“For the last time, Lucy, shut up!” shouted Alan. “And turnthat fucking radio off.”
Slade had begun belting out their Christmas classic, whichwas completely inappropriate for the moment. Shocked at being shouted at byAlan like that, Lucy complied and switched it off.
“I don’t want your dirty money, Alan,” said Kay. “You cankeep it. If I touch that I’ll be as tainted as you are.”
“So what do you want, then?” he asked.
“I want a clean and quick divorce. And I want this house andeverything in it, furniture and all. I did buy most of it in the first place,after all. It’ll be easy enough to arrange. We’ve no mortgage and no othercomplications. You just sign it over to me, and I’ll make sure all the evidenceof your fraudulent behaviour is destroyed.”
“You must be joking,” he said. “This house has got to beworth about 400 grand.”
“Well, the last time I looked, you had the best part of thatin your dodgy account, so I am sure you won’t go hungry.”
“You can’t expect me to up sticks and leave just like that,”he protested.
“Oh I can,” said Kay. “I’ve got you over a barrel and I cando exactly what I want.” She walked over to the fridge and opened the door. Itwas stacked with festive goodies, the highlight being a large turkey crown fromM&S.
“That turkey looks lovely,” she said appreciatively. “I thinkI’m really going to enjoy that tomorrow,” she said.
“You must be joking,” said Lucy. “You’re not havingChristmas dinner here.”
“I think you’ll find it’s you that won’t be here,” repliedKay. “What was it you said to me earlier? No room at the inn? Well, there’s noroom at the inn here for you – either of you. You can pack your bags thismorning and leave. I said I wanted everything in the house. Well, that includesthe food in the fridge as well.”
“Haven’t you forgotten something?” asked Alan. “What aboutMaddie? She’s driving down from Durham today for Christmas.”
“I’m glad you mentioned Maddie, because that’s anotherthing,” said Kay. “I’m disgusted with the way you’ve poisoned her mind againstme. So you are going to speak to her today and put that right. You are going totell her I’m not the bad mother you made me out to be and that everything yousaid to her was fabricated out of spite. I fully expect her to be here tonightand for things to be right between us. If you do that, then I will be happy toadd her to the list of people that I am not going to tell about your fraudulentbehaviour.”
“How are you going to explain to her that you’ve kicked usout on Christmas Eve?” asked Alan. “That’s not going to look very good, is it?”
“Oh that’s simple enough,” replied Kay. “You’re going to doit for me. You just need to tell her that you and Lucy have decided to go awayfor Christmas and now that the divorce is going through, you’ve decided to giveme back the house as part of the deal. Just make sure it sounds convincing,because don’t forget, I’ve got Nigel’s number on speed-dial.”
“Alan, you’re not really going to let her do this to us, areyou?” asked Lucy. “She can’t throw us out like this, can she?”
“I think you’ll find she can,” said Alan, resignedly.
“But where are we going to go?” replied Lucy, barely able tograsp the reality of the situation.
“Well, I’ve got a lovely little flat in town you can have,”said Kay, barely able to conceal her giggles. “It’s got all mod cons, en suitebathroom, the lot. It even has its own in-house restaurant. I recommend thethree-day-old fish cakes – a house speciality. And the landlord is a lovelychap, like a real-life Father Christmas.”
“It’ll be OK, Lucy, we’ll get a hotel for tonight,” saidAlan, ignoring Kay’s sarcasm.
“But what about all our stuff?” asked Lucy, lookingdistraught. Sure enough, she began to cry.
Kay nearly felt sorry for her at that point but willedherself to be strong, remembering how nasty Lucy had been to her when the bootwas on the other foot. She had reaped what she had sown.
“You can take all your clothes and personal effects today,”said Kay. “As for anything else, you can come back after he’s signed over thehouse to me. But everything that was in here before I moved out stays – furniture,TV, you name it. And I’m having that turkey. It won’t be any good to you in ahotel, will it? Now I suggest you go and get dressed and start packing, while Imake myself a nice cup of coffee with my coffee machine.”
She had missed her Tassimo machine. It would make a nicechange from the budget brand of instant coffee she had been reduced to drinkingin her flat.
“You’ve not heard the last of this!” shouted Lucy at her, asshe got up and headed out of the kitchen.
“Oh I think I have!” shouted Kay after her. “Now what wasthe number of the police again? Ah yes, 999, that was it.”
Alan lingered in the kitchen a while longer after Lucy hadheaded off up the stairs.
“Kay, it doesn’t have to be like this. Maybe we can worksomething out. I do miss you, you know.” He walked over towards her, aconciliatory look in his eye. To her horror she realised he was about to tryand put his arms around her.
“Get away from me,” she said. “You miss your money is whatyou mean. Just be thankful you’ve still got your job and your secret stash ofill-gotten cash. This could have turned out a hell of a lot worse for you. Andlet me make one thing clear – you and me are finished – full stop. Now Isuggest you salvage what dignity you have left and go upstairs and patch thingsup with her – that’s if she still wants you. She looks like a bit of agold-digger to me.”
With a look of total defeat on his face, he turned aboutheel and followed Lucy up the stairs, while Kay sipped her coffee in triumph.Had she done enough? Should she have pushed for more? No, the house and
