Authors note.
This is my first ever story. And it came from an online chat with a lovely, married lady! Any and all comments or feedback welcomed!
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I was tired, I'd had travel troubles getting here, actually I wasn't even sure I knew where here was. Somewhere near the Northern Ireland coast, the train had taken awhile to get there from Belfast. I was late but not late enough to pop into the store to say hi to the store manager ahead of the meeting tomorrow. Best to say hi and then I can head to the hotel to rest, eat and well relax.
This was my first work trip since covid and whilst not always glamorous I secretly enjoyed the store visits I sometimes had to do. There was obviously the work but it was often fun meeting colleagues on the shop floor. They always had an interesting perspective. And sometimes, well sometimes...
And so there I was exiting the taxi and walking over to the entrance. Checking my phone to remind myself of the store managers name I wandered over to customer services to sign in. As I walked up there was a colleague standing behind the desk, all smiles.
"I'm here to see Natalie, the store manager" I say.
"Ah you must be Freddie from head office, Nat told us you were coming and that you were running late..." she said late with seemingly a twinkle in your eye.
"Let me take you to her, you'll never find her office through the maze of the warehouse!"
"Ah great, thanks" I said....and we exchanged the usual pleasantries as we walked through the store. I said "I was staying at this hotel, near the sea I think."
Straight away you replied, "oh that's lovely. It's right on the beach, only 10 mins from here, but a world away." And you added that you often run and walk past it.
Before we could say more we made it to Natalie's office and you bade me goodbye. But I swear there was that twinkle again. Putting it aside (for now) I knocked and went in to see Natalie....
"Jen, Jen..." 10 mins later Natalie popped her head out of her office asking if anyone had seen Jen. Moments later a familiar face came through her door..."Jen you live near where Freddie's staying. Could you drop him there...saves a taxi fare and you can tell him a few things to do tonight."
"Sure Nat happy to do so, my shift is finishing anyway."
And so a few mins later I found myself walking out of the store towards Jen's car. As we walked over she said..."I should warn you, it's not the cleanest inside! I've got 2 kids..."
"So have I" I replied. The drive to the hotel wasn't long and we chatted about the kids and that we were both married, and both happily so.
As she pulled up at the hotel, she pointed out the path to the beach and said, again with that twinkle, "if you fancy a wander I'll be back here in an hour..." And with that she departed.