Honey Sweet Revenge

Rita Diplock

Janice carefully composed her face as she went to the door. Really, this was becoming very tiresome. There were times she almost wished Bob hadn't died. Comforted by yet more flowers held by a sombre faced friend, she infused her voice with a mixture of grief and gratitude.
"Estelle, how kind of you to come"
Estelle replied briskly," It is the least I could do" Stepping forward, she embraced Janice, kissing her. " How are you coping, dear? My sincere sympathy."
Releasing her friend, Estelle continued, " My dear did you know that he was...er... that he...er." Her voice trailed away uncertainly, before finishing in a rush, "seeing someone?"
Janice bowed her head, suppressing an impulse to smile. She'd though Estelle would have waited at least until the cup of tea before asking questions.
"Oh my dear!" cried Estelle. "I shouldn't have mentioned it. Here, I ‘ll make you a cup of tea. There's nothing like a cup of tea like this...or would you prefer coffee?"

Janice meekly agreed that tea would be fine. She closed the door, hiding her annoyance, as Estelle led the way through to lounge room. Dear, domineering Estelle, always taking over. Once in the lounge room she indicated the flowers Estelle still held." Are those for me?" she asked.
"Oh yes." Estelle made no move to hand them over as she started round at the many arrangements already on display. Janice could see she was impressed, and couldn't help feeling a certain satisfaction, after all, Bob had been a successful businessman and senior partner in the firm. Some time earlier, when yet another arrangement had arrived, she'd thought to herself that the place was beginning to resemble a florist's shop, smiling at the irony.
"People have been so kind." She told Estelle
Estelle headed towards the kitchen "you sit down, dear, and I'll put these in water and make tea for us"
"Thank you, Estelle"

As Janice listened to the sound of cupboards opening and shutting as Estelle searched for a vase, a smile played round her lips and she reflected complacently on the accident clause in Bob's insurance policy. She looked with satisfaction around the lovely room, almost purring. It was all hers now. When Estelle called, "where do you keep your vase?" Janice called back, "If you can't find one, put them in the laundry."
Hearing Estelle returning, Janice rearranged her face to a more suitable expression.
"There are flowers there already." Estelle told her from the door.
Janice sounded vague. "Oh. Are there?"
Estelle hesitated, frowning as she turned back to the kitchen. "You have milk with no sugar, don't you?"
"Yes, thank you."
Estelle soon returned with two mugs, putting one on the polished table beside Janice, holding up the biscuit she'd got for herself, explaining, "I knew you wouldn't want one."
Janice reached quickly for coasters, thrusting one at Estelle before placing the other under her own mug. She'd drunk so much tea in the last few days that she was sick of sight of it. The mug was barely raised for the obligatory sip when Estelle asked," you had no idea?"

Replacing her mug carefully on the coaster, Janice stared into the tea. Too much milk by far, pleased with the sad little,' no' that squeaked out.
Estelle was matter-of-fact. "the wife is always the last to know"

Janice was angered by Estelle's presumption she hadn't known. Estelle was nearly as bad as Bob. He'd thought she didn't know either. Stupid, stupid people ! How could she miss the sign? New clothes, shirts and ties in colours she'd never have thought to buy, not to mention the time he'd got home late with his hair still damp.
Smelling of some strange soap. And of course, he was always too tired for her. She'd waited for him to get over it, like he with the others. But he hadn't. When she'd decided to find out who it was, Janice has been surprised at how simple it had proved On only the second time she'd gone to the coffee shop over from Bob's office she'd seen him get picked up by that woman. They hadn't even glanced her way. With the car registration it was easy to find out who she was. When she'd looked through the window of the florist shop, the woman's looks and youth had frightened Janice, making her wonder if she'd end up in some tiny unit, eking out a miserable existence on a pittance.

It wasn't until two weeks ago she ‘d had the idea. She hadn't known it would work out the way it had. It was sort of like how to succeed without really trying. What a pity she couldn't share it with someone, but it wasn't the sort of thing you ever told, not even to your mother. She hadn't dreamed that Bob would actually be killed. Janice shivered with delicious, silent laughter, hurriedly burying her face in her hands, remembering that Estelle was there.
"You mustn't take it so hard." Estelle soothed, wrapping her arms round Janice." He wasn't worth it."

Janice disagreed silently. He did deserve what he got. Hadn't she struck rigidly to that diet, giving up chocolates and desserts and all those delicious morning teas to get down to a size fourteen. And had he appreciated it? No he had not. Tears of fury at the wicked injustice of it came to her eyes.
"There, there, dear. Don't cry."

By the time Janice was disengaged from Estelle, their tea was cold.
"I'll make us another cup." Estelle told her, striding purposefully to the kitchen. It was at least another half hour before Estelle left, after being assured more than once that Janice would be alright. When Estelle hesitated and looked back from the gate, Janice waved, quickly closing the door. She knew Estelle would soon be spreading he word of how poor Janice was utterly devastated. She could imagine her telling people, " Didn't know a thing about them, poor dear, but then the wife is always the last to know."

Janice returned to the lounge to check where the tea mugs had stood, relieved the table was unmarked. Relaxing in her favourite chair, she thought back to the day she'd passed by that funny little shop with all those strange models; fairies and monsters and glowing crystal ball in the window. It was a miracle she'd seen it at all. It must have been fate, and meant for her alone to find. It was a bee, and so lifelike, she'd gone in to investigate, finding instead a realistic magnetic ornament. The heavily tattooed young man explained how it vibrated and buzzed gently when left in a warm place, or in the sun for long enough. She'd bought one, surprised at its cost. Bob was afraid of bees, deathly afraid. She liked that thought, you could say frightened to death, even. The delicious laughter bubbled up again. Bob was allergic to bee stings and had almost died when stung by one as a child. No sooner had she left the shop, when she'd regretted her purchase. Even though it couldn't hurt him, she knew he wouldn't like it. She'd hidden it away and almost forgotten it---- until the day the idea had come to her. Bob's car was always under cover at home and at work. But when she'd driven past her house, she'd noticed the front was all open garden with just an awning for one car. The perfect place for a little bee to get warm in the sun.

Early the next morning she'd put the little bee in Bob's car, up against the windscreen. He always slept late when he'd been with her. She shivered with laughter again. Janice had expected that if Bob ever discovered the bee in his car, all he'd get was a fright. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined the two serious faced Police who'd come to tell her of the accident. The witness who'd seen it said Bob had appeared to be hitting at something as he'd veered onto the wrong side of the road into the path of the semi-trailer. Bob's partners said they thought he's been to lunch with a client. After all, she was the florist who supplied the arrangements for their office. Hah! Client indeed! Hadn't he used to tell her of their ‘little bit on the side' when they'd had them? Of course they'd try to cover for him.

Janice had been genuinely shocked by the news. Later, when she'd had time to think things through she knew it wasn't really her fault. He could have opened the window, or stopped the car. Even squashed it, after all, it wasn't real. And how was she to know he'd have her in the car. It was sort of like killing two birds with the one stone. Janice enjoyed this thought so much, she laughed again. The car had been completely crushed and they'd had to use those jaws of life things to cut the bodies out. It had been on the TV that night. Bob's dental records and DNA had been used to identify him. The sweet young policewoman had tole her that way she could remember him the way he was. Janice knew she'd have no trouble doing that. The little bee was never mentioned, so it would always be her secret, and everyone was being so kind.

Turning to more Pleasant things, after mentally listing the assets and investments that were now hers, Janice toyed with the idea of a cruise. She was jerked from her thoughts by the ringing of the doorbell. It wasn't until the second ring that she slowly rose, muttering under her breath. Glancing at her reflection in the antique mirror in the hall, a new thought smoothed the frown from her face. She could have sugar in her tea again, and indulge herself whenever she liked. Next time she was out she'd call at that little cake shop she'd had to avoid for so long. Just thinking of it made her mouth water. She shivered with delicious laughter again, picturing the cake she intended to buy, with its slivered almonds and shiny glaze, almost tasting the luscious filling--- a Bee Sting.