Authors: Debbie Viggiano
‘Okay.’ Bridget pecked Arnold on the cheek. ‘I have to be off now anyway. Need to pick my sister up from the station. She’s coming to stay for a couple of days. Toodle-oo folks.’
Everybody bade Bridget farewell. June then properly introduced her neighbours to Arnold. She watched as Steph and Si shook hands with Arnold and made small talk. June could tell they had both taken an instant liking to Arnold. She sighed. Life was peculiar sometimes. What was it that made people either like or loathe each other? June knew that despite the best laid plans, Steph and Si hadn’t really taken to Harry. And yet here they were, within minutes of meeting Arnold, giving him genuinely warm smiles. But then again, June knew that Arnold was the real deal. She gulped. She couldn’t quite believe her brain had just thought that. But in fact, it wasn’t her brain. It was her heart. She could sense with every fibre of her being that Arnold was the man for her. And had been all along. He’d waited quietly in the wings while she’d charged blindly after another man with a big house and bigger ego. How shallow did that make her? June bit her lip.
‘June?’ Arnold interrupted her musings.
She looked up. ‘Sorry. I was miles away.’
Arnold crooked his elbow. ‘Shall we?’
June smiled shyly. ‘Most definitely. Thank you Arnold.’
On the way home to Jessamine Terrace, June leant back against the head rest. Steph and Si were talking quietly to each other in the back. June couldn’t hear what they were saying. She gazed at the road ahead. The car’s engine and the comfortable head rest were having a soporific effect. Arnold didn’t drive a BMW. But there was nothing wrong with a Jaguar Estate. Arnold’s Labrador certainly had plenty of room in the back.
‘Penny for them,’ said Arnold glancing across at her.
June smiled. ‘I was just thinking what a lovely car this is for your dog.’
‘Yes. Milly is a lucky girl.’ Arnold slowed down as traffic lights ahead changed to red. ‘Do you know what I particularly like about this car?’
‘I really don’t know anything about motors,’ June smiled apologetically.
‘Oh it’s nothing technical,’ Arnold assured. ‘It’s more to do with maths actually.’
‘Maths?’
‘Yes. The logistics of floor area. That sort of thing.’
‘You’ve lost me now,’ June gave Arnold a confused look. Arnold checked the traffic lights were still red and then looked at her. Was that a twinkle in his eye?
‘There is a four hundred and fifty-five litre boot behind you June. That’s a lot of space.’
‘It certainly is,’ June nodded.
‘More than big enough for Milly,’ Arnold nodded.
June considered. Was Arnold trying to say what she thought he was trying to say?
‘You mean–’ she paused, unsure.
‘I mean there’s plenty of room for a second dog. Like Ralph.’
June smiled.
Arnold grinned back. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. And as the traffic lights flicked to green, June realised that life could change in an instant. Just like those traffic lights. Except this time she knew which direction she was travelling in.
Chapter Seventy Two
Steph couldn’t wait to get into a hot bath and scrub herself from top to bottom. Getting flushed away by a toilet wasn’t an experience she ever wanted to repeat. She stood on the doorstep of 42 Jessamine Terrace, hugging the recovered laptop as she waited for Si to unlock the front door.
‘Home at last,’ he said.
‘I can’t wait to peel off these clothes,’ said Steph.
‘Don’t let me stop you,’ Si waggled his eyebrows.
‘I feel dirty,’ said Steph.
‘This conversation is getting better and better.’
‘Idiot,’ Steph smiled.
Si’s hands snaked around her waist. He pulled her to him.
‘I mean it.’ He lowered his head and kissed her on the mouth. His hands moved round to her front and began undoing buttons.
‘Tom might be home,’ Steph murmured between kisses.
‘Tom’s at a salsa lesson, remember?’
Steph giggled as Si began kissing her neck. ‘You’re tickling me.’
At that moment Si’s tummy let out a huge rumble. He straightened up.
‘I’m famished,’ he groaned.
‘Shall I make us a sandwich?’
‘No.
I’ll
make it. Go and run a really big bubble bath. We’ll have our sandwiches in the tub. Together. Be a bit romantic for once eh?’
‘Good heavens Simon Garvey,’ Steph rolled her eyes theatrically. ‘You certainly know how to inject the steaminess into bath time.’
‘Stick with me kid. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Cheese and pickle?’
‘That will do nicely. And a cup of your finest tea my good man.’
Steph stood on her tiptoes and kissed Si very thoroughly on the mouth.
‘Enough of that Mrs Garvey. Or I’ll wrestle you to the ground and have my wicked way on the doormat.’
‘Okay, I’m going!’ Steph laughed and sprang away. Clutching the laptop to her chest, she sprinted up the stairs.
Steph tossed the machine onto the bed and then went into the bathroom. Tipping scented liquid under the running water, she left the tub to fill and returned to the bedroom. She was just about to undress when her eyes rested on the laptop. She stared at it. Thank goodness Melody had returned it. However, after the disastrous events with Barry Hastings, Steph had to admit the thrill of Facebook had paled. She walked over to the machine. The batteries were still charged. She switched it on. Moments later Facebook filled the screen. Steph scrolled through her list of friends. No Barry Hastings. She scrolled up again. He’d definitely gone. Steph wasn’t altogether surprised. In fact, deleting the account seemed like a very good idea. She’d only bought the laptop to go on Facebook. Was there any point in keeping the computer? Getting shot of the wretched thing actually appealed. She would give it to Tom for university. Steph smiled to herself. It was as if an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Steph went back to the bathroom. Turning off the taps, she stripped down to her underwear.
‘Now there’s a sexy sight,’ said Si. He was holding a tray aloft.
‘Sock-grey underwear? Hardly sexy.’
And then Steph remembered the purple and black underwear. Now that
had
been sexy. She could feel herself reddening at the memory of Ralph coming into June’s house trailing the garments in his mouth.
Si placed the tray on the floor. ‘I don’t give a toss about your sock-grey underwear Steph.’ He straightened up and wrapped his arms around her. ‘It’s what’s
in
the underwear that counts.’
Steph wound her arms around Si’s neck. She gazed up into his kind, honest face. They’d come so close to losing each other. Sometimes you never knew what you had until you nearly lost it. She was so relieved Si hadn’t had flings with Dawn and Amanda. And thank God nothing had happened between her and Barry Hastings. Well. Apart from that kiss. Steph cringed. Thinking of Barry Hastings now, Steph couldn’t imagine what she’d ever seen in the man. From now on things were going to be very different in her marriage. Steph was going to make sure Si knew exactly what he meant to her. Every single day.
‘I love you,’ she whispered. ‘So much.’
‘I love you too.’
This time it was Steph’s stomach that growled loudly. Si threw back his head with laughter.
‘Come on. Jump in the bath and I’ll pass you a sandwich.’
Two hours later, they lay entwined in bed. Steph felt incredibly content. She loved the feeling of her skin against Si’s. And that was another thing. No more nightdresses. Not for sleeping in anyway. From now on she was going to be sensual and sensuous. She’d waft around the house in a cloud of perfume with nothing on and drive Si bonkers with lust. Downstairs the front door banged. Correction. She’d waft around the house in a cloud of perfume with nothing on once Tom had gone to university. She listened as Tom bounded up the stairs.
‘That’s put an end to our afternoon delight,’ she murmured.
‘I’ve had a thought,’ said Si.
‘Oh?’
‘What about us going away. Somewhere hot. It could be a second honeymoon.’
‘Sounds dreamy,’ Steph sighed.
There was a loud rap on their bedroom door.
‘Because what I’d really like,’ Si whispered, ‘is to ravage you senseless without–’
There was another knock. More persistent this time. Suddenly the door opened and Tom walked in.
‘Hey Mum! Dad! Whatever are you doing in bed in the middle of the afternoon? Aren’t you feeling well?’
‘–without interruption,’ Si finished.
Steph pulled the duvet up to her chin.
‘We were tired,’ she smiled brightly. The smile froze when she caught sight of somebody standing behind Tom. Whoever it was had an awful lot of fair hair.
‘Er, Tom,’ Si jerked his head meaningfully. ‘We’re not decent son.’
‘Sorry,’ Tom beamed. ‘We’re not stopping. I just wanted to introduce you to somebody very special. I’m not joking, but I think this is The One.’
Steph sighed. Tom had parted company from Melody only a few hours ago. She’d seen it all before. Or had she? Tom stepped aside revealing the person behind him.
‘I’d like you to meet Darrius.’
THE END
ALSO BY DEBBIE VIGGIANO
Stockings and Cellulite
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, Cassandra Cherry's life takes a turn for the worse when she stumbles upon husband Stevie lying naked, except for his socks, on a coat-strewn bed with a 45-year-old divorcee called Cynthia. Suddenly single, Cass throws herself into the business of getting over Stevie with gusto. Her main problems now are making her nine-year-old twins happy, juggling a new social life with a return to work and avoiding being arrested by an infuriating policeman who always seems to turn up at the most inopportune moments. Then, just when Cass is least prepared, and much to Stevie's chagrin, she crashes head over heels in love with the last person she'd ever expected.
AVAILABLE NOW AS E-BOOK AND PAPERBACK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives in leafy Swanley Village in Kent with her husband, their three children and a food-obsessed beagle who believes she is their fourth child.
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