Parallel Me

Parallel Me Part 21

The next few days went by very quickly, and I suddenly found myself saying goodbye to Alice, as the taxi arrived to take me to the station, at six that last Friday morning. Roger would have already arrived at Santander, we would pass each other somewhere along the train line. He would be tucked up in bed with Alice this night, trying to make up for his lack of sexual attention.

I was going to miss our early morning and evening playtimes with Josephine. Until I could toss her in the air and make her laugh again, I had memories of this holiday to tide me over. I was going to be rather busy in the coming weeks. I had no idea of what awaited me when I returned to Portsmouth, so take things as they come was a good motto.

Mum and dad were putting on a brave face, but I was sure there was something really wrong. Mum didn't look well and dad looked worried, Dorothy and Ellen weren't aware of anything. So why was I getting this feeling, that something wasn't being talked about? Rose and Janet kept me busy in the shop, 'will you lift this can you move that'. I would move a heavy box one day and move it back the next. Without anything being taken out of it or even looked at except when it was in my hands. If I was in the stock room, Janet had to squeeze past me to get something. Rose was always stretching up or bending over near me. When we were alone in the storeroom one day, and she made sure Janet was busy.

"JJ do you remember what we did in the roundhouse when you were still at school." As if I could forget, she had blackmailed me then. Was she going to try and blackmail me now, it was a Friday afternoon a week since I'd been home. I was tempted to ask if she wanted to relive old times, but if I took her to bed, she wouldn't want it to stop there. The first person she would tell I was her boyfriend, would be Alice.

"Sorry Rose what roundhouse is that, and I'd be a bit young to do anything wrong wouldn't I," I said still attending to what I was doing, and Janet popped her head in and said.

"Customers Rose Mrs Morris wants a fitting, and I've got two myself." She never mentioned it again, and Saturday morning came around. I was parked in the ferry port as it docked, and was at the gangplank to take their case's when they alighted, with a very bright-eyed playful Josephine. Roger needed to be dropped off at the shop, to reassure himself it was still there.

"I don't think he'll go away again JJ, he hasn't relaxed at all in the last few days," Alice said as we drove from the shop to the house, then as we entered the drive she asked.

"Did you find working in the shop alright JJ, Rose and Janet didn't tax you too much did they?" She said smiling, and I knew what she was suggesting.

Tonight was the charity one-man show I was giving, and that would end late. Tomorrow afternoon I would return to Portsmouth, so I could report to the dive school on Monday morning. When would I be able to come home again, I wouldn't know that until I could set out my roster of duties. The show went well, and I got front-row seats for mum and dad. I sang amazing grace for her, as it had always been her favourite. I had to stop Sandy when she started suggesting more concerts.

"Who slow down Sandy, your forgetting I'm still on her Majesty's Service. I could be sent anywhere at any time, I can't make plans months in advance. I'm back in Portsmouth on Monday, I could be I Singapore by Friday."

"Sorry JJ I get carried away at times, but will you be willing to do more shows?" She asked, a little humbly. I was about to answer when her boyfriend butted in.

"Sandy's worried if she doesn't get you to commit now when you become a big singing star you might not want to." I laughed and then saw the others around me, looking at me seriously.

"No way I'm not that good, maybe for the locals but that's all," I said dismissing the idea completely, no way ho-say. Later I was saying goodnight to Alice, in the car park. As Roger helped mum into his car, 'I hope you don't' she whispered in my ear.

"What becoming a singer," I answered. "No you idiot, go to Singapore," Alice said.

Alice didn't like it when I rang her on Wednesday, it wasn't Singapore it was Shaper Flow in Scotland. I'd be back in seven weeks, after taking an advanced salvage diving course. It was the Admirals way, of keeping me out of the way. The First Sea Lord's appointment was up for debate, for the next three months he'd be in the spotlight. They could not pull me off training once I had started, this six week's was the first stage of the course. Then a week's leave, before another eight-week course. By the time it finished, it would almost be time for me to leave the Navy.

It was hard physical work, mostly diving and some classroom. I enjoyed it and the time went fast, and before I knew it I was going home on leave. When I rang Alice, I was informed we were going out to the rotary club dinner. It was on Saturday night in Bristol, at the same place as before. The same overnight sleeping arrangements would be in place for me. Saturday night I got a warm welcome from Sandra and was surprised to see Robin kissing Alice on the lips to say hello, and again when they said goodbye. When they danced he held her close, and they seemed very friendly and chatted happily.

I forgot to mention it Sunday morning when I got up, and as Roger took the babysitter home. Josephine had started pre-school. Roger took her on his way to work, and Alice picked her up at three. It was less than a five minutes' walk from her house and was part of the Wellington College. Roger had enrolled Josephine, as soon as Alice became pregnant. She would stay there until she was sixteen, ending up on the girl's side of the college called Queens. Alice had wanted to return to work, but Roger would have none of it and told Alice to concentrate on her dress designs. Which she was very good at, but If he had let her work, she wouldn't have been bored. I remembered what I was going to ask her on Monday when I popped round to say goodbye.

"You and Robin seemed quite friendly on Saturday night, did he humbly apologise. Or have you really forgiven him, for touching you up in the villa?" I asked as I sipped my cup of tea.

"Oh yes he has redeemed himself, and I didn't really want any tension between us. Roger really likes Robin and Sandra very much, and I didn't want to tell him what Robin did. So for his sake, I compromised, and told Robin I wouldn't tell Roger." She said holding her head to one side, not looking at me as she played the martyr.

"He's had sex with you hasn't he, you let the sod get to you. You didn't compromise, you laid down and let him shag you." I said leaning over to look into her eyes, a little shocked that she would let him. She looked up at me with her sweet baby sister smile, then blinking her eyes said.

"That's none of your business JJ what I do is up to me, I won't tell you who you can see. So keep your nose out of mine and be quiet, I know you won't tell Roger." She was right I wouldn't, and I had no right criticising her, it was just that she was my sister, my sister doesn't do that sort of thing she's married.

Friday morning she was bubbly and existed, with the news she had to tell me. Robin had rung Thursday night and arranged to meet Roger and Alice on Sunday.

"Robin and Sandra are going to meet us for lunch with Bob and Sandy, at the Webington hotel and country club, halfway to Bristol at midday. He and Bob are going to offer Roger, a partnership with them to combine their companies. Robin told me a bit about it on Wednesday; when they were here, he told me he wanted closer links, with Roger and me. Robin and Bob had already formed a company between them; Robin's medical machine manufacturing would make exercise equipment for gymnasiums. Bob's health clubs and bodybuilding clubs would promote. Rogers clothing would branch out into sportswear, but still, keep his tailoring side. As Robin would keep his medical manufacturing, the others would benefit by promoting each other."

"That way Robin and Sandra would see more of us, and being partners I could go to Bristol to discuss new proposals. I think it's a brilliant idea, I just hope Roger will think it'll work out. Roger hasn't met Bob and Sandy yet, but I've told him what a lovely couple they are. They must be good at business because their multi millionaire's already." Alice told me as she bounced Josephine on her lap, She was certainly excited, at the proposal of seeing more of Robin and Sandra.

"Sandra got Robin to suggest a shopping date, for me to meet Sandra on Tuesday. They go back to France on Wednesday; I won't see them again until the first of September. That's when the swinging season ends, and they won't all meet up until next year." Alice sounded slightly sad, probably wondering what she was going to do, with them away.