Forty-Two (Tim); Unguarded Moments.
Heather's been spending an awful lot of time with some 'Andy' boy who's some 'friend' of hers from back in the States. He's just turned up here and is staying with this 'Steve' she hangs around with a lot as well. She seemed to have been expecting this 'Andy', although she won't say why he's here. She just mumbles something about 'sightseeing' and changes the subject. It's not that I don't trust her with guys (look where that got me before: she shot off over the other side of the bloody world from me!) but...
He is closer to her age.... And is obviously better-looking than me... And presumably less fucked-up in the head than me! I just... can't stop the insecurity; I love her, I don't want to lose her...!
"Evening!" Heather bounds in through the front door, looking exhausted but very happy. Her face is red and her hair very messy as though she's been exerting herself somehow. A tiny part of me taunts me about what she could have been doing... And who with.
"Hi." I say, a little shorter than I meant to. Heather looks a little taken-aback.
"Are you okay?" she asks, her whole demeaner changing. She looks concerned, and again that infernal part of me questions whether she really is concerned about me, or whether she's just acting, like the actress she is.
"I'm fine. Tired." I hedge. She nods, still looking concerned, and now sympathetic.
"Coffee?" she suggests gently, a worried, hesitant look in her eyes. "Or a cold drink? Water? Or - or wine or something? Uh - gin! Or Beer... Or-"
"Heather," Even though I'm still feeling pretty insecure about our whole marriage thing I can't help smiling at her. "You're rambling."
"I-" she goes red. "I'm sorry... I just... I'm... I'm just worried..."
"I'm okay," I insist. She's worried about me?! "What did you do today?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Ah! It was great! Me and Steve and the lads messed around and got Andy playing some random stuff on the drums, and I spoke to Luke at the Limelight Bar and he says we can have a slot!"
Andy and Steve again. And who's this 'Luke'? I'm liking this less and less.
"That's great," I say, smiling slightly. "What does your band play?"
"Uhh..." Heather swallows. "Eighties stuff, y'know, randomated stuff..." she hedges. "I'm dying for a cuppa... You want a coffee?"
Why isn't she telling me what they play? Guess she doesn't want me to know or something... And she hasn't invited me to come along... I sigh softly.
"Yeah, coffee's great..."
Chapter 41 ; Contents ; Chapter 43
