Chasing Rainbows

by Amber Moon

  They had many secrets and shared many adventures in the past, but she didn't need her friend right now.

  She could deal with the shock of seeing part of her past on the plane. She took another drink and wondered what to do?

  Anne's words came back to her ,”Remember what those bastards did to you?”

  Olivia always believed that what happens to a person was somehow their choice.

  Whilst she had not chosen to have her heart broken, somewhere in the complication of her mind, she felt she needed the experience for her personal learning and growth.

  Being such a positive person she felt that everything that happens in life can be turned into an advantage.

  Some people thought she was totally daft, totally eccentric and living in a parallel universe to everyone else.

  Others knew where she was coming from and understood her.

  All Olivia knew was that she was as happy as she could be, most of the time. It hadn't always been so.

  A person has to make their own happiness and luck, create their own destiny and not rely on others.

  Olivia began to think about George. It wasn't as thought they had an affair or anything.

  It was more than twenty years ago and the details of that trip were buried somewhere in the filing cabinets that stored information, in her mind.

  Now she had seen him so unexpectedly she located the cabinet at the back of her subconscious and the drawer began to slowly open.

  Olivia never understood why she slept with George. She had not listened much to Jo's drunken ramblings that night in the restaurant.

  Olivia's problem was always that she was gullible, naïve and liked a challenge. She loved her little adventures.

  That night Olivia was led up the garden path and dropped in the pond before she realised what was happening.

  Thank goodness she no longer drank to excess. She knew it to be the root of all evil.

  She was much older now and somewhat wiser.

  Not all the time though and she was aware there were still mistakes to be made.

  Mistakes were to be learnt form and a person had to ensure they didn't make the same one twice

  As the drawer to her memories opened wider the whole 'German experience' came out without invite and brought along the feelings in the form of flash backs.

  The night it all began, Olivia sat between Jo and Heather at the end of a long pine table covered in a crisp white tablecloth.

  The boys sat next to them and Linda sat opposite George at the far end.

  Olivia wasn't sure why Linda was not with them but she seemed to be enjoying herself with George.

  Olivia had not really spoken to George since the airport when he carried her bags for her.

  He was a little older than her. He was bald and she thought his arrogance and demeanour made him appear rather pompous, to say the least.

  Olivia had no time for those who were 'full of themselves'; who blew their own trumpet.

  She did not think it was confidence but more an obnoxious personality to be avoided.

  She did not judge people, just avoided those who bothered her.

  George didn't even bother her, he was just the man who organised the trip.

  They were very drunk and really enjoying themselves, when out of the blue Jo began, “Look at her, the simpering bitch, she wants him, you can tell.”

  Jo nodded down the table towards Linda and George.

  Good grief where had that come from?

  “How do you know that?” began Olivia when she was cut short by Jo's next tirade.

  “Watch them, can't you see what she is doing?”

  As Jo went on Heather and Olivia smiled at each other and turned to look to the end of the table.

  Linda was smiling, her eyes never leaving Georges face. He was telling her something and it all looked very cosy and innocent.

  Heather piped up, “What is she doing, chatting, smiling?.

  “No”, retorted Jo. “Watch her hands on that glass”.

  They looked again. Olivia noticed that Linda's forefinger and thumb were slowly going up and down the stem of the wine glass which was filled red wine.

  Heather seemed totally unaware of the implications of that action and said, “ Yep, she's playing with her wine glass, so?”

  Jo turned to Olivia, “Do you know what it means,” she asked.

  “Yes I do” Olivia laughed.

  Jo pushed Olivia in her side, “Then tell 'numpty', will you!”

  Olivia looked at Heather to see if the insult registered.

  Heather was too drunk to notice that Jo had just called her a 'numpty'.

  Olivia and Heather knew the stories about Jo and members of staff, so perhaps Heather was choosing to ignore the insult?

  People had to keep Jo sweet if they valued their jobs and life could become very difficult back in the office.

  Olivia sighed and went on to patiently explain, “Doing that with the stem of her glass with her fingers means she is stroking his penis, work it out yourself Heather, she is subconsciously tossing him off”.

  Heather sat back in her seat before saying, “No way, no way, really?”

  Heather began to laugh and only stopped when she took a drink from the glass she was holding, before trying the same action herself, this set her off laughing again.

  Olivia sat back and raised her eyes whilst Jo continued to send daggers down the table towards Linda and George.

  The other guys were engrossed in a conversation about football. They weren't interested in the ladies after spending all day together and were enjoying their 'man' time.

  Jo grabbed Olivia's arm, her nails digging in tightly, “You have to stop this, it can't happen, she can't have him”.

  The desperation in Jo's voice was a cause for concern and she continued quickly, “ She can't have him, you make sure of that, don't let her have him, please. You can do it Olivia, please”.

  Olivia was shocked. What was this about? this woman appeared possessed, shaking her head Olivia replied, “What do you expect me to do?”

  Jo's eyes narrowed conspiratorially, “We can't talk about it here, I think if Linda doesn't make her move tonight she definitely will tomorrow in Hamburg, step in between them, don't let it happen”.

  Even though Jo said she could not talk about this at the table she went on, as her grip tightened on Olivia's arm, “Those rumours you heard about me, they are true, not rumours at all,”

  Enough said!

  Olivia decided that this was drink talking and by the morning Jo would have forgotten all she said.

  How wrong Olivia was. The next morning as they boarded the mini bus, Jo said, ”Don't forget tonight, I am counting on you”.

  Olivia did all she could not to sleep with George the following night.

  She got drunk and forgot how impulsive and reckless she could be.

  The 'just do it' attitude got the better of her.

  Her pink T shirt flew across the room and the rest was history.

  If only she could have seen what the aftermath of her actions were to bring, she might have behaved differently.

  George's behaviour towards her changed after the night of wonderful sex.

  The trip became a living hell for. Things began to happen that she could not understand.

  Olivia suddenly found herself in purgatory and the worst days of her life were beginning.

  The day after Hamburg things became rather strained and the group almost shunned her.

  She tried to speak to Jo, who ignored her.

  Olivia stood alone from the crowd and watched her friend Heather chat to Jo. Heather ignored her too.

  That night when Olivia went back to her room, she found Heather and her belongs were gone.

  In a blind panic Olivia went to George's room.

  She thought he might know where Heather was and perhaps there might be a repeat performance of the night before.

  She could do with some cuddles and kisses in the lonely place sh
e now found herself in.

  She knocked on George's door and entered, after hearing a curt, “Come in”.

  George was sitting at a table writing, a half drunk bottle of Pinot Noir beside him. He did not look up.

  “Yes what do you want?” he snapped and turned his cold eyes towards her.

  Olivia stepped back, was this the man who the night before held her in his arms, kissed her passionately and sent ripples of ecstasy through her body?

  Olivia spluttered like a little girl, “I can't find Heather and I am worried about her, have you any idea where she might be please?”

  George looked her up and down with distaste, “She no longer wants to share with you and asked to be moved”.

  Olivia's jaw fell open, she was lost for words.

  George said , “She knows what you did, they all know what you have done”.

  Panic set in as George continued, “ She said you have done her head in and she can't cope with you any longer”.

  Olivia did not understand what he meant. What was going on? Why was George being like this?

  As always Olivia tried to turn the situation into something positive.

  She walked towards George putting her arms around his waist and nestled up to him as she said, “ Well, I suppose we can turn it to our advantage and I can stay with you tonight”.

  She felt George stiffen under her touch as he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and pusher her away.

  “No you can't” he spoke harshly, “You can get out right now.”

  Olivia felt as though someone had thumped her in the gut.

  A large tear drop rolled down her cheek before the floodgates opened.

  She stood in the middle of George's bedroom like a little girl lost and all alone.

  George took her by the arm. He led her to the door and threw her out into the corridor, slamming the door shut.

  Olivia lost her footing and fell on to the carpet just as a couple were walking by. They looked at her as they went past. They stepped over her and carried on walking.

  As Olivia's face hit the floor the tears stopped and she jumped up.

  She banged on the door, “Please George, what has happened? Please let me in”.

  The tears now were in free flow and dropping onto the carpet.

  She continued to beg until the door opened a little and George peered out at her.

  In his corporate work voice he said, “Olivia just go back to your room.

  I don't take kindly to others knowing my business. You should have kept your big mouth shut.

  You have alienated all your work mates and made me look rather stupid.

  I suggest you keep very quiet for the rest of this trip.

  You are nothing but a whore. You know what you have done so just go away now”'

  George slammed the door in her face leaving Olivia to return to her room and cry for the rest of the night.

  The next day the 'Into the Sun' group reached their next destination of Bremen.

  Check in did not go without incident when Heather refused to share a room with Olivia.

  This made things very awkward as the hotel was fully booked and there were no rooms left.

  Linda stepped in and saved the day, she had a double room to herself. “It's OK”, she said, “I don't mind sharing”.

  She smiled at Olivia, who was looking down at her feet in embarrassment.

  “We get on well, don't we?” Linda asked Olivia as she walked over to her.

  She linked arms, taking her arm and leading her to the lift Linda said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear, “Come on we will have a right laugh together”.

  Olivia was surprised by Linda's kindness, she followed Linda into the lift.

  Once in the bedroom Olivia sat down on the bed and spluttered, “Thank you so much, I can't believe that just happened. It was awful. What have I done? Is Heather in a room on her own now then?”

  Linda looked at her, “No of course not , she is sharing with Peter now”.

  Olivia repeated, “With Peter?”

  Linda put the kettle on a she said, “Are you on the same trip as the rest of us, haven't you noticed?

  I thought maybe she might end up with George but she has always had a thing for Peter.

  At work they got to lunch regularly, she really likes Peterl”.

  Olivia hadn't noticed much since the night in Hamburg and she wasn't going to say much about that to anyone, especially after what followed and the humiliation of being thrown out of Georges room the day after.

  Olivia shrugged her shoulders, “That is up to her what she does, Good luck to her, none of my business, she never said a word to me all the time we were together”.

  Olivia picked up her towel and went to shower, she needed to wash the day off and prepare for the torturous evening.

  The last two days went quickly thanks to Linda taking Olivia under her wing and never leaving her side.

  Linda told Olivia she knew all about Hamburg; Jo told them all.

  This surprised Olivia who had not breathed a word to anybody.

  She hated Jo and realised that she was the one making trouble for her.

  Olivia still kept her own counsel although was tempted to reveal all to Linda due to her kindness.

  It was something that Olivia now wanted to forget, she needed to heal and move on.

  Rachel and Garth also took Olivia under their wing and a small foursome developed that laughed its way to the end of the trip.

  The three days that followed were quite terrible.

  George stepped back from the group. He was frustrated as he could not ask Olivia why she told Jo about them.

  He still wasn't sure if Jo had told the whole truth and it looked like he would never know if she lied or not.

  George was not feeling too good about his behaviour towards Olivia. He was not one for saying sorry and in his book what was done was done.

  George turned his attention to Heather and danced with her on the evenings they went out, only to find she was using him as a decoy.

  Nobody was fooled as they all knew she was sharing a bed with Peter.

  George began to feel that he was being used yet again.

  On reaching Manchester airport George rushed out of the arrival's gate into the arms of his wife. he lied about how much he'd missed her.

  Alice was always there after one of his trips. He knew she was trying to catch him out.

  She might be a drunk but she wasn't stupid.

  After a quick word with Kevin about when they would next be meeting, George left the airport without a backward glance.

  Olivia was coming out with Linda and saw the back of George, she could not stop the tear that rolled down her face.

  Olivia was relieved to get back, somewhat humbled by the whole experience.

  She felt dirty and abused, took responsibility for what happened and decided that it would never happen again.

  She felt like a trollop and didn't like it.

  Olivia didn't stay long in the job. Jo made her life so difficult and when a tragedy hit Olivia's family Jo found it the ideal opportunity to sack her.

  She never saw George or heard from him again until now.

  Over twenty years had passed and she was older and wiser.

  The question remained in her mind as to what actually happened for George to turn on her like he did.

  She often remembered the night in the Reeperbahn when the words 'if they could see me now' reminded her of the way she behaved and she would smile.

  Olivia only told a few friends about her time in Germany.

  Olivia wiped her tears and began to think about Doug. She looked at the other passengers on the plane. She wondered what their stories would be like if they were to be written.

  Everybody has a story to tell.

  Olivia was still in the process of writing hers and she knew nobody would believe it.

  .

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Doug once again looked a
t the picture of Olivia in the magazine. He found unfamiliar feelings stirring inside. He tried to dismiss them with a big sigh. It didn't work.

  Doug was back in the room with Olivia after being called down from his office.

  He saw Olivia standing before him wearing a beaming smile that she carried with her all the time. His heart missed a beat.

  He now knew how much he loved her. How much he missed her.

  He wanted to take her in his arms and give her the words of love that were bursting to come out, but he didn't.

  Instead he sat down, putting the desk between them. Olivia sat opposite.

  As she looked around the wood panelled room Doug's eyes never left her face.

  “How have you been?” he asked. “I'm good,” she replied, “been keeping busy”.

  He so wanted to ask her to meet him but was afraid of the answer.

  It was autumn now and the sun still had the warmth of summer, the evenings were cool and carried the aroma of burning wood and leaves.

  This was Olivia's favourite time of the month and he wondered if perhaps she might go for a walk with him one evening, but he dare not ask her.

  They began to chat about nothing much. He told her that the boat was now in dry dock and he was going over regularly to paint it.

  The conversation soon dried up and hung about in an air of embarrassing silence. Out of the blue Olivia said, “We had some good times on that boat.”

  Doug replied, “Yes we did and I will never forget them; the times spent on the river together.”

  “Neither will I,” she said.

  “I might go over on Thursday and do some painting,” Doug mused and wasn't sure if he was telling Olivia this or talking to himself.

  He was wondering whether he could now throw out an invite, but he didn't.

  Olivia spoke in the same way as though to herself, “I think I might go to University and get the piece of paper for a career.

  Children are getting older and no one seems to need me now. I have time on my hands and am getting rather bored with life”.

  Doug was wondering why Olivia came to see him, this was going nowhere fast.

  “Would you like a coffee?” he asked. He spoke conspiratorially as though he was not supposed to ask her.

  Olivia answered, “No thank you, it's fine, had one before I came out. I can't stay. I was just passing”.