Silly Games - 4

Chapter Four

When the train finally rolled into Paddington, Laura was ready to get off. It was a long journey and she’d been increasingly cramped as the train picked up more and more passengers the closer they got to London. But within seconds of trying to move along the platform she missed the relaxed laidback home she’d left. Once she’d thrived on the hustle and bustle of the City, but not now. She’d really become a beach babe, or rather a beach lover at least.

She’d kind of hoped that maybe her mother would meet her at the station; it would at least feel like she was coming home to something, as it was she was a stranger, and out of her comfort zone. Her father’s Chelsea apartment was a fifteen minute tube trip. Laura was so tempted to just get a cab, at least it was quieter, but that was an expense she didn’t need to waste money on. Her mother’s gift, a new dress for dinner, all were eating into the income she was normally so frugal with. So she needed to save pennies where she could.

Almost an hour later, apparently there’d been a suicide three stops away from her station that caused absolute chaos, she finally re-emerged into the bright sun, feeling like a mole, squinting in the light. Whilst she felt pain for the person who’d ended their life so dramatically and sympathy for any remaining relatives, she couldn’t help but be angry at the way it had inconvenienced her day. Ruing her own selfishness, she strolled the last mile in the comfort of less people and fresh air.

Laura was sure she still had a key to her parents’ home, but she couldn’t find it for the life of her, so she rang the bell. But there was no answer. She couldn’t remember any of the neighbours, so she really wasn’t able to knock their doors to see if they had a key for her family’s apartment.  Suddenly she had a waft of fear, maybe they were in Hertfordshire! Suddenly Laura couldn’t remember what she’d agreed with her mother.

Phone, she thought, that was all she could do. Firstly she called the penthouse apartment above her, but there was no answer. As she hung up she connected to her mother’s mobile, just as a voice echoed from behind.

                “Darling! You’re earlier than I imagined!”

With a sigh of relief Laura turned to see Maggie Marshall wafting towards her. She’d give anything for the slightest hint of her mother’s grace, but she was blessed with nothing, none of it had rubbed off on her at any point in her life. Her mother in one word was immaculate, her long dark hair hung down to her mid back and the gentle breeze seemed to lift it and it was almost ethereal. her skin was pale, but warm, and her eyes behind her shades would be glistening with excitement. Laura knew that.  As her mother hitched her handbag to her elbow, she pulled her daughter into a strong embrace, and Laura slumped against her, loving the feeling of arms supporting her.

                “Happy Birthday Mum! You look great!”

She beamed, leaving an arm around Laura’s shoulders she led her back to the steps that led to the front door, “I’ve just had three hours making this all look natural!”

Laura groaned, the last three hours in stark contrast she’d spent on a train sitting beside a spotty teenager who kept trying to lean on her to sleep. Hardly a pampering beauty session! No wonder her mother looked so perfect.

                “So what have you got to wear to the party tonight?” her mother glanced back after opening the door.

Suddenly that envy was replaced by fear; her mother had ‘that look’ in her eyes. It was the same look that had led to the ruin of her end of school prom, and her first date disaster. Her mother had the fashion sense of a haute couture model. She lived for bespoke clothing from top designers, years of modelling had left her with an eye for the extreme, and she’d give Stella McCartney a run for her money. At sixteen the simple floor length powder blue dress she’d bought in Miss Selfridge had been shelved in honour of the creation her mother had ‘discovered’, and so she’d stood out like a sore thumb amongst the other floor length dresses, in a midnight blue taffeta dress short skirt at the front, but with a full bustle and train at the back.

She had looked ridiculous, as she had on her first date when jeans and a blouse were shelved for pleated pants and a sailor top, Laura had fought the hat, but had the matching deck shoes...another ridiculous concoction that it had taken months to live down, but several years to forget. Her mother at her high society functions looked wonderful, but Laura who shunned that level of attention hated it. And now the ‘I’ve bought you something to wear’ look was heading her way, and her bile started to rise in her throat.

                “I’ve bought a new dress! And it’s great!” She rushed up to the flat trying to avoid the subject. Ultimately she loved seeing her mother happy, and that’s a large part of the reason why she‘d succumbed to her whim’s in the past. The last thing she wanted was to attend her mother’s forty-eighth birthday party dressed like the crinoline lady that her grandmother used to cover a toilet roll in the bathroom. She wanted to wear her simple yet pretty black dress, plain but flattering, it was enough, and she wanted to feel comfortable.

                “I picked you something up, at Enrique’s yesterday!”

Laura cringed at the thought, “Enrique?”

Her mother nodded, tossing her back and light jacket onto a bench in the hallway, “a wonderful designer I discovered. You will love it!”

                “I’m fine Mum, honest!”

Her mother reached out and squeezed her cheek, “you will look divine in it, maybe then you’ll find a man, someone to love...”

And there it was, the start of the pressure. It was time you were married...you need to settle down Laura...when are you going to grow up and realise your responsibilities? As far as Laura was concerned, she wasn’t one of her father’s assets, she was a person. She didn’t rely on him for handouts, and she had never been in trouble with the law. Why couldn’t he be happy with that?

                “If I want to find a man, then my dress will be fine, at the end of the day I am what I am, and an expensive dress would be like a Trading Standards breach...when he saw me in jeans the next day, he’d be asking for his money back!”

Her mother tutted, heading for the kitchen, but Laura knew that wasn’t the end of the pressure.

                “So what have you got planned tonight? All I know is dinner.” Laura was sat opposite her mum, sipping at a mug of coffee.

                “Well,” her mother poured cream from a porcelain jug into her cup of coffee, she insisted on a cup and saucer for any hot drink. “It’s rather extravagant, dinner is at the Ritz, and then there’s dancing and champagne at the Market Club, your father’s latest venture. You will LOVE it!”

Laura hid her apprehension, the Ritz was the greatest place in London in her opinion, dinner would be both extortionately priced and divine, but she felt further away from London society every time she ventured home. But it was her mother’s day; she had to stop feeling sorry for herself.

                “Will you just look at the dress? I know you’re more subtle with your tastes than me...but I have really tried to think of something you’d like.

How could you refuse that? As she nodded her mother added, “try it on before you judge it, promise?”

Laura looked at her reflection in amazement, had her mother got things exactly right for once? The dress had looked shapeless and gaudy on the hanger, but on, it fitted her like a dream, with a wide neck line which fell off one shoulder, it then fell loose to the mid thigh, almost short enough to be risqué, but not quite, but there was the slightest hint of the waist being cinched in which accentuated her slim figure. The dress was an unusual style, and the material was stunning, black with a large symmetrical pattern of palm leaves in ivory, it was trimmed with a hot pink satin.

It was beautiful, perfect, and really did wrap her up and display all her best assets!

                “You like?” Her mother’s voice asked quietly from behind. “It looks wonderful! You are so beautiful!”

As she saw the wonder still evident in her daughter’s eyes, Maggie added, “I know that you and I have such differing tastes, but the second I saw this, I knew it was perfect for you...and it is!”

Laura felt tears in her eyes, and tried to smile at her mother, “thank you SO much...it is perfect.”

The two hugged, then her mother smiled, “great! Let’s go get lunch!”

Several hours later, she had slipped into the dress again, with her chunky jewellery, high heeled sandals and her hair piled up on her head, she felt more elegant than she had before. Her mother was more than positive in her appraisal, but then she looked a million dollars in a staggering red dress.

                “We’re meeting Daddy at the Ritz; he’s been caught up with some deal. Taxi’s just arrived. You ready?”

Linking arms the two women headed out of the home and into the waiting limo - her mother had never been in a taxi. It was a short run to the Ritz, and they were met by a top hatted man who opened their door and assisted them out.

                “Evening Mrs Marshall,” he greeted her with great chivalry, “how are you this evening?”

Maggie smiled at the greeter, “I’m great James, now that I have my little girl with me!”

James glanced from the beautiful brunette to the blonde who for once oozed confidence, and smiled, “very good Mrs Marshall!”

Grinning her mother almost skipped in through the door he held open for them.

                “Good evening Mrs Marshall.”

All staff they passed inclined their head and acknowledged her, and Laura nudged her mother, “when did you become so regular here?”

Her mother laughed, an attractive tinkling sound, “I’ve organised so many events here over the last few years. They all know me.” She glanced around as they entered the restaurant at the back of the elaborate hallway, whist Laura was gawping at the extravagance and beauty that surrounded them. “Ah! There’s your father!”

Laura followed her mother’s eyes to see her father standing at a table to their left, as they approached Stafford pulled his wife into an embrace, giving her a gentle and loving kiss. It was an intimate moment and Laura almost felt awkward. But all too soon it was over and her father was pulling her close.

                “Darling, it’s been too long! You look amazing!” Finally pulling back he gestured to the table, “you remember Sylvie and Michel?” Laura of course did, her mother had lived in Paris with Sylvie who was also a model, before she was born, she and her husband Michel were regular visitors to their home over the years. Next to Michel was a man, presumably close in age to herself, short, quite stocky, with dark eyes that studied her intently as Laura kissed the cheeks of the two family friends.

                “And this is Jonathan Lander, a colleague and friend.” Her father beamed, and suddenly Laura realised she wasn’t going to be nagged into submission, her parents weren’t about to nag her into giving up her life. It was far worse. In the chosen clothing that her parents approved of, she was about to be set up, set up with Jonathan who looked about as interesting as a wilting stick of celery. Hiding her groan, she slipped into the only vacant seat...next to Jonathan of course and plastered on a smile.

Silly Games - Chapter Three

Chapter Three

                ‘Beep...beep...beep’

Laura opened her bleary eyes at the sound and it took a moment to realise that it was her alarm, and it was only five am. Hitting it off, she reached for her phone and logged on to the internet to double check the tides, many times she’d got up, changed and down to the water’s edge to find an ocean as flat as a millpond. Six foot waves catchawave.com predicted, and smackthelip.com corroborated that. Immediately she jumped out of bed, her enthusiasm beating her fatigue into surrender.  Pulling on some Lycra shorts and a tankini top she was scraping her hair into a tight bun as she strolled into the lounge. The adjacent cloakroom didn’t house one coat, instead it was home to a variety of full and half wet suits, beach shoes, towels and of course long and short surfboards.

Laura was almost into her wetsuit when Ben grunted a hello from the lounge. He was on cafe duty and wasn’t happy about it. Zipping up her suit she tucked her long board under her arm and followed him down the stairs to the cafe. As he opened the door, she waved sarcastically at him and made for the shore.

It was still quite dark as she waded into the water, diving under a breaking wave to help her get used to the icy water. Then sliding on to the board she battled through the waves to the calm beyond. She could see some waves in the distance and the wind was picking up. She only hoped that the wind didn’t get too wild, she really wanted to ride a few decent waves to clear her mind.

Astride the board she waited patiently, waving to Alana who was following her out to beyond the surf.

                “How was the movies?” She asked as the woman drew level.

                “Good,” she drawled, when she was tired her accent - part Hawaiian part Californian was more pronounced, after five years in Wales it had softened to an almost indiscernible lilt. She knew the other woman missed home. No matter how good the surf was on this bay, it wasn’t a patch on the variation or location of Honolulu, Laura was still amazed that she’d given up paradise to come here after Ben. Ben who loved her, she didn’t doubt that, but he hardly showed his appreciation of her very often. Poor Alana!

                “Ben fell asleep during it; his snoring almost got us thrown out!”

Laura covered her mouth to hide her laughter, and despite her chastising looks, she knew Alana found it funny now, last night maybe not so much! “At least we’ve got the surf today! Ben was not looking happy as he opened the cafe!”

Alana grinned, “Karma!”

Lying on their boards, they both started to paddle in the direction of the shore. As the wave lifted them, Laura’s body was taught, ready; as she crested the wave, she jumped to her feet. Alana was literally a split second ahead of her, and had timed her move to perfection, Laura wasn’t so lucky and a huge wave broke over her dragging her under water.

Laughing she surfaced in the aftermath of the wave and started all over again.  Within twenty minutes they’d been joined by a few dozen other surfers, most of whom they knew. The conditions were perfect as the sun came up, and she caught several waves perfectly. But as was usual the tide was ever changing and all too soon the waves became a lot flatter. Some of the novices had better luck when that happened, but for Alana and Laura their jaunt was over.

Adam Purchase watched the women emerge from the surf from the discreet safety of his hire car. He could immediately tell that Laura Marshall was the taller of the two, the short curvy woman beside her was nothing like the woman photographed in the dossier sat on his knees, he could tell that even from this distance. No she was the taller one, and she was so unlike anything he’d imagined when he’d started this search. Then he laughed, the daughter of one of Britain’s biggest and richest business men hanging out on a distant Welsh coast. Though she could surf! He’d admit that, in fact she was brilliant. He’d admired her graceful moves and she’d seemed at one with nature. He’d almost felt jealous. It was a long time since he’d done the same. That would have to change.

With a smile, he turned the car and made for the hotel where he’d reserved a room.

Half an hour later Laura and Alana were showered and wrapped up warm eating bacon sandwiches and hot coffee in Early Bird, Ben still working to warm up all the other surfers. Once they’d finished Alana headed for the kitchen to start on the days’ supplies, Laura grabbed a broom and started the daily battle to clear the floor of sand.

By nine am the surf rush was over, and they were back to waiting for tourists, the weather dependent trade. There was a range of tasks that they almost religiously performed each day, and Laura was updating the surf forecast on a huge chalk board that sat in the window when Michaela came in, she visited most mornings for a takeout coffee to start her day.

Laura waved as she made for the counter, and Ben greeted her warmly.

                “So how was last night?” Ben asked her, and already Laura was cringing.

Michaela chuckled, “great! He was great...wasn’t he Laura?”

Ben started to laugh, immediately picking up on the tension emanating from Laura, “what are you hiding Marshall?”

Michaela feigned innocence, “oh I didn’t realise you hadn’t said anything! Then giving a conspiratorial wink at Ben she leaned over the counter and theatrically hissed, “Dom drove us home, but not until she’d dragged her face from Dan’s!”

Ben loved gossip; in that respect he was as bad as a woman! “Marshall! You dirty stop out!”

Laura groaned, “As if! So I had a bit of a snog, that’s it! Wowsers!”

Alana emerged from the kitchen and punched Ben’s arm, “leave her!” She then looked at Laura, “good for you! He’s VERY hot!”

She smiled gratefully at Alana, and then turned to Michaela, “you coming to Zumba tonight? I can pick you up?”

Michaela wrinkled her nose, “I’m not coming in that dog filled van! I’ll get you, ok?”

Two days later was D-day, her mother’s birthday. And what did you buy the woman who had everything? Her mother had been a twenty one year old model when she’d met her father, who’d been almost forty, a multimillionaire business man, and apparently the most attractive man her mother had ever met. Many times she’d wondered what had motivated her mother to marry him, after all she was gentle, graceful and very beautiful, her tall willowy figure had adorned so many magazines, and prior to meeting Stafford Marshall, Maggie Baker had been regularly photographed on the arms of actors and rock stars alike. But she chose the grouchy and rather sombre man, who at best was domineering in looks. His black thick hair was now white, but he still had those black eyes and the harsh angles to his face.

But her mother had chosen him, and they had a happy relationship, Laura couldn’t deny that. Her mother spent many hours fronting charities, holding balls, fundraising, speaking to the press, her father still spent fifty hours plus a week at work, despite having turned sixty five the previous year. Both her parents had everything they wanted, the only thorn in their side was her, initially it was their inability to have a child. After eighteen months of marriage a heartbroken Maggie had been told that she’d never be able to have a child. Her deep depression had only been lifted by the arrival of Laura a few months later; an adoption Laura knew had been sped up by her father’s money and status. At less than two years old, she’d been rescued from a foster home by her wonderful parents.

Her adoption had never been a secret; her parents had always been open about that. But their love was her was limitless. She knew that they disproved of her life, and that there may be some pressure on her this weekend, but they were still devoted to her. At sixteen her mother had taken her out for dinner and discussed whether she wanted to contact her birth mother. Laura had laughed out loud.

                “You are my mother, no one else. For whatever reason the woman who gave birth to me couldn’t’ look after me...that’s her problem, not mine. We all have the ability to make a choice mum, and she chose to have me when she knew that she couldn’t care for me.”

The relief in her mother’s eyes had warmed Laura’s heart, they were close as a mother and daughter and she wanted nothing to change that.

Stafford wasn’t as open with his emotions, but she’d wanted for nothing her whole life. He protected her from everything and that was the way he showed her love. She’d had a wonderful childhood, it may have been a lot different to others, but she was safe and secure in her own skin due to the way she’d been brought up, which was exactly why she wasn’t about to give up all that she enjoyed to toe a line her father had created twenty five years too late.

Laura wrapped the exquisite vase that she’d found in a small craft shop for her mother, groaning as she contemplated what the weekend would bring. Her father was a formidable man, he could negotiate the impossible, she needed more than her wits about her if she was to survive this weekend.

                “What time is your train?” Ben shouted from the lounge.

Grabbing her bags she dragged herself to join them, “nine...we’ve got an hour?”

He laughed, “You like cutting things fine, don’t you?! It’s at least a fifty minute drive to the station!”

The local station didn’t serve the express train to London, and the rickety train that stopped at every hamlet would take at least ninety minutes to get to the nearest station that did serve London. So Ben was driving her, and he never spared the horses when he drove, she just crossed her fingers that they didn’t encounter a hay wagon or tractor.

At five past nine, Laura settled into a seat on the train that was surprisingly quiet, resting the vase on the table in front of her, she pulled out her iPod, closed her eyes and tuned out. London would appear soon enough, she was using this moment to appreciate being alone.

Silly Games - Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The Sheep’s Head was an old fashioned pub; an oak bar took up the whole of the back wall, and a large open fireplace the opposite one. Various mismatched tables and chairs filled the area between the two, but tonight they’d been pulled back to create a space, a divide between the small stage that had been erected in the corner and the audience. On the stage was a stool and a mike stand. It was already busy in there, but Michaela spotted a free table towards the edge of the impromptu dance floor.

                “You grab the seats, I’ll get us a drink, ok?” When Michaela nodded, Laura turned back to the bar. She recognised Paul the barman and they chatted briefly, mainly about the tides and forecast over the next few days. Everyone in the area was a surf addict so conversations were often easy and friendships quick.

Finally with the beers, she sought out Michaela and slid into the seat opposite her.

                “He’s on in half an hour!” her friend exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands.

Laura relaxed back into the seat and smiled, “mad! I can’t quite believe it’s so full in here.”

Michaela smiled, then started telling Laura all about her weird day in the Tourism Office. She seemed to spend half her time dealing with fruit cakes asking ridiculous questions, and the remainder with people who were grossly underprepared for anything. Her example of that was a customer earlier the day wanting a hotel on the seafront the day before the Pensioner’s charity walk. The town was famous for two things, summer surf, and the find raising walk that saw two hundred or more over seventy year olds descend on the town. Any other day and the client would have had his choice of hotels.

Laura sighed, this was as exciting as it got, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. There wasn’t a day that passed when she missed living in London, or even any other City. No she loved where she lived, and loved the level of gossip that the small town generated. Taking a good slug of beer, she smiled at her friend, “we should make a trip here more often, this pub REALLY needs livening up!”

                “I heard that!” Paul the barman shouted across to them. “This is busy for a Wednesday! Like your cafe is any more lively!”

                “Give us two weeks and we’ll be bouncing, you’ll see!” She hollered back, and the barman laughed.

And then the infamous Daniel Martin walked onto stage amidst shouts and whistles. She’d first seen him sing last summer, she’d been out for a few beers with Ben and Alana in a town about an hour away, he‘d been on stage singing a ballad when they’d walked in, and Laura had immediately liked him. She wasn’t sure whether it was for his lilting voice, and awesome song selection or his handsome good looks - or both! Laura didn’t really have a ‘type’ but Dan ticked every box, short blonde hair, but longer at the front, gelled into soft spikes, and his eyes were the deepest blue. He had a wonderful voice, but he also had beautiful lips that seemed sculptured, and formed each syllable in a sultry way.

No she didn’t have the hots for him at all! She joked with herself. After the first time she’d found out that he was playing in a couple of other fairly local pubs over the summer, and so she’d dragged Michaela into the fan club.

Tonight he was wearing a white shirt, that fitted his body snugly, and divine washed out jeans that clung to his thighs. The man was sex on legs.

                “Hi, thanks for coming. It’s great to be back in this part of the World!”

With that he struck straight into s gravelly ballad that made every woman in the bar swoon.

By the time he stopped for an interval, Laura was sure that he was eyeing them up. She wasn’t sure whether her liked her or Michaela, but he was definitely focussing on their table more than any of the other women there.

It was even busier for the second half of the show, a group of middle aged women came in together, and before too long they were all up dancing, swaying along to ‘Hey Jude’, then leaping around to ‘Dance the Night Away’, much to Daniel’s amusement, several times he missed a cue due to his laughter. His natural charisma and charm only encouraged the audible group, and the show went on much longer than it should have.

His last song after three encores was ‘Iris’, and Paul collecting glasses came to their table, “one of you lovely ladies care for a dance?”

Laura spotted Michaela’s eyes widen with interest, “you go Michaela, I’m knackered!”

She watched the two dance together, smiling and joking and was pleased for her friend. Michaela was shy, she would never have asked Paul to dance with her, but as Laura watched them, she could see that her friend was flirting with the Kiwi barman, and it pleased her. As the music ended she made for the bar, glad that there was more than just Paul working and there was someone to serve her.  As she was handed a beer, a voice to her right offered, “I’ll get that!”

Turning she saw Daniel, beautiful Daniel, leaning against the bar a few feet away, a dazzling smile on his face. Tilting the bottle in his direction as a thanks, she murmured, “cheers.” Then giving him as seductive a smile as she could muster, she spun around and walked away.

Outside it was still warm; people had bled out of the busy bar to sit on the picnic benches surrounding the building. Michaela sat on a wall in the distance looking doe-eyed at Paul who was standing over her, they were both smiling, and Laura couldn’t hide her happiness.

                “Mmm...Penny for your thoughts...though they look like they’re worth more than that!”

The voice bisected her peace and Laura twisted guiltily to her right immediately dropping the smile from her lips to see Daniel leaning against the building, his eyes washing over her in a lazy way.

                “Definitely not even worth a penny!” She offered, hating that she was blushing. Thankfully it was dark and she hoped he wasn’t aware. But he had that confident, almost cocky manner about him; she knew he was used to women throwing themselves at him. She was determined to appear different, even if her body just wanted to launch at him.  She shook her head searching for some clarity; she had no idea where that thought had come from!

                “So I remember you from last summer.”

She shrugged, “you’ve played a few pubs around here. There are some dreadful pub singers; you stand out in my memory as one with a reasonable voice and a good repertoire of songs!”

He grinned, the moonlight catching his perfect white teeth, “so you’re not a fan of American Pie and Wonderwall?”

She laughed, “The originals are ok, but it seems that most singers on the pub circuit have the same song book, and the same backing track! No one seems to sing anything daring, anything that requires effort. It’s lazy!”

Daniel gave a mock shocked look, “wow. Strong opinions! You are the pub entertainer expert!”

She chuckled, “sorry!”

His smile was again confident and lazy as he held out her hand, “don’t apologise, I’m Dan by the way.”

Laura sighed, “Laura.” She shook his hand, and appreciated the sensation of his fingers at her wrist.

It was so long since she’d flirted with a man that she almost felt out of practice. Since she’d worked at Ben’s cafe and surf shop there had been no shortage of interested men, lots of tourists passing through lavishing attention of her. Occasionally she succumbed and dated one a few times, but mostly she put them down gently.

Dan was the first man she’d wanted to get to know better in a long time, and she was aware that she was blushing and flirting outrageously. She might put him off, but she was past caring.

                “So are you from around here?” he asked, sipping at his own beer.

She shook her head, “I’m from London, well Hertfordshire mainly, came this way to Uni, well Cardiff, came THIS far out to surf!”

                “So you’re ‘one of those’ then are you?”

Laura ignored the condescension in his voice and smiled, “you mean I live for being in the water? You’re not wrong. You?”

                “Do I like surfing?” He asked, “or where am I from?” When she shrugged he grinned, “I’m a beach lover in a posing in the sun kind of way, not exactly at one with the ocean. But then I’m from landlocked Birmingham, so I suppose that’s to be expected.”

Laura’s reply was a smile, as she lowered herself to perch on the wall that surrounded the garden, Dan moved across and sat beside her, a little closer than was really appropriate. Whilst Laura felt a little awkward, as soon as his thigh pressed against hers and his eyes claimed hers in a look that felt like a drug, she forgot any worries.

                “So where are you playing tomorrow?” she asked, hating that her voice was croaky. “Do you play every night?”

He lifted the beer bottle to his mouth again and took a long slug before answering, “most nights. I try not to double back on myself, I’ve got a few dates further down the coast, then I’m heading to Bristol for a festival for a couple of days. I’m back this way in two weeks though.”

She nodded, realising that this was going nowhere didn’t deter her, in fact it suited her. She wanted fun not a lifelong commitment, and it pleased her that he wasn’t living here on her doorstep. Saying that, she hadn’t as much as kissed him yet, so she was being very premature thinking of anything more than that.

Laura smiled to herself, she was far from shy, and he was giving her the right vibes.

                “What you smiling at?”

Turning slowly she didn’t hide the smile; instead she let her lips curl up and her eye glitter as she started to study his shapely lips. Taking the bull by the horns she leaned in towards him, and couldn’t hide her glee that he met her in the middle. In fact, as his lips touched hers, he took over. And he was good...very good.

Laura felt her head fall back, loving the sensation of his almost aggressive lips devouring hers; she parted her lips to his invading tongue, and moaned as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer to him.

A repeated honk-honk of a car horn finally made Laura come to her senses...or was it the  “Come on Tart!” from Michaela? Either way she pulled her lips from his and loved the groan that escaped his lips with her abrupt withdrawal. Looking at his relaxed face she really rued her friend’s bad timing.

                “That was nice!” He breathed smiling.

                “Can I call you?” She asked standing, straightening her clothes.

He half shrugged, “I’ll be at the pilot in two weeks. Will you come then?”

Laura hid her disappointment at his reluctance to create any connections between them. Two weeks was a long way off. Giving a brief nod, she turned and made for the car amidst catcalls and hollers from Michaela and her brother.

Silly Games

Silly Games - Chapter One

                “Come on Buster!” Laura Marshall was too tired to be bothered with errant dogs, Buster was an overweight Boxer dog that LOVED diving in water - stream, sea or puddle, he wasn’t bothered. Normally Laura embraced that, but today she wasn’t in the mood. Fortunately Marco the poodle, Chardonnay the unfit and overweight Golden Retriever and Peachy the pampered mongrel were all behaving well.  Laura dragged the Boxer out of the puddle, his latest source of water, and bundled the animals into the back of her van.

Winding around the country roads she distributed the animals back to their owners providing them with a drink and following each owner’s individual instruction.  It took almost an hour, but then she still had a couple of hours before her afternoon dog walking session. Climbing back in her van she drove to the coastal town that she called home.

Ben smiled as she entered the Early Bird cafe, it was quiet, but then it was still early in the season. In another few weeks the town would be inundated with tourists. If the weather was good it wouldn’t just be the hotels and holiday cottages that were full, there were dozens of campsites that surrounded the town too. It was in these early months that they prepared for the onslaught of June to September.

                “How were the mutts?”

She shrugged, “it pays my bills Ben!”

His eyes widened, and he paused from restocking the shelves behind the counter, he’d known Laura a long time, and she loved animals, and she was the perfect person to run a dog walking service.  He’d never seen her curse the job.

                “What’s up Marshall? You’re not your usual cheery self!”

She merely scowled, “what’s the forecast?”

He shook his head, “flat as a pancake mate, I’d get some food and chill out, no surf today!”

Groaning she cut through the back of the shop and climbed the stairs to the living quarters that she shared with Ben and his girlfriend Alana.

She’d lived in this Welsh coastal village since graduating from University seven years earlier. During her time in the Cardiff college she’d rediscovered a childhood love of surfing, mainly through the surfing guru and addict that was her housemate Ben. Having lived in London she loved the proximity to the coast, and Ben had been more than happy to corrupt her.

Once they’d graduated, Ben had headed to Hawaii to try and compete in some of the amateur competitions, he’d done quite well, but a knee injury forced him home. He’d bought this building overlooking one of the best surf spots on the west coast afterwards. At the time Laura had been working in the local pub, surfing as much as she could, but as soon as Ben returned, she moved in and helped him run his cafe and surf school.

Laura flopped down onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow. There was only one thing that would quash her free spirit like this - her father. He’d sent her a message earlier in the day and it had set her nerves on edge.

Rolling on to her back, she dug her phone out of her pocket and opened the text message.

                “Are you coming home for your mother’s birthday? I want to talk to you and I can’t travel that far west to see you. I’m too busy.”

She knew what ‘talk’ meant, his disproval of her lifestyle was the topic of every Christmas, holiday or family occasion, she had the fact that she was ruining her life, throwing away her education, or embarrassing him, all rammed down her throat on a regular basis.

How could a successful businessman like her father understand that she hated the thought of a nine to five job? They were so different in so many ways. Not that she hadn’t had a privileged upbringing, private schooling, amazing holidays, everything a girl could ask for. But surely that didn’t mean that she owed her father her life did it? She wasn’t the same as him, and hell her mother had been a model! That was not exactly a career to broadcast, was it?

Groaning Laura sat up, she had an hour before her second dog walking stint, fortunately her afternoon walk was half a dozen small dogs. A much easier option. Pulling her boots back on she sighed, it had been her best idea, dog walking. She lived in an idyllic area, a maze of coastal villages over an hour from the nearest city, it was an attractive area for rich up and coming wannabees, but they all had to commute. So poor puppy spent the day at home - alone, and because of the commute, they were long days alone. Up step Laura, in her most shrewd moment, she’d spotted an untapped market. Within weeks she was busier than she could ever imagine.

Two to three walks a day, six dogs at a time was a very profitable industry for Laura. She wasn’t going to make a million, but it allowed her to live the life she wanted. Then it was supplemented with surf lessons, or shifts in the cafe. She loved her life; she just wished that she wasn’t made to feel so guilty for it.

Her afternoon pampered pooches were a funny bunch, and her mood was a lot lighter when she returned for the evening session at the cafe.  As she walked in Ben smiled to see her looking happier, it made her laugh, he was a typical man, hating dealing with emotional women.

                “So where are you taking Alana?” She asked reaching for an apron and tying it around her waist.

                “Cinema. New Bond film.” He turned to her, “action for me, hot man for her. Everyone’s a winner hey?”

Laura laughed, knowing that Alana would realistically go anywhere with him, she was devoted. She had to be to have given up her home in Hawaii to follow Ben here. They were the perfect couple, but she knew that Alana was waiting desperately hoping for something more. Ben was the most laidback man she knew, and she feared that Alana might leave him if he didn’t do something soon.

With a smile and a wave he left the building. Laura looked around, as usual the cafe was immaculately clean, there were only eight small tables scattered around half of the room, and a few outside the building overlooking the lush but exposed beach, the other half of the room was the ‘SurfShack’, board and wet suit rental, along with a range of surf style clothing. In the height of summer they were run as two separate businesses, there was always a glut of students looking for summer work, but today, it was just Laura.

Looking to her left, Laura studied the surf forecast board. Early the following morning six foot waves were predicted. That meant that they’d open early, offer a place for the surfers who flocked to the beach a place to leave belongings, and then to offer breakfast and hot drinks to those coming out of the sea. It meant they had to rota who actually surfed and who worked from the staff, Laura smiled when she saw the initials L and A next to the date, she had done her turn the previous week, her and Alana were free to play!

She wished she could bottle the feeling that realisation brought. She lived to surf, that moment when she fought the strength of nature, trying to ride an out of control wave. It was the greatest feeling, and made all this worthwhile.

Once again her father came back to the forefront of her mind, and she sighed.  This was a no win thought process, so she shook her head to clear it. The phone ringing was a welcome diversion, and she was pleased for Ben that she’d secured a booking for three days of surf lessons the following week. Six business men were on a stag weekend, and they wanted to learn to surf. Ben was the perfect man for the job.

Securing the details in the diary, she was still smiling as she locked up two hours later.  A hammering at the door as she was just switching off the lights delayed her, but Laura was full of smiles when she turned to see Michaela at the door.

                “You look excited!” Laura offered pulling back the door.

The other woman smiled, Michaela Dawson worked in the local Tourism office. They’d become firm friends over the last few years, and most of the trade directed to Ben’s businesses were via Michaela.

                “Just heard!” She gasped, obviously having run to catch her before closing. “Daniel Martin is back tonight! Playing at the Sheep’s Head! We HAVE to go!”

Laura groaned, Dan Martin was a very fit and quite talented singer who circulated around the pub circuit playing to usually sell out crowds. He was well worth a trip to the pub ten miles away, but Laura was shattered, she’d envisaged a night in front of the TV, but that was looking like a distant fantasy.

                “You look undecided!” Michaela looked shocked, “he is clearly the hottest man this side of the Severn Bridge! What are you waiting for?”

Michaela was right, Daniel Martin was worth making the effort for, and she knew her friend wouldn’t travel to the pub without her, so she knew she could not say no. Breaking into a beaming smile she offered, “just wondering who we can con into giving us a lift there!”

Michaela met her with an equally devastating smile, “already dealt with. My little bro has a hot date, needs to borrow a car for it...We’ll pick you up at eight?”

                “Awesome!”

Laura watched her friend disappear back in the direction of town. A night out it was!

Upstairs she surveyed her bedroom, she needed a sort out, it was a small room and the double bed, wardrobe and large chest of drawers took up all the reasonable floor space. There was no room for slovenly behaviour in a room this size. The other bedroom was bigger, but with both Ben and Alana rammed into, they hardly had much more room. But the flat did have a huge lounge, which was great as they all had bikes, more than one board each, wetsuits...the list was endless. And the whole of the home was a precarious equilibrium.

After a quick shower, she stood in her room and tried to decide what to wear, the pub wasn’t a high spot, but it would be full, she couldn’t cope with standing in heels all night, and with Michaela only being five foot one to her five foot nine, any increase made it impossible to converse over loud music.

Pulling out a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted black ‘Surf’s Up’ t-shirt, she slid them on, then added red converse and some chunky jewellery. Her long blonde hair took ages to dry; it was so thick, so she twirled it up into a scruffy bun.

Glancing at her reflection she shrugged, she was too tall really, though there was nothing she could do about that, and she was athletic in build - too muscular to be either feminine or fashionable. She looked at her chest, her small high breasts were her biggest disappointment, Michaela, dark and petite was the complete opposite to her, and she was so jealous of her curves. But then she also knew her friend was very envious of her height.

Never happy with what we’ve got!

A honk outside told her that Michaela and her brother Dominic had arrived, so she grabbed her bag and rushed down the stairs.

Never Again - The End!

Chapter 38 - the end

It was Christmas Eve, and Erin looked around and cringed. She WOULD be ready, she would be! She still couldn’t believe she’d suggested this, that everyone came to them for Christmas. Jack had warned her that it would all be too much for her, but she’d argued differently. She wanted her family around them, and normally he trained Christmas Day and played Boxing Day, so she’d expected the holiday to be a bit of a wash out for them. But an injury two weeks ago meant he’d be out of the squad, and it was an opportunity that she didn’t want to miss.

Saying that, she felt bad using a broken cheek bone in her favour, she’d been worried sick when he’d been knocked unconscious two weeks earlier. But in typical bullish Jack fashion, he’d insisted on throwing himself back into everything regardless, and was barely influenced by it, but he wasn’t allowed to play for another three weeks at least whilst the bone healed. So she wanted to make the most of having him around.

The fact that he had confessed that the previous Christmas he’d come home from training and eaten a microwave meal watching DVD’s alone was only fuel to her fire. She LOVED Christmas, and wanted Jack to experience a magical time, to appreciate the holiday for what it was.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t stressed. She looked at the turkey that sat in front of her, stuffed with sausage meat, sage and chestnuts to bursting, then at the oven. She wasn’t sure the two would fit together. The turkey was HUGE, but she couldn’t worry about that now, it was all she had to serve! Jack had been glad to escape the tension, leaving her and her stress levels behind to head to the airport. His parents and brother were arriving, and he’d never been happier than when he escaped to collect them, whish spoke volumes when you considered what their relationship had been a year earlier. His sisters has such large families that it was impossible for them to visit, Erin was sad about that, but she had spent a lot of time with them over the last year and felt closer to them than she thought possible.

She glanced at the clock, two pm; her parents were due any moment, with her brother, Yvonne and the kids. The plan was to go into Manchester to the Winter Village, the children wanted to ice skate, the adults were going to drink mulled wine and watch from the safety of the adjacent bar. Before then she had to finish peeling the vegetables, if she did, then she was virtually ready. Quickly preparing the huge bag of sprouts and filling yet another saucepan, she had time to run upstairs and change before the intercom from the road gate alerted her that someone had arrived.

Buzzing them in, she took the last moment to straighten her knitted dress, slashed on some lipstick, then opened the door as the cars started to arrive.

Erin could barely believe the last year had happened. After proposing, Jack had wanted to get married immediately. That meant low key, not that either of them desired a huge event, and in his rush, it also meant that it happened on a Thursday between important games for Jack, so there was no honeymoon either, other than a night in a luxury hotel.  But to Erin it was perfect, she didn’t need pomp or ceremony, all she wanted was Jack.

The day was perfect and something Erin would savour for the rest of her life. And when the summer had finally rolled around, and the football season ended they finally had their honeymoon, four weeks in Sri Lanka and India. A perfect, perfect time.

On the doorstep she waved to the approaching car of her parents’, followed by her brother’s. Once the two vehicles had stopped, a whole round of hugs began. It was chaotic as she showed them all to the rooms they were occupying for the next few days, and she left them all to settle in, instead heading for the kettle to make some tea.

In the kitchen she stretched her back; she was aching today, all that standing to prepare the food. Everyone had insisted it was too much, to host so many people in her perfectionist way three weeks before their baby was due, but in her hormone ravaged state she had been insistent. Now with everyone here she felt tired, but complete. It was the right thing to do. She ran a hand over her distended stomach; the baby was wriggling a lot today.

The front door opened and she looked up to see Jack entering ahead of his parents, it gave her such pleasure every time she saw them together after so many years of separation. And that was why this was so important. As they were about to become parents she wanted all the family rifts to be healed, this baby deserved serenity and love.

Jack immediately sensed that things were calmer, and he breathed a sigh of relief, he’d become expert at diverting around her hormonal highs and lows, but he knew that she was happy as soon as he set eyes on her. He crossed the lounge into the open plan kitchen and planted his lips on hers, loving the feel of the baby bouncing under his hand as he laid a hand over it. He loved Erin with all his heart, but he could barely contain his ardour every time he saw her at the moment, she was a vision of all that a mother-to-be should be, such a stark contrast to before when she was ill, sad, worried, not blooming, sexy, glowing as she was now. And she was unbelievably horny; her response to his kiss reminded him of that, wholly inappropriately in front of his parents. Not that he cared.

Grinning he pulled back and looked at her, “I’ve only been away for an hour! What would you be like it if I went away for a week?”

She didn’t blush, she wasn’t embarrassed, she merely smiled, a wicked smile, and suddenly Jack couldn’t wait until they were alone.

                “Take your guys upstairs, I’m just doing some tea and cake, then we can head to town, yes?”

Two hours later the Christmas tree was laden with the gifts that all the family members had brought and added to the ones that Erin had painstakingly wrapped, and they were all watching Amelia and Liam skate, Peter reluctantly joined them but Conor, Jack’s younger brother was a natural and the kids were hanging off his arms as he skated around expertly.

                “So where did he learn to skate?” Erin chuckled as she leaned close to Pauline, Jack’s mother.

She chuckled, “I have no idea! It’s amazing isn’t it?” When Erin nodded, Pauline placed a hand over hers, “thanks for this Erin.”

                “I LOVE Christmas, I’m just happy you’re all joining us.”

Pauline smiled, “I’m glad we’re here, but I mean thanks for Jack. If it wasn’t for you, we would still be in some standoff, instead we’re together, and there’s a new baby due any moment...I will love you forever for that alone. It’s so good to see Jack so happy, so open with his emotions. You are the best thing that ever happened to him.”

Dinner the next day went without a hitch, everyone pitched in, and Amelia and Liam were the life and soul of the party, loving receiving and distributing gifts, stealing chocolates, their excitement palpable. Her father was a demon at charades, and Conor made the greatest Irish coffees. It was a truly perfect Christmas with the extended family. Though Erin was never more glad to disappear to bed, a lot earlier than everyone else.

Boxing Day saw the women head to the sales, wanting to catch the bargains at the Trafford Centre; the men went to the game with Jack. It left Erin home alone by choice. She was glad of the rest, staying in her pyjamas, lounging on the sofa, her burgeoning body appreciating the limitless rest.

It wasn’t until mid afternoon that she realised the stiff back that had encouraged her to stay home hadn’t really settled since. An hour later she knew that this was the start of labour. Her baby didn’t want a January birthday; it wanted to be a Christmas child.

Soon Erin knew that she wasn’t going to be able to last until the men came home from the football. She hadn’t called Jack when she first realised, she presumed that she’d be fine until they got back. Now she doubted she could drive to the hospital as the pain was starting to become intense. So she called Danni.

                “I’m on my way. Have you got a bag ready?” Fortunately her life saver had her parents visiting, so the twins were already cared for and she could leave immediately.

Erin was nothing if not ultra prepared. As she waited for her knight in shining armour, she called Jack.

                “Don’t panic!” She shouted as she heard him lose the plot. “Get a cab to the hospital. My Dad can drive everyone home.”

She’d barely settled in to her hospital room when Jack burst in, flushed and petrified.

                “Why didn’t you...What...”

He was floundering, and Erin needed calm, strong Jack, the contractions had become intense the last half an hour and she was dreading each one. She gave a short sharp bark of warning and was rewarded with him half smiling then settling beside her, fighting his own anxieties.

Three hours later a robust and healthy baby boy arrived to make their lives complete. As Erin tried to regain her composure, to comprehend all that had happened, she looked at Jack, nursing their son, kissing his head as he whispered words only the two of them could hear. When he realised she was watching he gave her a beaming, proud smile.

Coming across to her he sat next to her, perched on the bed.

                “Thank you Erin,” the hand that wasn’t wrapping the small bundle close to his chest reached out and touched her cheek.

She tried to brush away the blatant compliment, but he wouldn’t let it go, “I mean it, this has been the greatest Christmas ever...” He glanced down at the baby, “and you are both the greatest gifts a man could ask for.”

But Erin couldn’t believe how lucky she was, couldn’t believe all that Jack had become. The angry, moody man had become a caring, loving, devoted husband and now father. And she was the luckiest woman on the planet to have found him.