By
Jan
Chapter 3
“Is
Nikki Wade in tonight?”
Trisha
looked up with interest when she heard her former lover’s name. The speaker was
a female with long dark hair, leaning over the bar to attract the barman’s
attention. She manoeuvred herself into a position where she could see the
woman’s face. She was young, probably late teens and didn’t look like one of
the regulars but the club’s clientele wasn’t wholly gay. The resident DJ was
one of the best in the city and drew the punters in. She saw the barman nod and
point across to the dance floor.
It
was Nikki’s night off but she had seen her come in earlier with Helen Stewart
and their friends, Catherine and Claire. She looked to where the barman was
pointing and saw the four of them dancing together. As she watched, Nikki said
something in Helen’s ear then they both laughed and she felt a stab of jealousy
at their intimacy.
She
moved until she was standing beside the young woman who now had her back to the
bar and was watching the dance floor. “Did you want to see Nikki Wade?” she
asked pleasantly and brown eyes regarded her quizzically. “Nikki’s my partner,”
she continued. “Business partner, that is. My name’s Trisha.”
“I’m
Sarah,” the woman replied with a smile. “Someone said this was her club and I
might find her here.”
“It’s
her night off,” Trisha edged. “Have we met somewhere before? You seem
familiar.”
“I’ve
been told there’s a family resemblance.”
“Family
resemblance?” Trisha echoed.
“Yes,
Nikki’s my sister!”
Nikki
put her hands on Helen’s waist and drew her close. “Having a good time, babe?”
she said against her ear.
“Great!”
Helen replied. “But can we go and get a drink?”
Nikki
took her hand and led her from the crowded dance floor to the bar where she
nodded at Trisha who was chatting up a good-looking kid then ordered a round of
drinks.
“I’ll
get these,” Helen offered and dived in her bag for the money before Nikki had a
chance to protest.
“Someone
was looking for you,” the barman informed Nikki when he brought the drinks.
“The kid talking to Trisha.”
“Okay,
thanks.” She handed Helen her drink and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll just
go and see what she wants.” She went
and joined Trisha and smiled at the two women. “Hi. The barman said you wanted
to see me,” she said pleasantly.
Sarah
looked at her shyly but before she had the chance to say anything Trisha spoke
up.
“You’re
a sly devil,” she exclaimed. “You never told me you had a sister!”
Nikki
paled as she looked from one to the other then turned on her heel and almost
ran from the club.
Helen
looked on in astonishment as her lover disappeared into the crowd. She placed
her drink on the bar and hurried after her. As she went out of the front door
she saw Nikki running down the road and knew she would never catch up with her
so she hailed a passing taxi. “Just drive until I tell you to stop!” she
ordered as she climbed inside.
Nikki
strode on, her head down, trying to put as much distance as she could between
herself and the kid claiming to be her…her…
“Nikki!”
She
heard her name being called and realised Helen had pulled up in a taxi
alongside her.
“Sweetheart,
get in,” Helen pleaded.
She
shook her head.
“You
can’t walk all the way home,” she protested.
“I
need to clear my head. You go.”
“I’m
not leaving you,” she took a note out of her bag and handed it to the driver
then joined Nikki on the pavement. As the taxi drove off she looked at Nikki
with an impish smile on her lips. “Good job I wasn’t wearing heels or you’d be
walking on your own.”
Nikki
forced a weak smile. “Sorry.” She started to walk trying not to stride out so
Helen could keep up with her. “I had to get away.”
“Was
it who I think it was?” Helen asked hesitantly.
She
nodded. “Seeing her like that just freaked me out.” She stopped and turned to
face Helen. “When I got out of Larkhall, all I wanted to do was live a normal
life with you. I don’t need anyone else, particularly not her!”
Helen
reached up and kissed her gently. “Let’s go home.”
They
linked fingers and set off walking…Nikki trying to banish the face of the girl
who was her sister from her mind and Helen cursing herself for letting the taxi
go. She was knackered and her bloody feet were killing her!
“Mr
Wade, there’s a lady to see you.”
Nikki
waited patiently as the secretary at her older brother’s law practice informed
him he had a visitor.
“No,
sir, she doesn’t have an appointment but…” the secretary broke off and looked
at Nikki with an apologetic smile. “I’ll tell her, sir, but she says she’s your
sister. Yes, sir.” She replaced the receiver and smiled. “He won’t keep you a
moment.”
“Thank
you.” She returned the secretary’s smile. She pitied the poor woman working for
him. He had always been a perfectionist even as a child. His room was always
tidy; his shoes polished, his clothes pressed, knife-edged creases in his
trousers. Two years younger, she had been the exact opposite and her unconcern
had always been a bone of contention between them.
The
inner office door was flung open and she heard her brother’s voice for the
first time in eighteen years.
“Sarah…”
She
turned round and glared at him. “Try again, Simon,” she said icily and watched
with a great deal of satisfaction as the colour visibly drained from his face.
“You’d
better come in,” he said stiffly then turned on his heel and went back into his
office. “No calls!” he flung over his shoulder.
“Thank
you.” Nikki smiled kindly at the secretary then followed Simon into his office
and looked around her. It was exactly the way she could have imagined an office
belonging to her brother looking…immaculately antiseptic!
“What
do you want, Nikki?” he asked coldly.
She
turned and looked at him. He was still as good looking as ever and he didn’t
have a spare ounce of flesh on him. He had always been a keen sportsman and
obviously kept himself in shape.
“Nice
to see you too, Simon,” she replied sarcastically.
He
sat down behind his desk. “I have a meeting in five minutes so start talking or
get out!”
She
swallowed hard. “I haven’t come looking for trouble.”
“Then
what do you want? Money?” he demanded smugly as he took a chequebook from his top
drawer and tossed it onto the desk. “How much will it cost me to get you out of
our lives for good?”
“You
can stick your money!” she retorted. “I don’t need it!” She took a deep breath.
Arguing with him wouldn’t get her anywhere. “How are Mum and Dad?” she asked
softly.
“Remarkably
well, considering what you’ve put them through.” He glanced at his watch. “Two
minutes.”
She
stared him squarely in the eye. “Sarah,” she said simply.
He
looked at her curiously. “What about her?”
“Tell
her to stay away from me. I’m not interested in playing happy families,” she
replied bitterly.
“She
wouldn’t…”
“She
rang the prison and she’s been to my club!” she exclaimed loudly.
“Keep
your voice down!” he hissed. “I don’t want your dirty linen washing in public!”
“You
are such a f*cking hypocrite, Simon, but then you always have been!” She
crossed to the door and yanked it open. “Just tell her to stay away from me!”
She hurried through the outer office and out into the street. Helen had warned
her against coming here; she should have listened to her. She realised she was
shaking and wrapped her arms around her body. There wasn’t any going back; the
scene with Simon had proved that. They would never let her forget!