tom into the
small entrance lobby
Kay came out to meet him still doing up an earring
"Hi there" she greeted him a little shyly as
she pulled her coat from the coat rack on the wall
They said goodbye to Molly and Tansy and Tom held the
door open for Kay as they made their exit.
As they left through the large Georgian front door,
Tom led her to a large 4x4 land cruiser parked just outside.
Kay was surprised to see that it wasn't a brand
spanking new model. It was, in fact quite old...why did this please her so much,
did it make him seem more down to earth? They went to an inn about five miles
away and had a ploughman's meal along with a glass of wine apiece.
The two of them talked as old friends would, in a
comfortable and relaxed manner. Kay found herself telling Tom about her violent
marriage and how she had left it to retain her sanity. She said that money had
been plentiful but that she managed adequately now and was very happy with her
lot.
Tom was quiet for a while. He looked right at her and
said that his family did have money. His trust fund was payable on his thirtieth
birthday, but the store was his through sheer hard work and with no help from
'daddy'.
"Don't resent me Kay for being born into my
family" he said softly whilst grabbing her hand.
"My family may have wealth but we are close, my
childhood was a happy one. Money does have advantages, of course it does...it's
not everything though!"
The end of the evening was suddenly upon them and Tom
drove her home in the 4x4.
Chivalry was obviously still alive, thought Kay, as he
showed her to the front door of her flat.
Kay nearly asked him in for a coffee, but stopped
herself in time. There would be time for that and she would take things slowly.
Something about tonight was giving her good vibes...she liked that feeling a
lot.
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