My Darling,
So. You've opened the envelope. This is the letter I promised you for when I am away. The story we were talking about. I hope you're sitting comfortably and have got some time to spare. I think you'll enjoy this.
The fantasy begins here ...
Let's start like we were saying the other night. You and I have been out for the evening. A meal and the theatre, let's say, for my birthday. We've dressed up a bit: you in the suit you wore to Craig's wedding, me in the little black dress I showed you the other day. We decide to finish the evening with a few drinks at the usual place. We walk into the pub. You see him first, recognising him from the pictures I once showed you. He's on his own, sitting at the bar. "Babe, isn't that ..." you begin to speak but I interrupt. "Oh my God, yes, it's Paul, I don't believe it ... I had no idea he was in London. Sweetheart, I'd like to say hello to him, is that OK?"
That's fine, you say, and we walk up to him. He and I give each other a very big hug. I introduce you, you shake hands. And it's you that asks him if he'd like to join us for a drink. So we sit down, and you offer to get the drinks. When you get back to the table, he and I are sitting close together, chatting very animatedly. Occasionally I touch his knee. You sit down opposite us.
"So, Ian," he says, "you're the guy who finally tamed Leanne, eh? Respect, mate. Good to meet you. I'm really glad she's found someone, a good man. You must be pretty special to keep her happy." He puts out his hand for you to shake. You look at him. Similar age to you, height and build too. Casually dressed, a bit scruffy, even. He manages to be the centre of attention without trying. He ought to seem arrogant, but he doesn't. He has very beautiful green eyes - even you can't help but notice. You've heard a lot of stories about Paul, my old boyfriend from University days.
"Tamed?" you say, smiling rather awkwardly. "Dunno about that. But we're pretty happy, aren't we, sweetheart?" I smile in agreement, but say nothing. Paul carries on:
"Well, I know it was a while ago now, but when we were at Uni this one was a real wild child. It was all I could do to keep up with her, if you know what I mean."
"Paul, really!" I cry in mock outrage, obviously delighted at his flattering recollection of my younger self. "Honestly, Ian, don't believe everything he says. You know what it's like, tall stories from student days."
Paul laughs. "Fair enough, Lee. But I'll just say one word: Berlin."
"Paul," I say, "we're not going to talk about Berlin now, OK? It wouldn't be fair on Ian."
"Yeah, true," he says. "And if anyone overheard us, it would probably get us arrested ..." I dig him in the ribs. The conversation moves on.
The three of us drink a lot. Really a lot. Paul and I stay sitting very close together opposite you at the small table, our thighs squeezed against each other. I seem constantly to be touching his arm, his hand, his leg. My eyes are on him all the time, and his on me. You wonder whether this is a performance for your benefit. OK, you think, I'll go with it for now. The pub bell rings for closing time. You get out your phone to call a cab. There is a whispered conversation between Paul and me, then I say to you, "Ian, it's OK if Paul comes back to ours for a drink, isn't it, darling? It's just we've got so much to catch up on and we're having such a lovely time." You say it's OK by you. You don't feel you can refuse, and you're not sure you want to.
You deliberately take the front seat in the cab so that Paul and I can sit together in the back. We are quiet during the journey. At one point you look round to see that I am resting my head on Paul's shoulder and he has his arm round me. He kisses my head, tenderly. We look like lovers.
We get to the house and go inside. You offer to get some drinks from the kitchen. As you are pouring them, I come in. "Ian, sweetheart ..." I say.