Feathery wisps of vaporous cloud streamed by, no more than strands of candy floss suspended in air. Beyond them a sprawling network of tenuous dwellings and arterial routes twisting and writhing into the far distant haze. The only sound heard was a constant rumble. As our descent continued the ethereal veil of the clouds were left behind, now just a memory in a mind no-one but I could access. Bright amber pearls flickered all around as we dove down to meet them, to be engulfed by their waiting embrace and the finality of destiny.
"Come on honey." Helen said, squeezing my thigh as the plane stopped. "Time to go home."
Vienna had been good to us, offering us the opportunity to breathe, to leave the real world and our real lives behind, the stresses of judgment a distant memory. Helen and Ed basked and sauntered through their second fortnight in that wondrous city, while, by comparison I rushed from museum to cathedral to restaurant. I admit openly I felt lonely without her by my side, her honeymoon with Ed being the central reason for being there, my presence acknowledged only during the evenings
The initial idea for the holiday had been the beer festival. Living it up with my best friend and my......our wife was the thing that excited me. The reality however was less thrilling, for the most part. While the food was delicious, the culture calm and the scenery breathtaking, I held a sense of loss for her.
Happily, the people were welcoming. At least they were to Helen. Ed and sometimes I, sat on the sidelines playing gooseberries while she got all the attention.
Taking in to account the architecture, the museums, the culture, two weeks wasn't enough. Four weeks would have been a stretch. Helen and Ed had already seen the things I wanted to see so they spent their honeymoon (which they renamed sweetiemoon) walking, eating, coupling, drinking, doing yoga, coupling, swimming, taking day trips and coupling. The usual things a couple should do on a sweetiemoon.
If you haven't read the first chapter some things may not make sense. If you're here because you did read the first chapter, you might be wondering did he get on the plane with them or did he miss it?
I spent so much time in Vienna just sitting and taking the plac..... I can't do it. I missed the flight. The hospital was busy. Cardiac arrest here, missing limb there, by comparison mine was nothing but a minor inconvenience, so they didn't get to me in time. I missed their first night together but to be honest it was their night, not mine, so it was probably better it happened as it did. My hand you ask? Well thanks for the concern. It was fine, not too painful and well worth it for the result.
The hotel was opulent, it's long wide sweeping staircase, the gilded décor and top class facilities softening the ache of being the odd man out. When booking together we hadn't realised that we'd been placed in adjoining suites, the assumption being that we would want to convene without interruption. Helen however requested that I be moved across the hall, away from their room. Many would consider that to be unfavourable, or perhaps callous, surely adjoining rooms would have been easier to move between? They would be correct, it would have been easier, but they'd be missing the point. Helen didn't want to be able to get to my room without risk associated.
Obviously, being their sweetiemoon she slept in their suite with Ed but each night, being the 'out of the closet' exhibitionist she was, she would cross the hall naked, knock on my door and wait. I would happily finish what I was doing before answering, just so she would have to stand in the open where she could be seen by anyone. Of the thirteen nights she crossed the hallway, she was only spotted three times. Once by an elderly gentleman who dropped his paper in astonishment. Helping him, she picked it up, unashamedly bending in front of him, her sleek poised figure giving him a thrill he may not have experienced in decades.
Secondly by a young man who was about to enter his room as she crossed the hall, his gaze fixed to her as she stood to attention, awaiting my reception.
Finally by a night porter who was concerned for her exposure, attempting to hide her treasures with a towel.
Their first night was spent alone and rightly so. They also wanted the second, less formal night to be spent alone. On their third night Helen requested my attendance, so that without interaction, I could enjoy their activities.
On the last night all three of us gathered in the sweetiemoon suite, chatting, drinking and enjoying our final evening in the beautiful hotel when there came a knock at the door. Helen answered to find the young chap from two doors down. He was Italian, very charming in a naïve sort of way. On seeing Helen's naked form he'd become enamoured by her and had come calling to see if she wanted to join him for a drink. You know my philosophy so I'm won't repeat it. It was firstly Ed's decision, being as it was their sweetiemoon, and then Helen's. What really surprised me was Ed afforded her the same freedom on that night that I've always given. My philosophy had become his.
Helen accepted the young man's offer asking him to come back after an hour to take her out. From what I saw, he didn't look like the kind of guy who could afford to take Helen out. She was used to being spoilt by me for the majority of our time together, then by Ed in the 8 months up to that point. Ed and I sat, as we often did, watching her getting ready, choosing pastel yellow underwear, floral yellow mini sundress, a knitted short yellow cardigan and shoes without heels. The chap's shorter stature ruling them out. Shame. I'm certain he'd have enjoyed seeing her in heels.
At 9pm on the dot he knocked. I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, asking if he had enough money to give her the date she deserved. In reply he admitted he only had enough for a cheap date which was unlikely to impress her. Quietly, I passed him €200. And told him to make an effort. I watched them as they walked closely together down the long hallway, Helen's arm linked with his.
The chap knew we were all there together, but had no idea who we were to her. She'd been naked in the hall, available for all to see had they happened upon her, but he didn't question the relationship between the beautiful naked woman and the two men she was with. We didn't know whether she would tell him or keep things quiet, but it didn't matter. We were in a foreign country where nobody knew us so there was no reason to even give it consideration.
Ed and I sat drinking, chatting about their meeting, our whole relationship, their wedding, our wedding, Carl the lad, work and then ultimately our living situation. We lost track of time talking, realising by well after 1am that Helen hadn't returned. Unable to call her as she'd left her phone, we left the room, walked down the large curved oak staircase and into the dimly lit bar where only a few staff remained. We enquired whether they'd see a woman with auburn hair wearing a yellow dress with a young man.
It appeared they hadn't even left the hotel, arriving downstairs, eating their meal in the restaurant, knocking back some drinks at the bar before retiring at 11pm. We looked at each other smiling with realisation before going back to the room.
Our flight was leaving at 11am, meaning we needed to be at the airport for 9am. I suggested we pack our belongings to pass some time and to avoid a rush in the morning. I left Ed, returned to my room, packed my things, checked I hadn't missed anything and checked again before taking my cases across the hall. By that time it was almost 3am. He was panicking, having never been in that situation before. He'd never experienced the empty hole in his chest, not knowing where she was or what she was doing at that time, but I had. It's one of the things I'd come to enjoy. I gave him another drink. "Welcome to my world, bro." I said as I slapped his shoulder.
The night ticked by, the taxi was booked for 7.30am and the time was 6.25am. Marty McFly was in my head again. "I've got to do it. I've got to go and knock for her." I said as I began to walk for the door.
"No." Said Ed. "I have to take more responsibility in this relationship. It's not always up to you to do the dirty work anymore. She's my wife too."
Leaving the room, I followed watching from the door. He knocked and the chap answered. "Is Helen with you?" Ed asked.
"Err si. Errr I will get."
Ed turned to me in a cold sweat. I knew what he was feeling because I was feeling it too. The door opened again and out walked Helen carrying her dress, cardigan, underwear and shoes, walking into the suite followed by Ed. "Were you asleep?" I queried. "It's almost time to leave, baby."
"I know honey. I WAS keeping track of time. I was about to get dressed and say my goodbyes when Ed knocked."
