The anniversary
Melodie gets a buzz out of her plot for sweet revenge on her scheming husband
Marcus Maximillian Montgomery looked at his wife. “Did you hear me, darling? I said I know what you’re thinking!” He smiled his crooked grin as he looked across the table. “Oh heavens,” Melodie thought, “I hope he doesn’t know what I’m thinking.” Melodie lowered her magazine. “What was that, darling? You know what I’m thinking?” “Mauritius!” he bellowed, slapping both hands on the table, knocking over his glass. Melodie inwardly groaned as she smiled at him. “Marcus, how wonderful!” she replied.
Melodie knew he’d have something planned for their wedding anniversary. She also knew Marcus would have something planned that began with the letter M. In the seven years they had been married it was always somewhere starting with M. The Maldives for their honeymoon. Morocco, Montana, Monaco, Mexico, Melbourne.
The list went on. Their very first trip had been Madrid. Melodie wasn’t complaining. They always travelled first class, staying in expensive hotels.
Melodie picked up her magazine and continued to stare at the lakeside cottage in the travel article. Mauritius, she knew, would be first-class, as Marcus expected, but it was also expensive. The next day, as Melodie read the travel book she had purchased, the seed of an idea that had been germinating for a while suddenly and resolutely took root.
Their two-week trip was planned for five days before their anniversary. Marcus liked to arrive early and confirm the hotel would be perfect. Melodie had four months to prepare. She liked to review her research.
They arrived at The Four Seasons Hotel, Mauritius, in good time for breakfast,
where they sat alongside the perfectly golden beach. Marcus had already found a willing pair of ears to listen to his tale of their first-class journey. Melodie finished her fruit and yoghurt, pondering whether to appease her craving for unhealthy sugar-loaded carbohydrates. After all, Mauritius was famous for its sugar. She marvelled at the abundance and variety of breads, conserves and honeys at the buffet.
Later that day, Marcus once again held court to any willing participants, extolling the virtues of first-class travel and how it helped him “plan every hour of every day” to the finest detail, with “no expense spared!” he guffawed. Melodie looked on with a wry smile. That evening, Marcus finally agreed
Melodie could plan their anniversary day. She’d already planned the day carefully four months before.
The morning of their anniversary was a very early start. A trip for just the two of them to the beautiful Île Des Deux Cocos. Melodie confirmed the food, the drinks and the choice to be left alone on the Desert Island package. With sole use of the isolated island with its pristine beach and the restored 1920s villa with shaded courtyard and pool, they were completely alone from sunrise to sunset. It was perfect. The weather, the speedboat trip, the clear blue sea, the food and the isolation.
Marcus ate and drank too much at lunch, so, unable to join Melodie for a swim, had decided to rest in the villa. He fell asleep on the bed, waking suddenly some time later. As he opened his eyes he saw Melodie leaning over him, her hand on his leg, her wet hair dripping on his face. “Ouch – what on earth was that?” Marcus howled as he grabbed his thigh.
“Oh no!” Melodie cried, “You’ve been stung!” Melodie stood up, grabbing the bedside telephone. “Stung?!” shrieked Marcus. “No! Quick! Call for help! Where’s my adrenaline? Get my Epipen!” Melodie, panicking, dropped the phone.
“No signal!” she sobbed. “There’s no way to call for help!” The boat wasn’t due to collect them until sunset – four hours away. There was no Epipen in her bag either. His face had started to swell and she couldn’t help him.
She smiled... It turned into a laugh.
A deep, throaty, uncontrollable laugh.
Abruptly, she stopped. Looking at
Marcus, she knew she had just enough time. “I know about all your girlfriends,” she started. “I know about all your debts. You’re almost bankrupt, Marcus! Your insistence on first-class this, and five-star that. Your obsession with the letter M! Your knowledge that on my 30th birthday – next month! – I inherit my family’s business and fortune...”
Marcus tried to speak... “What? But, why... b-but how?” Melodie showed him what was in her hand. He choked on the words as his throat started to close up. He fell silent. Melodie reached into her bag, returning the tiny, sharpened needle to the elegant small monogrammed étui case. A thin hollow needle that, in the last four months, she’d carefully filled with the venom of 30 exquisite honey bees. She smiled as she walked out. No divorce settlement to pay. No police. No questions. An allergy and a tragic accident on a paradise island.
Melodie arranged her return home several days later.
‘His face had started to swell and she couldn’t help him. She smiled…’
She presented her passport at check-in. “Miss Mildred
Melodie Parsons?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Melodie answered.
“Not related to Parsons Preserves are you?” the airline agent half-jokingly asked. “I grew up in Weston-super-mare. Parsons Preserves were always on the tables in Mum’s B&B,” she smiled.
“Yes, yes I am,” Melodie replied. “I’m Mildred Melodie Parsons the 6th. I learned everything from my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother about preserves, jams and honey – especially honey – and the science of apiology and their toxins.”
Melodie’s favourite letter wasn’t M as Marcus long assumed. It was always B. ■
We’re not short of crime dramas on the box but every so often, a detective duo breaks through and finds their way into viewers’ hearts. Step forward DCI Mcdonald and DS Dodds of Mcdonald & Dodds.
The chalk-and-cheese cops, played by Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia, return to ITV this week for a second series of the show that’s following in the footsteps of long-running hits such as Midsomer Murders and Death In Paradise, where nasty crimes happen in beautiful places.
Now they’ve got to know each other properly after being teamed up in the last series, they are ready to get to the bottom of three new weird and wonderful crimes in the picturesque surroundings of Bath.
Mcdonald and Dodds set to work straight away on cracking a case – with some familiar faces featuring as guest stars. Comic Rob Brydon plays Roy from the Air Incident Investigation Agency, who helps solve the crime. Celebs including Martin Kemp and
Patsy Kensit play a group of five friends who were famous in the 80s and are reuniting for a big day out.
They’ve organised a fancy hot-air balloon ride and, soaring above the countryside, are enjoying sipping champagne and reminiscing about their heydays. But then, the hot-air balloon comes crashing down and only four of them make it out alive. What happened to the fifth? Was it an accident or something more sinister?
Over to Mcdonald and Dodds to find out – but not before they find themselves drawn into a twisty-turny game of cat and mouse…