Chapter
2
“You’ve been sacked,” Dominic said in disbelief.
“As good as. I was asked for my resignation,” she said
distastefully. “But it amounts to the same thing.”
“How? Why?” Dominic stammered.
“They received a letter…poison pen, you might call it…disclosing
my relationship with Nikki. For one crazy moment I thought Nikki might have
sent it but I know she wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“Why didn’t you deny it?”
“I thought about it,” she replied truthfully. “Being found out was
always my worst nightmare but now it’s actually happened,” she shrugged. “I
realise now, Nikki means more to me than anything. I can get another job but
I’ll never find anyone else like Nikki.”
Dominic’s heart sank. He felt exactly the same way about Helen
Stewart and if Nikki Wade was out of the picture he knew there was a future for
the two of them. He didn’t hate Nikki but she wasn’t good for Helen and now she
had lost Helen her job, didn’t that prove it?
“I hate to ask this of you, Dominic, but will you take a message
in to Nikki for me?” She looked at him pleadingly. “It’s just that we didn’t
part on very good terms and I’ve got to let her know I still care.”
“Helen, I can’t. If I did and anyone found out, my career would be
up the Swanee as well.”
“Will you tell her then? Tell her what’s happened and that I love
her and will try and get to see her. Please, Dominic,” she begged.
“Alright, I’ll do what I can.”
“Good man!” Helen smiled, feeling suddenly brighter. “Now, how
about a drink?”
Dominic walked onto G-Wing the following morning and headed for
Nikki’s cell. He knocked politely before entering. “’Morning, Nikki.”
“’Morning, Mr McAllister. Alcohol poisoning all cleared up now?”
she asked him cheekily. McAllister was alright really. If he hadn’t told her
about Helen being in love with her she and Helen might never have kissed and
made up and the rest of it, she thought with a dirty smile.
He grimaced. “Just about.”
She looked across at the door to make sure she couldn’t be
overheard. “Is Helen in today? I really need to see her.”
He opened his mouth to give her Helen’s message and then closed it
again. This was a perfect opportunity. He was better for Helen than Nikki Wade
ever could be. “I’m sorry, Nikki. She asked me to go round and see her last
night. She told me the two of you had argued again and she’s sick of it all.
She’s jacked it all in, Nikki, the job, everything and she doesn’t want you to
contact her ever again.”
“You’re joking!” she said in disbelief. “Tell me you’re joking,
Dominic! Tell me!”
He shook his head. “I’m really sorry, Nikki.”
Nikki looked round wildly. “I’ve got to call her. Make her see
what a dreadful mistake she’s making. She knows how much I love her.”
Shit, he thought. “You can’t,” he gabbled. “She’s gone away…to
stay with relatives, I think. She left last night.”
“Dominic, please, please, tell me this is a joke,” she said
harshly.
He shrugged. “Sorry.” He left the cell feeling an utter bastard
but he felt exonerated by telling himself he’d done it for Helen. She had no
future with Nikki Wade but she could have a good future with him. All he had to
do was keep them apart long enough and Helen would soon forget all about Nikki.
He went into the officer’s office and dialled Helen’s number.
“Helen, it’s Dominic. Look, there’s no easy way to say this. I gave Nikki your
message and she’s not interested.” He hesitated as if reluctant to continue.”
“Please, Dominic, you’ve got to try again.”
“Helen, she’s not interested,” he repeated. “She says she doesn’t
give a shit about your job and she doesn’t want you to come and see her. If you
ask me, I think Nikki did send the letter.”
“Dom, I can’t believe she would do such a thing to me.”
”I could be wrong. I’ll have another word with her if you like,”
he offered.
“Forget it, Dom. Why should I care if she doesn’t?” She replaced
the receiver without another word.
Barbara groaned in dismay, as she was awakened by the same noise
she had heard every night for the past week – Nikki crying! Her heart went out
to Nikki but the lack of sleep wasn’t doing either of them any good. “Nikki,
are you alright?” she asked softly as she raised herself on one elbow. “And
don’t pretend to be asleep because I heard you.”
Nikki sniffed loudly. “Sorry if I woke you, Babs,” she apologised
tearfully.
“It’s not the first time, Nikki,” she snapped, then her voice
softened. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded but you’re going to
make yourself ill. You hardly eat anything and you haven’t had a good night’s
sleep for days…so to speak. You’ve got to resign yourself to the fact that
Helen has gone.” She heard Nikki choke back a sob and immediately felt remorse
for what she had said. She climbed down from her bunk. “Nikki, love, I’m sorry.
That was thoughtless of me.” She sat down on the edge of Nikki’s bunk and
placed comforting arms around her weeping cell-mate.
“Babs, what am I going to do without her?”
“You’re going to get on with your life. Move forward. You may
still get your appeal,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
“And if I don’t, I’m stuck in here with nothing and no one,” she
retorted dismally.
“You’ve still got me,” Barbara said gently. “I’m glad you didn’t
get caught when you escaped. I don’t think I could have coped being in a cell
on my own and some of the women aren’t as understanding about my claustrophobia
as you are.”
“Thanks, Babs. I don’t know what I’d do without you either. If I
didn’t have someone to talk to about Helen, I would go stark staring
bonkers.”
“I’m always there for you, Nikki, but shall we try and get some
sleep now?” She gave Nikki a final hug before climbing back into her own bunk.
Helen poured herself another drink. She hated the bloody flat and
its emptiness! The only happiness there had been in it lately was the night
Nikki was there and that wasn’t likely to happen again! Not after what she’d
said to Dominic.
She picked up the phone and dialled Dominic’s number. “Do you
fancy coming over for a drink, Dom?” Helen asked hopefully. “I could really use
some company.”
“Yeah, that would be nice,” he agreed readily. “Do you want me to
bring anything?”
“Only yourself.”
Helen started to relax as she re-filled their glasses. She knew it
was more to do with the amount of wine she had drunk than anything but she
enjoyed Dominic’s company and it made her feel good to have him hanging onto
her every word. It was nice to know someone wanted her even if Nikki didn’t.
She needed to be loved and he was very good looking. She leaned across and
kissed him, her hand slipping behind his head and drawing him closer. She drew
her head back and looked at him a wanton expression on her face. “Make love to
me, Dominic,” she said softly.
He swallowed hard and laughed nervously. “Helen, I…”
She started to unfasten the buttons on his shirt but he grabbed
hold of her hands. “No, Helen,” he said with more firmness in his voice than
she had ever heard. “You’re on the rebound from Nikki. You’d hate yourself in
the morning and I’d hate myself for taking advantage of the situation.” He
laughed bitterly. “But not half as much as I hate myself now for refusing you.”
She stroked his cheek gently. “You’re a good friend, Dominic.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Unfortunately. I’d better go. I’ll see myself
out.” He dropped a light kiss on her brow. “’Night, Helen.”
“’Night, Dominic.”
Dominic closed the front door and breathed in the fresh night air.
What a prat! He thought to himself. You’ve just been handed on a plate what
you’ve been wanting for months and you turned her down. What an utter prat! But
he was right to refuse her, she was
on the rebound from Nikki and he wasn’t a big enough bastard to take advantage
of Helen like that. He really loved her and once she started to return his
feelings…He set off at a brisk jog, thankful he hadn’t brought his bike. At
least he could clear his head on the way home and it would save him having to
have a cold shower when he got in!
Helen sat with her head in her hands. Where the hell am I going
wrong? She thought miserably. It was bad enough that Nikki had told her she was
crap in bed but now she had thrown herself at Dominic, who she had thought was
totally besotted with her, and even he had turned her down. She was grateful
Dominic had rejected her though, the drink had made her reckless and she didn’t
really fancy him.
She looked at her watch – it was still only 10 o’clock - then she picked up the telephone. “Mum, it’s Helen. Tell Dad to lock up his best malt. I’m coming home!”