The Ten Year First Date

Under Surveillance

The nagging feeling lasted all through Sunday. I didn't touch Imogen's Sunday Roast that had become one of the highlights of my week. I pushed the meat around the plate as I rested my head on my hand.

'Is something wrong?' Imogen asked, almost offended that I hadn't touched anything.

'He's got a hangover.' Ella laughed mouth wide open as well as full. Such a glamorous child! 'He's feeling so bad, it's funny.'

'Ella, that's not nice.' Ollie scolded. 'Now eat your dinner and stop bothering Uncle Harry.'

'No, it's fine. She's not doing anything wrong.' I said, finally placing my fork on the plate. No-one else said anything more, which was a good thing because my mind was whirring. There were only a few people who knew that I was staying here while everything was going on, the people around the table with me now, The Wicked Witch, Ben, Ebony and Cassie. None of them would be following me, would they? Cassie had only just left me for crying out loud, and Ben and Ebony weren't probably even giving me a second thought. Not even Jeannie would sink that low surely. No, it was just the hangover kicking in and nothing else.

After the dinner that wasn't, I decided to take a small walk to try and shake off what was left of the night before. It was a freezing but clear evening, so a breath of fresh Greenwich air was just the cure.

'Are you sure you want to go out in this weather. You'll catch your death of cold.' Imogen and her protective side were rearing their head again after the earlier teacher life side.

'Yes, I'll be fine.' I said, wrapping my scarf around my neck. 'It's only a walk.'

'Well take Ollie with you.' Imogen said, grabbing her husband by the arm.

'Oi!' he said, rubbing the affected area. 'I don't want to go for a walk.'

'Yes you do, get your coat.' Imogen ordered. 'Besides, the kids and I want to wrap your Christmas presents, so get out the pair of you.' Imogen threw Ollie's coat at him and gave him the evil eyes. Ollie knew that he should never argue with the evil eyes, so just shrugged his jacket on and rolled his eyes at me.

'I would rather be on my own.' I said, knowing that Ollie didn't really want to be going anywhere. Imogen looked at me with folded arms.

'I don't trust you on your own anymore.' She said. 'And anyway, like I said I want you two out of the way, so go on, get, scram!" As we pushed out the front door, Ollie and I exchanged knowing looks. We had seen the presents already, and there was no wrapping required!

'We are going to freeze out here.' Ollie said, rubbing his hands together as we walked past the row of houses all of which seemingly had the same Christmas lights in the window.

'Was there a clear out at Selfridges or something? I asked, to no one in particular.

'Nah.' Ollie answered, making a face. 'This street has uniformity.'

'Is there such a word?' I asked, looking confused.

'There is in my dictionary.' Ollie answered as he nudged me on the arm. 'Come on, now we're on our own you can tell me the truth.'

'What truth?' I asked, knowing full well that I was in for the full Ollie Wagstaff Inquisition.

'The truth about you and Miss Windsor.' He smirked. 'I saw the looks you were giving each other on the sofa. You can't tell me that nothing happened.'

'Nothing did!' I lied. 'What Cassie said was the truth. And besides, I am trying to get my wife back remember.'

'God, you should be awarded the best actor Bafta you know that.' Ollie laughed, filling the cold air with joyous noise. 'You so did it with her!' It was then that I did the most uncharacteristic thing ever and grabbed Ollie and brought us both to a dead stop.