Parallel Me

Parallel Me Part 23

Going out the main gate at four Friday, a lone marine guard saluted me and wished me farewell. Didn't know him and it took me by surprise, I'd never been saluted before and it felt strange. I took the family for a meal on Saturday night and was informed by Roger I was going to one of his do's, the following Saturday night. He had something up his sleeve but wasn't saying what. Alice welcomed me coolly when I arrived to play with Josephine Monday morning, as she did again on Tuesday, but told me not to come on Wednesday.

"I have an executive meeting at ten; Robin and Sandra will be here until noon," Alice said, as she got Josephine ready for preschool, and ignored the sound I made in disgust. Executive meeting my ass, this meeting would be held in her bedroom. Thursday morning she seemed more amenable and offered tea, then as eleven approached she gave me her loving sister look she asked.

"Will you run me into Taunton Darling, after I drop Josephine off at preschool at twelve? I am meeting Anwar at twelve-thirty in the Castle Hotel, I have rung for a taxi but there's none available until one. Robin rang me last night, Anwar flying in this morning just to see me, he's flying back out tonight. I won't be seeing him again for months, he won't have the time unless he can fit in another flying visit." She said as she stood in the doorway of Josephine's playroom.

At eleven forty-five I was surprised to see her come down the staircase, ready to go out in so short a time. It amazed me how quickly she could get so elegant, her two-piece tailored grey suit showed off her body to perfection. That tiny hat with black lace vale gave her that affluent alluring took. She carried four high-end shop bags, which she handed me to stow in the car for her.

"What are they for Alice, I thought you were meeting 'him' not going shopping?" I asked as we neared my car with Josephine in my arms, then put her into the jump seat.

"Camouflage darling just in case Roger's gets home before I get back, and I've got the clothes in them to prove I went shopping." She said as I opened the car door, so she could struggle to get in.

"When are you going to buy a bigger car JJ, let me get you a nice big one." She said as I started the engine.

"I've got a better idea, Alice, why don't you learn to drive so you could buy your own car," I said and thought it a good idea, but Alice thought otherwise and looked at me saying.

"Don't be so silly JJ, a lady never drives she is chauffeured." Airs and graces you wouldn't believe I was driving her to see him. She was so casual about it with me, and I could hardly believe I was going along with it. I had just told her off about seeing him, but I still agreed to deliver her to him against my better judgement. Alice got out of my car and kissed me saying.

"I'll get a taxi home darling, see you in the morning early ok," then she was heading for the hotel door, where the doorman smiled and tipped his hat. Opening the door he said something to her, she smiled back and I think said thank you, as she passed him, for it seemed he recognised her from past visits. In the morning she was full of him, he was going into the desert for two months. Something to do with their nomadic past, he wanted her to go with him.

So he could have her in his tent, and watch her dance naked for him. He wanted her to see the star-filled sky, out in the open desert, and for him to see her naked beauty by oil lantern, but most of all to take her to his bed each night.

"Look." She said pulling me into her workroom, and then excitedly extract a small box from its hiding place. Opening it she reviled an emerald necklace, that must have been worth a fortune. Only she couldn't wear it without raising eyebrows, and with very awkward questions about its origins from Roger. She wore it for the rest of the morning, while I was playing with Josephine. Then she put it away into its hiding place before we went to preschool.