20. Richards Last Stand

"RICHARD'S LAST STAND"

R osie peered out from behind her living room curtains for the umpteenth time that morning, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the quiet suburban street. To the casual observer, it was a perfectly ordinary Wednesday. But Rosie knew better. Somewhere out there, lurking behind a hedge or possibly in a parked car, was Richard. They knew this because his vehicle had been spotted at the back of Rosie's house earlier that day. And it wasn't the first time. Since they had bumped into him at the park with the twins, he'd been back in full stalking mode. They'd spotted him in lots of places, but hadn't got close enough to tell him what they thought, or alert the police to his presence.

"Any sign of him?" Catherine's voice sounded anxious.

Rosie shook her head, letting the curtain fall back into place. "Not yet. But if he's out there, we'll call the police. We should have done so ages ago."

"He's definitely there. I can feel it in my bones," said Catherine, wringing her hands.

It had been two weeks since Richard's behaviour had escalated from the occasional drive-by to more persistent surveillance. He'd been spotted peering through windows and lingering in the neighbourhood far too often for comfort.

"I still can't believe he followed me to my book club," Catherine moaned, collapsing onto the sofa. "Who does that? I mean, what did he think I was going to do? Run off with Mr. Darcy?"

Emma, who had been pacing the room like a caged tiger, snorted. "Well, to be fair, that Colin Firth does have a rather impressive... presence on screen."

Julie, who had been sketching furiously in the corner, looked up from her pad. "You know, this whole situation is actually quite thought-provoking. I'm thinking of doing a series called 'Love and Loss in Later Life.' Too melancholic?"

Before anyone could respond, the doorbell rang, making them all jump. Rosie approached it cautiously, half-expecting to find Richard on the other side with a bouquet of flowers and a poorly thought-out apology. Instead, she opened the door to find Trisha, looking uncharacteristically frazzled.

"Ladies," Trisha announced, sweeping into the room with the air of someone about to unveil a particularly brilliant plan, "I've had an idea."

Emma perked up. "Ooh, is it the kind of idea that involves a nice glass of wine? Because I've got a lovely Bordeaux I've been saving for a special occasion."

Trisha waved away Emma's suggestion. "No, no. Well, maybe later. But first, I think I've figured out how we're going to solve our Richard problem once and for all."

The room fell silent as they all leaned in, eager to hear Trisha's plan. Even Julie paused in her sketching, her pencil hovering expectantly over the paper.

"We're going to set up a situation where we can confront him directly," Trisha declared, her eyes glinting with determination.

What followed was a planning session that would have put most diplomats to shame. The living room was transformed into a strategy room, with Julie's artistic skills put to use creating an elaborate map of the neighbourhood. Emma, in a stroke of inspiration, suggested using her collection of colourful fridge magnets as markers for key locations.

"This little teapot magnet can represent the café where Catherine usually has her morning coffee," Emma explained, placing it on the makeshift map. "It's where Richard often 'coincidentally' shows up."

As the plan took shape, Rosie found herself marvelling at the creativity and resolve of her friends. The strategy, as Trisha outlined it, involved a fake outing for Catherine, a series of lookouts positioned around the neighbourhood, and what Emma enthusiastically referred to as "Operation: Confront and Closure."

"Are we sure this is the best approach?" Lisa asked, eyeing the map thoughtfully. "I'm not certain confrontation is the safest option."

"Oh, come now," Emma said gently. "Sometimes, you need to face these things head-on. Besides, we'll all be there to support Catherine."

As the day wore on, the plan grew more refined. Julie was tasked with creating a series of subtle signals they could use to communicate without alerting Richard. Lisa, ever the voice of reason, was put in charge of the "coordination centre" (which was really just Rosie's kitchen, now filled with mobile phones and an unnecessarily large amount of snacks).

Trisha, drawing on her experience in event planning, coordinated the logistics with admirable precision. "Right," she said, consulting her notebook. "Emma, you'll be stationed here at the café-"

As evening approached, they put the final touches to their plan. Catherine, looking both nervous and determined, was dressed for her "outing" - an elaborate ruse involving Mike (who had been roped into the scheme with surprisingly little persuasion) and the new French bistro in town.

"Remember," Trisha instructed as they did a final run-through, "the signal is two taps on your water glass. If you spot Richard, you give the signal, and we'll move into position."

Catherine nodded solemnly. "Got it. Two taps. Though I'm a bit worried I might get nervous and accidentally set you all off if I'm just really enjoying my wine."

As darkness fell, Operation Closure swung into action. Rosie found herself seated at a corner table in the bistro, menu in hand but eyes scanning the room. She felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness, but also a sense of purpose. Who would have thought that at her age, she'd be involved in such a delicate intervention?

"Eagle One to Mama Bear," Emma's voice came softly through the phone. "The Cheese has entered the building. I repeat, the Cheese has entered the building."

Rosie rolled her eyes fondly. "Emma, we agreed you'd be Rosebud, I'd be Sunflower, and Catherine would be Bluebell. Try to stick to the script."

"Well, excuse me for trying to inject a little excitement into our operation," Emma replied, a smile evident in her voice. "Fine. Rosebud to Sunflower. Bluebell is seated. Over."

For the next hour, Rosie and her friends maintained their positions, watching as Catherine and Mike enjoyed their meal. The atmosphere was tense but controlled, each woman ready to play her part if needed.

Just as Rosie was beginning to think their plan might have been unnecessary, she spotted a familiar figure entering the bistro. Richard, looking uncomfortable and out of place, was making his way towards Catherine's table.

"This is not a drill," Rosie murmured into her phone. "The subject has entered the building. I repeat, the subject has entered the building."

What followed was a scene of carefully orchestrated intervention. Emma smoothly intercepted Richard before he could reach Catherine's table, engaging him in conversation with a mix of charm and firm resolve. Julie and Lisa moved to flank Catherine, offering silent support as Mike discreetly stepped aside.

Trisha, ever the professional, coordinated their movements with subtle gestures, ensuring that Richard was gently but firmly guided to a quiet corner of the bistro where they could talk privately.

Rosie, watching from her position at the corner table, felt a surge of pride in her friends. This was not how she'd envisioned spending her golden years, but she had to admit, it was far more meaningful than she could have imagined.

The confrontation, when it came, was both emotional and cathartic. Catherine, supported by her friends, spoke to Richard with a clarity and strength that seemed to take him by surprise. She laid out her feelings, her frustrations, and her firm desire for him to respect her boundaries and move on.

Richard, faced with the united front of the women and the quiet dignity of Catherine's words, seemed to deflate. The bravado and denial that had fuelled his behaviour crumbled away, leaving a man who looked lost and, finally, ashamed.

As the evening drew to a close, with Richard agreeing to seek counselling and respect Catherine's wishes, Rosie looked around at her friends. They were a sight to behold - Emma radiating quiet triumph, Julie sketching the scene with swift, emotive strokes, Lisa offering comforting words to a tearful but relieved Catherine, and Trisha coordinating with the bistro staff to ensure privacy.