In His Eyes

Stubborn? Me?

"I'm not coming home, you know that. Stop with the guilt trip, Mum!" She laughed and smiled out the window as she balanced the phone between her shoulder and her chin.  She was juggling a pile of books, placing them in a box and taping it shut.

"Just because I'm changing jobs and flats doesn't mean I have to give up and come back."  She'd had this conversation so many times over the last six weeks. Yes, her mum missed her; she got it.  Yes, they were hundreds of miles apart, and facetime just wasn't the same; she got that too. But this was her life now. This sprawling city; this anthill of humanity; The Great and Wonderful Emerald City at the end of the yellow brick road. 

"Oh, Beth, you're just like your brother. Stubborn and independent to a fault." Her mum sighed good naturedly. "Will I see you before Christmas, love?" She hardly dared add."Will we see you with... anyone else?"

Beth paused. She knew her mum would be wincing, waiting for the usual explosion.  She smiled. Not this time. No explosion, no sighing, no rolling her eyes. What was the point?

"No mum. Nobody else." Her voice was as flat as her opinion on the subject.

"Oh." The resigned disappointment was palpable. "Ok, love. Speak to you soon, ok?"

"Bye, Mum, love you."

"Love you too, Beth."

She was gone. 

Beth sat the box on the floor and dropped the phone carefully onto the sofa from her chin. Straightening up, she looked around the room.  Another one done. Only the kitchen to go and she could do that tomorrow.  

Picking up her car keys, she manhandled the box, her bag, and a bundle of mail that had just come, locking the door and walking down the steps towards her parked car.

Just as she reached the bottom, she dropped her car keys, and they rattled into the gutter.

"Oh God, NO!" She wailed "no no no please... not down the drain..." she hurriedly put everything to one side and knelt on the kerb, searching desperately amongst the leaves and the discarded crisp packets and cigarette ends. 

She was aware of someone standing over her as she scrabbled in the dirt.

"Are you ok? Have you lost something? Do you need a hand?"

"Oh, I'm just fab. Thanks. I LOVE raking through the detrius of the city. If I'm lucky, I might even find some lovely fresh dog poop!"

She snarked back as her fingers hit something hard.

"Eureka!" She grabbed the keys and stood up.  "Found the little buggers!"

She looked up and into the face of the good Samaritan.  She stopped and flushed scarlet with shame at her outburst.  He was standing smiling at her, hands stuck in his pockets, head to one side as he appraised her.

"God, I'm sorry.  I was so rude. It's really not like me. Honestly, it's not." She wiped her grubby hand and held it out in apology, then retracted it, realising just how disgusting that might seem. She smiled, and instead, she shrugged and volunteered;

"Beth, Beth Williams."

He laughed and nodded.  "That's quite ok, Beth. I totally understand.  Car keys are akin to the crown jewels these days.  MORE precious,  probably. As long as you're ok now."

She nodded, opening the back door of her car and stowing the box away.  She turned to fund him standing, watching her intently. Something about him was familiar, although she was sure they'd never met. 

She considered him briefly and inwardly shrugged. Nice, but... but what? WAS her mum, right? Was she too fussy?

"Well, I better be off. I'm quite literally in the middle of moving house. I have to drop this lot off before I grab something to eat."

"I won't keep you then. Unless you need more help rooting around in gutters?" He grinned, and she shook her head.

"No, I'm good, thanks." She opened the driver's door and paused.  "I didn't catch your name?"

"Sorry, my turn to apologise.  It's Windsor.  Luke Windsor. Nice to have met you, Beth." He smiled and started to walk away.

"See you again, Luke Windsor," she called, and he raised a hand to wave without looking back. Maybe if she hadn't been moving, he might have been worth a cup of coffee, she thought.

He did have nice eyes.

Tom was sitting reading the paper when his doorbell buzzed. Glancing at his watch, he smiled. If one person could be relied on to be on time, it was Luke. 

"It's open!" He yelled, and there was a slight pause before the door opened, and he heard footsteps in his small hallway. 

"Hi you! Are you ok?" Luke threw himself onto the sofa across from Tom.

"Oi you! Watch the furniture! That's vintage. I'll have you know!" He scolded Luke, smiling all the while.

"Yeah, vintage IKEA flat pack more like!" Luke was scathing, but they laughed nonetheless. Years of working together had brought a comfortable familiarity that made their job a whole lot easier.

"So, apart from criticising my interior decor choices, did you have a reason to come round, or were you just in need of a coffee?" Tom stood, smiling broadly.

"Ah well, there you have the crux of it..." Luke stood and looked out the window as he spoke. "Good GOD! It can't be. No way!"

Tom rushed over and looked out to where a woman was getting out a car, laden with a box. He turned to his now gawping friend. "Her? Oh, she's been back and forth all day. Think she's renting a few doors up."

He turned back to the kitchen to make the coffee. "Know her?"

"No, well, not exactly, weirdly I bumped into her across town earlier. What a coincidence!!" He came and sat on the chair nearest the window, shaking his head.

"Well, I'm sure I'll bump into her before long." Tom dismissed the newcomer as he concentrated on the task in hand. 

Luke, on the other hand, was fascinated. "I think you should offer to help. If you see her tomorrow, offer to help!" He called through as he picked up the paper and scanned it.

Tom returned with coffee and a half eaten packet of hobnobs. "Sorry, nothing more exotic at the mo. Need to get some groceries in."

He glanced over to where the woman's car was parked. Maybe they'd meet in the supermarket. Eyes meeting over the frozen chips kind of thing.  He made himself smile, that was romcom territory. Not real life.
He sat back and crossed his legs.

"So, Luke, master of all things PR... why DID you come over?"

"Well, there's a charity football match coming up..."