Bad News Blogfest: "Till Death Us Do Part"

Thank you to the lovely Francine at Romancing the Blog  for hosting the Bad News Blogfest.  There are no hard rules but the piece should be about a character receiving bad news with lots of emotional impact.  Here's my entry - its a snippet called ' Till Death Us Do Part.'  I have to warn you, it's rather lengthy vs. a normal post so if you want to skip, please do.  I shall catch up with you on my next post!  If you do read it, I hope you will enjoy it, please let me know what you think.

* The following contains adult themes and the 'f b words', if this causes you serious discontent, please avert thine eyes and ears and read no more, I don't wish to offend anyone. Thank you *

Judith played with the small set of china figurines that sat on the tray gathering dust on the hallway table. She passed them by daily without a second glance however; today they seemed to call to her.  Picking up ' the Wife of Bath' figurine, she traces the lady's features. A present from her mother, an old family keepsake, it was her reward for graduating with honours in English. Definitely dusty. She'd have a word with Maddie, remind her what proper damp dusting entailed.  With unsteady hands, she fiddles with each of the figures, turning them just so. And she knows the reason her fingers are shaking is not because Jack had left her bed barely two hours earlier. The sheets were still warm, she thought as she'd pulled the bedroom door shut.

No, the shakiness was due to the fact that Camille, her oldest friend from university, and Jack's estranged wife would darken her doorstep, wanting to pick over their broken down marriage.  Sure, she was sympathetic, and yes, she loved her old friend but Judith couldn't let Jack go.  Not this time.  They were in love.  And, he was talking about coming clean with Camille this week.  That thought sent Judith's mind spinning out of kilter.  How could she face everyone?  She'd forever be branded the scarlet woman, home wrecker, and husband stealer. Whore.  She pleaded with Jack this morning to wait, give it a few months, let Camille move on, but he'd been adamant.  This week, he would tell Camille.

The intercom buzzed noisily from the kitchen and she hurried along to answer it.  "Hello?" 

"Its me."  Camille's cheery voice floated through the receiver.

"Come up."  Judith buzzed her friend in through the lobby.  She looked nervously around the room before flicking the on switch for the electric jug.  They would have tea first, and then she would break the news to her.  She patted down her sandy blonde hair, fixed her lipstick and walked gingerly, like a woman condemned to her own front door.  Actually Jack, you're wrong.  Judith smiled to herself as a silly thought slipped into her mind.  This would be the day.  She'd tell Camille herself.

A quick rap on the door, and Judith's bravado dissolves as she opens it.  Camille, a tall svelte brunette, dressed in casual biege chino's and a navy blue blouse sweeps into the hallway, camel coat tossed over her shoulder.  Both ladies 'air kiss' each other.

"Darling!  You look wonderful!"  Camille studies her old friend for a few seconds before releasing her.  "There's something different about you."

"New dress?"  She eyes the black Ralph Lauren number with envy.

"Bah! This old thing?"  Judith smiles animated.  "You look lovely as always."  She gestures towards the sitting room.  "Come through, I'm just making tea."

Camille glances at her delicate wristwatch.  "It's almost eleven, perfect timing."

With little coaxing and over two cups of tea, Camille starts with her usual rant about Jack leaving her.  How many times had Judith sat through this babble?

"Of course, I was having an affair with Bertie but come on, what do you expect with Jack being overseas so much?"  Camille wailed.  "I still love him."

Judith took a deep breath and counted down from five.  "Camille, sweetie.  You know, maybe its time to move on?  It's been almost a year now."

Camille looked surprised.  "Move on?"  Her voice wavers.

"Yes, I mean...maybe it's for the best.  You've got Bertie now.  Let Jack go."  Judith looked down at her jittery hands, and quickly put her teacup down.

"Let Jack go?  What the hell are you talking about Jude?"

"I j-just think that this is unhealthy, -for the both of you."

"Unhealthy?  What on earth do you mean?"  She pauses, flicking her head.  "Wait a minute, is there something you're not telling me Judith?

"No, why?"

"You seem a little too sure...I can't put my finger on it.  Has...Jack said something to you about me?

"Whaa-aat?  Jack? No!"

Camille's chocolate molten eyes scrutinise Judith at length, she places her teacup on the table before turning towards her friend.  "He hasn't called you?  Jude, I know you guys were close at varsity before he and I got together."  She leans into Judith who shies away, backing up against the sofa.

"Tell me."  Camille hisses, her manicured nails clutch at the black fabric of Judith's sleeve.

"No.  There's nothing."  Judith flinches at her touch, her voice worried now.

"If you were my true friend..."

A strangled noise leaves Judith's throat.  "Okay!  You've got me."  She hesitates, closing her eyes.  "He did call me."

Camille slaps her hands on the sofa.  "I knew it!  When exactly?"

Judith shakes her head, desperately trying to collect her thoughts.  "Gosh, a few months ago."  She'd met Jack for a drink, and they had talked for hours, washing away the years, uncovering the spark of attraction that they'd both felt before but had been too coy to act on.

"And?"  Camille demands loudly, bringing her back to the present.  "Why didn't you tell me?  What did he say?"

"Look, I'm really sorry.  I don't know how to say this."

Just.Say.It!"

"He's moved on; he doesn't love you anymore."  There she'd said it out aloud.

"What?"  Camille looks at her as if she were a specimen under a microscope.  "Who?"

Judith signs, staring back at her teacup.  "I-I don't know.  He wouldn't say.  Honestly, I think its someone from his office."

"Liar!" Jack would never cheat on me."  She stands, challenging Judith.

"Camille, you were having an affair when Jack left.  What's with the double standards?"

"Double standards?  I thought you were my friend."  She snaps angrily at Judith. 

"F*** You.  I'm leaving.  Seriously Jude, if you're taking Jack's side on this..."  Camille's hands are on her hips, her nostrils flaring, she grabs her coat and strides purposely to the hallway.  Judith watches silently from the safety of her sofa, her heart beating wildly.  This time she counts down from ten.

As Camille fumbles with the door, her gaze lands on the small tray of china figures in the hallway.  "F****** witch!"  She screams, and with a sweep of her camel coat, she sends the entire tray flying, the china crashing into pieces on the floor.  A horrifying noise like an dying animal fills the hall from behind her.  Judith steps forward carefully, her bright blue eyes staring in disbelief at the broken china. 

"Oh my god.  That was my 'Wife of Bath' from my mother.  You knew how much that meant to me."  Her face is twisted in anguish, fists clenched at her sides. 

"And the fact that some whore is screwing my husband means nothing to me?"  Camille spat.  Her eyes ablaze, her voice coated in hatred, dripping with accusation.  Judith shudders, her eyes widen as her hand automatically flies to her lips.  Covering her terrified groan.  A knot tightens deep down in her stomach as she feels the bile rise to her throat.  Oh my god, she knows.  Somehow, the b**** already knows.

 © 2010 T.Loto All rights reserved.

A/N:  Please share your thoughts, what did you think?