Noughs And Crosses- Prologue "Honestly Mrs Hadley," Said Meggie McGregor, wiping her eyes. "That Sense of humor of yours will be the death of me yet!" Jasmine Hadley allowed herself a rare giggle. "The things that I tell you, Meggie. It's lucky we're such good friends!" Meggie's smile wavered only slightly. She looked out across the vast lawn at Callum and Sephy. Her son and her bosses Daughter. They were good friends playing together. Real good friends. No barriers. No boundaries. Not yet anyway. It was a typical early summers day, light and bright and, in the Hadley household anyway, not a cloud in the sky. " Excuse me, Mrs Hadley." Sara Pike, Mrs Hadley's secretary, approached from the house. She had shoulder length straw-colored hair and timid green eyes which appeared permanetly startled. " I'm sorry to disturb you but your husband has just arrived. He's in the study." "Kamal is here?" Mrs Hadley was astounded. " Thankyou Sara." She turned to Meggie. " His fourth Visit home in as many months! We are honored!" Meggie smiled sympathetically, making sure she kept her mouth well and truly shut. No way was she going to get in the middle of another inevitable squabble between Kamal Hadley and his wife. Mrs Hadley stood up and made her way towards the house. " So Sara, how is Mr Hadley?" Meggie lowered her voice to ask. "Is He in a good mood, D'you think?" Sara shook her head. "He looks about ready to blow a fuse." "Why?" "No idea." Meggie digested this new in silence. "I'd better get back to work." Sara sighed. "Would you like something to drink?" Meggie pointed to the jug of ginger beer on the patio table. "No thanks. I don't want to get into trouble..." With obvious trepidation, Sara wnet back into the house. What was she afraid of? Meggie sighed. No matter how hard she tried, Sara insisted on keeping her distance. Meggie turned back to watch the children. Life was so simple for them. Their biggest worry was what they'd get for their birthdays. Their biggest grumble was what time they had to go to bed. Maybe things would be different for them... Better. Maggie forced herself to believe that things would be better for the children, otherwise what was the point int it all? On those rare occasions when she had a moment to herself, she couldn't help but play what if? games. Not the big what if's? that her husband sometimes liked to indulge in, like, " What if a virus wiped out every single cross and not a nought?' Or " What if there was a revolution and all the crosses where overthrown? Killed. Whiped off the face of the planet.' No Meggie McGregor didn't believe in wasting her time on big, global fantisies. Her dreams where more specific, more attainable than that. Her Dreams were all around one subject. What if Callum and Sephy...? What if Sephy and Callum...? Meggie felt a peculiar, burning sensation on the back of her neck. She turned to find Mr Hadley standing on the patio, watching her with the strangest expression on his face. " Is everything all right, Mr Hadley?" "No, But i'll survive,' Mr Hadley moved forward to the patio table to stand over Meggie. "You were in deep though there. Penny for them?" Flustered by his presence, Meggie began, "I was just thinking about your daughter and my son. Wouldn't it be nice if...?' Appalled, she bit back the rest of the sentence, but it was too late. "What would be nice?' Mr Hadley prompted, silkily. "If they could... Could always be as they are now.' At Mr Hadley's raised eyebrows, Meggie rushed on. "At this age i mean. They're so wonderful at this age-children i mean. So...So...' "Yes, indeed.' Pause. Kamal Hadley sat down. Mrs Hadley emerged from the kitchen to lean against the door frame. She had a strange expression on her face. Meggie felt nervous. She started to get to her feet. "I understand that you had a wonderful time yesterday.' Mr Hadley smiled at Meggie. "A wonderful... time?' "Yesterday evening.' Mr Hadley promted. "Yes, it was quite quiet really...' Meggie replied, confused. She looked from Mr to Mrs Hadley and back again. Mrs Hadley was watching her intently. What was going on? The temperature in the garden had dropped by several degrees and despite his smiles, Mr Hadley was obviously furious at something- or someone. Meggie swallowed hard. Had she done something wrong? She didn't think so, but God only knew that being around the crosses was like walking on broken glass. "So what did you do? Mr Hadley prompted again. "P-Pardon?" "Last night?' Mr Hadley's smile was very friendly. Too friendly. "I stayed at home and watched TV,' Meggie said slowly. "It's nice to have a relaxing evening at home with your own family.' Mr Hadley agreed. Meggie nodded. What did he expect her to say to that? What was going on? Mr Hadley stood up, his smile now a thing of the past. He walked over to his wife. They both stood just watching eachother as the seconds ticked by. Mrs Hadley began to straighten up. Without warning, Mr Hadley slapped his wife full force across the face. The blow snet Mrs Hadley's head snapping backwards to strike against the doorframe. Meggie was on her feet in a second, her horrified gasp audible, her hand out in silent protest. Kamal Hadley gave his wife a look of such contempt and loathing that Mrs Hadley flinched back from it. Without a word passing between them, Mr Hadley went back into the house. Meggie was at Mrs Hadley's side in an instant. "Are you okay?' Meggie's hand went out to examine the side of her face. Mrs Hadley knocked her hand out of the way. With a puzzled frown, Meggie tried again. The same thing happened. "Leave me alone!' Mrs Hadley hissed at her. "When I needed your help, you didn't give it!' "I... What?@ And only then did Meggie realise what she had done. Mrs Hadley had obviously used her as an alibi for the previous night and Meggie had been too slow to pick up on what Kamal Hadley had really been asking her. Meggie's hand dropped back to her side. "I Think i should get back to work now.' "Yes, I think that would be for the best.' Mrs Hadley's look was venomous before she turned and walked back into the house. Meggie turned around. Callum and Sephy were still playing at the other end of the vast garden, oblivious to everything that had just happened. She stood still and watched them, trying to capture for herself, some small part of their pure joy in each other. She needed something good to hold on to. But even the distant sound of their laughter couldn't dampen down the deep sense of foreboding creeping through her. What would happen now? That night, Meggie sat at the table sewing patches over the oatches in judes school pants. "Meggie, I'm sure your just worrying about nothing,' Ryan, her husband sighed. "Ryan, you didn't see the look on her face, i did.' Meggie bit off the thread and then picked up another patch. Her son's school pants were more patch than actual material. The phone started to ring. meggie picked it up before even the first ring had died away. "Hello?' "Meggie McGregor?@ "That's right.' Meggie's sewing feel unheeded at her feet. "It's Sara Pike here...' Meggie could hear the already apologetic tone in her voice. "How are you Sara?' "Fine, erm...Okay.Look, I've got some bad news...' Meggie nodded slowly. "Im lisstening.' Sara Gave an embarrassed cough before she continued. "Mrs Hadley has asked me to inform you that...that your services at the Hadley household will no longer be required. She will pay you four weeks wages in lieu of proper notice, plus give you a good reference.' Meggie's blood turned to ice water in her viens. Whatever else she had been expecting , it wasn't this. Heaven only new it wasn't this. "She's firing me?' "I'm sorry.' "I see.' "I'm really sorry.' Sara's voice dropped to a whisper. "Between you and me, i think it'd grossly unfair.' From one naught the another. "It's okay Sara, it's not your fault.' Meggie replied. She looked across at Ryan. His expression grew harder and tighter by degrees. Let him be upset. Let him be angry. All she could feel was... nothing. A nothing that went beyond the numbness enveloping every part of her body. "Sorry, Meggie.'Sara said again. "That's Okay thanks for letting me know. Bye Sara.' "Bye.' Meggie put down the phone. The clock on the Televison counted out the silent moments that passed. "That's the end of Jude's education.' She sighed finally. "But we promised him we'd pay for him to carry on at school.' Ryan said, aghast. "Pay with what?' Meggie rounded on her husband. "The leaves of trees. The hairs off our legs...? With what?' "We'll manage.' "How? We are barely managing to survive as it is? What will we do without my wages coming in. Jude will have to foget about school and go out to work.' "You'll get another job.' Ryan tried. "Not with another cross family i won't. Do you really think Mrs Hadley will stand idly back whilst I try and get another job with one of her friends?' There was dawning horror and Ryan's face as he realised what his wife meant. "Yes, exactly.' She sighed. She stood up and moved to sit next to her husband on the old sofa in front of the fire. Ryan put his arm around her. They sat in silence for a long, long time. "Ryan, we're in trouble.' meggie said at last. "I know.' he replied. Meggie jumped to her feet, her expression hard and determined. "I'm going to see her.' "What are you talking about?' He frowned. "Ive worked for that woman for fourteen years ever since she was pregnant with her first daughter Minerva. Seeing me is the very least she can do.' "I Don't think that's a good idea...' Ryan's frown deepened. "Ryan, i need to get my job back and if i have to beg, so be it.' Meggie insisted, pulling on her coat. Her expression was now so hard it might have been carved in granite. "No Meggie...' "I don't like it anymore than you do, but we have no choice!' Meggie didn't wait for any futher arguement and headed for the door. Ryan watched his wife leave the house. No good would come of this. He could feel it. Two hours later, Meggie was back. And that was the night Lynette disappeared...
Copyright © 2009 Annabelle Elizabeth Summers Summers |