Part Two   "Rings"

 

Saturday 11th April

It took Tammy a few moments to realise that she was back in her room at Dunbankin, the family home just outside Thurso. Looking at the clock it said seven, but she was now fully refreshed so saw no point in rolling over.

At half past seven, showered and dressed, she walked into the kitchen in search of her first coffee of the day.

"Good morning Tammy, welcome back."

"Thanks Julie."

"There's a mug of coffee for you on the table, I heard you were up."

"I tried to be quiet." Tammy sat down and picked up the mug.

"A quiet teenager? They don't exist!"

Tammy decided she would lose any argument at this point so stayed silent while the cook prepared a few items for breakfast.

"I guess you've been on the healthy muesli and yoghurt breakfast loved by the soft southerners?"

"I've had a cooked breakfast most of this week, the only muesli was in the hotel in Glasgow yesterday, I wouldn't call Glaswegians soft southerners and expect to live!"

"So I thought I would treat you, oh well, you can forget me doing that for you again!"

Tammy laughed, "Dad said he would ask you to do a cooked breakfast today in case we couldn't get together for lunch!"

"Damn, foiled again!"

They were both laughing when Joan came into the kitchen. "Bacon? Just a bowl of Alpen for me I think." The laughing intensified, "have I walked into an in-joke?"

Tammy and Julie shrugged, returning to their respective tasks, cooking and drinking coffee.

"Now Tammy, what's your plan for the day?"

"There's a rehearsal today at the theatre plus I want to go into town to see everyone and I really ought to sit down with some revision."

John now arrived in the kitchen, "could you drop me down there too please Tammy?"

"Who said I was going to drive?"

***

Tammy pulled up behind Sarah's Boutique shortly after nine.

"I'm leaving the car here for now and I'll drive round to the theatre at quarter to ten, if you want a lift. I'll be with Sarah until then."

"I'm seeing Tanya and Sandy first," was John's offering whilst Angela said "I want to do some shopping."

The pair walked away, in separate directions, as Tammy retrieved her bag before locking the car. Having passed her test the previous week she was now finally self-mobile, able to go where she wanted when she wanted - within reason of course. First stop was Sarah's shop.

"Hi Tammy, I bet you didn't get that tan in London? Did you just spend a week abroad without telling us?"

"I didn't leave the country, Sarah, but I did end up in Cornwall for a few days and it was lovely down there."

"It was fine here until two days ago when this white stuff arrived, trade has been dead since Wednesday."

"I'm sorry I wasn't here, but something came up that I had to do."

"Angela came in a few days ago and said you wouldn't be back before the end of week and that the last time she saw you was at Edinburgh Airport."

"Er, yeah."

"You didn't go to London at all, did you?"

"Oh I did, I got there on Tuesday of this week and left on Thursday."

"So what were you doing in Cornwall?"

"Sorting out some stuff for my summer work experience but they also arranged some driving lessons for me."

"Did you get much practice?"

"A bit."

"So?"

"So what?"

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Stop playing games, Tammy. Did you take your test?"

"Yes, and I passed. My car's round the back as I drove down here this morning."

That earned Tammy a hug. "Well done, girl."

"Thanks."

"Now, are you at the theatre this morning?"

"Yes, we only have a few more weeks of rehearsal before the actual play."

The shop door burst open and Tanya stormed in.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH MY MAN? BITCH!"

Tanya went to slap Tammy but Sarah got between them.

"Tanya, calm down and explain yourself or I'm calling your mother."

"SHE ..... SHE ....She ...." Tanya burst into tears.

Sarah decided to reach for the phone anyway, walking away from Tanya who now had her head hung low. Tammy stepped forward to give her a hug but Tanya shook her head.

"I thought I trusted you."

"What?"

"John."

"He wanted to surprise you this morning, so he stayed at our house last night."

"No, not that, this!"

Tanya's phone showed a photo of Tammy asleep on John's shoulder, her arm snaking across him. Tammy started laughing.

"It's not funny!"

"Yes it is, we were on trains for eight hours so I fell asleep, there weren't any spare seat so we had to sit next to each other."

"I broke off the engagement over this!"

"You did what?"

"I told him where he could shove the ring."

"Apologise now!"

"I'm sorry, Tammy."

"Not to me, to John. He's sweet and would never hurt you. Who sent you the photo?"

"One of my friends asked if that was you and John but I don't know who took it."

"Tanya, sort out who your friends are - John didn't want to wait until Thursday to see you but ended up bumping into me in Glasgow so we travelled down together yesterday, eight hours in all, I bet you couldn't stay awake on a journey like that and wouldn't do the journey on your own if you had a choice."

Tanya Smith started crying again. "I've been so stupid."

"Sort it out now, Tanya, I'm not upset with you but I will be if you don't repair what you've done."

Out of her eye Tanya could see Sandy and John in the shop doorway. Sandy Smith came forward, telling John Hibbert to stay where he was, there appeared to be a mark on his face. There also appeared to be something in Sandy's hand.

"What's going on?" The question was directed at her daughter.

"I've ruined it."

"Explain."

"I thought Tammy and John were together after I saw a photo."

"So you would destroy a relationship on the basis of a single photo that might have a simple explanation?"

Tanya didn't said anything at first but looked around finding John stood ten feet behind her. She walked over.

"Forgive me!"

"I do."

"Both of you, come here!" Sandy was definitely in command.

The pair trudged over. "Now, my daughter, what do you say to my future son-in-law?"

"I'm sorry John, I jumped to a conclusion."

"Both feet first if you ask me. Now, you threw something away, didn't you?"

Tanya checked her left hand, confirming that the ring finger was empty, that prompted another cry. Sandy unfurled her finger and passed the missing ring to John.

"Up to you John, I'll respect whatever you do now considering how my daughter has just treated you." Sandy stepped back.

"I'm sorry John, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He pushed her away gently so he could take her left hand an slide the engagement ring back onto the correct finger. Then he threw his arms around her, without a care of who was in the shop. There was the muffled sound of "you're forgiven, I love you regardless."

"Can I go back to my salon now?"

"Sure Sandy, I think we can handle things."

As Sandy left the shop, Angela arrived bearing a bag. She looked around. "What was Sandy doing here, what have I missed?"

***

Tanya managed to repair her make-up, although the repair was effectively a wipe and start again process taking ten minutes, before getting into Tammy's car for the ride to the theatre.

"Are you allowed to drive?" Tammy looked in the rear view mirror at the inquisitor who was sat on the rear seat next to John.

"Do you want to walk, Tanya?"

"Er, no. When did you take your test?"

"Over a week ago. Is everyone belted up?"

Tammy eased out of the parking space and into the Thurso traffic for the short drive over to the theatre, parking as close to the stage door as possible. Inside, they were welcomed by Iain Brown and Sandy Fletcher.

"Mr Hibbert, I'd heard you weren't due back?"

"I thought I'd surprise Tanya, that was the idea anyway." Tammy had put some concealer on John's cheek to hide the mark left by Tanya's hand. Every now and again he went to touch his face, but either Tammy or Tanya stopped him. Tammy wondered how long the make-up would hide it.

"Well, it's good to have you back, even if two girls are now after you." Tammy and Tanya looked at each-other, giggling.

Sandy, took over. "As you may recall, Tanya has taken the place of Lady Macduff which left us a witch short. I put a request in the Thurso Echo a week ago asking for any actor who was familiar with the witches to attend here today." The cast looked around the stage but only saw those they knew. "Unfortunately it seems that no-one has offered their help."

There was a noise from the back of the stalls as someone in a long skirt walked down the aisle towards the stage. The theatre's caretaker appeared to have let them in through the foyer.

"Hello? I've come about the part."

Iain did not look impressed but Sandy directed the newcomer to the side steps. "Hello, you are?"

"I'm Lori, I understand you need a witch?"

"We do, Lori, I'm Sandy and this is Iain, we're the directors. How well do you know the part? It's the second witch by the way."

"I've just played the second witch in a school production."

"Which school?" Tammy already knew what was going to be said, and others were starting to twig who Lori was.

"St Andrews."

Iain snorted, but Sandy's face did not betray any thoughts she had. "Was that Tammy's recent production?"

"Yes."

"I was in the audience for that, perhaps the other witches could join us and we'll do a run through of Act one Scene one?"

Angela wanted to say something but was needed, along with Josie who was increasingly confused. John and Tanya both wanted to say something to Tammy but Iain had called for silence, the cast that wasn't required now moved to the wings.

"When shall we three meet again ....."

The scene ended and Sandy was delighted. "Excellent, Lori, thank you for joining our company. You must know Angela, John and Tammy, the rest are Josie, Tanya, Mark ....

"Can you see me after the rehearsal so I can take some details, Tammy can you stay behind as well please. Now, let's continue our run through, starting with scene two."

***

"Thank you everyone, could you all please be here at seven on Wednesday evening for costume fitting, we start full dress rehearsals next Saturday. Tammy, Lori, please?" Tammy saw Iain disappearing, along with most of the cast, although Angela John and Tanya were stood waiting.

"Now Lori, that was very good but is that your legal name?"

"No, it's Tony Jenkins."

"Okay, how old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"What size are you?"

"Fourteen or sixteen, it depends."

"Okay, can you be here on Wednesday evening?"

"I'll try."

"Okay, thank you Lori." Sandy waited for Lori to walk away before speaking to Tammy.

"Did you know she would be here?"

"No, although I vaguely remember mentioning it to my cast before Easter."

"What's your opinion?"

"Tony played a good witch for me in the school's production, I just wasn't expecting to see him, or her, here."

"Does the school know?"

"About four or five at the school know that Lori is Tony Jenkins, I was the only student who knew. It's fair to say that Angela and John also now know. This is the first time I've actually seen Tony out as Lori, as far as I was concerned Lori was staying under wraps until after the A levels."

"That explains the look on your face, now is there going to be a problem on Wednesday?"

"I don't know, but I can't see how Lori could leave the school at seven and return gone ten o'clock for evening rehearsals, although Tony would get permission. Regardless of that, what I don't understand is where Lori is staying right now, as the school is closed until next Friday."

"That crossed my mind too, can you see what you can find out as I do not want to find out two days before the opening night that Lori is unavailable; if there's a going to be a problem then I want to know about it now."

"Sure, but I'll have to speak to mum, Joan Small, as she's the welfare manager for the school and is one of the few who already know about Lori."

"Okay, can you keep me informed. I'll see you on Wednesday at seven?"

"I'll be here, bye."

Lori hadn't got any further than the small group of Tammy's passengers but was now walking towards the stage door.

"Lori, wait, I'm going into town if you need a lift?"

"Do you have room?"

"It'll be a squeeze, if Angela gets in the back with the lovers then you can take the front passenger seat?"

"It'll save me getting soggy again."

Tammy pulled up behind Sarah's shop again, her rear seat passengers immediately disembarked, leaving just Lori and Tammy in the car.

"Where are you staying?"

"I have a flat in town now."

"Are your parents okay with it?"

"Not really, mum's fine but dad's blown it and walked out."

"I'm sorry to hear."

"I'm not surprised really, he felt betrayed when the Ryan situation came out and starting blaming everyone."

"What's the deal with the flat?"

"I was thinking to doing college up here so we'd investigated places already. Mum said she would see dad in court when she might produce some evidence of him playing around, or he could sign over the house plus a suitable lump sum and she would let it go through on a 'quickie'."

"When did all this happen?"

"It started around half-term in mid February so mum came up here then to look for somewhere and was back a few days before the end of term to sign the contract; as soon as Macbeth was finished I cleared my room out."

"I wasn't told."

"I asked that you weren't told, as you had enough on your plate at the time, but I did promise Mrs Small that I would speak to you before school started back."

"Where is your flat?"

"Just along the road from Sarah's Boutique, do you want to see it?"

"Not now, but who will be coming to school?"

"Tony will, but there's only the exams now, after the first couple of weeks anyway, so I can be Lori most of the time. I'll be Lori fulltime when I start college."

"What are you thinking of doing? I mean you must have had a college or university place somewhere else?"

"Yes, at Warwick, but I want to stay here for now, there's a few staying in the area?"

"Yes, me, Angela and John. John and Tanya will probably get the cottage at the school as Tanya will be Mrs Small's assistant if she gets the job."

"The girl who played Lady Macduff?"

"That's her."

"What was that mark on John's face?"

"A misunderstanding."

"Oh."

"Now, how is your brother doing?"

"Ryan's in school in Birmingham but really only needs to turn up to his GCSE exams, he's so far ahead of the others in his year."

"He wasted his chance here."

"He knows that."

Tammy grabbed her bag and took out a business card. "Here's my number and email address, give me a ring if you need to ask anything."

"Thanks."

"Come on, it's not warm out here, I'm going into the shop. Are you joining us?"

"No, I'll go home."

"Okay, take care. I'll see you on Wednesday evening, do you want me to pick you up?"

"No, not unless the weather's awful."

Lori walked away as Tammy locked the car, before heading towards the shop.

***

"How was rehearsal, dear?"

"It was strange, mum, Lori turned up."

"Okay, did she get the part?"

"Yes, how much do you know?"

"Much more than you."

"I forgot to ask Lori if she was seeing Jill?"

"Your favourite shrink? You know I can't tell you that, even if I knew."

"I know, by the way, did you arrange for a refund of the boarding fee for this term?"

"I explained to the Head that it was probably advisable on compassionate grounds."

"Let me guess, the refund paid the deposit on the flat and a few months' rent?"

"Something like that."

"And did you put yourself down as a local contact?"

"I might have done."

"Figures!"

Tammy looked down at Joan's hands, spotting a sparkly ring. "New?"

"Yes, your father's decree absolute came through on Wednesday, we went shopping this morning when you were out of the way."

"When's the wedding?"

"In the summer, Elsie's already planning it!"