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| H a p p y ? |
| P a r t T h r e e When Nora awoke it was already past lunchtime heading for mid-afternoon. She found Jack lounging in the sunshine with the papers and coffee. She helped herself to a cup and perched herself on the table next to him demanding his attention without saying a word. �Morning.� He smiled without looking up. �Morning. Yet another Sunday wasted in bed.� �Ahh you see I have done the proper Sunday thing and lazily drank coffee and read the papers while the world revolves around me.� �How decadent you have become in your middle age.� �Best way to be, next I�ll be taking tea at 3 and eating cucumber sandwiches.� �With the crusts removed.� She said ruffling his hair as she got up. She leant over the edge of the balcony and looked down to the street sighing and he finally looked up at her, watching, as she appeared to find intent interest in the lives of those below her. �You gonna tell me what happened this morning?� �We made love and went back to sleep.� �Nora.� She pulled herself back up and turned to him. �You don�t want to know.� �Of course I do, that�s why I�m here isn�t it to share the problems.� �Pleasure and pain hey.� He nodded. �And I didn�t know you cared so much.� She drained the last of her coffee, put her cup down and went back indoors. He slowly followed and watched as she removed her dressing gown and got back into bed. �What are you doing?� �Going back to sleep.� �Why?� �Because I�m tired.� �It�s getting on for two, I thought we might do something this afternoon.� �Then go and do something without me.� �Don�t be difficult.� �Difficult?� �Yes, I hate these moods you get into, especially when you won�t explain why or what over.� �You wouldn�t understand.� �Don�t pull the �it�s a woman thing� bullshit neither.� She was silent and he could have sworn she�d actually fallen to sleep while he spoke. He leant over her and pulled the sheets back from her face. �Hey!� She protested. �Get up.� �No, leave me alone, I�m used to it now.� �Nora, I haven�t done anything.� �Then don�t feel guilty and just let me suffer alone.� He stood back rubbing his forehead. �I don�t understand what the fuck is going on here, I�m being made out as the bad guy and I haven�t done a thing. I�ve never met a woman who could frustrate me so much.� He searched for his shirt from the night before as he stormed around the room. And she sat up in bed staring at him. �I have your shirt on.� He looked over at her smiling face and collapsed on the bed. �Jack�� She reached for his hand. �It suits you.� �I�m sorry.� �Are you going to explain?� �I can�t.� �Ok, I�m gonna go home and take a shower and do some work.� He sat up and began to put his shoes on. �I wish you�d stay.� �I think you need time alone.� * * * �Why didn�t you just tell him?� �How can I? I�m supposed to overlook thirty years of independent thinking and reveal my entire past and especially each and every weakness to the guy.� �Basically yes.� Anita smiled as she took a bite from her cake. �And you have to rely on him to see you through the mess and offer support, in fact just to take over. Cos you obviously never handled it well on your own before.� �Oh shut up and eat your cake.� She leant back in her chair enjoying the sunshine on her face. �Have you been back to the hospital?� �I�m going there next. Hopefully she will have had enough rest now and forgiven me just a little bit.� �Doubtful.� �True. I don�t know, I mean how many times can she do this to herself before�� �You don�t wanna think about that.� �I know; it�s hard having a sister who�s a drug addict, lives in a slum in some godforsaken place and I�m here, with all this.� �Can�t choose your family.� �I don�t want to choose them, I just want to improve her life.� �If she won�t allow it how can you.� Nora nodded, bent down to retrieve her handbag from under the table and replaced her sunglasses. �Why do you think she does it?� Anita asked wiping her mouth. Nora shrugged. �Can I offer a suggestion?� �Sure, go ahead, but I can�t promise I�ll still like you.� �Ok here goes,� She crossed her arms. �Nora, as much as I love you dear, you have a tendency to work every hour god sends, perhaps a substitute for something. And Louisa, also needs a substitute, just finds it in a different place.� Nora didn�t respond for a minute but then leant forward and squeezed Anita�s hand. �A substitute for love?� �But you are loved.� �And maybe I don�t appreciate it enough. I gotta go; I�ll call you later. Thank you for the tea, cake and as always invaluable insight into my crisis of a life.� She stood up and moved round to kiss Anita�s cheek. �Good luck, hey and more advice.� �What?� She called as she walked away. �Call Jack�and apologise.� Nora looked back over her shoulder and smiled. �I never apologise.� �Then start.� Review Home |