They stayed in the pub for the remainder of the evening. They’d found a decent seat in a quiet-ish corner, and Kelly was far too drunk to walk any further. She was adamant that they were going to a club because she wanted to dance the night away but Billie had other ideas. While Kelly behaved like a dog on heat and flirted outrageously with any bloke who caught her eye, Billie gave them the evil eye, her dour look forbidding them to even approach the table. No way did she want to waste the night making small talk with randy chancers.
The pub was decorated in a Caribbean Christmas theme that prompted Kelly to suggest they went on a girls’ holiday. ‘Tenerife is warm all year round and we can go in the new year,’ she’d said. Naturally, Billie had used Davey as an excuse, and added that she was skint.
Kelly had a solution to both. ‘I’ve told you, I’ve got a nice little nest egg hidden away so there’s no need to worry about money. And as for that pillock you’re shacked up with, dump him and move in with me. You need to grow a spine otherwise you’ll end up like that lot at the centre, whingeing on forever about their sad lives instead of doing something about it.’ Kelly plucked the slice of orange from the side of her cocktail glass and flicked it onto the table.
As Billie listened, she’d noted that thinly-veiled bitterness that was in complete contrast to the caring side Kelly had shown to the women in their group so she decided to push the point. ‘What do you mean, “sad lives”? I thought you liked the girls; you’re always so kind to them.’
A snort from Kelly was accompanied by a roll of her eyes. ‘They’re okay, I suppose, but they are starting to get on my tits. You know, with theirpoor mestories and dreary downtrodden lives. There’s only so much I can take and sometimes I want to tell them to stop whining and do something about it, like I did. No bloke is ever going to get one over on me, or use me, I can tell you that for nothing. From now on, I’m in charge.’
Billie’s ears had pricked up but she played it cool. ‘That’s a bit harsh, Kelly. Some of the women have it tough and it’s not their fault how they live. They have kids to think of and anyway, if you’re so wise perhaps you should spill the beans. Kelly’s secret to a perfect life.’
‘Well if you must know I’m thinking of training to be a counsellor, I reckon I could impart some wisdom and make the whiners see sense,andit’s money for old rope.’
Billie egged her on. ‘Nice one, but I suggest you adopt a more softly-softly approach otherwise you’ll scare everyone off, you know, less of the tough love and more understanding. But you still haven’t told me where all this dosh is coming from and how you sorted your life out. Or are you bullshitting?’
Kelly stopped mid-sip and eyed Billie before answering. There was a flash of annoyance but she countered it with a smug smile. ‘You cheeky sod, I’m no bullshitter and for your information, the money is coming from a guy I hooked up with who should’ve known better. Now he’s paying the price.’
Billie laughed and leaned forward, faking admiration. ‘No way! The dirty dog… so how are you making him pay? Oh, I get it. Is he married?’
Kelly’s eyebrows raised slightly, then she winked. ‘Now you’re getting it. All it took was a few selfies of him passed out and naked with yours truly and bingo, my silence has earned me a nice little nest egg. Once he’s paid me the last instalment he’s off the hook… Or maybe not. I haven’t decided yet.’
‘So who is he, this guy?’
Kelly looked like she was about to answer but then her need for a top-up interrupted and instead, she grabbed her bag. ‘Ah, that doesn’t matter, and the less you know the better, apart from he’s a big-time loser and cheat. I hate cheats. Stan was one, at it behind my back, so that’s why I took my revenge. As far as I’m concerned all men are the same and deserve what they get.’
Billie was rooted to the spot, literally trembling, desperately trying to hold it together. Out of everything Kelly had said, it was the mention of Stan’s name that had rocked her to the core. The way she’d spoken about the women at the group had made Billie feel sick and it had been hard not to lose her rag and defend them. But to hear that once again Kelly was up to her blackmailing tricks was pure gold. She had to find out who this man was. Surely, if they could prove Kelly was extorting money it would blacken her character. It was something, at last. And that word, ‘revenge’. Why did she say that?
When Kelly returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses, Billie had already decided how to play it and waited for Kelly to sit before leaning over and placing a caring hand on her arm. It felt like petting a snake. ‘Hey, are you okay? I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, talking about the past but this is the first time we’ve had quality time together, so I’m trying to pack as much in as I can and it’s nice, getting to know you better.’
Kelly responded with a squeeze of Billie’s hand. ‘Aw mate, that’s a lovely thing to say and don’t worry about me, I’m tough. So go on, ask away. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about stuff and I trust you; it’s like we clicked, right from the start.’
Billie heard the words of an emotional drunk, then felt a twinge of guilt but brushed it aside, allowing her instinct to guide her. Flicking the good angel off her right shoulder, she listened instead to the devil on her left who was egging her on. ‘You hardly ever mention this… Stan, which is good and I get why, but every now and then his name pops up. It’s like he still bothers you and that’s not right. I could’ve cried when you told your story in the group because it must be like hell, going through all that and not being able to forget. Does the therapy help?’
‘Nah, the only reason I still go is because I get time off work. They feel sorry for me and I think they’re a bit scared of saying no. I am a victim after all.’
Billie was going to ask another question but Kelly piped up instead. ‘And as for him, I don’t mention Stan because he’s of no consequence and he certainly isn’t making my life hell. I’d say it was the other way round. Revenge is sweet as they say, so it’s ten-nil to me.’
Kelly smiled, a cocky smirk that twisted her face. Billie thought it made her look ugly on the outside and that, maybe, her inside was the same. ‘But I thought you were still hurt over his cheating and you know, what he did. That type of thing can’t be easy to wipe out. I know I couldn’t do it.’ Billie was choosing her words carefully since the ones she really wanted to say would call time on the whole fiasco.
Kelly shook her head in that patronising way that makes people feel stupid. ‘Beth, Beth, you have got me very wrong. There’s so much you don’t know about meandwhat makes me tick.’
Billie smothered the words ‘that’s the truth’ and instead attempted a look of shock and hurt. ‘What do you mean? I thought I’d got to know you quite well over the past few weeks. So go on, enlighten me. How did you know he was cheating? I reckon Davey’s at it with someone so maybe you can give me a few tips on how to get one over on him.’
It was like Kelly was playing a part now, trying to be tough and self-assured, method acting at its best. She reminded Billie of all the school bullies and cocksure, badass women she’d seen portrayed on telly. To be honest, it was cringey. The wine and vodka mix was definitely working so she sat back and waited patiently for Tracy Barlow’s mad twin to spill her guts.
Kelly unscrewed the lid and poured the wine as she spoke. ‘Oh I’d be happy to. I’m a pro where dealing with cheats is concerned and in my case it was easy to catch him out and then wreak my revenge.’
On hearing those words Billie felt the spread of something crawling over her skin, mingled with a barely perceptible pinch of hope. Billie held her breath and listened to Kelly who had dribbled wine down her dress and lazily wiped it away as she spoke. ‘I’d known for a few weeks he was up to something after I found a text from his ex-girlfriend. He must have thought he was clever, deleting them as soon as they came but she messaged him one night while he was asleep and I read it. I used his finger to open touch ID on his phone.’
Billie’s lips had gone a bit numb and she hoped her face wasn’t betraying her. ‘No way! And that’s very MI5 of you. I’d never have thought of that, you clever clogs. So go on, what did it say?’
Kelly rolled her eyes. ‘Nothing earth-shattering. The daft cow wanted to go for fish and chips at Harry Ramsden’s when she came home. How sad is that?’
‘Very! So who is she, this ex?’
‘Well that was the big mystery becausehenever spoke about her. It was like he’d wiped all trace of her out of his life, no photos, nothing. She’d broken his poor little heart apparently. She was a copper and got stabbed on duty then lost the plot.’ Kelly pulled a stupid face and made a circle motion at her temple with her fingers. ‘Seems they’d been going through a rough patch and had a huge barney because he wouldn’t go travelling, so she stormed off. Turns out that when she came back with her tail between her legs, you know, the candlelit meal thing and his favourite curry, he was out having a one-night stand.’ Kelly snorted her derision.
Billie somehow managed to regulate her breathing and ask another question, even though she already knew the answer. ‘And what happened then? Did she find out?’
