Amy and Lucy (Part 2)

Lucy Cavanaugh

‘Lucy, where have you been? It’s nearly midnight. The meeting must have been a killer, baby.’ Michael stood behind me in the bathroom as I was taking out my pearl earrings and slid his hands around my waist, snuggling into my neck as he always did when he wanted to make love.
‘Honey, I’m shattered; I think I might just go to bed. You’re more than welcome to join me.’ I turned back to the mirror and clipped my hair up, Michael reaching for the clasp on my pearl necklace. He let him hands fall with the chain and rest on the top of my breasts.
‘Michael, the kids are just next door, aren’t they?’ I could feel him shake his head.
‘They’re staying with Jenny for the weekend, and Harry said he could deal with this weekend’s clients so we can spend the weekend together.’ He kissed my neck but I pulled away.
‘Who’s Harry, my love?’ I started to walk to the bedroom while he carried on talking.
‘He’s my partner at the law firm. He thinks we should get together; me and you, and Harry and his wife, Amy. I’ve heard on the grapevine that he’s screwing Amy’s sister. I’ve seen Amy and no wonder he’s screwing around; she’s vile looking.’
I slapped his shoulder playfully.
‘She might be a really nice person. Do they have any children?’
‘No, apparently she can’t have children for some reason or another. You wouldn’t cheat on me, would you honey?’
My heart started to thud. I could lie and say that he was the only one for me, or I could finally tell the truth. David and I had been sleeping together for nearly a year and we’ve managed not to get caught so far.
‘Of course not; now come on, get to bed. No sex though, I’m shattered.’ Truth was, David had worn me out and I could sense that I smelt like him and sex. ‘I’m going to stay up and finish the book that David gave me. It’s got to be in by Monday and I have to rearrange three books of thirty designs and organise the mock-up. I’ll be up when I’m finished.’ I kissed his cheek and flopped downstairs, picking up the cordless telephone on my way to the dining room.
Dialling David’s number, I spread the books over the table, noticing the name printed across all three front covers. I sighed and the phone was answered.
‘Hello, the Benson residence.’ The woman sounded sleepy and I realised that it was David’s wife and past midnight.
‘Hi, is David available? It’s Lucy from the magazine, it’s important.’
‘Hi, it’s Rachel, his wife. Has he been behaving himself at work? He hardly ever talks about you when I’m home but he does say you are very good friends. I’ll see if he’s still awake for you.’ I could tell that they were both in bed but Rachel had stumbled out into the hall to answer the phone. There was an exchange of words and a kiss at the other end of the line and David mumbled into the phone.
‘What do you want, Lucy? I’m with the wife and she leaves tomorrow for Australia so I need to be with her.’
‘Fine, it won’t take long. I’m looking through the books and I’ve just realised that they belong to Novella Bentley. I told you that she’s not going in the magazine so there’s no point in me looking at them. I could be in bed with my husband right now if you did your job and looked at the books yourself instead of making me do your work. I’m so pissed off at you right now, David.’
‘Munch, come on now. Leave the books, go to bed with your husband and I’ll go with my wife. We’ll enjoy our evening and meet up after Rachel and Michael have gone to work to sort out this. Novella has to be in this month’s issue. Her husband needs to see that she can make it on her own, and the magazine is her way of doing that. Just sort out three designs from each portfolio and then go to bed. Or we’ll go over it together on Monday. Right now, I’m going to bed with my wife. Goodnight Munch.’
He hung up but I was smiling. I loved it when he called me Munch. I had been given that name on my first day at the magazine because I had a drawer of crisps and chocolates to munch on if I got hungry.
I wasn’t the kind of girl you would expect to work at a magazine. I was a size 14, had straggly hair and I didn’t know eyeliner from a pencil. Two weeks, and a much earned ego boost via a secret rendez-vous with David, I had been transformed both physically and mentally. Michael loved the new me more than the old me as I had my wardrobe filled with designer outfits and sexy underwear and I was more confident.
Flicking through the books, I noticed the new order for her summer portfolio. The blue shaded outfits were mixed in with the warm colours and the portfolio looked amazing, even though I hated to admit it.
I had her summer, couture and “inspired” portfolios. Her couture gowns were so beautiful they took my breath away. One in particular was silver with a fan detail over the chest area fanning out into an empire line and into a long train at the back. Taking it out of the plastic cover, I flipped it to see that she had written ‘Caressing Cavanaugh’ in curly writing.
I needed to talk to her. I flipped through my file-o-fax and found her number, dialling it cautiously and forgetting the time. It was picked up on the first ring.
‘Novella Dandle speaking.’ Her voice wasn’t tired and still had a thick Italian lilt to it.
‘Hi Novella; it’s Lucy Cavanaugh here from the magazine. I was just looking at your couture portfolio and I was wondering what fabric you would use to make Caressing Cavanaugh.’ My heart was beating so hard I was surprised she couldn’t hear it.
‘I originally thought of using pure silk with georgette crepe for the fan on the chest. I made a mock here this morning without the drawing because you have the books. I saw you on the June cover and designed that dress on you and the way you act around Mr Benson. I would love for you to try it on; I know that Paris Fashion Week is coming up soon with a new designer section and I’d love for you to show that dress off. I guessed your measurements at an average size 10, is that okay?’
‘Yes, that’s perfect. Bring the design over to the office tomorrow at about 12 and bring any of the outfits you have made and I’ll consider pushing your designs into this month’s issue as long as your mock outfits are good enough to wear on a photo shoot. I’ll see you tomorrow Novella; goodnight.’ We hung up and I looked at the dress again, wondering if it was a dress of hate or admiration.
Smiling, I closed the books and wandered up to bed. I could hear Michael snoring so I cuddled up beside him in my jogging bottoms and oversized t-shirt and swiftly fell into a peaceful sleep.

Amy Druze

Jack had been scurrying around after me for the past week now and he had even enrolled me in a lifestyle class where I could get help deciding what I wanted to do with my life now that the divorce papers had arrived this morning.
‘Amy, go to this Saturday and come back with at least three options that you like the look of and I’ll help you with it any way I can.’ He had ordered me this morning. He is the reason why I’m now sitting in a hall surrounded by strangers who had palled up already. My new coat was folded on my lap and my new peep-toe shoes were rubbing my feet. The door opened and a man walked in, looking familiar and bronzed. He eyed the room confidently and stood on the blocks which had been set up already at the front of the hall.
‘Hi everyone, I’m Dan Pointer and I’m a part time estate agent and I’ve just come back from my honeymoon. I’ve just married the most wonderful woman and I’m going to help you all to find your dream job today.’ My heart skipped a beat and my face dropped. A memory flashed back into my mind’s eye.
A snooker table, the familiar smell of polish and a sense of guilty happiness. He surveyed the house for Harry and we did something we shouldn’t have done. I stood up abruptly, hurriedly trying to escape without being noticed.
‘Excuse me, ma’am. Are you leaving already?’ I froze, feeling all eyes on me as I slowly turned to face him. He recognised me and blushed, trying to cover his discomfort. ‘Please, sit down and we’ll see what you can do with your life.’ He signalled back to my seat and I sat back down, wishing I had never come.
He got us to walk around the room where several tables were covered with different occupational necessities. Starting by the back door, I wandered around the white tables. The first table was for being a nurse. I had never liked blood and hated hospitals so I quickly moved onto the next table.
It was covered with house brochures and ‘For Sale’ signs printed onto leaflets. Being an estate agent hadn’t interested me except for the fact that they live on commission and I would be able to make my fortune by selling a few houses. I looked at the man standing behind the table and saw Dan staring back at me. Everyone was crowding around the other tables so Dan and I were left alone. I started to move to the next table yet he caught my arm. His grip was strong yet gentle and not threatening.
‘Amy, did you know that the sale of your house fell through last week? We came to show around some potential buyers and no one was around to open the door to us. They couldn’t stick around so they left and withdrew their offer. Where were you or your husband?’
‘Well my husband was probably at work and I was at my brother’s. Harry and I split up a fortnight ago and I’ve just signed the divorce papers this morning. I have to send them off the Harry tonight.’ He pretended to be concerned but failed miserably.
‘Sorry, but he spends most of his time at work from what I hear. He’s the most notorious lawyer in the country and he sounds like a total arsehole. My wife works with him and he’s a flirt. You deserve better.’
I nodded mutely and scurried away to a different table covered with material and a dressmaker’s dummy standing behind it. A woman stood up and shook my hand.
‘My name is Lucy Cavanaugh; I am the co-editor of Eden magazine. Have you designed fashion before?’
‘No, I’m not really interested in fashion to be honest. I read your magazine but I don’t have an eye for fashion.’ She was beautiful. Blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders and blue eyes framed by dark lashes. Her shirt and skirt fitted perfectly and her shoes were identical to mine.
‘I can be the judge of that. Your shoes are prefect to shape your legs and the monochrome statement that runs through your outfit show off your eyes. The black pencil skirt with fishtail has been adopted by burlesque dancers and it’s the sexiest thing a woman can own. Your shirt nipped in with a wide belt shows your waist and that coat lengthens your body perfectly. I think you have the eye for fashion. For only two hundred pounds, you can get a subscription to Eden, this dressmaker’s dummy and this brand new sewing machine. We’re also running a competition for the best design to be made and put on the cover of January’s issue. Are you interested?’ She looked at me hopefully and pushed a pen towards me, signalling at the form to my right. ‘We don’t ask for your payment until you receive all your equipment.’
I thought about running away and staying hidden with my adulterous husband and a multi-million pound house, but Lucy was smiling at me so encouragingly. I picked up the pen and scrawled my signature, defiantly putting down the pen.
‘Congratulations Miss…’ She held out her hand for me to shake.
‘Mrs Amy Druze.’ I shook her hand and smiled at her as she scribbled down her number.
‘Call me if you have any problems or if your stuff hasn’t come. It should be delivered in three working days. I hope to speak to you soon Mrs Druze.’ We shook hands again and I stalked out of the hall confidently without looking at Dan.
If I was going to change my life, I was going to change everything about me life.

Driving back to Jack’s, I was contemplating going shopping with the joint credit card so I swung Harry’s car around and stormed up the motorway to the biggest and most expensive designer shopping centre I knew.
Walking through the crowds I spotted a familiar man; jet black hair, sea blue eyes and cleanly shaven. I started towards him sheepishly, yet stopped when a woman skipped up to him and kissed his cheeks. She was much shorter than him and had to go on tiptoes to kiss him despite the high heels she was wearing. Her brown hair shimmered down her back and diamonds glittered on her finger. She turned around and they walked towards me hand in hand in to the closest jewellery shop. I followed them, trying to hide myself behind brochures yet my heart skipped a beat when he slipped yet another diamond finger on to her left hand. An engagement ring?
How could they be getting engaged when Harry and I were still married? I turned to run out but knocked into a stand carrying bracelets which crashed to the ground. Harry and the woman turned towards me and Harry’s face fell and his eyes turned dark when he saw my face and the expression on it. He stormed towards me, jaw clenched and brow furrowed. I tried to back away yet my legs wouldn’t move.
‘Where have you been, Amy?’ His eyes were nearly black with rage and he grabbed my forearm, the grip as painful as I remembered. ‘Answer me, where have you been?’
The pain was unbearable.
‘I was at Jack’s. He let me stay for a while.’
‘You’re coming home with me right now. Diane, follow us in the car she stole from me. Now you, get home right now.’ He dragged me into the underground car park and smacked me before shoving me into the car.

Lucy Cavanaugh

I walked in through the front and was nearly knocked over by the sheer force of a blonde blur knocking into me.
‘Mummy, I really missed you!’ Henry, being only six, still got excited when his mother got home and I loved that about him. ‘Guess what we did at school today. We looked at the frogs in the pond and I found a baby frog and it’s called a frogspawn you know, and I got all of my numbers right and I can count to ten now, want to hear it?’ He started to launch into his counted as Michael appeared in the doorway.
‘Henry, go and find Emma. She can get you some apple for a snack before your meal tonight. Good lad.’ Henry ran off and Michael kissed me, never wanting to let me go. ‘How was your day, beautiful?’ He took my bag and put it in the cloakroom along with my coat.
‘I met Harry’s wife today; at the careers thing down in the church hall. I managed to sign her up for the fashion design competition for the magazine.’
‘Harry’s wife? He doesn’t have a wife; they’ve separated. Apparently, she cheated on him so he kicked her out.’ I couldn’t believe it. Little, shy Amy Druze with an amazing eye for fashion yet won’t believe it because she had never been complimented.
‘She gave me her number today; she seems too nice to cheat on her husband. There was something really weird going on. When I complimented her, she couldn’t accept it. It was like she’s never been complimented before. I’ll call her, she might need a friend. I don’t suppose you could stick that chilli in the pot could you? I made it this morning. Thank you baby, I love you.’ I kissed him lightly and found the scrap of paper from my bag with Amy’s number on it. I dialled it cautiously checking the time. It was only four o’clock in the afternoon; she should be free for a chat.
A man answered. His voice deep, seductive and noticeably dangerous.
‘Hi, my name is Lucy Cavanaugh. I was wondering if Amy is available. It’s imperative that I speak to her.’
‘This is her husband Harry. I suggest that you stop calling my wife or you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.’ I could hear a woman crying quietly and the sharp sound of flesh against flesh. He hung up; that was obviously the infamous Harry Druze.
‘Michael, I just spoke to your wonderful partner at the law firm. Harry. Do you have his address? It sounded like he hit her and he sounded really venomous.’
‘He’d never hit her. Plus, she left him two weeks ago so she wouldn’t be there.’ His brow furrowed as if to call me stupid and walked away.
‘Michael, I’m not being stupid. He picked up her mobile and said that I’d be hearing from his lawyer if I ever called Amy again. I heard her cry and he slapped her to shut her up. I don’t understand why you can’t see what a twat he is. What’s his address? I have to see if she’s ok.’
‘Lucy, listen to me! He doesn’t hit his wife! He’s not that kind of man, he loves her and she left him and took his car.’ He walked away again and started putting dishes into the dishwasher, ignoring me completely. I ran up to our room, infuriated with Michael for dismissing my beliefs so easily.
Digging around in his bag, I found his address book. Flicking through, I noticed some names I recognised. Novella Dandle, Dan Pointer, Sally Turner. Sally Turner… Why was that familiar?
In my mind’s eye, I could see myself running through a field of poppies with a brunette girl holding my hand. Then I could see that same girl with long flowing hair kissing a boy with sandy hair. Leaves rustled around me and I realised that I was sitting in a tree above the couple. I was only ten, so was the girl, so he must have been only a little older.
Sally Turner. She looked up at me, her cold grey eyes burning through my skin. Her lips curved into a smile and the boy looked up. He had spiky brown hair, green eyes and a shocked smile.
Back in the present, I shook my head of the image of my best friend with the boy whom I later married. At our wedding, Sally had gotten really drunk and had made several passes at Michael hoping he would give in to her and she could tell me all about it. She made my life hell in the three years that she and Michael were courting. She would flaunt him in front of me, knowing full well that I liked him and she would talk to me abut not liking the way he kissed or the way he held her at night.
At lunch at school, she would force him to sit by her and play with his hair, kiss him, and point out my flaws. One day, I had a spot developing on my forehead. Luckily, I had just had my hair cut and my new fringe could cover the spot, but Sally was always flicking my fringe to one side when Michael was around to show off the spot.
‘Lucy; phone baby girl.’ I snapped back to the present and heard my husband shouting my name. I ran down the stairs, two at a time, and picked up the phone.
‘Lucy Cavanaugh, Amy Druze here. I was just calling to let you know that I don’t need the tailor’s dummy or the material that I ordered. I need to focus on my marriage and being a good wife to Harry.’
‘Amy, you have a career with fashion. I don’t want Harry to stop you from doing what you want. I’ll send the stuff but I won’t charge you and you can decide whether to use it or not. Don’t let Harry bully you okay? I’ll talk to you soon ok, bye.’ I hung up and dialled David’s number.
‘Amy Druze. A potentially great designer. Suppressed by her abusive husband. Let’s run an article on her and get her designs published.’
‘Lucy, it’s not like you to pick up a lost puppy and tell me. I’ve missed you by the way. Come over and we’ll talk about this Amy woman and have lots of sex.’
‘Ok. I’ll be there in ten minutes max. See you soon.’ I hung up and found Michael in our spotless kitchen. I wrapped my arms around his waist and cuddled into his shoulder, smelling the familiar Lynx aftershave.
‘Hey baby, I’ve got to go to David’s to talk about having Amy’s designs in the next issue. I’ll try not to be long, get in a movie and some popcorn and we’ll cuddle up on the sofa together when I get back. The kids can join us and we’ll make a real family event out of it ok? I won’t be long, I promise.’
He snuggled into me, smelling the lavender from my shampoo.
‘I love you, Lucy. Try not to be too long at David’s ok? Chilli will be ready for when you get back and the rice and the movie will be rented and the popcorn popped.’ I kissed him and grabbed my car keys, rushing out to the new car parked on our drive.
Sticking the key into the ignition, I set the car into reverse and backed of the drive, carefully avoiding our heavily pregnant neighbour and drove to the south side of the city towards David’s house.