Going Under Cover

Chapter 17

17

I can honestly admit that there was once a time in my life where I swore that it couldn't get any worse than it already was. That had been the moment where I had walked in, for the fifth time in the one week, on my sister bouncing up and down on a somewhat older man. Gwen had been nineteen, the man had been forty two.

In my eyes, it had scared me for life.

I still believe that to be true.

I hadn't been able to look my sister in the eye for the next few months and then after that spell, I felt the urge to throw up whenever she groaned and complained about something. It reminded me all too well of what I had heard that night.

Come to think of it, the man's name had been Clarence something or another. I recall seeing him a few times since the 'incident' but I make sure to never walk in his direction or even look at him. If he ever strikes up a conversation, I may have to vomit on his shined shoes and we wouldn't want that now. Well, he wouldn't anyway. I'm sure he pays for someone else to do it after all, and it would be such a waste to have it ruined so quickly.

But back to the topic at hand, my mind has always been prone to wandering off in strange directions.

I had once sworn that it couldn't get worse. I had been oh-so wrong and this just further pushed my point out as truth. What was happening in that kitchen was not good, oh no, in fact it could probably be described as exactly opposite.

Gwen looked between Martin and I, all the time with this gleam in her eye which told me that she was looking to stir up the shit. I, myself, was fighting to hold back a laugh that threatened to escape the confines of my mouth. Martin on the other hand looked as though he was actually going to piss his pants at any given moment. And wouldn't my family love that? I could hear it now, loud and clear.

"And then, Cassy darling brought home a boy who hadn't even learned how to avail of a potty! Oh, what fun!"

"They are so well suited for each other. One is a pants-drenching man, while the other is a complete let down to her family! A match made in heaven I tell you!"

"Excuse me? What did you just say exactly now Gwen?" I enquired politely, leaning forward a tad just so I could make it out clearly this time.

"You brought your boyfriend," she repeated, still with that same smile, enjoying my confusion. Gwen took any moment that life gave her with open hands that made her seem remotely smart or deeply witty. Neither of which I would use to describe her. She may be my favourite out of her and Kelly, but that was mainly because Gwen was an idiot and didn't always understand insults when they came her way. Which was perfect for me of course.

"You think Martin, this man over here, is my boyfriend?" I asked once more for clarification. I was being placed into a very interesting yet unusual situation.

"Exactly," she cried in triumph, clapping her hands wildly like a seal almost. After a moment of me standing there with a raised eyebrow, she continued. "He is isn't he?"

This gave me something to ponder deeply on for the next couple of seconds. I knew for a fact that this, whatever this was, could be the exact thing that I needed. It was a perfect excuse for Martin's presence in my household. No longer would I have to explain the fact that a killer may or not be searching for me, a killer who was still in the possession of my underwear thank you very much. I would be able to say that he lived in the same village and we met and connected instantaneously! Because that would be something that my mother would love, after reading all those romantic novels and all.

In fact, it was such an obvious solution to our unspoken predicament that I almost slapped myself in the face out of the mere frustration and stupidity of it all. I berated myself for not even considering, or planning, how I would explain Martin's existence. It never crossed my mind, after all, I had been thinking about much more worrying things like whether or not my little kitten would be safe with someone like Janette or not.