A lot of things happened in the run up to Christmas, so I've split this chapter of my life into several parts for easier reading
Tuesday
It was a bout of stomach cramps which first woke me up; cussing like a trooper I threw my coat aside and made my way to the toilet. "There goes my fun & games for a week," I muttered to myself as nature began its course. I'm one of the lucky ones, cramps one day, curse usually within the next two, over by the fifth. Regular as clockwork thanks to the pill.
Feeling tired, bloated and hungry I made my way to the kitchen; passing the answering machine I noticed its little light flashing so I pressed the message button and waited but heard nothing, for the caller must have hung up just as the recorder was starting. Reaching the kitchen I settled for beans on toast washed down with a pot of coffee, not the ideal things to have in the middle of the night, but when you're hungry, anything will do. Not wishing to spoil the ambience, I sat there with just the light from the cooker hood providing enough illumination to see with.
How long a sat there I'll never know, for the next thing I heard was the clinking of bottles as the milkman made his deliveries. Looking at the clock I had about an hour to get ready before I began my daily trudge to work. Getting ready started well but then things started to go wrong, what would normally be trivial now became major disasters; first it was not finding a skirt to fit my condition then it was the teeniest spot of spilt makeup, finally my hair just seemed to have a mind of its own; many a day I've threatened to have it all cut off and go through life with an urchin cut or something similar.
Fifteen minutes late for my usual train and with the morning rush hour now in full swing I began my journey to work. Lord help anyone who tried to assault or impede me in any way, because I was in no mood to be pleasant. Fortunately my journey was uneventful, there was the occasional pushing and shoving but it was all done with a good heart. Even the waitress at the coffee bar was pleasant; it was just as if I wore a sign above my head, 'PMS Treat gently'.
Five minutes later I strolled through the staff entrance of the store where I work, to the joyful sounds of Christmas carols (groan). "Oh! Fuck" I mumbled to myself as I looked at my job card for today. Today I was to be one of the 'trolley girls', where, all you do all day, is walk backwards and forwards bringing out stock trolleys so the floor stock is maintained; normally it's a simple job, but given it's the run up to Christmas and with me in my condition, war was on the horizon.
Have you ever notice how the customers always treat store staff like shit! No matter how kindly you ask them to move, mind their backs etc; they always look at you with that "Fuck Off, I 'm not moving expression", then as you gently bump into them, a size 16 – 18 tries to become a 10 by sucking in and placing themselves just where we're about to replenish the stock. Working in a large city store has certainly opened my eyes to human nature.
As the day progress my temper slowly waned, I was glad to be out of the flat doing something useful, I even thanked the supervisor for offering me some overtime, not decorating this time but replenishing the floor stock. It must have been about 8pm before she was finally satisfied with my work and allowed me to go home.
Feeling tired, bloated and hungry I made my way upstairs and into the kitchen where I switched on the kettle with every intention of making myself a cup of coffee, with that done I was making my way to the bedroom when I noticed the answering machines light flashing again, pressing the message button I waited but heard nothing, feeling a bit peeved I replayed the message and listened out for the time signal, about 15 minutes had elapsed between receiving the anonymous call and me arriving home, so I quickly dialled 1471 followed by the redial.
Brr...Brr...Brr and so it went on; just as I was about to hang up a deep resonant voice repeated the number I had just dialled.
"Jonathan, it's me Sarah, is something wrong?" I asked trying not to sound like a love sick teenager.
"No, I was worried about you, I missed you these last couple of days and was frightened you were ill, especially since you didn't ring back yesterday."
Forever truthful I told Jon what had happened and how I felt and so our conversation started. How long it went on for I don't know but the kettle was cold by the time I came to make that cup of coffee.
Wednesday
At work being the run up to Christmas, I was offered countless hours of overtime so knowing Jon was on holiday I phoned him just as I was about to leave work and asked if he wished to share a meal and possibly a couple of days with me, surprisingly he took up my offer and we decided to meet at our favourite Thai takeaway and then co-habit the flat.
With Jon being married before he knew what to expect, so we idly passed away what was left of the evening just lying close to each, playing with each others bodies just like a married couple when suddenly the phone rang.
Lifting the receiver my heart gave a jump as I heard Chris' voice for the first time in two months.
"Hello darling, my flight arrives about 6pm tomorrow, Terminal 1, Heathrow. It's a chartered flight so it will not appear on any arrivals board and as an extra security precaution we're be dressed in civvies."
My whole body responded to the sound of his voice, my heart started racing, my voice quaked as I asked the question, "You said we."
"Yes, I'm travelling back with Jamie, remember, my second, you met him at the wedding."
"Oh!.....Yes.....your new beau?"
"No, No; Jamie's as straight as a die. No, his girlfriend's meeting him and will be staying at her parents over Christmas and from what I've heard, could give Izzy a run for her money."
"She's that pretty?"
"Yes, from the photographs I've seen of her, she could almost be Izzy's twin."
With that a series of warning beeps started giving me just sufficient time to tell Chris I loved him and couldn't wait for tomorrow.
From my position sat on the edge of the bed I felt Jon stir.
"I take it that was your husband, have you told him about us yet?" murmured Jon as he slowly got dressed.
"Well, I told him we were seeing each other and that you had become my friend these past few weeks but nothing else. It didn't seem right, with him stuck in Germany."
"And just when were you going to tell him that I had been making love to his wife?"
"Over the Christmas period after you two had met!" I replied sternly
"You expected me to sit down alongside your husband whilst you announce to him that I have been screwing you in his absence, I should coco; He'll knock my block off."
"No, Chris isn't like that; can't you get it into your head that I love you both equally; Chris knows my needs and is quiet happy with the arrangement. He trusts me to be careful, to avoid things such as HIV, STD's etc:"
