The Ten Year First Date

Let Battle Commence

The next morning in the fear that Imogen might actually march me to the solicitors, I called them to see if I could get an emergency appointment. They were reluctant at first, but as soon as I mentioned that I would be fee-paying, somehow they managed to have an opening for me! Funny that! I phoned Ben and told him that I wouldn't be at work that morning. He cursed me rather loudly because Old Man Carstairs from the Barrister Chambers was coming in. It always took two of us to calm that Sherry rotted OAP down. But I couldn't think about that now. I had to put my battle armour on and prepare for war. And that was making me feel really sick.

The thought was slightly eased by the fact that Imogen had allowed Ollie and me to take the twins to school, something which seemed to have Josh and Ella running for the door before they had even digested breakfast. Not that Imogen was complaining. It gave her the first morning off in three years, and she could get ready for work at her leisure. As soon as Josh and Ella were prised away from my leg and dropped off in the classroom, Ollie decided to walk off his hangover and accompany me to the Tube Station. He looked rough and apparently felt it.

'All night she kept me up.' He yawned loudly as if to drive his point home. I raised my eyebrow slightly knowing full well what they were up to in the early hours. I decided it was best to steer away from the subject.

'You don't have to walk me to the station you know.' I said, suddenly realising that Ollie would be moaning all the way there and right at that moment, it was something I couldn't possibly handle.

'No, it's fine.' He yawned, again. Bugger! He wasn't leaving. I seriously thought the world of Ollie, but without the distraction of the twins, I needed to be alone with my thoughts. Instead, my head was filled with the image of my baby sister being ravished by the man who stood next to me. Yuk! The more Ollie went on about Imogen's rather persistent attitude while drunk, the more I wanted to throw him in the Thames!

'I mean she knew I have work this morning.' Ollie droned, as we finally reached our destination. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and stood still for all of a microsecond.

'Harry?' Ollie said, tapping me on the shoulder. 'Are you alright?'

'Yeah, I'm fine.' I sighed. 'Just not looking forward to this, that's all.'

'I know mate.' Ollie said, reassuringly. 'But maybe it'll work out after Jeannie knows that you won't take it lying down. She'll come to her senses.'

'I seriously doubt that mate.' I replied. 'You know Jeannie as well as I do. Once she's got something into her head, she won't let go. No, it will just be a formality today, and then it will be over.'

'Since when were you a defeatist?' Ollie asked, taking a step back. 'Are you the same guy who fought his way into his own business, who stood by that ungrateful cow through all the IVF treatments and left your own feelings on the floor? Where is the Harry that I know?'

'He got trampled on somewhere between Croydon and Greenwich.' I answered, in my vain attempt at humour.

'That's not the answer I was looking for.'

'Look, Ollie, I don't want to go into battle with the woman I love.'

'Harry,' Ollie sighed. 'You are going to have to.' Oh, God!

Having left Ollie threatening to throw up at the Tube Station, I decided that I would walk a little farther just to clear my head. It also gave me the chance to think through what Ollie had said about going into battle. I hadn't really thought about anything to do or say against Jeannie. As much as I hated her every fibre right now, I didn't want to drag her name through the mud. I didn't think for one minute that she would do that to me. Would she? Oh God, why were all these things going through my head right now? I wanted my life back, and I wanted it back immediately if not sooner. But I suppose if that were to happen, I would have to do what Ollie said. Don the battle armour and prepare for war.