Mike Baldwin's Secret

[RitaLittlewood]

Originally written on the 25th and 26th August 2005

Part 1

It was a miserable August 2005 in Weatherfield. More autumn than summer with a few hot days in-between the cold, gales and rain. Penny King sat opposite her finally-snared lover Mike Baldwin at breakfast, worrying about his memory lapses. "But, Mike," she was saying, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. "You know you're meant to be seeing Colin Jackson today about that big order. You can't go off and play golf."
Mike frowned. "Colin Jackson?"
"The buyer from Bradshaws," she pressed through gritted teeth. "Surely you can't have forgotten. It'll be in your diary."
He rose from the table and dug out the diary from his coat pocket. "You're right," he nodded as he read it. "I'd completely forgotten. Very important client. Known him ever since I arrived up here, which must be getting on for 29 years now. Mustn't let him down when he's expecting me. You're right. Thanks, Penny. I'll leave the golf to another day."
"Where are you going?" she asked as he put his coat on.
"To see Colin of course," he told her, adjusting his collar. "Don't wait up. I could be gone some time."
"You ARE joking!" she exclaimed.
He shook his head. "They have been known to turn into all-nighters once Colin gets going. Very bad influence on me. Always has been. See you later." With that he left without kissing her goodbye.

The following morning Mike awoke in a strange bed. He yawned and stretched before checking his watch. He noticed the door open. "Good morning, sweetheart," he grinned. "Come here, Reet."
"Don't yer mean Colin?" she winked.
He put his arms around her and pulled her closer. "Colin's not as gorgeous as you," he grinned before kissing her.
"Yer say the sweetest things," she smiled back, her eyes twinkling. "By the way, yer never did tell me what yer told Penny about last night."
He pulled her down so she was lying beside him and held her tightly. "Only that Colin's a bad influence on me and it could turn into an all-nighter."
"It did that all right," she giggled. "As usual."
He strained to look at her in the eye. "You're not complaining, are you?"
"Now would I do that to yer, Baldwin? I haven't these past 29 years and won't all the while we'll be keeping our affair going."
"Good," he grinned. "Though maybe, since we're like Charles and Camilla, we should finally get hitched. What do you think?"
She pulled away and moved over to the dressing table to brush her orange tresses, turning to face him. "We're certainly better looking than them too. But why, Baldwin? Things have been going along fine as they are. Or haven't they?"
"Course they have, sweetheart," he assured. "I only mentioned it because I thought it was what you wanted, that's all."
"Listen, Baldwin," she said, pointing her brush at him. "Ever since we started this affair 29 years ago, we've got through 6 spouses and numerous lovers, especially yer. I like things just the way they are. No gossiping. No snide remarks. No nowt. I want to keep it that way."
Mike sat up in bed and grinned again. "Me too, sweetheart. Less complications this way. Now, are you coming back to bed? I did tell Penny not to wait up after all."
"But I've only just brushed me hair," she replied.
"You can always brush it again," he winked.
Reet put her brush down and went over to him beaming.

Later that afternoon Mike finally returned home after many showers to remove Reet's scent and lipstick. He was always cleaner after his time with her that at any other time in his life. He sensed Penny wasn't happy as soon as he walked through the door and saw her face like thunder. "You still here?" he asked innocently, hanging up his coat. "I thought you'd have gone to work by now."
"I was stupidly waiting for you to deign to come home," she said firmly.
"I did tell you it could go on all night," he chuckled.
"So I've discovered," she noted. "I hope you got a good order out of him after all that."
"Order?" he squinted.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten to get one after all that!" she screeched. "Honestly, Mike. Your memory's getting worse."
"There's nothing wrong with my memory!" he snapped.
"Oh, come on, Mike," she scoffed. "Look at yourself. You've been forgetting even the most basic things far too often lately. There's obviously something wrong with you."
"There is NOTHING wrong with me!" he yelled. "I'm just tired, that's all."
"Then you get yourself to bed and I'll phone this Colin whatsit and get the order," she suggested.
"I'm perfectly capable of phoning him myself!" he snapped again as he grabbed his coat.
"Now where are you going?" Penny asked.
"Back to Colin's. At least I'll get a bit of peace there and can enjoy myself without people that's meant to care about me saying I'm crackers!" He slammed the door behind him reducing Penny to tears. Outside in his car he dialled his mobile. "I've got to see you. Can I come over right now?"


To be continued.....

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 2

Three days passed and Mike was still holed up in Reet's boudoir not giving Penny a second thought. Reet sat in front of the dressing table putting her face on and looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Yer've got to go home sometime, Baldwin," she told him.
"Can't wait to get rid of me, eh?" he winked.
"I'm serious about this," she said sternly. "Yer can't stay here permanantly. It's not what we agreed when we started this, remember?"
He sighed heavily. "I know, sweetheart. Though I'd much rather be here with you."
"Now I can't fault yer for that," she winked. "But yer going to have to face Penny again at some point."
He nodded. "I'm still as mad as hell with her though for saying I'm going senile."
"Did she actually say that?" she asked as she added more layers of mascara.
"Not in so many words," he replied, shaking his head. "But she implied it by constantly going on about my bad memory. Hardly my fault with all the stuff going on between Danny and Adam, not to mention putting up with her nagging, I'm so stressed out I'm not getting much sleep so forget things."
She swung round on the stool. "Yer forgot summat on yer list. Summat very important."
"What?" he squinted.
"Coming round here, yer daft ha'porth," she giggled. "And yer never get much sleep then either."
"True," he grinned. "But it's worth it. If it wasn't for you, Reet, I'd probably have ended up murdering the lot of them by now. I love you so much and always will."
"I know yer do, Baldwin. And I love yer otherwise I'd not have put up with yer all these years," she smiled back. "Now, when yer going home?"
He laughed heartily. "That's something else I love about you, Reet. All those sweet nothings then turfed out into the street. You're nothing if not direct. I'll go tonight."
"Good idea," she said, got up and crossed to the wardrobe. "And yer know I'm always happy to see yer any time."
"What are you doing?" he frowned.
"Getting dressed," she replied as she pulled the top over her head. "Some of us have to work, yer know. And I have already had two days off I shouldn't have to be with yer by telling that idiot I'm foolish enough to still employ I were ill."
"So what's one more day?" Mike winked.
She stopped what she was doing and looked at him. "Yer right. My shop. I can do what I like. I'll just give Norris a ring. Don't go away."
"Not a chance," he grinned.
"And no smoking yer cigars in bed," she ordered, looking round the door and pointing. "The only flames I want in there are of passion."
"That's guaranteed," he grinned again as he watched her head disappear then made himself comfortable eagerly awaiting her return.

That night after the pubs had shut, Reet saw Mike to the front door. "I wish I didn't have to leave," he told her, their arms around each other.
"It's the rules of the game, Baldwin," she reminded.
"Maybe I should just dump Penny," he suggested. "The relationship's not really going anywhere anyway and it means less lying to her to be with you."
"Don't yer dare," she warned. "Better if at least one of us is in some sort of relationship even if it's not serious. Though us both being single never stopped us in the past."
"You're right," he conceded. "But I really don't want to go back to the flat and share a bed with her while you're here all alone."
"I'll just go straight back to bed and sleep," she told him as he pulled her closer. "Have to be up at five anyway to do the papers."
"When am I going to see you again?" he asked.
"When yer buy yer cigars?" she smiled, raising an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean," he smiled back.
"Any time yer like," she replied. "I'm the proverbial mistress waiting patiently for her lover to show up even for half an hour."
"I wouldn't be able to stand it if we only had half an hour, Reet," he kissed her. She reached across his shoulder and opened the door. He looked round. "A very subtle hint," he winked.
"I'll see yer when I see yer," she told him. "Good night, Baldwin."
"Oh, Reet," he cooed before kissing her passionately.
She removed her lips from his. "Drive carefully." She stepped back.
"Can't I stay just one more night?" he pleaded.
She shook her head. "How many more 'just one more night's' will there be if yer did? Now get gone. I'll see yer soon."
He sighed. "All right. I'll go back to Penny. Just remember it's under protest."
"Protest noted," she smiled. He kissed her again then forced himself to leave. She closed the door and went back up the stairs to bed.

Over at Weatherfield Quays Penny was frantic. She'd cried so much she was too exhausted to continue and had barely slept from worrying. She jumped when she heard the front door open. "Mike?"
"Who else were you expecting?" he replied.
She rushed over and threw her arms around him. "I was so worried. Where have you been?"
"I told you," he said coldly, keeping his arms by his sides. "Colin Jackson's."
"I'm so sorry," she cried. "I'll never accuse you of having something wrong with your memory again. Can you ever forgive me?"
"I'll think about it," he told her. "Now I'm tired and am going to bed. Good night."
She watched stunned as he went into the bedroom. "Want me to join you?"
"Do what you like," he shrugged. "I just want to sleep. It's been a long few days."

To be continued...

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 3

A couple of months later, Mike and Penny were back onto some sort of even keel though she always felt he was keeping her at arm's length after that argument. She walked into the bedroom and was surprised to see him packing. "What's all this?"
"I'm going away," was all he'd say.
"I didn't know you'd booked us a holiday," she grinned. "Oh, Mike," she threw her arms around him. "What a lovely surprise."
He pushed her away. "I haven't. This is a business trip. I'm travelling around Europe for the next two weeks trying to get some new business."
"Oh," she said, deflated. "Can't I come too? I have several contacts in France that might come in handy for you."
He turned to face her. "Not this time, Penny. It'll be all work and no play." He noticed her expression and remembered his promise to Reet. He took her hand. "Tell you what. When I get back we'll go away to Spain for a couple of weeks. How's that?"
"Sure it's not too much trouble(?)" she asked sarcastically.
"Okay," he said. "You book it while I'm away. I want us to spend some time alone together and I'll definitely need the rest after this trip." He kissed her tenderly, imagining she was Reet. "First week of November. How's that?"
Penny beamed at him. "I'll get onto it the moment you've gone."
He nodded then continued his packing.

At Heathrow, Mike was sat in departures nursing his coffee. He felt hands over his eyes. "Guess who?" he heard someone purr seductively.
"Um..." he began. "Vera?" He felt a slap on his back before Reet sat in front of him. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Not a chance, Baldwin," she grinned. "High time we had another holiday away together. It's been far too long." The flight for St Lucia was called. "Come on," she said, picking up her handbag and taking his hand. "Let's get away from here for the next two weeks."

After a week not getting much sun in-between walking along white, sandy beaches, Reet and Mike flew on to Las Vegas to see some shows. They'd been there a few days and were really having a great time. They sat in their suite snuggled up on the sofa. "Happy, sweetheart?" he asked.
"That's a bit of a daft question, even for a Cockney," she replied. "Yer know I love it when it's just the two of us as much as yer do. It's a good job we never married," Reet remarked. "All me husbands ended up dead so we wouldn't be here, and I prefer yer very much alive."
Mike laughed. "And all my wives divorced me. Marriage definitely wouldn't be good for our relationship. Come on. Let's go down to the casino and try and break the bank so we can afford this holiday."

The next morning Reet woke up with a terrible hangover while Mike snored beside her. Her head felt like someone was pounding a pneumatic drill inside and her mouth was like sandpaper. She forced herself slowly out of the bed to get a drink of water. On returning, she tripped over Mike's jacket which had somehow ended up on the floor. She reached down, clutching her throbbing head and noticed a piece of paper fall out of a pocket. She snatched at it, not really paying it or anything else much attention and put them both on the dressing table. She began to move back to the bed when she suddenly stopped, her eyes bulging. She returned to the dressing table and swiped the paper up to read it. Despite feeling awful, she couldn't stop herself feeling angry. She watched Mike sleeping, crossed to the bed, grabbed her pillow and started hitting him with it. "Wake up, Baldwin!" she yelled. "Yer rat!"
Mike stirred and tried to defend himself against the blows. "What's up?"
"This!" she said, thrusting the paper at him.
"He took it and read. "We got married last night?" he squinted. "How the hell did that happen?"
"Yer tell me!" she demanded then walloped him again with the pillow.
"Hold it! Hold it!" he shouted, arms up to protect himself. "Reet, I'm as confused about this as you are. You've got to believe me."
"Believe yer?!" she shrieked, bringing the pillow down on his head again. "It were yer who suggested we got wed in t'first place only a couple of months ago!"
He grabbed the pillow roughly and pulled her with it. "Stop it, Reet!" he ordered as he pinned her down on the bed by her wrists.
"Let me go, yer rat!" she spat, eyes narrowed and feeling totally betrayed. "I bet yer've been planning this all along, haven't yer. Go on. Admit it. God, I hate yer!"
"No, it wasn't, so I admit nothing," he replied sternly. "Stop fighting me, Reet, so we can think about and discuss this."
"Let me go then," she said.
"Not until you stop behaving like this," he told her. She lay still, eyes still narrowed. "Reet, I never planned this. We agreed all those years ago no marriage. We were both happy with the arrangement the way it was. I don't understand this any more than you do. Last thing I remember we were in the casino celebrating because we'd just won fifty thousand dollars."
She looked at him. "That's the last thing I remember an' all," she confessed. "So neither of us knows whose daft idea it were to get wed?"
He shook his head. "I love you, Reet. And if I could remember I'd tell you. I've never lied to you once in all these years and I wouldn't now. You know that. But let's face it, no matter whose idea it was, we must have both wanted it deep down to have gone through with it in the first place."
A tear rolled down her face and into her ear. "I don't want yer to end up six-foot under now yer married to me, Baldwin."
"I have no intention of doing that for many years," he assured her. "Though I may have died first even if we weren't married."
She sighed heavily. "This has just made things even more complicated."
"Not necessarily," he told her softly. "No one needs to know and we can carry on as we have been. What do you say?"
She thought for a moment then smiled. "Might as well see how it goes, I suppose."
He released her wrists. "Still hate me?"
She shook her head. "I could never hate yer."
"I love you, Mrs Baldwin," he said, leaning over her.
"I love yer too, Mr Baldwin," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer until they kissed passionately.

To be continued...

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 4

The following week and the lovers were back in Weatherfield getting on with their separate lives as agreed. It was nearly closing time in the Kabin when Mike and Penny walked in. Reet was distinctly uncomfortable, more than she'd ever been in the past, when she spotted Penny's arm through Mike's and hoped she wasn't showing it. "Evening yer two. Yer cutting it a bit fine. I were just about to get Norris to shut t'shop."
"Sorry about that, Reet," Mike said. "I've run out of cigars. And yer know what I'm like."
Reet forced a laugh as she reached for them. "Take the money, Norris. However do yer put up with the stink, Penny?"
"When you love someone, you learn to live with it," she replied.
Mike and Reet exchanged knowing glances which Penny and Norris didn't notice. "Oh, how did you enjoy your holiday?" Mike asked.
"I'd forgotten all about that," Penny added. "Was a cruise, wasn't it?"
Reet nodded. "It were the best holiday I've ever had," she beamed. Mike winked at her which the others failed to notice too.
"I can't wait for our holiday," Penny told them.
"Oh?" Reet said, trying to show she wasn't jealous. "Going anywhere nice?"
"Spain again," Penny told her. Reet smiled inwardly at such a cheap trip compared to her own. "Mike's been working far too hard lately. He didn't manage to get one deal while going through Europe despite all his hard work and lack of sleep. He came back thoroughly exhausted."
"You poor thing," Reet said. "You really need to get more sleep. Not good for the stress levels."
"Oh I get plenty of stress relief. Don't you worry about that, Reet. I'll see you later," he beamed knowingly.
"Look forward to it," she smiled back with Norris and Penny still oblivious to what was going on between them.

That night Reet returned home from the Rovers after an excruciating night sat with Penny slobbering all over Mike. She turned the light on in the kitchen and made herself some cocoa before flopping down on the sofa in a darkened lounge rubbing her forehead. "I just don't understand it," she said to herself, shaking her head. "I've never been the slightest bit jealous of Baldwin and his floozies so why start now?"
"You know what they say," a voice said behind her. "Talking to yourself's the first sign of madness."
She smiled. "What excuse did yer make this time, Baldwin?"
"Well," he said, sitting beside her and pulling her towards him, "rather conveniently my mobile rang. It was only Adam from Bonnie Scotland saying he'll be away a few more weeks. Anyway, this gave me the perfect excuse to come over here. I told her some business had come up and I had to travel to Leeds at once. No idea when I'll be returning." Reet beamed. "Come here, Mrs Baldwin," he schmoozed as he took the cocoa off her and put the mug on the floor as they kissed passionately.

The Spanish holiday came and went, Mike phoning Reet every chance he could. She really missed him and wished so much they hadn't got drunk and married then she wouldn't be feeling so jealous at the thought of the pair of them doing who knew what. She didn't have to worry though. Mike had spent most of his time on the golf course well away from Penny and afterwards went straight to sleep. He adored Reet and hated the pretence of life with Penny even more since he'd married the love of his life. He came out of the bedroom after tarting himself up for the next rendezvous with his adorable wife and noticed Penny engrossed in something. "What you reading?"
"Bridal magazines," she showed him.
Mike's heart nearly stopped. "What are you reading those for? Friend getting married?"
"I should hope so," she smiled. "So, when are we going to get the date fixed?"
"What's the hurry?" he bluffed.
"Mike, we've been together again nearly 2 years. Isn't it time there was some kind of commitment?" she asked.
"Like I said, what's the hurry? We've waited this long. Surely a bit longer won't make any difference," he told her.
"But how long am I expected to wait, Mike?" she asked impatiently.
"Soon as business picks up," he suggested. "How's that?"
"And when will that be?" she replied.
"Haven't a clue," he shrugged. "See you. Don't wait up." With that he was gone to visit his wife.

"It's getting ridiculous now, Reet," Mike was saying as the afternoon wore on and they lay there snuggled up in bed. "Marriage. I ask you!"
Reet laughed. "I'm sorry, darling," she said, noticing his expression. "I'm trying not to laugh but I can't help it. I wonder what she'd say if she found out about me?"
"Hopefully by then she'll have got so fed up with me giving her the cold shoulder," he replied, "she'll have walked out."
"Hey," she nudged him. "Speaking of cold shoulders, that's what Audrey's been giving me lately."
"What for?" he frowned.
"She apparently found these photos of me and Alf and accused me of having an affair with him behind her back," she explained.
"You did tell her it was impossible." he asked.
She nodded. "But she wanted to know WHY it was impossible and I could hardly go into detail now, could I?"
"I suppose not," he agreed, stroking her arm. "Never mind. I'm sure she'll work out the error of her ways in time."
"How much time though?" she wondered. "How she could even think I'd be the slightest bit interesting in his body is beyond me. Anyway, enough about that other idiot in my life giving me hassles. What are yer going to do about Penny's dream of apple blossom and a meringue frock?"
"Run!" he laughed then kissed her.

To be continued...

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 5

New Year's Eve arrived and Penny was searching Mike's flat for her car keys when she came across the marriage licence belonging to Mike and Reet. She slumped onto the floor just staring at it. She eventually shook her head, convinced it was some sort of joke so looked for his passport to ease her mind. She was heartbroken when she saw the immigration stamps of St Lucia and Las Vegas in there. She just sat there stunned for over half an hour, brought to her senses when she heard the key in the lock. Quickly she stuffed them both into the drawer and wiped her tears.
"What you doing on the floor?" Mike asked as he took his coat off. "You okay?"
What do you care? she thought, wanting to thump him. "Fine," she lied, forcing a smile.
He went over to her. "Sorry I'm late, sweetheart," he said as he kissed her.
She looked at her watch. "It's gone nine. Where have you been?" She already had a fair idea but couldn't wait to hear his lie.
"Bit of business," he told her. "Took longer than I thought. We going to this party at the Rovers, or what?"
She pushed herself up. "If you like. Though we could always have a cosy night in and celebrate in private."
"What a wonderful idea," he beamed. "Though we did promise we'd show our faces. Come on. Let's get changed."
She looked daggers at him as he went into the bedroom unsure how she was going to confront him about this. She sighed, deciding to leave it to another day and just get drunk for the moment then followed him.

The Rovers was packed when Mike and Penny strolled in and went to the bar. As Mike ordered the drinks, Penny looked round and spotted Reet sat in a booth with Norris and Emily. She could have killed her rival redhead on the spot for taking her Mike away but decided on another tack. She went over, Mike lamely following carrying the drinks. "Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all," Emily said.
Penny plonked herself beside Norris. "You sit next to Reet, Mike," she suggested loudly.
Mike put the drinks down wondering what had got into her. "Okay. There's no need to shout." He sat beside Reet and smiled at her.
"After all, she is your WIFE!" Penny continued so the whole pub heard.
Norris dropped his drink in shock. "Wife?"
"That's right," Penny announced to the throng. "When Reet here was meant to be on her cruise and Mike was meant to be travelling around Europe drumming up business, they actually went to St Lucia before getting married in Las Vegas." Reet and Mike squirmed in their seats, eyes cast downwards. "How long's it been going on?"
"This isn't the time or place," Mike hissed.
"Oh, I'd say this was the perfect time," Penny snarled, "and place so everyone can hear the happy news(!) Well? How long's it been going on? How long have you been two-timing me with...that?"
"29 years," Reet eventually said proudly. "So if he was two-timing anyone, it were me."
Penny was shocked. "You and she... All the while we... All your meetings when you came back without orders you were really with her?" she asked.
Mike nodded. "It was Reet's idea for me to apologise to you last year at Dev and Sunita's wedding. I didn't want to but she didn't want me to be lonely away from her."
"You've been using me all this time?" she gasped, realising the full extent of his deception and betrayal. "I never meant anything at all to you?"
"I'm very fond of you, Penny," he said as he took Reet's hand and they stood. "But my heart belongs to Reet. Always has."
Reet looked directly at Audrey. "So yer see, Audrey. Even if I'd wanted Alf as more than a friend, which I never did, every spare second I had I spent with Mike so I never had the time for owt else. I love Mike. I've loved him all these years since he first arrived and I'll go on loving him the rest of my life."
"Happy New Year," Mike said as he led Reet out of the silent pub. "Had to come out sometime, I suppose," he told her as he put the key in the door of her flat.
She sighed. "I suppose we were lucky keeping it secret all these years from the likes of Hilda Ogden, Percy Sugden, Norris and Blanche," she replied, tenderly stroking his face. "So, what now?"
"Now," he replied, putting his arms around her waist, "we live together openly and hope we don't end up divorced like all my other marriages."
"Or yer end up six-foot under like all mine have gone," she chuckled.
"Right," he said, letting her go and taking her hand. "Time we saw in 2006 by having our own private party,"
"I'm all for that," she beamed as she followed him in.

The following day in the Kabin, Reet had reluctantly gone to work to face the gossip when she really wanted to stay upstairs with Mike.
"Did you really marry Mike Baldwin?" Norris asked when it was quiet.
"Yes," she replied through gritted teeth.
"And you really had a secret affair with him for 29 years?" he went on.
"YES!" she snapped.
"But you've both been married to other people," he pointed out.
"I know," she said, getting more irritated but knew these questions would be coming from someone.
"So all the marriages were a sham and neither of you loved the people you married," he pondered.
"Of course we did, moron!" she yelled. "Oh, shurrup and mind yer own flamin' business!" She hit him around the head before disappearing upstairs in tears.
"What's the matter?" Mike asked, getting out of the chair.
"Oh, Mike," she sobbed, throwing her arms around him. "I knew if it ever came out it'd be hard. But I hadn't banked on it being this bad."
"What's been going on, sweetheart?" he said, rubbing her back soothingly.
"That irritating idiot I really should sack," she sniffed. "He were implying yer never loved yer wives and that I never loved me husbands."
"He did what?" his face fell as his blood pressure rose. "Time I had words with Norris Cole and sorted him out once and for all." He let her go and headed downstairs.
"Mike, please don't," she called after him.
He hadn't heard as he came up behind Norris who was eating some liquorice. "I hope you're going to pay for that." Norris turned and swallowed making him cough.
"Mike." Reet panted after chasing after him. "What's going on? Norris?"
"Maybe he'll choke to death and it'll solve all your problems," Mike told her as they watched Norris trying not to turn blue from the liquorice stuck in his throat.
"How can yer just stand there?" she barked at him. "I know he's a pest but that's just not on." She went to Norris and hit him hard on his back many times which dislodged the offending article.
"Thanks Reet," he croaked. "At least you care."
"Don't bank on it, peasant!" she stated. "Especially since I enjoyed hitting yer as usual. Yer aren't going anywhere till yer've apologised for yer snide innuedos."
He looked guiltily at her. "Do you mind if I get some water?"
"Go ahead," she said, stepping out the way. "Just don't choke on it. I haven't finished with yer yet."

To be continued...

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 6

In the street early afternoon after trying rather frustratingly to set Norris straight on a few things without going into too much detail, Mike and Reet were crossing the road towards the pub as Blanche came out of number 1. "Finally hooked him then(?)" she asked sarcastically. "No wonder you married Len Fairclough and Ted Sullivan."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Reet replied
"Well," Blanche began. "They had plenty of money, didn't they? It's obvious Mike didn't want you to get your claws into his otherwise he'd have married you before. How did you manage to trick him into marrying you after 29 years, eh?" Reet became furious and marched over to Blanche, despite Mike's best efforts to prevent her, and slapped her hard across the face. "That's right," Blanche said, rubbing her cheek. "Hit a poor, defenceless pensioner."
"I'm a pensioner an' all, yer know!" she shrieked.
"Then you should know better at your age," Blanche remarked. By this time several of the residents had emerged and were watching events unfold. "What's the matter?" Blanche continued. "Touched a nerve?"
"I loved BOTH me husbands," Reet defended.
"Loved what they had in the bank more like," Blanche countered. "Very convenient for you that Ted Sullivan was already dying, wasn't it? Meant you didn't have to wait too long for the will."
That was one crack too far for Reet and she saw red, lunging at Blanche. A pensioners punch-up ensued before Mike and Ken pulled them apart. "Yer'll be hearing from my solicitor," Reet warned. "I'm going to sue yer for every penny yer've got!"
"See you in court!" Blanche replied, hoping no one guessed she was worried.
Mike led Reet back to the flat. "Are you really going to sue her?" he asked when they were in the living room as Reet inspected her bruises in the mirror.
"Too right I am," she growled firmly, reaching for the vodka. "I'm not having her spread that crap and get away with it."
"You can see where she's coming from," he reasoned. "I bet she's not the only one thinking that. Only one to say it to your face though. But it must have crossed other people's minds too last night."
"Whose side are yer on?" she shrieked.
"Yours of course, sweetheart," he said, taking hold of her arms tenderly.
She shrugged him off and walked away. "Well it doesn't sound like it."
"Calm down," he urged.
"I will not calm down!" she snapped. "She never accused you of anything any more than Norris did. I will not have her and others like her with nowt better to do slander me in public!"
"I know, sweetheart," he placated. "But do you really have to sue her?"
"YES!" she yelled.
"She probably hasn't got two pennies to rub together," he pointed out.
"She's got number 7, hasn't she?" Reet told him. "That must be worth a few bob now. I'll gladly have that back. So to court we go and that's the end of it or yer WILL end up on yer fifth divorce!" She turned her back on him.
There wasn't much he could say to that. "I'll be at the factory if you need me." She just snorted in response so he let himself out.

Mike wasn't sure what sort of reaction he would get when he returned home after a long afternoon's worrying in the office. He liked it when it was quiet, but would have preferred to have spent the first New Year's Day of their married life with his wife. He cautiously went up the stairs to her flat and looked for her. "I were beginning to think yer wanted that divorce after all," he heard her say. He pushed the bedroom door open and was surprised to see her in bed. "What are you doing there? You're not ill, are you?"
"Come to think of it," she breathed huskily, "I am feeling a little hot."
Mike got the message perfectly and broke out into a huge grin as he went over to her. "Oh, Reet," he cooed as they embraced.
"This is me way of apologising to yer," she said softly down his ear. "I'm really sorry about what happened this afternoon. Can yer ever forgive me?"
"No," he said before ravishing her.

By breakfast things were all lovey-dovey between Reet and Mike. They sat down to breakfast in the kitchen in their dressing gowns. Reet reached across him for the teapot and he kissed her. She smiled. "Are yer going to work today?" she asked.
"I was thinking about staying home," he told her.
"We always were on the same wavelength. Baldwin," she grinned. "Though in my case I'd probably end up throttling someone if they started making cracks like Blanche and Norris did yesterday."
"Come here, sweetheart," he said, putting his arm around her. "It's only natural they'd be thinking that."
"I know," she sighed. "But I know it's not true. They'll never understand."
Mike laughed. "They'll understand even less if they knew exactly how much time we HAD spent together during our various marriages."
She looked at him lovingly. "And they'd understand even LESS less if they knew yer were comforting the grieving widow after Len and Ted died in me bed."
"Then there's the nights before our many weddings we were together," he added.
"Not to mention when yer were seeing Deirdre behind Ken's back yer were seeing me an' all," she chuckled.
"Or my little trips to Blackpool when you left Len and Alan sent you loopy," he grinned.
"And we mustn't forget all yer divorces, Baldwin," she continued. "Susan saying she'd had an abortion because she found out about us. Jackie Ingram really pulling the shotgun on yer, not because she thought yer only married her for her late husband's business-"
"But because I was seeing you," he finished. "Alma leaving me because she also found out about you and we put it about it was because of Julia Stone since she was humiliated at you being older then her. And finally Linda after realising you weren't much of a friend after all supporting us since you were getting far more attention than she was."
"So she left yer because she realised yer were a hypocrite after discovering her own indiscretions," she said. "Right pair, aren't we?"
"Well suited, I'd have said," he grinned then kissed her forehead. "They'll never understand how much we love each other but never wanted commitment. They'll never understand we DID love those we married, though nowhere near as much as we love each other."
She nodded. "We were always there for each other with no strings. Like when yer factory burnt down t'other year and I supplied yer with some brandy."
"Yep," he grinned at the memory. "No one who saw us out there in front of the ruins would guess we came up here afterwards."
"No," she agreed. "And don't forget that annoying peasant of mine two years ago with all that Cilla business. There he were worried about me since I hadn't shown me face. I come down all dishevelled after a night of passion with yer after realising the time, having thrown on that chunky-knit cardie yer left behind and hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before. Is it any wonder I collapsed from lack of food and exhaustion after yer kept me awake all night?" she winked.
"They're all idiots round here," he proclaimed. She hit him. "Present company excepted, naturally."
"I should think so too, Baldwin," she smiled. "I am truly sorry about yesterday though. But I fully intend to sue Blanche Hunt for saying it. Make an example of her to stop others coming out with the same rubbish."
He squeezed her tenderly. "I'll back you all the way, sweetheart. I know you're right. Can't let that go. It wasn't a very nice thing to say."
"When does she EVER say nice things?" Reet asked.
"When she's asleep?" he suggested.
She got up to clear the breakfast things away. "Mike?"
"Hmm," he replied as he read the paper.
She turned to face him, leaning against the sink. "Yer do realise after 29 years of never one single crossed word, since we got wed, we've had two blazing rows?"
He put the paper down. "I had noticed. I'm just glad you don't wallop me the way you do Norris," he chuckled. "Well, apart from in Vegas."
"Do yer think we made a terrible mistake?" she asked, chewing her lip.
He crossed to her and took her hands. "Reet, if we'd been sober when we decided, I'd be more inclined to say we probably did. But neither of us even remember doing it so I don't know what to say. I hope not because I've loved you from the minute I clapped eyes on you all those years ago. It wasn't easy pretending you weren't my type when I wanted you every second."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I hope not too. But is this now our future? No more perfect bliss? Just rows since we're together all the time?"
"Only time will tell, sweetheart," he kissed her tenderly. "But I always knew you were a fiery one and it never put me off once. You're my whole life, Reet. Okay, so marriage was always a no-go area. But for some reason we did it and I for one am willing to stay married to you, rows or not."
She pulled him towards her. "I feel the same. Maybe now we went all legal is why I keep being so jealous and possessive of you at the thought of anyone else. Never bothered me in t'past. I hated seeing yer with Penny."
"I hated being with Penny!" he remarked.
She pulled back to look at him and laughed. "I know yer did and I'm sorry for making yer stay with her."
"Sweetheart, I feel the same, you know," he told her, gently stroking her face with his finger. "After we got married, I never wanted anything more to do with her. I certainly never went to bed with her, EXCEPT to sleep. It was so different before."
She nodded in agreement. "It certainly was."
"Every time I even had to kiss her before Vegas, I imagined she was you," he went on. "I was only using her to keep my business afloat after the fire so have no idea how I ended up in that mess."
She smiled. "Well, yer well out of it now."
"Yep," he grinned. "And after all these years of secrecy and lies, we don't have to hide away any more." He kissed her tenderly.
"I'll go and tell Norris I won't be coming down today," she winked then went to the phone.

To be continued...

[RitaLittlewood]

Part 7

As the year progressed, Reet had settled out of court, forcing Blanche to hand over all the proceeds she'd got from selling number 7 two years earlier, which Reet bought back with the damages. No one dared insinuate Reet had only married Len and Ted for their money ever again since they knew if she could fleece a little old lady, she could do the same to them. Mike had sold his flat in Weatherfield Quays since Reet refused to live there with the stale perfume of all his other women. He wasn't too keen on living in hers with her own memories and lack of space, but he reasoned there weren't as many and it was nearer to work and the Rovers so would save on the extortionate petrol prices. Reet came up the stairs with the post. "Summat here for yer," she said eyeing it up. "Looks official." She handed it over. "What yer been up to now, Baldwin?"
"Absolutely nothing, I swear!" he replied earnestly as he opened it. "Bloody hell!"
"What?" she asked.
"I don't believe it!" he went on, ignoring her. "It's gotta be a mistake surely."
"What?" she repeated anxiously.
"Read for yourself," he said, holding it out.
She took it and read. "Bloody hell!" she echoed. "Sir Michael Vernon Baldwin for services to Golf and the 19th Hole," she read out completely stunned. "Yer are going to accept I hope. This is a great honour."
"What time is it?" he asked, looking for the clock.
"Just gone nine," she told him. "Get on that phone. What yer waiting for?"
"Reet," he said solemnly. "What if this is someone playing a practical joke on me?"
"Yer won't know until yer pick that phone up, Baldwin," she said. "Come on!" She dragged him to the phone and made him dial. She waited on tenterhooks as she listened to his side of the conversation. "Well?" she asked as he hung up.
"Lady Baldwin, I presume," he grinned.
"It's not a joke?" she said. He shook his head. "Oh, Mike," she squealed excitedly and she hugged him tightly. "I'm so pleased for yer."
"For both of us, sweetheart," he reminded.
"Annie Walker would have gone a sickly shade of green if she'd lived to see this," Reet laughed as she thought about lording it over everyone even more as Lady Baldwin.

Despite wanting to shout it from the rooftops her beloved husband was going to be knighted, while she'd become a lady for the first time in her 74 years, Reet promised Mike she wouldn't say a word until the list was officially released mid-June. Several hours after it had been, she waiting impatiently in the shop for Norris to arrive and cross-examine her. He finally turned up just as Mike was kissing his wife goodbye passionately behind the counter.
"God, I love you," Mike cooed at her.
"I love yer too, Baldwin," she cooed back before they kissed passionately again.
Norris had never been so embarrassed in his life and really wished he was somewhere else. He coughed to attract their attention. It didn't work. He rolled his eyes. "Excuse me. But do you think you could both try to be a bit more hygienic? There does happen to be food sold on these premises in case you've forgotten."
They both looked round at him. "Oh, shurrup, peasant!" Reet yelled. "Darling, bring us a box of Dairy Milk from out back, would yer?"
"Pleasure," he replied, got it and handed it to her.
"Thanks, darling," she kissed him then threw it at Norris, hitting his head. "Bulls eye!" she cheered, grinning.
He rubbed his head. "I don't that's anything to cheer over, Reet."
"Don't you?" she looked genuinely bewildered at his remark. "I do. Now get yer yer coat off and get to work or I'll dock yer wages!" As he did that in silence while still rubbing his head, Reet gave her husband another goodbye kiss. "See yer at dinner," she breathed.
"Or teabreak," he winked then left.
She sighed wistfully as she watched him leave. "What a man," she said dreamily.
"What man?" Norris asked innocently.
Reet's eyes narrowed. "THAT man!" she yelled. "Me husband, moron!" She hit him around the head and caught where the box struck him.
"Ouch!" he yelped. "I don't think that's very nice either, Reet."
She scowled at him. "Don't yer? Then find somewhere else to work!" She stormed upstairs just as Blanche walked in.
"I thought you said you'd never darken this door again," Norris said to her.
"I wouldn't normally," Blanche explained. "But I thought you'd know if this in the papers about Mike Baldwin becoming Sir Mike was true or not."
"I presume it is, otherwise it wouldn't be in the list," he mused.
"You're no help," Blanche exclaimed. "I only came in here to get some gossip. Where's her ladyship?"
"Getting used to her new title, are you?" he asked.
"No," Blanche replied flatly. "I was being sarcastic. Though Reet as a lady doesn't bear thinking about. She thinks she owns the place as it is and can ride roughshod over everyone."
Norris couldn't help but agree. "I think from the way she's called me peasant and treats me like her personal slave all these years shows she's always had a superiority complex."
"I heard that, Cole!" Reet boomed from the back. "I thought I told yer to get yerself another job if yer don't like the way I treat yer. Which is, in my opinion, more than yer deserve."
"Is it true then?" he asked nervously.
"Come to buy summat, Blanche," she said smiling, ignoring her minion. "Yer know I'm always more than happy to take yer money."
"Honours standards have certainly fallen in recent years," Blanche noted, looking Reet straight in the eye. "I'd never thought of becoming a Republican before today."
"I take it that's a no, then," Reet observed. "If yer aren't going to buy owt, clear off. Me peasant in't here to gossip with all day, yer know. He's meant to actually do some work."
"You're a fine one to talk about doing work, Reet," he snorted.
She hit him round the head again. "My shop. When are yer going to get that into yer thick skull?"
"Probably after you've fractured it," he remarked.
"Oh, shurrup!" she yelled, hitting him harder around the head. "Yer've put me in a bad mood now so I'm going upstairs and don't want to be disturbed under ANY circumstances. Capiche, idiot?"
"Nothing new there then," he mumbled. "Ouch!" he yelped as a rolled up Cosmo connected with his head.
"Make me loads of profit to put me back in a good mood or I'll take me lost profits from yer wages!" she demanded then swept out.
"Why do you put up with her?" Blanche asked full of concern. "You could take her to a tribunal."
"She's the only one who'll hire me," he told her solemnly. "Lady Reet? Could she get any more high and mighty?" He shuddered at the thought of the violence towards him escalating now his employer was part of the aristocracy.
"By the way, Norris," Reet said, poking her head round from the stock room. "I'm thinking of taking up shooting. I can't wait to start blowing away peasants." She grinned and winked before disappearing.
"That's one of the oldest jokes in the world," Blanche scoffed. "And she probably heard it first time around. Norris? Norris?"
Norris was wide-eyed with shock. "She's going to shoot me."
"Don't be ridiculous, man," Blanche said. "It was a joke."
"You've seen the way she treats me, Blanche," he pointed out. "She's given me several bumps on the head already since I arrived twenty minutes ago. She's always saying I annoy her. What if I annoy her so much one day without knowing it, she decides to blow my head off instead of just hitting it?"
"Don't be so ridiculous," Blanche told him. "She's hardly likely to do that, is she? She'll end up in prison for one thing."
He shook his head gently so as not to make it hurt so much. "But, Blanche," he began to panic. "The aristocracy always get away with these things." He swallowed hard as his eyes widened. "She's going to kill me one of these days. I'm only 66. I'm too young to die."
Blanche rolled her eyes and said nothing as she left him to his paranoia.

Several months passed and Reet accompanied her husband proudly to Buckingham Palace so he could be knighted. Audrey had been clearly jealous of Reet's good fortune, since all her Alfie managed was a miserable OBE and she never got a title. Reet took great delight in gloating how she made the right choice all those years by sticking with her Mike and keeping Alf at arms length. Norris meanwhile had been behaving himself as he feared for his life. He'd even told her to take as much time off as she liked as he'd look after the shop single-handed as usual and didn't mind a bit. She was not happy. He was spoiling her fun and told him so but he didn't waver. Sir Mike and Lady Reet were on cloud nine and lived happily ever after. Or did they?

The End

Patsy

[pearly queen]

This is excellent Patsy, I loved every minute of it. There is exactly the right amount of humour, sex and violence to keep the reader interested.

[RitaLittlewood]

LOL! Yes, Reet may be over 70 but that doesn't mean she can't get a leg over, does it? I just love writing Reet being violent and horrible towards Norris. Mike and Reet secretly carrying on is plausible. They've always been quite close. And it wouldn't surprise me if the real reason she was falling out with Sharon over Ian was because Mike was away with Linda for 3 weeks so she wasn't getting any. LOL!

I have done a sequel. It started off okay but then my aunt died and it sort of fell flat a bit. I'll post it up shortly.

Patsy