I had another sleepless night where I wrestled with my emotions. Everyone seemed to be getting what they wanted, except me! I got up late and wandered to the kitchen. I heard voices coming from the garden. There they were chatting and laughing. Marcus had obviously got Jeff up. I looked at the clock and wished I hadn't, it was nearly noon.
"How are you feeling?"
I looked at Marcus feeling embarrassed about last night.
"I was going to take dad round the river, do you want to come?"
I shook my head
"Marcus about last night, I well, um."
"Its OK you don't have to explain. You're a free agent now."
I could see he was still annoyed.
"I'm just surprised you got off with Gerry."
"Mar..."
He had walked out into the lounge before I could even offer an explanation. Not that I had a clue what I was going to say.
"How are you feeling?"
God his father was on my case now!
He looked me up and down.
"Look Amanda I know this is your house, but while Marcus is here do you think you could, well, cover up."
I pulled my dressing gown around me feeling angry at him.
"Well if you don't like it perhaps you should leave," I spat.
He looked down at his lap, like he was avoiding something.
"Well you may as well know, I'm thinking of going back to Hazel, I'll leave at the end of the week."
I just stood in shock as he pushed the lever on his wheelchair and he wheeled himself out. I heard the front door slam and began to weep!
That afternoon Marcus left to go back to the army training centre. I went to work still a little shocked. It was like everyone was having a good laugh at me. Was I some sort of fool? Had the last couple of years meant nothing to anyone except me! Jeff had even asked for the divorce papers. I told him I would sort it out later. To be honest it wasn't until I got to work that I felt angry with Jeff and his son. That bitch of an ex-wife was I suspect having a good laugh too. I managed to smile at the customers, but I bit Jill's head off once about getting an order wrong. At the end of the shift I was called into Don's office. I sat in tears as he told me he was cutting back, and I was the one who might get the axe.
"I've been here longer than Jill and Maria, and Rita is always phoning in sick lately," I sobbed.
"I'm sorry Mandy."
"You asked me on a date last week. God how can you fire me?"
I looked up into his eyes when he didn't answer, and then I knew why. I had heard stories about him with the girls. He didn't seem to care that he had a reputation that most men would cringe at. I don't know why all the girls fancied him, I did a little, even if he was arrogant and a bit of a bastard. But the girls still went out with him.
"I thought you said I was your favourite?" I said, wiping my eyes.
He moved behind me and I felt his hands on my shoulders.
"You are Mandy, but you don't make the best of yourself. Did you notice how the girls looked tonight?"
His hands began to massage my shoulders. Yes I noticed that the girl's skirts were a little shorter than normal, and I'm sure Kath wasn't wearing a bra. His head moved close to mine.
"Now if you made more of an effort Amanda, I might reconsider, and maybe a date on Saturday night would help, either a little or a lot."
I felt his lips kiss my neck. Then he stopped waiting for a response. All of a sudden a thousand thoughts ran through my head. Yes he just wanted to bed me. Yes I would probably be dumped, and yes I did fancy him even knowing his reputation. But I would need all the money I could get when Jeff moved out, and he didn't care about me. He was going back to that slag! No doubt she would still sleep around and he would be happy again. But maybe, just maybe I could turn this to my advantage! "So if I dressed like the others you wouldn't fire me?" I asked softly.
His hands slipped down my front. His thumbs now gently rubbed my shoulders as his fingers rested on my fleshy breasts.
"Well if you and I went for drink next Saturday, and then well we could maybe go somewhere, more private."
His thumbs had stopped now and he waited.
"We could, go back to, m, my place, if that, would help," I stammered breathlessly.
He made no pretence of rubbing my shoulders now. His fingers began to lift my breasts and knead them. His head was back on my neck. I tilted my head away from him so he had a bigger target to explore with his wet tongue.
"I think we understand each other now," he hissed, squeezing my breasts more firmly.
"Yes," I mumbled.
I stood up and turned round facing him. He moved forward and our lips touched. He pulled me to him and his tongue slipped between my parted lips. I was soon pressing into him with a passion that seemed to surprise him. It didn't really surprise me though. This would get back at my husband and his son! When we parted we both gasped for breath.