Through the Glass by Lisa J. Hobman

he tickled the small black Labrador pup’s belly.
    “Jasper. It suits him, don’t you think?”
    “I think it’s a lovely name.” She squeezed his shoulder.
    She began to serve out the Chinese take away she had brought home with her. It smelled divine, and he was ravenous. So was Jasper, judging by the way he sniffed the air. Flick produced a tin of dog food from the take away carrier and handed it to Jim.
    “I hope that’s for the dog and it’s not our appetiser.”” Jim winked.
    She chuckled. “Best feed him now, eh?”
    “Aw, Flick this is the best gift I’ve ever received. He’s just gorgeous. Thank you so much.” he kissed his wife lovingly before feeding his new little friend.
     
    ~~~~~
     
    February 2008 — A Year Before the Break-up
    Jim was waiting by the phone on Valentine’s Day, alone. Flick had been in New York on business for almost a week. She had telephoned a couple of times, but the conversations had been quick. Today, however, he was expecting a longer call. He missed her like crazy. At around nine, the phone finally rang.
    “Hey, Jim. We’ve just had the most amazing meeting with a phenomenal artist. It’s looking like we may get the UK rights to her work! Isn’t that fantastic?” Flick blurted without even saying hello.
    Jim’s knee bobbed up and down and his jaw clenched. Nice greeting from the wife I’m missing like crazy .
    He felt heat rise in his cheeks. “Hi, Flick… Oh hi, Jim… I miss you so much… Yes, I miss you too, Flick, and wish you were here.” He snorted sarcastically.
    “Sorry, sweetie. I’m just so excited. Anyway, I can’t talk long. We’re going sightseeing before dinner. Can you believe I’ve been here a week and I haven’t even been to Times Square yet?” She laughed.
    Jim did not.
    “Flick, I was hoping we could talk…you know…properly. I miss you so much it hurts,” he pleaded.
    “Oh, I’ll be home before you know it and then you’ll be sick of the sight of me! Anyway, I really must dash. I want to shower and change, and I’m running late already. Love you, sweetie, bye.”
    “Oh…so you really meant you couldn’t talk long then…okay…bye.” Jim hung up without reciprocating the breezy I love you . He was angry and hurt. He threw the handset onto the sofa and slumped down into the seat. Jasper came and placed his head on Jim’s lap. “At least you love me, eh, lad?” He scratched Jasper’s head.
    To top it off, it was going to be the first birthday he had had since they got together that he would be spending without her. Flick was due home two days after his birthday. At least, last year she was here. Late…but here. No, this year there would be no surprise gift in a box with holes in it, and instead of spending a romantic evening with his wife, he would be spending it with Charles. They were going to the Taj Mahal restaurant and then to the cinema to see In Bruges , which wasn’t really a film that appealed to Charles—he was into Film Noir—but it was either that or a chick flick, and Jim had to draw the line somewhere considering this birthday was already sad enough as it stood.
     
    ~~~~~
    Jim’s birthday arrived. He met Charles at the cinema. Charles insisted on buying the largest bucket of popcorn available along with chocolates, nachos, and jelly sweets. The majority of which were gone by the time the film started. Silly, really, considering they had a table booked at the Indian restaurant as soon as the film ended.
    The film turned out to be excellent. Dark, but very funny in places. And Jim had thought that Bruges looked like a place he would love to visit someday. The architecture was remarkable, despite the armed men running around killing people.
    They moved on to the Indian restaurant and once again Charles insisted on paying. “No, Jim. Put your bloody money away, old chap. My bloody treat. If a chap can’t treat his best bloody friend on his birthday, when can he?”
    “Best friend? Aw, Charles, mate.”