A Flash in the Pan (5 page)

*  *  *

Oh, she’s gone. What am I supposed to do now?

16. Come on, Eileen

At some point in her thirtieth year, Eileen decided that her virginity had lasted quite long enough.

“All good things must come to an end,” she announced.

The only problem with her decision was that she didn’t quite know how to go about ridding herself of her encumbrance. Of course, she knew the theory and the mechanics involved, but there’s a world of difference between thinking about something and actually doing it.

“Doing it!” she giggled at the very thought. Then she strapped on her safety helmet, straddled her moped and made her way to work at the City Library.

Over lunch, she discussed her decision with Annie, the receptionist from the Museum and her long-time confidante.

“You mean you’ve never done it? Not even once?”

“Not even close, and keep your voice down. I don’t want the world to know!”

“Seriously,” Annie’s tone was now that of a co-conspirator. “Just how far have you gone before?”

Eileen lowered her eyes and her face turned a deeper shade of beetroot as she mumbled.
“Nowhere, really.”

“You’re kidding me, right? Oh my God, you’re not! You’re a real innocent. Oh, this will be fun!”

“Don’t laugh at me, Annie. I need your help.”

“You’ve got it, hon. This is a mission I’m looking forward to. I’ll meet you at six outside the shopping centre, bring your credit card, I’m giving you a makeover.”

After work, the girls hit the shops and pretty soon Eileen’s credit was maxed and she was sporting a chic new hairstyle and staggering under the weight of the shopping bags that contained her new ‘seduction’ wardrobe. Lessons on how to proceed started in earnest the next day.

With Annie’s help, Eileen soon learned how to apply her make-up with a little more finesse and how to wear her new clothes with something resembling self-confidence. A week after their shopping expedition, Annie made her announcement.

“All you need now is a man! We’re going clubbing tonight, girl. This is your big chance.”

Eileen dressed with care, from the skin out. She looked stunning, and as they entered the club, heads turned. Annie squeezed her elbow.

“You can do this. You’re a knockout.”

At the end of the evening, however, Eileen was alone. She had not been short of dance partners, or offers of drinks, but after a few minutes of conversation, the young men would make their excuses and vanish. Something wasn’t working. A text message informed her that Annie had “pulled” and would call her in the morning.

Back home, disillusioned and disappointed, she kicked off her red high heels, and sat down at her desk. She turned on her laptop, but the damned internet connection wasn’t working and she really was too wired to go to bed yet. All the cables were in the right places, all the little lights were flashing. She picked up her phone and sent a text message, praying that Tim hadn’t retired for the night.

‘
U asleep yet? ‘Net’s crashed
–
desperate
.’

The reply was almost instant.
‘
There in 5. U no I nvr sleep. LOL
’

Tim had been her neighbour for three years and often helped with her computer problems.

‘
Door’s open
,
’
she replied and opened the word file that contained her journal, pouring out her frustration the only way she knew how. She didn’t hear Tim come in and was surprised when he spoke.

“Did your carriage turn into a pumpkin?” Tim picked up one of Eileen’s discarded shoes. Then,
noticing her red mini-dress he laughed. “What happened to Prince Charming?”

Eileen’s composure gave way, and with a loud sniff, she started to cry, burying her face in her hands. Tim went to her, and gently stroked her hair.

“Hey, what’s up? I was only teasing. I didn’t want to upset you. Come on, Eileen. Look at me, and smile. You’ve got such a pretty smile.”

Stunned, Eileen raised her head and turned towards Tim.

“A pretty smile? Me?”

“Yeah, well, you have. But don’t let it go to your head. The streaked mascara kind of spoils the effect a bit. Why don’t you go and wash your face and tell me what’s up?”

Coming out of the bathroom, Eileen was greeted by the sound of music. Tim had fixed the computer and logged into YouTube.

“Let’s dance,” he said, “this is one of my favourite songs.”

Eileen laughed as Tim pulled her towards him and gently kissed her cheek. As she snuggled into his arms, he whispered.
“I have a confession to make. I’ve just read your journal.”

Eileen stiffened and pulled away but he drew her back towards him. She sighed, resistance would be futile and worse than that
–
dishonest. Their first proper kiss was charged with electricity. Eileen felt a tingling sensation take control of her spine as she lost all sense of embarrassment and apprehension. Tim unzipped her dress as he whispered again, “Listen to the lyrics, babe, they’re beautiful. It’s Dexy’s Midnight Runners”

“
Come on, Eileen, I swear (well he means) at this moment, you mean everything
.
With you in that dress, my thoughts, I confess, verge on dirty. Ah come on, Eileen
.“

The rest is “too rye oo rye aye”.

17. Close Encounter

“I’ve always liked the dark, so that isn’t what’s creeping me out. It’s something else.”

“You’ve got an over-active imagination. Go back to sleep.”

“There’s someone outside, I tell you. Someone or something. I can hear the gravel crunching.”

Dave groaned and hauled his bulky frame out of bed and over to the window.

“There’s nothing there. You’ve been reading too much horror again.”

June bit her lip as she realised that was all the support she was going to get. Within a couple of minutes, Dave was sleeping soundly when the sounds came again. She slipped into her robe and crossed the room, taking care to observe the garden from behind the curtain.

She couldn’t see anything at first, but then the security light was activated and the figure on the path came into view. He was looking up and she instinctively pulled away from the window. The figure was motionless now.

“If you won’t investigate
–
I’ll do it myself,” she muttered to her sleeping spouse, as she headed for the stairs.

Armed with the bread knife, she left the house by the side door, intending to challenge the intruder by surprise, but he was nowhere in sight. Perhaps she’d imagined it after all?

“Jeez! You’re beautiful. I knew you would be.”

June spun towards the whisperer’s voice, but she still couldn’t see him.

“Where are you, you pervert? Come out where I can see you?”

“Throw the knife away, then. You can’t expect me to show myself while you’re intending to kill me.”

She could hear the amusement in his voice.

“You can’t expect me to throw the knife away when I don’t know who you are or what you want
,
”
s
he retorted.

“Ah, good point. But you do know me and you know what I want. You just didn’t believe I was coming to get it, did you?”

Her head was pulled backwards as a hand went over her mouth and another took the knife from her and threw it across the lawn.

“Don’t struggle. I don’t want to hurt you. Relax and let me explain.”

The advice didn’t stop her from struggling to escape until she lost her balance and fell onto the lawn bringing her assailant down on top of her.

“Stop it, Angel!”

Now she stopped, stunned. He’d called her Angel. She knew him.

He moved his hand from her mouth and eased up onto his knees. She rolled onto her back and looked up at him for the first time, not bothering to rearrange the robe which had fallen open.

“You bastard!” She laughed. “How did you find me?” Her fingers were already working at his belt as he explained how he’d tracked her down using the ‘electronic footprints’ she’d left on his website.

“I wanted to meet you in the ...
er … flesh.” He looked approvingly at her naked body and stroked her breasts.

She unfastened his jeans and sighed her approval.

“Oh, my word! I’m so pleased to meet you too.” She pulled him towards her and gasped as she felt the power of his thrusting. His lips found hers and the kiss was deep and long, not ending until they climaxed together and became aware that dawn was breaking. He adjusted his clothing and left.

Back in the bedroom, Dave was still snoring. June picked up her BlackBerry and logged ont
o her Facebook Profile. In the ‘Notes’
section she accessed the draft file that contained her Bucket list.

Item 1 was a name. HIS name, with no explanation. She smiled as she edited the line adding *MISSION ACCOMPLISHED* and the date. Then she messaged Alice.

* Item 1
–
completed. He came to ME! LOL!*

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, the ‘ping’ of Alice’s reply woke her.

“Dream on! You have an over-active imagination. LOL! You and your Fuckit List.”

18. Flash!

Bloody rain! Today of all days, when he can’t put it off any longer. He’s been planning this for weeks; it’s the last piece of the jigsaw.

He stands in the doorway, glancing furtively at the window across the street. The collar of his huge raincoat is pulled up around his ears and a broad-brimmed hat ensures that only his eyes are exposed. Nevertheless, the biting wind still manages to penetrate his bones and make his teeth chatter.

He knows he has only one shot and he has to make it count. He rubs his hands together to keep his circulation going. It would be too bad if his finger slipped at the crucial moment.

How much longer
? He glances at his watch. It seems like he’s been here for hours.

He slides his hand inside his coat and checks his equipment. He never expected it to be this hard; surely it couldn’t be much longer before it was over?

At last, the street is quiet and no-one is in sight. The rain has eased up a little. He takes a tentative step from his shelter and looks around. Nothing
–
it’s now or never. Crossing the street quickly, he takes up his position in front of the window, unfastens his raincoat and focuses on the redhead. Then …

FLASH!

He’s taken his shot and he’s off at a run, buttoning his coat as he flies along fuelled by adrenalin.

At the coffee house he orders a camomile tea and closes his eyes for a moment. He reaches inside his coat as a heavy hand descends onto his shoulder.

“I’ll have the camera, mate.”

The security guard is enormous, and there is no point in trying to refuse. Grey hands over his beloved device. The guard switches it on and looks at the image.

“Can I just see it, before you do anything drastic?” Grey pleads. The guard turns the viewing screen towards him.

“You can hit ‘DELETE’ yourself, if you like, mate. Your wife says she won’t press charges as long as you delete the picture and never try to pull a stunt like that again.”

“My ex-wife, you mean.” He takes the camera and examines the picture of the red-haired mannequin in a bridal gown. “She stole my designs, you know. I only wanted a picture of the finished article.”

The guard is not to be swayed. Reluctantly, Grey hits ‘DELETE’.

19. Wish You Were Here

Darling,

Paris is as beautiful as ever. I walked along the Seine this morning, near to Notre Dame and thought of you. You’ll love it here. It’s so much more romantic than London, even though London holds such wonderful memories.

I’ve moved out of the hotel now. I couldn’t really afford to stay there any longer. I found a small apartment above a bakery near the Tuileries, and I’ve got a job as a waitress at a café nearby. I’m very comfortable, but lonely. I’ve made some friends here, but I miss you so much. I keep reliving our last conversation, as you were getting on the train at Victoria station.

“We’ll travel the world together, my love,” you said. “As soon as I’m free.” Then you kissed me and boarded the train, saying “Shall we start with Paris?”

“I’ll meet you there,” I said as you were pulled away from me.

When you didn’t call or write, I came looking for you in Portsmouth, but I must have got the office address wrong, because the receptionist said sh
e ha
d never heard of you. I didn’t know what to do at first, but I found your address in the phone book and your housekeeper (I suppose that’s who she was) told me you
ha
d moved out and left no forwarding address. I knew then that you must have come on ahead to prepare for our world trip, so I decided to follow you to Paris. Each night I stand on the steps of Sacr
é
Coeur as the sun goes down and wait for you. I know it won’t be long now until I hold you in my arms again and we are together forever.