Bittersweet Summer

Chapter 4

She slowly pulled out of the garage, smiling again at David, as he waved to her. He was a nice man. The phone was ringing, SHIT, she felt the panic rising as it rang much longer than she expected. She was just about to put it down, when a bleary voice muttered "hello?". She felt the panic again, though she couldn't really explain why. "Hi, it's Michelle, we, er, met yesterday?" "Michelle?" came the reply, and instantly she felt rejected. "OH Michelle!!, the good looking woman who drove into my car!" A muffled laugh. She relaxed and felt herself go red with embarrassment. "Er yes, that's the one. I'm so sorry to call so early, i was just out picking some things up, and wondered if you were awake". "I am now" came the laughed reply. "So sorry" she said...again feeling a little rejected. She didn't take rejection particularly well, and especially when she actually wanted him to be interested! "It's fine, I had a bit of a late one that's all. Are you ok after yesterday? Did you make your appointment ok?" She felt herself go red again. "er, yes, I was a little late but it was ok" She could almost hear the smile at the other end of the phone. "That's good then" he said, and she worried if he wondered what she had been up to. "So, how can I help"? She smiled, and thought...god you have no idea how you could help. "I wonder if your friend could take a look at the car fairly quickly? My husband doesn't know I have hit it, and I would like to keep it that way!" She could hear the smile again. "No problem. Let me give him a call and see how he is fixed. How soon are we talking?" "I dont suppose today is an option is it? " "Let me make a call. He won't be up yet, he was out with me last night! Can I ring you back?" She panicked. "Er no, best not to. I will give you a ring after lunch" She swore he was grinning at her at the other end of the phone. "Ok, no problem, Speak after lunch" "Thanks". She ended the call. And couldn't help but allow herself a smile.

She drove home a little quicker than she planned. Carefully put the car in the hedge. And collected the shopping and went indoors. Phew. she could hear the shower running. She rushed to the kitchen. Took out the frying pan, and began to prepare breakfast. Shouting " DO YOU WANT BACON AND EGG??! Knowing full well he would, and also that she would not be heard with him in the shower. Another smile to herself.....perhaps today would be a GOOD day after all. She heard the shower stop running and smiled to herself again. The bacon began to sizzle. She shouted up again, " do you want bacon and eggs? "That would be nice" came the reply in a decent voice. She felt good. As she flipped the bacon she tried to make it as crispy as possible just the way he liked it. He came downstairs holding his head slightly "do we have any paracetamol?" he asked. She smiled, he clearly had more than she thought, and definitely more than she had! "I will get you some," she said, turning the bacon again. She bent over to retrieve the pills from the "medical" cupboard, and he couldn't resist smacking her on the rear. She smiled. And let out a squeal. She only wished the mood would last. As she turned to give him the medication, she opened the fridge and passed him a bottle of water. "thanks love" he said.

Sounding genuinely grateful. His head was not in the best place, mentally or physically. He took the pills, and asked how long it would be for the bacon. "only a couple of minutes" was her reply. He sat at the breakfast bar. Looking slightly dazed. Empty. Despite all the things she disliked him for, after the best part of 20 years together, she couldn't HATE him totally. "Are you ok?" she asked "do you want coffee?" As she looked up, she could see he was much worse than hung over. She had no idea what was wrong, but she had never seen him like this. "Yes, please". She turned away again. Went to the coffee machine, and began to make his brew. She still drew breath at almost £1000 for a coffee maker! But it did make bloody good coffee. She poured, and watched as his eyes kind of glazed over. "sugar?" "two please" "had too much yesterday did we?" she smiled as she said it, wanting to avoid confrontation, wanting to show she was just making conversation. He looked at her, and just for a moment she panicked, then she saw his face soften, "yes, i suppose i did". His expression wasn't entirely convincing, but she said nothing more. She ate her sandwich, and asked, "what plans do you have for today?" He looked at her again, and she was uneasy, he just wasn't himself. "I said I would go back to the club today, there is a charity match on. Come down if you want?" She was taken by surprise at the generosity. "I might just do that" she found herself saying. She could see the disappointment on his face, "but I have a couple of things to do first". "What time does it start?"

He looked at her again, "around 12 I think. I feel a bit rough. I think I will have to go and sort myself out". She smiled. "Ok baby, well, if you have finished, why don't you go and have a lie down?" " She could see he still wasn't quite with it. "I might just do that," he said. And finished up his sandwich. He still looked slightly worse for wear, but was enjoying the food and the sugary coffee. She said nothing more, but left the kitchen, and padded upstairs to organise his clothes. He couldn't say or do anything. His body was still in "come down" mode, from the excess of yesterday, drugs, booze, despite the length of sleep. But he wasn't about to show weakness, or tell Michelle what he had been doing. He placed the plates and cup neatly next to the sink, and followed her upstairs. She watched him go to the bathroom, and called out "do you want your full tiger woods???" He shouted back "why the hell not!" She smiled. She would be able to get the car looked at this afternoon at least, and perhaps she might even make it to the club to please him too. She began to go through his wardrobe, and found him a bright yellow polo, his check plus fours and matching jumper if he wanted it. She walked to the bathroom and said "clothes are on the bed." "I am just going to pop out and will come down to the club a bit later" He gave a simple thumbs up as he brushed his teeth for the 2nd time that morning, and she was again puzzled. No resistance. No protest. "See you later and good luck with the golf!"

She practically ran downstairs, grabbed her keys and purse, and went out to the car. Shit. I need my phone. In her haste she had left it charging. She desperately needed her phone, but didn't really want to go back inside the house. Oh well, she would have to go in, she couldn't call crooked smile without it. Softly, she opened the door and listened. Silence. Perfect! She grabbed the Samsung and rushed back out of the house, closing the door with her key to make it as quiet as possible. She jumped into the car, and reversed out of the drive as the car connected to her mobile. She pulled out, and slipped quietly down the road. A grin, a sigh of relief, now, where was that bloody phone number.......