Lynda Plante - Sleeping Cruelty

She gave a small smile, as he moved his index finger across her perfect lips.

‘But I’ve been jealous of Max. I admit it. For some stupid reason I thought that maybe you really did care for him. I’m glad I was mistaken,’ said Justin. ‘I understand it now. Max was just part of the scam, wasn’t he? He never meant anything else to you?’

Laura shook her head. ‘Of course not,’ she said, her lips only an inch away from her brother’s. ‘The only man I have ever loved is you.’

They kissed, at first almost innocently, then the kiss became deeper and more prolonged.

Max gasped. His breath felt as if it had been squeezed from his lungs and his heart felt as though it was jumping out of his chest. He ran out of the office, out of the house, out into the oncoming dusk. His body felt as if it was on fire. He hurt inside so much that he couldn’t get the sight of Justin with Laura out of his mind.

William’s stomach churned as the boat crashed over a wave; the sea always got rougher as they headed inshore towards the island. He stretched, then stood up in the boat to admire his paradise as they approached. This evening it looked glorious, with the sun sinking into the horizon and all the outside lights twinkling, making the island appear like a magical mirage. He moved closer to the rails and took deep gulping breaths. It made him feel better: all the anxiety and emotional strain of the day were blown out of him. He was glad to be coming home, and once he’d said that word in his mind, he knew it was his home. This was where he wanted to be more than anywhere else.

He had a future he wanted to live his own way, without any interference or guilt. He knew now that it was linked to Justin, because none of what he saw or felt would have existed without him. Now he acknowledged the effect this man, this wild crazy boy, had over him. Never before had he craved to see someone, or felt his belly churn with anticipation at the prospect of being close to somebody. His heart fluttered and he laughed. He would never have believed it was true.

He could hear Justin’s laugh, see his face in a multitude of expressions. They overlapped and juggled for space in his mind until he felt weak and had to sit down. Like a lovesick boy, he ached to see Justin, no matter what had happened in the past.

But as the boat drew closer to the jetty his confidence began to waver, leaving him with a terrible dread that Justin might not want to remain his friend. After all, hadn’t Justin used him as he had used everyone else? Suddenly he was afraid he would lose Justin. He was unsure whether he could deal with such a loss: Justin was closer to him than anyone else, and no matter what he had done, William would have to confront him with all he had discovered. He fell into contemplation of how he would approach him: he knew he had to be told the truth, no matter what.

When Laura couldn’t find Max in his room she was worried. Then she remembered they’d agreed to meet at Suicide Point. She reprimanded herself for being so stupid. She had made the arrangements, after all. She checked her case, stashed behind some ferns, before starting along the winding path up to the point. She’d thought Justin was never going to leave her room. But he’d suddenly heard a boat coming in, and rushed out. It was either William or the mail-boat arriving, he’d called. She waited ten minutes before she dared leave.

Laura ran, panting, to the peak, the highest point on the island. As she turned the last blind corner to climb higher she caught a glimpse of Max in the distance, standing with his back to her, facing the sea. He was barefoot, wearing dark trousers and a white shirt, billowing in the wind. His hands were on his hips and he was standing so still he might have been a statue. Laura began to run, but as she drew closer she froze.

It wasn’t Max, it was Justin. She stared at him for a moment, frightened. Where was Max? What had he done to Max? She clenched her fists and forced herself to continue towards Justin, who stared out to sea, watching William’s speedboat approach the island.

‘Where is he?’ She was only a few feet behind him.

Justin tensed. He said nothing.

She came closer and her voice was shrill: ‘Where is he? What have you done to him? If you’ve hurt him, I’ll...’ She was close enough now. One hard shove and he would topple over Suicide Point into the crashing sea below.

‘He’s not coming, Laura,’ Justin said.

She raised both hands to push him over but Justin grabbed her wrists. ‘He’s on the jetty, ready to leave. He’s going alone.’

He still held her wrists as her body relaxed and the anger subsided. She shook her head, smiling. ‘Oh, no, not this time. I don’t believe you. He’s waiting for me.’

He grabbed her and held her in his arms so she could hardly breathe. He guided her to the cliff’s edge, and forced her to look down towards the jetty. Max was standing with his suitcase beside him. She eased away from him, and stepped closer to the edge. Justin dragged her back.

‘What have you told him?’ Laura screeched. Justin threw her to the ground and bent down to her. She kicked him between his legs and he howled in agony. ‘You bastard, what did you tell him? He loves me.’ Laura clawed at the grass. Her eyes were demented and her face twisted with uncontrollable rage. ‘You had to spoil it. I knew you would if you found out because you were always jealous, jealous that I had a chance to be free of you. I hate you! I hate you!’ she hissed, and with that she came for him, scratching and snarling like a savage.

Then she began to sob. ‘I never told him anything. I wouldn’t have done that to you.’ She could taste the blood in her mouth and gasped, taking deep breaths. She was calming down, bringing her anger under control.

Justin watched her fearfully. The rage quietened, but he could still see it swirling inside her. Her wild eyes belied the smile on her lips.

‘You never told him anything, did you, about us?’ Laura pleaded.

‘I swear on our graves.’

Laura knew he was telling the truth. When they were children they had dug their graves ready for them to lie side by side. They had often laughed about how they would have to dig them deeper and wider if they were to fit into them as adults. His sad, vulnerable face made her open her arms to him and cradle him against her breasts.

Justin was crying. He was so afraid for her when she was like this, when her eyes frightened him. When Laura hid her fury she was very dangerous. He had to stop her seeing Max. He sobbed out, ‘I will never leave you, I will always be here for you.’

‘Ssh, ssh,’ she whispered, kissing his head and rocking him. ‘We have to leave each other some day, Justin,’ she said. She felt as if her heart would burst open and bleed. Max was not going to get away from her, but she knew that if Justin suspected anything he would never let her go. ‘Haven’t you ever wanted to be free of me?’

Justin shook his head and slumped to the ground.

She crouched down beside him. ‘Oh, yes, you have. Come on, Justin, you can admit it to me. You have wanted to be free of me, haven’t you?’

‘Sometimes,’ he admitted.

‘You know, if you could find someone to love and be loved by, I wouldn’t stop you or try and spoil it. You do know that, don’t you?’

He gave her a sidelong look. This was a route they had never travelled down before. He could not see her eyes or her expression: her hair fell like a curtain across her face. ‘Okay, Laura, would you feel the same way about me? You know, if I found someone?’ His heart pounded. Could he leave her and not feel guilty? Justin took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. Her hair still hid her face and she made no reply. The pain inside him was like razors slicing into him. A terrible sense of loss consumed him. ‘Laura? Is it over now?’