Prologue
'Mr McKenzie you are a bully, and I will not be dissuaded by such tactics.' Jane acidly stated.
Bob smiled pleasantly at the plain woman. 'I'm just used to getting my own way.'
'Not this time,' she crossly said.
'So it appears,' he shrugged. 'Some you win, some you lose. It is of no importance,' he said, trying to look as though it wasn't.
There was no connection between him and the developers proposing the project, he just wanted to minimise this arrogant woman's influence on the committee. Although retired, he needed to exert his influence out of sheer habit. Another day, and another battle would be fought, which he would win. He felt a little foolish wanting to be top-dog on the planning committee.
'Why did you come back here?' she asked.
Wondering what connection he had with that association of heartless financiers. They wanted to bulldoze a part of the cities heritage, and she was determined to stand in their way. So far she had won the committee around. Due to her influence the vote went against them, and him.
'I sold my engineering business, retired, and came home. What have you done in the mean time, Mrs Marshal?'
Seeing she wasn't going to answer he continued. 'Call it nostalgia. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'm bored,' he said. Stowing his papers in an expensive leather briefcase, he turned to go.
'You're bored! So you decided to support that plan to build a retail complex, which would have destroyed the heart of the community you feel nostalgia for. What is the point of that?' she asked, sounding accusatory rather than questioning.
'Supporting progress maybe. Out of habit of battling old fashioned busy-bodies like you. Though, put like that, it does seem counterproductive,' he conceded.
He opened the door for her to marched out of the meeting room, receiving a look of disdain in passing. Returning it with a look of amusement, he watched her trot down the corridor. For the first time, he realised she had an attractive hourglass figure. The clothes and expression of condescension she wore, gave an impression of a frumpy, old maid. There was something interesting under that prickly exterior. He tried to recall her from college days, but his memory failed.
The small city had been by-passed some years ago by state highway two-twenty-four. If it was going to survive, re-development was needed, and she was standing in its way.
The planning committee could have easily re-zoned the run down district, for a brand new shopping mall. They would have done, except for her bullying influence. She had a nerve to call him a bully. It was just that he had the nerve to oppose her.
***
Six months passed with several small battles fought, with Bob losing them all. He was put-out when meeting her at local charities, and other city committees, yet conceded to the narrow minded, parochial woman. At least she took interest in their town, and was doing something where others didn't care a hoot.
It was a fine morning on the veranda overlooking a placid lake, when he noticed something in the local paper. Bob read that Mrs Marshal's husband, Philip, had died. The article didn't give many details, except that it was an air crash due to bad weather.
Despite their antagonism in meetings, he felt sorry for her. Perhaps without her husband's influence she might lose some local support. She might even resign from the planning committee. A twinge of guilt was difficult to shrug aside. He decided to send flowers with a well worded card of condolence.
The Party
In the lounge Jane picked up a gum wrapper Louise had dropped near the wicker waste basket. Instead of trying for a better aim, she pushed it into a pocket. It would be better to dispose of it in the kitchen waste bin, for paper recycling. Looking around the immaculate lounge, she was satisfied all was in order. For the sake of it, she shook and straightened a cushion, then returned to the kitchen.
'You're not going to a party dressed like that!' Jane, tight lipped, plainly told her daughter.
'You're just a prude, mom,' Louise dismissively stated. 'I'm going to make Mark sorry he chucked me. I'll only be there long enough to make sure he wants me back,' Louise said. 'I'll make it plain to everyone, I'm chucking HIM,' she added, as though it were a foregone conclusion.
Jane was pleased Louise had broken up with the arrogant young man, but didn't like the idea her daughter was still fired up over him. The short, figure hugging dress, was designed to gain his attention. It might get Louise too much attention, especially if she was flirting with other guys to make him jealous.
So it was him that broke up with her, not the other way around, which she had casually mentioned a few days ago. Like her father, when she had a mission in mind, a stern determination took over, and nothing would deter it. It was almost a year ago, when he insisted on taking an unnecessary business flight that changed their lives.
It was times like this Jane missed her husband. He would have laid down the law, and made sure she wore something sensible to the party, or forbid her going. Jane tried once more to talk her into changing. Seeing her daughter's determined look It, it was obviously useless,. She was becoming more forceful, like her father, with every argument.