Chapter 28: Epilogue - 20 years later.
Debbie and I have been married over twenty years now, and I love her more now than I did on our wedding day.
“Hold the phone a second,” Emily smiled, “I can’t understand something.
If you are still married to Aunt Debbie why reveal the whole story now after all these years and why are you alone in this flat in ‘the Far East’?”
Once the initial marital bliss wore off we settled down to getting our house in order, and spent our honeymoon buying an assortment of carpets, furniture and electrical gadgets for our new home.
The money we had saved up ran out rather quickly as we decorated our living room first, then the kitchen and the master bedroom next.
Tony, Catherine, Mum and Dad often dropped in that first fortnight, always bearing gifts. We humbly thanked them for the presents and tried to convince them we could manage if we initially only bought necessities.
We liked nothing better than to curl up in front of our new coal fire at night and listen to the radio whilst discussing our plans for the future.
Our first few months together were very exciting as we saw our home take shape and at the end of each month we would sit at the fire and work out how much we could afford to spend turning this house into a palace for my princess.
On 12th October, I dreaded leaving Debbie to take up my new appointment as Deputy Finance Director at Hunter’s warehouse in Glasgow. Debbie spent most of her time, during my absence, with Tony and Catherine until she accepted a job in a bank in Glasgow, which she started a few weeks later on Monday 2nd November.
Sarah’s telephone calls to my office, to find out how we were doing, gradually became less frequent as Andy objected to his secretary, unintentionally, passing on any gossip to his superior.
Andy and Sarah got on very well together, as their working relationship, and eventually a romance developed.
A romance, which had a fair share of ups and downs as Sarah, knowing he two-timed Tracey, was wary of his faithfulness and refused to give up her virginity until she was absolutely sure she loved him.
Romance also came to Jaclyn and Marcie.
As Jaclyn became more confident in her own independence she joined a few Christian clubs and met an array of very interesting people. She loved to meet new friends and got on with people very easily, due to expert tuition in how to talk to them from ‘chatterbox’ Colette.
Marcie started to go out too, rather nervously at first, to single’s clubs and began to enjoy herself for the first time in twenty years. Eventually, their talk was of something foreign to both of them, boyfriends.
Marcie almost immediately fell in love with James, a divorced civil servant of her own age, who would wine and dine her a few times a week and always treated her with the thoughtfulness and gentleness she deserved.
Jaclyn was not so lucky. Many suitors came and went before she regularly went out with Alan McFadden, a young computer programmer, who satisfied her every desire.
Jaclyn became a very committed member of the Christian congregation and participated in almost every event they organised. She regularly wrote glowing reports of her new life to her father to annoy him until one day he appeared on the doorstep.
During their very traumatic initial meeting, under the protective eye of Marcie, he apologised profusely for mistreating her until she surprised herself by forgiving him, ending many years of hatred between them.
Rachel gave up her job at the lawyer’s office as ‘Diamonds’ popularity spread and their second single ‘Abandon ship’ became an overnight success reaching number one in the charts very quickly.
Eventually Rachel moved out of the flat to stay permanently in Melanie’s penthouse, which I said she should have done years ago, but she claimed the time wasn’t right.
Rachel never forgot her promise and visited us often with Melanie at the weekend whenever ‘Diamonds’ had an engagement in Glasgow. Amazingly, their relationship remained a secret despite being photographed together at nightclubs, due largely to the fact that they were seen equally often with eligible young men.
Angel married Brendan a few years later and Karen married Andrew. Speculation grew as to who would be lucky enough to marry Rachel or Melanie, and indeed they were constantly being asked if they intended to get married. Rachel’s reply to this question was simply;
“I don’t have a man in my life at the moment.”
Our first Christmas together Debbie and I were satisfied that we had all the necessities bought and invited Tony, Catherine, Marcie, Jaclyn, Lynda, Sandy, Sarah and Rachel to share the festivities with us. Unfortunately, ‘Diamonds’ were extremely busy and couldn’t come, but Marcie brought a present from Rachel.
The household items poured in that Christmas until we wondered what to do with them and Debbie was amused at how well Sandy and Tony got on together.
Marcie with great ceremony stood up, crossed to an excited Debbie and laid the decorative square package in her lap saying;
“This is a very special something from Rachel.”
Convinced that it was a framed photograph Debbie shook it, but it didn’t rattle.
We all stared at Debbie as she removed the wrapping paper from the gift.
As soon as the paper was removed Debbie’s face lit up and tears streamed from her eyes as she realised it was not a picture. “It’s beautiful,” she sobbed and holding it delicately she showed us all a silver disc Rachel had been presented with for ‘Baby - You’re an Angel’ reaching number one in the charts.
“Rachel said,” Marcie sobbed with tears in her eyes, “that she didn’t need to send a message with it - you’d know exactly what it’s for.” Debbie sat it on the mantelpiece above the fire until everyone had gone home. We hung it on the wall to look at whenever we snuggle up by the fire.
“Do you know?” she whispered as we cuddled beneath it that Christmas night. “That’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever been given.
That disc not only reminds me of Rachel, but also of the nights we used to dance at ‘Diamonds’ concerts where I fell in love with you.
I love you now more than I ever did and with that plaque, to always remind me, I’ll always love you more and more each day.”
“Debbie, you are an Angel.” I sighed as we kissed in front of the fire all night.
The whole of January Debbie was strangely quiet.
Normally when we came home we would eat our meal snuggled up, as usual, by the fire and we’d talk for a while about how our day had gone.
After clearing away all the dishes we would cuddle, if neither of us were going out, until ten o’clock when we would normally go to bed.
“Is there something wrong?” I kept asking but she denied it saying she had just had a hectic day and nothing was wrong.
By Wednesday 3rd February, my birthday, I was beginning to worry about Debbie’s strange behaviour encase she was sickening for something.
As we cuddled by the fire after dinner I again asked;
“There’s something wrong princess? I know there is?”
“Wait there a second” she ordered as she got up and returned a few moments later to kneel before me clutching a small wrapped box with a bow on it.
“Happy birthday darling.” she whispered handing me the very lightweight package, which crumpled easily with a rustle of paper. I unwrapped it to find a tiny pair of white woollen boots.
“You’re pregnant!” I gasped in disbelief with tears of elation immediately blurring my vision.
“Yes and I’m scared” she cried in a flood of tears, “I’m frightened.”
Her whole body shivered with fear as I tried to console her.
She was afraid history would repeat itself and her baby would go through the same hell of a childhood that she had, and nothing I could say could comfort her.
News of Debbie’s pregnancy spread like wildfire until the constant visits by Mum, Catherine, and Marcie began to selfishly annoy me. The peace and serenit
y we had become used to in our four-month marriage erupted into an insane panic, which grew despite denials from everyone, faster than the bump on Debbie’s stomach.
What really annoyed me, to the point of insanity, was there was nothing I could do, or say, to convince her that everything would be okay. I could only sympathise with her as she spoke to me, for the first time, of all the agony she had gone through as a child.
The beatings and abuse she experienced, before her father started to molest and sexually assault her, she relayed the full horror of it all.
“I know,” Debbie wept one night, “that you would never harm our child.
I trust you, I honestly do, and I’ll have your baby for three main reasons.”
“Firstly, because it will make you very happy,
Secondly, it will fulfil Tracey’s dream.
More importantly, it’ll either get rid of all my fears forever, or it’ll kill me.”
By August the doctors at the anti-natal clinic began to forcibly voice their concerns for Debbie’s health, and she was admitted to hospital for observation.
The following two weeks were the loneliest of my entire life.
I dreaded going home to that cold, empty house and spent most days at work wandering around like a zombie or staring out of the window in a daze.
My evenings were spent at Debbie’s bedside in hospital trying to assure her that everything would be okay, she was in the best hands in the world, and that midwifery had come a long way since she was born twenty-three years earlier.
“Debbie, princess,” I implored her, “thousands of women all over the world give birth every day and millions of them have two, three, four or more children. My mum had six.”
“He’s right honey,” a Jamaican woman in the next bed remarked, “This is my seventh.” she laughed, indicating the large mound on her stomach.
Debbie looked into the smiling brown face in the next bed and asked,
“You’ve gone through this agony six times before and you still come back for more?”
“Not through choice, deary” Molly laughed,
“Every time I go home with a new baby I say to my husband ‘Winston, this will be the last one’ but I’ll probably be back again next year.” Molly laughed very loudly. “Believe me honey, after the first one they just fall out like rolling off a production line.”
“She’s right,” a nurse confirmed as she straightened Debbie’s pillows, “The first one is always the worst - I should know, I’ve got three of the little darlings.”
On Thursday 12th August at ten o’clock in the morning I was brought to life by the telephone on my desk ringing. “Hello” I sighed wearily.
“Hello, this is the Southern General hospital, could I speak to...”
“I’m on my way.” I interrupted slamming the phone down and wasted no time driving to Debbie’s side only to find an empty bed.
“Where is she?” I asked Molly, “Labour room,” she pointed the way, “best of luck, honey.” I heard her call as I hurried along the corridor until I found her.
Debbie was lying on a trolley, in obvious agony as each contraction spasmed within her, in a room with a few other women in similar discomfort.
As I hugged her, she opened her eyes and, as I suspected, it wasn’t Debbie who looked up at me but her devil.
“Hi Brian,” it whispered softly, “long time – no see.”
Our conversation certainly had the nurse who was monitoring Debbie stunned.
“Please,” I begged, “will you please help her?”
“She’ll be okay.” it whispered with a wink.
“Okay,” the nurse announced, “You’re on.”
“Do you want me to come in with you?” I asked.
“No,” it replied, “We’ll be okay.”
“Listen,” I warned, “When this is all over I never want to see you again. Do you fully understand me? Never again.”
She nodded in confirmation as the baffled nurses wheeled her into the delivery room and I waited outside with a few other fidgety fathers for any news.
Twenty minutes later a surgeon beckoned me to a small room as they had done for each of the men who paced nervously.
“Take a seat,” I complied while he sat at the other side of a large desk and let out a long sigh. “What’s the result?” I pleaded.
“There’s only good news,” he smiled, “but she did give us a bit of a scare at one stage.
Your wife gave birth quite naturally and at the end she screamed, as the majority of women do, but then she passed out and all our monitors stopped for a few moments.
We thought we’d lost her for a few seconds, it was the weirdest thing I have ever seen.”
I sighed with relief and smiled, as I understood the surgeon’s problem.
“Is she okay? Where is she now?” I asked.
“What they do now,” he explained,
“We take your wife and clean her up, and take the baby and clean it up, weigh it and make sure it’s healthy and all that, before we reunite mother with child.
As your baby is a few weeks premature and it’s your wife’s first child, we’ll keep them with us for a few days to make sure everything is alright with both of them, okay?”
“Sure.” I smiled as a nurse handed a sheet of paper to the surgeon, and he smiled broadly as he read it.
“Congratulations,” extending his hand, “Mother and baby are both in splendid condition - You have two very healthy girls.”
Shaking his hand warmly I thanked him and his staff for their efforts and rejoined the fathers in the waiting room announcing to everyone. “We have a result - It’s a girl.”
My head was in the clouds as I dialled Tony from a nearby payphone.
“Hello?” Tony answered, I cried with emotion as tears blinded me.
“Hi Tony, you have got a little granddaughter.”
“Oh great,” he called, “Catherine, it’s a little girl. How is Debbie?”
Tony sobbed while I could hear his wife weeping in the background.
“She’s absolutely fine,” I answered.
“And the baby?”
“She’s absolutely perfect.”
I had the same conversation with Mum and Sarah before I phoned Marcie.
“Hello?” a female Chinese accent laughed.
“Hello, is Marcie there?” I asked.
“No - Marcie out at work.” she replied.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am Xui-Ling Chang,” she answered.
“Okay, Xui-Ling Chang,” I spoke very clearly,
“Can you give a message to Marcie as soon as she gets home?
It is very important that she is told as soon as she gets home, do you understand?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, “I tell Marcie when she get home.”
“Okay, Xui-Ling, tell Marcie, Debbie had a baby today – A little girl - everybody is okay.”
“Debbie had baby girl today, everybody okay, I got it, I tell Marcie.”
“Thanks Xui-Ling,” I smiled, “Remember it’s very important. Juygain.”
“Juygain.” she laughed as I replaced the receiver.
I stayed at the hospital most of that day until I was sure everybody was indeed okay.
I kept vigil at Debbie’s bedside until the middle of the afternoon when her eyes flickered open and she moaned.
“Debbie,” I whispered, “are you okay?”
“I think so.” she sighed sleepily then realising that the bump she had seen grow for months had disappeared she let out a scream.
“My baby!” she cried in shock gripping my hand, “Where’s my baby!”
“The baby is fine.” I assured her.
“I want my baby!” she screamed, “I want my baby!”
A minute later our baby girl was wheeled in wrapped in a fluffy woollen shawl and delicately placed into Debbie’s arms where I was overjoyed to see Debbie’s angelic smile return for the first time in eight long months.
&nb
sp; She wept with happiness. “Oh, she is beautiful.”
“That makes two of you.” I smiled kissing them both.
“I’m truly sorry for all the worry I’ve caused you,” she sobbed,
“I’ll never be frightened ever again. I love you so much.”
“I’ll always love you too,” I whispered, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead and also one on the baby’s head.
“And I’ll always love you too, young lady.”
I almost skipped to my car and home to a telephone that didn’t stop ringing all night.
A fortnight later, at Saint Simon’s, Father Brennan took great pleasure in christening our daughter Tracey Catherine, to preserve the memory of the girl who helped make all of our dreams come true.
Now Tracey is twenty years old and the image of her mother with sunshine blonde hair and the same angelic smile.
Rachel-Louise is eighteen, Sarah is twelve and a half, and Brian junior has just celebrated his seventh birthday.
Although there have been many blessings bestowed on us in the past twenty years, life has had its downs too. Catherine continued to grow weaker and weaker until she sadly passed away twelve years ago.
Tony often comes to visit us, to play with Tracey and his other grandchildren whenever he feels lonely. We are always delighted to see him.
Tony is always ready and willing to baby-sit for us whenever we go out to visit Marcie, who married James eight years ago, Jaclyn who married Alan, or Sarah who is now living with Andy and expecting their third child.
Tony always has room for Sandy in his house and they have become great pals and drinking buddies. Whenever Sandy is in Glasgow Tony collects him from the train station and they can talk for hours together as it emerged, apart from Debbie, they have a great deal in common.
My sister Louise married Ken and occasionally comes to visit us, as does my other sisters. I haven’t seen or spoken to my brother, John, as he never forgave me for the way I spoke to him on the telephone before my wedding.
We were invited to Gerard Kelly and Nicola Braid’s wedding eighteen years ago and have kept in touch with them and their three children. Gerard quickly climbed the promotion ladder and is now a Detective Inspector with Strathclyde Police based in Paisley.
He comes in very handy whenever we have any legal problems, and he likes nothing better than to talk to us about the ‘old times’ when he and Nicola first met us in ‘the Far East’.
Sandy Brown now works as a handyman going around Salvation Army hostels and charity organisations doing odd jobs for small donations, which he uses to help the homeless population of the capital – resplendent in an array of colourful waistcoats, which make him instantly recognisable wherever he goes.
Sandy also helps the ‘missing person’s helpline’ get in touch with the homeless and they encourage vagrants to let their families know they are alive and okay.
I suddenly noticed Emily’s eyes begin to glaze over and stream with tears and asked: “Whatever is wrong dear?”
“I have often envied Tracey and my cousins.” She sighed,
“In December every year I was always threatened with this magical, mysterious figure who would visit once a year and bring presents on Christmas eve if I was good – but I never ever saw him.”
“Tracey often told me of ‘Santa Broon’ who visited her frequently with all the magic and mystery of Father Christmas, the tooth fairy, Birthday Angels and every other wonderful, mythical superhuman figure and would deliver birthday and Christmas surprises throughout the year and he was VERY real.”
“Ah,” I laughed, “another mystery is solved.” I informed her.
“I have often heard my kids refer to him as ‘Santa’ and always thought this was Tracey’s way of keeping her siblings in line – especially when Christmas or birthdays come around.”
“Sandy regularly tells me he turns down ‘real’ money each December from shopping malls and large department stores to be their ‘Santa Claus’ because it could interfere with his ‘availability’ around festive time.
All the presents we knew came from Granddad Tony and Sandy picked up another elaborate waistcoat for his efforts each time.
Sandy’s waistcoats are periodically auctioned to raise funds for homeless charities and are considered, by some, a prized possession to have ‘an original authentic Sandy Broon’ waistcoat.”
“Perhaps,” I suggested to Emily, “Whenever you finish this ‘Diamonds’ story you could make a career for yourself writing ‘Santa Broon’ books?”
“That’s an idea,” Emily dreamily sighed, “I just might do that.”
We have often seen Sandy interviewed on News and Current Affairs programmes on television billing himself as ‘The Fragrant Vagrant’ and often helps Gerard Kelly and the police sort out any issues and problems the homeless have with the authorities.
Debbie often goes to visit Sandy whenever he stays at Tony’s house and she loves to read the frequent letters he sends her.
‘Diamonds’ are now international superstars, and are always travelling around the world to perform.
Rachel often brings gifts from all over to Debbie and the kids whenever she is in town, and she constantly fascinates us with her tales of foreign parts.
Rachel has become ‘the darling of chat shows’ and it seems every time we turned on the television over the past ten years there was Rachel. Chat shows, Quizzes, Political debates – no show was complete unless they had Rachel Rabinowicz as a guest and she became an ambassador for the UNICEF charity as a result – which made her even busier as if her life wasn’t hectic enough already.
We haven’t seen much of Melanie lately as her father retired, leaving the management of his shops in her hands, which led to a traumatic few months for her as she tried to cope with her hectic lifestyle.
In desperation she turned to me for help.
Consequently ‘Diamond Enterprises’ was born, while Melanie is President her father is Chairperson and I am Finance Director. Each of the Diamonds shops is now self-accounting and each franchise manager submits a report to me each month.
This not only gives Melanie the time to travel around with the band but it also means that each shop could run more efficiently delighting her father.
The business has proved so successful Melanie has expanded her empire to eleven jewellery shops and has market stands in twenty-seven department stores around the country.
She spends all her free time travelling around to visit each one to promote business and check progress which keeps her busy whilst Rachel is doing her television shows.
“To answer your second question,” I smiled at Emily, “This is Melanie’s penthouse flat. ‘Diamonds’ are at the moment on a tour of Australia and I am allowed to use her flat whenever Melanie and Rachel are away.
One of my main jobs is to oversee the operation of ‘Diamond Enterprises’ and Hunter’s warehouses and often have long meetings with Managers of both, so I am permitted to ‘crash’ here whenever I’m in town overnight. There is also a ‘vacant’ flat on the tenth floor of the block which I am permitted to use if it is free, which also gives me the opportunity to visit Marcie, Jaclyn, Sarah and Sandy.”
“Recently Melanie told Rachel about the night she spent with me and Rachel is now ‘cool’ with it – in fact they are talking of ‘coming out’ with an announcement of a civil partnership, so there’s no problem letting the world know.
I might be alone here Emily, but I’m very rarely lonely.”
Angel and Brendan run a successful music store in the city centre and are very happily married. Karen and Andrew run a car dealership and like nothing better than getting covered in oil and grease tinkering with engines.
Susanna, however, decided that her life was too hectic and left the band to open a women’s fashion shop with her husband David. Cindy Wallace, her replacement, quickly established herself and is often snapped at outrageous nightclubs with the fun-loving, often-drunk, Heather, who constantly irritates
her happily married sisters with her behaviour.
Tom Beveridge quickly climbed the promotional ladder, out of the shoe department, via the Gent’s department, to his present position as Sales Director of Hunter’s warehouses as well as Sales Director of Diamond Enterprises.
Melanie figured she needed people she could trust absolutely and Tom was one man she knew she could trust absolutely.
After a few affairs with Colette, and a few other girls, he eventually settled down to married life with a very pretty girl named Sharon and has become one of my closest friends.
The saddest news we had in the past few years was when Marcie phoned to tell us that Lynda had an incurable cancerous growth in her chest.
A fighter until the end she had tried to hide her illness from everyone, while Marcie watched her slowly wither with each passing day until she eventually gave up her fight and died peacefully three years ago.
Marcie declared Lynda’s funeral should be a celebration of her life and because she was very unconventional it was a very unusual service with Rachel and Jaclyn, Gerard Kelly and myself as poll-bearers.
We almost danced, carrying Lynda, along the aisle in a local church to Lynda’s favourite rock music.
‘Spider’ read a very moving and witty eulogy bringing a smile to all as he stated Lynda made him promise to put the ‘fun’ into her funeral.
It was a very fitting farewell to such a fun-loving girl and everyone commented at how Lynda would have appreciated it.
Before she passed away Lynda confessed all to DI Kelly who agreed not to pursue the matter of the murder any further as he decided nobody could benefit from another lengthy trial.
The case remains unsolved.
“Which is why, Emily, I can reveal the whole story now after all these years.
The person who would least benefit from it was Lynda.
She remained a very devoted friend to Debbie and me over the years becoming godmother to our son, Brian junior, and we will surely tell him of our love for his godmother.”
“Do you know something?”
Debbie whispered as we snuggled up beside the fire once the kids were asleep.
Gazing up at the ‘Diamonds’ disc, she smiled.
“A lot has happened over the past twenty years, but I wouldn’t swap one day of it for all the diamonds in the world.”
“Neither would I princess,” I sighed, “Neither would I.”
Reaching behind me I located a small package hidden below one of the cushions of the sofa, and handed it to her saying;
“Happy anniversary, Darling.”
Debbie’s eyes filled with tears as she unwrapped a little six-inch high white teddy bear with a large red love heart on it and the words ‘My best friend’ upon it.
“Are you still my best friend?” I asked.
“I’ll always be your best friend.” she smiled as I brushed away the tears from her happy, crystal-blue, sparkling eyes.
“For the next twenty years at least.” I teased her.
“Forever.” she smiled.
“Okay princess, we’ll be best friends forever.”
THE END
This story is largely fictitious, but the fact that almost everyone mentioned in it is someone I know personally should not lead you to believe that the events, which happened to their character, actually happened to me - or any of them.
Any similarity to any persons living or dead is purely intentional.
Most names have been changed to protect the innocent – and the not so innocent.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michelle Ritchie and Stephen Rutherford for their time, trouble and buckets of sweat produced in typing and correcting my insane drivel. (Too right! M.R.)
Special thanks to Anne-Marie MacNeill, Tom Beveridge and Joy Gillespie for their interest and suggestions.
In addition, especially Jennifer Loiske without whom none of this would have been possible.
CHARACTER PROFILES
BRIAN (Main Character - No Surname mentioned).
28 years old - works as Finance Controller at Hunter’s warehouse, Edinburgh for past 6 months.
Promoted from Glasgow office where he has been employed for 8 years.
Only job since leaving High School.
Brother used to work for the company in the haberdashery dept.
1st year - Sales assistant Gents Dept (for 6 months).
2nd year - Junior Sales Ledger Clerk.
3rd year - Senior Sales Ledger Clerk.
5th year - Assistant Office Manager.
7th year - Office Manager, Glasgow Warehouse.
9th year - Finance Controller, Edinburgh Office.
Worked with Andy Baird from Year 2 to year 6.
First love Mary from age 22.
Andy suggests a ‘double date’ with his girlfriend Tracey Collins.
Andy and Mary two-time Brian & Tracey for 3 weeks then fall out.
Brian and Tracey go out initially, in anger, to spite Andy and Mary.
Brian has been courting Tracey for 5 years now and very much in love.
Regularly meet for sex in his car in Hareshaw Forrest 3-4 times per week.
Later Godfather to Emily - Brian’s sister Louise’s 19-year-old daughter.
Has 2 brothers (John and Paul) and 3 sisters (Louise, Aileen & Michelle).
Brian is seduced by Debbie and discovers her secret.
Lynda assaults Brian and she reveals Rachel’s secret.
Brian talks with Lynda and learns she also has a shocking secret.
Brian talks with Marcie where he learns Marcie also has a secret.
Brian lies to Tracey when she discovers the evidence of his night with Debbie and they become engaged.
Brian arranges to meet Melanie to pay for ‘loaned’ engagement ring at lunch but winds her up & teases her.
Brian accepts Melanie’s invitation to dinner to apologise - and he forgot to pay for the ring over lunch.
Brian spends the night with Melanie - Sarah is livid but covers for him.
Brian escorts Debbie to a 21st birthday party after which he confesses he is deeply in love with her.
Brian and Debbie resolve to become ‘best friends’- she knows nothing of her seduction.
Brian is pleased when Tracey asks Debbie to become a bridesmaid, as both have no other family.
Brian accepts a plea for help from Jaclyn and discovers the police are looking for her.
Brian hears Jaclyn’s sorrowful tale and decides to help her against Tracey’s wishes.
Brian enlists Sarah’s help and she befriends Jaclyn and gets her a job.
Brian helps Jaclyn sort out her problems with the police.
Brian asks Rachel to discover Jaclyn’s details which uncovers another secret.
Brian & Rachel arrange a Huge birthday surprise for Marcie.
Brian is devastated when Tracey is killed in a motorway pile-up.
Brian is offered comfort from each flatmate, which he rejects.
Brian is comforted by Rachel ( without intercourse) mutual respect grows.
Brian comes up with an insane plan during Tracey’s funeral for a devastated Debbie.
Brian is offered promotion to ‘Depute Finance Director.’
Brian is depressed as everyone else grows happier.
Brian’s ‘God-given’ destiny is revealed - thanks to Sarah.
Brian accepts the unexpected directorship within the company.
DEBBIE - Deborah Anne Campbell.
21 years old - works as a teller in a bank in Edinburgh.
Originally from Berwick - Her mother died giving birth to Debbie.
Sexually abused by her father at very young age.
Taken into social care as father is convicted of sexual assault & neglect.
Blonde hair held with clear plastic clasps.
Size 12-14 very pleasing figure - often wears jeans and tee shirt with ‘I’m a good girl’.
Frequently corresponds with matron of Saint Luke’
s orphanage where she was raised.
Debbie has a split personality with a ‘devil’ taking over whenever Debbie is frightened.
Debbie has no idea her ‘devil’ seduces Brian.
Debbie knows she is falling in love with Brian but assumes he will soon leave with Tracey - so it isn’t a problem.
Debbie is delighted to be asked to become Tracey’s bridesmaid.
Debbie is very upset when Aleesha is killed.
Debbie is devastated when Tracey is killed and despite the tragedy helps Tracey’s parents to cope.
Debbie is invited by Collins family to visit - arranged by Brian.
Collins family asks Debbie if she would consider adoption.
Debbie’s adoption goes through and she quits her job at the bank to move to Glasgow.
MARCIE - Marisa Willis.
Late 40s - divorcee - works as nursing sister at Edinburgh General Infirmary.
Fair hair recently layered - dark blue eyes uses contact lenses or round framed glasses.
Frequently wears jeans & sweatshirt - her massive bust is often unsupported.
Well-groomed fingernails - very white teeth - very fit woman.
Bangs doors a lot - very emotional person.
Married junior doctor at age 18 - abusive 5-year marriage - misses adopted baby.
In the house 15 years - official householder - no mention of who owner is.
Very motherly figure to flatmates and works extra shifts to cover for absentee staff.
Corresponds with former flatmates and keeps in touch with most of them.
Marcie befriends Tracey and resolves to keep her relationship strong.
Marcie is convinced if Tracey satisfies Brian then the other girls (including herself) will remain ‘safe’.
Marcie is devastated when Aleesha is killed - identifies her at city morgue.
Marcie is happy to accept Jaclyn as new flatmate to replace Aleesha.
Marcie plies Tracey with fertility drugs to assist her becoming pregnant.
Marcie has a BIG birthday surprise.
Marcie is devastated when Tracey is killed & learns Tracey was pregnant.
Marcie is bewildered with Brian’s plans for Debbie & strongly objects to her adoption.
RACHEL - Rachel Rabinowicz
27 year old Jewish Lesbian - works as conveyance assistant in legal firm.
Originally from Glasgow - very beautiful tanned complexion.
Jet-black hair extends beyond her waist uses a device to keep hair straight.
Plays bass guitar & lead singer with ‘Diamonds’ band.
Lover of Melanie Davison - also in band.
Drives small red sports car - often seen carrying silver guitar case.
Black belt in Taekwondo - Very confident lady - unaware her beauty affects people around her.
Introduced to Melanie as their fathers are business associates - they become friends then lovers.
Rachel spends most nights playing with the band or at rehearsals.
Rachel and Melanie spend most nights after gigs in Melanie’s penthouse.
Rachel and Melanie occasionally spend nights in Rachel’s room.
Rachel wrote a song ‘Baby - You’re an Angel’ for Debbie to show she cares for her.
Rachel has some conflicts with Lynda after forcibly ejecting Lynda’s lover from the house.
Rachel is regarded by Tracey as a serious threat to her relationship with Brian and is very jealous of her.
Rachel spends a night in Brian’s bed after a party - without intercourse.
Rachel discovers Jaclyn’s secret and arranges Marcie’s birthday surprise.
Rachel comforts Brian after Tracey is killed and spends the night with him – again without intercourse & develops very deep respect for Brian.
Rachel arranges Debbie’s adoption.
Rachel presents Debbie with the silver disk for reaching #1 in charts.
LYNDA - Lynda MacGregor
23 years old - Nymphomaniac with Slim figure.
Works as secretary for Motor dealer in Edinburgh City Centre.
Has hypnotic emerald green eyes & dresses mostly in black.
Murdered her lover at age 14 - never caught.
Lynda overhears Brian and Debbie’s night together.
Lynda assaults Brian the following day & meets Sandy & Charlie.
Lynda reveals she has been keeping Debbie out of trouble for many years.
Lynda threatens to tell Marcie, Rachel and Tracey unless Brian promises never to do it again.
Lynda frequently drinks too much and has frequent hangovers.
Lynda has serious issues with Rachel who forced one of her lovers from the house one night.
Lynda’s best friend is a much-tattooed youth nicknamed ‘Spider’.
Lynda confesses to Brian about the murder & he agrees to keep it secret.