{"id":714,"date":"2011-12-06T06:00:22","date_gmt":"2011-12-05T19:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=714"},"modified":"2013-10-01T12:16:51","modified_gmt":"2013-10-01T19:16:51","slug":"fettuccine-and-a-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=714","title":{"rendered":"Season 4: Episode 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Ana threw her phone across the bedroom. It hit a pile of clothes in the corner so didn\u2019t quite have the smashing into smithereens effect that she had hoped for. Still, she would probably be grateful for that next time she wanted to use it.<\/p>\n

Another cancellation. It was the fifth client in the last week who had phoned and told her they no longer required her services.<\/p>\n

Sofia wasn\u2019t kidding<\/em>, Ana thought wryly. Since accusing Ana of stealing from her, she had wasted no time getting in touch with her extensive network of nouveau riche cronies to make sure that Ana would never work in Melbourne again. It would have been better in a way if she had just pressed charges; at least then Ana could fight back. Ana had tried to exonerate herself by getting the security camera footage from the store, but unless there were criminal allegations, they wouldn\u2019t release it.<\/p>\n

Ana felt fat tears rolling down her cheeks. She was going to have to tell Tom about this. She had put it off for as long as possible. Losing one client was part of business, two was bad luck, but five? That was career suicide.<\/p>\n

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. What she needed was a drink. She pulled open the fridge looking for a bottle of white wine. They always kept a stash in the house for cooking or surprise guests. Where was it all? She vaguely recalled having a drink – or was it two? –\u00a0 yesterday afternoon and then maybe another few the day before. She couldn\u2019t really remember. Tom must have finished off the rest of it and not bought any more.
\nShe grabbed her keys, threw a jacket over her leggings and oversized jumper and headed out to the car. The bottle shop was only a couple of blocks, but she couldn\u2019t be bothered walking. She just wanted to be tucked up at home with a bottle of white as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

When Tom came home some time later, Ana was already halfway through the second bottle. He eyed her sceptically. He knew that Ana liked to have a drink after work to calm down, but he\u2019d taken six or seven bottles out to the recycling in the last few days alone. He walked over and kissed her on the cheek. His eyes fell on the case of wine that was on the floor next to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was on sale,\u201d she said, following his gaze. Her voice was thick and the words sloshed together a tiny bit. \u201cWant some?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom nodded slowly and got a glass from the kitchen. \u201cHave you eaten?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana shook her head. In fact, she couldn\u2019t remember the last time she\u2019d eaten anything substantial. She\u2019d picked at bits and pieces over the last week, but a meal\u2026?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make some dinner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ana barely touched the roast pumpkin and mascarpone fettuccine that he made. She didn\u2019t have the same problem with the wine though.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Tom said lightly<\/p>\n

Ana burst into tears and filled him in on everything that had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you didn\u2019t accidentally use her card instead of your own?\u201d he said, when she was done.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ana moaned. \u201cI paid cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t you just show her the receipt?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana shook her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t get one,\u201d she said sheepishly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if someone took the card from her,\u201d he said suddenly. \u201cInstead of you. She could have lost her one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought of that too,\u201d Ana said, \u201cBut each card – even the one she got me – has a unique number.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Tom was stumped. Still, it wasn\u2019t a huge deal, surely? If she didn\u2019t do anything wrong, she didn\u2019t do anything wrong, it was as as simple as that. She\u2019d get more clients and then everything would be back to normal. He didn\u2019t think Ana would appreciate this optimism right now though, so he kept it to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t organised any work to be done here – plumbing or anything – have you, while I\u2019ve been out?\u201d Ana said suddenly.<\/p>\n

Tom shook his head.<\/p>\n

Ana sighed. \u201cI didn\u2019t think so. It\u2019s just so weird. No one else has even been in the house except us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Tom said. \u201cThe only other person is Sar\u2026\u201d His voice trailed off. Shit. He hadn\u2019t meant to let that<\/em> cat out of the bag.<\/p>\n

He saw Ana\u2019s hand tighten around the wine glass. \u201cWho?\u201d Her voice was icy.<\/p>\n

Tom gulped. \u201cSarah. When she came to pick up the contract. I told you about that,\u201d he said, knowing full well that he hadn\u2019t. He didn\u2019t want Ana cracking it over something that wasn\u2019t even an issue, especially now when she was in a heightened sense of…drunk.<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah was in this house,\u201d Ana said. \u201cAlone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAna, I know what you are thinking, but there is no way she would have done anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know?\u201d Ana said.<\/p>\n

Tom sighed. \u201cI just know. She isn\u2019t that kind of person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you keep defending her,\u201d Ana hissed.<\/p>\n

Tom slammed his glass down on the table. He had had enough. \u201cWhy are you so goddam nasty to her,\u201d he said angrily. \u201cShe told me about your little run in the other day. I was so embarrassed that my wife would behave in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee!\u201d Ana shouted. \u201cShe was at David Jones! It was her!\u201d Amongst everything that was going on, she had forgotten that she had even run into Sarah that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe bought Christmas present for her parents,\u201d Tom shouted back. \u201cThat\u2019s why she was at David Jones. I saw them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana clenched her jaw.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you trying to make her life difficult?\u201d He said, sighing.<\/p>\n

Ana started at Tom, her mouth open. She <\/em>was making Sarah\u2019s life difficult? Suddenly Ana had an idea. She picked up her keys and threw the last of the wine down her throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Tom said suspiciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to see her,\u201d Ana said, pulling on a jacket. \u201cI\u2019m going to make her confess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAna, don\u2019t be such a drama queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana fixed him with her icy blue stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t drive,\u201d he said wearily. He pushed himself off the couch and pulled on his own jacket. At least a small confrontation might make Ana see sense.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Sarah was sitting at home on the couch. Willow had left earlier that evening for her surprise date with Fortescue and Mia had just gone out to tell Johnny that she loved him. Or something.<\/p>\n

Maybe that will free up John<\/em>, Sarah thought. He\u2019s cute. He could be a good distraction until Tom finally comes to his senses and leaves that stupid cow of a wife that he got landed with<\/em>.<\/p>\n

A frantic knocking on the door startled her. She peered through the peephole, surprised to see Ana standing there. She almost pretended no one was home, but then she saw Tom, behind Ana and looking annoyed. She smoothed her hair and pinched her cheeks, opening to door with a flourish.<\/p>\n

\u201cAna? Tom? What are you doing here,\u201d she said, eyes wide. She was pleased to note that Ana looked like shit. Her eyes were red and her skin was blotchy. Her normally perfect hair was a mess.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Tom said. He looked embarrassed as he closed the door behind them. \u201cWe didn\u2019t mean to disturb your evening\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana cut him off. \u201cYou little bitch,\u201d she growled. \u201cYou stole that card and now my life is ruined.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah looked from Tom to Ana, confused. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw you in David Jones,\u201d Ana continued. Her voice was getting more high pitched and she was gesticulating erratically. \u201cYou bought lingerie so that I would be blamed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom tried to put his hand on Ana’s arm Ana, but she shrugged him off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is it?\u201d she shouted. \u201cGive it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is she talking about?\u201d Sarah said, turning to Tom. Her voice was wobbly, like she was about to start crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a liar and a thief,\u201d Ana shouted,\u00a0 jabbing her finger in Sarah\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Sarah burst into tears, covering her face with her hands. Tom looked at Ana, appalled, and put his arm around Sarah, comforting her.<\/p>\n

Ana stormed up the stairs before either of them could stop her and threw open Sarah\u2019s door. She pulled drawers out and started flinging clothes across the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cAna!\u201d Tom appeared in the doorway, shocked. He went to stop her, but Sarah held up her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet her do whatever she wants,\u201d she said stoically, between tears. \u201cIt\u2019s the only way she\u2019ll know that I didn\u2019t do whatever she thinks I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana went through every cupboard and drawer, throwing clothes and jewellery everywhere. When there was nothing left to empty, she stood there, panting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAna,\u201d Tom whispered to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. \u201cStop this. You\u2019ve embarrassed me and you\u2019ve hurt Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled her into his arms. At least she seemed to have calmed down a bit. Ana glanced over towards Sarah, who had been sobbing in the doorway. She looked up and caught Ana\u2019s eye. A small smirk spread across her face as she wiped the fake tears from her eyes.<\/p>\n

Ana exploded. She pushed Tom aside and walked up to Sarah. Almost involuntarily, her hand formed a fist and swung around, catching Sarah square in the face. Sarah screamed, her hands flying to her eye. Tom pinned Ana\u2019s arms to her side and forced her out of the room. He marched her to the front door.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out,\u201d he hissed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Tom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d He cut her off. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hear it. I want you to go home and pack a bag and go at stay… anywhere. I don\u2019t care. I need a break. I can\u2019t cope with this anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana watched the door slam in her face in disbelief. Her hand was aching from where it had come into contact with Sarah\u2019s cheekbone. She felt numb, as though she were watching her own life happening in front of her, but she wasn\u2019t really living it. She could hear the sobs subsiding and Tom\u2019s soothing voice as he led Sarah down the stairs to the kitchen. Ana turned and slowly walked down the path away from the house.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ana threw her phone across the bedroom. It hit a pile of clothes in the corner so didn\u2019t quite have the smashing into smithereens effect that she had hoped for. Still, she would probably be grateful for that next time she wanted to use it. Another cancellation. It was the fifth client in the last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[200],"tags":[70,71],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=714"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1279,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714\/revisions\/1279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}