It was easy to convince myself we weren't doing anything really wrong. It was even easier to convince myself Terry loved me. Yet when his love was put to the test, how much could I trust him...
It was starting to get dark outside and as the street light burst into life it shone onto the silver Christmas tree I was decorating. I smiled happily as I fixed the angel to the top of the tree, then I stood back to admire my handiwork.
A year ago I’d have complained bitterly about having an artificial tree, they couldn’t compare with the real thing. That beautiful smell of pine that seemed to reach into every corner of the room had always made Christmas special. But this year I couldn’t have stood it. The sight and smell of a real tree would have brought back sharp memories of last Christmas - memories I was trying hard to forget.
I shuddered as I thought back to that time, and wondered if the pain of it would ever leave me...
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Thursday 17 December 2009
Christmas Star
"Decorating the tree is for fathers and daughters." Steve had told me proudly. Only this year he might not be here...
“Can we decorate the tree now?” My seven-year-old daughter was jumping excitedly from side to side on the doorstep.
“Oh, Lauren, be patient for a bit longer, please,” I grumbled as I searched in my bag for the key. “The tree will have to wait. Let’s get this shopping in and have something to eat. I’m cold and I’m hungry.”
I didn’t add that I was thoroughly fed up, too.
Undeterred by my bad mood Lauren hurtled into the house, discarding her coat and mittens as she went. I sighed as I watched her. Oh, if only I had her unfailing optimism and energy. Maybe then life and its problems would be easier to cope with.
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“Can we decorate the tree now?” My seven-year-old daughter was jumping excitedly from side to side on the doorstep.
“Oh, Lauren, be patient for a bit longer, please,” I grumbled as I searched in my bag for the key. “The tree will have to wait. Let’s get this shopping in and have something to eat. I’m cold and I’m hungry.”
I didn’t add that I was thoroughly fed up, too.
Undeterred by my bad mood Lauren hurtled into the house, discarding her coat and mittens as she went. I sighed as I watched her. Oh, if only I had her unfailing optimism and energy. Maybe then life and its problems would be easier to cope with.
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Lonely Christmas
All around us was the bustling atmosphere of happiness and goodwill Christmas always brings. If only some of it would come our way...
My jacket was no protection against the biting wind, and my hands were blue with cold as I wheeled the pushchair through the Christmas shoppers. I looked down at Matthew. At least he was snug and warm tucked up in his blanket.
Tears blocked my throat as he gazed in awe at the brightly lit toyshop window. Matthew had only been a few days old last Christmas. Too little to know what all the excitement was about. This year he was beginning to get the idea. Wherever you looked there seemed to be sparkling Christmas trees with twinkling lights, and huge models of Father Christmas in his sleigh with a sackful of presents. All around us was the bustling atmosphere of happiness and goodwill Christmas always brings. If only some of it would come our way.
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My jacket was no protection against the biting wind, and my hands were blue with cold as I wheeled the pushchair through the Christmas shoppers. I looked down at Matthew. At least he was snug and warm tucked up in his blanket.
Tears blocked my throat as he gazed in awe at the brightly lit toyshop window. Matthew had only been a few days old last Christmas. Too little to know what all the excitement was about. This year he was beginning to get the idea. Wherever you looked there seemed to be sparkling Christmas trees with twinkling lights, and huge models of Father Christmas in his sleigh with a sackful of presents. All around us was the bustling atmosphere of happiness and goodwill Christmas always brings. If only some of it would come our way.
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Wednesday 16 December 2009
Revenge
I was so fed up with my slave driver boss I'd have done anything to get my own back. Then the chance came and I took it...
“Please, Jerry,” I begged softly. “Is it so much to ask. Just one measly, sexy, weekend away.”
We were snuggled on the sofa in my flat and Jerry was looking very bothered by my suggestion.
“I can’t get away, darling, not next weekend,” he said with a frown. “Or any other really. Carla would never stand for it.”
“You could if you really wanted to,” I went on as I gently kissed his neck. “Anyway, Carla’s very busy at the office right now, she probably wouldn’t even notice you were gone. Please, sweetheart...”
I reached up and put my hand on his cheek, turning his face to me. My lips were soft as I kissed him.
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“Please, Jerry,” I begged softly. “Is it so much to ask. Just one measly, sexy, weekend away.”
We were snuggled on the sofa in my flat and Jerry was looking very bothered by my suggestion.
“I can’t get away, darling, not next weekend,” he said with a frown. “Or any other really. Carla would never stand for it.”
“You could if you really wanted to,” I went on as I gently kissed his neck. “Anyway, Carla’s very busy at the office right now, she probably wouldn’t even notice you were gone. Please, sweetheart...”
I reached up and put my hand on his cheek, turning his face to me. My lips were soft as I kissed him.
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Night - Watcher
Any man would be a fool to pass up a woman like Amanda. I certainly couldn't. Now all I had to do was make her see exactly why I wanted her...
The windows of the flat opposite were in darkness. My watch told me it was almost 6.30. She was late tonight. Normally she was home soon after six. She'd get off the bus at the corner and reach her flat four minutes later.
"What's made you late tonight, Amanda Bennett?" I said to my empty flat. "It's not like you at all."
I put my binoculars on the window ledge and sat down in the armchair by the window to wait for her. Ripples of excitement ran through me as I thought of Amanda. This was to be a very special night - although she didn't know it yet. I smiled into the darkness, wondering what her reaction would be when she found the package I'd left at her flat...
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The windows of the flat opposite were in darkness. My watch told me it was almost 6.30. She was late tonight. Normally she was home soon after six. She'd get off the bus at the corner and reach her flat four minutes later.
"What's made you late tonight, Amanda Bennett?" I said to my empty flat. "It's not like you at all."
I put my binoculars on the window ledge and sat down in the armchair by the window to wait for her. Ripples of excitement ran through me as I thought of Amanda. This was to be a very special night - although she didn't know it yet. I smiled into the darkness, wondering what her reaction would be when she found the package I'd left at her flat...
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Pretty Promises
After Darren I swore I'd never trust another man. Sam was gorgeous. He took my breath away... But was he any different...
When my sister suggested I enter Emma in the Trendy Tots competition I was dead against it. It was only a local contest, but there’d been enough gossip when Emma was born, I didn’t want to spark off any more. Besides, my two-year-old daughter was sadly lacking in trendy outfits!
Not that Annette listened. She insisted it would be good fun and if the local gossips had nothing better to do than gossip about me, that was their problem. I knew she was right and didn’t say a word when she got busy on the sewing machine. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the creation which emerged, and when we arrived at the competition I rated Emma’s outfit with the best.
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When my sister suggested I enter Emma in the Trendy Tots competition I was dead against it. It was only a local contest, but there’d been enough gossip when Emma was born, I didn’t want to spark off any more. Besides, my two-year-old daughter was sadly lacking in trendy outfits!
Not that Annette listened. She insisted it would be good fun and if the local gossips had nothing better to do than gossip about me, that was their problem. I knew she was right and didn’t say a word when she got busy on the sewing machine. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the creation which emerged, and when we arrived at the competition I rated Emma’s outfit with the best.
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Fantasy Lover
When reality is a bit of a let down, what’s wrong with having a...
When Terry had first asked me to go out with him I’d been thrilled. He worked in a garage near the hairdressing Salon and we’d been travelling on the same morning bus for ages.
I’d liked him right from the start and had often wished I’d had the courage to speak to him. Then one day he’d smiled and suddenly we were talking.
Yet it was over a week before he asked me for that precious date...
“You haven’t forgotten about tonight, have you, Wendy?” he reminded me on Friday morning.
I blushed as I shook my head. Forgotten! Ever since he’d asked me on Tuesday I’d spent every spare moment dreaming about him, picturing us walking down the road hand in hand, and then wondering what it would be like to feel his lips gently touching mine.
Oh no, I hadn’t forgotten...
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When Terry had first asked me to go out with him I’d been thrilled. He worked in a garage near the hairdressing Salon and we’d been travelling on the same morning bus for ages.
I’d liked him right from the start and had often wished I’d had the courage to speak to him. Then one day he’d smiled and suddenly we were talking.
Yet it was over a week before he asked me for that precious date...
“You haven’t forgotten about tonight, have you, Wendy?” he reminded me on Friday morning.
I blushed as I shook my head. Forgotten! Ever since he’d asked me on Tuesday I’d spent every spare moment dreaming about him, picturing us walking down the road hand in hand, and then wondering what it would be like to feel his lips gently touching mine.
Oh no, I hadn’t forgotten...
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Love In Las Vegas
Married three months - and we were already heading for a divorce!
Danny and I stood and glared at each other over the breakfast table. The reason for our latest row was a slightly overcooked boiled egg! To hear the way he'd sounded off you'd think I'd done it deliberately to annoy him. He didn't seem to realise I had to get to work too!
"I think it's time we had a serious talk about our marriage," I challenged him coldly.
He snatched his jacket off the back of the chair and practically threw it on.
"On the contrary..." he snapped back. "A serious talk about divorce would be more appropriate!"
He stormed out of the kitchen and a moment later the front door slammed so hard the windows shook. I stood with my hands clenched into fists as fury erupted inside me. In the three months we'd been married Danny had turned from a loving adorable man into a chauvinistic monster I was rapidly beginning to loath.
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Danny and I stood and glared at each other over the breakfast table. The reason for our latest row was a slightly overcooked boiled egg! To hear the way he'd sounded off you'd think I'd done it deliberately to annoy him. He didn't seem to realise I had to get to work too!
"I think it's time we had a serious talk about our marriage," I challenged him coldly.
He snatched his jacket off the back of the chair and practically threw it on.
"On the contrary..." he snapped back. "A serious talk about divorce would be more appropriate!"
He stormed out of the kitchen and a moment later the front door slammed so hard the windows shook. I stood with my hands clenched into fists as fury erupted inside me. In the three months we'd been married Danny had turned from a loving adorable man into a chauvinistic monster I was rapidly beginning to loath.
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Happy Is The Bride
Our wedding day had been perfect. Everything we'd dreamed of. Then we arrived at our honeymoon hotel...
“Could I have the bride and groom now, please,” the photographer’s voice boomed out.
I tucked my hand under Gary’s arm and shivered with delight. ‘Bride and Groom’ - that was us! Oh, I was so happy I wanted to sing and dance all over the grass bordering the path up to the church.
Ever since I could remember I’d wanted to be a June bride, and my darling Gary had made my dreams come true.
For the next half hour we posed for the photos smiling happily as the hot June sun shone down on us. Then we were running, amid showers of confetti, to the car which was taking us to the reception.
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“Could I have the bride and groom now, please,” the photographer’s voice boomed out.
I tucked my hand under Gary’s arm and shivered with delight. ‘Bride and Groom’ - that was us! Oh, I was so happy I wanted to sing and dance all over the grass bordering the path up to the church.
Ever since I could remember I’d wanted to be a June bride, and my darling Gary had made my dreams come true.
For the next half hour we posed for the photos smiling happily as the hot June sun shone down on us. Then we were running, amid showers of confetti, to the car which was taking us to the reception.
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Tuesday 15 December 2009
First Prize - Love
Love and luck had never gone together for me. Then I bought a raffle ticket...
The club was packed when Beth and I walked in. There wasn't a spare inch of floor to dance on, and the thumping beat of the music threatened to split my head wide open.
My heart nosedived. I must have been crazy to let Beth persuade me to come here. I'd have been much happier sitting at home and dreaming of all the things that might have been.
"It'll do you good," Beth had said in her well-meaning way. "It's pointless moping over Gerry. He won't come back, Sally, so you might as well stop wallowing in misery and start living again."
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The club was packed when Beth and I walked in. There wasn't a spare inch of floor to dance on, and the thumping beat of the music threatened to split my head wide open.
My heart nosedived. I must have been crazy to let Beth persuade me to come here. I'd have been much happier sitting at home and dreaming of all the things that might have been.
"It'll do you good," Beth had said in her well-meaning way. "It's pointless moping over Gerry. He won't come back, Sally, so you might as well stop wallowing in misery and start living again."
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Memories Linger On
"It's just a house, Carole," Robbie had said. Yet to me it was so much more...
Standing in the hallway of the empty house, I shivered.
It was dark and lonely without all the old-fashioned furniture Aunt Emmy had kept so clean and shining. The bright curtains and carpets had gone, too, leaving behind dull floorboards and grimy windows.
A spider scuttled passed me as I walked into the kitchen.
Aunt Emmy didn't believe in 'new-fangled gadgets' like washing machines and cookers. Until her illness forced her to become bedridden she'd cooked on an old coal range, and washed in the big copper.
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Standing in the hallway of the empty house, I shivered.
It was dark and lonely without all the old-fashioned furniture Aunt Emmy had kept so clean and shining. The bright curtains and carpets had gone, too, leaving behind dull floorboards and grimy windows.
A spider scuttled passed me as I walked into the kitchen.
Aunt Emmy didn't believe in 'new-fangled gadgets' like washing machines and cookers. Until her illness forced her to become bedridden she'd cooked on an old coal range, and washed in the big copper.
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Speak No Evil
"One day your gossips going to get you into trouble," Pam had warned me. How I wish I'd listened...
"Pam, I saw them with my own eyes!" I told my disbelieving friend. "I went into the stationery room to get some envelopes, and there they were. You can’t tell me it was a casual little cuddle either. I mean, he’s married and she’s so innocent she can’t see the pitfalls."
"Oh, come off it, Diana," Pam said then. "It’s probably nothing serious..."
"Isn’t it though?" I interrupted. "Last week she had Friday off. I know, because I typed the memo asking for her to have a days holiday.
Remember, I told you. And on Thursday he came in and asked Mr. Gaskin if he could leave early because he was going away for the weekend."
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"Pam, I saw them with my own eyes!" I told my disbelieving friend. "I went into the stationery room to get some envelopes, and there they were. You can’t tell me it was a casual little cuddle either. I mean, he’s married and she’s so innocent she can’t see the pitfalls."
"Oh, come off it, Diana," Pam said then. "It’s probably nothing serious..."
"Isn’t it though?" I interrupted. "Last week she had Friday off. I know, because I typed the memo asking for her to have a days holiday.
Remember, I told you. And on Thursday he came in and asked Mr. Gaskin if he could leave early because he was going away for the weekend."
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There Has To Be A Loser
...but who would it be this time?
David had been fidgety since he came home from work. Over supper we normally chatted about the things we'd done during the day, but tonight the conversation had been sparse to say the least.
"Is anything wrong, darling?" I'd asked him.
He'd been staring at the table, a small frown making the laughter lines around his eyes look more pronounced. At the sound of my voice he'd looked startled, as though I'd woken him up suddenly from a deep, intense dream.
"What...oh, no...nothing." He'd shaken his head and smiled at me. "It's been a heavy day, that's all."
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David had been fidgety since he came home from work. Over supper we normally chatted about the things we'd done during the day, but tonight the conversation had been sparse to say the least.
"Is anything wrong, darling?" I'd asked him.
He'd been staring at the table, a small frown making the laughter lines around his eyes look more pronounced. At the sound of my voice he'd looked startled, as though I'd woken him up suddenly from a deep, intense dream.
"What...oh, no...nothing." He'd shaken his head and smiled at me. "It's been a heavy day, that's all."
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Heart Breaker
Love's a game. Only first you have to learn the rules...
Bella gently touched the tiny heart shaped locket I'd just put around her neck.
"Oh, Jack, it's so beautiful," she whispered as tears misted her eyes.
"Nothing's too beautiful for you," I told her with a husky catch in my voice.
Tenderly I took her in my arms and kissed her, softly at first, then with more passion as I felt her body press against mine as she responded.
Everything was going according to plan. The opening moves of the seduction scene had gone perfectly, and Bella was playing her part just right...
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Bella gently touched the tiny heart shaped locket I'd just put around her neck.
"Oh, Jack, it's so beautiful," she whispered as tears misted her eyes.
"Nothing's too beautiful for you," I told her with a husky catch in my voice.
Tenderly I took her in my arms and kissed her, softly at first, then with more passion as I felt her body press against mine as she responded.
Everything was going according to plan. The opening moves of the seduction scene had gone perfectly, and Bella was playing her part just right...
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