Sleepwalk

by Ros Seddon

  ‘Another drink Flick?’

  ‘Thanks Peter, I’ll just have a coke. I have to drive.’

  ‘Yes me too. It’s a long drive back to Cornwall.’ He went to the bar and Felicity looked around the room. The bar was quite full although aside from one or two familiar faces there was no one there she really knew. Peter returned with two cokes and sat opposite her.

  ‘So Flick. I’ve got you to myself at last.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Oh come on. You must know I’m crazy about you. How about we move on and get a bite to eat somewhere; have a few drinks. What do you say?’ He took her hand and looked her straight in the face. ‘You know, since we met last week all I’ve thought about is the website and you. We’re both grown adults Flick and we’re both unattached.’

  ‘Yes except you live and work a hundred miles away from here and long distance relationships don’t work Peter. Aside from that we barely know each other. As you say we only met last week.’

  ‘Strangers are merely friends who have not yet met.’

  ‘Maybe, but some other time perhaps. I have to get back and you have a long drive.’

  Peter got to his feet and side stepped around the table then sat down very close to her. Felicity gently shuffled sideways until there was enough room to let the air actually circulate around them.

  ‘So, what has Charles said about the website? If we get the kind of response I think we will and we link up to all the other branches you could be full time running and updating the site. Had you thought of that?’

  ‘Felicity I didn’t come here to talk shop.’

  ‘But… that’s why we’re all here; or were until the lightweights left.’

  ‘Look, Flick….. I’m hungry. I could do with a bite to eat, and like you say, I have a long drive ahead of me so what do you say we move on, get some food and take it from there?’

  ‘Well….. ok. Do you like Italian? There’s this new Italian on Corporation Street. We could try there. But I really can’t stay long Peter. I have someone at home waiting for their dinner too.’

  ‘What? Oh that stray feline creature of yours. Bloody hate cats. Give me a rottweiler any day.’

  They finished their drinks and set off to the Italian restaurant. Although they hadn’t booked a table they soon found themselves seated in a very cosy window seat in the corner of Antonio’s with its maroon velvet curtains and matching tablecloth, a candle burning on a silver centrepiece between them. He ordered bolognese and a bottle of merlot and she ordered carbonara but this romantic environment with its mediterranean medley playing in the background unsettled her. Peter was very intelligent, extremely good looking and he scared the hell out of her. She felt uneasy; out of her depth. Not intellectually, but intimately. Here was an alpha male; pushy; dominant in his sexual prowess and she felt……. yes she felt intimidated by him. It was hard to say ‘No’ to someone like Peter. Or was it because she was out of touch with the dating game? How long had it been; two years; three? God, men were like buses. Wait for ever and then they all come along at once. First blue eyes and now Peter and before that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been acquisitioned. Apart from red haired overweight Kevin with the incredibly archaic dress sense at her cousins wedding last spring who didn’t have the sobriety or the common sense to realise his attentions were superfluous to her.

  They ate their meal slowly and chatted a little about the website. He asked her questions about her personal life but she found she couldn’t open up to him. Perhaps she didn’t want to. He was a work colleague. He wasn’t going to be anything more. She knew that now. At one point he made an excuse to leave the table and she could see him on the telephone in the hall. He was gone for more than ten minutes. It was only speculation but Felicity had the feeling he was making excuses to someone ‘special’. When the meal was over the waiter bought the bill and she insisted paying for her share. They left the restaurant and then she met the real Peter Hendford.

  ‘Where’s your car?’

  ‘In the car park at the Farmers.’

  ‘Mine too.’

  They walked back to the pub in silence and Peter stopped outside the door.

  ‘Shall we have one for the road?’

  ‘Peter I’ve just had a glass and a half of wine and I think you’ve had rather more and we both have to drive. Anyway I have to get home……..’

  ‘To your cat, yes I know. Can I come back to yours then? Meet the cat?’

  ‘No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

  ‘Oh come on Flick….’ He took her arm, gently at first and then as she started to pull away, began to grip more tightly ‘I promise you I won’t try anything. I could crash on your sofa. We could have a few drinks; get to know each other a little better.’

  ‘No Peter. I’m tired. I’m sorry but………. No.’

  A small crowd of people approached them as they stood at the entrance to the car park and he loosened his grip on her arm and waited for them to pass.

  ‘I drove a long way to see you today Flick.’ The guilt trip………

  ‘I know and I’m really glad you came. The website wouldn’t have looked so good or happened so fast without your help and your hard work. I am really grateful to you Peter.’

  ‘How grateful?’ He had her arm again and before she knew it his mouth was on hers and he was kissing her hard. Too hard. ‘Please Peter, stop it!’ She pulled away from him and stepped back but he still had her arm in his grasp and was pulling her back toward him.

  ‘You don’t think I’ve driven all the way over here for nothing do you?’

  ‘Let me go. What the hell are you thinking?’

  A voice from the pub doorway made him stop in his tracks. ‘You ok love?’

  Two men made their way toward them and Peter instantly released her arm.

  ‘Yes. Thank you. Peter was just leaving. Goodnight Peter.’

  ‘Yes. Ok. Night Flick. See you.’

  I don’t think so…………… He hurried to his car and she watched him reverse, the wheels spinning as he accelerated out of the car park and didn’t look back. Felicity thanked the men, got into her car and drove home. Her cat was pacing back and forth on the garden wall and she felt a pang of guilt and remorse; his usual gentle meowing having been replaced with an earth shattering high pitched scream calling out to all humankind to witness the home coming of his wicked mistress; her stomach full and alcohol on her breath, whilst he had been left to fend for himself. She was still shaking as she opened the tin of whiskas with rabbit and placed it on the kitchen floor. It was stupid of her to have invited Peter; she could see that now but had she ever really given him the wrong signals? She didn’t think so. He had seemed so nice at work. Felicity poured herself a glass of wine and settled down in front of the TV for the night. She would be more careful in future; much more careful.

  The house was a mess. There were boxes everywhere from Abi’s recent arrival. Silk panties were draped over the kitchen chair; perfume and a hair dryer on the kitchen worktop and clothes strewn about the living room. He didn’t remember his wife coming to bed the night before but she must have crept up in the middle of the night because she was there when he’d woken up. He had lain awake for what seemed like half the night listening to them chattering away and giggling in the room below. He poured himself a coffee, picked up Abi’s belongings from the kitchen and threw them in a pile under the stairs then he made some toast and set off for work. Until now he had crept around so as not to wake them but then thought better of it and slammed the front door closed on his way out hoping the noise was sufficient to wake Oliver and then at least one of them would have to get up and see to him. She’d only been there two nights and already he felt like he was the lodger. Thank God for work.

  It seemed to be his only escape lately and he’d found he was throwing himself into it with much more enthusiasm putting more and more energy into his day to day responsibilities and less and less energy into his relationship which, ult
imately pleased his manager so later that day when he was given the opportunity to spend three days away on a training course at short notice he jumped at it. The course was in London and he would leave the next day on Tuesday after lunch. That night he packed an overnight bag and tried not to sound too enthusiastic about it when he announced his forthcoming departure.

  ‘Ellie, can I talk to you a minute darling?’

  ‘I’ll just take this upstairs…….’ Abi picked up a small box and a carrier bag from the hall and made her way up the stairs.

  ‘I…. um…. I have to go away for a couple of days, on a work course. Will you manage with Abi here or can I get Mum to help you? Or I could cancel it if you’d rather?’

  ‘Cancel it? Whatever for? Of course we’ll be okay now Abi is here to help. When do you leave?’

  ‘Tomorrow. It was very short notice I’m afraid which is why it would be perfectly reasonable for me to cancel if I need to.’ He watched for her reaction and was expecting some kind of dismay but instead her face immediately lit up with excitement. She wanted him to go. She wanted him gone. Out of the house. Why?

  She saw his look of bewildered disdain and her facial expression changed to one of disappointment. ‘Oh how long will you be gone? We’ll miss you.’

  ‘Three days….. two nights, but remember I’ll only be a couple of hours drive away if you need me to come home.’

  ‘We’ll be fine, really. You go off and enjoy your course.’

  ‘I could hardly enjoy being on a management training course sweet. I can’t think of anything more boring.’

  The next morning Ellie was up bright and early and had made him a packed lunch and kissed him goodbye at the door, like she once used to before Oliver was born. As he climbed into the car and set off for work he couldn’t help feeling he was making a big mistake taking a few days away when she was so vulnerable and so easily led by her friend. He didn’t see her look of glee as she waved to him, turned and went back inside the house to her lover.

  Sundays seemed to come and go so fast in Felicity’s life. She woke up with the cat purring on top of her and sunlight streaming through a small gap in the curtains. She pulled back the duvet and flinched as her finger rubbed across the cotton cover and remembered she had burned it last night melting chocolate to cover the chocolate sponge cake she had made. Her Father loved her chocolate cake so he was in for a treat today. She opened the tin and looked at her masterpiece in the light of day. Funny, it looked so much better last night with a glass of Australian Shiraz.

  ‘Come on then you muppet. Let’s get you fed and then you’re in charge until I get back ok?’ The tabby cat arched his back and paced around her meowing. He’d learned to stretch himself up to the top of the cat food cupboard and pull the handle of the door until it opened slightly but he hadn’t quite mastered the art of actually opening the door so it consequently banged shut every time he practised which was infuriatingly every few seconds until he was fed or got bored with his game.

  Later that day, after Margaret & Joseph Breen and their daughter had eaten a hearty traditional Sunday roast they all went into the garden to see the progress there. Felicity couldn’t believe the difference. Where before there was a huge lawn and a small patio area, now there was a massive patio area with a Rockery curving its way around between the slabs and the lawn.

  ‘Wow! It looks lovely Mum! Isn’t it lovely Dad? Look at these………’

  ‘What? Honey Bees? Where?’

  ‘No, the garden. I said isn’t it lovely?’

  ‘Hasn’t been seen since.’

  ‘Who? Who hasn’t been seen since?’

  ‘Damned scoundrel who dug up all my lovely garden. I’ll catch him though.’

  ‘I made a chocolate cake last night Dad. I bought it over for you. Would you like some?’

  ‘Don’t know if I can fit it in..........’ Joseph Breen tapped his swollen tummy. ‘....Not after all that pasty.’ Felicity sighed, took his arm and led him inside under the watchful eyes of her Mother.

  ‘The doctor thinks its Parkinson’s disease.’ Margaret washed and Felicity wiped.

  ‘He’s been prescribed so many different tablets I’ve lost count, but he’s not going to get any better.’ Margaret wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and let out an enormous sigh. ‘Eats away at the brain cells. A deteriorating disease for which there is no cure.’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry Mum. I’m so sorry’ Felicity reached out her arms to her and mother and daughter stood for a moment just holding each other.

  ‘I’ll help as much as I can.’

  ‘Nothing you can do. Nothing anyone can do.’

  They finished the dishes in silence and joined Joseph in the conservatory with hot coffee and chocolate cake. Felicity wanted to tell her mother her thoughts about moving in with them, but the words didn’t seem to come and once her father had had his afternoon nap he seemed to be back to his old self again, chatting about her work, praising her for her recent accomplishment and about the wonderful job their young man had done on the garden. That night at home Felicity cried. She cried for her father, she cried for her mother and she cried for herself because she felt so alone and most of all she worried that she would never have what her parents had now; the deep eternal love of a good partner. Thank God, thought Felicity, that they have that; because with that, they could face anything.

  It was ten minutes past twelve. Felicity had been waiting at the town hall since quarter to and there was still no sign of Sandra who had said that if she wasn’t there by quarter past that she hadn’t been able to make it. She leaned against the pillar on the town hall steps, the mid-day sun hot on her face and her bare shoulders and watched people going by. She liked to watch people. People together, people alone; all going somewhere, all busy doing something.

  ‘Flick…. Is that you?’

  She turned toward the voice and came face to face with blue eyes. He was looking good in his short sleeved white shirt, his bare arms already tanned from the heat wave they had been experiencing for the past week.

  ‘David! Hi! It’s good to see you. I…… I was just waiting for a friend……..’

  She saw his expression change to one of dismay.

  ‘But…. It doesn’t look like she’s going to show up.’ She tried not to put too much emphasis on the word ‘she’s’ but his smile told her he’d picked up on it.

  ‘Fancy a coffee?’ He looked for her reaction.

  ‘Mmmm… Coffee sounds good.’

  They walked side by side to the Bad Rock and she couldn’t help but notice how they walked well together; kind of simultaneous strides even though his legs were much longer than hers. They sat down at the same little table in the window.

  ‘How have you been?’ He asked her just as the waitress came along. He ordered two cappuccinos and looked for her response.

  ‘I’m doing really well thank you. I’m just about to embark on a new venture which could turn my company around so, yes. It’s all good. I think my job is safe now, for the time being anyway.’

  ‘Were you worried then, about your job? Before, I mean?’

  ‘Not so much worried but, well, things have quietened down a bit lately. The property market’s a funny game to be in and the past few months have been quite hard with interest rates soaring like they did. People just don’t want to buy you see. I had to let one member of staff go which was really hard; lovely girl. I’ve never had to do that before’.

  The waitress bought their coffee on a tray. David took it from her with a smile and Felicity saw those perfect teeth again. ‘Thank you’ he turned back to her and noticed she was looking at him, smiling.

  ‘What?’ he asked.

  ‘Nothing.’ She looked away, embarrassed that he had caught her look of adoration.

  He passed her cappuccino across the table and looked her straight in the face. ‘I could get used to this.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Would you see me again Flick? Well you’re seeing me
now aren’t you……. kind of?’

  ‘I thought you weren’t ready for another relationship?’ Oh Stupid girl! He hasn’t actually said he wants a relationship has he? That’s it now you’ve got Floozy written all over your forehead. ‘I mean ….. not that we would …… Yes.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Are you asking me out?’ She looked at him kind of coyly.

  ‘Well… Yes.’

  ‘Ok.’

  ‘Ok what?’

  ‘Ok. Ok David yes it would be nice to see you again.’ There I’ve said it.

  ‘Good because it would be nice to see you again Flick. So; when?’

  ‘Any time. I don’t have any plans. I’m on holiday at the moment and I don’t have any work commitments for another week or so.’

  He checked his watch.

  ‘Talking of work, I have to get back. Listen Flick, how about dinner, tonight?’

  ‘Dinner sounds wonderful.’

  ‘Ok. I’ll pick you up at say, 7.30pm?’

  ‘Ok.’

  ‘Cool. See you later. I must dash. It was……… I’m really glad I bumped into you. I mean…. Not physically-you’re the only one who does that. Bye.’

  Then he was gone. She sat there in the Bad Rock for a few minutes, her heart still pounding from their conversation. Her mind racing going over and over what he had said; what she had said and then it hit her. Where was he picking her up from? Here? or from work, or home? She hadn’t told him where she lived. How would he know? The filo fax……… It had a lot to answer for.

  Chapter Three

  It was dark when Gus left the social club on Western Drive and he couldn’t see clearly but he knew a confrontation when he saw one. The three youths were in the shadows of the beer garden. The girl, he had seen before. She was standing a little away from the boys and her face was caught in the moonlight. He recognised her because of her hair; long yellow hair in two plaits. No one wore their hair in plaits anymore. Her socks gave her away too. Colourful striped socks pulled up over the bottoms of her tight dirty blue denim jeans. Tight jeans were out. Lunes were the order of the day. They were tight at the top with massive flares at the bottom; that’s what all the young girls wore now. But not this one. She wouldn’t conform to fashion; wouldn’t care a fig about fashion. He’d seen her often on the streets at night; always in the same clothes; always half cut, or drugged up; whichever was appropriate. Probably the latter. She was pulling at the shirt sleeves of one of the boys, urging him to come away and the boys were shouting at one another; Gimme my fucking money man ....... and ...... Yeah? Come on then!