The Last Appointment
Simon
Looking through a rain-streaked window I was really wishing I hadn't squeezed in the one last appointment for the day. It was bleak and cold with the weather mirroring my mood. The rest of the day had been filled with one disaster after another beginning with a flat tyre and being followed with a range of other minor disasters including ever expanding untended roadworks, missed appointments and a very aggressive dog. Why people find it acceptable to allow their flea ridden mutts to act like that was frankly incredible and frankly just plain rude. It has been so bad that I had felt the need to check my diary just to make sure it wasn't Friday the 13
th
.
Finally, I had made it to the last inspection of the day. A tenanted hairdressers' shop located in a typical slightly run down parade of shops in a small-town centre. I could name the kind of shops that filled up the parade. A scruffy general store, a charity shop and a bookie. As I pulled up across the road the rain began to hammer down. I smiled briefly, as if the day couldn't get any worse, I was now going to get soaked.
Nat
I'd been looking forward to tonight all day and it's all I'd been able to think about at work! Mark and I had been out a few times now and it felt after the last date we might be ready for taking it to the next step. He'd certainly made it clear he was during a candid message exchange. Of course, it would be sod's law that I'd have some stupid valuation visit booked in at the shop tonight. My plans with Mark were only arranged the previous day so I'd not had chance to cancel the visit. In the end I'd settled on having to get ready for the date at the shop after the survey and head straight there.
Simon
I could see the bright lights in the shop were on, the rest of the street was pretty dark, and the well-lit shop looked welcoming. At least the tenant, Nat, had remembered that I was expected and had stayed late after the customers and staff had headed off. I knew what to expect from the owners of hairdresser's shops and generally the experience was a favourable one. Years of experience of chatting to customers meant that most had built up a huge repertoire of small talk which meant that they were able to keep talking for long enough to allow a pissed off surveyor to quickly measure up, take some photos and then leave. There was nothing worse than trying to make small talk with someone who couldn't even feign interest.
I hoped that with a cheeky smile that I might even persuade Nat to make a cup of tea. I knew well that a cuppa here would mean a proper cup of Yorkshire tea and if I played my cards right, I might be lucky enough to be offered a biscuit, ideally a chocolate one!
Nat had seemed nice on the phone when I made the appointment; she had a gentle South Yorkshire accent which I had become used to when studying in Sheffield. It was years ago now, but I always enjoyed going back to that neck of the woods as the people were generally friendly and I felt at home.
Girding my loins, I grabbed my battered case and jumped out of the car, put my head down and moved as quickly as I could without running until, whilst trying to hold on to whatever street cred I had, I was outside the shop.
My feet were soaking wet after I misjudged the size of the dirty dark grey puddles which acted as a moat around the shop door. I pushed hard on the front door, but it didn't open... it was locked!
Fuck, can't she see it's pissing it down! I knocked on the door as loudly as I dared, I was getting soaking wet but didn't want to seem impatient. I saw movement inside as Nat wandered over to let me in. I urgently bundled through the opening as soon as she opened the door wide enough for me to force my way inside. Slightly pissed off and very wet I must have looked like a middle-aged man at the end of my tether!
'Hiya... Is it Nat? I'm Simon... I am so glad that you remembered I was coming. It's amazing how many people forget!'
Before Nat could respond I noticed her and smiled. She was a vision. Dressed in tight dark blue jeans, a low-cut top and black patent heels. She was small but perfectly formed. Shorter than me, but what she lacked in height she made up for with sumptuous curves. She had big boobs for a small frame and didn't seem to mind showing them off.
I had no doubt at all that her male customers would have enjoyed having their hair cut as she fussed over them. Her own hair was luxurious, over shoulder length and brunette. She had made an effort, surely not for me. But it was her choice of outfit that got me excited, just sexy enough to give off the right signals... and those heels. I had always had a liking for women in heels, my English teacher had worn them and left an indelible memory in the mind of an impressionable, always horny, teenage student.
All these years later they continued to have an impact. One of the great regrets of my life was when the wife decided she was too old for heels. To me that was like admitting defeat!
'It's ok, I was just finishing up before heading out for a few drinks.' Nat informed him.
Nat's response reminded me that I was here to do a job and not stare weirdly at a younger woman who almost certainly had no interest in being leered at by a slightly damp older man!
'I will be as quick as I can... I wouldn't want to get between you and a large glass of sauvignon blanc.'
Nat
It's not the large glass of wine I'm looking forward to, I thought to myself. But to be fair to him, Simon seemed quite sweet and wasn't trying to drag this out. He'd obviously got better things to be doing too! At this point I'd taken a little bit more notice of him. He was a good few years older than me, maybe late 40s or early 50s. He stood much taller than me, about six foot I'd guess and had his hair cropped short. He wore a very well fitted suit that hugged his thighs. I'd always been a sucker (literally - but that's another story) for a guy in good suit. If I'd not got somewhere better to be I'd have probably had a bit of a flirt with the guy and seen if he had much banter as, physically, he ticked some boxes for me.
Simon
'Even so I am glad you were here when you said you would be! Folk not turning up is my number one irritation, followed quickly by crappy weather!'
I smiled, she was nice and made me feel a bit more relaxed as she smiled warmly back at me. I really should stop being such a miserable bugger.
'So, what do you need? Do you need a guided tour, or can I leave you to it?' Nat asked.