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Great Writing - Home > Extended > Three accounts of events - part 21(b)
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Extended Work
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| Three accounts of events - part 21(b) | |
| By teddy | ||||||
| 17 October 2007 | ||||||
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‘Yes, Anne, I know I said I’ll go,’ George couldn’t help a scrape of irritation rambling into his voice as he pressed his ear harder against the phone squeezed between his chin and his shoulder while his hands fumbled with the stash of paper on the desk in front of him, ‘but at the time I didn’t know we’ll be invited to tender for the Park Lane project. We have to submit the application by Friday, I told you.’ He picked up a sheet of paper and let his eyes sift through its contents. ‘Uh-huh,’ he winced listening to Anne’s whinging cramming the phone line, wondering for the tenth time how on earth he could be so foolish to agree to accompany her to one of her friends’ dinner party right in the middle of a busy week, ‘I know, I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to lose this job. Hold on a second,’ he dashed into the phone when, after a quick knock, Stella’s, his secretary, head popped in through the ajar door. ‘You’ve got visitors,’ she smirked at him. ‘Visitors?’ He frowned throwing a quick glance at his watch. ‘I didn’t know I was expecting someone this afternoon.’ ‘Oh well, this one doesn’t need an appointment,’ Stella giggled before pushing the door wide open. He turned back to the phone. ‘Listen, Anne, I must go, I have someone in. I’ll call you later,’ he quickly cut off any more attempts at objection before putting the phone down. ‘Adi!’ His eyes widened when they moved back to the door and saw her standing in the doorframe, smiling at him, and the tickly feeling spurred by the earlier conversation with Anne gave way to a stream of warmth flooding inside his chest. He leapt off his chair and hurried to the door. ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ he asked leaning over and wrapping her in a generous hug. ‘I was passing by and I thought I’d pop in to say hello,’ she shrugged in his arms. He smiled, unconsciously breathing in the blend of fine perfume and fresh air hanging in her hair. ‘Come and sit down,’ he let go of her before taking her hand and leading her to the chair set opposite his across the desk. She followed him obediently and before sitting down, let him take off her coat which he slipped neatly on the back of her chair. Only when he sat down in front of her he noticed how thin and pale she looked, her eyes tired and drained of their usual sparkle, and his heart leapt anxiously. ‘Is everything all right, honey?’ the question hanged around his mouth for a second before spilling out. She shrunk in her seat, hands gripped between her knees. ‘Yes, of course,’ she pushed on a smile, she was looking at him, but her eyes seemed somehow unfocused. ‘How are you?’ ‘I’m not too bad, thanks. Coffee?’ he asked in an attempt to make her feel at ease. ‘Oh yes, please,’ she nodded throwing him an obliged smile. ‘So,’ he lent back in his chair after phoning Stella and asking her to bring in the drinks, ‘how’s Vicky?’ Her eyes brightened and the smile on her face deepened to real. ‘She’s fine, taking big pleasure in keeping me busy all day, you know her.’ ‘Course,’ he smiled. ‘Last time I had her, she made me run around the house for an hour before agreeing to sit down and have her lunch. A little devil she is.’ ‘Tell me about it,’ she let out a little contented laugh. ‘I’m sorry, I know I should’ve brought her with me,’ she paused and threw him a quick remorseful look, ‘but today it was the first time I’ve been on a train since…,’ she gulped, ‘the accident, I didn’t know how I’d feel so I thought it’d be best if I left Vicky with Cindy.’ He leant forward and stretched his arm across the desk, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. ‘And how was it, honey?’ he asked gently. She looked away and shrugged. ‘I don’t know, a little weird I think.’ Her eyes moved back to him. ‘I wasn’t scared, just a little uncomfortable I suppose. It’ll be better next time.’ ‘I’m sure it will,’ he threw her a reassuring smile moving back in his seat. He sighed relieved when Stella made her way into the room carrying a tray loaded up with refreshments; the accident was something he wished he could wipe off his memories for ever, still too distressing to be mulled over too much. Then again, everything about Adi was painful these days, it might have been almost a year since they parted, but she had, so far, refused to leave him, like a stubborn wound unwilling to heal. It will go away one day, he had tried to reassure himself many times, when late at night, lying in bed on his own, his brain had been stripped off any other thoughts, and Adi’s and Vicky’s presences were invading the hollow dark surrounding the room. At least he’d been allowed to keep Vicky as part of his life. Losing her all together, the same way he had lost Adi, would’ve tipped him over the edge; the very short moments he’d got to spend with her were far from being enough to fulfil the void left by their departure, but he was grateful he had them. The unflustered façade he’d put on had had the desired effect As far as the others were concerned, he was cured, his life marched back on track, and he was fine with that. Intrusive questions and compassionate words were not what he needed. ‘No sugar, lots of milk?’ He tried to shrug off the unwelcoming thoughts after Stella left, pouring the hot drink into the cup set in front of Adi. He had not seen her since they accidentally met at Tina’s, neither had they spoken to each other. He’d hoped she’d call, he would’ve got in touch himself, but the last thing he wanted was to cause her any problems. She was there now though, and he didn’t want to spoil the precious moment. ‘Uh-huh,’ Adi nodded. ‘Thank you.’ After preparing his own drink, he sunk back in his chair. ‘How’s work, honey? How are you getting on with Max? Claire told me he’s very proud of you.’ ‘Oh,’ she shook her head blushing, ‘Max’s always exaggerating things, you know. He thinks I’m a genius which is definitely not the case. I’d be rich if I was,’ she sniggered. ‘But he’s very good to me, I must say. And somehow he manages to sell my paintings, for which, of course, I’m very grateful.’ ‘Your work is very good, Adi, you know it is.’ She didn’t answer, just smiled at him sceptically. ‘And the wedding? Are you looking forward to it?’ Her getting married wasn’t a subject he could easily talk about, but since the event was only weeks away, he felt, out of courtesy, compelled to mention it. Her hands reached for the cup in front of her, she winced when she sipped the hot drink. ‘I suppose,’ she said blankly after placing the cup back on the desk, avoiding his eyes. From the moment she’d stepped in his office that afternoon he’d felt something wasn’t quite right, but now things seemed worse than he’d thought. He wondered if he should make another attempt to make her tell him what was bothering her, but after a second thought, he decided not too push things. She’d tell him when she felt ready. He watched her as she lowered her eyes and scanned the desk cluttered with paper. ‘You’re busy,’ she muttered embarrassed. ‘I should’ve called first instead of dropping in like this.’ ‘No, don’t be silly, honey. I’m really glad you’re here. I needed a break from all this mess anyway,’ he swung a convincing hand above the paper sheets scattered everywhere. The smile on her face faded when her eyes fell on the only photo his desk was adorned with. ‘You still have this,’ she whispered picking it up and staring at Vicky’s and her own face beaming at her from inside the photo frame. ‘Of course,’ he smiled, ‘you’re still very special to me.’ She lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes blurred and glittered for a second. ‘I’m sorry, I must go,’ she suddenly rushed off her seat, picking up her coat from the back of the chair she had sat on with a hasty move. Confused at first, he got up and hastened along the desk. ‘Adi,’ he took her chin and lifted her face up to his when he reached her, ‘what’s wrong?’ Tears starting pilling up in her eyes and by the time he made her sit down on the sofa resting against the wall, she was already sobbing uncontrollably in his arms. ‘Honey,’ he smoothed her hair gently. ‘tell me, what’s the matter?’ The haunted look in her eyes, something he had only seen there once before when she was lying helplessly in the hospital bed, made him ache. ‘Please talk to me.’ ‘It’s Paul,’ she sobbed huddling against his chest. ‘What about Paul?’ he asked worried. ‘Is there something wrong with him?’ ‘No,’ she sniffled, shaking her head vigorously. ‘He’s having another woman’s baby.’ He listened to her confused, what she was saying wasn’t making much sense. Bit by bit, he managed to extract from her enough pieces of information and when the full picture started shaping up, he stared away appalled. Paul being unfaithful? How was that possible? They were supposed to get married very soon. No matter what mistakes she had made in the past, she didn’t deserve this. ‘Oh God, Adi,’ he cuddled her, ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.’ ‘I don’t think I can’t handle this, George,’ she shuddered in his arms. ‘I don’t really think I can.’ Her distress stirred a twist of anger inside him and for a moment he felt tempted to damage the already deep crack emerged between her and Paul even further. He kicked away the heated thoughts with a wince. ‘Listen to me, honey,’ he brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. ‘I can imagine how much you must be hurting. And it pains me to see you like this.’ He sighed stroking her hair. ‘It would be so easy for me to tell you to leave him, that you deserve better… and of course you do. But Paul loves you, Adi, I know he does.’ ‘If he does, then why is he doing this?’ she cringed. ‘I don’t know, Adi, I wish I could answer that.’ He pulled her closer to him. ‘Do you think if I’d had any doubts, I would’ve ever let you go? No. But you’re not the girl he met three years ago anymore, you’ve grown up and become so much stronger, and perhaps he’s feeling insecure and scared. He made a terrible mistake, but I’m sure he didn’t anticipate the consequences. If he says he was careful, I believe him. Paul’s far from being stupid, perhaps just unfortunate, if this is the right word. Most men would get away with far worse than a one night stand.’ ‘It wasn’t only the one,’ she muttered. ‘Ok, three night-stands then, for which you’ve already forgiven him. Adi, you don’t even know the child is his.’ ‘But Lisa said so. Why would she lie?’ she looked at him bemused. ‘Some people’s minds are twisted, they have no scruples and would go to the extreme to get what they want.’ Lisa Turner, he remembered the girl. He had never liked her much. Coming from a very privileged background, under a shy appearance, he had found her spoilt and quite a snob. And she was always lurking somewhere in Paul’s shadow. He’d tried to warn him about her, but Paul had always laughed him off. “Give her a break, George, will you? She’s only a child.” A child who was now allegedly carrying Paul’s baby and George felt sickened. ‘Just think about this, Adi, you leave him now, but how would you feel months down the line if you found out Lisa’s child is not actually his? Would you forgive yourself for not giving him a chance? Can you imagine yourself and Vicky being without him?’ ‘I don’t know,’ she shrugged hesitantly. ‘You know you mean a lot to me, honey, and it’s hard for me to say this, but you and Paul are different from any other couples I know. This may not be the last thing you’d have to suffer, but no matter how much you two will hurt each other, you’ll always end up together. He can’t let go of you and neither can you of him.’ He run his fingers through her hair. ‘You’re a strong girl, Adi, you’ll find a way to get through this, believe me. You coped with far worse in the past.’ She shifted and slid her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest resignedly. ‘Why are you always so good to me, George? I don’t deserve you. You must think I’m such a cow for coming to you only when I’m in trouble.’ ‘Don’t be silly, honey. I never really expected Paul to let you stay in touch after you went back to him. In the beginning I was frightened he might even try to stop me seeing Vicky as well.’ He watched as she lowered her eyes and focused on her fidgeting hands. ‘Oh God,’ he run his hand over his face, ‘I should’ve thought of that. He made you choose, didn’t he?’ He didn’t wait for her answer. ‘The funny thing is I can’t really blame him , Adi. I know Paul, in his eyes, getting involved with you is the biggest crime I could ever be made culpable of.’ ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘Don’t be, honey, it’s not your fault. Are you going to pick up Vicky from here?’ he put on a cheerful voice. ‘Uh-huh,’ she nodded. ‘Why?’ ‘Well, if you can wait for me another ten minutes I’ll give a lift to Cindy’s.’ ‘But it’s not in your way,’ she hoisted her eyes and looked at him. ‘I know,’ he smiled, ‘but I’d love to see Vicky even if only for five minutes.’ ‘Ok then, thanks.’ She snuggled up against him. ‘George?’ ‘Yes?’ ‘I’ve missed you.’ ‘I know you have. I’ve missed you too. Very much so.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘Adi?’ ‘Yes?’ ‘No matter what happens from here, don’t ever let Paul know you’ve come to see me today. He’d never forgive you.’
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