Page 46 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz

Cath laughs loudly, and it is what Fay would call an infectious laugh as it makes us laugh too.

‘Well, how was I supposed to know Clyde had sold his car and put the money in a plain brown envelope? He didn’t tell me.’

I see Ruby turn to Monica, her eyebrows high. She say, Clyde? in silent way and she and Monica snort with laughing. I am not sure what is funny.

‘I put my letters on top of the plain brown envelope and naturally I posted them all at the earliest opportunity – not realising this envelope contained cash. Oh dear, Clyde didn’t think it was funny.

He had to wait four hours by the postbox until it was emptied and even then, he had to go to the post office with the postie to sign declarations and whatnots before they allowed him to have the money back.

I mean, I can laugh now, but at the time it wasn’t at all funny. ’

Fay asks how much money was in envelope.

‘Oh, I think it was about eight thousand pounds.’

‘Oh my God, Bonnie.’ Ruby makes big hands in air. ‘You posted eight thousand pounds of Clyde’s cash in an unmarked envelope in a letter box? What’re you like?’

‘Well, at least he got it back. I never got my engagement ring back.’

‘You posted that too?’ Monica shakes her head as she giggles.

‘Oh, not deliberately. It was a few years before, when we were on holiday. The ring was a bit loose, and it must have happened when I pushed a postcard into the gap of this yellow postbox. I didn’t realise until later in the day. The ring must have come off in there. It cost a fortune to replace.’

I touch my ring. It is very tight. I will have to get it cut off when I go to work.

Asha also puts her hand to her big engagement ring. She looks very tired. Perhaps she did not sleep well? She goes towards the bathroom.

‘I can’t believe you and your hubby are called Bonnie and Clyde.’ Ruby makes a big laugh and I think I will ask Fay to explain later.

Cath sings a song about Bonnie and Clyde I have not heard before.

‘Oh, now that is deliberate,’ Bonnie say.

‘I hated my name. I mean, who wants to be called Betty for goodness’ sake?

So, a friend suggested I became Bonnie when Clyde and I got together.

We’ve made lots of friends on our holidays over the years as soon as we introduce ourselves.

Turns out to be a marvellous way to break the ice… ’

From the corner of my eye, I see Asha at the bathroom door. She waves for me to come over. I take a deep breath. Now is right time.

When I am inside, she closes the door.

‘Ingrida, I am sorry about yesterday.’

I do not say anything and shrug.

‘I was a bit in shock. I had not expected to be… well, expecting.’

When I say nothing, she continues.

‘And I have not told Jay and I am not sure what we will do and I just cannot have these women knowing about this.’ She point to her stomach.

‘Especially as they will be at my wedding. I know I can trust you, Ingrida. And I am sorry Cath and Bonnie got the wrong end of the stick yesterday. But I did not actually tell them you were pregnant, they just assumed that… Look, all I am saying is please do not say anything to them.’

‘Asha, I will not tell them about you. But I will not lie and say I am expectant with baby.’ I look Asha in her eyes.

‘It is not possible for me to lie about this. Hazel and Clarissa, they already know I cannot have children. I have cancer many years ago and I no longer have womb. This is not secret. It is fact.’

‘Oh, Ingrida, I… I did not know. I am so sorry.’ Asha drains of colour and before I can say it is OK and she was not to know this, she rushes to the toilet and wretches. She waves a hand behind her back for me to go and I turn and leave the bathroom.

I think to myself, I will not lie to Rita and Terry either. If Neil does not tell them we are married, then I will.

‘Ladies,’ Fay calls for our attention. ‘Wonderful news; Hazel is sending the same taxi for us this morning. We are to have breakfast with her and Clarissa at their lovely hotel. What a treat. And I have to tell you we have come up with an excellent solution to my incapacitation for our dance entry.’

We all look at each other with surprise.

‘Does it depend on a miraculous healing of your leg?’ Cath starts to sing, ‘I believe in miracles…’

‘Most amusing, Cath. No, it does not, but I can say no more until we are at the hotel.’

Bonnie gets a message on her phone and suddenly flaps her hand in the air.

She shouts, ‘Oh my goodness. Ladies, listen to this. I’ve just had a text from Maureen, Janine’s old neighbour.

She was watching the North West Tonight programme last night and suddenly saw her old house.

You’re not going to believe this, but the report said police had to break into Janine’s property to remove the dead body of a fifty-seven-year-old woman… ’

‘What?’

‘Said it had been there for a week or more. Apparently, the police had called on what was said to be an unrelated matter and discovered the body.’

‘Oh my God.’

‘Frigging hell.’

‘Maureen said a young woman was being held for questioning, but they were not looking for anyone else connected with the investigation.’

‘So, the dead person must be Janine’s mother?’

‘That’s terrible.’

‘ Ja , poor Janine. I know what it is like to lose a mother.’

‘What a state she must have been in if her mother had died, and she couldn’t tell anyone.’ Monica shakes her head.

‘How terrible to be in a house with a dead body all that time,’ Asha says, stepping out of the bathroom. She puts a hand up to her mouth and swallows hard.

‘Really, ladies,’ Fay says with a cross voice.

‘We cannot know exactly what has happened. I mean, for all we know, the poor woman could have been murdered by Janine. Well, do not look at me like that. It is a possibility. All that is clear is Janine is not the person we thought she was. She has embezzled our funds and now it is clear that something most untoward has occurred in her house. I am sure we will find out more on our return, but I do not think it is helpful to speculate. I also do not think it is a good idea to relay this information to Clarissa or Hazel yet. They do not need additional worries when they are trying to enjoy what could be a final weekend away together. I am sure we will learn the truth of the matter soon enough. I suspect it will mean trouble for our claims against Janine, but at the end of the day, all that matters for now is our dancing.’

Everyone start to talk quietly about Janine. Cath, she sing in a soft voice from a song from Les Misérables about how at the end of the day there’d be nothing but trouble. But she does not smile.

Fay drums her fingers on the arms of her wheelchair and calls out, ‘Come along. Less of the tittle-tattle. The taxi will be outside. Now, can someone help me get to the service lift? I fear the regular one is still out of order.’

I hear Ruby whisper, ‘Yes Miss,’ and she winks at me.

I think Fay should not try to sound like a teacher. It rubs people the wrong way up, but I help her and take her down in the lift.

‘Are you feeling any better Ingrida?’ she ask me.

‘A little. I want to go home to speak to Neil and stop my uncle causing trouble. Also, I am missing the children.’

‘Of course, you are. Now take stock, my dear. Rise above your concerns. These finals are of the utmost importance to Clarissa and Hazel. You must put aside your worries and dance the best you can. You were wonderful in the “Dancin’ Fool” number yesterday.

You can do it again. It would be marvellous to get a trophy and beat Sheila’s dreadful group. ’

I nod. I know Fay is right. I make a promise in my head, I will make Clarissa and Hazel proud.