A new member
The next two weeks were difficult for Rachel, and the rest of the group, but they stuck by her as best they could, giving as much support as possible. The police had delayed the funeral on medical grounds as they believed that Jason must have been drinking or on drugs at the time of the accident. Indeed, a post mortem had revealed traces of cocaine in his blood. A death by misadventure verdict would be recorded at a later inquest.
Finally, the day of the funeral arrived. It was a bright and sunny day. The grave yard was in a village close to Jason’s parents’ home. The whole of Rachel’s former husband’s family had turned out, as had a number of his work colleagues. Jason’s family had Irish origins, so in the tradition of the land a wake was held.
After the burial, they all went down to a village pub were the gathering was to be.
Nick noticed how well Rachel seemed to be getting on with her late husband’s family.
“You know, it was a happy marriage once. No one is really sure what happened.”, said the girl standing next to him, who had obviously been following Nick’s gaze.
“By the way, I’m Alison Wesson, Rachel’s sister. You’re Nick, aren’t you?”, the girl continued, both introducing herself and trying to confirm his identity. Alison was a little taller than her sister, not quite as attractive, and younger. She had a trim figure and seemed to like showing it off, judging by the clingy black dress she was wearing, thought Nick. Rachel had not mentioned a sister, so Nick was curious.
“Yeah, I’m Nick. How did you know?”, replied Nick.
“You look like a ‘Nick’”.
“Oh, really.”, replied Nick, raising his eyebrows slightly. “And what do ‘Nicks’ usually look like?”.
“Well, their medium height, quite handsome, running to fat in the stomach region and, oh yes, they also look bloody English”, answered Alison, keeping a straight face.
“Hey, I am definitely not the only man in Britain with a paunch, and you, young lady should have a little respect. This is a sad occasion.”, said Nick, trying to sound serious, but failing dismally.
“Yes, I know, but even Jason would have appreciated a little humour.”
Interesting comment thought Nick, maybe she had a fling with him.
“And before you think I was mucking about with my sisters husband, I was not.”
“I was thinking no such thing,” lied Nick.
“Liar”, chided Alison.
“OK, you’ve caught me, but, well, he did have something of a reputation, didn’t he?”.
Alison eyed him curiously. “You haven’t known my sister for long, have you?”.
“No, we only met a few months, ago, and I’ve not asked about her personal life. I’m not the type.”
“She likes you, you know. Talks about you a lot”. Alison caught the look in Nick’s eyes.
“You like her as well.”
“You’re quite a mind reader, aren’t you?”, laughed Nick.
“It comes with the territory, I’m a psychologist, so I tend to pick up on small signs. Except in your case you may as well have rung a bell.”
“That obvious?”.
“That obvious,” confirmed Alison. No wedding ring, noted Nick, hoping that his glance would escape her attention. It did.
Rachel came over.
“I see you’ve met my younger sister,”.
“Yes, he has, and we were just talking about you”, said Alison. Oh shit, thought Nick, what the hell is she going to say next.
“Yeah, I was just telling him that things were not always so bad between you two. Don’t mind do you sis?”. Nick let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.
“No, I don’t. Nick’s been a good friend for these last few weeks.”
“Yes, he looks like the good friend type.”
Just what does she mean by that, thought Nick, and then told himself to stop being so paranoid.
“Alison, you’re at it again. Can’t you leave your work alone for even a second?”, said Rachel.
“Guess not. I’m thirsty. See you later”. She gave Nick a wink and wondered off to the bar. Nick followed her with his eyes.
Nick turned to Rachel. “Is your sister always like that?” he asked.
“Yes, always”, sighed Rachel.
They chatted for a bit longer and Nick discovered how things between Rachel and Jason had deteriorated. It transpired that the two had been madly in love once, but that pressure of work had got to them both, particularly Jason. He had become spectacularly successful at work, but it was this which had led to his downfall. He had been made a hatchet man. The job had entailed giving the sack to a number of close friends, often leaving them in a state of financial ruin. This had got to him. He had tried to change jobs, but no one wanted him to do anything else. He was also being paid handsomely for his work. Finally, he had started to crack. He started to stay out late at night, then came the cocaine and finally the women. Rachel had tried to talk to him about it, but he refused to admit that he had a problem. ‘Stress alleviation’, was the term he coined for it. Rachel explained how the six months leading up to the accident had been the worst for her, and how Jason had spent most of his time either at work or out. She admitted that she knew he had been seeing other women, from both the physical signs, such as lipstick and contraceptives, and the emotional signs. Jason had lost interest in her almost totally and they had ended up fighting on virtually every occasion they met. These circumstances had led her into the company of her friends Steve and Jon and into an interest in changing what she had come to regard as an overheating society.
“Right, now you know just about all there is to know about me. It’s your turn next time. By the way, we’ve still got to get together and decide how we can progress our ideas,” concluded Rachel. Nick was relieved that she was still interested in what they wanted to do. He had feared that Jason’s death may have put everything in a different light for her and, possibly, the others.
“You still planning a revolution, are you?”. It was Alison, glass of wine in one hand, a plate of sandwiches in the other. “Bloody good idea if you ask me, this country is going to the dogs, fast. The number of virtually deranged people I’m coming across these days has to be seen to be believed,” she continued.
“In a manner of speaking, I suppose we are, but at the moment its all talk.” said Nick, replying to her initial question.
“I’ve told Alison a little about what we have been doing and she’d like to join in,” added Rachel, her expression suggesting that she was looking for Nick’s approval. She was obviously not sure what he had made of her sister.
“Fine, by me, but we’d better speak to Steve and Jon, I suppose,” confirmed Nick.
“You don’t need to, I’ve already spoken to them and they’re OK about it,” broke in Alison.
“That’s settled then. We’re going to get together some time next week and have a further chat. Where do you live, by the way?”, asked Nick.
“Tring.”, replied Alison.
“No problem, we’re all just down the road from each other. Let’s go and have a word with Steve and Jon now. If that’s OK by you Rachel?”.
“Yes, I need something to divert me from this mess. Besides in a way I owe it to Jason. It is this society which changed him, so by changing it, hopefully I can do something for others in our position.” said Rachel.
Nick was pleased to hear this and glad to have Alison on board as well. Nick found that he was growing to like Rachel’s sister and they shared the same intelligent incisive mind. She would be a useful member, he decided.
They moved over to where Steve and Jon were standing talking.
“Hi, there, how’s it going?”, said Jon greeting them.
“Not too bad, present circumstances considered”, replied Rachel.
“You brought your sister over to psychoanalyse us?”, asked Steve.
“I’ve done that already and you qualify as a complete head case,” chipped in Alison.
“On that note, when are we ‘head cases’ going to get together again to discuss our little revolution?”, Nick enquired.
“Whenever Rachel’s ready for it”, replied Jon.
“I’m ready”, answered Rachel.
“OK then, if your sure Rachel, how about next week?”, suggested Nick.
“You can all come over to my house. I could do with some good company to help me get over recent events”, said Rachel. “How about it?”.
“Sounds good to me,” replied Nick.
The rest also agreed and a date was fixed. Nick asked Rachel to tell Alison all about the group’s plans and intentions.
Then Nick and the other two male members of the group chatted for a bit longer, before saying their goodbyes and leaving Rachel and Alison at the pub.
