The Red Dress chapter sixteen.

      










Jack and Kathy Turner were as welcoming as ever. As usual, Alan gave his mum a big hug as he came through the door, and she looked genuinely pleased to see them. His dad made them all laugh when he pretended to look down the street for strange cars. For a second, Lisa thought he was being serious, and followed his gaze with an agonised look on her face.
 
     “Pay no attention to him, Lisa. He’s just winding you up!” Kathy shouted over her shoulder, as she made her way to the kitchen.
 
     Karen was delighted to see them because she'd been out with her mates on the night Lisa's mother had come round, and she wanted to hear their version of what had happened. Alan looked over at Lisa, wondering if it was upsetting her, but she seemed to be handling the situation fine.
 
     They sat at opposite ends of the room just in case they inadvertently gave the game away, but their eyes met constantly, and they smiled a knowing smile at each other all evening. Dinner was delicious, and Lisa realised that food had not been on their list of priorities during the last three days. Immediately after dinner, Karen jumped up,and asked if she and Lisa could go up to her bedroom.
 
     “What are you two up to?” Alan asked, always suspicious of his sister's little schemes.
 
     “Girls' stuff, nosy!” Karen replied, as she grabbed Lisa's arm and propelled her up the stairs.
 
     Hanging up in Karen's room was a beautiful red taffeta ball gown with a low cut, boned bodice and a laced up back. Karen had been dying to show it to Lisa.
 
     “You’re a size 10 aren’t you?” Karen asked, pleased at the way Lisa was staring at the dress admiringly.
 
Lisa nodded.
 
     “Well sadly I'm not- anymore. Mum bought this for me for my eighteenth, and it nearly cut off my blood supply then. Alan was right when he said I'd put weight on, I can't get near it. I thought you might want to borrow it for Vikki's party on Saturday night.”
 
Lisa was overwhelmed. It was one of the most beautiful dresses she'd ever seen in her life, and she knew, just by looking at it, that it would suit her.
 
     “Are you sure I'm invited?” Lisa asked, desperately wanting to go, especially now she'd seen the dress.
 
Karen looked pleased with herself. She had been busy since she'd last seen her.
 
     “Not only are you invited, but guess what? Vikki's cousin, Richard is coming up from London for the party and he is, let me tell you, drop dead gorgeous!”
 
Lisa was beginning to feel nervous; Karen was obviously planning something.
 
     “So?”
 
Karen babbled on, delighted with her ingenuity.
 
     “So - he only saw a picture of you on Face book that Vikki took when you guys were on the cruise together, and guess what?”
 
Lisa could see where this was going, and hoped she was wrong.
 
     “What?” she repeated hesitantly.
 
Karen looked really pleased with herself when she turned to answer her.
 
     “He just happens to think you’re the hottest thing he's ever seen, and he's dying to meet you! Isn’t that fantastic?”
 
Lisa forced a weak smile.
 
     “Fantastic,” she echoed flatly. That was all she needed.
 
     “But there's more,” Karen continued excitedly.
 
Lisa sat on the bed, and dreaded what might be coming next.
 
     “Not only is he gorgeous, but he's minted as well.”
 
Lisa was obviously not up to date with the latest jargon.
 
     “Minted?”
 
Karen shook her head in disgust.
 
     “Minted---you know, loaded, what do you guys call it in Scotland?”
 
Lisa felt slightly insulted.
 
     “Rich?”
    
     “Okay, rich then." Karen echoed, as she looked at her new friend expecting some appreciation of her efforts.
 
Lisa put on a brave face and tried to look as enthusiastic as she could. She decided to change the subject by turning her attention back to the dress.
 
     “Can I try it on?” she asked
 
     “Of course you can,” Karen replied with a giggle. "I thought you’d never ask!”
 
     She left Lisa alone so she could try on the dress. It fitted perfectly, and when Lisa looked at her reflection in the mirror, she was delighted. It really suited her, and it was perfect in every way. Whilst it emphasised Lisa's tiny waist, the bones of the bodice pushed up her bust, creating a perfect laced up hourglass effect.
 
Karen moaned when she came back into the room and saw her.
 
     “Oh God, it never looked like that on me...” she wailed.
 
There was no doubt that the dress had been designed for Lisa, and Lisa alone. The hem was a little long, but they decided higher heels would take care of that. Thanks to the money Lisa’s father had given her at the station, she would be able to buy a new pair of shoes to solve the problem.
 
     Karen started to rummage through her drawers for the fake pearl choker her mother had bought her to go with the dress, so Lisa started playing with her hair, piling it up on top of her head using pins she found on top of the dressing table.
 
     “There - perfect!” Karen announced, as she clipped the catch into place at the back of Lisa's neck.
 
They both looked at Lisa's reflection, and had to agree that she looked pretty damned good. Karen was so delighted, she wanted to show Lisa off, so she propelled her out of the room and onto the landing.
 
     When Lisa came back down the stairs behind a now exceedingly pleased with herself Karen, nobody was expecting anything other than the two normally dressed teenagers who had gone up them half an hour before. Jack let out a low involuntary whistle, and Alan just stared in amazement. But it was Kathy who spoke first.
 
     “You look absolutely gorgeous, Lisa,” she said, as Lisa stood feeling self conscious in front of them.
 
Karen wanted more praise, as if she was the one who was going to wear the dress to the party.
 
     “What do you think, Alan?”' she asked, and pulled Lisa over to stand in front of him. He looked up at her and smiled.
 
If his parents had any inkling of what he was really thinking at that precise moment, they would probably have chucked him out of the house.
 
     “Yeah, you look good, Lisa,” he replied, trying to sound impartial.
 
Karen was disappointed at his lukewarm reaction.
 
     “Well, wait until Richard Clark sees her -  he'll think she looks bloody fantastic!” she snipped.
 
Alan looked up, ready to ask the obvious question, but his father got there first.
 
     “Who's Richard Clark?”
 
Karen was enjoying this. She'd got their attention at last.
 
     “Richard Clark is Vikki's cousin from London. You know - the one we all fell for at her brother's twenty-first last year.”
 
Now everyone except Lisa was looking confused. Karen looked at her mother with an exasperated expression.
 
     “Mum, you must remember! I told you all about him.”
 
Kathy was racking her brain trying to remember this particular infatuation.
 
     “Was he the solicitor who turned up in a Porsche, and had you all drooling for weeks?”
 
Karen cheekily patted her mother on the head.
 
     “Well done Mum - go to the top of the class!”
 
 Alan couldn't take much more.
 
     “I still don't see what this has got to do with Lisa?” he asked hesitantly, hoping that it wasn't what he thought it was.
 
Karen feigned boredom having to repeat the story again.
 
     “Lisa and Vikki on cruise with mothers - Vikki takes loads of pictures, including some of the luscious Lisa here. Cousin sees pictures on face book, and thinks Lisa looks gorgeous. Cousin decides to come to Vikki's eighteenth party after all, because young, free and single Lisa here is coming too - Any more questions?”
 
Lisa looked at Alan's face to see his reaction. It was not good. In fact, he looked downright furious.
 
      “I'm sure he's not coming to the party just to meet me Karen - that's ridiculous.”  Lisa interrupted, hoping she could prove to Alan she had nothing to do with Karen’s matchmaking.
 
But Karen's reply only made it worse.
 
     “That’s where you're wrong. He was supposed to be going away to Paris for the weekend, but he cancelled when he heard that you were coming to the party - How keen is that?”
 
Lisa wished Alan would just tell everyone about them, and this conversation would stop. But he didn't. He just sat there and said nothing.
 
Alan's father got to his feet.
 
     “Well, I think it sounds like a great idea. Lisa needs to meet as many people as she can if she's going to live here in Chelmsford. Alan won't have much time for her when Carla gets back. “
 
     Lisa was screaming inside. Surely now was the perfect time for Alan to tell his family that they had fallen in love? But he just sat there staring at his sister as though he could kill her. To make matters worse, while Jack was out in the kitchen getting a night-cap, Karen carried on happily discussing the arrangements she had planned for the big night.
 
     “I thought you would like to come here to get ready, Lisa? We could have a laugh while we’re getting dolled up. What do you think?”
 
Lisa was still furious with Alan for not saying anything, but she tried to sound interested for Karen’s sake.
 
     “Yeah, that would be great. What time do you want me to come over?”
 
Karen thought for a minute.
 
     “Why don't I pick you up from Alan's flat about four? We can go and buy your shoes, and then come back here to get ready.”
 
Lisa nodded in agreement, and shot another betrayed look at Alan.
 
     Kathy was more concerned about how they were all getting to the party because she didn't like them driving if there was any chance of them having a drink. Karen, of course, had the answer.
 
     “Well, if Alan goes on his own, Lisa and I can hitch a ride with Richard. He's not driving up until that evening, and he's staying at Vikki's, so he won't be driving later anyway---It's perfect!”
 
Alan lost his temper, and jumped up out of his chair.
 
     “Perfect! - who for?” he snapped at his sister.
 
They all stared at him, surprised at his outburst, especially Kathy. She hadn't seen Alan act like that since he was a child.
 
     “Alan, what's wrong with you? Karen's only trying to help! I think it all sounds very well organised--- Well done Karen,” she added, giving Alan a reprimanding look.
 
Lisa was beginning to wish she'd never put the dress on in the first place.
 
     “Look, it's okay, I'll just get ready at Alan's, and then we'll get a taxi from there. I don't want to be a nuisance.”
 
Kathy wouldn't hear of it. She thought Karen's suggestion was much more sensible.
 
     “Jack's absolutely right, Lisa. With Carla coming back, you're going to have to go out and make a few friends of your own, and not be so dependent on Alan. In fact, I think we should be thinking about you moving back in here until you work out what you want to do, don’t you?”
 
     If you had slapped Lisa on the face you couldn't have had a greater effect. Now she was a charity case, all because Alan didn't have the guts to tell them. She looked over at him and wondered if he wasn't saying anything because he was having second thoughts. Perhaps he had no intention of splitting with Carla at all. She gave him a filthy look before going back upstairs to get changed.
 
 
 
 
 
     By the time they left that evening, both Lisa and Alan were ready to explode. Karen's innocent matchmaking had not only ruined the evening for both of them, it had made them doubt each other for the first time. Alan was convinced Lisa had planned going to the party with Karen just so she could meet Vikki's good looking cousin, and Lisa was convinced Alan hadn't told his family that he loved her because he didn't.
 
     They drove home in total silence, each deep in thought for most of the journey. Eventually, Alan's anger got the better of him.
 
     “Well thanks a bunch, Lisa! I hope you have a great time on Saturday because I certainly won't be going.”
 
Lisa clenched her fists, trying to hold back the angry tears forming in her eyes.
 
     “Don't then, I'll manage fine without you!” she replied stubbornly.
 
Alan was gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
 
     “Oh, I bet you will, with yet another of Lisa's little puppies coming to the rescue!”
 
Lisa stared at the side of his face, totally confused by his comment.
 
     “What the hell do you mean by that?” she asked, still trying to fight back the tears.
 
Alan took his eyes off the road and looked over at her for a moment. He had never felt jealousy over a woman in his life before, and he didn't know how to cope with it now.
 
     “Well, let's face it, Lisa; you collect lusting men all over the place. The Isle of Man, Chelmsford, London, how many more are there out there - a whole fucking football team?”
 
Lisa started to cry. He had never spoken to her like that before.
 
     “That’s not fair! I've never even met this Richard guy!”
 
Alan shook his head.
 
     “That’s just it, Lisa. Nick, I can understand. Me, I can understand, but some bloody guy from London who you’ve never even met having the hots for you, now that’s starting to get ridiculous! How can anyone you're with ever feel safe? You probably have half a dozen guys waiting in the wings just in case your current number isn't working out - Just look at what happened to Nick!”
 
As the tears rolled down her face, Lisa closed her eyes and thought how unfair he was being. It wasn't her fault; it was his - unless he didn't really love her.
 
     “Why didn't you tell them about us? That would have put a stop to all this.”
 
Alan couldn't explain to her how worried he was about how he was going to support her without his parents help. He was totally dependent on them until he qualified and got a job as an architect.
 
     “I couldn't,” he snapped, hoping that she wouldn't push the subject.
 
His answer only infuriated her more. It was her turn to lose her temper.
 
     “Couldn't or wouldn't? What is it, Alan - we'll just screw the stranded virgin for a couple of weeks while we're waiting for our real girlfriend to come home?”
 
He shook his head, hearing the bitterness in her voice.
 
     “You know it's not like that!”
 
     “Oh do I? Tell me one thing you said or did tonight that proves me wrong. The way you just sat there saying nothing this evening was pathetic.”
 
They had entered the car park to his flat. Alan screeched his car into a parking bay, slammed on the brakes, and the car came to a shuddering stop. He turned to her, his face full of anger.
 
     “Pathetic! I'll tell you what's pathetic. Pathetic is a spoilt little rich bitch who thinks the world owes her a living. What do you think we're going to live off---fresh fucking air?”
 
Lisa looked straight ahead through her tears interpreting his words to mean that they didn't have a future together. She didn't know he had been worrying about the practical side of their relationship, and she had no idea just how jealous he felt. His anger spurred him on.
 
     “Why don't you check out this Richard guy? He sounds as though he could support you in the style you’ve been used to. You never know your luck. He might be just what you're looking for!”
 
With that he got out of the car, slammed the door, and marched off towards the flat, leaving her in the car by herself.
 
     The silence was deafening. Lisa could hear her breath catching in her throat, mixed with the racking sobs which rose from deep inside her. How much more could she take? The thought that Alan didn't love her filled her with more pain than she had ever felt before. She had really believed he had wanted them to be together.
 
     After a while, as her sobs subsided, all she felt was emptiness, a huge void which she could see no way of filling. The rain started battering the roof of the car, breaking the silence as she watched the small rivers run down the windscreen.
 
     Lisa got out of the car and started walking. The rain mixed with her tears as if trying to wash them away. All she could think was, if Alan didn't want her anymore, then life just wasn't worth living …