Shortbread

Marie beat the butter and sugar together until it turned almost white. She whisked two eggs in a cup, poured them into the centre and beat in the yolks. Next, she tipped the flour into the scales and sieved it into the bowl. It fell in soft flurries onto the white creamy mixture, which she folded in. Vanilla essence! She knew she had forgotten something.
She opened the cupboard, hoping there was a bottle there. Aha! There it was, behind the icing sugar. Marie whipped it out and tapped a couple of drops into the bowl. Slowly stirring so as not to knock any of the air out, she mixed in the essence. When she was satisfied she scooped out the cake mix and slopped it carefully into the greased circular baking tins.
Sliding them onto the shelves of the oven Marie admired the brand new oven gloves she’d bought herself. They were exactly the right colour to go with the oven. Scarlet red. Coincidentally, they also matched her shoes and nail polish.
Marie liked red. It was vibrant and provocative and it matched her auburn hair. She closed the door and turned to face the window. Ah, there was Helena walking up the path. She was just in time, as always. Marie removed her apron and draped it over a kitchen chair carelessly. It slid off and dropped to the floor. She didn’t notice it. She was too intent on getting to the door to be a good hostess.
Marie opened the door exactly 5 seconds after Helena knocked on it. She knew that she should never keep Helena waiting. It would be bad manners.
The women greeted one another in warm, polite tones and commented on the weather, a brisk but sunny day.
Marie showed Helena through to the living room where Geoff was sat in his chair with his hat over his eyes. Marie put her finger to her lips and pointed to Geoff. ‘He’s sleeping.’ She mouthed grinning. Helena grinned back and sat down on the red velvet sofa.
Marie went to hang up Helena’s coat and re-boil the kettle. She checked on her cakes, rising nicely, through the oven window. Lovely. She took the biscuit tin from under the counter and placed three shop bought biscuits and three of her special shortbread on a plate. Next she made up the tea which she whisked through to the living room for Helena.
"Ah those biscuits look lovely as ever, Marie," said Helena, always eager to be gracious to her hostess.
"Thank you," Marie smiled then glanced at the sleeping Geoff. "I baked them this morning. I hope you’ll enjoy them." She offered the plate to Helena who picked the largest biscuit of the three. She bit into it and was surprised at what she tasted.
"You’ve changed the recipe!" She exclaimed a little too loudly. Marie hushed her.
"He had one of his blackouts last night," she nodded to Geoff. "But yes, I put raspberries in it for a change. I’m sure it’ll be just as nice as my old shortbread once I perfect the recipe. Too many raspberries do you think? I had quite a few left over from some jam I made."
"Perhaps a few," Helena agreed. "They take over the flavour of the shortbread quite a lot."
Marie smiled. She knew Helena would be honest. She was disappointed that she hadn’t been more honest before now.
Marie poured two cups of tea and passed one to Helena, who added sugar and milk to hers.
"Do you think he’ll wake up any time soon?" Helena hissed.
Marie shook her head. "He won’t be awake for ages. He took some sleeping tablets along with his insulin."
"I’m surprised he didn’t wake up when the doorbell rang," Helena commented.
"It must be the tablets," said Marie biting into a shop bought biscuit. "They are quite strong."
Helena nodded and looked over at Geoff. He had his hands propped up on a pillow, which he was hugging to his stomach. His mouth was slightly open.
She glanced at Marie who was smiling pleasantly at her then looked down at the biscuits.
"Are you not having a shortbread, Marie?" She asked.
"Oh no, I’ve already had two after I took them out of the oven," Marie replied. "You know what they say, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips."
She glanced down at her shapely hips and laughed softly. She knew that it would never happen to her.
Helena grimaced, aware of her own bulk. "Yes, lucky for some."
Marie got up from her chair. "I’ll just go and check the sponge."
When she had left the room, Helena placed her cup gently on the table beside her and sat the biscuit next to it. She crept over to where Geoff was.
"Helena?" Marie called from the kitchen. Helena jumped with fright. "Yes?" She called back as normally as she could.
"Would you like something savoury? I have crackers and some Brie."
"Er… no thank you, Marie," she tentatively lifted Geoff’s hat.
"What are you doing?" Marie was standing beside her. Helena jumped.
"Oh… well… there was a fly on Geoff’s hat," Helena babbled. "I was trying to get rid of it."
"It won’t bother him. He’s asleep," Marie frowned.
Helena stepped back and smiled as brightly as she could. "Okay, I was just… er… trying to help."
"Sure," said Marie ushering Helena back to the sofa. "The cake is just cooling on the rack. I’ll have to ice it soon."
"Is it for the Women’s Circle?" Helena asked as Marie handed her back her cup.
"Yes. It’s just a Victoria sponge but I’m going to replace the strawberry jam with the raspberry," replied Marie. "Now, you said on the telephone that you had something to tell me. What’s wrong?"
Helena hesitated. She’d been dreading this.
"I’m moving away," she blurted out.
"Oh I’m sorry to hear that," Marie reached down into her knitting bag. "Has Jack given up his job?"
"No, Jack won’t be coming," Helena watched in horror as Marie whipped some… white cotton gloves out of the bag. Helena let out a small sigh of relief. "Er… what was I saying? Oh, yes. We’re getting a divorce."
"I’m so sorry," Marie slowly put on the gloves, avoiding looking at Helena. "What happened? Was he having an affair with that receptionist from work?"
"No," Helena said quietly. "I was having the affair."
Marie didn’t look up; she just brushed a few pieces of lint from the gloves. "Oh yes? Who with?" Why wasn’t Geoff waking up yet? She’d tested the tablets three nights in a row and he’d never slept this long before.
Helena hesitated. She didn’t like the way Marie had tensed up.
"Er… well that’s what I came to tell you really," Helena stammered. "It’s Geoff."
"Oh," said Marie. Suddenly, she jumped up and started to clear away the tea things.
Helena looked confused. "Are you not angry?"
Marie looked down at her and smiled. "Angry? Why would I be angry?"
Helena stuttered. "I’m so sorry, Marie. I didn’t mean it to go so far."
"No, I’m sure you didn’t," Marie said levelly then picked up the tray.
There was a groan from Geoff’s chair. Marie turned to Helena. "Ah he’s awake."
She whisked the tea tray through to the kitchen and put it on the worktop. Here goes. She hurried back to the living room finding Helena still on the couch, wiping her eyes with a napkin.
"I’m sorry, Marie," Helena repeated.
Marie smiled and slid a hand down the side of Geoff’s chair. Her fingers curled around the gun and she snapped off the safety catch. She pulled the gun out from between the cushions.
Helena stood up quickly. "Marie!"
Marie pointed the gun at her. "There’s only room for one scarlet woman."
She fired. The bullet went cleanly into Helena’s porcelain forehead. Marie was astounded at her aim. Twelve years of throwing Geoff’s socks into the washing basket must have primed her hand eye co-ordination.
She had almost forgotten what she was supposed to do. She quickly pushed the gun into Geoff’s hand, clamping his fingers around the hilt.
She screamed loudly.
"Help! Help!" she shouted.
Geoff raised a hand to his hat and pushed it off his head. He blinked in the light of the mid afternoon sun. Marie backed away from him.
"No!" she screamed.
Geoff frowned. "What are you going on about, woman?" he said groggily. "Stop all that racket."
Marie looked down at the gun, holding her hands up to her chest.
"Please don’t!" she wailed.
Geoff looked at what was in his hands then stared at her. It was only then that he saw Helena lying on the floor, her head awkwardly leaning against a side table.
"Helena," he breathed. "Did I do that?" His mind reeled as he tried to remember.
Marie nodded frantically. "These blackouts are getting worse."
Geoff’s face hardened and his mouth curled up into a snarl. He had nothing to lose now. "I’ve wanted to do this for years."
Marie froze as he brought the gun up to her chest and fired.