Spotting a newsagents off the side of the main road, I indicate in. As much as I don’t want to read whatever crap they’re printing, a part of me needs to. Knowledge is power.
‘I’m surprised she agreed to go on the show, but then again she always was a dancer at heart.’ Mam sighs.
‘She wanted to do something for herself. I have to support that.’ Even if it’s killing me inside, and driving a huge splintering wedge between us. Of course, I don’t voice that out loud, not even to my parents.
‘You’re a good man, Marcus. And I’m not just saying that because you’re my son. Now, how are the girls?’
‘Funny you should ask, I’m looking for a favour. Would you mind babysitting them for us Saturday night? We have dinner organised with Callum and Abby, Nathan and Kerry, Eddie and Emma, and Ollie and Amy. We haven’t all been together since Ollie’s wedding.’
‘Of course we’ll babysit. Won’t we, Ronald?’ My father agrees in the background but with a lot less enthusiasm than Mam. Last time they babysat, Dad’s fingernails were painted purple and his face was a spectacular shade of rouge which refused to budge. Apparently the make-up used for dolls is not suitable for actual skin.
‘What time do you want us on Saturday?’ Mam asks.
‘I’m not sure what time the table’s booked for, but if you come about five o’clock we’ll have time for a drink together before we go out.’
‘Oh, Marcus, you haven’t changed a bit!’ Mam’s laugh travels across the phone line. ‘Even as a teenager you never used to go out without having a can or two to warm up indoors beforehand.’
Dad huffs in the background. ‘Yes, that’s exactly why I’ve seen more footage of my son’s bare arse on YouTube, than actual footage of championship games or tournaments.’
‘Oh, Ronald,’ Mam chastises him and both of them laugh.
When the laughter subsides, I broach the real reason I rang. ‘I went for a drive yesterday, Mam.’
‘Oh right, son. Where to?’ She pauses and waits for my response.
‘To the old club. Where it all began.’
‘Oh, son. Are you feeling nostalgic now you’ve retired? I’d say they were all delighted to see you popping in for a visit. Who’s running it now?’ Fondness hums in her tone. I imagine her head filling with a thousand memories.
I hesitate for a split second before saying, ‘That’s just it. No one is. It’s run into the ground and it’s about to be demolished.’
‘Oh, Marcus!’ Shock and disappointment weighs her words. ‘That’s tragic for the community. What will the young people do now? That facility is used for so much more than rugby. The athletics society used it too. I hate seeing these property developers sweeping in taking everything we ever worked for from under our noses. Why aren’t the council doing something?’
‘Lack of funding, I guess? Who knows.’
‘I’m sorry to hear it.’
‘Me too. I was thinking about intervening. I’m not sure how much sway I’d have, but I have the funding and the name. The only thing I don’t really have is the know-how.’ Or Shelly’s approval, but I don’t mention that aloud.
Mam doesn’t hesitate. ‘I still have a few contacts on the council. Maybe someone can give us some advice on where to go with this. It used to be a charitable organisation. Perhaps it could be again.’
‘You’re a legend, Mam. Thank you.’
‘You’re the legend, Marcus. Don’t ever forget it. Leave it with me and I’ll try and find something out for you by Saturday.’
‘Perfect. See you then.’ I disconnect the call and send up a silent prayer that Shelly and I are even half as happy as them when we get to that age. The ways things have been the past few weeks, I’m beginning to wonder.
I buy the newspaper and scan the article, even though it disgusts me to do so. Shelly and Ben have a huge spread complete with an enormous photo zoomed in on his arm, draped around her shoulders as they lean into each other on a mirrored stage.
The reflection in the mirror shows Shelly being just as tactile with Ben. Her arm is neatly tucked behind his waist, her thumb rests in the loophole of his trousers in place of a belt. She’s gazing up at him with a smile that suggests she’s enamoured with him. His eyes are locked firmly on her chest. The glittering turquoise leotard she’s wearing is stunning on her but leaves little to the imagination. Ben’s reaction leaves even less.
The headline reads:
What’s going on behind everyone’s backs?
Who will fall under the Sexy Come Dancing Curse? All bets were previously on Gemma Sloane and Sonny Smith, however, early footage clearly shows Shelly Williams and Ben Battle looking super cosy in the first weeks of rehearsals. Given the two have known each other for years, is it any wonder they appear more than familiar with each other? Some might even say “enamoured” from the way he delicately holds her in this pose. It doesn’t take a scientist to work out where his attention is focussed.
Ben formerly played professional rugby with Shelly’s husband, Marcus Williams, before founding his own men’s fashion brand, reportedly worth seven million euro. Rumour has it that the three actually lived together for a while in the early days before Marcus and Shelly got married. Perhaps there’s another story here, one that we don’t know – yet!
