evening at Nina’s house you have never been out of my head for more than an hour, except when I sleep. When I wake up in the morning you are there, when I clean my teeth, when I eat my breakfast. All day long you pop in and out of my head. I am in love with you Melanie.”
“But don’t you see Ratty, you can’t love me? I’m not free to love you back. You’ll just end up hurting yourself. You may end up hurting me too.”
“How can I hurt you Mel... unless, of course, you love me?”
“I didn’t say I loved you. I can’t love you. It’s impossible, but I do like you... a lot. It would be better if we didn’t see each other again and I think I should make this decision to save both of us from getting hurt.”
“May I phone you Mel, at least you can talk to me can’t you?”
“‘OK, but that’s all. You can phone during my lunch break, between one and two.”
“Thanks.”
They walked out into the sunshine together. Ratty gave Mel the kind of embrace usually reserved for old friends. They smiled at each other and then turned away to walk in opposite directions.
Five minutes later, Mel was back at her desk in the bank with her head still spinning. Roddy was the first to question her. ‘How was your appointment Mel, did you do the bank proud, was the speech what you’d expected?’
‘Yes Roddy, I think I did the bank proud and I think you could say it was a very good speech, but no, it certainly wasn’t what I’d expected.’
C HAPTER F OUR
Melanie decided she would feel better if she changed her clothes completely before going on her date with Tim. It might ease her feelings of guilt for one thing. She found a white knee length dress which was drawn across from each shoulder to meet at her waist, a bit like an Indian sari. She knew it flattered her and she owed it to her husband to try to look her best tonight.
Tim arrived home especially early and was in the shower as she was preparing for their night out. He put on his best brown trousers and a cream open necked shirt with cuff links. She studied him briefly in her dressing table mirror. He looked smart but his clothes were in no way fashionable. Perhaps that was her fault, maybe she should insist on taking him shopping and helping him choose some decent clothes. Visions of Ratty filled her mind. She wouldn’t have to show him how to buy clothes. His dress sense wanted for nothing despite being without a wife for two years. They were so different, Tim and Ratty. She sat staring into her dressing table mirror. Tim and Ratty, she said softly to herself, were there really two men in her life?
How could she be attracted to a man so different to the one with whom she’d shared the last twenty years. Had she changed that much? If this evening was to be a success, she had to put Ratty right out of her mind, yet that was like asking her to sacrifice a piece of herself, a piece that was growing day by day.
They went in Melanie’s car, but Tim insisted on driving. He conceded that the van wasn’t a great way to arrive at The Walnut Tree. She wondered if he was driving so that she could drink, or was it that he didn’t trust her driving? She’d always expected him to drive when they went out together, but these days it was such a rare occurrence that she found herself resenting him for taking control.
The Italian Maitre de oozed charm from every pore of his body as he smiled softly and showed them to a table for two in a small alcove near the window. He leaned close to Melanie as he lit the candle and she enjoyed a hint of Chanel for men. He promised to send aux deuvres along with the menu. After taking their order for apéritifs he headed away to welcome another group of diners.
Melanie glanced out of the window, only to be gripped by panic as she saw a silver sports car park alongside her Mondeo. Was it an Aston Martin? She could ask Tim, he’d know what it was. There was no reason, outside her head, why she shouldn’t ask, and anyway it
“But don’t you see Ratty, you can’t love me? I’m not free to love you back. You’ll just end up hurting yourself. You may end up hurting me too.”
“How can I hurt you Mel... unless, of course, you love me?”
“I didn’t say I loved you. I can’t love you. It’s impossible, but I do like you... a lot. It would be better if we didn’t see each other again and I think I should make this decision to save both of us from getting hurt.”
“May I phone you Mel, at least you can talk to me can’t you?”
“‘OK, but that’s all. You can phone during my lunch break, between one and two.”
“Thanks.”
They walked out into the sunshine together. Ratty gave Mel the kind of embrace usually reserved for old friends. They smiled at each other and then turned away to walk in opposite directions.
Five minutes later, Mel was back at her desk in the bank with her head still spinning. Roddy was the first to question her. ‘How was your appointment Mel, did you do the bank proud, was the speech what you’d expected?’
‘Yes Roddy, I think I did the bank proud and I think you could say it was a very good speech, but no, it certainly wasn’t what I’d expected.’
C HAPTER F OUR
Melanie decided she would feel better if she changed her clothes completely before going on her date with Tim. It might ease her feelings of guilt for one thing. She found a white knee length dress which was drawn across from each shoulder to meet at her waist, a bit like an Indian sari. She knew it flattered her and she owed it to her husband to try to look her best tonight.
Tim arrived home especially early and was in the shower as she was preparing for their night out. He put on his best brown trousers and a cream open necked shirt with cuff links. She studied him briefly in her dressing table mirror. He looked smart but his clothes were in no way fashionable. Perhaps that was her fault, maybe she should insist on taking him shopping and helping him choose some decent clothes. Visions of Ratty filled her mind. She wouldn’t have to show him how to buy clothes. His dress sense wanted for nothing despite being without a wife for two years. They were so different, Tim and Ratty. She sat staring into her dressing table mirror. Tim and Ratty, she said softly to herself, were there really two men in her life?
How could she be attracted to a man so different to the one with whom she’d shared the last twenty years. Had she changed that much? If this evening was to be a success, she had to put Ratty right out of her mind, yet that was like asking her to sacrifice a piece of herself, a piece that was growing day by day.
They went in Melanie’s car, but Tim insisted on driving. He conceded that the van wasn’t a great way to arrive at The Walnut Tree. She wondered if he was driving so that she could drink, or was it that he didn’t trust her driving? She’d always expected him to drive when they went out together, but these days it was such a rare occurrence that she found herself resenting him for taking control.
The Italian Maitre de oozed charm from every pore of his body as he smiled softly and showed them to a table for two in a small alcove near the window. He leaned close to Melanie as he lit the candle and she enjoyed a hint of Chanel for men. He promised to send aux deuvres along with the menu. After taking their order for apéritifs he headed away to welcome another group of diners.
Melanie glanced out of the window, only to be gripped by panic as she saw a silver sports car park alongside her Mondeo. Was it an Aston Martin? She could ask Tim, he’d know what it was. There was no reason, outside her head, why she shouldn’t ask, and anyway it
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