by S M Mala
‘Leave it,’ he said, removing it from her hand and throwing it in the back. ‘I’ll take you home afterwards.’
‘I don’t want to go home,’ she groaned. ‘If you could drop me off at Gaynor’s that would be great. If not, I can walk.’
Ed got out of the van and Flora did the same thing, making sure the door was locked as she shut it.
They walked over the zebra crossing and towards Mario’s, which was situated on the corner.
Flora immediately smiled.
‘Happy,’ she mumbled and caught him doing a double take. ‘This place makes me happy.’
‘So you’re happy now? That’s good,’ he said, holding open the door. ‘Ladies first.’
‘Thanks,’ she smiled and walked in, greeted by Fred the owner.
‘Hello Flora, how are you? I haven’t seen you in three days,’ he laughed. He wasn’t your typical Italian pizza man. He was small and skinny with glasses, oiled black hair and a thin moustache. ‘And you brought a friend? Where are the ladies?’
‘Drunk,’ she smiled sweetly. ‘And I fancied pizza.’
‘Shall I just put the order through now? What would your friend like?’
‘The same as her,’ Ed replied, following her to a table for two by the wall.
The doors were open and there was a breeze flowing through the inside. It was small and intimate but not too romantic. People were talking and laughing loudly.
‘Can we get two cokes?’ she asked Fred.
‘Sure, little lady,’ he replied, smiling at Ed. ‘And your boyfriend, he’d like ice in-.’
‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ Flora said, clearing her throat. ‘He’s a friend.’ Looking at Ed, she noticed his crooked smile while he shook his head. ‘Would you like ice?’ He nodded. ‘There you go.’
‘You know Flo, I meant to talk to you again,’ he said, leaning closer.
‘On my fiftieth?’
‘I’ve got something for you.’
‘What?’
‘Something you asked for.’
‘Oh?’ she said, not remembering. ‘That’s nice.’ Flora examined the smiling face. ‘You know your mate, Lee? Well, he thought I was gay. How come? Is that what they said about me?’
‘Considering your sister’s slapper past, it would be obvious to draw the conclusion it might have made you a little queer.’
‘She’s my sister. I love her but not her sexual tendencies,’ Flora said, astounded she was sticking up for her. ‘Right now, she’s at home, two stone heavier and crying over some piece of haggis boy who broke her heart. Which means she’s moving back in.’
‘I didn’t mean to offend,’ he said, his cheeks going a little pink.
‘He said someone told him.’
‘Who did?’ he asked, looking up at Fred as he placed the drinks on the table.
‘Lee.’
‘Oh, forget about it. You know how people like to gossip.’
Then she noticed it again. A very strange expression she’d not witnessed before. Shifty.
‘Ed?’ she said, leaning forward. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
‘Okay, I said it,’
.. he blurted out, holding up his hands. ‘I told people you were gay because you said, last year, that all these weird blokes were asking you out so I thought it might help.
She sat there with her mouth open. He could see her very pink tongue. Ed wanted to laugh.
‘But what a thing to say! I mean, I don’t mind gay people but I’m certainly not a dyke and people love to talk!’ she said, her voice getting louder. ‘And of course, it’ll look hilarious based on that slapper sister of mine!’
Ed sat there, trying to sum up what had gone on in the past hour.
He realised his plan that evening had worked.
He knew Gaynor and Priti would be at the pub early, so set it upon himself to ply them with drinks. Over the past year, he’d bumped into one or the other or both, but never Flora. It was common knowledge, to people close to her, she’d taken the news of her dad’s death very badly. Ed heard that Flora’s mother was worried about her, so his own mum said.
What made it worse was that Ed found out about her father’s illness the last time he spoke to Flora.
When she went into the house his father mentioned it to her mother about the cancer.
That’s when he realised a lot of people had been lying to protect her feelings though they’d got it so wrong.
He was going to ask her out that day, regardless of Diane, that was the intention but he couldn’t.
The idea that she’d be suffering put him off.
Ed couldn’t face her pain as he wouldn’t know how to comfort her.
A year later, he was going to make sure he got it right realising he’d wasted time.
She was going to Brighton and he needed to change her mind.
He did it once, he was certain he could do it again.
Ed Carter absolutely adored her and she had no idea.
Flora was oblivious to the world most of the time. It was something he noticed about her for years. She hadn’t the foggiest idea that people thought she was the fittest girl at school but knew she was also icy, so it scared off loads of competition for Ed.
He’d heard she was seeing some guy from college and it didn’t work out. That made him very happy. But he wasn’t pleased about Lee going to Brighton. His best friend had never hidden the fact he fancied the arse off her. That’s why Ed had told everyone she was gay. So no one would get there first. He was biding his time and today was the day.
‘You don’t like me do you?’ she asked, jumping him out of his daze.
‘What made you say that?’
‘I get the impression.’
Ed sat there, sipping his drink and looking at her, unable to wipe the smile off his face.
‘If only you knew what I really thought,’ he replied, putting his glass down. ‘That would be interesting.’
‘So tell me.’ Then her eyes lit up. ‘Pizza!’
Two large thin crust pizzas arrived and smelt delicious. They had been sliced already but as he got hold of his knife and fork, Flora just took a slice and started eating. He stopped to look at her.
‘Gets it in faster,’ she said, biting into it. ‘And it tastes better.’ Putting down his knife and fork, he copied. ‘And I always take the leftovers home so I can have it for breakfast. Sprinkle with tabasco sauce, gets you going. Wohey!’
She grinned and he held back the sigh coming to his throat.
Eating together, they didn’t talk much just enjoyed the food. He wanted to ask her out but didn’t have the nerve.
She was a beautiful woman with a body you needed to get hold of.
Now Ed needed to find the guts to ask her out without her thinking there was a twist.
Flora could only manage half her pizza whereas Ed devoured all his and was about to take another slice of hers then she slapped his hand.
‘This is my breakfast. I don’t share,’ she cheekily said. ‘Unless I like you.’
‘I’ll get dessert then,’ he replied and let out the sigh he was holding back in, making her grin. ‘Food makes me happy.’
‘So it should.’
‘Furniture design? Isn’t that a bit close to carpentry?’ he grinned. ‘Are you trying to muscle in on my act?’
‘You’re excellent with wood and I have very good creative ideas,’ she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. ‘Maybe, one day, we could work together on something.’
‘Why Brighton?’ he asked, propping his chin in his hand, admiring her thinking.
‘Not too far and not too close,’ she said quietly. ‘I did what I promised and stayed in London now I have to fly the nest.’
‘Flo, there are better places in town that do the course you want.’
‘I know.’ She put her hands on the table. ‘But I can’t stay in that house, not for another day.’ Flora gulped hard. ‘I just want to go.’
‘What are you running away from?’
‘Unhappiness.’ Flora stared him straight in the eye. ‘I think I can be happier somewhere else.’
Ed admired her exquisite face and smiled. He wished he could freeze the moment and remember what he was thinking and feeling. But he had a plan and realised he must focus.
‘What will make you happy?’ he asked, tilting his head to one side.
‘What’s it like, Ed? Having all these people worshiping you like a demi god? You’re surrounded by these boys and girls who soak up your every word. And, let’s be honest, you don’t say much, do you?’ She spoke quietly, like she was tossing it over in her head. ‘There must me something about you.’
‘Can you figure it out?’ he grinned, feeling a little embarrassed.
‘You have a boyish charm that means you can get away with blue murder. I know all about you Edward Carter. Who doesn’t? Mates with the male teachers, flirting with the female ones. A group of friends who adore you and girls who’d gladly drop their knickers, if you wish. And you’re only eighteen with a massive future. Must feel good.’
It’s then he noticed something he’d not seen before from Flora, a flicker in her face as if she’d figured something out. Then she smiled, shrugging to herself.
‘I didn’t want anyone else to ask you out,’ he said, not knowing where it came from. ‘I heard you were seeing some bloke from college but it didn’t work. I take it that was because you were upset about your dad?’
She closed her eyes for a moment before springing them wide open, the amber brown staring at him.
‘No one at college knew about my dad, not even the tutors. I didn’t see the point and so focused doing the work. It wasn’t fun. I felt pretty shit and so was my work. The only good thing I produced was a design for a chair made out of clear acrylic. I wished I’d made it out of wood. I’ve not really painted or sketched much and I avoided the history of art lessons.’ Flora smiled and he felt a strange buzz in his gut. ‘I’m lucky I got onto a course to be honest.’
They sat looking at each other. He wondered what she was thinking.
At one point she looked miserable then smiled.
‘Shall we arrange to meet in twenty years?’ she asked with a wide grin. ‘I’ll probably be living back at home by then, working in a bakers to feed Faith’s cake habit. She’ll be about half a tonne heavy and mum will have gone senile, if she isn’t so already.’ Ed just laughed. ‘And you’ll be running your dad’s company making bespoke something or another for top notch clientele. Plus you’ll be married to a girl from a very nice family and have two sets of twins because you’re good like that.’
‘Is that what you think?’
‘Why didn’t you want anyone to ask me out? Not that the sane ones would, to be honest.’
‘Ah,’ Ed said, realising she’d gone off on a tangent. ‘Because…’
He couldn’t tell her his reasons were selfish and he wanted her for his own. That would sound like a wanker, a big headed one to boot.
‘And saying I’m gay was certainly going to make some of the mental cases think they could change my mind.’
‘I like you,’ he said, not thinking of anything else to say.
The smile on Flora’s face lit up the room.
‘You like me?’ she said, looking questioningly at him. ‘Me? But why?’
‘You looked after me when I got beaten up three years ago. What’s there not to like about a girl who goes around thrashing people with her portfolio?’
‘And I broke my paint box in the process. I never got a replacement so I fixed it with some glue and small nails. Still works.’
‘After this, can I take you somewhere?’
‘Where?’ she asked, looking suspiciously at him.
‘I have a present for you. I’ve been working on it for months and there was never a right time to hand it over. I think you’ll like it.’
They were sitting in the van. Flora had taken her remaining pizza. He knew she was looking at him and Ed didn’t want to show it made him nervous. All he did was smile at her constantly.
Not one word was said on the journey then he pulled up at his dad’s timber merchants and stopped.
‘Okay?’ she said, looking around. ‘Why bring me here?’
‘This is where your present is.’ He glanced at her concerned expression. ‘Wait here and I’ll get it.’
‘No, you drive in. Do you have keys?’
‘Got it all.’
Ed jumped out, opened the gates and then got back in the van, driving it in before locking up. He knew the wood was getting thieved and there were security cameras all over the place. His dad was a shrewd man and so was Ed.
He parked the van so it wasn’t under the eye of the camera.
Ed got out and opened the door to the downstairs office that was behind the trade counter. Walking to the back, he went to his locker and undid the padlock. Inside was what he’d been working on.
Frustrated a year ago about not being able to ask out Flora, he started making her something she wanted. A new art box. In his spare time, he worked on it, ensuring it was perfect.
If she was going to go away, he wanted her to take something to remember him by.
But a part of his plan was to stop her.
Taking a deep breath, he locked up and headed out. He stopped when he was at the door. Flora was standing by the canal that ran behind the premises.
‘Brentford’s canal isn’t like Regent’s canal is it?’ she laughed.
‘It’s called the Grand Union Canal and, so dad says, this part of the world is being transformed. They want to build flats and houses.’
‘But it’s not like ‘The Butts’, where posh people live?’
‘It may be one day,’ he said, walking up behind her.
‘Yeah but you can’t take the Brentford out of Brentford can you?’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It’s still Brentford.’
‘That’s the snob in you speaking.’
Ed stood behind her, eyeing up her arse. He suddenly felt nervous about handing the gift over. He didn’t know if he should accompany it with a speech then looked at her pretty profile.
There wasn’t much he could say.
He just held it out, looking away, not wanting to see her reaction.
There was silence.
Then she tugged at his arm, holding the box in her hands.
‘This is the most beautiful thing in the world,’ she said and he could Flora was being genuine. ‘You’re so incredibly talented. I’ve seen your work, not that I was spying.’ Her cheeks were starting to shine. ‘You see, if I could do this with a leg of a chair then I’d be so happy. How much do I owe you? I said I’d pay.’
‘Nothing, Flo.’ Ed felt so proud at her reaction then he noticed she put her head up in the air. She was taking short breaths. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m trying not to cry. I’ve made a promise to myself not to cry again, regardless of whether I’m happy or sad and if I do, I do it alone.’
Again she’d stumped him with a comment, making him realise something was going on in that head of hers.
‘Why?’ he asked, seeing her blink very hard.
‘I don’t want anyone to see when I’m hurt, disappointed or heartbroken.’
‘That’s a bit odd.’
‘It’s a weakness.’
‘It’s human nature.’
‘I don’t like human nature,’ she said, slowly lowering her head before her eyes looked up at him. ‘This is a wonderful gift. I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life.’
Ed started to laugh at her comment, shaking his head from side to side.
‘You break it, I’ll make you another one,’ he grinned, glancing at the beautiful box. ‘I enjoyed working on it in my spare time.’
‘In between socialising and womanising?’ she laughed.
‘I’m fast.’
He didn’t know what happened but Flora stood on her tip toes and kissed him gently on the lips.
‘Oh,’ was all he could say. She’d taken his breath away. ‘You just kissed me.’
‘It wasn’t a marriage proposal as you would point out.’
‘What was it?’
‘A kiss.’
‘Okay,’ he said, seeing it was taking a turn for the better. He’d hoped to have kissed her when he dropped her off, arranging a date for the following evening. ‘That was nice.’ Flora looked at the box and then glanced at him suspiciously. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Do you make loads of these and bring girls here as part of your plan?’
‘You don’t trust me? Look.’ Ed opened the box and pointed to the top where he’d engraved her name ‘Flora Almeida’ inside. Her grin was even brighter. ‘And I’m good at carpentry but not that fast when it comes to engraving.’
‘It’s so beautiful.’
She pulled him closer and kissed him on the lips, this time a little bit longer.
He held his breath while peering into her bright eyes.
‘You know what’s funny? My initials. ‘F.A.’. Fuck all, that’s what they say. ‘Sweet fuck all!’ It’s very funny when you think about it. I might end up with sweet F.A.’ She looked sad again. ‘My dad left all his things to his son. Nothing for Faith or me. Not a penny. I think that’s when I realised how much he didn’t love us.’
‘Don’t say that Flo,’ Ed whispered, leaning down to look at her. ‘From what I picked up, your mum told my mum that he was leaving a small child and wanted to make sure his future was secure. I know your mum was angry about it but he had a valid point.’
‘He left his son an apartment in Miami, all the inheritance money from his parent’s estate in Rio not to mention his savings and life insurance. That’s a big set up. It’s not about the money. He could have at least left me one thing. You see this box? If we never see each other again, at least I’ll have this to remember you by.’ Flora started her little blowing technique again to stop herself from crying. ‘I just want to be happy. Why’s that impossible?’