Chapter 5. Temptation
"Miriam? Major here. Look, I picked up that woman from under the tunnel last
night..... Yes, she was smelly but after a bath there was a human being
underneath. The point is, she has almost nothing to wear. Most of what she had
on was torn or so filthy it won't wash clean. My clothes are obviously too big
and not really the right style. ..... How big? Well she's probably an inch
taller than you and a bit slimmer.......Yes, yes, that it what I was wondering.
Can I come round and pick the bags up?........ You will? You're sure it's no
trouble? .....You're off to the shops anyway. Thanks then. See you shortly."
John turned to Paula. "That was the woman with the dog who found you in the
tunnel last night. She keeps the church jumble sale stuff and is going to bring
the bags of clothing round for you to pick through. Once we can get you into
something half respectable we can go into Marks and Spencers or somewhere else
in Fordwich and buy some decent things."
"You don't have to go to that expense John. I am quite used to going to the
charity shops for things. Actually you often find things there you cannot buy in
a clothing store, and at a tiny fraction of the price. Look, last night we were
an item but for how long. I don't know how long I can keep off the booze even
with the threat of painful punishment. For now, it is best to take one day at a
time. You've done a lot for me and I am grateful but our lives are worlds apart.
I am an untrained, jobless, homeless woman. You are fifteen years older,
probably wealthy and upper class. Will our worlds come together or will they
blow us and our lives apart? Take one day at a time......"
The door bell interrupted her words. "Come in Miriam. I'll get the other bags."
John dumped the dustbin liners on the kitchen floor and introduced Paula and
Miriam.
"Well you certainly smell better than when we last met," Miriam bluntly pointed
out, "And I can see why the Major wanted some clothing for you but my God, did
he do that to your face?"
Paula shook her head as John butted in, "That's one of the reasons she was under
the tunnel."
"Ooooh, tell me more. Sounds like a juicy story," Miriam chortled.
"Miriam, believe me, it is a story that is best not told. Thanks for the
clothes. We'll sort through them so she has something to wear until her face
heals enough to go into town without too many heads to making 180 degree turns."
"One of these days then, Major. Good luck to you Paula, hope you find something
you can use. Don't worry about paying for them. I'm sure church funds can stand
it." She shook Paula's hand and turned to leave. "I'll pick up the bags you
don't need on my way back, then I can put them in the back of the garage before
I put the car away. 'Bout a couple of hours. That give you enough time to sort
through?"
Paula and John sorted the piles of clothing and found quite a few items that
would suit. The main shortage now was underwear and shoes. She changed into a
check shirt, fawn trousers and a colourful woolen sweater. Paula began to feel
'normal' again whatever that meant.
Miriam returned in the early afternoon and when John asked Paula to make tea for
them all, Miriam quipped in her forthright manner, "Training her to be a
housemaid already I see."
"Just making her feel at home Miriam, that's all." They laughed.
"I see you found something suitable," Miriam observed as she took in Paula's new
clothes. "Find anything else?" John explained the problem of underwear which
provoked an immediate retort, "I don't suppose you wanted to find any Major!"
Paula blushed but John came back with, "I've lost the pleasure of taking them
off." When told of the shoe problem Miriam immediately removed one of hers and
made Paula try it on. It was a size too large. "Pity, but I'll see Emma in the
morning. She's the shoe lady, she always runs the shoe stall at the jumbles."
All this kindness became too much for Paula. Tears welled in her eyes and ran
down her bruised cheeks. Wiping them away with kitchen tissue, she apologised
and thanked her for all her kindness but Miriam would not hear of it. "It's like
this, love, I help you one day, you help somebody the next and somebody helps me
the day after. It goes in circles. We get what we give."
Over tea they made small talk and Miriam's quirky humour had them laughing
steadily. It was the first time for months Paula had been able to laugh. She
enquired about the dog, but was told he was indoors. Miriam didn't like taking
him in town and the dog didn't like all the people and waiting outside shops.
She promised to call by with him when she was out walking.
Tears again flowed from Paula's eyes after Miriam had left. "Everyone is just
too kind," she sobbed. "There has to be bad somewhere. Apart from you, Miriam is
the first person to talk to me like a human being for months."
"Miriam's a gossip but she means well and is good hearted. Everyone in the
village will now know we are living together. I can visualize a headline in the
unofficial parish newsletter, 'The Major takes in a street urchin' or something
similar."
"Is that what I am? A street urchin?"
"No dear, but that's what you will be by the time the gossip had got from one
end of the High Street to the other!" He gave her a hug and a kiss.
The next few days were fairly uneventful. They made love like honeymoon couples.
There was enough food in the freezer to last a while; he made fresh bread as
required; milk was delivered but by the end of the week it was necessary for him
to go into town. He wanted Paula to go with him but her face still showed signs
of bruising. Much fainter now but still visible. Miriam called a couple of times
and brought Max, the dog for Paula to cuddle and stroke.
*******
For the next six weeks they lived together as a couple. The villagers began to
accept Paula and speak with her as they met. Miriam often popped in for a chat
and when the weather was nice, Paula walked the dog with her. On the surface all
seemed to be going well but the Major knew there were times when Paula
desperately wanted a drink. She became irritable and her hand would shake.
During these periods John would stay by her and use his diplomatic skills or his
commanding authority to prevent Paula regressing. All liquor was now stored in
the locked cellar although the key was fairly accessible.
It was during one of her depressed periods that John had to attend another of
the charity committee meetings. He debated whether to leave her but in the end
decided she wasn't a prisoner, she had to be given the chance to prove how
strong she was or wasn't, to resist the temptation. He'd left her alone in the
house on a number of occasions but this evening he felt was different.
Paula would have resisted but Miriam came by and was invited to have a cup of
tea. "I think I would rather have a nice glass of wine, Paula dear."
"It's locked in the cellar."
"Well, let us find the key and get a bottle. I'm sure the Major won't mind. Its
been a while since I've had a glass of wine with him. Since before you came in
fact."
"I mustn't, Miriam, I mustn't....."
"Oh go on Paula, a glass of wine won't hurt you. Now where's the key?" Miriam
wouldn't normally have pushed like this but Paula's manner gave the impression
she was hiding something and there was more behind her refusal than met the eye.
A juicy piece of gossip perhaps.
The key, as always, was on a ledge under the stairs. Paula found it. Her hands
shook as she opened the trap door. "Miriam, we shouldn't do this."
"You can blame me then," Miriam laughed. Miriam went down the steps and selected
a bottle of white wine. Paula's eyes glazed over as Miriam showed her the label
as if to get her approval for the choice. Paula just nodded. Her hands shook too
much to uncork the bottle and Paula had to do it for her. At the back of Paula's
mind came the words, 'Booze means pain.'
"I mustn't. I mustn't have it." Paula repeated the words several times but
Miriam swept them aside. "Nonsense, a glass or two of wine never did anyone any
harm. Doctors say it is good for you."
Once the wine was set before her and she had tasted a sip, Paula's inhibitions
left and she was soon on her second glass.
