June closed the last file on her desk for the day. Time to go home and face David. She had been worrying all afternoon about how she was going to tell him about the upcoming weekend conference in Manchester with Jim and she still had not found the answer. Slipping on her jacket, she picked up her bag and left the office. Jim had left work about an hour ago, as he had a meeting to go to that evening, but he had popped by the office to say goodnight as usual. June smiled to herself as she remembered. Jim always managed to make her feel special.
David was sat in front of the television when she got in. He thought June had more time to spend on domestic issues because she was a woman. June walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
'Had a good day, darling?' she asked.
'Just the same as any other,' he replied. 'I'm starving. What's for tea, love?'
David reached over and slapped June's backside. She winced. He acted like he owned her. Where had all the romance gone from the man she had got together with 8 months ago? June ignored his gesture and busied herself getting the dinner ready. David sulked. He didn't like being given the brush off by June. Eventually they sat down to eat. June thought to herself, it's now or never and broke the silence.
'I have to go to a conference this weekend, David' she said in a cool, calm voice not betraying her churning stomach.
'June, can't someone else go? It's bloody short notice as well. Telling you the Thursday before you're supposed to be there. I imagine that you will be absent on Friday night as well as Saturday?' His sarcasm hurt June deeply.
'Actually, we were offered a last minute cancellation.'
'We? Who's we?' David snapped back.
'Well, me and Jim, it's a CSU conference,' June managed to stutter.
'That puts things in a very different light, doesn't it June?' David sneered. 'You seem to be get on very well with Jim these days. I don't think I should let you go.'
June could feel the anger bubbling up inside her, but she stayed calm.
'David, don't you trust me, I'm your partner. If you can't trust me then our relationship is in a very sorry state. I have to go to the Conference because I am head of CSU and I am sure I will learn a great deal of useful information there. So that, as far as I am concerned, is the end of the discussion. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon and I'll be back late Sunday afternoon.'
June got up from the table, placed her dirty crockery on the worktop and left the kitchen. She went straight to the bedroom and began to put a few items into her overnight bag; the remainder of her packing would have to wait until tomorrow, after David had gone to work. There were certain things that she did not want him to see her packing.
The next morning began with the routine that started every weekday in June's household. Breakfast was always a rushed affair with very little time for conversation. David couldn't bring himself to wish June a good weekend but did manage a slightly longer kiss on the lips than normal and the briefest of hugs.
'I guess I'll see you on Sunday then, love,' he muttered as he rushed out of the door.
'Yes. Sunday afternoon. Have a good couple of days' June called after him as the front door banged shut. She looked at her watch. Was it 8.45am already? She had to be at a meeting for 8am. I'll have to sneak out early and finish my packing she thought as she hurried out the door and along the wet pavement to work.
Jim was fixing himself the very necessary second cup of coffee of the day in the canteen and keeping one eye on the door for June's arrival.
'Ah, good morning Cass!' Jim said rather too loudly for Cass's comfort. Cass grimaced. 'Bit of a heavy night was it?' he followed up with. Cass nodded and stumbled over to the kettle.
'I need strong, black coffee now,' she muttered.
'Seen Sgt Ackland?' Jim asked.
'Not this morning'
'Ok thanks' Jim replied before leaving
June ran up the stairs and literally bumped into Jim coming out of the canteen. He had given up waiting for her.
'Hey, careful, this is a...............June!' Jim exclaimed.
'Sorry, Jim. Are you OK?' she looked anxiously at the coffee dripping onto the floor at Jim's feet.
'What? Oh yes, fine. June, about the weekend?' he scanned her face nervously.
'When are we leaving?' June replied, enjoying teasing him and watching his reaction.
'So you're definitely coming?'
'Yes'
'And David?' Jim questioned.
'My problem, not yours' June replied. 'Come on, I'm late.' With that, she hurried off to her meeting.
'Be ready at 12,' Jim called after her. She acknowledged him with a wave of her hand.
The morning rushed by in a blur. Jim was in CSU and June was in a meeting. When she managed to catch her breath, June realised it was already 11.35am. Damn, she thought. I need to go and finish getting my stuff together. Quickly, she scanned reception for Robbie and spotted her sharing a joke with Kerry in the office. June hurried over and told them that she was leaving.
'Still reckon there's nothing going on between those two then?' Robbie teased. Kerry shrugged and turned back to her paperwork.
Just after midday Jim wandered to reception looking for June.
'She went home about half an hour ago, Jim' Robbie said.
'OK, thanks. I'm off now too...to that conference' he added for clarification.
'OK. See you Monday then,' Robbie said 'enjoy the conference'.
Jim smiled and left the station, his heart singing with joy at the prospect of two whole days alone with the woman he loved. And he did love her, but he knew he was taking a huge gamble. Would he ever love again if she rejected him? How many hours had he spent wrestling with that question in his mind? Jim had come to the conclusion that there was only one way to find out and that was what this weekend was about. He wasn't a man for walking away.
June was rummaging about in her bottom drawer looking for the underwear that she kept for special occasions when she caught a glimpse of a photo of her and David standing on the dressing table. She stood up slowly and walked over to it. Picking it up she sank down onto the bed. What in heaven's name was she doing? Going away for the weekend with a man who wasn't her partner, and even worse, looking forward to it so much that it hurt. What should she do? June looked at the photo again. She knew she should tell Jim that she couldn't go with him; she had made a commitment to David after all. June felt her eyes beginning to fill with tears. Life was so unfair. Jim was the man who made her feel alive, not David. A knock at the door interrupted her musings. June hurriedly brushed the tears from her eyes and went to answer the door. Of course, it was Jim.
'June, what's wrong?' Jim said tenderly as he stepped through the door. His heart had sunk like a stone when she answered the door. He knew she was on the verge of letting him down.
'Come on, your chariot awaits' he said jovially 'and I am not taking no for an answer!'
June smiled and Jim gently brushed her cheek with his fingers.
'That's better. You're beautiful when you smile, June' he whispered but he crushed his temptation to take her in his arms and kiss her there and then. He was so worried about pushing her away, back into David's arms.
June said decisively 'I'll just get my bags' and disappeared upstairs. She stuffed the silk underwear into the bottom of her bag and picked out the petit black dress that she had last worn a couple of Christmas's ago. Jim took the bags downstairs and loaded her luggage into his car, with June following him behind closely.
'Ready' he asked June with a grin.
'Yes, I'm ready' she replied looking directly into his eyes. Their eyes locked and they both knew that whatever happened, this would be a weekend that neither of them would ever forget.
End of Part 2