Bitter Sweet Revenge Read online

  Bitter Sweet Revenge

  By Donna Jay

  Copyright 2019 © Donna Jay

  Cover Image – Deposit Photos

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Except for the use of brief quotations in any review or critical article, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is forbidden without prior written permission from the author, Donna Jay.

  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorised editions.

  Dedication

  For Ron.

  Gone but not forgotten. RIP.

  Acknowledgements

  I owe a world of gratitude to my beta readers and my proof reader.

  Kim, once again, I apologise for making your eyes bleed. Thank you for coming on this crazy ride with me. Without your constant support, Katie’s story would still be in the recesses of my computer.

  Sophie, thank you for reminding me to breathe when I lost the plot, literally and figuratively. Your support and feedback were invaluable.

  Christine, thank you for your feedback and for helping make this a better story.

  Robert, as always, thank you for your eagle eye.

  Kiwi-isms

  Biscuits – cookies

  Chook – chicken

  Esky - cooler

  Jandals – flip-flops

  Lollies – candy

  Olds – parents

  Paua - Abalone

  Tea – dinner

  Togs – bathing suit

  Car:

  Boot – trunk

  Bonnet – hood

  Chapter 1

  December, 1985 - Summer

  Katie hefted her backpack over her shoulders trying hard to ignore her jittery nerves. In a few weeks school would be out for the year, but until then she had two more exams to sit through.

  The thought of not passing school certificate filled her with dread. It wouldn’t be the end of the world, she could always get a factory job, but she’d set her sights higher.

  “Come give your mother a kiss.” Like clockwork, her mum held out her arms.

  It was a morning ritual Katie loved. Up until a year ago, her older brother, Simon, had endured the same treatment. Although he grumbled he was too old to be kissed like a baby, a smile had always accompanied his protests.

  Inhaling the familiar aroma of cleaning products that clung to her mother, Katie’s worries dissipated.

  Her mum held her by the shoulders, eyeing the toast and vegemite on the kitchen table. “Have you eaten?”

  “No.”

  “Starve the body, starve the brain.” She tapped Katie’s temple. “You need to eat.”

  “I can’t. I feel sick. This exam’s a biggie.”

  Her mother’s frown transformed into a loving smile. “Typing?”

  “Yep.”

  “You’ve got this. I’ve heard you tap-tap-tapping away on the rickety old typewriter your father brought home for you.”

  A chuckle bubbled up in Katie. “The letter A sticks and the return bar needs a good hard shove to get it to work, but I still managed to punch out sixty-seven words a minute last night.”

  “See, now stop worrying.”

  A thought occurred to Katie. “Oh, shit. I forgot…”

  The look of rebuke on her mother’s face made Katie cringe. Her mum didn’t tolerate profanity, no matter how mild.

  “Pardon me?”

  “Sorry, Ma. I meant I just remembered three girls from my typing class invited me to hang out with them after the exam, so I might not be straight home. Okay?”

  Her mother’s expression mirrored how Katie had felt when she received the invitation. Shocked and delighted.

  “That’s wonderful. Of course it’s okay, as long as you’re home for dinner, then you can tell your father and me all about your exam.”

  “Deal.” Katie raced out the door, no longer dreading the day ahead.

  Rather than jump on her 10-speed bicycle, which slipped the chain more often than not, she strolled the few blocks to school.

  A magpie cawed, filling Katie with dread. She eyed the bird warily, hoping it didn’t dive-bomb her. It wouldn’t be the first time. During nesting season, they could be vicious.

  Once she made it safely past, Katie cursed herself for not putting her Walkman in her bag. Music always made her pick up her pace. The last cassette she’d put in the player flashed through her mind. Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics sounded in her head as clearly as if they were being piped through the headset.

  Like a needle stuck on a record the words Everybody’s looking for something played on a loop.

  Katie doubted she’d ever find what she was looking for. She was so far in the closet she’d lost herself. There was one other girl at school who she suspected was gay, but Katie could hardly ask her, it simply wasn’t talked about.

  One boy in her homeroom, Peter, was unmistakably gay. He was teased mercilessly. No one stood up for him, including teachers who chose to turn a blind eye.

  After stowing her pack in her locker, Katie headed down the corridor toward the typing room. She flexed her fingers, anxious to get the exam over with. A.S, D.S, D.F, F.D, played on repeat in her mind.

  The mantra had been drilled into her brain since her first typing class three years ago. Up ahead, Cherie, Tracy, and Anita stood talking to a group of boys. She wore the same uniform—maroon skirt and white blouse—but Katie’s life was worlds apart from her peers.

  Although love and hugs were abundant in the Parker household, money was sparse, so Katie didn’t fit in with the cool kids. When spring made an appearance back in September, Katie had tucked her feet under her chair, keeping her well-worn roman sandals out of view, while her classmates had sat on school desks kicking their feet, showing off strappy new slave sandals.

  Regardless, she was determined to do her damnedest to fit in.

  Cherie recently had her dark-brown hair permed which gave her a look of sophistication. Tracy wore her hair in a page boy, and Anita, the most striking of all three, wore her hair parted down the middle. Delicate curls, no doubt achieved from hours spent in front of her mirror with her curling iron, framed her perfectly symmetrical face.

  A pang of unease hit Katie. Why on earth these three had invited her into their circle was beyond her.

  Putting her worries down to paranoia, she plastered on a smile. “Let’s blitz this exam, ladies, and then we can go have some fun.”

  Tracy, Anita, and Cherie beamed at each other then turned those huge smiles on Katie. Happiness bloomed in her chest. Finally, she was part of the in-crowd.

  “Hell yes, sister.” Anita held up a hand and all three high-fived her.

  On a high, Katie practically floated into the typing room.

  ***

  Two hours later, the insistent clack-clack-clack of keys ceased when Mrs Johnstone called, “Time.”

  Katie pulled the piece of paper out of her typewriter, put it with the others, and joined the queue making their way to the teacher’s desk.

  Back in the corridor, Tracy and Anita linked arms with Katie. Ahead of them, Cherie walked backwards, grinning and jabbering, “Let’s get our bags and head for Horseshoe Bend.”

  Katie had heard of the swimming hole, it was a well-known hangout spot for students who had cars. She’d been having driving lessons in her dad’s Hillman Imp since the day she turned fifteen, and although she was legally old enough to get her lice
nce, her parents wanted her to wait until she turned sixteen.

  Thankfully, her birthday was only a week away. With any luck, by the time exams were over she would have her driver’s licence.

  Students parted, making room for them as though they were royalty. It was a heady feeling being given the right of way rather than being the one to jump aside or risk being trampled on. A feeling Katie wasn’t entirely sure she liked. She’d never considered herself above others.

  A girl wearing thick glasses tried to step around them. In the next instant, she hit the floor, face first.

  Cherie glared down at her. “Watch where you’re going, would you?”

  “Yeah, four eyes.” Anita laughed.

  The girl scrambled to her feet, apologising profusely and scurried away.

  Telling herself she’d imagined Anita trip the girl, Katie shook her head to clear it of any negative thoughts. After all, this was what she wanted, wasn’t it? To belong.

  When they pushed through the school’s front doors, the sun was high in the sky, the air hot and dry. A trip to the river was sounding more and more appealing.

  Cherie unlocked the driver’s door of a white Cortina with a green stripe down the side. Whether she owned it or her parents, Katie had no clue. It didn’t matter. Having a car was one more thing that elevated Cherie in the eyes of fellow students.

  She leaned across the seat and popped the lock on the passenger’s door where Anita stood waiting, as if it was a no-brainer she’d be sitting in the front.

  In unison, Cherie and Anita pushed the seatbacks forward and hollered, “Get in.”

  Well versed at climbing into the back seat of their family car, Katie folded herself in with practiced ease. Tracy joined her, tossing her pack at her feet.

  She bumped shoulders with Katie, giving her a sly wink. “Ready to have some fun? Just us girls.”

  Unsure how to interpret the gesture, Katie nodded, feeling like one of those stupid dog figurines that constantly bobbed in the back windows of cars.

  Perhaps this close-knit trio were closeted lesbians and Katie was about to be initiated into their secret sisterhood. More likely that was wishful thinking. But wow, imagine if there was such a thing.

  “Yoo-hoo.” Anita, who’d turned in the front seat, snapped her fingers in Katie’s face. “You with us? You look like you zoned out for a minute.”

  “I’m just really excited.” Her cheeks heated.

  I’m just really excited. Way to go, Katie. Why don’t you just slap a big L on your forehead?

  Cherie glanced in the rear-view mirror. Eyeballing Katie, she put the car in gear, let out the clutch and bunny-hopped out the school entrance.

  Anita and Tracy cracked up laughing. Katie joined in as it felt like the right thing to do. Inwardly, she hoped Cherie had been doing it for a laugh and not because she’d got her licence out of a Weetbix box.

  Cherie cranked up the radio and sang along. The light-hearted atmosphere in the car was so infectious, Katie joined in.

  Fifteen minutes later, Cherie pulled off the road and followed a treelined lane down to a river.

  Apprehension prickled up Katie’s spine as the car came to a stop in a small clearing surrounded by thick bush. The place didn’t resemble anything close to where high school kids would hangout. It was deserted.

  Ignoring the alarm bells blaring in her head, once again Katie put her jitters down to paranoia. Just because she didn’t feel like she belonged didn’t mean anything bad would happen to her, did it?

  “Ready?” Tracy slapped Katie’s leg then jiggled the seat in front of her. “Get out, let’s go, let’s go.”

  “Hold your horses.” Anita laughed. She popped the glovebox and pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

  “Don’t forget the backpack,” Cherie said as she climbed out and flicked the seat forward so Katie could get out.

  “Got it.” Tracy dragged a backpack out from under the front seat. Once she climbed out of the car, she undid the straps and pulled out a flask.

  Katie wasn’t naïve enough not to realize it held booze. If she had to smoke and drink to be part of a group, she could do that. Almost everyone else she knew did, so it was time she joined the ranks.

  Although, Katie would draw the line at smoking on the school grounds. Her mother had been livid when her brother had arrived home from school announcing he was on smoker’s detention, and she didn’t want to disappoint her mum by being caught doing the same.

  Anita sat on the blanket Tracy had spread out, held a match to her cigarette and took a deep drag. Exhaling a puff of smoke, she handed the glowing cigarette to Katie. Just the thought of inhaling the toxic fumes made Katie’s throat burn.

  Acting with a confidence she didn’t feel, she took a pull and blew it out. The taste of ash lingered in her mouth, but it was nowhere near as bad as she’d anticipated.

  “Nice.” She nodded, playing it cool.

  All three of her new friends smiled. While Katie wanted to feel accepted, for some reason she felt like she was the brunt of a joke.

  “Try again,” Tracy said. “This time draw it into your lungs.” She held up the packet of Pall Malls. “These suckers aren’t cheap.”

  With the cigarette between her lips, Katie inhaled deeply. The acrid smoke hit her lungs and burned like a house on fire. Determined not to cough, she cleared her throat, which made matters worse. Unable to fight the involuntary spasm, she all but coughed up a lung.

  Laughing, Cherie grabbed the cigarette and thrust a flask into Katie’s hands. “Here, have a drink.”

  Without thought, Katie took a large gulp. Whatever was in the flask was like pouring liquid fire on her already sore throat.

  All three girls watched her intently, lips pursed, eyes narrowed.

  She blinked rapidly, somehow managing to keep the tears in check. When all three nodded and broke out into huge grins, Katie felt like she’d passed a test.

  “Well done.” Tracy smacked her on the back, and the cough Katie had been fighting back burst forth.

  Relief surged through her when no one commented. The cigarette was handed around until it’d had the guts dragged out of it.

  Blowing out a plume of smoke, Cherie dug a hole in the dirt and buried the butt. The fact she didn’t just flick it away surprised Katie. It seemed out of character for Cherie to care about the environment.

  The booze kicked in and Katie started to relax. Really relax. She leaned back on her hands, the woollen blanket scratchy beneath her palms, the sun warm on her legs.

  Sitting in a lotus position, Anita took a healthy swig, head back, flask pointing to the sky.

  “What’s in that?” Katie asked. She’d never tried anything other than wine or beer on the odd occasion her parents permitted her to have a drink at home.

  “Sambucca.” Anita blew air out between her lips as though her mouth was on fire. “Tracy’s parents have the best stash. Don’t they?”

  Tracy nodded.

  Without another word, the flask did the rounds. It briefly crossed Katie’s mind whether Cherie should be drinking, considering she was driving, but Katie was too chickenshit to say anything.

  “So, you like girls?” Cherie nailed Katie with a look she couldn’t decipher. Was she challenging her, fishing for information, or genuinely curious?

  Wary, Katie’s guard went up. “Sure, I’m here with you three, aren’t I?”

  Anita rolled onto her stomach, chin on her hands. “Do you like boys?”

  “They’re okay.” Katie shrugged, playing it cool.

  “Ever kissed one?” Cherie asked.

  She’d kissed her brother on the cheek, did that count? Katie doubted that’s what she meant. Regardless, she smiled and nodded.

  “Did he slip his tongue in?” Tracy asked, her expression neutral.

  The very suggestion made bile rise up the back of Katie’s throat. Plastering on a smile, she returned Tracy’s question. “Have you French kissed a boy?”

  “Of course she fucki
n’ has,” Cherie snarled, teeth bared like a rabid dog.

  Although Cherie’s permed hair gave off the vibe of a cute poodle all the boys wanted to hump, it was quickly becoming clear she was a nasty bitch.

  Katie looked from Tracy to Anita. Their blank expressions gave away nothing.

  “They’ve had cock too, unlike you, right?”

  “I don’t know what your problem is, but you’re scaring me.”

  “You’re scaring her,” Anita mocked then burst out laughing. “Ignore Cherie, she thinks everyone wants dick. But you’re not like that, right?” She put an arm around Katie’s shoulders.

  Katie tried not to tremble. In the pit of her stomach, she knew something was very, very wrong. She needed to tread carefully.

  “No, I’m not like that. I’m saving myself for marriage.”

  “Don’t be daft,” Cherie scoffed. “Your mother was probably up the duff before your parents got married.”

  Even though what Cherie said was true, Katie wasn’t about to admit it. It’d taken her years to figure that out for herself.

  Anita’s next question left Katie gobsmacked.

  “But you’re not going to get married are you, because you like girls?”

  Kneeling at the foot of the blanket, Tracy glanced between her two friends. The troubled look in her eyes further confused Katie.

  “Yes, no, I don’t know.” She couldn’t believe the words had tumbled out. She immediately regretted it.

  “Let’s help you decide.”

  Scared out of her mind, Katie glanced around half expecting to see a group of boys jump out from behind the trees.

  “What do you mean?” she dared to ask, heart pounding in her chest.

  Inch by slow inch, Cherie pulled her hand out of the backpack she’d ordered Tracy to grab when they’d exited the car. Half smiling, half sneering, she revealed a crude white dildo.

  It resembled the toy Katie had found in her mother’s bedside drawer the one time she’d gone snooping.

  The sight of the massive dildo—or what Katie’s innocent mind deemed massive—made her break out in a cold sweat.

  “Grab her,” Cherie screamed, jumping to her feet.