Double Blessings

"Well, if we are going to be Mrs. Lockwood's, we should be prepared to be pampered and live like queens." laughed Amanda. They stopped at the coffee bar for a cappuccino, before starting the task of shopping.

They were looking in a shop window when a loud female voice said, "Well, if it isn't the man eating shark." Astonished by the piercing tone, Liana frowned, not sure if the words were directed at her or someone else. Then she noticed Amanda's face turn ashen, her face fixed on someone behind Liana. She turned and stood frozen as Christine glared at her. The words irritated her, but she didn't want Christine to see her reaction, so she turned to walk away. Christine grabbed her from behind, held her arm in a tight grip, and opened up with a verbal attack. "Don't walk away from me with that superior look, you snake. You may think you've won, marrying Lindal. Well, let me tell you something lady, making a marriage work is a tricky business. You're too stupid to make it work, you have no idea how to hang on to a man like him. The first thing about holding a man like him is having good sex, giving him your all. I know what he likes in bed, and I will give it to him, he will be mine. He never stopped being mine. You are just a pesky fly that keeps coming back. I tried to get rid of you, but you keep coming back like a cat with nine lives. Well, I think you have used up those nine lives by now, so beware you witch. You should have died in that bus, and in the car that rolled over. I'm not giving up, he will be mine and you will either be dead or peeling potatoes in some dive, cause you won't be sponging off him anymore." Her voice had reached a crescendo, her face red with anger.

Get a grip, stay calm Liana told herself, nothing can happen here with people standing around staring. But, she was wrong. Christine turned the full force of her fury on her. she pulled her hair with one hand and raised the other to strike her. Amanda tried to get them apart, but Christine seemed to have the power of a wrestler, and shoved Amanda aside. Liana raised her arm to defend herself, to protect her face from Christine's talons, but the other woman was quick. The first blow landed on her nose causing it to bleed profusely, as she pummeled her over the head. Amanda screamed at the bystanders, "Stop staring and call security quick." The onslaught continued as Christine spewed hate-filled venom.

The rest was a blur. Liana remembered hearing Amanda admonishing the security men for not coming to the rescue sooner. As she tried to stop the nosebleed, she was led to an room and was attended to by a nurse. When she rose to leave, she became dizzy and her legs went limp. The nurse advised Amanda to call a cab immediately and take her home. Amanda took out her cell phone and called James who had been waiting for them in the limousine. He came in and helped Amanda get her to the car, and noticed that she was still shaking. Once in the car, Amanda handed her a small glass of brandy and kept her arm around her. "What a horrible evil woman," she muttered, "you should have had her thrown in jail."