“Oh it’s, it’s beautiful. Phil. I love you too. Yes, my answer’s yes. Of course I will marry you!” By now other diners were looking and someone started off a spontaneous round of applause. Despite the usual more reserved atmosphere in this restaurant, the jubilation of the event had begun to sweep people up. There were little whistles and even faint cheers at the back, at seeing such a beautiful relationship blooming right in front of them. With her cheeks flushed scarlet, Sadie leaned down and Phil kissed her, warmer and harder than he had in months. She’d said yes, immediately. He thought that she would, but he couldn’t be sure. He sat up even straighter so they could embrace harder and he squeezed her tightly to him, a clench of pure triumph. Hot flashing fireworks were going off in his mind as he secretly celebrated. She’d just handed her daughter over to him, to be his regular fucktoy, for as long as he wanted.
To Kiara, the clapping had sounded like distant raindrops, slapping hard against a back window. By now she could feel little tears trickling down her cheeks, the act of crying taking over as it usually did when Phil was asserting his power over her life. She tried her best to wipe her face with a screwed up serviette, then, with her blood already starting to rush in her ears, she quickly clambered to pick up her handbag she’d brought with her. She tore the zip open and rummaged inside it desperately. Her fingers pulled at her make-up, and she gulped audibly as she ransacked the pockets and compartments inside.
The smattering of applause had died down by now and Phil had sat himself back up in his chair, this time brought right up close to Sadie’s, her eyes flitting between him, and the ring that now decorated her podgy hand. “It’s… it’s beautiful. Aww, always,” she was cooing over at him, her dinner now totally neglected. “And I… and I thought you were ill or something. Come here.” More kissing ensued, Sadie’s eyes full of unbridled joy as Kiara finally found what she was looking for.
“Anyway, sorry about that Kiara. We…” Phil trailed off as he saw her with paper in her hand. Her serviette? No, it was proper crisp paper. She was unfolding it.
“Sorry mum. I’m so sorry, but I have to show you this.” She was grimacing, her eyes glistening with tears as she clawed wildly at the note in her hands to unfold it.
Sadie turned in slight alarm at her daughter’s obvious distress. “Darling what is all this?”
But suddenly, Kiara’s heart was like a huge rock in her chest. It made a deathly plummet as she blinked uncomprehendingly at the scrap of paper in her wet fingers. Somehow, it was completely blank. An empty sheet of screwed up paper. She flipped it over, and over again, still finding nothing.
“What is it Kiara?” Phil asked, looking sternly at her interrupting their special moment.
Sadie frowned slightly as her daughter inspected the scrap even more in a mad panic, finally tearing it up and throwing the pieces in the rough direction of her and her fiancé. The fragments scattered over the tabletop and in their meals, making Sadie gasp in annoyance.
“Now that’s enough!” Sadie said, sitting up straight again and looking sternly at her daughter.
It had all been pretty simple really. With Sadie away in the bathroom titivating herself beyond belief this afternoon, Phil had had plenty of time to go into Kiara’s room and search out the old receipt. The girl’s room wasn’t that big, and, although it did take some searching, the bottom of her jewellery box was hardly ingenious as a hiding place. He’d simply removed the incriminating piece, and replaced it with a harmless blank piece instead. Stashing it away and leaving it exactly as he’d found it, he’d immediately gone downstairs, rinsed the receipt under the tap for good measure, wringed it out, and promptly binned it. Finally the power was back in his hands.
Kiara could only blame herself that she’d fallen into his plan, and he’d even added the proposal to it as well. She’d been so stupid to believe him one inch. Of course it was all bullshit, she’d just wanted to believe it was true so much. All the fuss about her stupid ring, and threatening him with exposure. Now he was going to stay in her life forever more, and could fuck her precisely as and when he pleased.
“Mum he’s… he’s…” but her words failed her and she just stood up, her legs already feeling wobbly. “I can’t… I need some fresh air,” she said, her voice rasping through her crying. She leant against the table for a second, gathering enough strength to then slip away from her seat and out towards the back of the dining room.
Sadie looked sadly over and now fiddled with the ring, as if it now felt uncomfortable. “What do you think that was all about?” she asked, the mood now having been totally shattered.
“God knows,” said Phil, giving her a mystified look as he tried his best to gather up scraps of sodden paper from his plate. “Look I’m sorry baby. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have done it like this. I mean I should’ve asked you alone, and then made sure with you it was safe to tell her. I guess it’s not easy for her, that I now want to be like a surrogate dad to her and everything. Her relationship just broke up too remember. It’s bound to still be a bit raw for her.”
Sadie’s eyes were fixed on the back of the restaurant, on the door which Kiara had launched herself through. She reached up and scratched her long nails against her cheek, looking reproachful. “I know, but this note thing? I mean I thought she could at least be happy for us, she’s… oh well.” She shrugged and then went to gather her things. “I’d better go after her and make sure she’s ok anyway.”
But Phil himself was straight on to this and had already drained his glass of the remaining wine before patting her shoulder. “No no. I’ll go and have a word with her. I’ll explain stuff to her. It’s probably best it’s me anyway. Must show her I’m really not trying to change things or steal her mum away.”
Sadie seemed concerned, but reluctantly put her bag down again onto the floor, and pulled her chair in so that he could squeeze past. “Ok,” she said and patted his arm as he moved off. “Thank you baby.” Sadie placed her knife and fork down conclusively over her plate, then admired her ring once more. “I love you!” She called out at his retreating back.
Phil walked briskly towards the back door and exited, his gait now brimming with confidence. He even wore a smug smile on his lips at having saved himself from the precipice so cleverly. He blinked to help his eyes adjust to the dim light outside and called out. “Kiara?! There was nothing out here except the blank brick wall of the restaurant’s rear, a few plastic bins with their spilling contents, and a huge extractor fan above them, puffing away relentlessly. This scene was certainly a far cry from the opulence being displayed within the building itself.
“Kiara!” He called again, as the door sprung back behind him and slammed shut. He hadn’t noticed where she was at all, but as he stepped forward, he saw her figure, huddled up with her back to him, shoulders shaking as she leant forward against the wall. “What’s wrong with you then, stepdaughter?” he said amiably, coming up behind her, her face propped up on her folded arms, resting against the cold brickwork. She stood up straight, but only to give her arms the chance to flail out. She was crying hard as she turned towards him, aiming a fist at his gut as she hissed out under her breath. “Fuck you!” Her voice still cracked with emotion, and her punch was weak. But it took the man by surprise and her hand found its mark right on the beat of the expletive.