The Tangling of the Web by Millie Gray

Harry, who seemed oblivious to Sally’s utter distress, continued. ‘As you are aware, I am listed as the owner of this house here, so this is my over-generous proposal: everybody residing in the house is to vacate it within fourteen days. I will then immediately put it up for sale and provided you don’t give me any further grief I will give you, and take note I do not require to do so, 50 per cent of the selling price.’
    Picking the bread knife up from the table, Sally leapt in front of Harry. ‘You unfeeling bastard,’ she screamed. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses or something?’
    Sheer panic gripped Harry and he became mesmerised as the brandished blade came ever closer and closer to his face. Gulping and gasping, he kept swerving away in an effort to defend himself. Ashen-faced and buckling at the knees, with great effort he managed to splutter. ‘N-o-o-o. Not lost my senses – j-j-j-j-just come to them.’
    ‘That right,’ Sally screeched as she endeavoured again to slash at Harry’s face. ‘Well, if you think you can get away with this then think again. Oh aye, and have you thought what people will say about you not only flinging me and your kids out onto the street but also your very own mother?’ Sally felt someone at her back wresting the knife from her. Turning, she came face to face with Flora. Spinning round to face Harry again, she spat, ‘Look at her, Harry. See what the years of going out to scrub and clean to get a bob or two to help us get by has done to her.’
    Drawing Sally into an embrace and tossing the knife into the fireplace, Flora, her face contorted with grief and anger, then looked at her son and he was left in no doubt about the contempt in which she held him. ‘So, fornicating coward that you are,’ she sobbed, ‘you have at last told her about your scandalous, sordid affair – and with someone whom she had given houseroom to because nobody else would.’
    ‘Mum, you know I cannot make you homeless. You have a house in Smithton. A house that is big enough for you, Sally and the bairns. You could even give room to …’
    Sally was so distraught she hadn’t at first comprehended that a person close to her was his paramour. Breaking free from Flora’s arms, Sally fled towards the basement flat to confront Josie.
    Throwing open the door and bounding down the steps, she kicked open the door to Josie’s bedroom. It had been her intention to drag Josie from her bed, but Josie was not abed. She was standing up dressed in her outdoor clothing, hands clapped over her ears and weeping profusely. Being younger and therefore more agile than Sally, Josie sprang up on the bed when she became aware that her sister was out of control and that she could be on the receiving end of her wrath.
    ‘Come here, you man-mad bitch,’ screeched Sally while she attempted to grab hold of Josie. ‘How many times have I told you not get entangled with married men? How many times have I had to sort out your problems?’
    Josie did try desperately to find the right words to placate Sally, but she could think of nothing. Sally was about to leap onto the bed beside her when Flora entered. ‘Sally, why are you trying to attack Josie?’
    ‘I’ll tell you why,’ was Sally’s hysterical response, ‘because she has stolen my husband’s love and he wants to leave me and our bairns for her – bloody hoor is what she is.’
    Flora managed to get herself in between Josie and Sally. Without warning, she smacked Sally firmly on the face. The act of violence, as Sally saw it, caused her to sink to the floor, and sobs racked her body. ‘Och, lassie,’ Flora began, ‘your feckless sister is not the harlot who has her claws into Harry. Sure, when she discovered what was going on between Harry and that wanton Jezebel, like me, all she did wrong was to try to shield you from the truth. Hoped in vain, the both of us did, that sanity would return to him but …’ Flora paused as she became aware that