"What have you two been doing?" Debbie asked accusingly as Trisha and Cathy sat down in a pizza restaurant not far from Aunt May's.
"Yeh! Talk about Cheshire cats!" Jenny added.
"Oh you know. What we do best!" Cathy answered with a wide smile.
"Spill!" Debbie said to them both, eager for all the details.
"Later ladies." Immy said interrupting. "I need to see if I can work out a shift rota."
"Why bother?" Trisha said. "Immy, please. Don't try and fix something that isn't broken."
"Exactly." Jenny chimed in.
Immy had spent most of the day talking with Aunt May.
"'It's small and exclusive mainly. I have no need to expand. And how could I expand anyway?'" Aunt May had said to her niece Imogen, earlier. Immy sighed. " I know. But I'm just trying to look out for you all. We worked shifts in Portsmouth..."
"Mainly because we had to!" Millie said, interrupting Immy. "No way could we work a whole day down there. Especially when an American ship docked!"
"Busy?" Cathy asked.
"Fuck yes! Do you know how many sailors are on a carrier? Thousands!" Millie shuddered at the memory. Cathy liked Millie. She was basically a dark haired version of Trisha. Fun and bubbly and full of energy.
"Any luck contacting the other girls?" Jenny asked Immy. "You said you knew of a couple more."
"Yes. But they can't work every day. They have... um... other commitments. But can cover, providing they get plenty of notice."
"Call one of them Immy." Jenny said, adding, "For next weekend definitely. My period is due on Friday. Actually, on second thoughts, to cover from next Thursday. Just in case."
"Sure. No problem." Immy replied, typing a note onto her phone. "And if anyone knows of anyone else, let me or Aunty May know."
Trisha leaned closer to Cathy and whispered quietly in her ear. "We'll go through when our periods are due. I'll get a planner or calendar we all could use and put it up in the kitchen."
"Good idea." Cathy replied. "Mine's due in a couple of weeks."
"Same here." Trisha said.
Meeting over, they all relaxed and enjoyed their pizza and drinks. Everyone was there. Even Anya and Katerina. Cathy was surprised to see them here as she thought they would be off doing their own thing. Trisha had said they never went to the pub after Aunt May's had closed for the night. This was a good thing for them all to be doing. It gave them all a chance to bond. To get to know each other better. To share things. To unwind. To actually see each other. No one worked upstairs on Sundays. There was no call to and Aunt May always closed downstairs at six. As Trisha had said, Sundays were much quieter.
Monday found Cathy working at the grocery store. Cathy liked working in the stock room. She didn't like working on the checkouts and she certainly didn't like many of the women who manned them. "Stupid jealous bitches!" Cathy had said to herself more than once. She tried to ignore the way they looked at her. "It's not my fault I'm younger, slimmer and more attractive is it? They should look after themselves better!" Today though, Cathy had a spring in her step. There was an energy about her. She had her life back. She had her friends. She had control. And, she was getting lots and lots of sex!
As Cathy worked through the day, memories flooded her mind. Memories of Gerry and Adam, of Mike and Paul and then of Alex. Her body tingled at these wonderful memories. Remembering her promise, Cathy had texted Paul before going to bed the previous evening. His reply had been almost instant. Cathy was to go to his house at 7pm to be introduced to his wife Olivia and to get fucked as she watched. Cathy smiled as she imagined what would happen when she got to Paul's, and again, felt the now familiar tingle grow at the thought of it.
"You look happy Cathy. Happier than I've ever seen you."
Cathy was reading the text she had just received from the clinic and looked up to see Yalda walking towards her. Her test result was negative as she thought it would be. Yalda was a young Afghan woman of twenty three. They worked the same shifts and got on well together. Cathy thought she was pretty, beautiful in fact. Undeniably so, even though she was wearing her hijab.
"Boyfriend! You have a boyfriend! You must have." Yalda said.
"Maybe." Cathy replied. She didn't really want to tell Yalda the truth. Not yet anyway. Cathy looked at Yalda and saw, even through her smile, that there was a sadness about her.
"Maybe, soon, I will tell you. But only if you tell me what is bothering you. Deal? Fancy getting a coffee or something? Shift's nearly over."
"I'd love to. But not tonight. Sorry. 'His' parents are coming over. I have to prepare dinner."
Cathy thought it odd the way Yalda had emphasized the word 'his'. It was clear all was not well in her marriage. Cathy also couldn't fail to notice Yalda stiffen and shudder when she mentioned him and his parents.
"All done in here?" Mr Davies asked from the doorway. Mr Davies was the manager of this particular store. He was a jolly sort of bloke. He was short, balding, tubby and had a ruddy complexion. But Cathy found him easy to get on with.
"Yes Mr Davies. All done." Cathy replied.
"Good. See you both tomorrow then. Have a good evening ladies." He then turned and disappeared back towards his office.
"Soon Yalda. We'll talk. Tomorrow maybe? If you like?"
Yalda seemed uncomfortable, Cathy thought. She was definitely struggling with something. "Maybe." Yalda said in reply.
"Off out? Someone I know?" Trisha asked, leaning on the frame of Cathy's bedroom door as Cathy finished blow drying her hair.
"Paul." Cathy said, putting down the hairdryer. "You know, one of the 'upstairs' clients."
Trisha raised her eyebrows. "Really? Good for you. He pays well. Always gives a bit extra. Just promise me something will you?"
"Of course. What?"
"Be careful and be safe!" Trisha then walked to stand behind Cathy and wrap her arms around her in a loving, but concerned hug. "And tell me all about it later!"
