A Famous Affair

A Famous Affair chapter 1

"Darling daughters of mine, do you think you could hurry up, please?" Damn it! Why is it that no matter how early I get up, I still find myself running around like a bloody lunatic?
It's always a rush to get myself ready, get the kids ready, and be out of the door on time for work. The time is already 8:00 a.m. I must be out the door, and soon, if I'm to catch the train for 8:43 a.m.
I cannot be late today! I warn myself.
My husband, Shawn, and I have our life in the mornings down to a chaotic routine. I work three days a week while he works from home as a freelance sports writer. Sometimes my job as a purchasing manager for an online toy retailer, involves staying away overnight. My job entails a lot of going up and down the country to conventions, meetings with wholesalers, and many gift trade-shows; trying to get the most competitively priced toys, but I absolutely love it.
The three days I work are hectic, challenging, and can be bloody stressful. But, I relish in it. It gives me a sense of purpose and helps me feel independent. I adore being a mum, but it can be monotonously mind numbing when it's all you ever do: staying home, cooking, cleaning, and washing . . . day in and day out.
Working allows me that all important me time; a little bit of Jessica Neel back. Of course, I still have to do all the cooking, cleaning, and washing, but it's no longer all I ever do.
It was after having our second daughter; that I decided to give up work to concentrate on being there for our girls. I truly cherished those moments as a stay at home mum. However, as time went on, I knew I was nearly ready to get back into the work saddle. Yet, as most mums often do, when they take a career break, I had lost my confidence and my identity.
So at the ages of nine and seven, when I knew the girls were at a more independent age, I began to put the feelers out for a job. Fortunately, an old friend of mine, Lydia Mason, had set up her own online toy shop. She asked me to work for her, so I did. I honestly haven't looked back since. I love my job and now have a wonderful, healthy balance of home and work.
Our gorgeous daughters, Lissy, who is fourteen, and Lottie, who is twelve, are growing into beautiful young ladies. However, as much as I love them, they are indeed a real pain in my motherly ass when getting ready for school; this morning is certainly no different.
It's just as well that both Shawn and I are here to hurry up the girls, ensuring that they both get to school on time.
I am busy readying myself, as well as checking that Shawn knows what he is cooking for tea tonight, all the while making cheese salad sandwiches for the girls to put into their lunch boxes. My hair is still wet and I'm trying to find my briefcase that I always take to work with me. It's multi-tasking at its bloody finest.

"Shawn, have you seen my briefcase? I was sure I left it in the living room, by the side of the chair, but now it's gone," I ask with a perplexed frown.

He smiles as he puts a spoonful of cornflakes into his mouth. "I placed it by your overnight bag, so you don't forget it." Shawn has a fresh-faced look about him, having just showered. His dark brown hair almost looks a glossy black, his blue eyes are bright and warm, and his olive skin is dewily desirous. He still looks like the handsome young man I met eighteen years ago. We were best friends back then, and still are. He loves me and looks after me. We married at the age of twenty and when our daughters came along they completed our lives. Our love has grown almost routine; but it is safe, nurturing, and constant.

"What would I do without you?" I affectionately ask.

With his mouth full, I hear an amused muffle, "Probably forget your bloody briefcase."

I seductively approach him, placing my arms across his damp shoulders, and kissing his full lips. He tastes of sugar and milk, and smells zestfully fragrant.

"What's that for?" Shawn asks with a raised brow.

"Can't I kiss my lovely husband, especially as I won't see him tonight?"

"Well, if you put it like that, come here." Shawn pulls me closer, passionately kissing me. His sweet lips feel cold from the milk, but his mouth is hot and welcoming.

"Ewww gross . . . get a room, you two." Lissy's face is screwed up in disgust but quickly softens into a teasing smile.

"They weren't snogging were they, Liss?" Lottie asks.

"Yup."

"Glad I was upstairs, then." she mumbles.

I busily zip up their lunch boxes with a smile. "Now girls, remember, I'm not back until tomorrow. Make sure you do your homework first before any telly or if you go out, okay?"

My comment is met with a bored but choral. "Yes, Mum."

"Right, I have to quickly dry my hair; my train leaves soon. I will see you gorgeous girls tomorrow." I hurriedly kiss them both. I then rush upstairs to my bedroom, to frantically blow-dry my hair. My make-up is, thankfully, already done so I just need to style my hair. I brush it, sleek and glossy, with just a flirty little flick at the ends. I then rush back downstairs to give Shawn a quick, but loving cuddle. Jeez, thank the Lord for deodorant! "I will call you later when I get to the hotel, okay?" I breathlessly tell him, wrapping my arm around his shoulder.

Shawn returns my cuddle with a kiss and a sneaky pinch on my bum. "Okay, Babes," he replies, with a playful wink and a cheeky smile.

***

I'm sitting here on the train, slightly bored. I can't help but smirk to myself, thinking of Shawn, my ever loving and playful husband. Taking out my mobile, I tap in a message.

Hey you
Sat on the train, thinking about you ... do you want to do something tomorrow? We can either go out for a curry or we can just stay in? WINK WINK!
Miss you already
Jessica xxxx

Almost instantaneously, I receive a reply.

I'll be staying in for the WINK WINK! Love from your very horny husband x

Shawn still has that boyish, cheeky charm about him. Even after all these years, he never fails to make me laugh.
Looking out of the window, I am almost hypnotised by the passing landscapes, mostly green foliage with trees and hedgerows upon the distant horizon. The gentle motion of the train carriage combined with the repetitive sound of the tracks begins to make me feel drowsy. I find train journeys so relaxing. They are a far cry from my life early this morning, before leaving my house. To keep my now, slightly sleepy self, alert, I retrieve my briefcase from down by my side and quickly run through the list of clients whom Lydia and I will be meeting with later this afternoon.
It would seem both meetings are merely to touch base with one another, a brief introduction of sorts. I'm glad about that, I don't want anything too challenging to crop up today. I'm going to London and I want to sample some of its pleasures after the working part of the day is done.
This is one of the biggest conventions being held in London on a yearly basis. Lydia is going to meet me at the swanky hotel it's being held in. This convention is a place where all the big companies from here and overseas, come to meet buyers and to network.
This is the one time that Lydia gets to really push the boat out. Usually we stay in just your average three star hotel. But, as the conventions get bigger, year on year; so does the choice of venue. It's incredibly exciting and very indulgent to be staying at the five star, and very famous, Broadway Tower Hotel.
I really do love London but only for a day or so; any longer and I crave home and its quieter pace of life. However for this trip, all the time that I'm here, I very much intend to bask in all of its city glory. As they say, when in Rome!
When in Rome, indeed! Lydia and I always like to treat ourselves, once we have the business side of things out of the way; it's a great perk of the job having a friend for a boss. So I begin to daydream of maybe catching a show, a mini-spa, champers and a manicure . . . the list goes on!
I don't get long to indulge in my daydream because I soon notice that the train is nearing Paddington, so I quickly close my briefcase and grab my bags. Here I come, London!