Francesca, page 36
Tony sat up on the sofa, put his hands in his hair, and grabbed it tightly. ‘She won’t go away, Jake. She won’t leave me alone.’ Tony was shouting.
Jake looked at him, shocked at this. Tony was nearly pulling his hair out and banging his hands on his head.
‘She’s in here, Jake. I sleep around to get rid of her, and when I wake up in the morning, I am disgusted because it’s not her hair on my pillow. I can hear her laughter, feel her touch, and she just won’t go away. Help me, Jake.’
Jake jumped up and pulled Tony’s hands away. He looked like any drunken man who was upset. ‘Steady on, mate,’ said Jake. ‘It’s not all over until the fat lady sings, eh?’ Jake tried calming him down. ‘Tony, if you want to continue fighting it and don’t want her, then just walk away and accept it. If you want to be the same Tony we all know and love, don’t give up on her. Fight for what you want.’ Jake felt he had said enough. He picked up Tony’s coffee cup and handed it to him.
The next morning, Sharon walked into Tony’s office. For once, he wasn’t there. But then, she wasn’t surprised, considering how much she had seen him drink last night. He was probably with Jake sleeping it off. She presumed they had been up most of the night drinking with each other too. Sharon left the morning post on his desk and left the room. The cleaners were doing their job and the coffee percolator was brewing.
Sharon liked this time of the morning. The club was empty. The casino tables were being cleaned. The slot machines were being filled up with money, which hardly anyone ever won, considering the maintenance men worked for Tony. It was a new day with new expectations, a clean sheet if you like. After this, she would go to the pole-dancing club and do the same again, making sure all the champagne was stocked up. She liked her busy whirlwind lifestyle, although she could do without the strippers bitching at each other and trying to get the best of the rota.
27
A Parcel for Tony
Sharon tied her long blonde hair into a ponytail. She was still properly dressed in her black trouser suit and white shirt. She felt she couldn’t expect the strippers to keep up appearances if she didn’t herself. All the strippers wanted the best shifts and would stop at nothing, even flattering her and wanting to be her friend. It was laughable really; every one of them thought the same way. It never occurred to them that she had heard it all before.
Once a month, the strippers had a weigh-in. Each one of them had to go through this scrutiny. It was like a Weight Watchers for strippers. If any of them put on weight, she was given a warning and her shifts were cut back until she lost it again. It reminded her of the days Francesca used to work there. Sharon didn’t know why Francesca had suddenly popped into her head, but she remembered with fondness the days Francesca used to work there.
This was the life and the work they had chosen. They were prepared to do it, as there was a lot of money to be earned. They all became the favourite of some man, who bought them gifts and threw money at them while they were on stage. This was all very well and good until a new flavour of the month caught the men’s eye, and that was when the bitching started.
To be fair, Sharon could see Tony’s point of view. Francesca only had one goal in mind and that was to keep her job, make some money, and go home to her son. She had accepted the perfumes gracefully and then made herself scarce in the back rooms. What she hadn’t realised was that, the more she had made herself unavailable, the more of a challenge she had become.
Men had tried tempting her with tips and champagne, although the club’s policy was that the girls didn’t drink while working. This was also in their interest. Whenever the girls were asked what they wanted to drink, they were to ask for champagne. At the end of the night, the number of bottles they had sold was added up, and the girls were given a percentage.
The men would drink champagne, and the girls glasses were filled with soda water, with a clever sleight of hand from the bar staff and waiters, who knew the rules. After a couple of bottles of champagne, the men didn’t even realise they weren’t drinking Moët champagne. Corks were popped, and it was the cheapest fizziest rubbish you could buy.
The club didn’t encourage intimacy with the customers. So the girls could order their bottle of champagne and escape to their changing rooms when the time was right.
The best and the easiest pleased customers, Sharon decided, were the stag parties that came as a special treat for the groom to be. They brought plenty of money, and wanted to drink until they fell over. They didn’t know what they were drinking and were kept well away from the VIP customers. They were given special party booths. That way, the bouncers could keep a watchful eye on them in case they got too rowdy and needed throwing out.
Reminiscing to herself, Sharon sat down at a table to have a moment to herself. She wondered just how much longer she could enjoy it for. She had missed her period and wondered if she might be pregnant. It was what she wanted, but it had happened more quickly than she had imagined it would.
She decided to wait and see. There was no point in saying anything yet. She would take the test after she missed next month’s period, if she missed next month’s period.
Jake and Tony walked into the club together. This early in the morning, they were in their casual clothes, not having yet changed into their suits. Casual to them still meant designer jeans and T-shirts.
‘Any of that coffee going, Shaz?’ Jake was pointing at the percolator and breathing in the lovely smell coming from it.
She poured them both a coffee and took it over to one of the tables where they had sat down.
‘You two look bright and breezy this morning. Not exactly what I expected. Oh, by the way, Tony, the post is on your desk, and there is a parcel for you.’
Jake nearly choked on his coffee. ‘Bloody hell, Shaz. It’s not a bomb, is it?’ He was smiling at her and gave her a cheeky wink.
‘Of course it is,’ said Sharon, running her fingers through Jake’s hair and ruffling it. ‘Bombers always send parcels by recorded delivery with their handwriting all over the front. Silly bugger.’ She tweaked his ear and walked away.
Tony put down his coffee cup and looked at Jake curiously. He was already getting out of his chair. ‘A parcel?’ Tony walked towards the office and saw the mail on his desk. In the middle of it was a large brown envelope. Francesca’s handwriting was on the front.
Tony picked it up and excitedly tore it open. She had sent him something for his birthday. He could feel something hard inside. What was it?
He emptied the contents of the envelope onto his desk, and then the smile left his face. Instantly, he recognised the ring box he had given her. There was a note inside. Opening it, Tony read:
Mr Lambrianu,
I am returning my uniforms in lieu of our divorce.
I also enclose a cheque towards the extension. If any more is required, please let me know.
I know you haven’t used the study that you have in my house, but I wondered if there was anything you would like out of it before I clear it out.
Please let me know what you decide. And thank you for everything
Francesca.
Tony held the note in his hands and stared at it. This was his goodbye? He automatically opened the ring box. Inside was Francesca’s engagement ring. He took out the large oval diamond, and for no reason whatsoever, he put in on his little finger. He looked at the diamond changing colour in the light. He had seen it so many times on her hand when they had danced together at the club.
He had put it on his left hand and without noticing at first saw that his own wedding ring, which he still wore, was right next to it. As though mesmerised, he took the wedding ring out of the box and looked at it. It was then he saw the locket he had given her. It still had the photos of them inside it. He took the rings and put them back in the box and snapped it shut.
So she was going to clear out the study, was she? He also noticed the statement ‘my house’.
The note was addressed to Mr Lambrianu. He was no longer Antonias, which she had taken to calling him with some measure of affection, not even Tony. What a bitch, he thought to himself. He knew she didn’t want to wear those rings when she didn’t have to, but the locket had been a genuine gift. He had laughed and joked with her about the extension and Julie calling him tight-fisted. He had said he would pay for it, and he had meant it. So she didn’t want anything of his, and she was intent on making a clean sweep of it all. And by God, she was using a big broom!
Tony felt sick inside. He could feel the bile rising in his throat, and he was angry and sad at the same time. This was also a strange encounter, because he had never been dumped before. He wanted to shove the items she’d sent all down her throat and make her choke on them. He picked everything up and put them all back into the envelope and threw it into the corner of the room.
He ran his hands through his hair and composed himself before walking back outside to where Sharon and Jake were sitting drinking their coffees. They were laughing and chatting, just as they always had this time in the morning. To the outside world who didn’t know, nothing had changed between them.
Looking up, Sharon shouted to him, ‘Anything interesting in your parcel, Tony. Or is it personal.’ She gave him one of those knowing smiles, expecting him to announce what he had been sent.
‘Not really, Sharon, just stuff.’ He looked at Sharon again, laughing and joking with Jake, who she had dumped. It had been a long time since he had seen them looking so relaxed with each other, and he was jealous. ‘Shouldn’t you be saving your smiles and your jokes for that bloke you ran off with?’ His smile was more of a grimace.
The mood changed instantly. Sharon picked up her coffee cup and walked away from the table to the bar.
‘What the hell did you say that for?’ Jake couldn’t believe what Tony had just said. One minute, they were all talking. And in a blink of an eye, Tony had turned on her. They had known each other for years, and there was no need for that.
‘Why wasn’t there, Jake? It’s the truth, isn’t it?’ Tony’s face was pure sarcasm.
Jake’s face dropped. Tony was right, and he didn’t have any answers in his defence. ‘Take my word for it, Jake. Women—they take everything, want everything, and now she’s broken your heart. It’s okay for her to laugh and joke with you while some other guy warms her bed. You’re a fool, Jake.’ Tony walked away from the table towards his office and left Jake sitting there thinking about what he’d said.
Jake walked over to Sharon. ‘I’m sorry about Tony, Sharon. Since his divorce came through, he’s been acting a bit weird.’ The sorrowful look on his face said it all.
Sharon picked up a glass and a tea towel and started to polish it. Sharon looked at Jake, but her expression had changed. She was upset and trying not to show it. ‘He’s probably right, Jake. What can I say? If his divorce has come through, he is probably trying to protect you for when ours does,’ she snapped and seemed to be getting more upset by the minute.
Jake felt like piggy in the middle. Tony was his brother, and Sharon, for the time being, was his wife, He loved them both. ‘You know what he is, Sharon. He will be regretting it already. It has something to do with that parcel. I’m sure of that.’
Sharon was polishing the same glass with gusto. ‘Yes, I know him Jake. He’s a crazy whop with a big mouth who always expects you to clean up after him. I can see why Francesca washed her hands of him!’ Now she was shouting. She didn’t care anymore.
The day passed in awkward silence. Tony and Jake had a meeting with their lawyers, sorting out where the place was to put the bulk of their finances and pay as little tax as possible. The charity events were a good tax avoidance.
Ralph liked property, which was why he wanted to build a larger restaurant and club. Tony felt the lawyers were dragging their feet, telling them to invest in houses and property. He lost his temper and shouted that they were being paid far too much for the pathetic work they did. He felt it was time they got out there and earned their money.
He stormed out of the room and gone back to his own office. He cursed himself. He knew he had gone too far. He knew they were good lawyers who had saved him a lot of money in the past and worked hard. But he felt today wasn’t the day for a calm meeting.
Jake had also had enough. He opened the office door, walked in, and sat down. Tony looked up at him, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. A silence hung in the air, waiting for someone to speak.
Jake, as tactful as ever and knowing how to talk to Tony, tried a different route. ‘Out of curiosity, Tony,’ he said, sliding into the chair opposite him, ‘did you and Fran ever go on a date together? I don’t mean the club. I mean a date together, just you two.’ He knew he had captured Tony’s interest now.
‘You know we did. We were out all of the time. You know. You were there.’ Tony tried justifying himself. Yes, he had been out many times with Francesca. What was Jake getting at?
Jake leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. He could see Tony’s mind working, thinking back to the times he had been out with Francesca. ‘What I mean, Tony, is no crowds, no business—just two people having a meal and a drink. You know, like a proper date.’
Jake had thrown out the bait. He waited for Tony to become calm and his old self again.
Tony leaned back in his chair and put his arms around the back of his head. The look on his face said everything Jake wanted to know. ‘Well, now you mention it, we have rarely been on our own apart from a couple of coffees on the seafront. I haven’t really thought about it. Do you think she would come if I asked her?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Jake. Now he was on a roll. Tony’s mind was elsewhere, and not interested in shouting at his employees. Jake gave a bored expression and could see the embarrassed sheepish look on Tony’s face. ‘Well, Tony, if you don’t ask her, you will never find out will you?’ Jake shrugged his shoulders and wore a bored expression. ‘By the way, take it easy on Sharon, will you? That’s our business out there, and she works hard keeping things ticking over in our absence. Okay? Anyway, what was in the parcel Fran sent you?’ He knew now was the time to ask.
Tony’s head shot up, and he looked directly at Jake. They both started to laugh. ‘You’re crafty, Jake. I will give you that. How did you know that parcel was from Francesca? No, don’t answer that. She sent me her wedding rings back. It seems she feels she should return her “uniform” that she wore while working for me. She also wants me to clean out the study at her house. Yes, Jake, she did say her house.’
‘Oh come on, Tony, it could have been worse. She could have sent Bobby’s bike and the dog back.’ Again Jake made Tony laugh—twice in a short space of time—and had lightened the mood in the process. Jake left the office to give Tony time to think.
Tony looked around his office. He saw the brown envelope lying there as though tormenting him. Through the rest of the day, while he looked through his paperwork with the lawyers, he could feel its presence. Finally he’d had enough. He picked up his jacket and went into the club.
Elle had seen my divorce papers. I’d expected some sort of comment, but none had come. In the end, I had to ask. ‘Has Tony received his divorce papers yet?’ I tried sounding light and carefree, but I knew she could see right through me.
‘Oh, I’m not sure, Fran love. I haven’t heard from him since his birthday. We talked. He said he was having a party. No, he didn’t mention anything else.’ Elle knew she had dropped her own bombshell in a very discreet way.
‘Tony’s birthday? I didn’t know it was his birthday.’ I looked at Elle while she was stirring some cake mixture or another.
‘Well, Fran love, we all have them—even old ladies like me. Why should Tony be any different?’
Damn, Elle. She made it sound more like a reprimand. Her attitude was cold. I had known her attitude would change once the divorce came through. I had asked her a while ago if she wanted to continue coming around. Maybe it was now time to have that talk again. ‘Is something wrong, Elle? Don’t you want to come around anymore, because we did talk this through, and you said you were okay with it? I can always pick up Bobby from school if you would rather not make it as often. Give you time to think.’
Her next move surprised me. ‘Maybe you’re right, Fran.’ She put down her mixing bowl and got her coat and left.
I stood there in shock. What a week this was turning out to be. I hadn’t meant to hurt her. I could have bitten my tongue. She had never been anything but good to me. I just didn’t want her to feel she had to take sides.
I had lost Tony. Now I had lost Elle too. Well, not if I could help it. I picked up my car keys and went after her. Of course she was home by the time I got there. She opened the door and looked like she had been crying.
‘Elle,’ I said, putting my arms around her, ‘I don’t want us to fall out over this. I need you, Bobby needs you, and Julie can’t go through her pregnancy without you.’ I held her tightly
As usual, she turned and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on, as though coffee healed everything.
‘I’m just being silly, Fran. I always thought you and Tony would change your minds. I know it’s different now. It’s all over. Everything seems so final. When you were married, you and Bobby were my family, and now you’re not.’ She started to cry again. ‘Even Jake’s getting a divorce, you know.’
That shocked me. I would have thought that, if anyone could make up their differences, it would be those two. No wonder Elle felt like her world was falling apart.
